How…how had Laxus gotten himself into this?
"Now look here, sonny. Mik over there's gonna do a tackle on ya, and since yer the heel he's gonna play it up as some big 'ole feat."
He wasn't drunk, was he? He searched his recent memories. No, definitely sober. When he was younger he'd been on some insane benders, and those were a sight to behold. But he always woke from those violently, his head pounding and whole body on fire. This felt more like slowly blinking awake from a daydream. Which reminded him to pinch himself in case it was a dream. It was sort of hard to see for some reason.
Wait, was there a mask on his face?
"But you don't let 'em get away with it completely. It's a fierce struggle at first but eventually, you get yer comeuppance, and boy, won't that be right nasty."
There was a cape as well…maybe Freed could pull it off. Maybe. Laxus turned his thoughts away from the absurd outfit to think back on when this all started. He knew he entered the town about an hour ago, and then…
What was he even doing in this town an hour ago?
He gazed down at the man giving him instructions. He was short, although he could have been slightly taller if he wasn't hunched over. Wiry, with eyes just a bit too wide for Laxus' liking. He peered at him like a hawk having found fresh meat–and Laxus was the bigger one. The man was the same who'd "scouted" him earlier as he was making his way into town for a job. A job...
Wait, right. That was why he was in town. For a job. What had occurred that made him sidetrack onto this…sideshow. His head felt groggy the longer he thought about it. The man's constant, snappy instructions didn't help.
"Awright, showtime sonny!" The thin man pushed him from behind–a surprising amount of force behind it–and Laxus stumbled forward.
"Ah! If it isn't the Masked Captor! What evil has thou brought to us this day?!" Another man in a bright costume shouted as he spread his arms out and looked straight at Laxus. Oh no. He didn't mean him, did he? The people on the street began to turn their heads at the noise. This prompted the man to continue. "Never fear! For I, the Gallant Galivar will take you on."
Laxus looked back to see the thin man had vanished from sight. Well, that's fine. Better to throw down the mask now and book it before anyone caught sight of his face. Then he'd skip town, sleep out in the woods for a night, and–
A man only slightly smaller than Laxus suddenly tackled him.
The so-called "Gallant Gavilar" hissed in his ear. "Listen, buddy, I dunno what Telkar said to do, but don't just stand around dumbly! Fight me! You're gonna lose but at least put up a fight!"
Right. This was some sort of...performance? Fighting act? Laxus had been confused by the initial premise and obviously, no one had elaborated. What he could guess was that he was supposed to be fighting...but not really. Maybe. If only he'd actually listened to what Telkar had been saying and not just pretending to be. It wasn't like Telkar to talk so fast usually, perhaps he was just stressed because the show wasn't doing so well recently. Laxus remembered that much at least.
Wait. Why did Laxus remember that?
He struggled inside the man's grip, only to have it tighten on him. Mik's hands were impressively strong, restraining him from doing much more than grunt. Well, that just wouldn't do now. He took a deep breath and drew upon the ethernanos deep within him. Sparks flew from his body, enough to give most people a mild shock. Laxus merely felt its power.
Mik risked a nervous glance at him. "Uh, what's this exactly here bud–" He was silenced as electricity coursed through his body and he screamed. Seconds later his grip released and he fell to the ground, more burnt body than noble hero. Laxus hadn't killed him, just shocked enough to leave him a little smokey.
Ripping off the mask, he pointed at Telkar, who he now saw standing in the back, a bucket for "donations" for the show. Something had been weird when he'd come too, but now that he'd shocked himself back to full awareness, he was sure of one thing now.
"You charmed me into your show. And I bet you're the one who's on the wanted poster I'm chasing. That's why you intercepted me before I could investigate. Too bad for you, a little longer, and maybe you could have gotten away."
Telkar hunched back even further, his face breaking out in a sweat. "Curses! Your electricity wore off the effects!"
"Oh, is this part of the show too?" An onlooker murmured. Laxus winced. It would be bad if things got ugly now, with a crowd. Then, he glanced down at his cape. Well, it was gaudy, but maybe it could be put to good use after all. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for what he was about to say next.
"You...Telkar. I will defeat you...or I'm not...the Masked Captor."
"..."
"He talks pretty quietly for a heel."
Oh Mavis, save him. He ripped off the cape in a flurry of motion and launched himself at the wanted man, telling himself that this time, he'd keep the damage to a minimum...barring any other unfortunate surprises that crossed his path.
A/N: Based on the most recent campaign in which we were stuck on an entertainment island and had to do a little street performance to get by. Luckily we managed to escape by doing a show...which inadvertently meant stealing a lot of money and then fleeing. Pretty sure we're not allowed back there. Laxus has it a little simpler in that regard.