Halloween Episode (Pt. 7): Episode Resolution

--- Joshua ---

“So, you’re a psychic but you can use magic?” He asked the girl for clarification, because while he wouldn’t consider himself an expert on Deviants, he was fairly certain there was supposed to be a difference between Magic and Psionics.

“Sort of…” The girl shrugged, before shaking her head and taking a sip of the soda he’d gotten her. “It’s more that I’ve been corrupted by Anima -which is magic- but that’s done this weird thing where I can sort of manipulate Anima the way a kinetic can manipulate fire or force or whatever else. It’s not real magic but it’s like I can fake magic by willing it into existence.”

“I see…” He nodded, because despite the fact that she sounded significantly more lucid than at the start of the conversation -Back when he was just trying to keep her from dozing off with a concussion, which he was pretty sure was bad.- He still had no idea what she was talking about, or how it translated into the giant floaty arm things.

(At the very least me being confused seems to be the whole theme of today’s episode.)

While he’d been able to put a few things together, like how the Burning Man was probably a result of someone taking Malice, there were still a number of things that he wasn’t so sure about. Such as the girl’s powers -which he was trying (and failing) to get an answer on- the vial of what was probably Blue Malice, and most concerningly whatever was making the world turn black and white. (Legitimately thought I’d gone colorblind when it lasted twenty minutes…)

Deciding he was done pondering such unknowable curiosities he instead shifted the conversation with the much more easily understood question of, “How’s your head doing?”

“Better than it was an hour ago, but still not one hundred percent.” The girl -Cameron as he’d discovered with one of his first questions- answered with a sigh.

“Still better than folks without a healing factor.” He reminded her, glad that he’d only gotten any after gaining a healing factor when most injuries became things he could just walk off.

“I know, but it just makes you more aware of how the concussion is messing with your head.” Cameron tried to elaborate. “It’s like getting buzzed and then immediately sobering up, ya know?”

“I…m not actually sure I can get drunk?” He admitted, not seeing the point in bringing up the fact that he was pretty sure both of them were underage given his whole ‘supervillain’ thing.

(Eh, still a bit shy of being able to call ourselves a supervillain. Need to put on a bigger show to earn that title, like headline news levels of big.)

“Right, you’ve probably got your own healing factor with your whole… whatever this is.” Cameron nodded, with a hand wave towards him.

“I’m a cartoon character.” He explained, having long decided that there was no point in hiding it, just so long as he hid the fact that he was a Wonderlander from everyone. (It’d actually make for a nice bit of misdirection if I can do it right.)

(I’m sure you can.)

“Uh-huh…” The other teen gave him an unimpressed look before shaking her head. “I’ve got no idea what’s up with you Masks and needing to stick to these themes.”

“Best guess, it’s all about branding.” He shrugged, sipping at his own soda. “Stick to a theme and you’ll stick in people’s memories better.”

“Yeah, and you also get predictable in a fight.” Cameron pointed out. “Like if you’re the cartoon guy, people are going to start using stuff that’s… anti-cartoon. Whatever that means.”

“It means anti-fun.” He sighed as if the thought was shameful, while hoping she couldn’t remember how badly his attempt to play with fire went. (Anti-Cartoon might not hurt, but anti-ink will definitely leave a scar or two.)

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Cameron rolled her eyes. “Still better to be unknown and unpredictable.”

“Then why pick a fight in the middle of a crowd?” He asked, figuring that she was now healed enough to answer that particular question. “I mean, it makes for a decent hero debut if that’s what you were after but it's not exactly a good call for keeping your head down.”

“And what, let that flaming asshole run roughshod over everyone?” Cameron frowned. “Besides I’ve had my powers for a couple of years now, and since I’m not looking to be a hero, most of my fights don’t even make the rumor mill.”

“Oh, you don’t want to be a… hero?” He prodded, given how up to this point he’d been planning to ditch her the moment he felt okay leaving her alone. (After all, being seen with a ‘hero’ will just drag my villainous rep through the mud. (And reputation is everything in this biz.)

“Yeah, no. I don’t mind putting an asshole in their place every now and then but I don’t go looking for random people on the street to beat up.” The other teen told him. “And even if I was looking for a fight, I’d be better off visiting one of Tru Grit’s clubs.”

“Uh, whose clubs?” He blinked.

“Tru Grit?” Cameron blinked back before giving a huff of amusement. “You must be new if you haven’t heard about Tru, he’s like the most infamous indie Mask in the city.”

Instead of confirming her theory about him, he instead asked, “Well, how infamous is the most infamous?” (Need to know the reviews to beat.)

“He’s the head of a small gang, and runs like half a dozen Deviant fight pits throughout the city. What makes him infamous though…” The other teen trailed off and gave him a considering look. “Actually, do you like fighting?”

“Uh, I guess?” He shrugged not actually knowing what that had to do with things. “I mean, I had fun at the Gamer Guild’s Dungeon.” (If you ignore all the times I got stabbed.)

“Alright…” Cameron nodded thoughtfully as she continued to look at him, before eventually saying, “ Fuck it. I owe you one for getting me out of there after the flaming asshole knocked me out. Give me your phone.”

“Uh, why?” He asked, not exactly in a hurry to give a stranger his cell while in a mask.

(Joshua, my man. When a pretty girl asks you for your phone you give it to her.) The devil on his shoulder advised as said girl gave him an expectant look. (After all, in the last two weeks you’ve gotten the GM’s number, you got Zylah’s number, and the only reason you didn’t get that TPK girl’s number is because you didn’t take the initiative and ask. You can’t be so passive when it comes to the beautiful people.)

He ended up giving her his phone…

(Smart boy.)

(Fuck off.)

“I’m entering an address for you, it’s one of Tru’s fight pits.” Cameron explained once she had his phone, before handing it back. “Even if you don’t win he’s got fairly decent consolation prizes, and unlike the rest this one has walk-in contestants on the weekends.”

“Okay…” He nodded, accepting his phone back and noting with mild disappointment that unlike the last few women he’d interacted with she had not actually given him her number.

(Eh, you were due for a swing and a miss.) His ego tried to console him.

(That or you convinced me that those girls’ purely platonic interest wasn’t.) After all, Zylah was only interested in money, the GM was just excited to meet another Wonderlander, and TPK was- (If you think TPK was platonic, you are as oblivious as the Killjoy is mad.)

Deciding that he was done both with teenage hormones as well as arguing with himself, he instead turned his attention back to Cameron and asked, “What exactly does this have to do with what makes this Tru Grit guy so infamous.”

“Look, it's better to see it in person.” The other teen assured him with a smile. “And who knows maybe I’ll see you there sometime.”

(Ah!)

(No, still saying this is platonic. I’m not going to be that creep that turns something into something it's not.) He’d never been on a date before, or even gotten a second look from… anyone, so he refused to believe he had this kind of luck all of a sudden.

(Well, technically it’s not your luck, but I can respect respecting boundaries.)

Cameron coughed into her hand, before pulling out her own phone and looking at it. “Uh, anyway… I appreciate you sticking with me until my head cleared up, but uh, it’s getting late so I should probably start heading back home.”

He blinked before nodding. “Er, right, right. I uh, I should probably get going too.”

“Well, then… see ya around, maybe.” Cameron waved as she started walking away.

“Uh, yeah.” He waved back, before checking his phone and seeing that it was closer to dawn than dusk. “Oof, yeah. I need to head back home.”

Moving towards the crossing, he couldn’t help but contemplate the evening, (Scared a few people, went to a teen party, met a cute girl, got into a fight with a Deviant, found some drugs, got a new power, escaped said Deviant, hung out with said cute girl, and got an invite to a fight club.)

He couldn’t help but grin when he summed it up like that. “Wonder if every holiday is going to be this fun from now on?”