wynner wynner ;; d7 mayor step-down

[Deleted]

thank you dearly,
v. salazar

---

Marina helps him into the suit jacket, he stands tall and keeps his eyes trained on the ceiling. Always looking up, forever confident, even in the weakest decisions he makes. Valentino decided against power, something a man like him would sacrifice anything over. One daughter's trust, the other's life, Val lost something he can never regain. District 7 in his palms, the Capitol one step away - he reaches towards the sun, and all he gets is burned. 

Time and time again, Sebastien is in charge of things now. It's finished, his mission, whatever it was, the time is up. The clock stops at 50 years old and Valentino's arrived on that door step, and Mackenzie and Jacinta closed it in his face. A patriarch - he succeeded, his only son happy and content with a hunger that will never be satiated. A mayor - he succeeded, he won and devoured and is still left wondering how he will get Jaci back in his life.

A father - he failed,
time and time, 
and time again. 

And much like Violetta, he will never get that back. That chapter is closed, his grandchild will know his name and not his voice, and there is nothing he can do about it. Quite literally; he can be mayor, but he will never be a victor. He will never have the Capitol's blood in his veins and he'll always be grounded in District 7, with a wife who no longer knows love and 4 kids who will never want it again. For all of Valentino's successes, he has failed twice as much.

So he leaves the folder on the desk, the seat's cold and the phone's much cooler. "Mayor Sawdust is on his way in," they tell him, the buzzer playing without worry. He nods to Marina, who backs him up regardless, for a reason he doesn't even bother to understand. They may be snakes, but at least they're loyal. "Bring him in." He says back, the last command he will make as Mayor. From this day forth, it's Valentino the Grandfather, whatever that entails. 

He straightens himself in the last few moments until Wynn's arrival, which is met with a handshake. A manila folder and a deeply insincere smile, "my pleasure to meet with you, Mayor Sawdust. You sold me with your inter-district plans, but I'm leaving you with the few projects I had unfinished. Keep your head on your shoulders," he reaches out with an open palm, "you hear?" A wink. 

"And just remember: you'll never be as weak as Sayer," he says with a muffled laugh. 

---

[ marcellus rhodes 11b arc ]

[marcellus rhodes 11b arc]

{ wynn }

This all started on a whim. Sure; I was already in charge of education in the district. He anointed me with the secretary bit due to how involved I was with our schools, but I never thought I'd step up and take the mayoral position. It was too much, you know? I didn't want to be the face of the district, I simply wanted to help the kids out some more. But as the kids got more involved and excited with the pen pal project, the idea started to grow on me.

Renly was opposed to the idea, mostly because he didn't want to become a bigger figure in 7 himself, which made sense. If something were to happen with the Games that caused riots and fires to the district, how would I be punished? Would he be punished too? Would we be the targets of that destruction? All of these concerns were valid, but he also told me that if it was something I was truly invested in doing, he'd support me.

Fast-forward a few months, here I am walking into the office. Renly helped me pick out the suit and everything, and now that it's all real, it kind of feels fake looking back. The difference between 18-year-old me and now is... exceptionally different, freshly-18-Wynn would have never thought to be a teacher, let alone the mayor. This wasn't an exceptionally horrifying meet, as I've had light interactions with the man in passing. Upon entering, a handshake, and a smile that cardboard could produce came from the older gentleman. "My pleasure to meet with you, Mayor Sawdust. You sold me with your inter-district plans, but I'm leaving you with the few projects I had unfinished. Keep your head on your shoulders, he follows the statement with an extended hand and a friendly wink, "you hear?" The ex-mayor follows up with a quip, probably to lighten any anxieties that exist. "And just remember: you'll never be as weak as Sayer," and I give a light laugh to act along as if I know who that is. History was never my thing.

I give Salazar the second handshake of the day, guess I have to get used to them, and give a weak smile that does enough to state some sort of confidence. "I'll try. Thank you for the folder." I move my hand in the direction of the parchment container. "I'll make sure to look at them. Eventually. This is going to take a moment to get used to." A look around the room proves how overwhelming this entire thing is, and a deep breath is all I can take. No dogs for the anxiety this time.; just this big old room, a desk and a chair. And Mr. Salazar, who I'm unsure if he'd provide mentorship along the way.