My Job Is Weird 2: Electric Boogaloo [Silvio & Zephyr]
Feb 14, 2021 20:47:00 GMT -5
The Madness Menagerie likes this
Post by mystifyingoracle on Feb 14, 2021 20:47:00 GMT -5
OOC: Thank you to The Madness Menagerie for the collab! This takes place prior to Chaos 106
“Thanks again for helping me with the Adrienne tribute.”
Silvio grinned up from the comic omnibus he was reading, it’s cover in vivid shades of red and yellow with the title, Scud: The Disposable Assassin emblazoned across it. Finding a good book store when you moved to a new town was vital, and so far Atomic Books hadn’t disappointed him. With its shelves of comics, books, artsy collectibles and eclectic decor, he had a feeling it was the sort of place Zephyr would like.
Lost in the colors and most importantly just the smell of the comics surrounding her, Zephyr barely registered Silvio’s voice. Shaking her head she looked over at him and smirked, “Happy to do it. I only met her the one time in person, but the lasting impression she had, that she has on the people around her. Su and I started when Ken was Baltimore Champion and I have yet to see anyone put him in his place like Adrienne did mentally while you went in for the kill, taking his belt. It was truly a pleasure to watch.” She winked at him, hoping that she didn’t come off too strong, but it was true. Ken needed that poke from reality to deflate his ego some and the effective combination of Adrienne getting one over on him, both on the mic and in the ring, Silvio taking the World Title was icing on the cake.
Silvio gave a sheepish little smile, closing his book. “Thank you. It...meant a lot to me. Not just for winning the title, either.” He nodded to the shelves of books, smiling. “I figured you might find something here to enjoy. Pick whatever book you like - it’s on me.” He held up his omnibus. “I’m finally filling a spot on my shelf that’s been empty for way too long.”
Zephyr’s eyes widened as she looked around, her voice barely above a whisper, “Lort… Wouldn’t even know where to start. I…” She stopped herself and looked curiously over at Silvio, “Kinda feel like this is some test to determine the type of person I am based on what book I pick up. I just… It all brings back memories, a time before The Institute.” She shook her head and started perusing the comic shop, unopposed to opening the doors to the past.
“Nah, no ulterior motives. I just figure everyone likes to get a new book now and then,” Silvio said with a little shrug.
“From what I can recall, kinda grew up a tomboy; I can remember watching X-Men: The Animated Series after school and just, REALLY getting behind Gambit and Rogue’s relationship. Always wanted a tattoo with the two of them sharing a moment with a caption that says, ‘In a perfect world…’” Zephyr looked at Silvio and smiled uncertainly. “Sorry, trips down memory lane…” She said it almost to herself and tried to hide the pain losing her childhood was causing her.
“One of the most kick ass opening themes for a show ever,” Silvio declared, sensing her flagging spirits and feeling compelled to pick them up. “And hey, if you’re looking to make that dream a reality, I’m here to help you decorate the temple walls.” He shrugged, looking over the plethora of trade paperbacks and willing himself to contain the impulse to buy…just one more. Because that would only give him an excuse to buy another if he was already getting two. And...well, things would really just snowball from there.
Smiling, Zephyr nodded in agreement. "Damn straight." She fell silent as her eyes fell into a foil cover, featuring Gambit his eyes alight with anger. In foil letters the cover declares that it's "The Trial of Gambit," and "NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME AGAIN!" Ignoring what she imagined was a steep price in her head she picked the issue up from where it sat. "Heh, always been something I wanted but never got around to getting. This one is even graded…"
“You a collector?” Silvio said, curiosity piqued.
Zephyr sighed. "One of those fleeting interests carried over from childhood. I'm unfamiliar with how comics are graded but seeing a rating of some sort in terms of physical quality on a book isn't surprising. Had an interest in collecting as a kid, but other things kind of robbed me of it."
“No reason you can’t take it back.” He nodded to the issue before looking back up to her thoughtfully. “I was kinda wanting to talk with you about things you want, actually.” Silvio snorted. “God, I am the king of segues. That probably sounded weird. Anyway, I was just...thinking about what it was to be champ and what I wanted to do with it. I want to help promote the talent, like I was saying, but I also just...wanna know what other people want and help them get it if I can. So…”
He gave her a nod.
“...What is it that you want out of Carnage?”
Zephyr was caught flat footed by the question. Of course the answer most people expected to hear was, “to be champion,” but in Zephyr’s short time on the roster, she learned that there was so much more to this business outside a shiny accessory. She shrugged.
“That’s… A question. Obviously being crowned champion, preferably UV champ, would be nice to add to my resume, but I’ve started to feel like there’s so much more to this business outside of showing up, winning matches, and getting that championship belt. I won that Baltimore Title once upon a time and Su and I bastardized it. I lost it because I didn’t have the support of the people and tried to change something that really, didn’t need changed. I’ve watched people come and go, see the ‘monsters’ lurking in the corners, and have witnessed some of the more fragile become targets. First, I hate god complexes and second, people deserve a chance to get the footing they need to propel themselves forward. All the hypothetical wrongs and the rights to go with them, it’s a lot to sort out and easy to get lost in. If it were up to me, I’d be the person tipping the scales to make it an even playing field. Mia gave me the power to be ‘conscience of Carnage,’ I feel like just like a belt, there’s more to it than just a title.”
Silvio couldn’t help but grin a little at that.
“Well I think King’s got his eye on you as a contender. You and Annie both, actually. And as to the rest?” He shrugged, still smiling. “Sounds like you and I are on the same page. That’s kinda what I’m trying to do with my reign here; help people get their chance.”
Zephyr smiled in fond memory. “King is something else. A textbook definition of a ‘good’ monster. One that will help push people to the next level if they know what they’re looking for. I hear Annie shares some of those same traits and if that’s the case, I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself.”
She cast another glance at the comic still held in her hand and put it back where it was found. “In regards to being on the same page?” Zephyr shrugged, “I’m happy to be there with you.”
“Awww, you are warmin’ the cockles, Miss Quinn!” Silvio laughed, placing a hand over his heart. “Well, I guess what we have to figure out is how best to do that. Necessitates being more familiar with the new faces, I think, and checking in on the veterans.”
Zephyr looked around some more, her eyes moving from display to display as she talked. “All I can really say to that is to pay attention, maintain constant vigilance in order to pick up on who might need a helping hand and who needs help out the door. We probably hold two different definitions of person we don’t want here, I think it would be decent if we agreed that regardless of method, we need to trust the other to do what they say.” Her eyes met with Silvio from where they were in the shop and she shrugs again. “Trust is a big deal. We’ll have our disagreements but at the end of the day, we both just want what is best for Carnage."
“I’ll definitely give you a heads up if anything grabs my attention,” Silvio said, looking a little surprised. That Zephyr took the idea so seriously so quickly was a bit of a shock, but the Oracle wouldn’t deny it’d be nice to have someone with a history at Carnage to help the rest of the roster meet their goals. He smiled. “I’m really glad we’re getting to talk, Zephyr.”
Zephyr stopped and looked up at Silvio, making sure she looked him in the eyes. "That makes two of us. I think that right now, Carnage couldn't ask for a better World Champion." She winked at him. "Not to mention your three defense system is brilliant and allows for some of the younger generation to keep reaching."
“Thanks!” Silvio said. “Everyone tries to stand out by seeing how many defenses they can make. I figured the best way to differentiate myself was to go in the opposite direction; give myself a limit and see what I can do with it. Make something more valuable by making it scarcer. And, hey, if I actually do make it to three successful defenses, imagine how fun it would be to have a tournament to see who gets it next! That could involve the whole roster; give everybody a chance. That’s really what I want for Carnage. Anybody working here could be a champion. They should get an opportunity to show everyone.”
“You’re a good man Silvio.” Zephyr paused. “An even better champion. Not sure what I see in you that makes me say that, but over the course of my short career there are very few I can count on to make me see the good in the world. Mac…”
Her voice faded as she remembered the beating he gave her on his way to becoming Baltimore Champion and the tongue lashing that preceded it.
“Was the first to see something in me. I did a lot by Su’s side, going so far as smashing his wife’s gravestone on their private plot. Now, all I see in him is a mentor though I kind of wish he would have stuck around so I could have another shot at taking him in the ring. Trent of course is the second, honing my bloodlust into more of a tool than a crutch; and then there’s you Silvio. Willing to see the good in everybody and waiting for the chance for them to prove everything that you say. There are people out there that say a tarot deck makes the reader but you?” She peered at him and smirked. “You make the deck. Hell, you make whatever it is you have presently a tool to propel yourself forward. Not everyone can do that and to be completely up front, even being a self-proclaimed ‘monster,’” she added the air quotes for emphasis, “feelings make me uncomfortable; so if you ever leak a word of this to anyone, just make it look good m’kay?” She smirked again. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t admire you for what you’ve done in this company since setting foot in the door. Never mind undefeated streaks or titles, which is amazing in and of itself, but look at what you’ve done for the people. Take that young kid that wanted me to fix his match for him so he wouldn’t have to ref a match between his friends. What do you think gave him the bravery to face off against a person he’s never met, in order to make his demand? Sure, there were better ways to ask, but I gotta give my respect to him too, though I don’t think he would have gone that far if you hadn’t been there.”
“Don’t despair for a lack of bricks when you’ve got stone right in front of you,” Silvio replied with a little shrug. “You grow up poor, you learn to be resourceful.” As she continued, color rose in the Oracle’s face and he gave her a sheepish smile. “Thanks I...I mean, Seb is a good guy. He’s really trying out there and I appreciate what he does and tries to do. If he’s brave, it's because he already had that inside of him. If I helped him find it, that’s cool, but I’d never take credit for him making good on it. I’m excited to see what Seb has to show us next.”
“That makes two of us. He seems like he’s got what it takes so we’ll see what he does. Gotta ask though, what about you? You’ve made it to this point, what’s next for ‘The Oracle’ Silvio Leon after your World Title reign has come and gone?” Zephyr hopes she didn’t sound obtrusive with your question, Belle had told her she can be rather abrupt.
Silvio hummed thoughtfully, eyes drifting briefly upward.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Things can change so much in such a short amount of time, it’d probably be futile to try and plan too far out. We’ll see how Act of Defiance goes and go from there. How about you? What’s on the docket for the Conscience of Carnage?”
Zephyr smiled, “If I knew the answer to that question, wouldn’t I be the ‘oracle’ instead of you?”
He laughed. “Got me there! Well, hey, maybe I can give you a reading one day and we can figure that out,” he grinned, giving her a little nudge with his elbow. “For now, how’s about we find you a fun trade to bring home and then pick up some coffee? What does Belle like? My treat.”
“I’ve heard and now I get to witness. I think you have yourself a deal. In terms of coffee, Belle loves anything caramel. Think we’ll be able to figure it out from there. She does love having guests over too. Insists upon setting up a game night… I honestly don’t know where she gets it from.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, dang, if that’s the case, I’m always down for a little tabletop. I think King and Grace would be, too, come to think of it - they’re big nerds.” Shrugging, he smiled. “Not to invite myself over or anything, but if you ever want to chill out together, I’m sure they’d love to.”
Zephyr laughed as she picks up an older trade, The Tower of Babel, before responding, “No take backs! You said it and once Belle finds out…” Zephyr pretended to shudder as she laughed again. “We’ll figure something out for one of these nights for sure!”
“I’m a man of my word,” Silvio assured her. “And hey - I’ll even bring the chips and dip for game night. Now!” He held up his own book. “Let’s cement our geek cred and get something caffeinated.”
“Lead the way!”
My Job Is Weird 2: Electric Boogaloo
“Thanks again for helping me with the Adrienne tribute.”
Silvio grinned up from the comic omnibus he was reading, it’s cover in vivid shades of red and yellow with the title, Scud: The Disposable Assassin emblazoned across it. Finding a good book store when you moved to a new town was vital, and so far Atomic Books hadn’t disappointed him. With its shelves of comics, books, artsy collectibles and eclectic decor, he had a feeling it was the sort of place Zephyr would like.
Lost in the colors and most importantly just the smell of the comics surrounding her, Zephyr barely registered Silvio’s voice. Shaking her head she looked over at him and smirked, “Happy to do it. I only met her the one time in person, but the lasting impression she had, that she has on the people around her. Su and I started when Ken was Baltimore Champion and I have yet to see anyone put him in his place like Adrienne did mentally while you went in for the kill, taking his belt. It was truly a pleasure to watch.” She winked at him, hoping that she didn’t come off too strong, but it was true. Ken needed that poke from reality to deflate his ego some and the effective combination of Adrienne getting one over on him, both on the mic and in the ring, Silvio taking the World Title was icing on the cake.
Silvio gave a sheepish little smile, closing his book. “Thank you. It...meant a lot to me. Not just for winning the title, either.” He nodded to the shelves of books, smiling. “I figured you might find something here to enjoy. Pick whatever book you like - it’s on me.” He held up his omnibus. “I’m finally filling a spot on my shelf that’s been empty for way too long.”
Zephyr’s eyes widened as she looked around, her voice barely above a whisper, “Lort… Wouldn’t even know where to start. I…” She stopped herself and looked curiously over at Silvio, “Kinda feel like this is some test to determine the type of person I am based on what book I pick up. I just… It all brings back memories, a time before The Institute.” She shook her head and started perusing the comic shop, unopposed to opening the doors to the past.
“Nah, no ulterior motives. I just figure everyone likes to get a new book now and then,” Silvio said with a little shrug.
“From what I can recall, kinda grew up a tomboy; I can remember watching X-Men: The Animated Series after school and just, REALLY getting behind Gambit and Rogue’s relationship. Always wanted a tattoo with the two of them sharing a moment with a caption that says, ‘In a perfect world…’” Zephyr looked at Silvio and smiled uncertainly. “Sorry, trips down memory lane…” She said it almost to herself and tried to hide the pain losing her childhood was causing her.
“One of the most kick ass opening themes for a show ever,” Silvio declared, sensing her flagging spirits and feeling compelled to pick them up. “And hey, if you’re looking to make that dream a reality, I’m here to help you decorate the temple walls.” He shrugged, looking over the plethora of trade paperbacks and willing himself to contain the impulse to buy…just one more. Because that would only give him an excuse to buy another if he was already getting two. And...well, things would really just snowball from there.
Smiling, Zephyr nodded in agreement. "Damn straight." She fell silent as her eyes fell into a foil cover, featuring Gambit his eyes alight with anger. In foil letters the cover declares that it's "The Trial of Gambit," and "NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME AGAIN!" Ignoring what she imagined was a steep price in her head she picked the issue up from where it sat. "Heh, always been something I wanted but never got around to getting. This one is even graded…"
“You a collector?” Silvio said, curiosity piqued.
Zephyr sighed. "One of those fleeting interests carried over from childhood. I'm unfamiliar with how comics are graded but seeing a rating of some sort in terms of physical quality on a book isn't surprising. Had an interest in collecting as a kid, but other things kind of robbed me of it."
“No reason you can’t take it back.” He nodded to the issue before looking back up to her thoughtfully. “I was kinda wanting to talk with you about things you want, actually.” Silvio snorted. “God, I am the king of segues. That probably sounded weird. Anyway, I was just...thinking about what it was to be champ and what I wanted to do with it. I want to help promote the talent, like I was saying, but I also just...wanna know what other people want and help them get it if I can. So…”
He gave her a nod.
“...What is it that you want out of Carnage?”
Zephyr was caught flat footed by the question. Of course the answer most people expected to hear was, “to be champion,” but in Zephyr’s short time on the roster, she learned that there was so much more to this business outside a shiny accessory. She shrugged.
“That’s… A question. Obviously being crowned champion, preferably UV champ, would be nice to add to my resume, but I’ve started to feel like there’s so much more to this business outside of showing up, winning matches, and getting that championship belt. I won that Baltimore Title once upon a time and Su and I bastardized it. I lost it because I didn’t have the support of the people and tried to change something that really, didn’t need changed. I’ve watched people come and go, see the ‘monsters’ lurking in the corners, and have witnessed some of the more fragile become targets. First, I hate god complexes and second, people deserve a chance to get the footing they need to propel themselves forward. All the hypothetical wrongs and the rights to go with them, it’s a lot to sort out and easy to get lost in. If it were up to me, I’d be the person tipping the scales to make it an even playing field. Mia gave me the power to be ‘conscience of Carnage,’ I feel like just like a belt, there’s more to it than just a title.”
Silvio couldn’t help but grin a little at that.
“Well I think King’s got his eye on you as a contender. You and Annie both, actually. And as to the rest?” He shrugged, still smiling. “Sounds like you and I are on the same page. That’s kinda what I’m trying to do with my reign here; help people get their chance.”
Zephyr smiled in fond memory. “King is something else. A textbook definition of a ‘good’ monster. One that will help push people to the next level if they know what they’re looking for. I hear Annie shares some of those same traits and if that’s the case, I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself.”
She cast another glance at the comic still held in her hand and put it back where it was found. “In regards to being on the same page?” Zephyr shrugged, “I’m happy to be there with you.”
“Awww, you are warmin’ the cockles, Miss Quinn!” Silvio laughed, placing a hand over his heart. “Well, I guess what we have to figure out is how best to do that. Necessitates being more familiar with the new faces, I think, and checking in on the veterans.”
Zephyr looked around some more, her eyes moving from display to display as she talked. “All I can really say to that is to pay attention, maintain constant vigilance in order to pick up on who might need a helping hand and who needs help out the door. We probably hold two different definitions of person we don’t want here, I think it would be decent if we agreed that regardless of method, we need to trust the other to do what they say.” Her eyes met with Silvio from where they were in the shop and she shrugs again. “Trust is a big deal. We’ll have our disagreements but at the end of the day, we both just want what is best for Carnage."
“I’ll definitely give you a heads up if anything grabs my attention,” Silvio said, looking a little surprised. That Zephyr took the idea so seriously so quickly was a bit of a shock, but the Oracle wouldn’t deny it’d be nice to have someone with a history at Carnage to help the rest of the roster meet their goals. He smiled. “I’m really glad we’re getting to talk, Zephyr.”
Zephyr stopped and looked up at Silvio, making sure she looked him in the eyes. "That makes two of us. I think that right now, Carnage couldn't ask for a better World Champion." She winked at him. "Not to mention your three defense system is brilliant and allows for some of the younger generation to keep reaching."
“Thanks!” Silvio said. “Everyone tries to stand out by seeing how many defenses they can make. I figured the best way to differentiate myself was to go in the opposite direction; give myself a limit and see what I can do with it. Make something more valuable by making it scarcer. And, hey, if I actually do make it to three successful defenses, imagine how fun it would be to have a tournament to see who gets it next! That could involve the whole roster; give everybody a chance. That’s really what I want for Carnage. Anybody working here could be a champion. They should get an opportunity to show everyone.”
“You’re a good man Silvio.” Zephyr paused. “An even better champion. Not sure what I see in you that makes me say that, but over the course of my short career there are very few I can count on to make me see the good in the world. Mac…”
Her voice faded as she remembered the beating he gave her on his way to becoming Baltimore Champion and the tongue lashing that preceded it.
“Was the first to see something in me. I did a lot by Su’s side, going so far as smashing his wife’s gravestone on their private plot. Now, all I see in him is a mentor though I kind of wish he would have stuck around so I could have another shot at taking him in the ring. Trent of course is the second, honing my bloodlust into more of a tool than a crutch; and then there’s you Silvio. Willing to see the good in everybody and waiting for the chance for them to prove everything that you say. There are people out there that say a tarot deck makes the reader but you?” She peered at him and smirked. “You make the deck. Hell, you make whatever it is you have presently a tool to propel yourself forward. Not everyone can do that and to be completely up front, even being a self-proclaimed ‘monster,’” she added the air quotes for emphasis, “feelings make me uncomfortable; so if you ever leak a word of this to anyone, just make it look good m’kay?” She smirked again. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t admire you for what you’ve done in this company since setting foot in the door. Never mind undefeated streaks or titles, which is amazing in and of itself, but look at what you’ve done for the people. Take that young kid that wanted me to fix his match for him so he wouldn’t have to ref a match between his friends. What do you think gave him the bravery to face off against a person he’s never met, in order to make his demand? Sure, there were better ways to ask, but I gotta give my respect to him too, though I don’t think he would have gone that far if you hadn’t been there.”
“Don’t despair for a lack of bricks when you’ve got stone right in front of you,” Silvio replied with a little shrug. “You grow up poor, you learn to be resourceful.” As she continued, color rose in the Oracle’s face and he gave her a sheepish smile. “Thanks I...I mean, Seb is a good guy. He’s really trying out there and I appreciate what he does and tries to do. If he’s brave, it's because he already had that inside of him. If I helped him find it, that’s cool, but I’d never take credit for him making good on it. I’m excited to see what Seb has to show us next.”
“That makes two of us. He seems like he’s got what it takes so we’ll see what he does. Gotta ask though, what about you? You’ve made it to this point, what’s next for ‘The Oracle’ Silvio Leon after your World Title reign has come and gone?” Zephyr hopes she didn’t sound obtrusive with your question, Belle had told her she can be rather abrupt.
Silvio hummed thoughtfully, eyes drifting briefly upward.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Things can change so much in such a short amount of time, it’d probably be futile to try and plan too far out. We’ll see how Act of Defiance goes and go from there. How about you? What’s on the docket for the Conscience of Carnage?”
Zephyr smiled, “If I knew the answer to that question, wouldn’t I be the ‘oracle’ instead of you?”
He laughed. “Got me there! Well, hey, maybe I can give you a reading one day and we can figure that out,” he grinned, giving her a little nudge with his elbow. “For now, how’s about we find you a fun trade to bring home and then pick up some coffee? What does Belle like? My treat.”
“I’ve heard and now I get to witness. I think you have yourself a deal. In terms of coffee, Belle loves anything caramel. Think we’ll be able to figure it out from there. She does love having guests over too. Insists upon setting up a game night… I honestly don’t know where she gets it from.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, dang, if that’s the case, I’m always down for a little tabletop. I think King and Grace would be, too, come to think of it - they’re big nerds.” Shrugging, he smiled. “Not to invite myself over or anything, but if you ever want to chill out together, I’m sure they’d love to.”
Zephyr laughed as she picks up an older trade, The Tower of Babel, before responding, “No take backs! You said it and once Belle finds out…” Zephyr pretended to shudder as she laughed again. “We’ll figure something out for one of these nights for sure!”
“I’m a man of my word,” Silvio assured her. “And hey - I’ll even bring the chips and dip for game night. Now!” He held up his own book. “Let’s cement our geek cred and get something caffeinated.”
“Lead the way!”