Receiving a telegram earlier on in the day, Succulent Chinese Meal had been summoned back to the Sanctuary of Savages' headquarters, nestled in the heart of The Loop. The wind howling and the heavens opening up as he stepped out of his chauffeur driven car, the environment around him certainly hinted at an impending battle. Pulling up his coat lapels to shield the bottom half of his face, SCM cautiously approached the front door. No lights, and seemingly no activity inside the building certainly raised some concern. Thinking of the safety of his imported noodles, and secondly of the family he belonged to, SCM barged through the front door.

“I don’t just compliment people on their judo skills, I also practice it!” SCMs heroic and manly screams peetering out as the lights turn on.

“SUUUURRRRRPPPPRRRRRIIIISEEEEEEEE!” A chorus of congratulations and noises erupted from the now lively building.

Bewildered by what’s taking place, people start grabbing Succulent’s hands and shaking them in a celebratory manner. The noise of a few balloons popping in different corners of the room snaps him back to attention as he starts to notice the congratulations banners littering the walls and ceilings. Looking to the centre of the room, SCM notices Bella, the family head, with what looks like his suitcases.

“As you may already know, the upper powers have granted me the promotion that I have worked hard for. A chance to cement my legacy in Chicago.” SCM nods whilst listening, his eyes trailing down to his own suitcases and back up to Bella.

“This means I can expand my businesses and family-like practice in The Loop, but to do so I will need a hardworking individual to run the day to day duties of this expansion. Someone with the passion to get things done, someone who is quick to rise through the ranks themself, a person who is reliable and loved by the general public.” SCM forgot about his nerves and started to well up at the sheer mention of all these positive traits that were surely describing him.

“Unfortunately, the person who fits all these requirements perfectly doesn’t want the promotion, so we are stuck with the polar opposite, you. Congratulations! Here are your suitcases, I’ve instructed the driver on where to drop you off.” Bella pushes the suitcases towards SCM, and motions her head forward to signal to the people at the front of the room to open the door.

Stunned into silence for a split second, SCM splutters and manages to get some words out. “Just a minute! You’ve assured me in the past that I could speak!” He gets cut off.

“We’re not assuring anything! The final decision is mine, and you’ve coasted for far too long. Get out there and make Sanctuary of Savages proud!”

As soon as the sentence ended, family members and familiars alike picked up SCM in a joyful manner and started to carry him to the door.

“GET YOUR HAND OFF MY PE…” The rest of the sentence was drowned out by the whooping and cheering.

Bundled into the car with his suitcases thrown into the back, SucculentChineseMeal puts his hands to the car window, sniffles and spots a rather small, weedy, familiar looking man standing at the front door of the headquarters.

“I guess you could call this democracy manifest!” Said the man in a whiney pitched mocking voice.

“Shut up, Griffin.”