The New Regime

Date: 11/19/2020

I was living in this dystopian society. One where we made home/teritories from huge rooms in these large old mansions. There was an air of resigned but fetid existence, as if living was a chore it was so hard. For a while I chased a time traveler through the city. She kept popping into differt times and different bodies Ir versions of hersle.f it was difficult. I had to, it was important to catch her, byt I can't recall why. Then I fell in love. It was weird, I fell in love randomly with a guy. He was leaving the next month and going through some stuff with his ex. We bonded over that, a friendship, and it felt good. New. I hadn't been in love for forever. I allowed it. I think I connectedd to him because he was needy, but not in a pathetic way. Just quietly hurting. It hit a pang in me, something very old but familiar. But others noticed. I felt odd, being in love with a guy. It was fine, I guess, but I'd been gay for so long It just felt odd. Lile people would think me weird for it. But they didn't noticed that strangness. Instead, one day when I visited his level and where his little nook home was - in thee upper level of the mansion grand entrance, a neighbor girl out of her room to tell me he was a cheater and i shouldnt get my heart broken. I asked if she'd seen him sleeping in that bed (I nodded to his large white bed nestled in his nook) with his ex, a gorgeous but volatile redhead. "He told me he was done with her." I saiddd, feeping confident. I she said no, but that I needed to wake up. He's a man, two timing is natural. Dream me privately agreed, not bitter but acceptng that nature. I ledt not believing her but doubt began to creep in. I decided to let him go. I had only just started falling in love with him. It wouldn't hurt much to stop It now. Then there was a takeover of our government by some foreign power. Like we had been conquered without war. I didn't like the new regime. People went and had to pledge their loyalty, it began with answering a letter. (Really a mess of paperwork.) When it came to my turn, I turned in a desposition on everything corrupt they were doing. When they called me in it wasn't just for an interview. It was for a full swear in, be a citizen or else, ceremony. This was hosted In the library of a giant mansion, so a giant library. Everyone in their council/government body was there, nobles and strange looking. Like they were lions with feathers but people still, sorta. Odd shaped limbs stuck out the top in their heads. They sat in opulence, giant teddy bears on the sofa. I wanted to show I wasn't afraid so I sat on the sofa instead of standing before the leader. I launched and arranged pillows and was causal. (I was a dick) They declared me guilty of high treason, for stating my opinion. They told me even if I was made a citizen the high treason would stand on my permanent record. They interrogated me. Somehow I was wiley and well spoken and managed to convince them I would make a proper citizen, even if I dissented. Something about dissent being good. I think I illustrated my life as it would follow. I'd live in a dark back corner of the kingdom, in a little shop meeking off an existence selling oddities and making very little money. I'd have no power and be a nobody. They bought this and made me sign vows of loyalty to thee government. I had to say them, signing was speaking, and it was magically binding. It was either this or death, so I did, forced and directed as what to say at each turn. They didn't give me a script though so it was awkward, I had to speak at the same time as the woman directing me. I felt the magic binding my words each Time I spoke a new line. Each new line and paragraph came with a picture show and tell of what I would say. Maybe their written language? They literally changed the set in this little closet type room, like a tiny stage theatre. Reading numbers was reading tiny hedges in a row. They didn't tell me how to either, just let me stumble along while they insisted threateningly.