Scenario:In an all male world, A group of men are talking to each other.
Create my version of this story
In an all male world, A group of men are talking to each other.
Ethan
He is a young man navigating a world without women. He is curious,determined,and witty. Ethan struggles to understand the dynamics of an allmale society but is eager to learn. He discovers a group of men discussing various topics,including politics and relationships. Intrigued by their camaraderie,Ethan joins them,feeling both excitement and nervousness at being part of a community where he can express himself freely.
Finn
He is a thoughtful member of the group with a passion for history and politics. He is intelligent,serious,and reserved. Finn engages in discussions about global events,often providing insightful perspectives. His calm demeanor provides balance to the conversations. Finn greets Ethan warmly and shows genuine interest in his thoughts and opinions. His ability to listen and share his knowledge makes him a respected figure within the group,and he quickly bonds with Ethan over shared interests.
Hudson
He is a charismatic leader within the group known for his charm and easygoing nature. He is friendly,approachable,and confident. Hudson welcomes Ethan into the group with open arms and introduces him to the others. His charisma extends to his appearance,with many drawn to his striking looks. Despite his laidback attitude,Hudson remains focused on creating a welcoming environment for everyone,showcasing his leadership qualities and kindness towards newcomers like Ethan.
I join the group of men and they turn to look at me.
"Hi," I say.
One of them frowns, another raises an eyebrow, and a third one smiles.
"Hey," says the smiler, and I realize that it’s Nate.
He’s the one who spoke first when I met this group of men earlier.
"Hi."
I look around at the other men in the group.
There are six of them in total, including Nate.
Two of them are sitting on a bench, a third one is leaning against a wall, and the other three are standing.
All of them are looking at me.
"Can I ask what you’re all doing here?"
I say, trying to sound casual.
"We’re just talking," says Nate.
He looks me up and down, like he’s trying to figure out where I fit in.
"Do you want to join us?"
I do, but I’m not sure how to go about it.
I’ve never joined a group of people before.
I mean, I’ve joined classes, and groups for extracurricular activities that I didn’t really care about.
But this is different.
These men seem to know each other.
They have a camaraderie that I can’t quite understand.
And they’re all talking about things that I don’t know much about.
"Sure," I say finally, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Thanks."
Nate smiles again and points to the bench where two of the men are sitting.
"You can sit there. We were just talking about…"
I move toward the bench and hesitate for a moment before I sit down.
The men on either side of me shift slightly to make room for me, and I feel the wooden slats creak under my weight.
"We were just talking about the recent changes in local governance," says Nate.
He leans forward slightly, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"It’s an interesting topic."
One of the men who was sitting on the bench turns to look at me.
I think his name is Finn.
"Yeah," he says.
"There have been a lot of changes recently. It’s hard to keep up with everything."
He pauses for a moment and then continues.
"It’s not unlike what happened a few years ago. There was a big shift in power back then too. But this time around, it feels different somehow."
I nod, but I don’t really understand what he’s talking about.
I’m not even sure what "local governance" means.
The other men in the group start talking again, discussing something about politics and government and how things are changing. One of them, Owen, is still standing with his arms crossed over his chest.
He looks like he’s trying to keep himself separate from the rest of us.
"I don’t know if we should be discussing this stuff with someone we don’t really know," he says after a few minutes.
The man who was leaning against the wall, Hudson, waves his hand dismissively.
"Don’t worry about it," he says.
"She seems like she can be trusted."
Owen raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything else.
Hudson turns to me and asks, "So, what do you think?"
I open my mouth to answer but realize that I don’t actually have anything to say.
I know nothing about local governance or politics or any of that stuff.
My mouth feels dry and I can feel my heart beating faster in my chest.
"Uh," I say finally.
"I don’t really know much about it."
Nate smiles again and pats me on the shoulder.
"That’s okay," he says.
"Don’t worry," he says.
"We were just talking about it because we’re interested in it. It’s not something you need to know about."
Finn leans forward again and says, "Actually, I think it is important to know about it. Our city has a unique leadership structure that not many other cities have."
He pauses and then continues.
"There used to be a council of elders that made decisions for the city. But a few years ago, the council was dissolved and replaced with a new system. Now there is one person who makes all of the decisions."
Hudson nods in agreement.
"Yeah, and recently they decided to ban community gatherings."
Nate glances at me before turning back to Finn.
"Is that what you were talking about?"
Finn nods.
"Yes. And I think it’s interesting because it’s different from what happened before. Last time, there was a gradual shift in power. But this time, it happened quickly."
Nate looks like he’s trying to process everything Finn said.
He keeps glancing at me between topics and fidgets with the sleeve of his shirt.
When there’s a break in the conversation, he scoots closer on the bench until our shoulders almost touch.
The other men continue discussing whether or not there should be term limits for council members, but I can feel Nate’s knee brushing against mine under the table.
Nate leans in closer, lowering his voice so only I can hear.
"There's something else you should know," he says, his tone suddenly serious.
"The new leader has been asking questions about you."
