The Rising Dawn, #15— "Distracting the Gimmick"
- David Parker
- Oct 2, 2023
- 4 min read
(Images generated by hotpot.ai)
Gamer dropped in on Gimmick while he was hard at work. After the small talk was over, Reggie the Gamer told Brandon the Gimmick was on his mind.
“Now that I got the right people to practice with, my ability is evolving,” said Gamer.
“What is it you do again? Play videogames?” said Gimmick.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Gimmick put down his paint brush and looked curiously at Gamer.
Gamer started moving in odd, sporadic ways, yet gracefully, as a dance would be. Then, he stopped in a single pose, and from his larynx produced a series of hyper-rapid sound effects, a combination of sound-bytes from video games, bytes from popular music, references to movies, record-scratchings, and that sound that gets made when speech is put in fast-forward. He did this so quickly that it didn’t seem physically possible that he could do it.
All at once, Gimmick’s environment changed. Gamer, blind to his own ability, saw nothing, but Gimmick looked around in wonder.
He was now in a forest from World of Warcraft. Before, the walls of his studio were filled with his art, which he knew intimately, but was never content with. Now they seemed like key items in a video game that were crucial to the plot. He saw them through the eyes of those who loved his art. They were now doorways to other worlds, and when he looked at each one, he saw visualizations of the kind of person he was thanks to his artwork. Each work of art portrayed him as a hero, as a Jedi, as a sage, as Moses, as Wolverine, as a great wizard, as Hercules, as a mysterious warrior, a legend on the streets.
His work in progress now had many heroes and celebrities hanging on the edge of their seats, from Jon Stewart to Batman. He was commissioned by Elrond of Rivendell, of Gandalf and Spiderman, of Master Yoda and Luke Skywalker and even Darth Vader, who sought to turn Gimmick the Jedi to the Dark Side. What a powerful Jedi he was, all along! One of his canvases looked like a legendary weapon from Warcraft. Another looked like a powerful Pokemon. His whole environment received a cool-factor x 10!!
“So kid, you want in, or not?” said Gamer. Gimmick experienced an image in his mind that said “Continue? Insert coin.”
“Totally!” said Gimmick, “It’s so much easier to draw! All I need to do is stop to stretch.”
“Clock one for the Gamerverse,” said Reggie the Gamer.
“How do I play?”
“By playing the game.”
“Well— psht!”
Gamer spasmed, yet gracefully somehow. Then he used his larynx to produce another series of mind-hacking sound effects, inducing new enrichments to the Gaming Environment.
“Soon,” said Gamer, “We can perfect the technology so that even I will see it.”
“You can’t even see it!?” said a bewildered Gimmick.
“That’s right,” said Wraith, who had just joined them in her hallmark stealthy manner. “You’re not a bad influence, are ya, Gamer?”
Wraith had the appearance of a specced-out Batman, yet she would shimmer into The Black Cat and into unknown entities, like an anthropomorphic panther, never keeping one shape.
Gamer, incidentally, had the appearance of Sasuke, from Naruto.
“I’m taking this kid under my wing. I should get a medal.”
“It’s a lot funner now!” said Gimmick.
“What’s in it for you?” said Wraith.
Gamer shrugged. “You don’t need a reason to help people.”
“Granted,” said Wraith.
“But incidentally,” said Gamer, “I have a special commission for you.”
Gimmick sighed. “I’m already behind on all three projects I’m on.”
“Three projects?” said Wraith, “There’s only supposed to be one!”
“Oh yeah,” said Gimmick, “I mean, the big project I’m working on.”
Gamer laughed. Wraith did not.
“You’re supposed to spell victory for the Sentinels and the Dawn Society,” she said.
“I wanted revenge on my bullies,” said Gimmick.
“Brandon,” said Wraith in a dark tone, “What do you think takes precedent!?”
“You can’t rush art!” said Gamer, “Besides, if he throws in his lot with me, the benefits are unfathomable!”
“What do you want me to do?” said Gimmick.
“It’s a stream of consciousness,” said Gamer, “just draw however you feel about me, and add your seal.”
“That’s not the way I do it anymore,” said Gimmick.
“If you do it my way, I’ll hook you into the Gamerverse every day.”
“Game Pile!” said Wraith, using Reggie’s hated nickname, “You’re insubordinate!”
“It’s Gamer,” said The Gamer, “And unlike you, I understand how these things work.”
“Can I finish what I’m on first?” said Gimmick meekly.
Gamer sighed. “Fine,” he said, “but if you ever feel like moonlighting, think of me.”
“He’s fourteen!” said Wraith.
“But I work for superheroes now,” said Gimmick forlornly.
“Tell you what,” said Gamer, “I’ll give you a virtual companion to keep you company,” he opened his larynx, and the sound effects came. Watching him do it was freaky, but the result was he could see his very own Eevee, a famous pokemon. Everything else vanished. “It’s there, isn’t it?”
“It is!” said a jubilant Gimmick.
“Think of me now and then. Send me the good juju, as Nade would say.”
“—Gamer, you!—”
“In some cultures, adulthood begins at thirteen. He’s been a man for one year.”
“—I’m telling Gallant,” said Wraith.
“The Gamerverse rocks on,” said Gamer.
“I might just let this go,” said Wraith, “but you need to pray that I will.”
“Ole Jesus knows my heart,” said Gamer, “toodles!”
*-------------------------------------------*
Think about it: I’m resolved to write 30+ short stories a month, complete with beautiful illustrations. Combined with my unique writing style, innovative ideas, and unlimited creativity, I’m making magic happen in your life. Two comic books cost eight bucks, and it’s the same stuff you’ve been hearing about for at least fifty years. Voluntarily pay me at least five bucks a month, and you’ll know you’re getting your money’s worth. Be a team player, and we’ll all make some magic happen together. Swain and the Rising Dawn Society can’t make it without you, fellas. Donate via Venmo, Paypal, or GoFundMe, and I’ll be all hands on deck. Hell, I could be doing 60 short stories a month if I had some motivation to do so ;)
Here’s the info:
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