Ken, 26yo Gay Politician (with a Thing for Older Men)

(...yay, more dialogue and setup. Trust me, after this post comes the mind control and fucking in this branch. This is also going to be the only story branch that really focuses on and heavily characterizes Melvin, so go to the other ones [when they come out] if you want more simplistic character writing. And I’ll get around to tagging these chapters and fixing the present-and-past tense discrepancies one day...)

"...before they make that faggy greenhorn our mayor and he gains absolute control," Thad exclaimed, wiping the spittle he produced by yelling from his dyed-black goatee.

"Oh my God, of course you’d stoop to homophobia! As if this is below this side I’ve now seen from you! Now fuck off and leave before I make you," Melvin screamed back, the brunette also wiping Thad’s spittle off of his whitening mustache. The two husky men in their late 40s stared each other down. They both were on the verge of starting a physical altercation, but both also knew that they didn’t have the stamina for a fight.

“See, you don’t GET the bigger picture because you haven’t seen it for yourself. Ken Jordans, who moved here a year ago? He knew the book existed. Withers told me he tried to shake him down for it, but gave up once he realized he’d have to win the election to get it. And now I’m the only one who can stop him before him taking control results in-”

Suddenly, around the time that they could hear applause coming from the auditorium, Thad cut himself off as his eyes dilated and then glazed over. Melvin was confused and a little perturbed by the sudden change in attitude, but shrugged it off so he could get back to smoking his joint in the alley. The inauguration ceremony didn’t need him to be there, and he needed to take the edge off even more after all of those crazed ramblings. Even if what he was told was real, he couldn’t believe Thad would be a better option.

It also didn’t help that Melvin was biased to Ken even before now because he could sense he’s gay… like him. He knew some people in town wouldn’t care if he was, but he still hid it from the straight majority of Angstrom because he didn’t want much attention put on his sex life. The gay men of Angstrom he was fucking: kept at an emotional distance. He thought it was best not to draw unwanted attention that could tarnish his name.

But he didn’t want the position because it gave him any power. It didn’t require him to look the best to draw votes-keeping a flabby physique with some muscle under it despite pestering by his peers to get more slim-and he didn’t care to become a notable figurehead. From ages 28-48, he had solely focused on the betterment of local politics and being the best treasurer Angstrom could have: accurate and incorruptible.

However, the strange ramblings of Thad got him ruminating on if the book is real. If it was, could there be an ordinance he hasn’t heard of that said the treasurer “must do good by Angstrom when serving in public office” or something that made him act this way? He hadn’t read every town law, and the magic commands could be hidden in between the lines. Could he even perceive them since he wasn’t ‘enlightened’ by the book like Thad supposedly was?

And if he was still so closed up, even with all the overtly sexual changes made to the town… that means Withers truly was only using the book for his own pleasure. He never cared much for the old, longstanding mayor, but while learning that Withers did things as ethical and utilitarian as possible with the laws, he still viewed his citizens as things to be used however he likes. Oddly enough, Melvin wouldn't mind it if he made all the debauchery free and open to everyone… because then he could be as liberated and queer as he was in the bedroom when used as a sex object by his partners.

Finished with the joint, Melvin stomps it out and turns to go back in and rejoin the inauguration audience, only to see Thad still standing there. He said in surprise, “Oh, uh, you’re still here. Weren’t you gonna leave so you can plot to defraud our voters? Fuckin’ weirdo…”

Even after Melvin said this, Thad didn't move and inch. His hairy, barrel chest slowly expanded and retracted as he breathed and stood there staring back at the treasurer. He shouted back, “What the fuck are you still standing here for? I can't and won’t change the votes, you’ve pissed me off, and you’re not bumming this joint, so what’re you here for?”

“Because I’ve commanded him to,” a masculine voice says as a man enters the alley through the side door, “Article 10 of the town’s ledger states that the runner-up of the mayoral election must take the position of council leader, who ‘must obey and move in synchronicity with their mayor’s will.’ I would assume that’s why he was so fixated on getting the vote rigged-to avoid the consequence of being first-loser he learned of.”

The person who joined the men and was standing in front of Melvin was Ken Jordans, the new mayor of Angstrom. Though the youngest man to ever hold the position at only 26, it was undeniable that he was a bear of a man: his curvy yet muscular form, his long red beard done into a simple Viking braid, and his now-undone two top-buttons and tie that revealed his furry chest all emphasized that fact. Melvin did vote for him for his policies, but also because… he found him very attractive.

Ken then leaned against Thad and wrapped his left arm around his neck, cupping one of the other man’s meaty pecs with his hand. Held in his right hand was an incredibly old note book, with many names scratched off the front-one Melvin could just barely make out as “Gerald Withers.” All were crossed out except for the name “Ken Jordans,” which looked freshly written

“Uh, hello Ken. Congratulations on the win,” Melvin says, somewhat startled by what the man said and was casually doing to his political opponent's body.

Ken responds with, “thanks, but you should also credit yourself; that endorsement you gave towards the final stretch really helped push me past the competition.”

“Oh, well it was no issue. You were the most qualified yet young and open minded candidate we’ve had in years, so it was an easy pick. Plus, I would say… I feel a certain kinship with you.”

“Ah, I see… so you also felt a ping on your gaydar too?”

“Whu-what?! I-i-i mean-”

“It makes sense. I got your vibes once I moved here, and I’ve been a little peeved that you never confirmed it either way until now. You seem like a good time.”

Melvin stood there awestruck. The man he helped elect was also gay AND hitting on him. But before he could enjoy this fact… he had to confirm some suspicions that seemed to be true.

“Ken… Thad shared some rumors with me… Is it true-”

“That the reason I moved here and ran for office is because I knew there was a magic book? Yeah, that’s true.”

The treasurer was stunned at the honesty, and asked back, “s-s-so that’s it, in your hand? And what’re you gonna do with it?”

Ken scoffed and replied, “Nothing ‘evil’ as far as you’re concerned, but I do plan to utilize this place... I come from a secret society made up of mystics and anomaly hunters-we’re not the US Shadow Government, just to be clear. Those fuckers suck. We’re more of a rogue’s guild that looks for fun tools we can use to create our own little hideaways from the magic feds. And when I found this remote spot that hadn’t caught the eye of the SG and was already carved out for hedonistic uses, trust me, I was salivating at the opportunity to take it. Of course, it took me until the old mayor started croaking to figure out who it was controlled by, and I was only able to get it out of him three months ago because he was desperate to share the truth and give his blessing to a candidate before he went.”

“But he also shared it with Thad two weeks ago,” Melvin interjected.

“Yeah, that really threw a minor wrench into things,” the new mayor said. “Especially since it led to this asshole breaking into my house once the results came in.” He lightly slaps Thad’s cheek. “Good thing he wanted all the power to himself and was too paranoid to try and convince you until the last minute.”

“...so you’re just going to take over? Make this whole town your personal porno? Are we just a resource to you?”

“Heh, come on Mel. I could've made this a landslide victory if I didn’t want to play fair and didn’t actually get invested in Angstrom. Trust me, I am going to fulfill my campaign policies while I’m serving my term here. But even stepping foot into here has… expanded my sexual proclivities far past what I felt even before settling in. Something inside me needs to be expressed, and expressed loudly at that. That’s an effect this town exudes and you don’t even notice it happening until you’re already affected.”

Melvin sits with all of that knowledge. The fact that his town is the dead center of emotion and desire-based magic and has so far been missed by the government. The fact that the government has a supernatural division and still missed it. The fact that he felt a truthful and genuine nature behind Ken Jordan's words…

“I’ve already made my first two free wishes: 1) all citizens and visitors of Angstrom are gay men, and 2) men in Angstrom can and are encouraged to have public sex within the limits. Now, I’m going to make the third wish regardless, but I wanted to ask you for your cooperation first,” Ken says calmly.

Befuddled by the consideration, Melvin asked "y-y-you did?”

“Yeah, you really helped me, and I want to do this as ethically as possible within the budget. So, how would you like to be my confidant and help me use the Book of Commands? It’ll be easy to accomplish my first-day legislative goals with three partners-in-crime right off the bat, and we can bounce ideas off each other for sexy laws and ordinances to pass.”

“...and what if I say no? Not because I object, but because I don’t want that level of control and awareness.”

“...I would respect it, and wouldn’t rope you into my little scenes I want to make happen. You’d just be another member of the populace affected by the broad changes.”

Melvin stews on that proposal from the powerful mayor…

“C’mon Mel, what do ya say?”