[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/TYng1XPP/e870a975f3d4ab67ec34b2957d80018e.png[/img]

[color=FFA500]Feat. Hayden Kersey[/color]

[img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/373592045c68e62d253210084759e56b/tumblr_inline_nm968jPrM41sccn28.gif[/img]
[/center]
[hr][hr]
His mother had always told him that being a leader sometimes had tough choices. Life would never give you a good outcome, and you just had to pick the one that sucked the least. It seemed like his first day as leader, that mantra was coming to haunt him big time. Just as he managed to slump down into the old fashioned button cushioned dining chair, an entire posse decided to enter the room, led by the worst person of all: Serena. Serena was the whole reason that he had the word ‘Acting’ in his new job description. Okay, so Lilith could also be a contender technically, but mostly any kind of competition had been between him and Serena. Listening to her declaration, Carlisle wanted to go over the table and strangle her. But that wouldn’t exactly be a good look. So instead he would begin to slow clap, as sarcastically as he could.

[color=00FFFF]”Well done, You made it back in one piece. Congratulations for not getting overdosed on heroin and not ending up in a gutter somewhere. You defied all expectations. Do you want a medal?”[/color] Carlisle looked around, seeing Erin as well. It was nice to see the calming aura of the party at least. His eyes darted further across and saw Kolby as well. Well that ruined everything even more. What puzzled him even further was the fact he had some random stranger with him.

[color=00FFFF]”Look what else you dragged with you.”[/color] Carlisle said as he looked Kolby up and down. [color=00FFFF]”And what’s worse is that you bought someone else who I don’t know. Well they must be magical otherwise they won’t make it through the door.”[/color]

[color=FFA500]”Name’s Hayden. I am Kolby’s girlfriend. When he came back to Tanner, I wanted to be with him, so we decided to see if you would let me join the Coven. So that me and Kolby would be happy together.”[/color] Hayden interjected with a small, twisted smile. She knew all she needed to about Carlisle to be able to push his buttons just from this little outburst.

[color=00FFFF]”Okay. Well normally, if it helps Kolby in anyway, then fuck no. However, I am supposed to help protect and nurture witches wherever I can. So I suppose you can at least stay in the interim. We will have to get the initiation done at some point.”[/color]

Carlisle would leave it at that and then wait for everyone else to arrive. Once he saw everyone he thought he needed to see, he would stand up and clear his throat, indicating that he was ready to talk.

[color=00FFFF]"Thank you for coming so quickly everybody. I know that it was most likely a bit of a shock to suddenly be recalled here so quickly, also with the end of college and what not only just happening. Just as many of us thought we had escaped we get pulled back in again right"[/color] Carlisle let out a little chuckle, disguising the fact he had been here all along and glossing over the fact he dropped out of college.

[color=00FFFF]"Still, we all knew that this day would eventually come, and we would be called back to Tanner to see to the coven. None of us expected it to be this fast. But our parents all seemed to want to retire early, and we just have to roll with the cards we have been dealt."[/color] A lump began to form on the insides of Carlisle's throat. He had been speaking to people publicly for too long and now his anxiety was starting to take hold and dig its claws into the edges of his mind. If he had ever hoped to become leader he had to dig deep and push through. With a soft cough and a little stuttering of words, Carlisle eventually continued. 

[color=00FFFF]"Given the sudden turn around of events, the council did not have time to select a replacement for my mother to lead the coven. So in the interim, they have asked if I would be willing to step in and be interim leader until the council have made their final choice. I know that being a Warlock means that me becoming a leader is a bit…  unconventional, and many of you probably expected Serena to be standing here in my place, myself included. I do hope however that this arrangement isn't a problem for anyone?"[/color] Carlisle took a moment to gather his words while he let that question hang in the air. He decided to omit the fact that the council had wanted Serena to be in his place right now, and it was only through his mother's insistence that he was here instead. 

[color=00FFFF]"Okay, normally we would spend a few days getting to know each other and resettling back into Tanner, but sadly, we have to get to business. As something is going on in Tanner. I am not sure from memory if any of you are Abjurers, if you are, you have probably been feeling the same sensation I have been feeling. For the uninitiated, Tanner is protected by a magical ward that is designed to keep most of the more…  feral members of our supernatural family away from Tanner. However, recently, that barrier appears to have been weakened and there appears to have been a breach. I don't know exactly what might have caused it, or what might have come through, but if it is a threat to us, or a threat to Tanner in general, we need to deal with it."[/color] Carlisle pulled the chair out from the dining room table and decided to sit down as he continued to speak. 

[color=00FFFF]"I appreciate that for some of you, you may need to settle in as you may have only arrived in Tanner. That is perfectly fine. You are more than welcome to stay at your family homes, or move in here to some the bedrooms here. Please take some time aclimiatise if you need to. However, I do intend to go out into the outskirts of Tanner and see if I can find this breach. I could use some people to come with me if they would like to volunteer."[/color] This was the moment for Carlisle, if no one did agree to come with him, then he might as well just quit now. To say he was nervous was an understatement.