ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ (mobdog) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-05-16 09:47:00 |
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"I guess all that's settled so far," Vic said, leaning back into his chair and looking around at the men gathered in the Dog Park's Chapel and seeing only six faces staring back at him. Getting used to Chapel meetings without Rodeo had been tough during the last couple of months, and now that they were missing Sarge, too… Fuck, Vic had never expected that they would be in this position. "Nothing changes about our supplies gathering," he added, glancing over at their Treasurer. "We just take extra precautions when we go out. No one does anything stupid. We can't afford to lose anymore men." There was a pause as Vic tried to figure out how to phrase things, but he knew it needed to be said: "Now we just gotta figure out who's gonna take up Dog King." TJ still wasn’t completely used to being in the meetings yet, not that he visibly let on about it. He simply did his best to absorb everything that went on and contribute what he could, when he could. It didn’t help when the people sitting around in the Chapel changed - most noticeably, some disappeared from the ranks. But that was how things went, simple as that. He let his arms settle folded across his stomach as he listened to Vic, giving a quiet hum of agreement when he talked about having extra precautions. Routes would need to be planned more carefully, people going out arranged in groups that were sure to make sense, ammunition to spare - just in case. Those details were things he could focus on, strategy and execution, but when it came to Dog King… he didn’t think his opinion was the first or even second that should be counted. Art was busy. Listening, yes, but he also had a can of… something that had been meant for human consumption, and the date on the bottom claimed it was still good. Which was going to be enough for Art as he sat with his arms on his legs, scooping bites into his mouth and looking at the group. “Well, who’s pissed on the most fire hydrants?” Art asked, as if this were the totally correct question to ask. Clearly, Rodeo had just peed on a lot of things to be made the king. He grinned, a bean sitting in the corner of his lips before he sucked it back in and took another bite. “Back in Boston, a boss go down? Next in charge takes over, no questions. Unless the boss was killed, then lots of questions.” A beat. “I nominate that we don’t do it that way. I don’t want to be in charge.” "I don't think anyone wants you in charge," Vic said, scoffing as he leaned forward to knock Art on the side of his head. "Fuck knows what you'd be having us do every damned day." Big talk for the most part, really, since if it came down to it Vic would follow Art into battle -- and had many times already. He was quiet for a moment, remembering when they'd made the choice to make the group -- the seven of them, the first seven -- an official gang. A family again, after he'd lost his, a place for him to raise his son and find a little peace when the world went to hell. "But if we're cool with going outside rank, then I guess Bishop wouldn't be our worst option." Vic glanced over at his friend, knowing the man had five times the responsibility that they all did now that he had two little boys to look after. As had nearly always been his default during council meetings, Bishop had fallen silent, leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head and the tell tale look on his face that told ‘em all he was listening and considering his own words. A smirk turned up his mouth when Art declared he didn’t want to nominate by rank, though that smirk quickly faltered when Vic threw his name into the ring as their next Dog King. Leadership was not a role he ever sought, sure, he took it on when given such a role -- but it wasn’t something he set a goal for. Moments that felt more like minutes passed as he let the idea roll around his mind for a moment. Was he best suited to taking on the mantle of their leader? Bishop knew he wouldn't be doing it alone, knew that the men sitting at the table with them would stand behind him and the man they put in place to replace himself as Chaplain would lend him his support as well. Finally Bishop cleared his throat, blue eyes shifting over the faces of each of his comrades, his brothers. “Wouldn't be the worst choice, huh?” Said with a smirk and a kick to Vic’s leg under the table. “Such a glowing nomination there, brother,” and then he fell silent again, but only for a beat or two. “Alright, I’ll accept this nomination, but with one condition. I name Vic as my Vice President.” If Bishop hadn't agreed, they would have been back to square one, and TJ didn't want to land there - especially not when he agreed with the choice. Bishop would be a good leader, seemed like a fit for the job. He let his gaze flicker between Bishop and Vic at the demand that came with the acceptance. Vic, too, found himself looking back and forth among the men he trusted most in the entire Dog Park. As pleased as he was that Bishop hadn't had any issues with the nomination, the reciprocation surprised him. But when no challenge came from anyone, he nodded, turning his head to look over at Bishop once more. "I accept," he said, his voice firm. "That's good with me," TJ offered, bringing his hand up to rake his hair away from his face. It made sense both on the surface and even deeper, because what good would it do to say no and try to force square pegs in round holes to get people to work together so closely, and where trust was needed. “Shmame,” Arthur said. Maybe it was the word same, maybe it was the word shame. Either way he had a mouth full of food and was nodding along with all the lack of tact that he had. No one should put him in charge, and thus far in life no one had been foolish enough to do so. He swallowed his food, putting the half empty can on the floor and leaning back into his seat. “Anyone else changing positions?” he asked, a little edge of nervousness. He didn’t want to move anywhere but his current job: he was good at it, he was used to it. He’d been the secretary since there had been only a handful of them at all. And after a life of living under multiple titles, half of them fake and made up for the sake of a case, Art was thankful to keep the one that felt realistic to him. "Nah, man." The words came from Pikachu, who'd been promoted to Road Captain only a couple of days ago, when the officers had been forced to accept the fact that Teagan was likely gone for good. Despite the fact that two officers who ranked below him were set to move above him, he was content to leave it be. In his books, two of the First Seven deserved to lead their MC. "I'm happy where I'm at." Once each officer had voiced their approval of the current nominations, Bishop shifted in his seat and eyed each man sitting around the table. So like that it was done, huh? Nominations had been made and now all they needed to do was bring it to an official vote. It said a lot, the fact that these men, their brothers really, thought he and Vic were the best people to place into the positions of leadership for this camp. Scrubbing a hand over his face, he took a deep breath before speaking. “So, guess that just leaves the official vote, huh?” He spared a glance towards Vic, an attempt to possibly read the other man’s thoughts and figure out if he was feeling the enormity of this nomination in the same way that Bishop was. It wasn’t so much that he was worried that he might not lead well, but taking this role, it placed them even deeper into the reality that the people within the walls of the Dog Park would be counting on them. Looking to them and even relying on to keep the whole place safe. "I guess so. And I say aye to what's been proposed. Bishop as President and me as Vice." As much as Vic had been worrying about his place in the Officer's brotherhood ever since he hurt his shoulder, leaving him unable to do his duties as Enforcer as easily or pain-free as he had in the past, there was no other option now but to move forward. And after what had happened this morning, there was no one else he trusted to lead the Dogs -- because they couldn't just give up. Vic knew his own mind. That had to count for something. "Aye," TJ echoed, raising the index and middle fingers on his right hand to his temple to give a little mock salute. It felt strange, being so in the thick of it when he'd only been around for a few months, but if he was going to be part of a group he was going to be part of it. He would rather be involved than sitting back and watching others decide his fate for him. Vic and Bishop, they could handle it and do well. It was an easy vote. Art crossed his arms, thinking about everything that had been said around him. He knew that this was a big moment, it was one was their way of proving they could keep going without Rodeo watching over their shoulders and telling them what to do. “You know my vote,” he said, looking at Vic and then Bishop. “We need leadership, and you two are it.” Listening as his brothers went around the table voicing their approval of the change up in leadership, Bishop still wasn’t certain he was the right man to lead. But with each new voice joining the chorus of approval, his confidence in that fact rose. He wouldn’t lead like Rodeo had, but maybe that was what the Hellhounds needed, a change in direction. A true change in direction. No more of this half in, half out business. When the last voice had sounded, Bishop leaned back in his chair, surveying the men sitting around the table with him and nodded. “Well, guess that’s it,” he remarked with a slight uptick of his mouth. “You've got yourself new leadership.” Bishop looked to Vic momentarily before continuing. “Now, we got any else we need to talk about today?” Vic was quiet for a moment, waiting for someone to say they'd changed their mind, that they didn't actually want him as second in command. But when nothing came, he grinned, glad to at least have closure on that mess of a morning. Being abandoned still hurt like hell, but now he could see how they could begin to move on. "Actually, yeah. We been talking about this back at home, and." Vic set his mouth into a serious line, though the corners of it were twitching with an almost inappropriate amusement. "Marina's looking to prospect, so if anyone's up for the challenge of sponsoring her… I don't think I gotta say that after everything she's done for us, even when she was just a bitch, she's a good candidate for a patch, but there you go." TJ tilted his head as he watched Vic talk about Marina, and then glanced around at everyone else in the room. He knew he was still new, but again he was all about being full on once he was a part of something. Besides, Vic had been his sponsor. So unless anyone else was really champing at the bit for it, he had no problem throwing his hat in the ring. "I could do that," he offered after a moment. "Sponsor her. Unless someone else was wanting to." Vic glanced over at the others, waiting for any other offers, but it seemed as though the rest of them were content to let TJ take the lead on this. Or maybe they were worried about taking responsibility over his Old Lady. Whatever the reasoning, Vic was happy with the resolution. "Let's make it happen," he said. Though Teagan's absence was still keenly felt in Chapel, he was glad that her presence in the past had paved the way for the rest of the Officers to not balk at the thought of a female prospect. “Alright, looks like Marina’s got herself a sponsor and we ain’t got anything else to discuss today,” Bishop began, tentatively stepping into the role of President to bring the meeting to a close. “So get the hell out of here and start putting out whatever fires have started with Rodeo’s departure. We need people to know that this ain’t changing anything, that this place is still a family and we’re going to be just fucking fine.” He didn’t hold any sort of gavel in his hands, but Bishop’s words were enough to make it clear that the meeting was adjourned and now it was time to move forward and reassure people that the Dog Park would remain, even if their first leader had not. |