[HM] [SF] Orientaion Day
(Nothing too fancy here. Just something I wrote for a college class recently.)
Today was a big day for former petty crook Mickey Malone. Filled with pride the large young man stood in a dank alleyway waiting by the back entrance of his new employer. Mickey wore his nicest tracksuit as images were important. He fiddled with his new union card thinking of the years that brought him here. His days jacking cars and holding up gas stations to get by would be a distant memory moving forward as he had gone legit. A loud buzz alerted Mickey to the intercom by the door kicking on.
“You the new kid?” Asked the staticky voice of a man.
Mickey looked up at the camera above the door and held up his union card. The bold words Local Henchpersons 616 were neatly printed on the thin piece of plastic. Today was a big
day for Mickey Molone. The day he went from petty crook to career criminal.
“Yeah, that’s me, Mikhail Malone.” Mickey replied, trying not to seem too eager. Images were everything in this business after all, and he’d never last if he appeared weak.
As Mickey contemplated the importance of image in the world of professional villainy, the door clicked and swung open. Standing there was a man who did not inspire much confidence in Mickey. He was an older man late fifties maybe early sixties, unusual for this line of work. He was also small, very small, with gray hair and rat-like features. The older man wore a jumpsuit with the logo of the villain who hired Mickey, Dr. Frost. It was the kind of jumpsuit Mickey saw a scientist wearing in Antarctica on the discovery channel once. In one of the man’s hands was a manila folder and the other was outstretched to Mickey.
“Walt Daniels, local union rep.” The small man said shaking Mickey’s hand and taking stock of the young man who was at least a full head taller than him. “Where you from kid?” Walt asked, noticing the heavy accent.
“North Carolina...,” said Mickey from New Jersey.
“Oh yeah? Where in North Carolina?” Walt asked skepticism pouring out of him.
“...Tallahassee.” Answered Mickey, who’d never stepped foot out of the tristate area, after too long of a pause.
There was an awkward silence between the two men before Walt shrugged, he was used to cagey new guys not being fully honest about who they are. All a part of the business.
“Right, first thing first we’ll get you a jumpsuit, so you don’t freeze and then onto orientation.” Walt said, turning around and walking back into the lair of Dr. Frost.
Looking at the frost on the walls and his breath coming out in vapors made it clear why Walt said he would freeze. Looking around, Mickey was even greeted by the dight of icicles hanging from the ceiling periodically.
“It always cold like this?” Mickey asked the older man, as they walked down the icebox of a hallway.
“You’ll find this pretty par for the course with ice themed supervillains.” Walt said, leading Mickey into a small meeting room with a table, chairs, and attached supply closet.
“Ice themed?” Mickey asked as walt fished out a key card from an inner pocket of his jumpsuit and opened the closet.
“Yeah, you know. His gimmick.” Walt responded from the closet fishing out and extralarge jumpsuit for Mickey.
“You ever notice how there’s a new guy with some kind of freeze-ray or flamethrower tearing up the city every few years?” Walt said tossing Mickey the jumpsuit still wrapped in its plastic. Thinking about the numerous villains over the years, Mickey had to admit the numbers were pretty high.
“Well, that’s a gimmick kid. Every villain has one, and they all think they’re either the first or greatest iteration of it. Pro tip kid don’t point this out to the Doc, or you’ll wind up in a block of ice. Number one job hazard in this line of work is pissing off your boss”
Mickey would have broken out in a cold sweat at the thought if it weren’t so cold here. Instead, he opted to put on the padded jumpsuit and make it a point to file that advice away for
later.
“Anyway, let’s get this over with.” Walt said tossing the folder onto the table and sitting down. Mickey took his seat across the table as Walt opened the folder and started pulling documents out. "Standard first day orientation shit.” Walt explained, sliding the papers over to Mickey.
Suddenly a loud bang rocked the building as the walls shuttered then settled. Shortly after a klaxon's horn roared to life, and a wide-eyed Mickey looked at Walt who remained calmly sitting in his seat. Walt continued to push the papers over to Mickey and began the orientation.
“So as a union henchperson to Dr. Frost there are certain requirements in exchange for the listed salary and benefits package.” Walt began to say before Mickey cut him off.
“Are you serious?! I’m pretty sure part of the building just exploded!” Mickey exclaimed due to Walt’s nonchalant reaction to a possible emergency.
Walt just looked at Mickey and shrugged a little annoyed by the interruption. “What do you expect kid? You’re in an evil lair. Capes are gonna show up at some point and raid the place.” The older man said as the sounds of battle and corny back and forth banter echoed through the building then went on to talk about the dental plan. Mickey stared at the smaller man for a moment before coming to a conclusion.
Today was a big day for Mickey Malone but today was just Tuesday for Walt Daniels.