There’s this...moment, in most movies and books, where the protagonist realizes that their life has changed completely. From this moment on, everything becomes irrevocably different, new, exciting- and it all springs from this one catalyst where, had they not been in that place at that time, life would have remained the same.
Elliot Edison had not anticipated that his life would have one of these moments.
Which was saying a lot, considering who he was as a person, but up until this moment, his life altering event, he had quite the detailed idea of how his life was going to pan out.
There were a few elements of this life plan that were subject to change, of course.
His employment at InfoBYTE, for instance, was subject to end at any moment now. It wasn’t that he was bad at it, in fact- he had the perfect combination of ruthless determination and an almost nonexistent moral compass that really makes or breaks a good journalist. Elliot’s issue wasn’t even the fact that he was not, in fact, a journalist either.
Sure, InfoBYTE had started as a cutting-edge news platform, dedicated to “giving a voice to the common man in the technological age”, but in the miniscule six years since it’s founding, it had become nothing more than a glorified tabloid that would make TMZ feel embarrassed. Not that Elliot didn’t care for drama, he loved it ,in fact. But he could only write one more quiz about what celebrity couple you are based on your preference in cupcake sprinkle before he hung himself.
Or worse, moved back home.
No, Elliot’s issue was that he was, thoroughly, completely, and absolutely bored.
The more he had thought about it, the more he realized he wasn’t just bored with work, but with life in general. After spending a lifetime trying to get out of his podunk little hometown, moving on to the great metropolis that was Starlight City, he had found that perhaps his permanent feeling of stagnation was more internal that he would have previously thought.
Aside from not knowing where he should really be and what made him happy, though, Elliot knew he’d at least stick it out for another five years or so before he eventually moved back home, whether out of boredom or loneliness only time would tell, settle back in near his family, grow old, and die alone.
Which wasn’t quite pessimism on his part, he just knew he was an intolerable sort.
Loneliness, in a way, kind of suited him better anyhow.
He had just hoped it felt better once he had gotten to the city.
Elliot had, up until that moment, honestly thought that his life was tragically predictable. The sort of vaguely entertaining and mildly depressing tale that can only really be captured in a made for tv christmas film.
But as he stood there, hand shakily holding his phone, it struck him that this moment would dramatically change that.
It would change everything.
Granted, a setting other than an alleyway would have been preferable, but he could always fudge some of the details when he wrote his memoir.
The figure turned, bright brown eyes widened in shock and abject horror as Elliot clicked the recording app off, a loud chime echoing through the alleyway.
“I gotta say, I wasn’t expecting to see you again.” Elliot grinned, “At least, not so soon.”
“Please tell me that’s not livestreaming.” The other man said breathlessly, panic evident in his expression.
Shit, that would have gotten so many views, Elliot thought begrudgingly, “Of course not. I’m not a monster.”
There was a pause as they both weighed their options.
“Not a monster,” Elliot repeated, smiling widely, “But extortionist I’m much more comfortable with-”
The man looked horrified, and for a very fleeting moment, Elliot felt almost bad.
Almost.
“So here’s what we’re going to do…”
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