Event Finished Meeting the Crowd

Jude hadn't been in school all that long. He'd done some time in remedial, but that wasn't the same as having grown up with people. Most of the faces were unfamiliar, and so was most of his competition. He knew Alma, obviously. Several others who were participating were familiar to him, but only in a passing sense.

He knew what his father would want him to do. His father would tell him to get to know every single person competing, and then use what information he could get against them. That was how he worked. That was how he won.

Jude didn't want to be that person, but it didn't stop him from slowing to a stop when he spotted Elisa on his way to the library.

Realistically? He knew almost nothing about her. He knew she had a brother? Cousin? Some relation. He'd been around at least a year, and he'd met them once already, but as far as he knew Elisa was brand new to the school. About as new as he was, if he was counting - maybe a bit later.

Jude headed over, giving Elisa a chipper wave in return.

"Hey Elisa," he said, giving her a warm smile. "You did end up deciding to run for council then? I've been seeing people stick posters up all morning."

Jude's first thought was plain. Jude had been raised with an inherent sense of arrogance, raised to think he was the tippy top of everything he did. The fact that he held himself back was, in the eyes of his upbringing, proof of that superiority.

But he was trying to do better. He was trying to not be that person, to recognize the value in other people and things. So he looked the flier over again, seeking the positive, and found it instead.

"It's eye catching," Jude said. "People often get really complicated with their fliers, but they tend to miss that you make the best impression if you can get most of the information at a glance."

"Kind of bland," Jude admitted. "I had a whole speech written up, but in the end it felt... canned? I guess? I'm not going for president, so there's a lot less competition. I figured I'd be better served explaining why I'd be good on the council, rather than at representing them. I almost mentioned being a personal assistant before, but I didn't want to lock myself into secretary by default. I'm going to... put up some posters. And then probably be done with it, honestly."

Jude reached up, scratching at the back of his neck and offering a shrug. "The extent of my campaigning is just reaching out to see who might be on council with me later. I don't want to sound arrogant, but... I have a perfect memory, I'm omnilingual, I have professional experience as a personal assistant, and I don't sleep. It feels like a pretty easy choice for who most people would want to be secretary."

Jude was happy someone else agreed with him, but part of that was just nerves. Yes, his powers were more or less perfect for something like being a secretary. They weren't big or flashy, but they were useful, and in a peaceful place like Manta Carlos with a minimal amount of violence and no real hero work to do, that was a huge advantage over someone with sheer firepower.

"So, why council? Most people tend to wait until they're more settled. You only just enrolled, right?"