05-27-2024, 09:51 PM
Time.
So much time had passed.
The animals were beginning to notice too.
Montgomery Scarborough, archon of the Congregants of Genesis, had his eyes on the problems many months ago, but had never made them aware. In fact, the leader had tried his best to provide his assistant and tie up loose ends where he could, but it was never enough. Their food stashed away in ice was beginning to dwindle and congregants no longer had their pick of a vast cuisine, instead getting rations coordinated by those in charge. Herbs were no longer in the general public's reach too. The sick were beginning to get sicker and decisions had to be made. Do they prioritize the young and healthy or the elderly and chronically ill? Montgomery was left to decide.
Some were beginning to lose their faith and scold Montgomery. They noticed that the canine was a hypocrite. While he prioritized the healthy, he still stashed some herbs away for his chronically ill lover, Lucia. He always said he needed her to keep himself afloat, but what about the rest of them? Why was he a priority, unlike their friends and family? For that, they were reasonably harsh. To say that he did nothing in regards to food though, that was unfair. The archon was doing his best pleading nearby groups for anything they could spare, even if he had to risk his reputation and dignity for it. After all, there was a reason he brought no congregants on his adventures. They did not need to see him at his lowest.
Others were still praying to Neandryne, hoping better times would come. Their utmost faith in the God of Change led them to believe that this was the end of an era, bringing forth another of prosperity. Montgomery envied their faith. He wanted their God to save them and relieve him of the pressure that had been weighing him down for quite some time, but how long did he have to wait? With Neandryne not showing their face for many years, he could only hope soon. In the meantime, Montgomery's own beliefs were beginning to fade.
With his paws shaky and glasses beginning to slide off his face, Montgomery stood at the front of the temple staring at the wall of incarnations. His dark gaze scanned the many faces of Neandryne's variations as if he was trying to find an answer in their pointed expressions, but he soon let his head fall into his neck. He closed his eyes and a singular tear streamed down his cheek. The archon's paw raised to his face and softly caressed it away before anyone wandered in behind him as he called for a meeting after dawn.
Montgomery rubbed the back of his paw against his ceremonial pelt before turning to face the rest of the temple. Moments later, the first of the congregants started to file in. He anxiously surveyed the crowd for any disappointed looks or furrowed brows, but found none. A sigh left him. Maybe this would be a better meeting than the rest. Just maybe.
The majority did not take long to follow. A few stragglers always came late, but Montgomery did not mind. As long as they showed up to prove their loyalty in Neandryne's eyes, that was what was important. Those who chose not to come were what irked him. The music that had once led them into service was now gone. Many were choosing to stay home lately, while others had made their way to an early grave. Ultimately, there weren't many familiar faces, along with no new ones. Montgomery tried to blame their God for their lack of attendance, but only found himself blaming the archon... which happened to be him.
With a final look over the small crowd, the canine affirmed that this was the last of the crowd whether he liked it or not. "Thank you for coming today," he murmured to break the silence. "I will take anyone I can get." Montgomery offered a half-hearted smile in an attempt to raise their spirits. Most of the crowd did not seem to react and remained unempathetic.
He nervously swallowed. "I want to acknowledge a few things today. We, as the Congregants of Genesis, have been struggling... and I need everyone to pitch in." This request has been made many times over the past few months, but not everyone listened. Ironically, those who did not lend a paw were those who often complained, but he always tried to be sympathetic and push them towards a better place. "Our food is low and the medicinal supplies are not going to last much longer..." His gaze momentarily averted their own, trying not to see their reaction, but he still heard their whispers. They were hard to ignore, even if he could not make out the words they spoke. Montgomery just assumed they were negative at this point.
Eventually, he looked back. "I am going to try and go out to the other groups again for reinforcements soon, but I need us to pick up the pace here too, okay?" the canine pleaded. "If you're w-"
"Will you be stepping it up too?"
The dog avoided the question, despite the audience clearly noticing his expression souring at it. He tried to continue speaking, but chaos started to spread among the audience. Questions and accusations were shot towards Montgomery, whether shouted, spoken, or whispered.
"I'm leaving."
"I can't imagine moving a paw till I feel better... and how do you expect to fix that?"
"Why hasn't Neandryne shown their face to you? Clearly, they do not approve of you. I could do better..."
"How long until we don't have to take handouts from the other groups?"
"Why is your girlfriend the exception?"
"ENOUGH!"
Montgomery suddenly rose to all four paws and stood firm at the front. "What will arguing do besides tear us down further?" he growled. "If you do not believe in my or Neandryne's plan, then leave. It'll be one less mouth to feed." His firmness did not stop the entire crowd with a 'Or die, like the unlucky' being heard near the front. Some animals just did not know how to whisper. He chose to pretend to not hear it, but it was already weighing down upon him internally just like the rest of their comments.
Instead, he persisted. "If you attend today, you're getting an assignment. No ifs, ands, or buts." As expected, there was some protest. "Those who step up first will get the light duty, so I expect to see some faces coming up to the front." He tapped his claws lightly against the marble beneath his feet. The archon was lying, of course. Montgomery was not hard-headed enough to purposefully torture the weak, but he had exhausted his pleasantries. Only commands worked as of late, especially ones with incentive. He was even beginning to wonder if dishing out promotions or extra rations would work better, but had yet to try. He was not that desperate yet.
Another tap of his claws signaled for the congregants to come forth. "Now, who will step up?"
So much time had passed.
The animals were beginning to notice too.
Montgomery Scarborough, archon of the Congregants of Genesis, had his eyes on the problems many months ago, but had never made them aware. In fact, the leader had tried his best to provide his assistant and tie up loose ends where he could, but it was never enough. Their food stashed away in ice was beginning to dwindle and congregants no longer had their pick of a vast cuisine, instead getting rations coordinated by those in charge. Herbs were no longer in the general public's reach too. The sick were beginning to get sicker and decisions had to be made. Do they prioritize the young and healthy or the elderly and chronically ill? Montgomery was left to decide.
Some were beginning to lose their faith and scold Montgomery. They noticed that the canine was a hypocrite. While he prioritized the healthy, he still stashed some herbs away for his chronically ill lover, Lucia. He always said he needed her to keep himself afloat, but what about the rest of them? Why was he a priority, unlike their friends and family? For that, they were reasonably harsh. To say that he did nothing in regards to food though, that was unfair. The archon was doing his best pleading nearby groups for anything they could spare, even if he had to risk his reputation and dignity for it. After all, there was a reason he brought no congregants on his adventures. They did not need to see him at his lowest.
Others were still praying to Neandryne, hoping better times would come. Their utmost faith in the God of Change led them to believe that this was the end of an era, bringing forth another of prosperity. Montgomery envied their faith. He wanted their God to save them and relieve him of the pressure that had been weighing him down for quite some time, but how long did he have to wait? With Neandryne not showing their face for many years, he could only hope soon. In the meantime, Montgomery's own beliefs were beginning to fade.
With his paws shaky and glasses beginning to slide off his face, Montgomery stood at the front of the temple staring at the wall of incarnations. His dark gaze scanned the many faces of Neandryne's variations as if he was trying to find an answer in their pointed expressions, but he soon let his head fall into his neck. He closed his eyes and a singular tear streamed down his cheek. The archon's paw raised to his face and softly caressed it away before anyone wandered in behind him as he called for a meeting after dawn.
Montgomery rubbed the back of his paw against his ceremonial pelt before turning to face the rest of the temple. Moments later, the first of the congregants started to file in. He anxiously surveyed the crowd for any disappointed looks or furrowed brows, but found none. A sigh left him. Maybe this would be a better meeting than the rest. Just maybe.
The majority did not take long to follow. A few stragglers always came late, but Montgomery did not mind. As long as they showed up to prove their loyalty in Neandryne's eyes, that was what was important. Those who chose not to come were what irked him. The music that had once led them into service was now gone. Many were choosing to stay home lately, while others had made their way to an early grave. Ultimately, there weren't many familiar faces, along with no new ones. Montgomery tried to blame their God for their lack of attendance, but only found himself blaming the archon... which happened to be him.
With a final look over the small crowd, the canine affirmed that this was the last of the crowd whether he liked it or not. "Thank you for coming today," he murmured to break the silence. "I will take anyone I can get." Montgomery offered a half-hearted smile in an attempt to raise their spirits. Most of the crowd did not seem to react and remained unempathetic.
He nervously swallowed. "I want to acknowledge a few things today. We, as the Congregants of Genesis, have been struggling... and I need everyone to pitch in." This request has been made many times over the past few months, but not everyone listened. Ironically, those who did not lend a paw were those who often complained, but he always tried to be sympathetic and push them towards a better place. "Our food is low and the medicinal supplies are not going to last much longer..." His gaze momentarily averted their own, trying not to see their reaction, but he still heard their whispers. They were hard to ignore, even if he could not make out the words they spoke. Montgomery just assumed they were negative at this point.
Eventually, he looked back. "I am going to try and go out to the other groups again for reinforcements soon, but I need us to pick up the pace here too, okay?" the canine pleaded. "If you're w-"
"Will you be stepping it up too?"
The dog avoided the question, despite the audience clearly noticing his expression souring at it. He tried to continue speaking, but chaos started to spread among the audience. Questions and accusations were shot towards Montgomery, whether shouted, spoken, or whispered.
"I'm leaving."
"I can't imagine moving a paw till I feel better... and how do you expect to fix that?"
"Why hasn't Neandryne shown their face to you? Clearly, they do not approve of you. I could do better..."
"How long until we don't have to take handouts from the other groups?"
"Why is your girlfriend the exception?"
"ENOUGH!"
Montgomery suddenly rose to all four paws and stood firm at the front. "What will arguing do besides tear us down further?" he growled. "If you do not believe in my or Neandryne's plan, then leave. It'll be one less mouth to feed." His firmness did not stop the entire crowd with a 'Or die, like the unlucky' being heard near the front. Some animals just did not know how to whisper. He chose to pretend to not hear it, but it was already weighing down upon him internally just like the rest of their comments.
Instead, he persisted. "If you attend today, you're getting an assignment. No ifs, ands, or buts." As expected, there was some protest. "Those who step up first will get the light duty, so I expect to see some faces coming up to the front." He tapped his claws lightly against the marble beneath his feet. The archon was lying, of course. Montgomery was not hard-headed enough to purposefully torture the weak, but he had exhausted his pleasantries. Only commands worked as of late, especially ones with incentive. He was even beginning to wonder if dishing out promotions or extra rations would work better, but had yet to try. He was not that desperate yet.
Another tap of his claws signaled for the congregants to come forth. "Now, who will step up?"
MONTGOMERY S. - ARCHON OF COG
"what have YOU done?"
✽ montgomery scarborough✽ archon (leader)
✽ congregants of genesis
✽ male, he/him
✽ tag if needed!
