“The Costume Game.” Chief Sobol said. “You didn’t mention it once.”

The room was tense. Alexis looked around, she made eye contact with Selector Goodman. He gave a… Hesitant nod that she should answer. She grabbed her bottle of water and collected her thoughts.

The Costume Game, sometimes called Capes and Cowls, or the Villainous/Vigilante Vows. Was controversial. If it was socially acceptable to do so Alexis preferred to just dismiss it as Comic Book Syndrome on steroids if she ever had to think of it at all.

Whereas Comic Book Syndrome was just a small observation about the tendency of kids to think they are more special than they are, the Costume Game was a full-on moral panic.

Some people had powers that were dangerous, nobody could argue with that. All it took was a few people who desperately wanted to use them to really cause some damage.

Take someone with delusions of grandeur, immense powers, a willingness to use them, and just a bit of comic book syndrome and you got a player of the costume game.

The Costume Game itself was a subculture that started developing when the first psychics came into their powers, which also served to regulate the actions of all its players.

Depending on where you lived the costume game could manifest in many forms. Sometimes all it meant was that your neighborhood watch wore colorful outfits. Sometimes it meant gangs of “villains” using their powers to monopolize their local drug trade. Sometimes it meant gangs of “heroes” using their powers to perform protection rackets. And in one town in New Mexico, the rules of the Costume Game were apparently its only laws, because the cops had all fled in fear.

That if you believed every salacious newspaper, rumor, and manifesto you could find. Frankly, a lot of the talk about the Costume Game seemed to reek, ironically, of Comic Book Syndrome. How could any group of psychics run the cops out of town? Sure, some psychics could be bulletproof. But usually that was all they were, that didn’t make them more capable of taking on cops. And Alexis knew better than anyone that the federal government had methods to take on problematic psychics.

And if that wasn’t enough, usually the state of whatever town that was supposedly taken over by psychics had a habit of changing with the story teller. Sometimes it was Texas or Arizona, almost always in the south.

Alexis collected her thoughts after she could no longer stall by downing her water bottle.

“The Costume Game… for those who aren’t aware is a dangerous counterculture of psychics who engage in combat and crime. It is an issue that would mostly affect urban areas. A town like Hermon… It isn’t big enough for something like that to take place.”

She hated playing into the stereotype of ‘crime-riddled big cities’, but she knew this crowd, of all crowds, would probably accept it uncritically. What she wanted to do was dismiss the notion of it outright. But… She couldn’t.

If I even slightly embarrass Chief Sobol in a public setting he could ruin my life.

“What about in Midport? Couldn’t it be possible for costumed psychics to come in because Hermon would be an easier mark?” Asked Officer Clark. She wished he didn’t ask though.

She couldn’t look at Selector Goodman. She was more than a little afraid he would be shaking his head to say no, because she wasn’t sure she could defend that position. The idea was ridiculous, one of the premises of the question already assumed that Midport had people actively playing the Costume Game.

It was ridiculous, but this was Hermon. She knew that anytime there was a car theft or a break-in people blamed Midport. Even though Midport was one of the safest cities in New England.

“I suppose… Yeah. It could be… Possible.” She finally sputtered. Her stomach dropped with every word.

“Then we should be prepared.” Chief Sobol said. It wasn’t even a question, just a statement of fact. All the cops were nodding at his words. Including the supposedly caring School Resource Officer Santiago.

Fucking bootlickers.

But private rebellious thoughts didn’t make her feel any better. All it did was cement in her mind a simple fact. That she wasn’t really better than any of them.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

----------------------------------------

The q&a wrapped up not long after that. Selector Goodman was already making his way to the room again. When he got to her, he put a hand on her shoulder.

“Seriously great job. I really think you did some good here.” He said.

“Thanks, yeah.” Alexis replied. But her heart really wasn’t in it. She couldn’t possibly see what about today had been good.

“I know it isn’t glamorous but this is how we make change. I’ll be sure to let Jessica and everyone on the Commission know how well you did during the next meeting.” Goodman said.

At least I have some job security for a while then. She already had job security, that’s what a union contract is for, but thinking of this as in some way getting her more of it at least pleased her.

Selector Goodman left to talk to Chief Sobol and his brother. All of the cops in the HPD were chatting, and Alexis really didn’t want to stay longer than she had to. She was about to sneak off when Selectman Sobol broke off from his conversation and approached her.

“Hope you aren’t leaving so soon.” Said Selectman Sobol. She felt a little embarrassed at being called out.

“Sorry this ran a little long and I had a phone call I am supposed to make soon.” She lied. I wish I could say ‘Sorry I want to go home and watch anime’, but that isn’t really socially acceptable in politics.

Even though she very much reached her social limit halfway through the presentation.

“Then I won’t keep you long. I wanted to apologize on Borris’s behalf for putting you on the spot. He can be a bit of a meathead.” Selectman Sobol said. ‘Bit of a meat head’ is such a nice way of saying ‘my brother is an ice-chewing sociopath’.

Literally everyone she worked with had heard stories about what he was like when he was angry.

“If you haven’t figured it out, the only reason he agreed to the training is because he wants more information about how to deal with the Costume Game problem.” Selectman Sobol continued.

Nevermind the fact that to my knowledge there is no ‘Costume Game problem’.

All this just served to confirm what Alexis had already started to suspect. The Chief needed Alexis to admit to the possibility of the Costume Game becoming an issue in Harmon.

Now all he needed was some official report or study ‘proving’ the risk, either from the Hermon Telekinetic Affairs Commission, the Midport PD, or any other institution he could strong-arm if no one else gave him what he wanted. Alexis’s words had only given him license to ask for it.

Whatever he got as the result could then be used as leverage. For what, Alexis could only guess. A specialized task force, a bigger budget, martial law? Who knew, but this was how he was known to operate.

Still, how did he get so hung up on it in the first place?

As if to answer her thoughts, Sobol continued. “What you probably don’t know is that for Borris and myself, we have a bit more of a personal connection to the issue. Preventing the Costume Game from coming to Harmon helps give him an outlet for it.”

Alexis had been nodding during this conversation, but she couldn't help but let her eyes go a bit wide.

A personal connection? What kind? And what does he mean they both have a connection to it? Did they know a victim of the Costume Game or someone actually involved in it? Both the brothers were outside the age range to be able to have manifested talents, with Selectman Sobol just barely making the cut. Maybe it involves a relative of theirs? Still no matter what the situation is… Not sure if it is better or worse that the Herman Chief of Police will be launching a crusade for personal reasons instead of political ones.

All she could utter at that was “I had no idea”.

“Oh no need for concern. It is just that we have someone we are worried might get mixed up in it someday if he isn’t careful.” Based on his tone she had to assume it wasn’t too big a deal whatever it was. If it is only a minor thing, Chief Sobol blowing it out of proportion was definitely in character for him.

“Anyway back to why I held you up. I wanted to thank you for the very informative session. I also had a quick proposal if you have another minute?”

Shoot, I did tell him I had a call. Still wonder where he is going with this…

“Sure, they were actually supposed to call me so they are probably running late themselves.” I lied.

“Oh good, I still won’t take up too much of your time. See I am a part of a few different civic organizations. And what I wanted to ask about it is if the Telekinetic Affairs Commission could send you to speak to the Harmon Merchants’ Association. Some of the stuff you cover I could see being pretty useful, especially to any of the small businesses that use psychic labor. If it is possible I could tell the HMA’s president to reach out?”

Oh so he just wants to bring in a guest speaker? I guess that makes sense.

“Yeah, that actually sounds great. This presentation is actually modified from one that is actually a lot more pertinent to businesses so I wouldn’t even need to prepare all that much new content. Get in touch with my boss and we can see about setting something up.” Honestly, presenting to any group is gonna be a cakewalk compared to the HPD.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Alexis excused herself. She couldn’t get home fast enough to decompress and relax.

Though, she couldn’t help it when the whole social ordeal didn’t immediately leave her mind.