Early the next morning, Evan, who was still in his pjs – long sleeved, two-piece blue pjs with lightning bolts printed on them, complete with a hat – had been awake for a matter of minutes when his phone started ringing. It was a custom tone, so he knew who it was and answered the call with blinding speed.
"Hello?!" He said, voice sounding rough as all Hell.
"You're awake, right? I figured you sleep cycle was still the same, so I gave you a few minutes to wake up sufficiently."
"…I'm awake."
"You sound like you're still lying down. You haven't taken your little hat off, have you?"
"Shut up, Vi. I stopped with the hats years ago." Evan blurted out as he quickly sat up and yanked his hat off. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing really. Today is the day we're doing promo in the rough neighbourhoods."
"Are you nervous?"
"Not particularly. The new suit is massive, and even has some animatronic elements."
"Animatronic?"
"Yeah. Requires some method acting, too."
"…what is it?"
"Can't tell you yet, you'll just see it once we're done. I'll have the dopey guy take a picture with my phone for you."
"…I see. Wait, you haven't slept, have you? Knowing you, you probably stayed up all night thinking about this."
"Something like that. Besides, the walls here are thin. Apparently, camphor cream burns when used as lube."
"I could have gone my whole life without knowing that, Vi. But now that I do, it's good to know."
"Anyway, let me get ready. I'll let you know how it all went later, yeah?"
"I'll be waiting with baited breath."
"…I appreciate you Evan. Cheers."
Evan sighed after the call ended and looked at the hat with the fluffy ball on the tip.
"Waiting with baited breath by the TV to confirm you didn't make the news for the wrong reasons."
Later that morning, Visuveus arrived at work, and as per usual, he was there before the other employees. As was the norm, Bryant arrived soon after him, but much to his surprise, Visuveus was still in his suit.
"Morning." The ex-con greeted with a taciturn nod of the head.
"You haven't changed into your overalls?" Bryant asked after reciprocating the nod.
"I won't be working in those today, and I need somebody to hold the baby costume when I climb in to it."
"Pop isn't around to help?"
"He is. He just doesn't want to."
"Of course he doesn't." Bryant said with a sigh before gesturing for Visuveus to follow him.
They walked into the change room to find the giant baby costume staring directly at them after they opened the door. Before he knew what he realised it, Bryant had reached for something on his waist, but pulled his hand away just as quickly and entered. For his part, Visuveus also walked in without a word and went to his locker while unbuttoning his waist-coat. Vincent stripped right down to his underwear and approached the costume, prompting Bryant to raise a quizzical eyebrow
"It'll get hot in there."
"Fair point. So, what do you need me to do?"
"Hold the costume for me so I can climb in without it falling over."
Bryant nodded and held it steady, allowing Visuveus climb in. He then clipped himself into the harness and tested his mobility like he did the previous day, raising his legs and twisting his hips. The head, shoulders and limp little arms made up the top half of the costume, and Visuveus shook his head curtly when Bryant offered to put it on for him.
"I think it'll be better if I put that on once we start."
"Alright."
Brant walked off and proceeded to get changed into his work overalls, while Visuveus sat down, and silence once again descended into the change room. It also persisted, lasting longer than it had any right to, right up until Natalie and Morgannin entered the room, while giggling to themselves. When they walked in, they were stopped dead in their tracks by the heavy silence, which felt almost oppressive in nature. Ryan entered soon after them, and was completely unaffected by the mood, looking excited.
"Morning all!" He chimed cheerfully. "You guys ready for the day?"
"You still haven't told us where we'll be going." Bryant replied without even greeting.
"He's right, you haven't." Sonny said as he entered carrying a box. "Enough with this surprise shit."
"Damn, I just walked in. Can I at least change first?"
"Talk!" Natalie barked from behind her little curtain.
"Fine… damn. We'll be going to Point Road, and Chesterville. I've already spoken with the District Councilor, and—"
"Wait, did you say Point and Chesterville?!" Morgannin boomed, as Natalie's head flew out from behind the curtain.
"Of course he did." Bryant sighed as he closed his eyes and looked up towards the ceiling. "Of course he chose a District which currently has two neighbouring areas, that are embroiled in a volatile turf war that could explode into life at any given moment. Of course."
"Why is this a problem?! Vincent here came up with the plan to service the dangerous Districts, and what better way to prove it to the public than to go to one that's featured in the news frequently?"
"He has a point there." Sonny chimed in, barely able to contain the glint of excitement in his eyes.
"OF COURSE he does." Bryant quickly responded, before looking at Sonny with a completely disinterested expression on his face. "Not only will you not stop this Pop, I'll wager that whatever is in that fucking box is only going to make things worse."
"You shut the fuck up!" Sonny barked, before looking at Ryan and setting the box down. "These are two drones, Ryan. Link these to your phone so you can control them both, and record everything that fuckin' happens today."
Sonny said this as he lifted the top of the box off and revealed the two drones. He then shot Bryant a look which stopped him from saying 'of course' again.
"Are you okay with this?" Bryant asked, everybody knowing who he was speaking to without him having to look at them.
Visuveus was already on his feet, and was carrying the top half of his costume in his arms.
"I don't see why I shouldn't be." He said with a shrug before leaving the dressing room.
"Don't nag, Cap'n Killjoy." Sonny said, before turning around and also leaving.
The others finished getting changed and eventually made their way out towards the truck, to find Visuveus standing near the back, waiting for them. He neither looked worried nor bothered about them going to a dangerous area while glad in a giant baby suit. They all reached him, and as they started climbing in, something became painfully obvious.
"Yo Vincent, it doesn't look like you'll be able to sit up here in the cab with the rest of us." Ryan said.
"That's what I figured." Visuveus said with a shrug, before gently tossing the upper half of the costume into the back.
A few moments later, he held onto the edge of the load bin and hopped on with ease, before sitting down with his back pressed against the back of the cab, with the top half nestled next to him. Ryan climbed into the truck, and a few minutes later, it set off as they made their way towards the District. Morgannin and Natalie glanced behind them to see the ex-con with his phone to his ear.
"Liyah, this is Visuveus. As I suspected might be the case earlier in the week, I will be heading to a District that might be a bright red on the list. Please take that into account and alert the relevant people so as not to…"