The Land of the Free: American Political Roleplay (IC II)

[Titanne]

"I took my husband and son down into the city to see the fireworks. Troy grilled us up some great burgers."

"That's lovely." She said softly. "It must be so nice to have a happy marriage."

Felix was entirely unsure how to respond, both because Simone seemed wistful and because of his marital woes.

"It is nice, yeah."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Felix was entirely unsure how to respond, both because Simone seemed wistful and because of his marital woes.

"It is nice, yeah."

"George made me pick between our marriage and my career at the State Department. It was... unpleasant."

[Titanne]

Felix was entirely unsure how to respond, both because Simone seemed wistful and because of his marital woes.

"It is nice, yeah."

"George made me pick between our marriage and my career at the State Department. It was... unpleasant."

"I can imagine. Thankfully me and Troy have an agreement about our careers, seeing as how there could be some conflict of interests."

[Gordano and Lysandus]

"I can imagine. Thankfully me and Troy have an agreement about our careers, seeing as how there could be some conflict of interests."

"If you plan on going big in the long run, he's going to have to make a choice. Are you ready for that conversation when it happens?"

[Velahor]

Martha was wide awake. She absolutely hated planes, and though she wouldn’t say anything to Jonah about it, she wished he’d never bought the gosh darn plane. But she loved her husband very much, he was so bold, he was so independent, and frankly, he was a man of action. He was willing to do the dirty work, while she liked to keep her hands clean and continue to keep up her healthy, Christian example for everyone they knew. But she admired it, even envied, his ability to take decisive action. As she laid there In the reclining plane seat as the plane moved along, all these thoughts were going through her head.

Then she heard him speak.

She replied softly, in her sweet Southern drawl that blended her raising in Georgia and her years in West Virginia.

“Oh, nothing honey. Just thinkin’ about how handsome you’ll look in your inauguration suit.”

"I'll have to get one made. Fresh and new. Tailored immaculately. I'll have lost weight before then from all this campaigning. Nothing I own now'll fit." He chuckled a little, shaking his head. "Given much thought to your 'cause' as First Lady?"

“I think my agenda will be keeping you away from the fried stuff in Iowa, if you really do wanna fit that suit,” she said, with a short joking laugh. “I don’t know...I don’t want to copy Clifford and do healthcare, and I don’t want my ‘cause’ to be something too light or fluffy. Maybe something related to education, considering that I worked for WVU.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I think my agenda will be keeping you away from the fried stuff in Iowa, if you really do wanna fit that suit,” she said, with a short joking laugh. “I don’t know...I don’t want to copy Clifford and do healthcare, and I don’t want my ‘cause’ to be something too light or fluffy. Maybe something related to education, considering that I worked for WVU.”

"I want to make college affordable without being free. It'd be nice if you were involved in that." He nodded softly. "And you know full well I will lose Iowa if I don't eat the fried stuff. They get very grumbly about people who don't eat the fried stuff." He laughed, shaking his head, sighing and peering out of the window.

"Do you think I can fix this country, Martha?"

[Dentali]

Nate Richardson
In transit



Nate called up the phone number of Mark Allen's home following the AP News report hoping to find his wife "Hello? Is this the Allen residence?"

[Titanne]

"I can imagine. Thankfully me and Troy have an agreement about our careers, seeing as how there could be some conflict of interests."

"If you plan on going big in the long run, he's going to have to make a choice. Are you ready for that conversation when it happens?"

“I know. He’s started shifting to less political work. But he loves writing, I’m not going to keep that from him. If he can find a job at another paper writing about something else... whatever he chooses to do, he’s said he’ll do it to support me. So I’ll support him.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Representative Caroline Simone
Washington, District of Columbia
Thursday 4th July, 2019

Caroline was spending another holiday by herself. It was a cycle she'd gotten used to. George had left her in 1993, for choosing her career at the Department of State over the role of the cheerful wife on his arm that he'd clearly wanted. Damian? He'd only been 18, ready to head off to military college. She'd been unable to say goodbye to him, due to the acrimonious nature of the divorce causing such fiery rows between the two ex-spouses. It was two years before her son had even spoken to her again. He blamed her for the divorce, putting her career before her family. Caroline wasn't sure if the wounds had ever truly healed. She spoke to Damian on the phone from time to time, saw him at Christmas, but... there was the lingering feeling that her son still would rather she wasn't in his life.

Then there was the matter of the Church. She had no congregation. There was no place in the Roman Catholic faith for a divorced woman. She was an exile, and as she walked in front of the French windows looking over the modest garden of her DC home, sipping at a glass of red wine, she pondered. Was this worth it? Was any of it worth the pain in her family? The scarring on her heart? She watched the night sky raptly as the fireworks plumed in the DC skyline, only obscured by the reflection of the CNN newscast from her television reflecting in the glass.

Yes. It had been worth it. But that didn't stop it from hurting.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I know. He’s started shifting to less political work. But he loves writing, I’m not going to keep that from him. If he can find a job at another paper writing about something else... whatever he chooses to do, he’s said he’ll do it to support me. So I’ll support him.”

"I just hope things work out for you." She smiled softly, nodding. "Anything I can do for you?"

[Dentali]

Nate Richardson
@GovernorRichardson

Moderator here. Governor Richardson is shocked and saddened by the arrest of Mark Allen in Texas and is currently communicating with Allen and his family regarding the next steps to take.

[Titanne]

“I know. He’s started shifting to less political work. But he loves writing, I’m not going to keep that from him. If he can find a job at another paper writing about something else... whatever he chooses to do, he’s said he’ll do it to support me. So I’ll support him.”

"I just hope things work out for you." She smiled softly, nodding. "Anything I can do for you?"

“I hope so too. I don’t think there’s much you can do for me, but... take care of yourself. It must get lonely sometimes.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I hope so too. I don’t think there’s much you can do for me, but... take care of yourself. It must get lonely sometimes.”

There was a slight creaking sound, which might seem odd but was a result of Caroline's hand gripping a little more tightly on the plastic phone receiver. "Thank you, Felix. That means a lot."

[Titanne]

“I hope so too. I don’t think there’s much you can do for me, but... take care of yourself. It must get lonely sometimes.”

There was a slight creaking sound, which might seem odd but was a result of Caroline's hand gripping a little more tightly on the plastic phone receiver. "Thank you, Felix. That means a lot."

Felix picked up on the discomfort.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep. But I like you, and consider you a friend.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Felix picked up on the discomfort.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep. But I like you, and consider you a friend.”

"It is a long story, and I am loath to plague you with the burdens of an old woman, Felix, but your friendship means a great deal."

[Velahor]

Nate Richardson
In transit

(Image)

Nate called up the phone number of Mark Allen's home following the AP News report hoping to find his wife "Hello? Is this the Allen residence?"

Phuong Allen, or as she sometimes went by, Phoebe Allen, went to the phone. She was a Vietnam war refugee, and had lived in Texas for nearly fifty years, more of her life than overseas, a self-declared Viet-Texan. This life experience meant that her Vietnamese accent had by this point in life, fluidly mixed with her newfound Texas accent.

“Hel-lo, Allen residence, if you’re the news sta-tion, we are not taking questions at this tiiiime.” She said, her accent stretching out the I in the word time.

[Titanne]

Felix picked up on the discomfort.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep. But I like you, and consider you a friend.”

"It is a long story, and I am loath to plague you with the burdens of an old woman, Felix, but your friendship means a great deal."

“I’ve got time, Carrie. I’ve wrapped up most of my work for today. If you need to talk, I can listen.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I’ve got time, Carrie. I’ve wrapped up most of my work for today. If you need to talk, I can listen.”

"I had to choose between my career and my family. I chose my career. And whilst I don't regret it, it still hurts. A lot." She said measuredly. She didn't sound unstable, just... prickly. Not directed at Felix, but it was clearly a sore spot that flared up at holidays.

[Titanne]

“I’ve got time, Carrie. I’ve wrapped up most of my work for today. If you need to talk, I can listen.”

"I had to choose between my career and my family. I chose my career. And whilst I don't regret it, it still hurts. A lot." She said measuredly. She didn't sound unstable, just... prickly. Not directed at Felix, but it was clearly a sore spot that flared up at holidays.

“I get it. I’m lucky Troy is so understanding.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I get it. I’m lucky Troy is so understanding.”

"I'm not sure if my son has ever forgiven me."

[Titanne]

“I get it. I’m lucky Troy is so understanding.”

"I'm not sure if my son has ever forgiven me."

Felix hadn't known Carrie had a son, but tried to do his best to comfort her.

“That must be tough. I’m sure he loves you and has forgiven you at this point, though.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Felix hadn't known Carrie had a son, but tried to do his best to comfort her.

“That must be tough. I’m sure he loves you and has forgiven you at this point, though.”

"We barely see each other outside of Christmases. He hasn't forgiven me."

[Titanne]

Felix hadn't known Carrie had a son, but tried to do his best to comfort her.

“That must be tough. I’m sure he loves you and has forgiven you at this point, though.”

"We barely see each other outside of Christmases. He hasn't forgiven me."

“I’m sure that’s not true. You only get one mom.”

[Gordano and Lysandus]

“I’m sure that’s not true. You only get one mom.”

"He's always been closer to his father, and George and I had... very spirited arguments. Damian was only eighteen. About to head off to military college to train as an officer..." She shook her head.

[Titanne]

“I’m sure that’s not true. You only get one mom.”

"He's always been closer to his father, and George and I had... very spirited arguments. Damian was only eighteen. About to head off to military college to train as an officer..." She shook her head.

“It would’ve been rough on him. But you did what was right for you. That’s the right choice.”