Elite Comic Universe PBP

Unburdening himself in the confessional had Camilo feeling more conflicted than when he went in. If he was going to get any kind of rest tonight, he was going to need a little something to take the edge off.

Heading into the kitchen, he started looking through cupboards. Surely they would have something on hand.

A woman walked in, another student, she spoke casually and said in English with a British accent, “Oi, you looking for food? This place is stocked with all kinds.” She opened the fridge and pulled out a beer and said, “Fuckin’ right, we got some solid beer here. No shame on this local stuff, but it just don’t hit the same, yah?”

She twisted the cap with her telekinetic abilities, and then took a drink. Throwing the cap into the trash with her Elite powers.

“Fuck, that’s good,” she said.

Camilo was impressed by the very adroit display of her powers. It was easy enough to give a shove or shift some debris, but taking the top off a glass bottle without cracking it spoke of good control.

"Food maybe, drink definitely." He eyeballed the beer, "I was hoping for something a little stronger, you know, less calories. I need to watch my figure." he explains, rubbing his stomach which lifted his shirt enough to show off a few abs. "But beggars can not be the choosers." He walked over to the fridge to retrieve his own.

"Camilo." He offered while holding the neck of his bottle out for a little toast, "Saúde".

She chuckled and said, “You sayin’ I’m fat, love? I mean, I am a little, but still that’s bold.” She laughed after a bit and said, “Just bein’ cheeky, I know you ain’t mean that. Harder stuff, eh? Probably have to get it ourselves. But I have not gone searchin’ so if you find some, you sharin’ yeah?”

“Oh.. yeah, name’s Julia… or Jules,” she said after another drink.

Camilo looked embarrassed for a moment before she let on to the joke, at which point he chuckled. "Your figure is very good. Worth watching. No?" He asked with a wink before taking a pull from his bottle and letting out a satisfied exhalation.

"So Jules, day one, what is it you think of this contest?"

“Honestly, no idea, I was thinking they may have us do dumb shit like I don’t know, stupid games or hand out roses, but if they given big money who cares, then? I know some of them seem like they got dreams of heroism but for me, if I can get a contract that changes me whole family. From the gutters right to them big houses,” she said.

“But we got all kinds, the Golden barbie doll, the big mouth American… it will make for good reality if anything,” she admitted. “What do you think?”

While he listened, Camilo took another long pull, nearly draining the rest of the bottle. "You're right, it does not hit quite the same.

I did not know what to expect. Maybe some of the games like you say. Something like the old American Gladiator show. Very popular. I did not expect so much the telenovela. Very big mouths, but their abilities are also very strong. No?'

Julia's mention of her family had Camilo thinking back to his own again. A lot of reminiscing the last few days. It was only natural. It was the first time away from their families for a lot of the students and contestants. If he got a big contract, would he be able to help out his mamãe, his primos?

"I think if we want to get that big contract, we must either play their game better or change the game. No?"

“You sound like you got a plan,” she said curiously, “I was just going to wing it, yeah; and just work harder than everyone else. It’s what ma always said, you gonna have to work twice as hard just to be seen as good enough,” she responded.

“So what’s the game then?” she asked reaching for another bottle in the fridge. “And how are you changin’ it?”

Camilo upended his bottle, draining it before grabbing another of his own. Bracing the cap against a counter top, he slapped it open and stayed silent while staring at it for a moment.

"I will share if I find something stronger and if I find how to change the game. It is something clever to say though. No?" He chuckles. "But I think this is not a game I can win as it is. Until then, your mamãe sounds very smart, a good woman. We work twice as hard."

“My family didn’t have much money and I am not going to waste my chance to go home broke. Ain’t no bloody way I am doin’ that. So just gonna do what I always done, keep my head down, work hard, and do whatever it takes to get mine, yeah,” she said honestly.

“Yeah ma is good people; so what would you do if you got a big contract?” she asked.

"All that money, hmmm." He tapped the mouth of the bottle against his chin. His immediate thought went to having an epic binger, but he had to fight that side of himself back.

"It's been a few years since I have seen my family. Maybe I could fly them out. Probably I would take them to Rota so it was not so strange. But that is only very immediate. I can not even imagine having so much money."

"You gotta dream big," she responded. "Big house, new car, pay all the bills, then profit."

"I do not drive, I have no bills, and I like to move around. Do not get me wrong, I am no monk... definitely not. But these are not things that interest me. I do not want things, I want the experiences."

"Experiences, like what?" she asked with mild confusion.

A grin came across Camilo's face, "So many experiences. So many sensations and things I can't even begin to imagine. I find tonight there is much I can not imagine. I should work on that. No?" He says with a laugh.

"There is much in the world that the people do not enjoy. It is a waste. People fight for things to have things, but do not experience them, they just have them. I do not want to be people, I want to be me."

"I never really thought about that," she admitted. "Just always focused on makin' life better for my family."

"This is a very good thing. It has been a few years since I have seen my family and it is painful for my heart..." in his silence, Camilo drank more, wondering where he could get something or another stronger.

"I was not a good son. Not the worst, but not good. Maybe I will give my mamãe the things that she wants. If things make her happy, then that is enough. She will have her things and I will experience her happiness." A sad smile settled in under his mustache.

"Where is your mom, back home?" she asked. "Mamae," she said poorly, "is your ma, right?"

"Sim, yes. Meu mamãe is my ma. She is back home in Rio. We were not very close, but she work very hard when I was a little boy."

"I miss my ma, it's had being here by myself. But I know I am making a better life for all of us, so I move forward," she said.