Welcome to Gaia! ::

She may take notice of a man walking past, as if with purpose, from the downtown area up through these nicer parts of town. His head is down, and he holds a laptop under his arm. His gait is almost a march, as if every footfall brings him closer to a goal. Even hurried, he pauses to give smiles and tip his hat to the people on the street. She hears them address him as "Gov'ner Nate," politely and almost formally.

He stops briefly by a store display, of wedding cakes and lovely heart-shaped tarts. His eyes follow the lines and curves of the pretty pastries, but he doesn't stay there for long. He turns, as if looking away from something disturbing, and continues down the street. As he passes Akemi, he gives her a slight smile, and tilts his head as though processing whether or not he remembers her.

He stops. "I'm Nathanael, and it's gorgeous here, at least, I think so. But keep in mind, I'm a little biased." His voice has similar qualities, a strength and authority in its soft undercurrents. "You're new? I thought I hadn't seen you before. You see, our borders, they are wide open; we are in many ways a waystation for travellers and merchants, and a safe haven for those who wander. Are you just passing through, or have you a mind to settle here?"

A passerby tips his hat and says "'Afternoon, Governor," on his way. Nathanael nods to him affectionately, and looks back to Akemi.

Just then a young red-headed woman came running up, an envelope under her arm. She stopped by Nathanael, bent over, rested a hand on her knee, and tried to catch her breath.

"Run... and... meet Govoner," The girl wheezed. "As if... everybody can... run like she can..."

"Little town, called Apple Valley--I don't know why--a bunch of houses scattered around the only shopping center," Akemi replies, rolling her green eyes at the thought, "We had a shopping center that consisted of a supermarket and a general merchandise store--nothing else." "The area was pretty much flat-land too, very hot and with only two seasons, summer and winter...reason why I left the area," she finishes her sentance with a snort, "but it was a friendly place."
"The school was the only thing that was really worthwhile there, I have a scholarship from there too!" Akemi glances upward at that note, "is there a university here?" she asks him, tilting her head while clicking her tongue.

He beams, and looks personally excited. "Yes, the University of Crosshaven is a prestigious school, with a history spanning more than two hundred years. Unfortunately, much of the University was destroyed two years ago in a freak natural disaster," and beyond that very vague description, he does not elaborate. "But the University is scheduled to open again soon, and I can't wait. I intend to take clesses myself, after my term of service ends."

Now that he mentions it, he does look young. Very young. Perhaps a freshman's age.

She blinked, and smiled.

"I'm Shiela Go. Nice to meet you," Shiela said, offering a hand. "Oh, Heather sent me running after you to give you this."

She handed him a packet with the WTMI logo on it.

"It's the price listing of the commercial slots available for politicians. You're getting the special rate, of course, but we hope you will be discrete about that... The election commercials from your successor's competitors are next year's equipment budget," she explained, winking impishly.

((Wow. I spelled everything right in the first place!))

"According to Heather she's just living up to her job description," Shiela said with a shrug. She then grinned at Akemi, and explained: "You see Blasphemi is WTMI's Shock Jock."