Chapter 2: David

C2: David

"I stink, I need to go brush my teeth", he smiled, carefully making his way off the bed and was about to walk into the bathroom but stopped halfway and looked at her face which had despair and annoyance mushed into one emotion. "We'll continue this conversation later." And then he walked into the bathroom, gently closing the door behind him.

Habit. When I was a lot younger, naiver and easily swayed, my aunt would always tell me to have a schedule. A list of the how's, why's and when's I'd want my day to resemble. Of what I wanted to accomplish in that time zone, and I would be able to set goals and accomplish them in next to no time. Of course it worked, she was a genius. But there was one tiny problem with that notion. Of having everything planned out, expecting each and everything that'll come your way, and most times, handling them with infinitesimal finesse.

After a while, your day, your behavior, your instincts, they all become habits. They all become, predictable. And one thing people hate more than an annoyingly repeated system, is seeing an annoyingly repeated system face to face and having no power whatsoever to alter it. That was the fate of many a man North of The Ninth.

You know that old quote, with great power comes a greater opportunity to practice independence, this subtle notion came with the unending circle of habit. And this concept was the mindset of David Lautner, Mayor of the town of Exasthen.

This 42-year-old, potbellied and balding fair man was the epitome of power. Almost like his potent grandad, Myers (which you would've known if my cellmates didn't tell me all that stuff was boring), though he knew little to nothing about his grandad. Every soul in Exasthen obeyed his orders. Who wouldn't? His smile could light up a room. A Da Vinci in the art of conversation. A man once said, "David is a seductress. Simple and short. And he's not ashamed to hide it. When you're with him, you know you're being lured or conned. It might be against your every value. But you still do it. Why? Because it Fucking David lad." He didn't look like much, but my he's a genius. Or at least he was. We'll get to that in double time.

As ruler of Exasthen, David had to have everything planned out. Had to make it seem like his efforts were effortless. And he milked that cow to perfection. But he, just like everyone else, had one undeniable problem. Underneath, he longed for adventure. For a chance to stray off, even if it was just a little. For a chance to free himself from 'habit'. So, every day, he fit into his endless schedule, a "Me Time". His chance to be something more, or even less, than he was meant to be. And he took this period of time very seriously. From 9 to 10 pm every day, he'd suddenly vanish. No one knowing his whereabouts. Not his Secretary, or his advisors, not even his wife.

But my oh my, he enjoyed every single second of "Me Time". The remaining hours of his "manipulated" life, he treated like a blur.

"Sir, you've got a…"

"busy day ahead of me?", He interjected, already knowing what his pre-afternoon was gonna be and feel like. "Give me the list Diana", he sighed, putting back on his formal shoes in his luxurious office.

"Well", the brunette began, reading directly from the list she proudly held in her hands. "You've got a business meeting with Naxil Industries this morning till 9:30 concerning the subsidy of rice. Then there's the coronation of Mrs. Shelby Claire as head of police by 10. A meeting with the common folk on the shady movements by villagers from the neighboring cities of the north by 1. Lunch with your wife by 3. An hour of free time, then another meeting with the minister of housing by 5, and …", she lifted her head up a little from the schedule she had carefully written out and glanced at her boss, seeing the tiredness in his eyes, even though the day had barely even begun. "We can continue with the list later", she feigned a smile, and took a seat at her space, left of the door, a couple meters to David's right.

"You strike me as someone who's really committed to the work she's been given. I mean, for a year and a half you have. And it keeps getting more noticeable. You really take your job serious Diana", David remarked, adjusting some files on his table.

"I do what I can sir", she blushed, adjust her dark hair.

"Sometimes I feel like you'd probably do a better job than I'm doi—"

"Sir, with all due respect, let's not start this again. I've already told you how I feel about this topic."

"And I've done so too", he said, smiling at her and sitting up. "I'm just saying if anything happens to me during the what, 6-7 months I have remaining as ruler of Exasthen, I don't think there'd be anybody to handle the situation as good as you." He smiled even harder

"Sir, I have no…"

"Just think about it okay. You never know how the cards are shuffled. I'm just telling you what I think about the matter. The cities of the North are gradually turning against themselves. The Islands, Raven, and even our dear city of Exasthen. Just last week we were raided, and I'm not gonna tell the ministers this, but I wouldn't be shocked if was the Ravers" he crossed his hands behind him. "I just feel like sooner or later someone's gonna start asking questions that I don't have the answer to. Real soon too. Really really soon" He slacked back on his chair. After a couple seconds of silence, he continued, "So how much time do we have before the meeting with Naxil?"

"Ummm, an hour and 10 minutes", she replied after glancing at her watch.

"Oh okay", he said with his eyes lighting up a little. "Wanna play a game of…" his phone beeped, drawing attention the text message that had just dropped. Not that he cared though as he shoved the phone aside and cleared up the middle of his desk. "Wanna play a game of WHOT", he smiled, with the box of cards in his left.

"Sir, I don't think…"

"I know. You don't think you'll be able to beat me. I understand, but you could at least give it a try Dian", he smirked.

After a couple seconds of hesitation, she gracefully got up from her seat and replied with a smirk of her own, "Oh, you're on."