Chapter Text
Jerry was a man. A man who had power. Not every man has had this power - thats what made and will make him the Mayor.
As Mayor, he had a certain amount of power over his municipality that he was allowed to exhibit for the good of its residents and hopefully not exploit. This made him Mayor. He had been Mayor for the past four years and, with his approval rating through the roof, he was giving it another go.
However, being mayor sadly doesn't make him all powerful; there's always someone above you.
___
He's never been one to wake with a start, but he doesn't wake up slowly either. Its a calculated dance of light receptors and brain activity that wake him up in the mornings. His alarm merely aids the process - one in which he refers to as going through a house and turning on every light at a leisurely pace.
That's why he knew from the start this day was going to be shit.
His alarm seemed to blare this go around, By the Seaside seemed to be threatening his imminent doom as it drawled on. He blinked his eyes open blearly, feeling dazed, which was never a good sign. He was supposed to wake up before that alarm and peruse on his laptop. He missed laptop time. He muses this thought with visible anguish.
Instead of waking up in a respectable position, preferably on his back, he was strewn about his bed, showing evidence of tossing and turning throughout the night.
His neck and back popped in succeeding protest when he rolled to his side, blindly slapping at his nightstand. Feeling around his decorated horse lamp he found his phone charger and traced it to his phone, groaning complaints all the while at the exertion.
He drags himself up against his head board sighing heavily as he props a pillow behind his head, stopping his alarm. The silence brings ringing with it and he shivers with dread as he looks at his phone screen. The calender notifies him that today he has to meet with the City Council.
As if he didn't hear it enough warnings yesterday.
"Why today.." He brought his phone to his forehead, repeatedly tapping his head against it, half considering a good cry before he started his day.
It's ironic how similarly King George and Mayor Jerry dread their respective councils - though either would never know. Their positions of power are stripped bare and even demeaned in the faces of those with equal to somewhat higher authority. It can be scary, and even a little intimidating.
For Jerry, he more so has to deal with the fact that his title isn't always as High and Mighty as it may seem. A cold slap in the face to start your morning as he rolls out of bed to stumble into his bathroom.
His morning routine consisted of a brisk yet loving self-care shower accompanied with music, followed by a respectful amount of skincare and a few helpful psych-oriented quips to himself in the mirror to really get ready for his day.
Following this is precise tie choosing for his signature blue suit, figuring out what dress shoes best match said tie and what watch he was feeling that day.
Fixing up some pancakes for his mother to his extensive yacht rock playlist in the morning was always a bright part of his day. He wouldn't let the news of today ruin the moment with his mother as Africa by Toto played throughout the kitchen. He swayed to it in a noncommital sort of way, not as energetic as usual.
'I hear the drums echoing tonight'
Jerry sings alongside the song quietly as his mother taps the rhythm on the table.
'But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation.'
He placed a warm plate of pancakes topped with maple syrup, whipped cream and powdered sugar in front of his mother and kissed her cheek, reaching to turn on his TV. He turns down the song, opting to turn up the television.
The television automatically flipped to a news channel consisting of a report on his upcoming rally within a month. His face appeared with a caption that revealed that the knowledge of his meeting today was more extensive than he thought.
This meeting was majorly important towards his campaign and was crucial in deciding on whether or not he'd be fit to run for mayor once more. He sits across from his mother, eyes latched to the TV as he leans on his elbows, hands folded together.
- snap, snap -
He turns to his mother, having just been distracted from the TV by her snapping her fingers.
She brought a hand to her mouth, tapping her chin with her thumb and pinkie displayed. - Whats wrong? -
He frowned. "Really important meeting today, mom." He made an exaggerated motion with his hands for emphasis. "It's a Biggin'." He reached to slide his laptop across the table, opening it with a sigh that hunched his shoulders.
Watching a few political campaigns and interviews of his to understand himself to the fullest degree always helped start his day.
His eyes were dragged away by tapping on the table from his mother. She drew her thumb to her chin and swiped it outwards, then spelled something with the same hand afterwards. - Don't slouch. - She smirked good humoredly, his face flattening upon reading it.
"I wasn't.." He murmured, slowly correcting himself to hopefully avoid it being perceived. His eyes flicked away, a grimace tilting the corners of his mouth downwards.
She pointed to him, then frowned, waving her hands in front of her as if ridding them of sweat. - You're nervous. -
Jerry blinked, then looked back to his laptop with a curt nod, sparing her a few glances.
She gave him an empathetic and loving smile, bringing her thumb under her chin once again and swiping out, then brought her hands to her chest. - Don't be. -
She pointed to him, then brought her hand to the side of her mouth and motioned outward with it. She cupped both hands into C's and circled them in front of her before making them flat and palming the air. - You're going to do great. -
He stared at her for a moment then smiled gratefully. "Thank you, mom."
He glanced at his watch and stood up with fervor, smacking his laptop shut and placing it in his briefcase on the chair. "I'm off! Can't be late."
He snags the case, rounds the table and kisses his mother's cheek once more. "Bye, Ma'." She pats his cheek lovingly.
On his way out the door he grabbed his custom CD for his car ride - call him old fashioned - and forced himself out of the door to his convertible.
"Goodmorning Mr. Mayor!" The cheery voice of a man walking infront of his home drawls almost immediately as the sun catches Jerry's eyes.
The attention of a citizen instantly shifts Jerry into a somewhat better mood, sending a finger gun the man's way across the yard with his free hand as he shields the sun with his briefcase. "Don't call me Mayor yet, Tom! We don't even know if I'll win!" He holds up his hands in false surrender, clearly sarcastic. The two share a laugh as he continues on with his walk.
"He's so humble!" A woman exclaims, pushing a stroller
"So modest!" Another calls from a yard, watering her garden.
"I try, I try!" He waves his free hand dismissively, clearly enjoying the attention. He already feels a little lighter.
"YOU SUCCEED MR. MAYOR!" A man calls from his window, holding his windowsill intensely.
"Just for you, Rick!" And with that, Jerry shuts himself within his convertible and sighs with relief. Some tension is able to leave his shoulders as he flexes his hand around the steering wheel, the other placing his belongings in the passenger seat.
When grabbing his keys from his pocket to turn on the car, his phone buzzes in his coat pocket, causing him to shift to grab it and put it between his shoulder and ear. "Y'ellow?"
- 'Hello, am I speaking to a Mr. Generazzo?' A woman's voice questions him with a friendly tone.
"Yes, this is he." Jerry shuffles the phone to the opposite shoulder and ear, starting the car and popping his disc in the CD player, waiting to press it all the way in as he grabs the back of the passenger seat, preparing to reverse.
- 'Good morning Mr. Chairman, my name is Selena LaBeouf of the Beaverton County Legislative office at City Hall. I am speaking on behalf of the Beaverton County Comissioner, Ms. Y/L/N as her secretary.' The woman introduces the name as Jerry's throat becomes tighter around his next swallow, Adam's apple bobbing.
- 'I'm calling to confirm you are aware of the updated meeting clientele this morning, correct?' She keeps giving him enough time to answer, this discussion already having been planned and executed more times with other than he'd like to know.
"Yep, all good- uh, all updated here. Wouldn't miss it for the world." He says tightly, adjusting his rear view as he backs out. Updated clientele? He didnt get to read the email fully.. why was her Secretary telling him this of all people? She has nothing to do with this!
- 'Glad to hear it, Mr. Chairman. As you-'
"Uh, question- ma'am." He interrupted, fidgeting with the seat cushion.
- '..Yes?' She pauses, sent off track.
"You mentioned Ms. Y/L/N." He states, obviously. "As far as I know she shouldn't be within this meeting today. Shes not a Chairman of the City Council." He glanced around nervously, further skeptical about today's meeting.
- 'Well, as you should already know from the preliminary email sent to you, this meeting is mainly to discuss the potential campaign shifts and expectations for this upcoming term. I'm aware you are a candidate yourself, correct?'
"Yes ma'am, that's correct." He confirms with a small nod, successfully pulling out of his driveway.
- 'Due to your campaign promises that directly tie into Ms. Y/L/N's field of work, she requested that she be apart of the meeting this morning. Your associate, Head Councilor Chairman Mr. Millard, let her lead the meeting herself.' If only this secretary knew how far Jerry's heart plummeted into the earth.
"Right." He sputters. "..Understood. Uh. Thank you.' Jerry responds smally.
- 'No, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Have a safe drive.' She croons.
Just before Jerry's shaky hand reaches to end the call, she calls out again.
- 'Oh, and, Mr. Generazzo?' She asks.
"Yes?"
- 'I suggest arriving early if you were planning on stopping anywhere first. Ms. Y/L/N would like a word before the meeting itself.' The woman explains simply, Jerry immediately stops in the road.
The call ends.
Jerry let's his head fall to his steering wheel, his car pitifully stopped at an awkward angle in the road. "There goes coffee." He mutters sadly.
As he wallows, his CD player takes in his disc and crackles shortly before filling his car with I Want You Back by Jackson 5 as he whines his displeasure in the drivers seat for the upcoming day, letting out noises akin to sobbing.