Town Hall, Sunday

[weirderthanthou]

Was Sunday a workday? Not technically. Was the current mayor a workaholic who had only recently started adopting slightly more reasonable work times on account of the former Winter Soldier in her building? Also yes.

So it shouldn't really be a surprise that Jesse was in her office this Sunday, going through an overwhelming stack of forms for the school's upcoming vacation trip.

"I should really get a ticket for all the work I put into this," she muttered, then realized her assistant was enjoying her weekend in a more traditional way. "... But I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway."

Sigh.

[[ open ]]

Comments

[apologizeswithpie]

For various handwavey reasons it had taken until now for Gregorith to come try to meet the mayor and announce himself.

Of course he wasn't certain precisely who he was looking for, and his universe's afterlife tended to be a little less rigid in terms of when the weekend was.

At least he seemed to have found the right office?

He knocked even as he realized;

I should have called ahead.

[weirderthanthou]

Jesse wasn't aware that new citizens coming to meet her and announcing themselves was even a thing, so he was forgiven for being late.

She paused. Looked up. Put her pen down, and called, "It's open!"

If her assistant had been here, she'd probably have remembered to keep the door open instead of just unlocked. Oh well.

[apologizeswithpie]

Greg did his best to smooth his features into something less scary more neutral and came in. In one hand he held a pastry box containing a pie his mother had sent along with him. The box had it's own sort of enchantment that should keep it fresh until opened.

"Mayor Faden?"

[weirderthanthou]

He probably would've been fine with any features, actually, but the consideration was kind of him anyway. Jesse leaned back in her chair. Her office was quite normal for a mayoral office, bar the fact it held no computer, just a stack of papers, a rotary phone, and an unusual amount of houseplants.

"Hi," Jesse said. "How can I help you?"

Well, at least this wasn't more paperwork. Probably.

[apologizeswithpie]

Maybe the discomfort so many people back home seemed to have around him was that they knew what he did for a living.

"Hello, my name is Gregorith. I've been sent as a representative of my universe. And I've brought you a pie."

Yeah he definitely owed Leviathan an apology for any grief he gave him over communication awkwardness.

[weirderthanthou]

Um, this is a first, Jesse thought, but her face remained unfailingly serious. Hope this isn't the start of complex negotiations.

"Thank you, Gregorith," she said. She nodded at the chair in front of her desk. "Feel free to sit down. Welcome to the island. Where are you from?"

[apologizeswithpie]

And sit he did.

Normally there might have been negotiations, but normally first contact with another universe was a far more formal affair.

"Specifically, I'm from Hell. But I'm representing all the realms of our afterlife. Well, the human ones anyway." And Cthulhu.

[weirderthanthou]

"Like Lucifer's Hell?" Jesse asked. "Or a different one?"

[apologizeswithpie]

Ah yes, the alternate version of Lucifer he'd heard about.

"I'm going to say a different one, though we do have a Lucifer. He was as surprised as anyone else when we heard about this place though so I doubt it's the one you're thinking of."

[weirderthanthou]

Jesse gave that a curt nod. "Just making sure," she said. "We get a lot of people from a lot of different places here, but uh. Also sometimes a lot of people from the same place, you know?"

She reached for her pen. She had a feeling she'd need it. "So what can I do for the realms of your afterlife?"

Looks like I can still occasionally find myself saying something I never thought I'd say.

[apologizeswithpie]

"For the most part I'm here to learn what I can about life here, and answer any questions you or your people have about my universe to the best of my ability. We have occasionally hosted ambassadors from other universes for a period of time and vice versa, always in the hopes of good and peaceful relations.

"This first contact was a little unusual, in that all we knew were the brochures we received about the University and the town. So my role is a trifle less formal. Also this is the first nexus universe we've ever encountered. If you'll allow it, I would like to stay a while."

[weirderthanthou]

"Of course," Jesse said, with a little nod. "Fandom has a long tradition of welcoming anyone who makes it to our shores. As long as you treat your fellow islanders with respect - or at least don't try to maul them to death - you can stay as long as you like."

She tapped the top end of her pen against the desk. "Have you found somewhere to stay? We have a hotel, a boarding house, a number of more permanent residences. And the dorms, but they're only for students."

[apologizeswithpie]

"Thank you very much. And yes I've got lodging in one of the townhouses, which are lovely by the way."

[weirderthanthou]

"The island likes France," Jesse said, and something wry finally snuck into her voice. "Don't ask me why."

[apologizeswithpie]

He smiled slightly, for the first time. "Having never been there, I'm not one to gainsay an island's taste in architecture."

[weirderthanthou]

Jesse made an amused noise. "Maybe you should go on a day trip to the Isle of IKEA at some point," she said. "You'll get a little variety."

[apologizeswithpie]

"Sounds like an adventure." he chuckled. He had no idea.

"Uh, well I don't want to take up too much of your time, or possibly I'm glad I could distract you from a tedious task. I know how paperwork can pile up."

[weirderthanthou]

"There's always more paperwork," Jesse sighed, looking at the stack beside her. "We're less than two months away from December and you don't want to know how many forms we have just to prepare for what happens in December."

But with that, she leaned forward, extending a hand for him to shake. "Good to meet you, though, Gregorith. Do you prefer the full name?"

[apologizeswithpie]

He shook her hand and nodded. "I do, yes. And it was a pleasure to meet you as well, Mayor."

[weirderthanthou]

"Call me Jesse," Jesse said warmly, shook his hand back (professional, not too long), and sat back down. "I hope you have a good time on our island. We're a little weird, but I like to think we're a good place to live."

[apologizeswithpie]

Gregorith's smile was wider now as he rose. "Oh weird I have no problem with."

This place not being an afterlife realm? That he was still getting used to.

[weirderthanthou]

"Then you're on the right island, Gregorith," Jesse said, grinning.