Interview 1
Conducted via Ava Fisher, The Spearhead.
Interviewee is Jennifer Zhao, Rook.
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 152 lb
Blood Type: B-
Interview begins.
FISHER: Thank you, for agreeing to meet me, Ms. Zhao.
ZHAO: It’s required, by the department head, as well as our board of directors.
F: Still.
Z: Mh. I trust that The Spearhead knows better than to publish my legal name in their paper?
F: ‘Course, don’t worry about it.
Z: I suppose. Where would you like to start?
F: How about something simple. Ms. Zhao, what’s your favorite color?
[A PAUSE]
F: Don’t give me that look. Gotta have something for the fans.
[ZHAO HUFFS]
Z: I find myself often enjoying a sky blue.
F: Ah, nice. I’m partial to orange, myself. Sunsets really do it for me.
[RUSTLING OF PAPERS]
F: Alright. How about your favorite food?
Z: Hm.
F: Take your time.
[A PAUSE]
Z: I used to buy egg tarts from the local bakery, as a child.
F: Really?
Z: Yes. I found myself missing them, recently, so I decided to learn how to make them myself.
[ZHAO SIGHS]
Z: It’s been… informative.
[FISHER CHUCKLES]
F: I bet. Could never pick up that kind of skill, myself.
Z: Mhm.
[RUSTLING OF PAPERS]
F: Okay, and… have any likes? Dislikes? Any coworkers you wanna drag on-record?
Z: I’m not sure I understand.
[FABRIC SHIFTS]
F: That was a joke. Just — tell us a little about yourself, yeah?
[A PAUSE]
Z: I like… my workshop. And working with the Junior Division, as well.
F: Alright, good. Any dislikes?
Z: Simon.
[FISHER LAUGHS]
F: That was quick! And, uh, Simon is…?
Z: He’s known as Decagon to the public. He’s also insufferable.
F: I’ll be sure not to tell him that.
Z: No, you can.
[FISHER SNORTS]
F: Okay, then I will.
[A PAUSE]
[RUSTLING OF PAPERS]
F: And, uh. Maybe you answered this already, but if you want to elaborate… do you have any hobbies?
Z: Does my workshop count as a hobby?
[FABRIC SHIFTS]
F: You tell me.
Z: Perhaps not, I use the equipment for work, anyway. I don’t think I’ve… had a hobby…?
F: You make egg tarts?
Z: That is true. I do make egg tarts.
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[RUSTLING OF PAPERS]
F: Okay. Last question. How do you view your position?
Z: My position?
F: In life, in the USMC, anything. What do you think, about where you are?
[A LONG PAUSE]
Z: I am a tool of the USMC. I believe most people know this, intellectually, but many fail to internalize it. Everything I do is at the behest of the USMC. Not out of the goodness of my heart, or because I think it is in any way necessary — often times I do not agree with even the fundamental principles of the organization.
[ZHAO SIGHS]
Z: But, what else am I meant to do? I can’t simply deconstruct the government — or, rather, I could. But that is exactly why I shouldn’t. Even if I believed myself perfect, an absolute beacon of morality, not all supers would be as… benevolent, as I. Supers come in shades, same as people. The only difference is how stark those shades become.
Z: I might take over the government, manage effectively for a decade, and then be deposed by some other despotic tyrant who would undo all of my progress in the span of a week.
Z: The world cannot be governed by roving warlords. It cannot.
[ZHAO SIGHS]
Z: Let the humans figure things out on their own. My only role is to make sure their cities do not collapse before they do.
[A PAUSE]
F: Wow.
Z: You might not be granted permission to publish that segment. If not, simply say that I enjoy my position at the USMC, and I do my best to work with them in order to help those in need.
F: Yeah, sure. Uh. Thank you for your time, Ms. Zhao.
Z: It’s no trouble. Good luck, Fisher.
F: You as well.
Interview ends.
Interview 4
Conducted via Ava Fisher, Discredited.
Interviewee is Claire Miller, Redline (Discontinued).
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 196 lb
Blood Type: Variable
Interview begins.
FISHER: So. You ready?
MILLER: Uh. Yeah. How — how does this work?
F: I ask you questions.
M: Right, yeah.
F: And then you answer them.
[A PAUSE]
M: For the record, I’m giving her a death stare right now.
F: For the record, it’s severely lacking.
M: What can I say, I’m learning from the mid-est.
F: I am not mid.
M: You’re so mid. What’s the question?
F: What’s your favorite color?
[FOOTSTEPS]
M: [DISTANT] I’m leaving.
F: No, you aren’t. If you leave, I won’t let you use my kitchen.
[FOOTSTEPS, RETURNING]
M: White.
F: Original.
[FABRIC SHIFTING]
M: It’s sterile. Used to go for red, but…
F: Sure.
M: Next question?
F: Favorite food?
M: Ah. Friend of mine used to like to pick up hibachi from a place near my house. Probably that.
F: Anyone I know?
M: No. Not around anymore.
[A PAUSE]
F: I’m sorry.
M: Don’t — it’s fine. I lived in the suburbs, I would’ve gotten over it.
[MILLER CHUCKLES, BITTERLY]
M: I would’ve if Vincent didn’t decide to throw a fit and get himself arrested. That’s — not important. What’s the next one?
F: Mh. Got any likes? Dislikes?
M: Uh, sure? I like, um. Lurking forums, sometimes. I dislike talking to people.
[FABRIC SHIFTS]
F: Sorry to disappoint, then.
[MILLER SNIFFS]
M: As you should be.
F: Alright. Any hobbies?
M: Yeah. I play guitar. I’m alright, not professional, but my parents insisted I pick up an instrument, and, well. I think they reget it — regretted it.
F: Yeah?
M: I’ve got an electric, and a loud-as-fuck amp.
[FISHER SNORTS]
F: You would.
M: What’s that mean?
F: You’re a constant disruption.
M: Aw, you do care.
F: Sure. What do you play?
M: Some covers, lotta grunge. Sometimes I try and learn a new riff. That kind of thing.
F: Ever thought about playing on-stage?
M: Nah. It’s just a hobby.
F: Playing venues can be a hobby. You’ve got the time.
[MILLER LAUGHS]
M: Guess I do. Ideally, I’ll be getting busier, though.
F: Mh. Last question.
M: Hit me.
F: What do you think about your position?
M: I’m not USMC anymore.
F: Just, in general. Where you are now?
M: Ah. I… don’t know. I’m trying to keep my head down and help as many people as I can.
F: Why?
M: Why what?
[A PAUSE]
F: Why help people?
[A PAUSE]
M: That friend of mine, the one I mentioned — she wanted to help people. She can’t do it anymore, and I… I’m in a unique position. If she can’t do it, I’ll do it in her place.
F: Is that the only reason?
[A PAUSE]
M: Yeah.
[FABRIC SHIFTS]
F: Okay. Why keep your head down, though?
[MILLER SIGHS]
M: Didn’t we talk about this?
F: For the record.
M: It’s practical. You stick your head up around here, you get nailed down. I don’t wanna get nailed.
F: That’s not always the case.
M: When is it not? You’ve seen the people we visit every other week, you’ve talked to them —
F: They’re mundane.
M: What?
F: They’re normal. They have no defense against super drugs, or gang members that can collapse buildings. They have flat heads, so they get nailed down.
[FABRIC SHIFTS]
F: You have power. An ability — something intrinsic, that gives you a critical edge, and at least some of the training necessary to take advantage of it.
M: I’m not better than anyone else.
F: Maybe not at most things. But this?
[FISHER HUFFS]
F: Your head isn’t flat, Claire. It’s sharp.
[A PAUSE]
M: Sharpened points hurt people, Ava.
F: So do hammers.
[A PAUSE]
M: I’ll see you around.
F: Don’t be a stranger.
[MILLER SCOFFS]
M: Maybe.
Interview ends.