Act 13: Complications and the Drawing Board

--- Josh ---

“Okay, so the mall jewelry store should be around here somewhere…” He told himself walking away from a nearby mall map.

The file the Malice Doctor had given him wasn’t all that impressive, only really telling him the store location, and hours of operation. If he wanted anything to help him actually rob the place, he’d have to figure it out on his own. (Which I guess is all part of the test…)

Glancing around a bit more he finally found the place he was looking for, an upscale -for his neighborhood- jewelry store with a number of gems and accessories on display as the two or three employees talked with a small handful of customers flitting through.

Of his three targets he’d decided to start with this one because if he had to rob someone he’d prefer they were someone who could afford it. Such as a jeweler’s place that had to be smart enough to insure a fair portion of their product. (And if not that’s their problem.)

Normally this meant he’d also take a look at the gang house the Malice Doctor had given him, but he felt like the Deviant mentioned by the cops the night prior was a sign that he’d probably run into said Deviant if he went after this gang house.

Which is why he preferred the idea of robbing the place less likely to shoot him. (Then again this is america.)

Making a note to keep an eye out for any security guards, he took another look at the store while trying to figure out the best way to rob it.

(The smart bet would probably be to rob it at night, but the combat ready Masks patrol at night. And given how I’d have to break into the mall as well as the store itself, I might not have enough time to gather what I need… Especially if I take into account the fact that a police station is less than a mile from the mall.) Even if he didn’t get in a fight with a mask, the cops were still something he’d have to worry about.

(Alright, so the other option is a simple smash and grab.) It wasn’t the most ideal plan, but it was fast enough that it could counterintuitively be the safer option. (If I can figure out a way to disguise myself and get away.)

He weighed the two options a little longer before shaking his head, and turning away from the store for now. (Hopefully I can come up with a better plan before I actually have to rob this place, but it won’t hurt to try and check in the other targets.)

With his goal for the moment accomplished, he started making his way to the nearest mall exit figuring if he headed to the park he could get in a bit more power training before the day was done. Though halfway to said exit, he came across a decently sized crowd of people standing in front of a stage for some event.

(Oh, and whose show will I be topping this week?) He couldn’t help but wonder as he made a slight detour from the exit.

Maneuvering around the crowd a bit, he tried reading the various signs around the stage in an attempt to figure out what had drawn so many people, only to freeze when he finally managed to get a good look at it.

“Ah shit…”

As cheering started all around him his eyes shot to the stage where a pair of teens in costumes known throughout the city stepped onto the stage while waving at the crowd.

“This is the mall the junior guild does its PR events at.”

Scene Consequences

-New Menu Tab [Bad Guy Stuff] Unlocked!

-New Information available about Mall Jewelry Store.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

---

Figuring that it might be a bit early in his career to be testing his luck against a Mask (even if there only junior Masks) he instead decided to try his luck at the pawn shop the Malice Doctor had directed him towards instead.

“Hello and welcome, there anything you looking for?” A large dark skinned man asked from behind the counter as he stepped into the supposedly rough pawn shop.

“Uh, no.” He answered, shaking his head. “Just… browsing for a gift.” He lied, taking a look around the store. (Doesn’t look that rough.)

“Any idea what kind of gift?” The man asked, his eyes back on whatever he was working on.

“Any old rock records?” He knew Maddie had an old record player she liked to play at her place, preferring the ‘organic old school to digital trash’ as she once put it.

“No, people don’t really pawn those these days.” The man admitted, as he drifted between the aisles.

(Computers and TVs are the most expensive stuff, but I don’t think I can carry all that much with me.) He frowned, before glancing towards the jewelry behind a glass case. (Suppose I could swipe a bag full of those if the glass isn’t reinforced.)

As he considered the possibility his eyes slowly drifted towards a set of odd looking electronics mounted on the wall. “What are those?”

“Hmm?” The man looked up from what he could now see was an electrical board of some kind. “Those are solar cells. Made them myself.”

“Solar cells?” He repeated, feeling like there was something important here he was missing.

“Yeah, you know solar panels.” The man nodded, stepping away from his project. “Mine admittedly aren’t as heavy duty as some of the professional ones out there, but mine are cheaper and even more efficient than the ones you’ll find on the standard market.”

“Oh, yeah?” He prodded, beginning to notice a number of similar electronics along the walls that he’d previously dismissed as too big to carry.

“Normally, it’d take you about fifteen grand to convert a house with the standard grid.” The man continued. “But mine can do the same for about three grand and take up half the space.”

“Why don’t you make a living selling these?” He had to ask. “I mean this sounds like a better business idea than a pawn shop. Er, no offense.”

“None taken, it was my old man’s before I inherited it.” The man waved his concern away. “Anyway since we live in the city not many people want to convert to solar, and the ones that do tend to live in apartments where they don’t have rights to the roof.”

“Eh, that sucks.” (Maybe I can talk Chris into upgrading, I’m sure he would if it helps with the bills.)

“It is what it is.” The man shrugged. “At the very least it’s something I can tinker with when I’m on shift.”

(Tinker with?) He frowned, before something clicked inside his head. (Fuck he’s an M.A.D.)

Scene Consequences

-New Information available about Rough Pawn Shop.

---

Having seen that the ‘security’ for two of his targets was notably higher than he’d been expecting he made his way to his house to try doing something to calm his building nerves.

Which is why he was currently surrounded by numerous half finished doodles he’d drawn with his ink, as well as one he couldn’t draw seemingly having run out of ink.

“Okay… If I’m out of Ink, I wonder if…” He reached into his pack containing the vials of Malice before pulling one out and swiftly downing it.

He couldn’t help but roll his neck as his entire body loosened, feeling so much of his stress dance away to the sweet symphony in his head as the ink began to flow from beneath his nails once more..

Grinning madly and giving into the song inside his head, he began drawing once more, his fingers following along to the music as he began to sketch with far more talent and skill than he ever had before.

Within a few short moments he found himself staring at a familiar bar and stage, the Cartoon Cabaret drawn with near impeccable detail as his hands brought imagination into reality.

He blinked, considering that for a moment as he stared at his hands. “I wonder…”

Reaching into his bag once more he pulled out another Malice vial before downing the strawberry copper and letting the even more detailed symphony fill his head as he put his ink stained fingers to the page. Drawing image after image of the Cabret in a detail so vivid they might as well be photographs. (But better…)

Scene Consequences

-Due to Experiment synergy gained 2XP to Ink Production and 2 progress towards Ink Drawings.

--For using a Malice Vial gained 1 additional progress towards Ink Drawings.

---Power Progress: Ink Drawings (5/10)

--For using a Malice Vial gained an additional (D6=6) XP to Ink Production.

---*Power Level Up* Ink Production Lv. 3 (4/8)

---For gaining a Malice Crit, 1 Malicious Madness sent to the Cartoon Cabaret.