Lonely Touring
“With you… Mr. Fox!” Lesly took a deep breath after laughing with the crowd, moving her hair behind her right ear, and announcing out of nowhere as she pointed to where Fox was waiting. There was a silence for half a second before, led by her enthusiasm, they cheered for him. Fox walked into the stage, with Lesly and Sona walking to him, smiling and hushing words to him before leaving the stage all for himself.
They walked to the backstage, where Sona left and Lesly met with the president, who didn’t show himself to Fox before but now stood beside Butler. She stood beside the president and fondled his shoulder with hers, nudging towards Fox, who took the podium and stood behind it.
Fox stood at the podium, holding its closest corners to him after moving the flat rectangle glass, the microphone. He looked ahead for 2 seconds before lowering his gaze, speaking with a rather casual tone, “Everyone usually looks at my eyes and think I’m going to seize their souls. It’s fine if there’s silence.”
Silence might have followed him suit, but many lips inadvertently grinned. Here or behind screens. There were 10 news anchors, with a particular man and woman, camera and reporter, standing just in front of Fox below the stage.
Of course, there were also the people themselves, who, by the promise of seeing the unmatched women at the head of Lýmoca, came to his first rally for the president’s campaign.
“I am Fox, but my birth name is and will be Phesx Caolia, a survivor of Preut, but only one of many. Since the moment I stepped out of Preut, I’ve had little contact with any pre-Preutians, as I have with Lys. I am a Ly now, but just as many of you consider yourselves ‘Túacxes’, ‘Teros’, ‘Proses’, ‘Euses’, ‘Mapases’, and the like, I am Preutian.”
Clap, clap, clap… cheers. A simple introduction; direct and nailing where everyone might think when seeing someone like him and him. The applause was a not so loud one, but it gave game to the beginning of his first rally.
“I am also not sure where I come from to take place here. Anyone else could’ve done it,” Fox faces the people honestly, only glimpsing at the BLF news anchor, whose reporter’s eyes look at him intently, almost like she was waiting so long for a dream like this.
“But those who could have taken this role stepped back for me, honor them if you wish to see the Lýmoca someone like me has never heard or dreamt of. Only I can show you why I… follow such a President seeking to lead you. Even then, it isn’t something easily said, as you can tell by my past records.” Fox quieted the atmosphere, which was just livening up.
Nothing like remembering the person before you is the killer of a thousand lives. It wasn’t a general speaking, nor a president who went to war, as it hasn’t been for hundreds of years. It was but a person alone, who was seen acting alone. It cooled their blood.
“I am not ashamed of my past, so if there’s anything any of you would like to bring into my rallies, go ahead. For now, listen to me.” Fox moved the glass microphone before resuming, “When I found the food, fabric for clothes, supplies, and conformity, and the medicine on those islands or platforms, I was enraged.”
“Even if it meant not much to me, I know what those things could do to the people, especially in a war. All of those things could have been free, and I know many think I’m stupid to believe this, and that such expenditure cannot be afforded in Lýmoca. You are wrong…” Fox let it trail off.
“Lýmoca has a great neighbor, one many are jealous of and are glad they are not close to. It also has good relations with most of the planet. There is nothing stopping Lýmoca from achieving greatness…” Fox’s eyes become cold, “Only ourselves.”
“For 12 years, Lýmoca has no longer descended further from where it stood 12 years ago. It was a strange deception at first, many think, but now it’s your turn to make it worth it. With the recent programs and last few reforms, the government has more opportunities to move without obstructions, but only with your help.”
“As long as the next government has the majority of the votes, as long as NF sets their next step firmly in the country, then those ideas of impossible realities will become the ‘nowadays’ of tomorrow.” Fox glanced at everyone, who seemed unable to think further than his words.
“I started my path, the one that has led me here, since I was 13,” Fox let his voice out. His soft, broken tone spread in the surroundings. “I walked out of my home thinking I was going to be sent to Preut’s borders, and that the older guys and gals would take the front to defend the land I lived in. I didn’t care much about it then.”
“I didn’t stay there for a meager reason… Just my hunch, if it can be called that,” Fox looked through the corners of his eyes, lifting his chin as he reminisced. “I wasn’t there in the massacre near my neighborhood, nor did I know about it until much later. I didn’t know if my family was fine… because I wasn’t.”
“Returning to my home, a man was selectively grabbing my clothes, my family’s things, food, and all our most valuable possessions, which were barely something. Now that I remember, I had a computer. Yes, not a ‘screen’, the old thing.”
“I never thought about my personal computer after returning to my home and seeing the man. My first… ‘kill’. I could’ve died many times, but he gave me too many chances to protect my life, so I ended his. But I was injured, and I wouldn’t have made it for long with an infection spreading in my abdomen…” Fox continued, relating his story, or a tiny part of everything.
Luis and Lesly looked at this. Butler seemed thoughtful, narrowing his eyes. This was the first time Fox talked about it with them, with anyone… after Pheli. Even Teon only knew smallish things, which she wouldn’t say to anyone else, bearing them as her little treasures.
Butler looked at the side, where a hidden young woman laid in the shadows, with her back against part of the red curtain. She, too, knew nothing and was just hearing about it with the rest of them. The people were hearing Fox’s story, for once, but only a very small, brief, and unimportant one, almost like a quick recapitulation of history books with added commentary.
“?” Luis felt a bell-like sound in his head before taking his WID out. A glacial, snow-like, heavenly window showed in his right hand after his hand went into his collarbone. He frowned after grabbing it, looking at Fox ahead of him.
Lesly’s breathtaking black eyes moved ever so slightly while staring at Fox, retelling and resuming the never-before-heard story. She uttered while still staring, grabbing Luis’s wrist without looking, speaking aimlessly. “I was going to say I can’t believe it… but… I think I just rather not believe it. Don’t you think?”
“Mhm, that might be so.” it was impossible to say the story wasn’t… grimdark at best. But Luis’s eyes on Fox weren’t like those of a pitying person, and more like a spectator who is only listening. He didn’t notice it, except for Butler, but his eyes and attitude seemed to warp.
Not his personality per se, or his mood; something more within his attitude, within those sharp, serious gray-black eyes. For starters, they seemed more keen to their owner, who always wore an image of silliness and not knowing what he was doing. Although it was worn within reason.
“But he doesn’t need our pity…” Luis looked at Lesly, “Anyone’s pity.”
…. In Fox’s suite, Mena and Teon massaged their feet as they watched the TV reveal Fox’s image and… story. Teon’s eyes twinkled, seeming to understand bits and bits, while Mena was focused on his storytelling, if only to hear more.
… In an office, at the now bustling special agent psychiatrist after Fox became the image everyone in the secret world knew about, Morena looked through her window at the distant city land. There, as she looked at the lighted presidential precinct, the large screen behind her showcased him and his voice on full volume. She smiled a bit whenever she heard a little bit of his quirky thoughts here and there.
… Sargonde. Far from Proteros, in a mansion where a family of 3, with a casual half-family member, watched Fox’s first rally in the country, with an extra little someone. Their living room was empty but filled with renown pizza boxes.
… In a few houses, or directly in a pizzeria, still in Sargonde, Fox’s image showed everywhere. Even old lady Roberta, bending and barely able to walk, watched while sitting beside her son, who had 3 girlfriends eating pizza with him, getting along just right. Similarly, in a farm, a pair of father and mother played with their children. Not child, children.
… In the Blackflower Boutique, Fox’s attendants and clerks watched, with Fabiola taking a break early with some tests results showing her exemplary self. They watched as their once possible issue to attract even more clients and go bigger sooner… smoked away, turning into a beacon instead.
… A man wearing an expensive suit mentally debating whether to hear the reasoning behind why a young man was telling his story, with so much power, even globally. An old doctor, alone and busy working, taking a small break for a few minutes, with a longing he can never recuperate again always tormenting his mind. Businesspeople who are hard at work after the events 3 weeks ago, working their asses to donate their quality food to the population these past few weeks, and silently supporting the government’s ideals.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
… A couple in the presidential main building, watching with all other public servants, and even the cabinet. A group of mechanics who looked at Fox’s image and heard his story like most Ly were, judging and waiting. A father and son whose criminal life had become long gone, but their ‘prison’ became the main building.
… In Proteros. A young lass, no longer sicken with love from the past, etching for the future she can hold, but wanting more like anyone would. Her rosy white skin matured, her long golden chestnut hair more beautiful and gentle than ever. Tall, with wisps of wisdom carried over her understanding eyebrows. She went from meeting equally talented people in a gala to stare at a small TV somewhere in the walls, feeling proud.
… In another part of Lýmoca, where people were wasting their money to buy tickets for a concert, wanting to buy even 10x the price of one, and even give their bodies, male or female. An utmost beauty with Dawn aesthetics had her legs massaged in her bedroom by a female attendant as she attentively listened.
… In the Supreme Court Justice building, out of working hours, or at least that is how it is known in the judicial branch. In the high tribune, the Supreme Justice Minister sat alone in the dark, eating something at last. She drank a bit and continued eating, having forgotten to put something in her body to keep energy running.
She looked at a screen after wanting to ignore it, but the words were louder than her constant munching or drinking noises inside her mouth. In the end, the redhead looked at the screen, becoming self-absorbed in it, forming an ugly expression. She once again forgot to eat. But not for long. Her hands moved on their own, grabbing as she bit and drank, but her eyes…
The azure never left the impenetrable black pools, sometimes 6, sometimes 7… only a couple of times 8.
Everyone was watching; now through his eyes. It was a mere night in the world, at least in the Moonblue supercontinent. But it felt different to him; it was like a calling.
. . .
The first rally meant the direction where National Front, Lýmoca’s avant-garde political party and movement, were headed to. The person leading it, NF’s president, was the face of the campaign, but not the reasoning behind its creation. Although Fox seemed interesting, with the constant social media simply turning to him like ravenous dogs with a railing stopping them from reaching out, there was a lot to be desired from his rallies.
Yet, he continued without making big announcements, requesting advertising from the president, or even going out there to distribute flyers to have more people attend. He simply published the dates in his tour and continued.
At first, it was of little importance to attend. In Proteros, not even 300 people went, and all for the sake of the 2 unmatched women. It was so easy to just listen to it while doing house’s daily activities, some work, and things unthinkable for the peaceful mind.
But something the country hasn’t seen, at least towards some success, like Fox is doing, was an attractive call. Luis tried to do it for his second term, and while he was re-elected, he was also ‘silently’ humiliated by the people back then.
Fox repeated his ‘method’. While he wasn’t a comical person, nor public person now, he was a brutally honest one. After his introduction and a bit of his story, showing a tiny iota more in every other state, he received some questioning.
One time, a person, without public service or outside journalism, a civilian, asked him, “What are your thoughts on the future of this country? With the reforms, especially the one supporting the guards. And what is Luis Heartez going to do if he is given our so-called power to him?!”
To which Fox responded, “Answering all of that at once— the President does not believe in working a single solution. With the help of the people, I think it’s obvious he’d have the majority to not be stopped, but that’s not where it ends. There are currently some powers in the government who use their authority wrongly, forgetting their place and violating Ly constitutions.”
“The President doesn’t seek to control the government, but to return its might and sense of belonging to you. The people is National Front’s focus, not just everyone in general, but those in specific needs that contemporary days shouldn’t have allowed to happen anymore. Even more so with the Post Order Concession (POC).”
“The stolen supplies were only a once-in-a-lifetime that should never happen again, that the people cannot be tricked with again. And yet, others disagreed, because most of them are free and back to the streets. Yet, you still wonder why the prices haven’t been lowered enough, yet only heard what anyone else has to say, but not those with truth.”
It was a sort of slapping sense into the crowd that time, which was well above 3,000 people. By then, Fox had already spent some days visiting a few states.
While he didn’t change the state’s overall thinking, let alone the world, Fox’s words were easily transmitted, and the people who heard it with their very own eyes… became hooked. Fox didn’t notice this, too, at first.
It wasn’t until he began spending days by one after another state capital city in neighboring states to make up for the shortage of time, not wanting to spend more money in the campaign, that he started realizing… People might really be coming to him just because he kept talking to them.
It didn’t seem anything important, as watching it from afar is just so much easier. But thousands of people formed up to see Fox, hear him, and… perhaps learn something from it. And thus, on another occasion, Fox was questioned by the obvious reporter in cover from an opposing media, although such a thing is supposedly non-existent.
“You have killed the bread earners of multiple families! Your thirst for violence knows no boundaries! What will you say to the people who throw their lives because of this reform? It will be by the hundreds a day before people realize and revolt to your corruption!”
“I have nothing to say to people whom I do not know, nor do I have the right to talk to. Not because I did atrocities to their families and others say I’m guilty, but because I, and National Front, won’t fall behind on their word or let down the people. We are not fake, but if we are, it is to keep our calm when things like wasting food and medicine occur.”
“I have no regrets. My life was in danger, and if I wasn’t available, killed instead, or delayed by the guards, trying to safely put them away, then the vice president’s life would’ve been in danger. She isn’t untouchable, nor are the guards, and neither is the president. It was my decision, and I will never regret. I had respect for the guards I killed, but not the hundreds of special agents I massacred with my bare hands and some weapons. I did enjoy every nanosecond of it, and I will be there if it ever needs to be done.”
Fox wasn’t just the young man many thought of when thinking of the current’s president’s campaign. Hundreds and hundreds more of people moved as days passed, reading Fox’s schedule, as his introduction became lengthier, and the people listened for longer. Instead of losing interest either in the crowd or the views. They only grew…
The weird-eyed humane monster was already a big emphasis on the daily lives of countless Lys. He spoke with such ease, and showed the bluntness no one really dares to. He established he didn’t care about the ‘rumors’ of the OCs’ involvements with previous governments, and doesn’t care about his life’s endangerment, making a number in the intrigue of any individual. Of course, being the Fox everyone in Ly knows about… How could he be afraid?
… A few days into the tour, Fox had Alea visit him first. She came when he was just in Túacan. Her appearance made his popularity within the ‘land of redheads’ more distinguished. It wasn’t something new, neither here nor in any part of the world, but it showed Fox had the means to be relevant. At least when thinking of the people following him, which in turn follow the president.
Lyan superseded her, staying with him for a couple of days before Nol arrived. The change was apparent in social media, which struck more and more in Lýmoca, and began making its way outside its borders and waters. It was just guards, but Fox’s guards? Intriguing.
Usually, be it a first world country like ANS or Zyckevele, or even the beaten down Knight Assembly Association, their political runs are always kept to themselves. This was so for them, let alone for smaller and less impactful countries like the K tribe nations, Meztle Island, and those like Argopolas and Vevuesta.
Lýmoca’s elections weren’t important to a geopolitical level, always remaining neutral and out of any possible conflict, regardless of the time and the situation. While they always opted for peace and little to no circumstances led them to being heard, they were perhaps the most neutral and pacifist country since its foundation as a nation from a fallen empire, respected as such.
Thus, who ruled there in such peaceful times mattered little. The only vital concern was that the current Lýmoca retained its approaches to their southern neighbors. Before, it wouldn’t have mattered, but after 12 years of good relations between the south and Lýmoca, it did.
Would other governments, alien to the president Luis Heartez’s ideals, adhere to this reasonable principle, and continue relations with the south? They didn’t before, even when hurricanes devastated the shores without end, why would they now? Thus, some solidarity was expected…
“It was nice tonight, there were many people who shouted your name,” Nol said as Fox returned to the hotel presidential suite. Fox wasn’t fazed when he saw Nol sitting his bum on the floor, checking his nails and appearing suave.
“Yeah? 3 or 4 times?” Fox said with the same face as when he entered. Nol smirked a bit before saying with a calm tone, “I think it was 5, actually. Most were boys, and both girls doing so were underage, I think.”
“Pfft.” Fox dropped his suit on the bed and went to a sofa in the living room, where Nol was lazing around. Nol looked at the suit and agonized. “Agh! ‘Boss’, please. Miss Goddess Beauty Lesly will kill me if she sees that precious, 12,000,000 credit piece thrown around like nothing.”
“You just made that number up,” Fox relaxed his eyes, dropping his eyelids as he threw a cushion to Nol’s head. “Also, why are you calling me boss even now? Also twice, who the fuck wears that much money around their bodies? It doesn’t even resist fire. If this ‘piece’ costs more than 10,000 credits, I’ll piss on it and gift it to the President.”
“Boss, you might end up increasing its price to 40,000. What if it duplicates?” Nol said. Obviously, he was teasing. Nol was hit on the head with another cushion. He almost dropped unconscious, as it was sent by Fox’s left arm. Nol shut up and let Fox rest his eyes.
“Wait, underage? Why are those little people attending?” Fox sat up, wondrous. Nol looked at him with ‘duh-ing’ eyes. “Fox, that’s normal… Fox, don’t tell me you didn’t notice… There were more than 15,000 people tonight.”
Fox looked down at Nol like he forgot Nol existed and had just reappeared, before relaxing back down. Nol fell pensive also, but he voiced his thoughts after a few minutes, when silence was so comfy Fox could almost fall half-asleep. “Boss, you really are a mad dog, pissing on something and then wanting to gi- WHAT THE PUTAS?!”
Nol was too talkative. Nol was sent a sofa by Fox’s left arm, kindly. Regrettably, Nol dodged in time. The campaign budget had to pay a bill for the damages. Nol now knew what to report, and how to survive… how not to accidentally die under Fox’s leadership.
…