Vaudevillain

“So,” Jack said as Thomas and Carol left to get seats. She unbuckled from her seat and stepped out onto the small greenspace between the parking lot and the street. Dylan followed suit.

“So?” Dylan asked.

Jack kicked at the grass and walked over to Dylan. “Which of the characters did you like better?” Jack dragged the ‘which’ out, her voice slightly nervous.

“Which of which characters?” Dylan asked. For some reason, he felt more nervous than before. His palms were sweating and Dylan felt his skin prickle.

“Ms. Tama or Pan-Pan,” Jack said. “I’m not sure which I like more so I’m asking around.”

“Oh,” Dylan said with a light laugh. “Um.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I guess I like Ms. Tama more? Pan-Pan is a cool design but she seems more like someone in the background and not someone that stands next to Dr. Zlo.”

“So you want someone that stands next to you?” Jack asked. She bumped his side.

Dylan leaned back, enjoying the contact. He took a breath, doing his best to focus on the conversation and not on Jack’s dimples when she smiled. “I mean, well. A lot of the fun comes from interacting with everyone. Riptide makes jokes at Dr. Zlo’s expense. He’s like that villain that can’t help but getting on everyone’s nerves. Dream is the serious one who only really goes off the deep end for her specific vice. Playing off that as Dr. Zlo is fun, and I wouldn’t want someone in the group to not be a part of that.”

“That’s sweet,” Jack said. “I don’t mind being in the background though. I’ve said my job is with theaters, right?”

Dylan nodded. Jack took his hand. “Working in the background is just as important as the foreground. If I got upset because I wasn’t acknowledged I wouldn’t be in this line of work. Besides, the people that matter will always pay attention.”

“I’d still like Ms. Tama better,” Dylan said. He took a plunge. “If only because that would mean talking with you more, you know?”

“Oh are we admitting things now?” Jack asked playfully, but Dylan could see the tinges of nervousness.

“Were we not admitting things?” Dylan asked. “I thought that was partly the point of this? Meeting up to admit and talk things out.”

Jack tittered, the nervousness leaving her with the awkward laugh. “Okay, you’re right. My fault for trying to tease you I guess. So you like Ms. Tama better?”

“I like all the characters you make,” Dylan said. “But I might be biased.”

“Might be?”

“Okay, I’m definitely biased,” Dylan admitted. “I was probably biased since we first met.”

Jack looked up into Dylan’s eyes. “Oh? Tell me—“

“Hey lovebirds we got us a table!” Carol shouted.

Both Dylan and Jack jumped in surprise.

“Jesus!” Jack said. She looked at her friend. “Don’t do that!”

“Don’t what? Let you know our table will be twenty minutes?” Carol asked innocently. She batted her eyes along with it.

“You didn’t have to yell,” Jack argued.

Carol shrugged. “Maybe. What do you think Tomcat?”

“I think you got the attention of everyone in the parking lot,” Thomas said. He gave Dylan an apologetic smile. Dylan shrugged in forgiveness.

“No, if I wanted to get everyone’s attention in the parking lot I would be much louder,” Carol argued. “You remember that one time—“

“Yes,” Thomas said, cutting her off. “And I don’t want to remember it.”

“Ha!” Carol laughed. “Someone’s embarrassed!”

“Carol, I think Dream’s name is similar to yours,” Dylan said. It was a terrible change in conversation, and he knew it. Carol latched onto it anyway.

“Like my game name or name name?” Carol asked.

“Name name,” Dylan said. “I think she mentioned it was Caroline at one point. Doesn’t come up often though.”

“Oh my god we’re totally twins,” Carol said excitedly. “I gotta send her a message.”

“Thank you,” Thomas mouthed.

“So I know you wanted it to be a surprise, but at least give me some hints?” Dylan asked.

“Got a fear of heights?” Jack asked.

“No?” Dylan answered.

“There’s the first hint,” Jack said blithely.

“Jack, getting high is immoral!” Thomas said.

“Shuddap,” Jack laughed.

After a few more minutes of conversation, the table was finally ready. Jack and Dylan walked in, still holding hands as they settled in. After everyone got their drinks and ordered, Thomas leaned forward.

“I had an idea for our event,” he said.

“Hmm?” Dylan asked as he sipped his drink.

“I was thinking we make our own pets,” Thomas said.

“Like the ones out right now?” Dylan asked.

“That’s right,” Thomas answered. “I was thinking they could be prizes. Everyone gets one for joining and then the people who win get a special one.”

“I love it,” Carol said.

“You would,” Jack said. “Because you don’t have to do all the work then.” She looked at Thomas. “Honestly it sounds like a lot of work.”

“It shouldn’t be hard to automate,” Thomas said. “One good dose of Mad Science and voila, instant pets.”

“I’m thinking logistics,” Jack said. “How do you determine who wins? Is it the heroes, the villains? Or do we need to put everyone into groups first and keep track of points? If we do that, how do we keep score?”

“Don’t we still have those bracelets from our city event?” Thomas asked. “Can’t we use those?”

“But how do we numberfy it?” Jack asked. “Do you count by heroes or villains taken out? Or by the characters rescued or converted?”

“Way to take the fun out of it,” Carol complained lightly.

Jack rolled her eyes. “I’m just trying to be realistic with the idea.”

“I like the complimentary pet idea,” Dylan said. “That doesn’t seem hard to do at all. We can give everyone a mundane hatbot or something.”

Thomas looked at Jack as he gestured to Dylan. “He likes it.”

“But I agree with Jack,” Dylan said. “I don’t know how you would quantify things for keeping score.”

“Thank you,” Jack said.

“Spoilsport,” Carol said. “I wanted a custom rabbit pet.”

“Didn’t I already make you rabbit minions?” Dylan asked. “And why rabbits?”

“They’re the cutest,” Carol said simply.

Everyone’s food arrived at that moment, cutting off the conversation. Dylan took a bite of the taco ravioli he’d ordered.

“Wow, that’s great,” he said. The ravioli was drenched in a soy infused, asian chili tomato sauce that paired well with the meaty dish, giving it a savory and spicy kick.

“Right?” Jack said. She dug into her own dish, some eastern European stew mix with a splash of indian spices to bring everything together. “Triple Twisted is the best!”

“It’s alright,” Thomas said jokingly, which earned him a light kick under the table.

Dylan chuckled at their antics.

The drive to his hotel was filled with the ideas Dylan had for various Dr. Zlo capers. Carol chimed in often as well, adding on unnecessary ninja antics for Shizuka before trying to steal the show completely. Jack and Thomas laughed at it all, the two enjoying the insanity.

“This it?” Thomas asked once he pulled up to the hotel lot.

“Yep,” Dylan said.

“Great, we’ll come get you tomorrow in the morning. Ten AM?” Thomas asked.

“Later than I expected but it works,” Dylan said.

“Sorry, we’re used to late nights, not early mornings,” Jack said. She got out of the car with him, grabbing his hand again as they went to check in.

“Maybe I should come over earlier for breakfast or something,” Jack said. “As much as I love Thomas’s company, he can get a bit too invested in a single topic.”

“I’d like that,” Dylan said with a smile. “As long as you still don’t think I’m some creep hiding their identity over the internet.”

“Can you blame a girl for taking precautions?” Jack asked.

“No,” Dylan said. He was all too aware of how often people cheated each other on the internet.

“Well, you’re definitely not some trafficker looking to sell me into slavery or anything,” Jack said. “So I think we’re good.”

“Morbid,” Dylan answered.

Jack made a face. “Yeah, you’re right. Too much.”

“But yes, I’d love to have breakfast tomorrow,” Dylan said.

“Great!” Jack said. “I’ll let Thomas know he doesn’t have to wake up too early then. We’ll use my car this time.”

“Sounds good,” Dylan said.

Jack smiled and gave him a hug. “See you tomorrow.”

“Bye,” Dylan said.