Tricks, Treats, and Deadly Sweets Part 2
The table shifted as a rather spirited game of arm wrestling was taking place between Ed and Duff. Drakken was only partially annoyed by its shifting as he was immersed in the one positive about Lucre... his strange unyielding support. One solid glass of delicious Coca Moo and perhaps something stronger that Ed may have slipped in judging by its taste... He had entertained Lucre in conversation about his inventions and general genius both in villainy and out of it. While he wanted nothing more than to slap the fake glittery scar under Lucre's eye off and rage about his insulting costume... whatever had been spiked in his glass was making it easier to view as flattery... so long as he was being praised. Which led them to the current subject of Drakken's current work and success, Drakken took the initiative to boast.
"The calendar is in constant booking for my specialty brand of genius," smirked Drakken, "Which is about time if you ask me-"
"Pfft," snorted Ed as he beat Duff, "Specialty? Taking up more gardening there, Cuz?"
Drakken rolled his eyes but Ed's comment did little to diminish his mood.
"I mean with those wee hands, it's probably a good hobby to have," teased Duff. Ed snorted.
That comment may have diminished some of Drakken's mood. Drakken looked at his hands and shot daggers at the two snickering away.
"Nghn, its just the gloves," snapped Drakken. He looked towards Shego for support.
Shego was currently in a heated conversation with Adrena and Cleopatra and clearly not aware of any comments being made. Drakken rolled his eyes and ignored his cousin and friend as Lucre made comments about all the different types of gloves that were sold at Smarty Mart. While he wasn't particularly interested in the gossip Shego was currently on, it was better than the alternative.
"So Camille is no longer a villain?" asked Shego. Drakken raised a brow.
Well that is interesting.
"No idea," said Adrena as she put her glass down, "She blew me off, is dodging calls, and have you see the latest news article about her?"
"Like I have time to catch up on gossip magazine," snorted Shego, "Do you know how exhausting it is with Drakken's-"
"Hey!" Drakken cut in.
"- Calendar upkeep," Shego glared at him, "And the flowers and henchmen... Do you really want me to rattle off everything I do because we would be here all night."
"We are going to be here all night," Drakken stated. He shook his head at himself.
Lucre joined in now, shifting the conversation slightly.
"You should be interested in the gossip magazine! You two are in a lot of them," said Lucre.
"What?" Drakken and Shego asked in unison.
"Oh yeah," snickered Adrena, "I mean it died down after the whole freaky vine wrap thing at the UN... but after you two were seen in Paris with MC Honey... well let's just say your new little recluse thing... currently a topic of the media."
"Why do you think Motor Ed took that picture- Ow!" Lucre's chair moved and he glared at Ed, "Watch it wrench boy."
"Be cool," hissed Ed. Drakken glared.
"What does he mean?" snapped Drakken, "Is that why you snuck that photo?"
"He also took one on his phone too," Lucre added. Ed glared at him.
"Give me that phone!" snapped Drakken.
Drakken moved to grab where it sat next to Ed's drink. Ed was quicker and managed to grab it and use his other hand to hold Drakken at bay. This did nothing but further aggravate Drakken as Ed tried to defend his antics and keep the phone away.
"Oh come on! It's just a trade- hey no slapping- This stupid picture- seriously! Ow! I only took it so I can trade for a seriously sick new headlight- No pinching!" Ed yelled.
Drakken may have not handled the situation as best her could, but as Ed's hand pushed against his face, Drakken was not about to take the high ground and stop the fight.
Shego made a mental note to berate them all for further details about what gossip was being spewed about she or Drakken... or go burn a few choice villain gossip stands... later. Her eyes lingered on the fight next to her as Adrena and Cleopatra continued chatting. It would have been easy for Shego to simply blast the phone but her attention was pulled back to her previous conversation that now included Lucre as Adrena produced a standard tabloid magazine. She'd clearly been fixating over judging by the warn quality. The page already turned to where a very pleasant image of Camille standing next to her father was on the page.
"Apparently she's back in with her family again," said Adrena. Her brow was furrowed, "I mean, not that we talked about her personal issues with her family... but its totally freaky, right?"
"Play nice to get more money?" shrugged Cleopatra, "Many have done far worse than simply that."
Shego was about to comment from years passed articles, that it was more Camille's family distancing themselves from her... but the image of the dark lit torn apart bunker, the strange creature following them off the island, and the very clear Leon logo on the paper Camille had swiped... played like a film through her mind. A sudden curiosity struck her, but not nearly enough to care about sharing the information or perusing answers.
Whatever leverage she has... good for her.
"Pfft, maybe she can pay back Junior for all her freeloading," smirked Shego.
Adrena's furrowed brows as she looked at the magazine turned into a snicker.
"Like she pays for anything," Adrena rolled her eyes, "I'm serious... I have never seen that women pay a dime."
"Well she can shape-shift, correct?" asked Cleopatra as she looked at the magazine, "Seems fair anyone with that ability wouldn't have too."
"Eh, its a bit unsettling," Duff chimed in, "You'd never know who or where she was.- I'll be back, I see some stragglers.
Duff exited the table waving towards the dance floor. Shego didn't even bother to follow where he was going to see who would be invading their table. Mainly because of Adrena's sudden motion to toss down the magazine on the table.
Adrena took another drink and smirked.
"About her shape-shifting... Before she completely stopped ditching my calls, things got extra freaky," she leaned closer and her voice dropped as she spoke, "You know how you can still kinda tell its Camille when she does her little thing, right?"
Both Shego and Cleopatra shrugged.
"She got more done," Added Adrena. This gained more attention, "But it wasn't completely a want thing."
"What's that mean?" asked Shego as she picked up her glass.
"Her features started getting stuck for longer than she wanted," Adrena stated. Shego felt a wave of unease at this, which only increased as Adrena continued, "Turns out her previous doctor was just modifying things from another plastic surgeon's formula, which from what I heard was loaded with issues... probably why that big shot was selling it in the underground- which super extra freaky- did you know there's like an underground trad market?"
Shego placed her own glass back down as Adrena's ranted off about whatever gossip she'd recently discovered. The anxiety from earlier was pooling in her gut again with a new sense of unease. She didn't need to think that hard for her mind the connect with Dr. Botox and Dollmaker... and the setting was aiding this. The idea of Botox being a supplier wasn't new, and it was clear they had been doing that over the decades of their Leviathan free career. With a glance behind where she noticed Cleopatra had been looking, her eyes found the candy and concession table loaded with various devilish treats made by Dr. Sweets. Someone Shego was well aware had dipped her petite toe into the underground trades with Dr. Botox for a decent time.
Her focus was completely lost on Adrena talking about the show Villain Fails as her alcohol level shifted the topic without a second thought. Shego was lost in thought about Dr. Botox's alter ego Dr. Taxley... the well renowned plastic surgeon with a history of success and controversy... and the overstretched and over chemically treated face they had once had. The face that they had been hell bent on getting Shego or her siblings DNA to make some sort of youth serum... and an experimental chemical that made one able to shape-shift or alter their appearance... just made sense.
Aren't all plastic surgeons trying to do that...
For a second her thoughts were calm, but as Drakken bumped into her while still fighting Ed, her thoughts shifted once again. Drakken's statement about Dollmaker casually walking around Go City, Mego's words about the return of Hush, another rogue surgeon... tie that in with the figure in the shadows from earlier made Shego's hair stand on end. There was always a chance that there was no connection at all and it was just about mad plastic surgeon trying to make a name for themselves or make money... but Shego doubted all the coincidences.
Her eyes darted to Drakken who was still wrestling with Ed for the camera.
"Drakken," said Shego firmly.
"What," was a muffled response from where Ed was now pushing his face away.
"I like this song," said Shego. Attempting to get his attention.
"You hate this song," replied Drakken.
"Well... I like it right now," Shego tried, "Maybe I'll like it more after another drink."
"Give up Cuz, seriously... go take Green dancing," was Ed's muffled reply as he used his spike covered boot to try and push Drakken away, "Don't you bite me!"
"Oh! You've been gnawing at my hand this entire time... now you want to get specific," Drakken snapped back.
Shego glared and her eyes found Cleopatra's. Her expression deadpan as she watched the two childishly fight.
"Hard to resist them at this moment, am I right?" said Cleopatra as she shook her head, "I could use another drink... or three."
Cleopatra stood up and looked at Shego. Her expression was still distant and there was a brief second where Shego wondered why, but her care faded over her annoyance quickly. It would have been easy to decline and continue to prod Drakken, but doing so would mean more questions from the table. Shego sighed and stood up, the conversation of the table now shifting to the price and validity of magazine articles in both villain and non. She crossed her arms as they approached the mild line to the bar in silence.
"So... how have you been?" asked Cleopatra. Shego raised a brow at the sudden awkward tension, "I was merely making small talk."
"Why?" asked Shego.
"Because I wanted to transition to a conversation about what your friend Adrena said," said Cleopatra, "Judging by your indication you wanted to talk to Drakken in private... Theories?"
"You caught that, did you?" Shego shrugged, "I don't like coincidences and people I associate with."
"Listen, you are far from the only person on their list, I'm sure... but given what Pandora told me about Tibet-" Cleopatra began.
"Pandora knows very little about Tibet," Shego glared, "I'm sure its nothing... what are you ordering?"
Shego glanced towards where Drakken and Ed had now fallen to the floor, not phasing a single person with their antics.
"To be clear, it wasn't gossip she was sharing-" Cleopatra attempted to regain the conversation but Shego darted passed her.
"Gina!" Shego forced a grin on her face. Choosing to deal with a prior unresolved issue, "How nice to see you back here!"
Gina froze from where she had already grabbed Shego's typical order glass.
"Okay," nodded Gina as she poured the drink, "Well thank you... I didn't think I'd see you around here much-"
"Why would you tell Adrena where to get that costume?" asked Shego. She leaned on the bar and kept her fake smile up, "What else are you telling people?"
"I'm telling people a lot of things," shrugged Gina, "Been gone for a while and apparently things got out of hand... speaking of which- Conner! Did you find Herby?"
Shego watched her shout too the other head bartender and indicate to the empty jar that normally held the severed hand. Shego moved to be in Gina's line of sight again.
"Don't avoid the topic- I know you know about Go City now... and I'm not to keen on people knowing anything about it, okay," Shego glared. Gina's expression was unreadable, "I'm serious."
"I can tell," nodded Gina as she slid Shego's drink to her, "I learned very little in Go City that you already hadn't rambled on about when Tequila was consumed in your time here over the years."
Her eyes looked at the large bottle Gina had nodded towards on the wall, and the many fuzzy evenings staying at the Inn before working for Drakken and a long list of phone calls to Drakken during their separate villain time. A deep concern of just how much she might have overshared with patrons and staff here came to light. Shego nodded and took her drink, giving Gina a once over instead of apologizing for what they both knew was headed towards a threat. Shego headed back to the table, avoiding Cleopatra's confused look as she took in the outfit Gina wore and the slight smirk on her expression.
Her eyes lingered as she stood at her chair. Something dawned on her as she took in the scene and she swatted Drakken's arm before sitting down.
"Drakken," she hissed in a whisper.
Flower popped in her face and Shego finally switched focus to where Ed was fighting off vines as Drakken dismantled a phone meticulously at the table.
"I really do hate that I find that impressive," came a thick accented voice.
Shego had missed Dementor joining the table.
"Thank you," smirked Drakken.
"It is impressive that his tiny digits can just break that apart like that-" Duff was cut off.
"It's the gloves!" snapped Drakken.
Shego nudged him.
"Yes?' asked Drakken. His brow furrowed as he looked at her. It switched to a calmer look, "I meant... you needed something?
"About time you notice," Shego glared, "Multiple things-"
"Here that Cuz... multiple things," snickered Ed as Flower released him, "What else you two doing with these vines- Hey!"
Ed's chair was flipped by the retreating Flower. Drakken scowled down at his cousin.
"I want to hear about that freaky, fun," grinned Adrena. Shego felt her face grow warm as she focused on Drakken instead.
"Never in a million years, Adrena," forced Shego. She nudged Drakken who was liooking back at the phone pieces.
"Sorry- you wanted to dance?" asked Drakken hastily.
"A topic we will get too, but not at the moment," Shego sighed, "The bartender... that's an old Mego costume."
"Oh... well it is purple," shrugged Drakken, "That costume site must be ninety percent renditions of Team Go."
"That is not on there," Shego argued in a whisper, "I mean... it shouldn't be... Uhg... no that's like the hideous costumes Hego came up with to be classic looking... before Mego and I argued for new ones... We weren't known for them."
"I saw a lot of things I didn't want to see in the Underground and I'm sure that site sells a variant," said Drakken casually. He looked over towards the bar, "His costume had a skirt?"
"No," said Shego. She followed his looked, "Minus the skirt and cape... she probably added it."
"Ah... little disappointed the lack of cape for a superhero," smirked Drakken. Clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Shego mulled over Drakken's suggestion about where the costume came from and sighed.
"Yeah, so was I," said Shego as she pulled away from where she'd been leaning to whisper.
"Really?" asked Drakken. Slightly louder than their conversation would have allowed.
"I don't want to talk about," she took a drink from her new glass.
"Huh," hummed Drakken, "Never pegged you for a cape person."
"Whose a cape person?" asked Ed who has straightened his chair.
"Drop it," hissed Shego.
"... Do you want a cape now?" teased Drakken.
"I think capes are fun," said Adrena, "Not really practical though.
"This was a private conversation," stated Shego as Ed nodded along with Adrena.
"Yet... you have it at a group table?" asked Dementor.
"Why are you here?" asked Shego.
"I was invited," smirked Dementor, waving towards Duff.
"Wow," Drakken shook his head, "Thank you Killigan."
"I meant... at this party," Shego gestured, "And what are you?"
"I am a samurai," grinned Dementor from behind his helmet, "And honestly I was bored."
"... a samurai?" asked Lucre.
"I can be who ever I want," snapped Dementor.
Shego was about to suggest she and Drakken go to the dance-floor, if only to get away from the slightly crowded table for some private conversation... when Drakken shifted against her.
"Mego," stated Drakken.
"Yeah, I'm certain its his costume and we both wanted capes," Shego glared. Drakken wasn't looking at her.
She followed his gaze to the doorway where the very person they had been speaking off had walked in. Shego's eyes shot open and any need to talk to Drakken or concerns flooded away at a new deeper concern and paranoia.
What is Mego doing here!
AND naturally... more Mego content to come!