Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Priapus, Mike God of Lore, Beans
Guild of Gamers: The Card Master
Chapter 10: Emma
– Charles 'Charlie' Barnes (Corvo) –
Yeah, I'm not dealing with this. I don't trust Emma with either of those powers to begin with, because giving a mentally unstable girl the power to see the future or take on other people's forms is just asking for trouble.
"This is a waste of time," I finally say, shrugging. "It's all hypothetical bullshit anyway. I have no idea when, or if, I'll get a card that fits you that I can also give you without causing the PRT to become a complete pain in everyone's asses."
It's not the answer she wants but she also just said she'd waited this long so she should accept this, right? It's not a no, which is the best she is going to get out of me at the moment. I'm still a little bitter that her jealousy led to me being conscripted to begin with, even if this is probably the best path. Contessa and her group can pluck the strings to make my life as a Ward easy.
"Damn it, Charlie. How long do you think I've known you?" Emma says, looking angry as I sigh. I just want to go to bed, damn it. "That's your 'I don't want to deal with this so I'll make excuses so I can put it off' voice. You always do this when you don't want to do something but can't be bothered to argue about it."
"No, it's the voice I make when I have a legitimate point. Am I wrong? Unless my power pulls a perfect card out of its ass, there's no point talking about this now anyway," I counter. Shit, she got me there. Sometimes I forget that we are genuine twins. I don't think twin telepathy is a thing but it certainly gives you an advantage for reading the other side, and she's always been the social manipulator while I prefer my games and cards.
"I know I fucked up, telling Dad, but I panicked. You can't seriously be holding a grudge when you get to be a hero. Half the city already knows your name, and Dad said the PRT gave you a super generous contract for the whole healing food thing," Emma whines, immediately playing the victim. "You're living a life any other guy would kill for. Please! I'll make it up to you, whatever you want. Why don't you want to share? We're twins."
"Emma, we have never once in our life shared a single thing. Name one time we've shared our belongings. You used to bite me if I used your crayons," I point out. "We shared a womb and decided that was enough for the rest of our lives."
"...okay, you've got a point but this is more than just some toy. This is my dream, and the only way I will ever get to achieve it," Emma pleads. "Name your price, and I'll do it, whatever you want. I can make sure Dad does whatever you want, make you the King of Winslow with any girl you want hanging off your arm."
"I can handle Dad, and I don't want that. You're the social butterfly, I'm happy with my small group of friends. It sounds exhausting to have to remember that many names," I huff with a roll of my eyes. Emma's always been like this. If she wants something, it's objectively the best thing in the world and everyone else should want it as well. The idea that other people have other interests is as alien to her as my hobbies.
"Look, I get it. You're angry with me, I would be too," Emma says, switching approaches. I can read her just as well, and she's always been quick to see when something isn't working. "What would help me make it up to you?"
"Maybe I just don't feel like giving powers to a bully," I say, getting worked up despite my best efforts. "You think I don't hear you, Madison and Sophia through this wall?" I ask, tapping the wall separating our bedrooms. "Or see you being the Queen Bitch in Winslow to make yourself feel powerful, setting your followers on whoever has pissed you off lately. Usually Taylor, frankly, in whatever weird grudge match you two have going on."
Emma flinches back at my words, face paling for a moment.
"Nothing you say is convincing, Emma, because I know you just as well as you know me. You'll say whatever it takes to get your way, but I'm not a teacher you can bat your eyes at to get out of trouble for 'spilling' juice onto someone's homework, and you don't have your fangirls here to back up your words," I continue. This is why I hate conflict, I always get too worked up over it. I've got a hot head sometimes, and the best way to keep it cool is to just avoid trouble to begin with. "Look, I get it. Whatever happened in that alleyway fucked you up, Dad too, and you decided the best solution was to be 'powerful' so you wouldn't feel like a victim anymore, but you used to be sweet and now you're just… fucking toxic."
"I am not a victim, I'm a survivor!" Emma shouts back. For a moment, I expect our raised voices to draw attention before it hits me. It's my parents' weekly date night, and Anne stays in her dorm on weekdays. Emma planned this well. "I survived the alley, I proved I was strong and worth- I should have triggered, but I didn't. It wasn't fair, I went through all that and I didn't trigger. Now you can give out powers like candy. You're right, I'll say whatever it takes to get you to agree, but you're wrong to think I'd just be lying. You think there's anything in the world I wouldn't do to never feel that pathetic again? Then you don't know me nearly as well as you think."
Maybe she's right, because her perfect facade is cracking to reveal something underneath that I don't recognise. I'm starting to think that there's something deeply wrong with my sister.
"Look, we're both getting heated and we both know that we're too damn temperamental and proud to back down when our tempers are raised. Let's just… call it here, before either of us says something we can't take back," I try, taking a deep breath. Emma goes to respond, before she too calms down and the mask is back in place. She's bad enough without Sakashima.
"So you can keep avoiding the subject and delaying things? You have powers now, and strong ones. Why run away from trouble?" Emma asks with a frown.
"Hey, conflict avoidance is an entirely legitimate strategy to living a calm and peaceful life," I shrug.
"You aren't living a peaceful life, you're just putting your fingers in your ears and pretending you can't feel the heat from everything burning around you, when you have the power to put out the flames, or send them into an inferno," Emma counters. "I bet you're not even planning on doing anything heroic, just PR patrols and other bullshit to coast through life. All that power, all that potential, and you're happy just being mediocre?"
"All that work to climb to the top of Winslow's food chain, and you're still miserable," I retort. "Did you put Madison up to flirting with me?"
"Are you kidding me? Mads learning that the cute brother of her best friend is a cape, when her dream is to lose her v-card to a cape? No, she's just a cape groupie," Emma scoffs with a roll of her eyes as she moves and sits on the edge of the bed beside me.
"Madison is a virgin?" I ask disbelievingly, getting a snort from her.
"Oh yeah. She's a massive tease, but she has barely gotten past first base," Emma admits shamelessly. "She's serious when she's talking to you, though. She's always thought you were cute but I banned any of my friends from dating you."
"Thanks for that. It's not like your friend group consists of… oh, almost every girl in school. Except the ones you don't think are cool enough who are scared of you and your cliche, and the gang fangirls," I snort.
"Want me to set you up with someone? Say the word," Emma offers.
"Eh. Dating a normie sounds exhausting, and dangerous," I reply with a shrug.
"Do you mean normie as in 'people without powers' or 'people who don't have a specific nerdy hyper-interest?" Emma says wryly.
"Yes," I reply simply. "Dating someone who doesn't share my interests, or at least not mind them, sounds like a pain and then there's the fact that I'd have to hide my cape life from them. I guess you solved that with Madison but I have a feeling she isn't exactly looking for something serious either."
Not that I can see myself dating her. I kinda like her, she's fun but not a 'girlfriend you can introduce to your parents' girl. Honestly, it could be fun to casually date her with no real expectations from either of us.
"Fair point," Emma shrugs as we go silent for a moment. "Is there nothing I can do to convince you?"
I pause for a moment, meeting her desperate gaze before I sigh.
"There's one thing. Tell Mom what happened in the alley, and go to therapy, because it fucked you up and I'm not sure you realise just how much," I decide, ruffling her hair.
"...can't I just… I don't know, date Greg or something instead?" Emma asks, flinching back. "I'm fine, I don't need-"
"And if the therapist agrees that you're of sound mind, I'll give you a power," I say. "If you stop being such a mega-bitch."
"You promise?" Emma asks softly, looking far more vulnerable than I've seen her. For once, I don't think it's a mask.
"I still need to get a power that actually fits you, rather than just whatever I happen to get. I've got the power to semi-permanently bind a power to someone, or merge someone with one of my summons, but it isn't something to do lightly," I admit, watching her smile grow excitedly. "So, if I get a power that works with you, and you get a clean bill of 'this girl can be trusted with superpowers', then I'll give you a power, deal?"
"Deal," Emma agrees, leaning over and placing her head on my shoulder. "Thanks, Charlie. Wanna watch a movie or something?"
No, I want to go to bed, like I wanted to do before she ambushed me. That said, she looks hopeful in a less desperate and unnerving way and I can't really bring myself to turn her down again when it's so innocent.
"Yeah, I'd like that," I reply, getting her to beam at me.
"I'm gonna get changed into my sleepwear, and you have a nicer TV than me so we'll use your room," Emma says. I use the TV in my room more than her, so she's right. She has an old one that used to be in the living room, but mine is a nice one from DragonTech. It's not tinkertech, but it is about as good as a civilian TV can get.
"Gimme ten to get a quick shower and get changed myself," I agree.
"I'll raid the kitchen for some snacks. Hot chocolate?" Emma asks, getting a nod from me as she leaves. We haven't watched anything together like this since… I don't know, we were like ten?
Grabbing some pyjamas, I get a quick shower. Well, 'quick'. Emma might be the model, but there's a reason we live in a house with two bathrooms and an en suite. We all hog the bathroom too much. Anne deciding to mostly stay in her dorm made mornings much less of a royal rumble.
You don't get hair this nice without some sacrifice.
Returning to my room, I briefly pause as I spot Emma before I enter with a yawn.
"So, what do you want to watch? You can pick, as long as it isn't too sappy," I shrug, taking the offered hot chocolate (with whipped cream and sprinkles, because of course). I'm not inflicting my tastes on Emma because neither of us want that. She won't like it, I won't like having her not like my favourites. In the end, we end up with some new cape action film that apparently one of her friends recommended.
The issue?
As Emma hops onto the bed, I focus on the screen because Emma has decided the best sleepwear for this sleepover movie night is a tank top, and little else. I'm sure she has panties on but she certainly doesn't have a bra on as she pats the bed next to her.
"So, what's this one supposed to be about?" I ask, having not heard of it before. Nerd or not, I don't watch much of the Cape genre. Half of it is just propaganda anyway, and not even good propaganda. This one doesn't seem to have any real heroes involved, so it should be decent. As Emma yaps, my eyes briefly go to her legs before I get myself under control.
It is worth remembering that Emma is attractive enough to get consistent work as a model in a studio that isn't a gang front. Her studio isn't some ABB or Empire front grooming young girls, but a genuine, large and popular modelling agency. She was scouted on the boardwalk, and got a good gig almost immediately when she was fourteen.
"You can look, you know," Emma says, sounding insufferably smug. "I said 'anything', didn't I? Look all you want, unless you'd rather touch."
"Yeah, you definitely need therapy," I point out, getting a genuine laugh from her.
"Maybe," Emma admits with a shrug. "But I timed this so we'd have the house to ourselves, just in case I needed to go down that route. And you're the one staring."
"Maybe we need therapy," I snort. "You'd really have gone that far?"
"Would it help my odds, even slightly, if I let you use me like your obedient little cocksleeve for the rest of the night?" Emma asks with a completely serious expression. "Say the word. I ruined your dating life, but I can help make it up to you if you want."
"So much therapy," I mutter, getting a giggle from her. At this rate, I might end up needing to join her on that whole therapy thing.
"Yeah, you're not wrong," Emma admits as the movie starts, derailing that fucked conversation. If my eyes wander again, she either doesn't notice or just doesn't comment on it. As the night gets darker and colder, we migrate under the sheets as the admittedly decent movie plays. Huh, they had actual capes providing some of the effects? Cool.
As the movie reaches a calmer point, Emma pauses it to get another drink, shuffling out of bed to head downstairs, telling me to stay put. I am not entirely sure if I like 'Emma who does nothing for anyone but herself' or 'Emma who will do anything to please me' more, because both are disturbing in their own way and at least the first Emma mostly just leaves me to my games.
As much as I can normally read her, I can't tell if this is her genuinely trying to repair a worn thin relationship or Emma doing anything and everything that gives her even the slightest better odds of me giving her a good power. The cynic in me says it's the second but I don't entirely believe that either.
Pulling out my phone, I type away for a moment.
'Emma is kinda fucked in the head, huh?'
'yeah mght be my fault tbh,'
Sophia's response makes me blink, but I can see she's still typing.
'she was mentally fcked after the alley and i tried to cher her up by pointing out that she was a survivor, and tht she did better than most grls the abb go for. you knw get her some confidence bck? took it way too srsly and just dbld dwn'
God, her spelling is atrocious. As for Sophia's explanation, I can see it. She broke completely when I called her a victim, and if she's built her entire current mental state around being a survivor, I very tactfully found a weak spot and poked hard. Eh.
Red card granted for dealing with Emma's… Emmaness.
[The Rollercrusher Ride]
Legendary Land
Provides Red and Black mana.
Buffs units with the Delirium effect. When you deal non-combat damage to a unit, double that damage.
That's… thats just a rollercoaster. Am I going to end up with an entire theme park at this rate?
Cards Granted for no particular reason.
[Spinny Ride] - Artefact
Any target who visits this Artefact is unable to attack for the next day.
'There's no such thing as upside down in space. Put another way, there are infinite upside downs in space.'
[Drop Tower] - Artefact
Any allied target who visits this Artefact will gain Flying for the next day.
"Um, technically you can't 'drop' in space. What you—AIIIIEEEEEEE!"
[Fortune Teller] - Artefact
Any target who visits this Artefact will gain a Scry related to their near-future.
TODAY'S FORTUNE: AVOID CHANDRA'S INCENDIARY EXPERIENCE AROUND 11:37.
My power definitely thinks that it is funny. One is literally just a zero-G spinning saucer ride, another is a giant ride that shoots up and then drops down but it goes way higher than any ride I've seen and the final card is one of those funny fortune tellers in a box where you put in a coin and it spouts some vaguely prophetic fortune cookie nonsense. Man, I'm trying to be an edgy serious cape. You can't be edgy and serious if you own an amusement park.
Glenn is either going to love or hate this.
Oh, who am I kidding, he's going to love it.
As Emma returns, I accept the offered drink because for all her flaws, she really does know how to make a good hot chocolate. As the movie continues, I pause as Emma rests her head against me. For a moment I think she's up to something again but then I realise that no, she's just… fast asleep.
"Mild sleeping drug, she'll be fine," Contessa says, making me jump as she enters.
"You know you could have just… texted me, right?" I ask, getting a small smirk from her as I slip out of bed. "What can I do for the Cape Illuminati today, or tonight. And is this to do with the precog robot I just got?"
"...the what?" Contessa asks, pausing in confusion. "Wait, no, I see it now. You have no idea how off-putting it is to have my power shift year-long plans every time you get a new card. No, I was here to ask to borrow Sakashima of a Thousand Faces to handle a threat that he's uniquely suited for. With Piper, I've already brought down the Fallen, Heartbreaker and several other serious threats."
"Huh, I haven't heard of anything like that," I admit.
"You wouldn't have, yet. Heartbreaker is still dismantling his empire of enthralled victims, and Piper is going to join the New York Protectorate under Legend. He's going to be essential in lessening the bad press Masters get, leading for more Masters to join the PRT rather than go villain," Contessa explains. "No, I'm here to ask you if you want the credit for the end of Heartbreaker, Ash Beast, Nilbog and the Fallen. I can easily arrange for your name to be linked to their downfall, obviously not directly but through your empowerment."
"…you took down all of those, that quickly?" I ask, baffled. I know Piper was powerful but holy shit. Contessa wasn't kidding about how dangerous she is.
"Piper allowed me to massively simplify matters, taking the Paths to defeat them from prohibitively costly to simply costing a lot of rats. A Door into New York's sewers gave me enough to take down all four," Contessa admits with a shrug.
"Who do you need Sakashima for?" I ask, deathly curious if she's already done that much.
"The CUI. Current numbers predict they'll start the first true Cape-based war within a decade. I intend to have Sakashima infiltrate them and replace their leader, bringing them under control without setting off a world war," Contessa explains easily. "They have both anti-master and anti-stranger protocols that make Piper ill-fitting for this, irritatingly, but Sakashima will be able to handle it as a long-term assignment."
"Oh. Well, shit," I summarise. She just laughs softly. "As someone currently living in this world, I would prefer that it didn't end in World War Cape. I really did join the Cape Illuminati, didn't I?"
"More or less, yes," Contessa admits, watching as I summon the card and call forth Sakashima, giving him the same orders as Piper of the Swarm. Do as she says unless it endangers me, blah blah, whatever. With how fucking terrifying she is, she doesn't need my summons to fuck me over.
"At once, Planeswalker," Sakashima agrees, his masked face turning to face Contessa. "I have infiltrated the very realm of the Gods, and fooled their divine eyes. This will be easy."
One door later and Sakashima is gone, off to take over the Chinese Union-Imperial. Man, what the fuck is my life now.
"Much appreciated, Charles," Contessa says with a nod. "Cauldron's goal of stabilisation is far more achievable with your summons on hand. Now, as for your new cards, would you like some advice or to handle them yourself?"
"Hey, when you work for the Thinker with a capital T, you might as well use her knowledge, right?" I say.
"A fair point. If only people were always so logical," Contessa chuckles. "Tell Glenn Chambers about the rides. Chief Director Costa-Brown will support the creation of a PRT-run amusement park outside of Brockton Bay. This will cause an increase in tourism and over-all city health. Tell Director Piggot about Fortune Teller. Pre-cog on demand might just be more powerful than healing on demand. Fortune Teller alone could put Watchdog out of a job."
"It's that powerful?" I ask.
"I believe so, from what I can see on my Paths. And you've clearly never been told that the future is a murky mauve, with eleven on fourteen and kumquat. They spend more time trying to work out what the nonsense they are spewing actually means than they do actually using their powers. Watchdog has many thinkers but their actual results are often questionable at best. Besides, if you put that many thinkers in one place, it always becomes a competition of who is the smartest. Spoilers, it's none of them," Contessa snorts. "With Fortune Teller in Brockton Bay, the ENE branch will get far more funding and support because every department, and international allies, will be coming to get a fortune. Also, I'll nudge things so Triumph gets a fortune. Long story short, a villain is currently scheming to kidnap his eleven year old cousin after she triggered with a precog power of her own, faking her death and keeping her locked in a basement under tinkertech drugs. Fortune Teller will give him a fortune that stops that entirely."
"...what the fuck is wrong with the villains of this city?" I ask myself. Lung, the dragon who decided to become a sex slaver. Nazis. People kidnapping kids and keeping them in the creepy basement like shitty bond villains. Why are the Merchants the best we've got? "But thanks, sounds like a plan."
"Especially for your plan to be too valuable to risk, getting all the fame while sitting around relaxing?" Contessa asks with a small smirk.
"Hey, my power incentivises me to act remotely. I'm just playing it smart," I agree shamelessly. No point lying to her. "As for the credit… can I have some time to think about it? That's a lot of attention, real fast. A different type than my current fame, too."
"Of course. As I said, it will take time to properly dismantle Heartbreaker's thralls and the Fallen sects, as well as moving Nilbog and his creatures to an earth that can support life but lacks humans," Contessa agrees, once again saying insane things without a care in the world. "If you do, we'll arrange for a fake operation using your cards. Alexandria's visit has already drawn suspicions that your power is far bigger than originally believed, and the revelation of the Concession Stand has only doubled that."
"Thanks, boss," I say with a mock salute. I notice she didn't mention Oracle's Eyes, and as I'm wondering why she gives me a small smirk. I guess it's already in one of her Paths, and she wants to leave it as is?
"You have no idea how much easier you are making my life, returning the favour just a little is the least I can do," Contessa says with a chuckle. "If all goes well, we're going to save this Earth, and countless others, and nobody will ever know how close we came to extinction. You are a key piece, so keeping you happy and safe is just common sense. Oh, right, I've arranged a trustworthy and talented therapist to handle your sister. Your mother will be contacted by 'the PRT' who will claim they're acting on your behalf, it's all paid for and arranged."
The sudden realisation that she knows my slightly insane sister was actively planning to seduce me to get powers does leave me a little embarrassed, especially as that same sister is still in the bed beside us, snoozing away.
"Charlie, given the immense damage you could do if you went villain, do you really think I care that you were a little tempted to test her offer?" Contessa asks plainly. "Still, if you're worried about getting all worked up… I could help with that."
"Wait, help with what?" I ask, getting a chuckle from her as she approaches and gently pushes me to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"You've not masturbated since gaining your powers, you've been too busy. You have needs, and you aren't seeing to them, and that's dangerous with a cape with your powers. Temptation is far worse when you have the potential to do so much damage by giving in," Contessa explains, removing her jacket and placing it on the back of my desk chair before returning to me. "If you keep suppressing your desires, you'll just end up like Panacea and the world can't handle two of her. So, I'm simply ensuring my favourite employee's needs are handled."
As she speaks, she swiftly and efficiently unbuttons her top to expose a simple black bra which is tugged up and over her breasts, exposing them and silencing my question of 'what the fuck do you mean a second Panacea?'. Placing a finger on my lip, she slips down onto her knees and with a move so fast I can barely track it, she extracts my cock from my pyjamas, stroking it softly for a moment.
"Relax, and enjoy," Contessa advises before pausing, removing her fedora and passing it to me. "And hold onto my hat for me."
With her piece said, her lips descend and all I can do is grip the fedora for dear life as she goes to work, taking my shaft to the base in a single swift movement. Her hand moves to my testicles, gently fondling them as she begins to bob her head, her tongue dancing in ways I didn't know were possible.
I'd like to blame my inexperience for how quickly Contessa had me desperately trying to ward off the imminent climax, but there's no way blowjobs feel this good, right? My toes curl and I grit my teeth as she very carefully drags her teeth along my length, not enough to hurt but just enough to add to the sensation, her other hand stroking what she isn't sucking as she moves in perfect unison, milking my dick with expert precision.
Before I can stop it, I feel my cock twitch and Contessa never breaks eye contact as she takes my seed into her mouth with a smug smile on her face, pulling back and letting the last spurt hit her on the chin, dripping down onto her breasts, her lipstick already ruined from her movements.
"Path to giving the perfect blowjob, complete. Don't worry, nobody could have lasted longer," Contessa says simply, pulling out a handkerchief to clean her chin and breasts as she rises, reclaiming her fedora and placing it back on her head. "And for the record, that was a first for both of us."
Wha-
"Door me," Contessa says, tossing her jacket over one shoulder as she hooks her finger into the collar, leaving her breasts out. "Time to go. Emma will wake up soon. Goodbye, Charles, we'll speak again soon enough."
Walking through the door with a sway to her hips, I stare dumbly before I blink and rapidly try to fix my pyjamas… because Emma started to wake up the literal second the Door closed.
My boss is terrifying…ly hot.
Author's Note: If you have Blank, you can't experience the Path to Climax. So sad.
Mike God of Lore's quote: The only reason to ever turn off Blank…
Written: 25/05/2026