repair and repent | {kieran}

[umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]]

MAYOR KIERAN EMBERSTATT If Kieran Emberstatt was being honest, he had always known his plans for Ten would be successful. From the moment he'd dreamed up the idea, to the moment he'd drawn up the paperwork, to the moment he'd promised action to all of the District, he had known it would work. And it had, believe it or not. Perhaps dangerously so, as the newfound option to study elsewhere made it even less likely that the lower districts would remain living in squalor. Why stay and survive on yet another vegetable stew and some stale bread when they've taken enough design classes to fashion jewelry in District One, or they're natural-born fishermen who can do so for a living in District Four? The same way he knew it would work, he feared it would not work for long. Sustainable future. That's what he'd called it, because in an ideal world, that is exactly what his plan was for. But the reality is that the world was divided for a reason, the feeders and the fed, and those who were used to having food shoveled down their throats all their lives would always be too hungry to offer anyone else a bite. He knew it was not a matter of if but when the Capitol made its move, and sure enough it came just over two years into the exchange program's timeline. The news of Thirteen was kept as quiet as possible, perhaps to prevent anarchy but more than likely to prevent any further rebellion- The Capitol was strong, but a coordinated effort between all 13 Districts might have been more than they could handle. However, because there was a temporary travel ban and Kieran Emberstatt's exchange program put thousands of children across the country from their real homes, people were beginning to worry. To truly worry, and when the council had alerted him that it was up to him to quell the potential uprising soon coming to District Ten, he'd warred over what to say for days. He had agonized over how he could do this, how he could stand in front of the people who'd trusted him enough to let him lead, only to lie to their faces and keep them complacent. By the time the day had come for his speech, the district had been flooded with peacekeepers- insurance policies. They were waiting, every citizen with held breath, watching with careful eyes. Kieran could see the war in them. He could see the hope. He hated the person staring back at him in the mirror, because it was now his job to douse the flames within them.

[umber vivuus 12b 🥀 [dars]]

MAYOR KIERAN EMBERSTATT "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure many of you are concerned with the recent temporary travel ban. I am here to assure you: There is no need to panic. The ban is only until the Capitol can finish its work with Districts Two, Three, and Six in repairing several railroads and powerlines surrounding Districts Four and Five, which were damaged by a sudden hurricane earlier this week. Due to the continued efforts of the Capitol to those of us living in the Districts, I have now been able to contact the leadership of the other Districts to ensure the continued wellbeing and safekeeping of your children and loved ones, all of whom will resume their studies as normal until the ban is lifted and they can return home. Your loved ones who are living in other districts for work will also continue business as normal. If their jobs are temporary and they run their course before the ban is lifted, they will remain in their designated housing until further notice. Those who are not originally from District Ten will be treated as equals and, hopefully, we can all push forward from this putting out best foot forward. And as the mayor here, I would like to formally welcome you to our home. As of this morning, it does not appear that there is a specific end date in mind, though it is estimated to be no longer than a month's worth of work. I will continue holding public conference when new information is made available, but for the time being, please rest assured everything will be okay." By the end of it, he felt a sourness in his stomach. He didn't think he had said one completely honest thing, but he did feel the exact moment when the crowd had begun to relax, their hands no longer clinched into fists and their brows no longer furrowed. He was convincing them, and he told himself it was for their own good. He told himself it was for the greater good of everyone. "Thank you all."