After School Villains Club (2)

Garfield

Reviled

The movie was surprisingly private and enjoyable. Even though the cinema was in villain territory, most people were really well behaved. Everyone had the same idea we did, bringing some kind of recording device and as such nobody talked, or munched or made weird noises.

There was a collective groan from the group though when the villain protagonist did the inevitable stupid things, but that was fine. The audience included mostly kids or nerds, only a few of instantly recognisable faces liked the very comfortable padded chairs. We sat in two chairs, with the third chair between us holding popcorn and the recording gear and held hands across the space.

Now we were back out into the mall proper, the Cinema was in a cut off corner down the end of the second floor. If we followed this part back we would reach the big open area where art hung from the high ceiling and be able to find a cafe or a restaurant.

I checked my phone as we walked, Claire had sent me a picture of a flyer for "Shiva's Crash Ninjitsu Course!" and the location, I was doing the thumb-scrolling with one hand. Penny still held the other. They swung as we walked, but only slightly and we took in the scene.

What to talk about. What to talk about.

"Did you see the 'us' cosplay in the window back there? Still can't believe we're getting a cut from people dressing as us!" The costumes were, different. Somewhere along the line the community had decided our theme was 'Toys'. The Robot, the Action Figure and the Teddy-Bear. For legal reasons they couldn't look exactly like our costumes, there were no bullet resistant plastic mouldings like our updated costumes had, and as an obligation the costumes showed the face.

You wouldn't want a kid in cosplay being accused of being the actual Bad Penny, or Reviled after all - so the cosplay versions were more blatant with the Robot, Action Figure and Teddy Bear designs, and were even colour coordinated..

"Yeah, if you actually wore that you'd look even dorkier than you used to. Not that I don't like Dorky!" Standing near the edge of the open area, looking at the art, Penny wrapped an arm around my back then nuzzled her face into my shoulder.

I tensed! Nope, nope no perverted thoughts please! Keep my head clear!

"Ooops!" Too late I saw my phone slip out of my hands, dropping, I broke the contact trying to catch it and being to slow.

"Super reflexes my Butt!" I called out, watching it fall.

Four stories down, a blond girl lifted off the ground and carefully caught it, "Hey? You Drop this!"

"Yeah Thanks!" Penny answered for me, and a casual toss sent my phone sailing back up.

This time I caught it, to Penny's amusement.

"Not like you to be sloppy." and clutched back on to my arm.

We walked. Meandered, down escalators and in the general direction of the food court.

"Looking at those costumes, and the copycats." Penny was explaining as we entered the area with the Collectors array of 'unusual animals' in cages. "I find myself wondering if we shouldn't send a message. Like, it's bad for kids to imitate us. Or that if they're going to commit crimes, it be on softer targets than we attack!"

"Hmmm." I responded, it was an appealing thought. In the Hero and Villain industry there were terms. Henchmen referred to hired muscle, people who could fight. Minions referred to hired labourers, but "You mean like Patsies? We post small targets, like robbing libraries or museums and offer rewards to successful people?"

She shrugged, dunno. Moving from a section that contained creatures that weren't for sale; literal monsters, we idled into the more conventional part of the Collectors sets that had posted prices. Here were some familiar faces, baby wyverns, intelligent rodents.