Halloween Event (Pt. 5): Heading Home

--- Maya ---

“So, uh, what’s the word on everyone who was supposed to be at the party?” Vi asked after they’d been sitting in the car for several awkwardly silent minutes.

“Um, everyone we care about got out safe… apparently two other Deviants got in a fight with the, uh, Burning Man which let everyone get away.” Tommy answered, going over his phone.

Vi let out a relieved sigh. “That’s good.”

“Yeah, some of them are trying to get another party going somewhere else, but…” She pretended not to notice how Tommy’s eyes dashed towards her. “I figured it’d be best to just call it a night all things considered.”

Vi grimaced before nodding. “Yeah, that’s probably for the best.”

“I tried letting the ‘rents know our party was canceled but I haven’t gotten a response from them.” Tommy frowned looking down at his phone. “I mean, I know it's probably nothing but…”

“Can’t help but worry after everything?” Vi figured.

“Yeah…” Tommy sighed. “I mean I know they’re at the police station so they should be fine, but I wish one of them would just answer their phones.”

“It’s still early, they probably haven’t even given them a second look.” She suggested. “I mean it’s only like what, nine o’ clock? They’ve been there maybe an hour, hour and a half. Mom’s probably showing off how cute Izzy and Seamus are to all of the neighborhood moms and such.”

“Or Izzy ‘s managed to sneak away to that haunted house thing.” Vi threw out before shaking her head. “Hopefully she didn’t drag Autumn into whatever trouble she’s up to.”

“She was going to the party?” Tommy blinked. “I thought her folks and the cops didn’t really get along.”

“It’s less her dads and more her sister that has trouble with the cops.” Vi explained with a shrug. “They might just be going to try and smooth over something she did.”

“Wait, Autumn has a sister?” She cut in with a frown, because while Izzy’s friend rarely came around their house she was pretty sure she’d have heard something about her having a sister.

“Yeah, that’s uh… That’s a sore spot for them.” Tommy told her with a grimace. “Lots of family drama that really isn’t our place. So don’t bring it up with them…”

(But I’m curious!) Her inner child whined.

Instead of admitting that though, she (wisely) chose to bite her lip and keep quiet on the subject she knew nothing about. (No matter how badly I want to know…)

“Right, so uh, Maya you’re a Deviant… What’s that like?” Tommy asked after a moment, refusing to let things fall into an awkward silence again. “I mean… you’ve got minions apparently so is that like the shows and movies or… what?”

Vi gave Tommy a look that Maya couldn’t quite decipher even as her brother responded with a shrug. “Hey if she’s planning to take over the city I’d like to know in advance.”

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She frowned as Vi swatted their brother. “I’m not planning to take over the city.” (Anymore.) (Yet.) (Let’s face it we’re on the fence.)

“Joking. Joking.” Tommy told them as he raised his hands in defense. “But seriously, what all are you involved in Deviant wise? I know you got me that anti-mind control charm, which is… magic stuff… I think…”

She made a face. “Bleh, magic is just science we haven’t figured out yet.”

“So I’ve heard…” Vi told her with some amusement.

“Anyway, my school apparently has a magic club or something and I asked an Arcane there if he knew any place with magic.” She explained with a shake of her head. “He pointed me to the store where I got your charm… for more money than it’s worth.”

“I don’t know, thing ‘s been working as far as I can tell.” Tommy argued, pulling the charm out from under his collar and making her wonder how valid the thing actually was.

(Thinking about it, we probably could’ve tested that out if we’d thought to bring it with us against those Bloodhounds.) Her inner reason pointed out.

(But would you trust magic to keep us safe?) She frowned.

(And we wouldn’t have been able to show up Decker if we’d stopped to collect all our gear.) Her inner madness threw in.

(Perhaps, or we could’ve shown him up without his help.) Her inner logic noted dryly.

(But… ‘magic’!) Just thinking about relying on it left her with a bad taste in her mouth.

“So aside from befriending an Arcane-”

“We’re not friends, he’s an asshole.” Even after one conversation she was willing to (prematurely) label him as such.

(He slammed a door in our face!)

(After we insulted his craft.)

(His craft is magic, which makes it stupid by default.) Her inner passion defended her.

“Maya?” Tommy called, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Sorry, what was that?” She blinked, before noticing that they were pulling up to their house.

“He was asking what else you’ve been up to.” Vi answered as she opened her door. “Like with that M.A.D. club you were telling me about.”

“M.A.D. club?” Tommy asked, climbing out of the car.

“Yeah, I haven’t been, but she invited me to see it at some point… over a month ago.” Vi explained, giving her a look.

She’d gotten so caught up with training to get her armor up, trying to find Tommy’s attacker, and then rushing everything at the hospital with the Bloodhounds and Elizabeth that she, “Honestly kind of forgot about that… I’ll uh, I’ll ask next time I go over… I think I’ve been there long enough to bring guests.” (Though we don’t really have much to show off there since we’ve been rooming with Kim or Melvin…)

(We could always build a ‘false’ base there.) Her inner logic suggested. (I’m sure they’d be more comfortable with us being there than at the hospital.)

(But the hospital comes with a ghost waifu!) Her inner madness whined.

(True but the club comes with an M.A.D. waifu.) Her inner reason pointed out. (Maybe even more than one.)

(Valid point. Valid point.)

She ran a hand down her face in exasperation, (act like she doesn’t secretly want a harem.)

“You okay My?” Vi asked, holding the front door open for her.

“Um, yeah… just a little out of it…” She admitted as she pushed the voices in her head to the back of it. “Long night I guess…”

“Feels like it.” Vi agreed with a wry grin. “Might just go ahead and crash myself.”

“Boo! You two are going to let a Deviant attack ruin your night?” Tommy frowned as he dramatically leapt onto the couch. “It’s not even ten yet! You guys can’t crash this early on Halloween!”

“Aren’t you the one who wanted to call it a night in the car?” Vi reminded him, trying to shove their hermano onto the couch.

“I’m never the one to end the party.” Tommy argued with false offense as he hopped out of the way and continued to stand on the furniture. “I was just thinking of a change of venue from something crowded to someplace for just me and mi hermanas!”

“Okay,” Vi crossed her arms. “And what exactly were you thinking?”