Path of the Vampire forum

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Earlier in September
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Doc met with and explained what he wanted to Harold James O'Sullivan. Harry nodded and turned to his briefcase. He opened it and handed Doc a stack of papers. “You have to file if you plan to run.”

Taking the papers, Doc saw that it was a Nomination Paper of a Candidate at a Federal, General Elections or By-election. “Right. So I fill this out and turn it in?”

Harry shook his head, “No. You fill it out, and I turn it in. I will act as your Official Agent. You will, however, have to write the check for a $1000.00. Non-refundable. It will be held in account for your campaign expenses.”

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Mid September
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Doc and Harry stood at the board of Elections and submitted the paperwork and check.

The man behind the counter, read the Nomination Paper, and held the certified check for a thousand dollars that was required when running for public office. He looked at Doc and and Harry O’Sullivan with bored and tired expression, then turned his attention to the form in front of him. “Information Correct?” He asked and signed off on the pages, without looking up or waiting for an answer. “Campaign funds will be forwarded as receipts are received.” The man’s voice was monotone and rote. “If you drop out of the race before the campaign has incurred expenses in excess of a thousand dollars, the remainder is forfeit and spread amongst the other candidates.”

Doc having not said anything until now, finally spoke, “How many candidates are running for this office?”

The man behind the counter, “Right now.. Five. But there are several weeks left for filing. Thank you and have a nice day gentlemen.” He stamped the paperwork and shoved it into a folder, and dismissed them, “Next!”

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Late October
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Doc had spent the last few days going to this meeting and that meeting, all in regard to the election. There were five other people that were running for the seat that had been vacated unexpectedly by the councilman’s death. Because there was still two years left on the term, there was still two years left on his term, a special election had been called for March. As soon as his name went into the ring, reporters, concerned businessmen and the other city Councilmen all wanted to meet with him. Most of the meetings had been concerning his platform, did he support the current council’s road for the future, or was he out to upend the apple cart as it were.

The meeting he was currently in, was running long. He was due to crash Alexndrea’s Halloween party in a few short hours and the meeting he was in continued to drone on. Doc was at the point that he thought he could sneak out, when suddenly, of course the attention of the meeting was turned to him. Yet another, businessman demanding, albeit politely, that Dr. Nilson share his reasons and plans for running for the Swansdale seat.

Smiling politely, it was the smile he perfected for Hospital Administration when they demanded he account for budgeting of his department, he took his time replying. He was in no hurry to bring anyone on board to his side. He had watched the other people running for the same seat. They all fell over themselves trying to curry favor with members of the meeting, hoping that it would help solidify their campaign. Doc didn’t care if he had this groups’ support or not. He was running regardless of this group. He had an agenda to complete, and he would do it .. with them or without them.

“Simply put gentlemen and lady,” Doc inclined his head politely to the female in the room, another candidate, “I am appalled at the crime rate in this City and it needs to be addressed.”

One of the other City Councilmen, nodded and then shot right back, “Crime is a concern, but our council is grounded in the foundation of bringing and keeping business in Harper Rock. Let the Harper Rock Police handle the policing of crime.”

Doc looked at at the speaker in a nonplussed manner. “I believe it is the duty of all Harper Rock citizens to be concerned about crime, and helping stop the prevalence of said crime. We as a Council should by our very presence, should use every opportune we can to support our Police Force. How we to attract and maintain a steady form of business growth, if we continually lay the crime issue at the door of the Police. This is a city issue, not a singular issue for the Police. We need to foster an air of cooperation with and between all aspects of the city, if we wish to see this city continue to grow.

“Which brings me to part two of my campaign, parking. There is an abysmal lack of adequate, much less quality parking. If paying customers cannot find parking in the city, they will take their purchasing power elsewhere. Most likely to the internet. Many of our businesses still require walk in traffic to cover their expenses. Having walk in traffic requires parking in convenient places so that there is walking traffic. Looking at Harper Rock’s business codes, parking has been relegated to the bottom. We need to reassess these codes and modernize. If you expect businesses downtown, then you as a council need to provide parking as well. When employees have to fight and vie for parking just to get to work, how is the buying public expected to visit those locations if they cannot get to them easily enough?

employers want a stable workforce. Families want security. Not crime. They want things to do with their families, they also want to be able to purchase the latest and greatest thing locally. To be able to see, examine, and purchase these items, there has to be parking.” He lifted an eyebrow, as if to silently say, tell me I am wrong.

As attention turned away from him, it turned to the lone female that was running for the Swansdale seat. She agreed with both aspects of Doc’s platform and quickly glommed on to them as hers, thinking it would win her the rest of the council’s support, but then she laid out her reasons. Schools and education. Doc barely held back the exasperated sigh that threatened to escape. IF she was that concerned about education, she should be running for the School Board seat. He almost spoke up to say something, when he forestalled by one of the councilmen.

“Stella. Yes we all know your stance on education. And this is not the forum. We have told you time and again.”

Stella, refusing to be cowed, “Education is a key a component to civic mindedness. I don’t understand why you don’t see that? If we can strengthen our schools. Families will want to be here..” She pointed at Doc, “Like he said, families make a stable workforce, you want businesses.. we need good schools!”

“Yes we agree a strong school system is needed,.. that is why we have a really strong ‘School Board’, they handle that. We are not going to overstep and tell them how to do their job.”

“But its the same people that get elected every time! We need new blood on that board.”

The councilman pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then you need to campaign harder Stella. Or maybe you need to face the facts that not everyone believes in ‘your segregate the sexes’ approach to education.”

Stella turned to Doc, why he didn’t know, but he guessed it was because he was the only one who didn’t know Stella. “Don’t you agree that having girls study away from the boys is best? That way the girls can focus on girl’s things and the boys can focus on boy things.”

Doc looked at the panel then to Stella, “My daughter is a mechanic, body, engine and transmissions. One of the best in this city. Where would your style of education put her? In a kitchen? In Home economics? That would have killed her. Segregation such as you suggest is perfect for a high drop out rate for young ladies. Is that what you want?”

Doc stood. “No need to answer. I have another appointment, I need to head to.” He turned to the panel. “Gentlemen.”

The next couple of days had been a repeat of impromptu meetings. The official meetings with the current council members had gone well he thought, however, Doc was not expecting the onslaught from business community that wanted his ear. These were business owners that felt the ‘current’ Council members were not meeting the needs of the smaller business owners. They felt the Council was catering to big business only, to the detriment of the small business owners.

As Doc once more laid out the premise of his platform for a more united front on crime and more parking, he was rewarded with an enthusiastic response from one Sam Bronson. “Precisely! Does crime really affect the big guys? No… it affects us, the small business owners. And Yes! We need more parking! Do you know I had to drop the wife off at the grocery store and circle three times before I found a parking spot? They were not all at the grocery store, most were at a vape shop and small mom and pop two dollar theater. There had to be twenty people at the vape shop.. and it only has three parking spots. And the theater, parks ten.. but seats seventy-five.

“Well Sam, my desire is to make Harper Rock safe for everyone, and it’s not just a job for me.. or you.. or the police. It is a job for us all, we all need to work together. We are stronger as a group than by ourselves.”

“I couldn’t agree more! We need more people like you on the council!” Sam nodded, then leaned forward ever so slightly, “Tell me… Have you met Stella yet?”

Though Doc was careful not to reveal his true unabashed feelings about Stella, a flicker of disdain did cross his face, which caused Sam to grin widely. “She’s one for the text books ain’t she? The woman is stick in the 1940’s. Imagine trying to segregate the sexes and races in this day and age.”

Doc gave Sam a look, “She is for racial segregation? I heard her thoughts about segregation of the sexes at school, but to be honest, I got up and walked out, right after that. I didn’t hear that about the races.”

Sam nodded solemnly, “Yes she wants race segregation, and she wants all vampires tagged.”

Doc blinked, and pointedly asked, “Tagged?”

“Yea you know.. like an animal. Tagged, chipped.. monitored all the time.” Sam shrugged, “Personally I would rather tag prisoners and repeat offenders. People that are true dangers. And my mother in law. I would love to tag that woman. Always know where she was.. so I could avoid it.” Sam shuddered. “She has the worst habit of turning up when and where I do not want her. But back to the business at hand, how do we get the Council to hear us?”

Doc gave him a closed lipped grin, “You have to vote the ‘guy’ for small business onto the board. We have an economic development board in the city.. why aren’t they addressing the needs of big business, instead of the Council? And in the reverse, have you taken your issue to that board? A case could easily be made, that big business typically wants white collar employees. But if the city infrastructure cannot support the blue collar worker just as much as white collar, if not more, who are the people that will be stocking the stores their white collar employees will need? The lack of a blue collar workforce in a city this size would cause small businesses to go out of business. When we lose small business, we lose variety. We lose variety, citizens aren’t happy. Citizens aren't happy they start to move. Which citizens? The white collar ones. If they leave, then Harper Rock is no longer the beacon for big business, now is it?”

Sam’s look of worried frustration slowly turned to one of appreciation. “Listen Dr. Nilson, I would like you to speak to a group of small business owners I am a part of. There aren't many of us but it would sure help their morale and might get you some votes.”

“You want to set up a meeting so I can pitch my campaign to them?”

“No.. well yes.. But mainly no. I want you to tell the what you just told me. How we need to look outside the City Council to be heard. And then.. you can add, your campaign pitch. Will you do it?”

The deeper Doc got into this City Council run, the more he realized how disenchanted a lot of the citizens were with their city. Not just the vampires and other worldly creatures, but with business, cost of living, and crime. Vampires were not on their top thing of complain about. Their daily lives were affected by a myriad of things that were out of their control. If he could help them feel like they did have control of at least part of it, it could be a help in the long run.

“Sam.. I am a Vampire. Your invitation still stand?”

Sam gave him a knowing look as he pointed to a glass display case.

Doc glanced over his shoulder at the display and back at Sam, not sure what his point was, but then Sam added, “No reflection. I will be honest, I almost didn’t approach you. But I did some research on you. You have businesses. You employee people. You have saved lives. You are just as unhappy as I am about the issues in this city. Difference is.. you might actually put the fear of god into people if you get elected.”

Doc lifted an eyebrow, “Fear of god…?”

“Yea.. cause who will want to piss off a vampire? Then when you suggest something.. chances are you wont get that much backlash as another new guy would. So you could get things done.”

“Wouldn't you be afraid I would push some vampire agenda?”

Sam shrugged, “You probably will. But you also strike me as the type of guy that tries to get **** done. Of all the candidates, you aren't in it for the prestige or legacy. You have a goal in mind. Helping the small business owner could help your goal.. what ever it is..”

“I would be happy to speak to your group. Give me some background on the group.. what is the purpose of the group?”

“NO!”

“What the **** do you mean no?!”

“I mean.. I am running all your businesses.. I cannot run your campaign too!”

Doc stared hard at Cyril, willing him to acquiesce to his demands.

“Woo.” Cyril replied in a bland voice. “I am so intimidated right now.”

“What the **** Cyril?! I say do it… you do it!”

“Unless.. I am at my god damned wits end!”

“My god, Cyril!” Doc stared at him agast.

Cyril’s hard won determination seemed to crack, and shatter before Doc’s eyes. “What? What?! … WHAT?!” THe panic in Cyril’s voice was plaintive and cut wrenching to those with empathy.

“You cursed… you actually cursed!” Doc replied in a somewhat awed tone.

Cyril who had geared up for having his life ended by Dr. Charles Nilson, went weak at the knees and hurled right there, on the spot.

Doc gave Cyril a disgusted look. “What the **** Cyril.. A little decorum please!”

“I thought…” Cyril tried to calm himself, “I thought you were going to kill me…”

Doc snorted in a half-hearted way. “Please Cyril…” He rolled his eyes.

Cyril saw the eye roll and had a moment of relief. “You mean.. It was all an act? You never mean to kill me?”

Doc’s playful manner, (at least the manner Doc himself considered playful) died a quick death. “No Cyril. That is not what I meant.” He paused a moment for Cyril to understand.

Cyril frowned. “Wait.. what now? I don't.. Get it?”

Doc sighed. “I mean.. When you disappoint me.. I will ******* kill you.”

Cyril blanched hard. “What?!”

“And you will never know what hit you.”

Realization dawned on Cyril’s face. “B…”

“That will be my gift to you.”

“But…”

“Unless you want me to end you now?” Doc shrugged. “I mean.. “ Doc waffled.. “I could.. “ He sighed, “I didn’t think you were ready..” He pulled the Sig from teh shoulder holster.

“NO! NO! I am not ready! NOT ready! .. no no no..!” Cyril sputtered out rapid fire, “Not ready at ALL!”

Doc re-holstered the weapon, “Alright then.. Good talk. Now. About the campaign..”

Cyril swore under his breath. Then louder, “NO! I cannot run all of your businesses -AND- your campaign! I am not physically capable!”

Doc gave Cyril a disbelieving look. “You say that like I have a lot of businesses.. I don't..”

Cyri gave Doc an angry ‘**** you’ look. “Bull ****.”

“What do you mean bull ****? I have three businesses.. And you” Doc made quotey fingers, “You run two.” He snorted. “I did all the hard work.”

“*I* mean BULL ****.” Cyril said emphatically. “Two? Only Two? BULL ****. You own Genesis Labs, Genesis Travel, Genesis Solutions, Starlight Labs, Municipal Parking, and Winterbrook Insane Asylum. Four more than .. two. Unless you are using special vampire counting.. That I am not privy to?”

Doc sighed. At least Cyril had not found out about the massage parlor. Campaign wise that would be a hard spin. Except.. He has hired all his escorts to his legit businesses. “Fine. you win, Cyril.”

Frowning, Cyril looked at him, he opened his mouth to question Doc, then he closed it. Nothing good would come from interfering with Doc. He knew this. Just keep your mouth shut Cyril. And Cyril did.

Doc looked at Cyril, as if Cyril were the epitome and definition of ‘disappointment’. “You win. I will hire a campaign manager.”