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Who: mary adler, fred the one eye-d cat and YOU!
Where: outside mary and frank's house
When: july 5th
What: mary's running a lemonade stand to raise money for fred's mayoral campaign (or for toys).
Warnings: seven year old sass machine and a cat with one eye.
[Open]

[ Frank had successfully distracted Mary from everything by agreeing to help her build a lemonade stand so she could raise money for the mayoral campaign she had planned for Fred. That and to raise money to help the people of the town rebuild because Mary read somewhere that if Fred endears himself to the community by doing good deeds, he has a better chance of winning a popular vote.

Fred the cat. Yes, Mary is aiming for Wayward Pines to have a cat mayor.

So out she sits on the curb with the stand that she and Frank (mostly Frank) built together, although she did all the decorations and she made the FRED FOR MAYOR sign. She will call out to you if you're walking by or driving, to beckon you to drink her perfectly made lemonade. Come buy some perfectly made lemonade (no, seriously), popcorn or too-hard-cookies from her. And yes, Fred, himself, will be sitting there looking very uninterested in everything that's happening but he must meet his future constituents.]

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[Far be it from Dirk Gently to refuse a request so easily satisfied and so confidently made. It wasn't what he set out to do today, lend his support to a mayoral campaign, but such is his life -- rare indeed is the day that goes exactly according to plan, or passes entirely free of surprises. As surprises go, besides, there are worse ones, worse things to interrupt his walk than an invitation (strong suggestion, really) to procure some lemonade.

He makes his way to the stand, fishing in his pockets for loose change. As much of it, in fact, as he can locate. Can one overpay for perfectly-made lemonade? No. No, one cannot. He's counting the coins out into the palm of his hand as he arrives, wearing a smile nearly as bright as his yellow leather jacket -- appropriately lemony, he feels. Clearly all of this was meant to be.]

Ah, but before I contribute to a mayoral campaign, I suppose I ought to know who it is exactly that I'm contributing to. Are you Fred?

[It's a genuine question. Either way, Dirk certainly couldn't judge. He's a less than usual name too. Even the pseudonym, the one that was chosen rather than given, is decidedly odd.]

[Pan had been hiding a lot of his confusion and frustration after the weird announcement and attack on the city, given that he still didn't have a full set of memories. As far as he could tell, this double-life matter now had an answer, but he had to comb through the murky depths of whatever fodder these people put into his head to keep him complacent. That might have been what irked him the most; he recalled only playing by his own rules and didn't appreciate such underhanded methods used against him. It wasn't even a good joke! No one was laughing!

So really, he's far more attracted to the lemonade stand because there was a child behind it rather then the contents of a mayor's campaign. He's seen Mary around but also on the network, but so far hadn't approached. Now he did, sauntering up to the stand and peeking at all the contents. He offered Fred a considering look.]

Are you his campaign manager? What are his policies for changing the state of this place?

[ the announcement following the attack of the creeps left her feeling numb. she felt disconnected from everyone and everything, which made keeping her upbeat and cheerful façade next to impossible. but… it was also nice to finally know the truth, even if she didn’t know what to make of it at the moment. she’d get this sorted, it would just take some time. ]

[ in an attempt to fall back into some sort of routine pepper went out for a jog. she normally ran around the block at the crack of dawn, but with school out she had no reason to be up that early. besides, maybe if she ran at a reasonable hour of the day she might bump into some of her neighbors. ]

[ as she rounded the corner she caught sight of the lemonade stand, the decorations making it hard to miss. slowing to a stop as mary called out to her she smiled. lemonade wasn’t the best thirst quencher, but she could probably spare a little for fred’s cause. ] Fred for Mayor? [ she looked between the two of them. ] could you tell me a little bit about your campaign?

[ Mary laughs, a scoffing sort of laugh before she moves to reach out and turn the collar of the lounging cat so the man can see it. Embroidered on the collar is FRED in big, red block letters.]

No, he's Fred.

[ Bonus points for Pan's imagination! Most people would assume that she's the Fred in question because... a cat for mayor? Adults don't really think outside the box. And she just grins at him.]

Yes. I am. [ She looks proud as she stands up from her stool.] He wants to make it more cat friendly and he probably wants more food. [ Fred hears the word food and meows lazily in agreement.]

[ The lady whose attention Mary successfully catches is very tall. And she's pretty. Even Mary can notice that much. It's a little intimidating. Mary straightens and smiles her best charming smile, two of her teeth missing as a seven year old's teeth are want to do.]

More cats' rights and more food. I think that's probably what he wants most. Also make sure the shelter is no-kill and that town is safe for everyone, not just cats. And more food.

[ when mary’s smiles pepper’s own broadens. ] More cat’s rights… [ she hums as if considering what she’s learned, but ultimate. nods. ] I can definitely get behind all of that. In fact, I know the owner of the shelter, so if you’d like me to go and talk to him or, better yet, we could all go. [ she’s almost positive it’s a no kill shelter, because she couldn’t see randal harming even a fly, but it couldn’t hurt to make sure for fred’s benefit. ] I also wouldn’t mind making a food donation either. What’s his favorite?

Hello, Fred. [ jyn addresses the cat first because she remembers being seven and that is just What You Do, but her smile is softer and sweeter for Mary because, no offense, Fred, she is here for the kid. ]

Hi, Mary. [ she has come bearing gifts, she always comes bearing gifts, it's like she's trying to buy mary's affection, WHO KNOWS. instead of maths this time, the gift is a heaping plate of lemon cookies courtesy of cassian. ] I brought these to help with Fred's campaign.

[Hang on. Hang on just a moment. This is even better than Dirk could possibly have anticipated.]

Can we do that?

['We' -- yes, of course he's on board. Is that, in fact, a hint of awe detectable in his tone? Why yes, yes it is. Frankly he's never imagined such a thing: a cat for mayor. Cats as elected officials. Cats, running the world. Actually it's a bit surprising he hasn't -- after a bit more thought he supposes they're wont to behave as though they already do.

It's one of the things he likes about them. That sort of self-assurance is both enviable and admirable.]

I mean, is that legal? Because if so it's the best idea I've heard in ages. Who else is campaigning? What are Fred's policies? The lemonade stand is brilliant but if we're going to be competitive we're going to have to reach a wider audience of prospective voters.

[It just so happened that Pan was observant and he had once before seen a drawing of cats and of a little girl on the network. It seemed that he had assumed correctly, and he smiled widely even as he nodded his head as he considered the platform. It definitely needed some work, but the effort was interesting all the same.

He stepped around the table so that he had a clear view of both her and the stool and the mayor-to-be.]

Would he require every household have at least one cat?

I'm not allowed to go to town hall to check and see, [ she says with a frown, throwing a glance backward which probably indicates there's an adult in the house that is preventing her from her research.] Just Fred for now. He's out here to meet the people and see what they want. He's a cat for the people.

[ Fred just blinks his one eye before closing it completely, clearly disinterested.]

No, no. Not everyone likes cats. Even though I think that's dumb, some people are allergic. [ So... she can't force them to have a cat. Mary's practical enough for that.

Of course, when he steps around the table a bit, she turns with him, making sure this isn't a stranger danger situation.]

You do? [ Her eyes widen at the idea of knowing the person who takes care of homeless cats. Of course, when she says they could all go, her mouth presses together, covering the gaps where her teeth used to be.] Frank says I can't go places with strangers. And he says just because they tell me their name doesn't mean they aren't still a stranger.

[ However, at her question she glances at Fred.] He likes fish.

Edited 2017-07-13 04:21 (UTC)

[ Fred recognizes Jyn as friend and meows once in lazy greeting before going back to washing himself. Mary looks moderately proud before she returns to her excited expression upon seeing Jyn. She likes Jyn a lot.]

Hi, Jyn. [ Her eyes widen comically huge at the sight of the cookies.] You did? Really? [ She eyes them for a second before--] Can I try one? For quality control?

Of course you can. [ jyn sets the cookies down so mary can take as many as her little heart desires. ] If you wanted to eat them all I wouldn't stop you, but your stomach might.

[ because jyn is basically a child herself, once her hands are free she just sits down cross legged on the sidewalk. gonna hang out for a while, give frank a break from watching her from the window. go read a book, loser, tap a nap, do something. ]

Mary, do you think you're good at naming things?

[ Mary's already stuffing one into her mouth before Jyn even says you can, humming happily at the sugary, sour sweetness of it. She only notices the way Jyn sits down when the woman speaks.]

I'm very good at naming things. [ Or at least, that's what she means to say but the second cookie makes it all sound rather jumbled.]

[ jyn doesn't really speak mumble but she gets the gist. mary reminds her of a blonde version of herself. ]

My roommate and I have a bunny, but he doesn't have a name. [ actually she isn't even sure the rabbit is a boy, but it's irrelevant, it can have a boy's name. ] Do you think you could help name him?

What's he like? [ She says without an empty mouth.]

...soft.

[ NAILED IT. ukw she's going to take her own cookie while she is here, stretching up for one. ]

He's quite strange actually, he likes to lick the sweat off my legs after I've been running.

[ She throws Jyn a look before she considers for a moment.] Flufflestiltskin. [ Bam.] Or... Walter. Or Bugs.

Flufflestiltskin.

[ w h a t ]

It's like Rumpelstiltskin. You know, that story....? [ She shrugs.] Maybe Oscar? Or Petey.

Edited 2017-07-13 05:23 (UTC)

I don't. [ her mouth turns down in an apologetic frown. ] I was born very, very far away from here, I don't know most of your stories. I do like Oscar though.

[ She shrugs again.] It's a dumb story anyways. [ She smiles.] I like Oscar too.

I will tell Elsa your suggestions. Oscar Rabbit could be a very good name.

Is Elsa your roommate? [ She stands and pours out a glass of lemonade to hand to Jyn.]

Thank you, starshine. [ dear frank, jyn loves your daughter ] She is my roommate. She works at the bank and she is very blonde.

[ you can't just always describe her as blonde, jyn, that isn't a character trait! ]

[ She likes that, being called starshine...] I'm blonde too. [ In case you didn't know.]

That-- [ she reaches over to tug on the ends of mary's hair ] -- is why I call you starshine. Because when you look up close at a star it's haloed in this sort of golden glow. Just like the sun.

And does he have any plans on how to deal with some of the more serious issue plaguing the city? I'd like to go into the woods after all.

[Pan examined Fred more closely but otherwise he kept himself to a safe distance.]

What kind of games do you like to play? There aren't many children your own age around here.

I do. His name his Randel and he’s a real good friend of mine. I’ve known him for [ almost all her life. ] for… [ now she’s not so sure. ] since I was a kid. [ she doesn’t sound so sure, but it’s all she’s got at the moment. ] I understand. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.

Fish. [ she wafts a brow. ] He’s got expensive taste, huh? [ but she’s not going to go back on a little promise. ] What kind of fish? Tuna?

Yes, he seems like a cat for the people.

[Dirk nods quite seriously, though where he's getting this impression isn't entirely clear, given Fred's obvious disinterest in the proceedings. Perhaps it's simply that Fred is a cat, and Dirk loves cats, and is therefore inclined to think the best of them.]

You know, I bet I could check. Maybe I could be a legal consultant for the campaign! Or... liaise with one, anyway. I don't know that much about law.

[A beat, and then, half-sheepish:]

Obviously.

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