Ever since Zariah's rather groan-worthy attempt at placating the masses by answering questions (or pretending to, while just waxing poetic about herself) Rory had been considering what things meant—what leadership meant. What being an Adviser would've meant, had Zariah not rescinded her offer in a spiteful, childish way (she could claim it wasn't all she wanted, but fact remained: it was). It was almost as if she'd offered it and counted on the unrest and bickering so she could take it back.
Rory hadn't wanted to be an Adviser very much, but more and more he felt like there was no turning back at all. Things could never go back to being the way they had been, so there was only one way left to go: forward. Somewhere new. Somewhere that changed.
Upon returning to the basement he was surprised to see Bastien there, and also found that Ronin—and Remi—had returned, and when Amalia opened the meeting with asking for leadership candidates the former stepped forward. Rory rolled unspoken words around in his mouth, thinking about it, but eventually swallowing them again. Between Ronin and Wessex he didn't need to put himself forward, and besides, he lacked experience.
Better to let those with vision, who knew what they were doing, to lead the charge. He would watch and learn and wait, or perhaps do something dumb on his own.
(He hated these changes. He hated how he couldn't rest easy if he didn't change along with the world.)
He signed a slip of paper and and folded it, putting it in the bowl with the others. Their fate.
"I'm not afraid of saying who I vote for, either," he said to Remi and the room, "but I suppose this is orderly and easily counted."
Rory hadn't wanted to be an Adviser very much, but more and more he felt like there was no turning back at all. Things could never go back to being the way they had been, so there was only one way left to go: forward. Somewhere new. Somewhere that changed.
Upon returning to the basement he was surprised to see Bastien there, and also found that Ronin—and Remi—had returned, and when Amalia opened the meeting with asking for leadership candidates the former stepped forward. Rory rolled unspoken words around in his mouth, thinking about it, but eventually swallowing them again. Between Ronin and Wessex he didn't need to put himself forward, and besides, he lacked experience.
Better to let those with vision, who knew what they were doing, to lead the charge. He would watch and learn and wait, or perhaps do something dumb on his own.
(He hated these changes. He hated how he couldn't rest easy if he didn't change along with the world.)
He signed a slip of paper and and folded it, putting it in the bowl with the others. Their fate.
"I'm not afraid of saying who I vote for, either," he said to Remi and the room, "but I suppose this is orderly and easily counted."
