Superball:
"I don't get it," she said. "You're not an idiot. Why do you act like one when you put on that mask?"
He paused, halfway through donning the costume.
"The first guy to wear this thing," he replied slowly, "was an idiot. Or maybe it was just an act. Looking back, I guess it was. Had to be. Nobody could be that stupid. But I don't know. I'll never know."
"Just because he did it," she said, "doesn't mean you have to."
"Wrong," he disagreed, "it does. Because that idiot died saving MY sorry excuse for a life. Even after all the years I spent making HIS life hell. I owe that son of a bitch. And this is the only way I can pay it back."
She shook her head. "You can do that without...all of this. Wisecracking, playing the fool...this isn't you."
"No, it isn't," he said, "that's the point. This isn't about me."
"Superball is dead. Don't you get it?"
"Dead? Nonono," he laughed as he pulled the mask on. His voice changed, rising higher. “C'mon, keep up! What did I tell ya, what did I tell ya? SUPERBALL is ALIVE!"
***
Alec Kazam:
"Numina," the wizard said, "is the greatest threat. Her bloodline is impeccable. And like us, she has overcome death itself."
The succubus shook her head. "She is not the only one. War Witch has also returned from beyond. And there is the Ghost Widow."
"Don’t overlook the Midnight Squad," hissed a spectral Oranbegan, "have you forgotten what Castanella and his ilk have done to us?"
A quiet voice said: "What about Alec Kazam?"
Silence fell. One by one, the gathered Circle of Thorns turned to stare at their colleague.
"What? That fool in the newspapers? You can't be serious! He claims he learned magic from the Internet, of all things! Look at what he calls himself!"
"He has no lineage," another protested, "no divine gift! He wields no occult artifacts! You fear this...this dabbler?"
"As you say," murmured the one who had spoken, "he has no blood, no blessing, no sources of power. And yet, my friends, consider this: he works magic...all the same."
This snippet is actually Alec's bio in-game, but I don't assume most folks have read it. I include it for completeness, to introduce the next snippet, featuring Alec and Debra Kadabra. I never got round to playing Debra, but she was rolled for Dark Control/Dark Assault, as Alec's apprentice and sidekick.
***
Debra Kadabra:
"I'm not calling myself Debra Kadabra."
"It's an awesome name," Alec argued, "it fits the theme. It's even close to your real one. It's like you have a moral obligation here. It's your birthright."
Deborah sighed. She took a deep breath, counted slowly, then exhaled. "You only want to call me that because YOU go by Alec Kazam. Which is a stupid name too, just so you know."
"You're my minion," Alec pointed out, "that means I get to pick your name."
"I thought I was supposed to be your sidekick," Deborah corrected, through gritted teeth. "Or apprentice. Or, you know, something with a dignified job title."
"Eh, lackey, henchman, intern, same difference. Besides, 'Debra Kadabra' is open. Nobody's using it. Though I suppose we could always register you as 'Crazy Psycho Goth Chick'. Wait, no, that's too many characters. Doesn't fit the entry field."
Deborah sighed. "You know what," she said, "I'm really starting to reconsider my career choices here."
"But Arachnos doesn't have dental!"
And the following one isn't funny, but my rarely-played Kheldian Peacebringer was one of my few non-humour characters.
***
Light Errant
He couldn't stop the bleeding. First aid wasn't enough for this.
A gloved hand gripped his wrist. "It's okay," she gasped, eyes glowing behind her mask.
"It's not okay," he hissed.
"No," she whispered, "save them."
There were more of the monsters flooding the streets. And people. So many people. They needed help. But what could he do?
"You're the hero," he snapped, "you’re the one with powers! I can't, I'm just...I’m not..."
She looked at him. He flinched. By the time he looked back, the light had faded from her eyes. She was gone.
He didn’t even know her name. He wished he had. Maybe if he’d watched the news more, he’d have known she was Light Errant...
...wait...how?
No. He’d mourn later, for a brave woman he now knew. The new memories were confusing, but he couldn’t be distracted. He had a job to do.
Energy swirled round him as he stepped out of the alley, a blast leaping from his hand toward the nearest Shivan.
He wasn’t a hero. Not yet. But he was damn well going to try.
***
-- Acyl
"I don't get it," she said. "You're not an idiot. Why do you act like one when you put on that mask?"
He paused, halfway through donning the costume.
"The first guy to wear this thing," he replied slowly, "was an idiot. Or maybe it was just an act. Looking back, I guess it was. Had to be. Nobody could be that stupid. But I don't know. I'll never know."
"Just because he did it," she said, "doesn't mean you have to."
"Wrong," he disagreed, "it does. Because that idiot died saving MY sorry excuse for a life. Even after all the years I spent making HIS life hell. I owe that son of a bitch. And this is the only way I can pay it back."
She shook her head. "You can do that without...all of this. Wisecracking, playing the fool...this isn't you."
"No, it isn't," he said, "that's the point. This isn't about me."
"Superball is dead. Don't you get it?"
"Dead? Nonono," he laughed as he pulled the mask on. His voice changed, rising higher. “C'mon, keep up! What did I tell ya, what did I tell ya? SUPERBALL is ALIVE!"
***
Alec Kazam:
"Numina," the wizard said, "is the greatest threat. Her bloodline is impeccable. And like us, she has overcome death itself."
The succubus shook her head. "She is not the only one. War Witch has also returned from beyond. And there is the Ghost Widow."
"Don’t overlook the Midnight Squad," hissed a spectral Oranbegan, "have you forgotten what Castanella and his ilk have done to us?"
A quiet voice said: "What about Alec Kazam?"
Silence fell. One by one, the gathered Circle of Thorns turned to stare at their colleague.
"What? That fool in the newspapers? You can't be serious! He claims he learned magic from the Internet, of all things! Look at what he calls himself!"
"He has no lineage," another protested, "no divine gift! He wields no occult artifacts! You fear this...this dabbler?"
"As you say," murmured the one who had spoken, "he has no blood, no blessing, no sources of power. And yet, my friends, consider this: he works magic...all the same."
This snippet is actually Alec's bio in-game, but I don't assume most folks have read it. I include it for completeness, to introduce the next snippet, featuring Alec and Debra Kadabra. I never got round to playing Debra, but she was rolled for Dark Control/Dark Assault, as Alec's apprentice and sidekick.
***
Debra Kadabra:
"I'm not calling myself Debra Kadabra."
"It's an awesome name," Alec argued, "it fits the theme. It's even close to your real one. It's like you have a moral obligation here. It's your birthright."
Deborah sighed. She took a deep breath, counted slowly, then exhaled. "You only want to call me that because YOU go by Alec Kazam. Which is a stupid name too, just so you know."
"You're my minion," Alec pointed out, "that means I get to pick your name."
"I thought I was supposed to be your sidekick," Deborah corrected, through gritted teeth. "Or apprentice. Or, you know, something with a dignified job title."
"Eh, lackey, henchman, intern, same difference. Besides, 'Debra Kadabra' is open. Nobody's using it. Though I suppose we could always register you as 'Crazy Psycho Goth Chick'. Wait, no, that's too many characters. Doesn't fit the entry field."
Deborah sighed. "You know what," she said, "I'm really starting to reconsider my career choices here."
"But Arachnos doesn't have dental!"
And the following one isn't funny, but my rarely-played Kheldian Peacebringer was one of my few non-humour characters.
***
Light Errant
He couldn't stop the bleeding. First aid wasn't enough for this.
A gloved hand gripped his wrist. "It's okay," she gasped, eyes glowing behind her mask.
"It's not okay," he hissed.
"No," she whispered, "save them."
There were more of the monsters flooding the streets. And people. So many people. They needed help. But what could he do?
"You're the hero," he snapped, "you’re the one with powers! I can't, I'm just...I’m not..."
She looked at him. He flinched. By the time he looked back, the light had faded from her eyes. She was gone.
He didn’t even know her name. He wished he had. Maybe if he’d watched the news more, he’d have known she was Light Errant...
...wait...how?
No. He’d mourn later, for a brave woman he now knew. The new memories were confusing, but he couldn’t be distracted. He had a job to do.
Energy swirled round him as he stepped out of the alley, a blast leaping from his hand toward the nearest Shivan.
He wasn’t a hero. Not yet. But he was damn well going to try.
***
-- Acyl