“I’m planning to read every last word.”
Neri turns back to Quinn.
“Obviously, if you want to read what’s here, I would be ecstatic about it. Though, that is if you want to.”
“...I think knowing more about oddities would be important.”
“Important?”
Neri glances away and begins examining a stack of files.
“I feel like this would be a lot to take in for me, but at the same time, you probably are already used to it, if I had to guess.”
Quinn states.
“Yep, pretty much.”
“Then I take it, your next move is to start reading things here, in preparation for the future?”
“No.”
“...Unexpected.”
“I’ve decided to take up the mantle and reopen this place.”
Lucifer looks over, interest in his eyes.
“Now?”
“Right now.”
“Huh.”
“That leads me to another question.”
“That is?”
“Do you want to join me? Work here as an Oddity Specialist?”
“...”
Quinn thinks upon the rather abrupt and colossal request. Taking his time, he begins to speak.
“I’ve wondered for a while, what it means to be an Oddity Specialist. Given –– I’ve only encountered a couple, but I feel like my experiences have filled in a lot of the picture, on what that titles entails. What it means to work with and against oddities. The type of person that would take, I know isn’t the type of person I am. Yet, I still kind of thought about it. The what ifs, of trying to enter into that world. That maybe, I could become that type of person?”
He pauses.
“However, I realized something. That I really like working with oddities, at least in part. That though, doesn’t mean I am willing to be a specialists, or even that I want to. No, I know I don’t want to be one. I know it might sound selfish, but I want to dedicate myself to helping with oddities, without actually being anything special.”
“I see... Then?”
“No, I can’t be your specialist.”
“Shame.”
Quinn feels a bit down, being unable to meet her expectations. Neri stands up.
“In that case, I’m opening up a new position in the agency.”
“h-Huh?”
“Come on as a Supernatural Consultant then!”
She offers her hand out.
“...What’s that?”
“Something I just made up.”
Quinn feels his heart rate increase and thinks to himself. “A massive decision, that will undoubtably change my life and given the potential shortness of it, directly effect the rest of it as well.”
He looks to the girl. “If she’s the one I’m following, then obviously it would be the right decision.”
“Okay.”
He takes her hand. They shake on it.
“Welcome aboard!”
“Wow, amazing, just so moving, my little nuisances are growing up. Already taking on a new job. Who would I have thought today would be the day? I can barely contain my excitement.”
“You somehow managed to get more monotone as you went on.”
Quinn states.
“Good, I wasn’t the only one who was surprised by it.”
“It’s impressive, right? A true talent, unmatched by my peers.”
“You could be a little happy for us.”
Neri says.
“Because you are going to be spending an ungodly amount of time reading? With me having to be their? I think not.”
“Spoilsport.”
Quinn watches this back and forth, then remembers something.
“If I’m a Supernatural Consultant, what are you going to be?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
She takes a fighting stance, then punches out. With a chipper smile and glow around her, she says.
“I’m going to be a Paranormal Detective!”
Chapter 2: Tarot Cards
Neri sits at her new desk, finishing scanning over a file, she moves it to the complete-pile, then grabs one from the to-read-pile. Quinn glances up from his seat, still slogging through his first piece of reading. “I could say something like, quite a way to spend a Saturday night, but this is actually in line with my norm, so that seems like a rather poor response, besides its inherent antiquated nature. I need to say something, tomorrow is the first of November. Maybe something clever? Yes, just be clever –– on command. Go... Do the thing... Why is this not working?”
“Hey Lucifer.”
Neri says, not looking away from her paper.
“Hm?”
“Could you stop?”
“I’ve almost complete it though.”
Lucifer is building an exceedingly complex paper tower. Actually, it would be better to call it a paper kingdom, given the fact he can walk inside it, as if it was a small room. “My skill knows no bounds.”
“We might need those.”
“Oh, I made sure these where all important papers with vital information, before starting.”
She glances up, with a piercing gaze.
“...Fine.”
He begins demolishing the fort, with an over the top rampaging performance.
“This must be how Godzilla feels. Not to say, I haven’t done this to real cities before.”
“If you try to do it to another real city, Mr. Zilla will meet the real king, King Kong.”
“Is that supposed to be you?”
“I am monke yes.”
“Wait, wait, wait... Did you just imply a small monkey, would beat the king of monsters, the nuclear menace, the unbeatable prehistoric creature, the Godzilla?”
Over the course of the question, his voice grows in emotion and speaking speed increases.
“Yes.”
“You sir are insane. Out of line and out of order. Quinn tell her how inconceivably wrong she is!”
“...No, I think she probably is right, the underdog usually wins.”
“This is a kangaroo court!”
“You asked for his opinion.”
“At the time I didn’t think his opinion would go against mine. If I knew that, I wouldn’t have asked.”
“Why do you care so much about this?”
Quinn asks.
“I just personally relate to a certain lizard’s life story. Invested interest, if you will.”
“Emotions shouldn’t cloud judgments.”
Neri says. When she does, Lucifers more jovial demeanor has a slight shift.
“...Sure.”
He walks over to Quinn.
“Slip me some cash, I want to go buy supplies to create a minitour city, in order to destroy.”
“n-No. Why would I do that?”
“You kept complaining when I stole things I wanted, so I figured I would try to avoid a lecture.”
“If you’re looking for something to do, you could help make the greeting room more presentable.”
Neri states.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“...How?”
“Plant something in the planter.”
“...Fine, but they’re going to be Venus-Fly-Traps.”
“Ooohhh, that would be cool!”
“Scratch that, regular flowers.”
“Oh...”
“I think that’s probably for the best...”
Quinn states. Lucifer wonders off and the two go back to reading. “...Wait a minute, how often are we left alone? Practically never... Oh no, I can’t decide if that makes this better or worse.”
The two sit in silence, reading through their own material.
“So, uh...”
Neri flips to the next page.
“Your birthday is tomorrow, do you have any plans for it, in particular?”
“No. If it was a Monday instead, then I would imagine a few people would be interested in wishing me happy birthday at schoo
l.”
“And you aren’t doing anything with your grandparents?”
“Nope.”
“In that case, would you want to hang out tomorrow?”
She glances up.
“Sure.”
“Okay, then let’s do that.”
All that is heard, for the next couple minutes, is the rustling of papers. “That took a lot out me. I did it though and I have to say, my performance was at least adequate. Hold your applause, I know, I am just that good.”
Lucifer opens the door to the room.
“I sensed a disturbance.”
He looks over to Quinn.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Hmm.”
He moves his hands up to his eyes and gives Quinn a I’m watching you. The next day, Quinn gets up and starts getting ready. Lucifer watches the boy intently.
“Something’s going on.”
“I haven’t got a clue what you could be picking up on.”
“It’s the girl, isn’t it? This has to do with her birthday, I am sure of it.”
“Oh, was that today? You know now that you mention it, we may have made some plans.”
Lucifer leans his cheek onto his fist, while giving a judging stare.
“Uh-huh, I don’t know why you kept this from me, but I’ll let it slide, on today, the day of the small detective’s birth.”
“Why should I tell you anything?”
Quinn says in an almost defeated matter.
“No, no, you’re right. Who am I anyways? I must just be some slum, from your perspective.”
“I’m sorry for what I did, Mr. King of Darkness.”
“Hm, respect – good.”
Quinn focus back on getting ready, before Lucifer continues talking.
“So, what is it you two are planning to do?”
“Nothing planned. We’ll probably just head out somewhere.”
“Really, no plan?”
“Well, does their really need to be a plan?”
“I mean, if you don’t think it’s important, then I’m sure it’s not. You’ve got this, obviously you don’t need any preparation.”
Quinn stops.
“y-Yeah.”
“I’m sure just going with the flow will work out just great, with no downsides at all.”
Quinn turns to Lucifer, giving him a worried, pleading look.
“Please, my confidence is so fragile.”
“Why would that be the case? You’re a perfectly below average young man.”
“Eh?”
“At least you have somewhat of a brain, to make up for... You know.”
“Ehh?”
“To bad you seem like a monkey who learned a trick, compared to the person you are trying to impress, but I’m sure you have something figured out.”
“Listen here bub... Please stop I am very fragile and my feelings can only take so much at one time.”
“I just realized something.”
“Yes?”
“I should have said, if I’m Godzilla, and that one is King Kong, you’re like the human characters who get crushed in the fight.”
“You can’t take any credit for a comeback you came up with the day after.”
“I’m taking the credit.”
“It’s worth the same as monopoly money.”
“Then call me the monopoly man, because you just got owned.”
“...Okay I’ll let you have that one.”
“Thank you, but I’m not the one who needs permission.”
A thought has begun manifesting itself into Quinn’s head. The process this thought is taking to work itself out, is best explained as a drinking bird, bobbing down for water periodically. “Oh...”
Quinn stops everything. Letting out his emotions and recomposing himself, with an unenthused voice he asks Lucifer a question.
“Do you want to come with us?”
“...No. Hang out with children? I think I’ll pass.”
“Good.”
“If you’re going to give attitude, I’ll make this unpleasant experience for all of us.”
“I can’t read you and I don’t know what to say in order to get what I want.”
“What do you want?”
Quinn thinks about it for a moment.
“I wanted to ask her out-”
“Ho?”
“-But this is different than that. I think for today, it’s best to just hang out with a friend and not to have to worry about any oddities.”
“Including me?”
“No.”
“I don’t count anymore?”
“You’ve always been in a league of your own.”
“Ah, shucks, you do care.”
The time comes to make his way over to Neri’s.
“Yo.”
Neri says, waiting outside for Quinn.
“...Uh.”
Quinn is momentarily distracted by the girls outfit. She has on a black and red letterman jacket, over top a short, blue, empire dress, it’s flounce has a transitioning gradient into a purplish hue. Black high-top sneakers, with white laces, soles, and stars on the outside of each shoe. A headband with a small, purple, side bow. Hung over her left shoulder, resting on her right hip, is a dark purple, clutch purse. “...Clothes... Different... Like...? Yes.”
“Hm?”
“Hey.”
“A delayed response, but okay.”
“So, um, anything in particular you want to do?”
“Not really, I was thinking we would just head to the mall.”
“Alright then, let’s head over there.”
The two enter into the building and begin to walk around. The first place they head into is a novelty shop, where they mess around with the items on display. After that, they head over to the arcade, where Neri proceeds to outperform Quinn on every game.
“What are you going to use your points for?”
Quinn asks.
“I might be able to afford a ball, or perhaps a keychain. What are you getting?”
Quinn thinks about his point total.
“A single lollipop, that I’ll probably need a loan for.”
“We could combine our amounts and go for one of the consoles?”
“...How long would we have to be here for?”
“Just a few weeks.”
“Hmm.”
Neri grabs Quinn’s arm as they are walking.
“Oh, let’s get our pictures taken.”
She starts walking over to a photobooth. This turn of events, has left Quinn rather anxious. They take two pictures, one normal, then one silly.
“Let’s get one more regular one.”
Neri says.
“Why?”
“Because you’ve loosened up a bit.”
“...Sorry.”
“Just think of the first one as practice.”
“Fine.”
They take one more picture. Neri grabs the physical copies.
“Hm, here you go.”
She hands Quinn the third picture.
“Okay.”
“I figured you’d prefer that one.”
He looks to the other pictures in her hand.
“I want to hang onto the first one.”
“Mhh, I don’t see why, but okay.”
She looks at the second picture.
“Three?”
Her head shoots up.
“Oh, one more, okay?”
“Sure.”
Quinn’s blood pressure has spiked again. They get back in the booth.
“Can you call Lucifer out?”
“Huh? I mean, maybe.”
Quinn thinks about driving Lucifer out of his body.
“What do you want?”
“It worked.”
Quinn says surprised.
“Uh-huh.”
Lucifer looks over to the machine.
“Really?”
Neri nods her head.
“Fine.”
; He gets between the two of them.
“Only one.”
“Okay, then let’s do another silly one.”
Quinn steals a glance at Lucifer. “I wonder.”
The picture is taken. Neri has her chin on her fingers, with her cheeks puffed out and her eyes crossed. Lucifer is holding his usual stare, but his tongue is poking out towards his chin. Quinn, with a nervous look, is pulling his face into a smile.
“Here you go.”
“Hm?”
Neri hands Lucifer the picture.
“Okay, onto the next thing.”
Neri starts walking off, with Quinn close behind her. Lucifer watches them walk away, then looks back down to the picture. He tucks it into his pocket, then disappears.
“Wait a minute, he can show up on pictures?”
Quinn asks.
“Hm? I figured he had control over that.”
“I hadn’t even thought about asking.”
The two leave the arcade and continue walking.
“I want to stop in here for a bit.”
Neri says, in reference to a book store.
“Sure.”
The two head in and spend some time looking over books.
“You’re actually planning to read something else, while still having so much stuff left to go over at the office?”
“Yep. You can’t stop sharpening your mind, not even for a second.””
“I see.”
Quinn seems to be in thought about this sentiment, if not a little saddened by it.
“Besides, it’s fun.”
The boy hearing this, just gives a little smile. Once done in there, Neri asks.
“Food?”
“Yeah.”
As they are walking back through a part of the building they have been through already, Neri stops. Her attention is placed squarely upon a booth with a girl sitting at it.
“What is it?”
“That tarot card reader had that customer earlier today.”
“Huh?”
Quinn looks at the customer at the table. “They seem, excited about something.”
“Hey, can we wait here for a bit?”
“I guess, if you want to.”
The two sit down at a bench and Neri watches this card reader go about their business. Quinn does so as well, but he can’t find anything out of place. “I don’t get it, maybe this is a conman type thing? Though, is that the type of thing she would tackle? I suppose, I can see it. Her seeing a three-card monte table, then exposing it as a scam.”
“Her predictions have all been correct thus far.”
“Huh, how can you tell?”
“A mixture of things. Lip reading, motioning, and seeing predictions happen first hand.”
Oddity Specialist: Manifestor Page 2
