unease lingers underneath

[crusaded]

[ continued from here ]


"Yyyup," I say. "Popping out like gremlins." Weirdest experience ever, although not as weird and kind of horrifying as at the end of the weekend, when they all just collapsed back into me. I still get random flashes of whatever they were doing. I thought having someone else's memories was weird -- and it still is -- but remembering being in several places at once is... also weird.

"As someone whose only experience of superpowers is seeing them on the news, I have to say it... wasn't actually very super."


"It comes with its own sort of burden, doesn't it?" I nod somberly, lips pursed in thought. Not that someone in my position would have much of an idea— and that goes beyond speaking for Bruce Wayne. I don't like magic, I don't like the idea of having abilities beyond my control and understanding. I don't like that it automatically comes with a relaxing of one's own standards for training. It's a crutch.

Look at all of the times Clark's been bereft of his powers, then look me in the eye and tell me that it doesn't have its downfalls.

"People might judge you if you don't make the best use of it. Superman, for instance, if you've ever heard of him. He definitely wouldn't be so popular if he weren't doing half of what he does for Metropolis."

Comments

[notaparker]

"It's almost like that great power comes with great responsibility or something," I say, with a private, wry twist of my lips, not exactly looking at him.

I'm chatting about the superheroic burden with Batman. The weird part is how not weird it is. I'm neighbors with Superman, actually, but I can't blurt that out because that would be saying I know Clark Kent is Superman. Which I know, and he probably knows because he's Batman, but at this stage in the game maybe he shouldn't know that I know, because he'd want to know how I know.

I think I have that straight.

[crusaded]

"Catchy," I remark with a smile. Which it is. The type of responsibility that one ultimately shoulders can vary in type, in degree, but ultimately, everyone who has such tools at their disposal ends up carrying something greater than the average man. It might simply be a death threat held close to one's throat. It may be the responsibility of buoying the hearts and minds of an entire city. It might be ambition, a greater desire to pull everything within one's gaze to them, possessive and consuming.

But the responsibility is there.

"I guess it's a good thing that my easily liquidated power can be handled by others. I don't know that I'd trust myself with so much."

[notaparker]

Man, he's good. If I didn't know what I know (okay, not starting that again), I would completely buy it. It's only the theme incessantly running through my head that's reminding me, in fact.

"Easily liquidated- ah, money, right?" I say. "Yeah, I have no idea what that's like. And we mostly run on mangoes, here. Which are also easily liquidated!"

[crusaded]

"And far more delicious," I add with a nod, gaze dropping to that same coconut shell cocktail. "No matter how much fruit you put together and blend, mangoes like to stand out from the bunch. More than enough sugar to make your teeth ache. Speaking of, there isn't a dentist around here, is there? There's something else I won't miss."

With how many services there are missing from the island, it really is a statement to how much is superfluous in people's lives. Things we've grown accustomed to, but don't actually need.

Some say that's that I've done. A strong hand that does more harm than good to the potential strength of local law enforcement.

[notaparker]

"Dentist? No," I say. "We've got lots of doctors," I start ticking them off on my fingers, "several bars, one bakery, one club of ill repute but not that ill, somehow, but no dentist. Which I also won't miss, although now I'm worrying about cavities."

[crusaded]

"One club of ill repute, but not that ill?" I ask. I know the place she's referring to, although sometimes I have to wonder if there's something more to the establishment. "On an island with a population as small as this one? I guess it doesn't seem surprising that the ill repute might be toned down, considering the fact that we're all neighbors. Kind of removes the sense of mystery that has people side-eyeing them in the first place."

My gaze turns to the side for a second, before flickering back. "Or so I hear. Either way, it's definitely strange that we have one of those, but no dentist. Guess that tells you where people's priorities lie."

[notaparker]

There might be an off-color drilling joke to be made in there, but I am not the girl who will be making it.

"It's passing strange, yeah. Everything is, but that also is. There's less candy but no less desire to see people take their clothes off? Honestly I'd think that being all neighbours would make it a little extra weird, like, constantly running into people who've seen you in the buff. But I also wouldn't be caught dead there so, you know, obviously not of the required mindset."

[crusaded]

"More than that, even, coming from someone who may or may not have indulged in these activities in the past," I remark, eyes narrowing in slight humility, even though the truth is that I've never found joy in such abandon, "that type of place is all about wish fulfillment. What happens when you watch your neighbor dancing in the buff on stage, yet know that said neighbor's in a happily committed relationship and just climbs on stage for the ego boost?" I shrug my shoulders.

There's a touch of truth to all of it, though. The fact that the people on the island prioritize such things above meaningful progress is cause enough for concern.

"It's an exercise in futility, and it takes a special sort to keep that up."