The roar of the engine screamed and cried impatiently.  Rhett reeved the engine again to show he was getting annoyed.  Construction, that was the big delay.  Rhett sat behind the wheel of his Dodge Charger.  He shot a murderous smirk at the jackoff holding a sign that said slow down.  He'd like to introduce him to a hole an a few layers of dirt.  Rhett was stuck in traffic.  There wasn't really a whole lot he could do about his situation.  It was one of the few times that he felt decidedly normal and human.  Rhett absolutely hated that. 

Reaching into the pocket of his silver windbreaker Rhett pulled out his cigarettes.  The poisonous calm that eased the edge of frayed nerves.  Rhett stuck one in his mouth, cupped his hands and breathed in a cloud of consolation prize.  Sitting in the backseat was a teddy bear dressed in a orange and white t-shrit with a silly, happy expression on it's motionless face.  In the passenger seat was a ventriloquist dummy who's face was so life like it bordered on the creepy side.  The dummy was wearing a cardigan sweater and a pair of ripped jeans; it's shoes were old sneakers with dirty strings tied tightly around it's wooden feet. 

Rhett breathed out another puff of smoke as he inched forward ever so slightly.  The smoke drifted around his silver hair like fumes from the nose of an angry dragon.  There was a dead serious look in his eye as he stared out at nothing in particular.  Rhett's lights were on but no one was home.  He was far off in his head spinning wheels, thinking of moves to make.  He might as well use this time for planning.  The dummy in the passenger seat looked around at the traffic and the other cars on the road.  It seemed to almost be in silent awe of what was happening.  Unpromted it's mouth fell open and a small clack noise cut the silence as wood pressed against wood.  It's bright blue eyes alive with curiosity.  Rhett was subconsciously controlling the dummy in the background of his thoughts.  He was barely even paying attention to the dummy, who's name was Ryder.

Finally the bottleneck opened up a bit, enough at least where Rhett could make an exit.  The car in front of him pulled forward a bit and Rhett stomped on the gas launching the car forward.  Rhett turned the wheel and brought the car up on the sidewalk almost taking out the guy with the slow down sign.  This made Rhett erupt in a fit of laughter.  "HAHAHAHAHAHA SORRY SH*THEAD, YOU WERE STANDING IN THE CARPOOL LANE!"  Rhett Roared down the sidewalk causing more road construction workers to dive out of the way of the maniac on the sidewalk. 

Finally he reached the corner and barreled around it coming out on a nearly empty street on the next street over.  Rhett kept his foot down and roared down the road.  He loved going fast.  New York was terrible.  There was always just to many cars on the road to cut loose and chase a thrill.  Rhett was on his way back to his doll warehouse when he found himself stuck in traffic.  Now he was taking a detour.  Anything to get him out of the monotony of waiting line like a humey.  Rhett looked over at his passenger beside him.  Ryder turned his head back to Rhett.  There was a big painted red grin on his face.  The polished wood almost gleamed as brightly as the glassy blue eyes in it's head.  "Sit tight you little asshole.  We're taking a short cut." 

That's when Rhett saw the check engine light.  The smile faded from his face and was replaced with more annoyance.  With a heavy sigh Rhett pulled the car over on the side of the road up near the sidewalk.  Ryder continued to stare at him with big curious eyes.  "F*ck what now?"  Rhett moaned as he exited the car.  His cowboy boots clicked against the asphalt as he stepped out.  The wind blew his silver and brown hair around his head as he slammed the door.  Moving around front of the car Rhett wondered what it would be like to be a normal human.  To have to put up with this kind of mundane crap on a day to day basis.  To not be unique or special in anyway..... Rhett didn't dwell on it long, that was just freaking depressing to him.

"Trouble boss?"  Ryder called out from inside the car.  It was just a voice in Rhett's head, but Rhett heard it as if he were speaking.  "Nothing I can't handle, just sit back and wait a second will ya?"  Rhett's irritation wasn't hard to pick up on as he popped the hood and saw smoke coming from the chassie of his beauty.  Rhett's car was an extension of himself.  It was as much a part of him as his own arm.  He had seen a lot of nasty stuff behind the wheel of this baby.  He was just worried that she had met her end. 

Just then he heard a scream.  It was a woman's scream.  "Hey! Give that back!"  She called out.  Rhett turned to see some jaggoff running away with a stolen purse.  He was running down the sidewalk coming straight for Rhett.  The guy shove people out of his way as he made his escape.  Rhett wasn't the heroic type.  He just didn't give a sh*t.  Not really, but for whatever reason he acted.  Rhett looked at Ryder in the passenger seat.  He gave the dummy telepathic commands to open the car door and shove it hard.  The dummy was not very strong but under the weight of Rhett's mental force it was able to shove the door quite hard.  The car door swung open and hit the man as he was running.  He stopped dead in his tracks.

The purse went skittering across the sidewalk and Rhett walked over calmly.  The man scrambled to his feet ready to clobber the jerk who opened his door and stared confused at a ventriloquist dummy in the seat.  "What the hell?"  The man said dumbfounded.  Rhett grabbed the guy by the back of his hoody and shoved him hard at the brick wall behind him.  The man hit and the air rushed out of him with an "Oaff!"  as Rhett punched him in the gut.  Rhett didn't give a rats ass about people, not really, but he didn't allow for people mistreating a lady.  Rhett was a southern boy born and raised.  If there was one thing you did in the south was have some dam chivalry. 

"Get your a** out of here punk!" Rhett snarled as the man scurried away.  The woman who was chasing him stopped running just a few feet short of Rhett.  No one had really seen the dummy open the door, it all happened so fast.  Rhett picked up the purse and handed it to the woman.  He still had a cigarette burning between his wrinkled lips as he handed it to her.  As he spoke his voice was muffled and the cigarette bounced on his lower lip.  "This your purse lady?"  He asked rhetorically.  She smiled and thanked him.  "Yes, you're a real hero you know that?"  F*ck's sake.  Just take the purse lady!  Rhett thought still annoyed.  Hero?  Never been no hero, don't want to be no hero.  Rhett thought grumpily. 

From somewhere nearby, the first strains of some heart achingly beautiful violin music started to play. It was haunting; the tempo slow and sad sounding, and one could see a a crowd gathering as they gravitated toward that music. If one followed the sound, if one were to peer over the shoulders of the circle of people that stood within a certain radius as if rats drawn to a pied piper, they would see the dark haired young woman who wore the old skool gypsy costume, standing tall upon a milk crate that was covered in some shimmery fabric. And this gypsy had a completely transfixed look upon her own face, for she wasn't playing just to hear the sound of money falling into the open violin case upon the pavement of the sidewalk... She was playing because she was moved by the sound of her own violin.

It was almost sexual in nature, the way she moved the bow over the strings. She plied the instrument like it was her long time lover, breathing into each movement and moving gracefully. The crowd around her was silent with awe, not even noticing the way she accidentally caused the movements of different objects... It was like even inanimate objects seemed to have lives of their own, like loose change dragging about, rocks, trash cans rattling, et cetera...

She was oblivious to her own powers at the moment, for it wasn't her intent to cause things to happen, it was just that she was so enraptured by the tune. She played this song for several minutes, and it came to a slow and peaceful end. Some of her audience stood, silent, some weeping, and some reaching into their pocketbooks to start throwing folding money and loose change into the case, as if to urge her to keep playing... How could she deny the silent requests?

She gave a bow, and then moved onto the next song...

Rhett looked at the woman as she walked off. Yeah yeah, he thought as he watched her leave. Rhett wasn't here for gratitude. If it wasn't for his car crapping out on him he wouldn't have been there for her at all. That's life right? Rhett leaned back over the open hood of his car.  The smoke had cleared yet he still didn't know what the problems was. 

Taking the cigarette from his mouth Rhett tossed it aside.  He leaned over the engine with a sigh of disappointment.  He was going to have to call a tow truck.  That was the last thing he wanted to do.  He didn't have his tools here.  He could probably fix the problem with a little elbow grease and some time to figure it out.  Right now it seemed to be a paperweight.  Rhett sighed.  He didn't care about being flashy or obvious that he was a mutant.  Rhett was the type of guy who would flaunt his powers right in front of you. 

He was walking from here, but he couldn't leave his toys behind.  Rhett slammed the hood of his car and popped the trunk.  "Everyone out!"  He barked.  Inside the trunk was an assortment of action figures and dolls that ranged from GI joe to Barbie, from Stretch arm strong to classic plastic figures.  Rhett pulled the sunglasses from his shirt and slipped them on as he wait for his toys to crawl out of the trunk on their own. 

Several people stopped and stared at him.  Rhett smiled.  "What? Haven't you ever seen a grown man play with toys before?"  Rhett said sarcastically.  When they were all out Rhett slammed the trunk and stuck his fingers in his mouth.  He gave a sharp whistle and the teddy bear and ventriloquist dummy climbed out the passenger's side.  Rhett pulled out his phone and called a mysterious shady character.  "Yeah, car's broke down on 5th street.....Yeah I know! Just come get it. Have it fixed by tomorrow.  Yeah I pulled that job I'm flush with cash. Just swing by the warehouse."  Rhett hung up without so much as a goodbye.

He moved down the street walking like the real pied piper.  He moved down the sidewalk with an army of toys following him.  The sea of people on the sidewalk split like the red sea to give them room.  Shocked stares and silent gasps.  Rhett walked until he came upon a woman playing violin on the street.  He actually stopped to listen.  Her music was haunting and beautiful.  He listened for a moment and was about to loose interest when his eye caught the objects moving.  His eye moved from the self moving objects to the woman making love to the strings of her violin.  A mutant? Rhett thought with a smile spreading across his face like an infection. 

Rhett was a firm believer that mutants were far superior.  Why would you even want to be anything other than great?  Rhett would go out of his way to get to know a fellow mutant.  Mostly he wanted to see if they had a power they could exploit for his life of crime, but also he genuinely cared....Kinda.  Rhett stopped a moment longer and listened until her song was finished.  His mental control was focused on Ryder the ventriloquist dummy mostly.  He made Ryder walk up to the performer with telepathic commands.  Rhett sometimes used Ryder as an unlikely pick pocket.  Ryder reached into the pocket of his tiny jeans and pulled out a $20 bill.  He leaned down slowly and placed it in her case. 

Ryder's big blue glass eyes never left her face.  He had a hand painted cherry red smile. It's smile twisted upward in a devilish way and cut across it's face.  It watched her carefully.  It waited for instructions from its master.  Rhett's other toys stood behind him also waiting for orders.  They were all motionless, Not one of his toys moved a muscle until he gave a mental command.  Rhett pulled his shades down slightly.  His eyes peeked over the rim of the glasses. "Nice song. I'm Puppeteer." He said with a growing smile that showed his sparkley white teeth.  Rhett didn't care about the humans around him.  His focus was on the beauty with the violin and her alone.

A funny thing happened as she started to play her second song: A dummy came up, unaided, and dropped a twenty in her case, staring up at her with glassy, creepy eyes that would cause a normal person to lose it. She, however, was an actual, honest to goodness, gypsy; the real deal... And, well, they were born performers. She had a character to portray. The doll barely phased her, as creepy as it was, and it was the voice of it's master that drew her dark eyes.

She gave a slow smile back, and continued to ply the bow to the violin, her eyes now locking, half mast, with the eyes of Puppeteer. She stepped slowly off the milk crate, and moved toward him, walking around him as if to make him part of her act and causing the crowd to feel as if the puppets were just part of the show, and she would end that second song right up next to the man, gesture, and give a bow. More money hit the violin case.

Martha gave another bow to indicate the show was over, moved over to her case, and popped a squat on the milk crate. As the crowd dispersed, she counted her money, fingers shaking a little as she realized this was her most lucrative payout yet. The money was stashed quickly away, the violin was packed carefully in it's case, and without even looking up from her task, she finally replied to the man who came upon her mini show. "And I am a Gypsy. But you can call me Martha," she said with her Louisville drawl.

She slowly stood to straighten herself out, letting her gaze reach the older looking man who was probably not all there, and her head tilted in a way that told him that she was trying to figure him out. "Thanks for the bill, Mister Puppeteer. Appreciate it." She did not, however, leave. She was as fascinated with him as he was with her.

Rhett stood there watching her collect her earnings. Behind him was hundreds of action figures. Each and every one of them was staring in her direction. Rhett smiled as she spoke. The way her voice seemed to just roll off her tongue, it was quite charming. Ryder was staring at her too. The wooden dummies eyes wide and inquisitive. It's eyes alive with some sort of magic that made them almost seem to be studying her. It's wooden mouth fell open and there was a clack sound as wood pressed against wood.

Rhett was still smiling. He took off his sunglasses and stuffed them in the pocket of his jacket. Crouching down in front of her Rhett's hands dangled over his knees. He spoke in a lower voice now. Most of the people watching were still there. Rhett ordered the teddy bear to handle that. A innocuous thought in the back of Rhett's mind sprang the bear into action. The bear reached in his shirt and pulled out a switchblade. The bear flicked the blade open and started to chase people. 

Rhett didn't even bother to turn his head. He knew what was happening he was doing in! Rhett bellowed a roar of laughter at the panicked screams as the adorable bear chased people and slashed. All the while it had that harmless grin on it's happy face.

Rhett pulled out a fresh cigarette and stuck it between his lips.  He didn't light it, he was just getting it ready.  As he spoke the cancer stick bounced on his lower lip, bobbing up and down with the movements of his lips.  "You know.... With your gifts you could be making a hell of a lot more than this honey."  Rhett said. He wasn't speaking about her beautiful music, though it was beautiful.  He was talking about her other gifts.  Rhett had an eye for talent.  He could see promise shining through the cracks.  There was promise here.  He had to see more though. 

In the background the bear stopped chasing people.  It stood still on the street staring off blankly ahead and holding a knife.  It looked like a possessed toy that was hell bent on freaking people out.  Rhett called it back with a mental command and it returned.  Ryder was looking all around. It's mouth still hung open wide as if it were silently screaming.  It's bright blue eyes digging deeper into Martha as it stared.  Rhett always had Ryder moving and active.  He unconsciously spent more effort with Ryder. 

The crazy old man was also big on theatrics.  It's why he chose such a creepy counter part to be his sidekick.  It's why he lived in an abandoned mannequin factory on the edge of the city.  It's why he chose to scare people and get inside their heads.  It was just damn entertaining.  "How bout we go somewhere private.  You can show me what you can really do.....Martha."  Rhett didn't like using a mutant's human name.  It tasted bitter on his tongue. He much preferred to use their mutant name or code name.  It just felt more appropriate.  "Do you go by any other name?" Rhett said standing up as she did.  He cupped his hands and lit his cigarette.  Breathing out the smoke his dull eyes washed over her.  He studied her, she was really starting to interest him.

She ignored all the stares. Pfft... It was exactly the feeling she got with her extended family closing in on her. Get out of here! She continued to pack her belongings without a qualm, without so much as twitching an eyebrow at the psycho, knife wielding bear. Martha looked at the man, finally lifting a brow at him and countering, "I don't go to private places with gorgers, let alone men. Kinda against the rules of the Gypsy. And I have a feeling that you would get this gypsy girl in trouble." Why was it so hard for her to detach herself from her culture when she had run away, fair and square? She really didn't have a home to go back to, she didn't have a reputation to uphold... But, then again, this man was kind of creepy, yo. Why would he think she would go and be alone with him?

Martha stood up and grabbed the milk crate and violin case, going toward her beat up looking Pinto, opening the door and gently putting her things away. "I am kinda hungry. You wanna talk? Buy me a meal, buddy, and I'll sing for you, maybe." She locked her car and nodded to a nearby restaurant. "Public eye, no funny sh*t, hands on the table. Got it?" She was feisty!

"Oh, and do YOU have another name? Cause I don't. My name really is Martha." With that, she leaned against her car and folded her arms over her bosoms and waited for his reply. Her dark eyes were glittering as she regarded him with a no bull-poo stare. Her well manicured hands lifted to tuck away at stray strands of hair that lifted with the slight breeze. "You can even bring your minions if you want. I don't care. Ain't nothin' to me. My family is scarier. Ain't nothin' more scary than a bunch of pissed off Gypsies."

Something about her tone told him she meant it. She didn't seem the least bit afraid of Rhett or his toy brigade that he had going on. Apart from being effing creepy, it showed the man was touched in his head, and not taking him seriously might be the wrong move... Or rather, not catering to the way his brain seemed to think.

Truth was... Rhett wasn't actually crazy. Okay, so maybe he was a little crazy, but mostly he was just bored. He jumped from one crazy stunt to the next because he had a short temper and a short attentions span. Pair that up with a man who has superpowers and ooooh brother you have a bad combination there.

Rhett was a little surprised when she said she didn't want to go anywhere alone with him. What the shit was that? He thought. It didn't occur to him that he might be just ramping up the creep factor a little high with a knife wielding bear. Behind him the bear did put the knife away. Tucking it back into it's shirt as it walked over.

She said she would sing for him if he bought her a meal.  Rhett smiled.  He supposed he wanted that.  He had no earthly idea just how her powers worked.  Hell, maybe he was getting scammed by this homeless begger.  Maybe there were magnets under objects in the sidewalk that turned on and just made it look like freaky stuff was happening.  He wasn't really sure, but he was intrigued none the less.  Rhett had nothing on his hands but time and opportunity.  Rhett reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a roll of twenties.  It was about $2,000 dollars in total.  Rhett handed it to her like it was nothing.

He didn't come off as a rich snob.  He had on a silver windbreaker with the collar popped.  A pair of tight fitting grey jeans and dusty old cowboy boots.  Rhett was wearing a t-shirt that said 'born to ride' and he was hanging out with a fucking teddy bear.  Nothing about him screamed sophisticated gentleman.  "I told you honey... You could be making a lot more...."  Even that sounded creepy.  Rhett didn't hear the way it came out of his mouth.  It was almost like he was propositioning her to be her pimp.  He was just trying to get her to use her powers to pull a few heists.

Rhett outright laughed when she said that the toys could come along for lunch.  "Yeah sure, we'll just order 400 kids meals and ask the waiter if they have any extra highchairs in the back!"  Rhett bellowed.  Shaking his head lightly he smiled.  "How about a public park? That suitable? We can hit up the hotdog vender on the way over, anything you want.  I just want to see if you're as special as I think you might be."  Rhett was still speaking in riddles. 

Rhett took the cigarette from his mouth and blew out a cloud of smoke.  Tilting his head to the side so as to not blow it in her face.  Rhett's smile was kind of infectious.  Yeah he was a creepy guy, but he was so damn confident it eventually just kinda started to grow on you a little.  He stuck his hands in the pocket of his jacket and dropped his cigarette.  Crushing it out with the toe of his cowboy boot he smiled even bigger.  "My car broke down how bout we walk?  I don't think my 400 friends are going to fit in that shitty cramped pinto. HAHAHAHA."  Rhett burst out laughing again.  He basically insulted her car, but he knew he was an asshole.  It was part of his charm.  Or it was the reason you wanted to punch him in the face.

Rhett's offer was on the table.  He was planning a job.  She might be perfect for it, or at least perfect for a bit part in it.  He really didn't know yet.  He didn't even know if she could actually move objects with her mind or if that little slight vibration she caused was the best she could do.  Either way he sunk $2,000 dollars into finding out which it was.  He didn't care.  He had money to burn.  He had just robbed an armored truck with another special mutant named Darkshift.  Cash wouldn't be an issue for awhile, but there was always room for more.  

The man practically tossed money in her face. That would buy her lots of food. Hell yeah. "You just bought yourself a private concert, you crazy old fart. And by private, I mean public. And forget hotdogs, nasty thangs." She wrinkled her nose and then gestured to the park without preamble. "I'll just have to eat later, mmm? Yeah... Cause no way in hell am I sticking a hot dog in my gut. I might be desperate, but I would dig through the trash before I eat that sh*t."

She pocketed the money before he had a chance to take it back. NO GIVESIES BACKSIES! Hah Martha was on her way to the park when he, who's car was broken down, made fun of her fricken car like he had room to talk. "At least my s**tty ass pinto runs." She retorted at his jest. "More 'an I can say about your piece of polished dog turd. Come on..." And then she took off for the park.

Once in the park, assuming he followed, which he probably would since he dropped two grand on her like it was nothing at all, she turned to him and gestured, "Whatcha want me to sing for, hmm? We got lots of stuff... Pick your poison." Martha folded her arms again and waited for his reply.

Her eyes glittered as they bore holes into him. She wanted to get this done and over with so she could go somewhere fancy and get her something totally expensive to eat for the first time in her life... Or, perhaps, she would use the money to actually better her situation some. That would be nice... Right?

Well shit, that was easy. Rhett thought. Rhett's eyes narrowed a bit as she took and pawed through the money quickly before sinking in her pocket. For a second he could of swore she was going to take off running. That wouldn't have been good. Rhett hated running. As they talked Ryder's head seemed to turn back and forth between them. His head looked a like a tennis ball in a champion tennis match, going back and forth between Rhett and Martha.  A chunk of Rhett's subconscious was always dedicated to Ryder. Ryder often seemed more 'alive' than the others because Rhett never turned him off.

Somewhere in the back of his mind the chain smoking old man thought about lighting another cigarette. This caused Ryder to pull out the spare pack he carried for Rhett. Ryder pulled out a cigarette and lit one up as the girl complained about never eating hotdogs. A random innocent subconscious thought caused the dummy to spark up. Rhett's commands could be misunderstood if he was distracted or he didn't think clearly enough. He thought about smoking and instead the dummy started smoking. 

Rhett looked over at the dummy who had a cigarette in it's tiny wooden mouth. "Gimme that! What if you get cancer? You think Pinocchio is going to donate a lung to you?"  Rhett took the cigarette and stuck it in his own mouth.  He smoked a lot.  He drank a lot.  Rhett did pretty much anything that was stupid and dangerous and did it in big supply. Rhett padded his pockets before leaving.  Looking for his car keys he wanted to double check that his car was locked.  "Where the hell are my car keys?"  Rhett said muffled through the cigarette.  Where could they have gone?  Rhett thought as he realized they weren't in his jacket pocket. 

Ryder the dummy held his keys out to him.  His paint smile seemed delighted that he was able to pick his owners pocket without him realizing.  It's big blue eyes staring innocently, creepily up at Rhett.  "How many times have told you not to pick MY POCKET.  Pick other people's pockets!"  Rhett scolded.  If he was thinking to hard about it Ryder might actually just do it.  Ryder seemed to be the only one that confused his commands on occasion.  It wasn't often, but every once in a blue moon.  Rhett got his pocket picked when he crouched down.  The thought he had that Ryder mistook as a command was. 'I'll give this chick a whole lot of cash, then when she's not looking RYDER CAN PICKPOCKET IT.' That was enough for cause for confusion to the little wooden monstrosity.

Rhett snatched the keys from the little wooden hand and aimed it at his charger.  He pressed the button and the alarm went off.  Manny should be here soon with the tow truck and he could tow it back to Rhett's warehouse when he finished fixing it.  Manny was a friend of Rhett's that boosted cars, but that was a story for another day.  Rhett had many criminal contacts and was loosely affiliated with all of them.  Rhett was never one for keeping his hands clean.  He liked them dirty and rough.  With a big painted smile on his own face Rhett turned back to Martha.  "After you my dear."  He said sarcastically taking a little bow of his own and guiding the way with his hand. 

Ryder didn't seem to wait for either.  It could sense Rhett's eagerness and started to walk ahead of them both.  Rhett prompted his toys to follow suit as they moved.  No one dared approach that side of the side walk.  No one wanted to come near the toys that moved on their own.  Rhett was used to that.  He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his shades again.  Slipping them back on he smiled into the brilliant sunshine.  It's a good day to recruit mutants in the park!  He thought with a big old smile.  Rhett still planned on having Ryder steal the money back, but if she really impressed him he might just let her keep it.

Rhett followed her into the park.  There wasn't a lot of people here.  Some snot nosed kids playing on the playground on the far end, but mostly they had themselves a true private concert.  There were some just as snot nosed adults sitting across the way on their cell phones ignoring their kids.  They also ignored the mutant strangers that wandered into the park. 

 Rhett sat down on the bench.  His army of action figures crowded around behind it.  I gotta steal a car on the way out of here.  He thought.  It was waaay to inconvenient to have this many toys running around they were just to conspicuous.  The teddy bear climbed up beside Rhett on the bench as Rhett spread his wings out across the back of it.  It's little feet kicked furiously as it pulled itself up.  Rhett chuckled a bit at the sight.  Ryder climbed up on the other side. The undertaker waited patiently at Rhett's feet.

Rhett leaned down and picked up the action figure army general and placed him on the lap of the bear.  All four of them were waiting for the show to start.  Martha told Rhett to pick his poison.  He wasn't sure what the hell she meant, but he figured something long perhaps.  Maybe something a little depressing with a lot of chorus.  "Don't fear the reaper by the blue oyster cult... Ya know it?"  Rhett said.  Well shit as long as she was taking requests.  He wasn't sure what was about to happen.  Rhett puffed on his cigarette and waited for the show to start.  This better be worth $2,000 he thought.

She had to shake her head at the interaction between the crazy old coot and the dummy he controlled. She could just as easily lift that dummy just by singing to him, but she chose to let him have his fun without bursting his bubble. The old fart was a few crayons short of a box, his deck of cards was missing the aces... Uh... Yeah, she could keep on going in her mind. Not trusting him, she used that moment that he was distracted by the dummy sticking the cancer stick in his mouth, and quickly folded the money as tight as she could get it, sticking that into her bra, right under her boob. There was no way she was letting go of that cash. Mind you, she had no idea he wanted to pick pocket.

Her hands folded in front of her and she had her poker face on by the time the old coot was focused on her again, and then they were on their way to the park for real. Then he said some song she had never heard of... Hey, she wasn't really allowed to listen to much gorger music, let alone the older stuff... But she snuck some stuff in, and it was more modern.

"No, silly putz... What are you wanting me to sing FOR? Like... do you want me to wedgie a few of those kids from over here?" She gestured around, "Do you want me to make a dog back flip? Pick something reasonable, I can't lift too much more 'an I weigh, kay?" Hopefully that would clear his state of confusion enough to get it.

She shook her head again and crossed her arms over her bosoms. Her eyes watched him intently, and she waited again for him to reply to her.

Rhett sat there quietly. His eyes washed over the beautiful mysterious woman. He couldn't think of anything other than what he was about to witness. He leaned forward as she explained her power a bit more and his eyebrows raised in curiosity. Well. That sucks. He really wanted to hear Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper. As Rhett leaned forward so did the toys on the bench. They almost seemed to be mimicking him. He wasn't focused on them. He was to concentrated on the girl who was about to demonstrate her mutation. For $2,000 it's got to be a hell of a demonstration.

The toys were leaning forward.  All of them staring ahead motionless even Ryder.  None of the toys moved as Rhett's mental influence pulled from their little bodies.  All thoughts were solely on the performance.  "See that lady on the phone.....Take the phone from her."  Rhett said pointing his hand holding the cigarette at the lady. 

Rhett looked back at Ryder.  Ryder turned his head and looked up at Rhett.  "What the hell's she going to do boss?"  Ryder asked in his own unique voice. (play at 1:06 to hear) Rhett shrugged and took another puff of his cigarette.  The smoke spilled out of his lips like a stream of silver.  "Who knows, i have feeling it's going to be good though." Rhett said actually taking the time to answer the dummy.  Rhett heard the dummies voice in his head, but he wasn't really speaking to Rhett.  It was just Rhett's subconscious thoughts being channeled through the dummy.  Rhett was really addressing his own concerns when he talked to it.  Whatever was on the back of his mind would seem to spill out of the dummies wooden lips.  Or the lips of any of his toys he talked to for that matter.

Rhett turned his attention back to Martha.  He waited for the show to start.  She had called it a private concert.  Rhett wondered what that meant.  He checked his watch.  It was about 2:00pm.  There was still plenty of time in the day for him to find some trouble to get into after this.  Rhett took another puff of his cigarette and flicked it away.  Resting his arms back on the back of the bench he waited, along with his toys for the show to start.

"I'll do you one better, you old codger," She growled, but nevertheless, the girl rolled her eyes, hitched up her sleeves and started to sing a song she listened to a lot once she left home, "Now and then I think of when we were together... Like when you said you felt so happy you could die... Told myself that you were right for me, but felt so lonely in your company... But that was love and it's an ache I still remember..." She honed in on the woman, and skipped the next verse to get right to the chorus so she could belt the tune out, reaching out toward the woman as she bent over... She jerked her hand as she belted the chorus out like she was pissed off at some imaginary lover.

"But you didn't have to cut me off! Make out like it never happened and we were nothing!" The woman's hand would jerk like it had been violently smacked, the phone flew into the grass, knocking the glasses off the woman so she would have to search for those first, and then her phone. "And I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough..." The phone started to drag through the grass, starting slow and then moving faster. "You didn't have to stoop so low, have your friends collect your records and then change your number. I guess I didn't need that, though... Now you're just somebody that I used to know." She had the phone in hand as she ended the chorus, turned and slid the screen lock to end whatever phone call was being made.

She had a head ache. Damn. Bringing her free hand to her forehead, she ran her hand over her forehead. Then she smiled and said, "Easy. Now I am going to return the phone because I ain't a thief. I tried to steal the other day and felt too much like sh*t. Sorry. Besides, it's a crappy throwaway, an government issue." And then she trotted on over to the woman and he would be able to hear her say, "You have a nice arm on ya, lady. It didn't get cracked, luckily. You be more careful and stop throwin' your phone."

The lady laughed and such, took her phone back and said an "Oh, thank you, dear!"

Martha walked away and then started to sing again on the way, whipping her hand like she did the first time, and he'd find himself missing his cancer stick from between his lips, and she was looking at him with a canted head, cigarette now between he forefinger and middle on her left hand. She dropped the smoke to her feet and twisted her shoe all up on that half smoked stick, putting it out. "Thank you for your patronage." Martha gave a sweeping bow.

And then she was walking off, having done her part of the deal.

As Rhett watched the show he had to hold back the smile threatening to rip across his face. He kept his look stern, unimpressed. He didn't want to seem to eager to get this girl under his wrinkled old thumb. He could see her many talents being very useful to him. He was in the business of whatever the hell he wanted. Right now Rhett wanted this girl to work with him on a job.

Rhett learned that he was special early on in life. When he played with his toys as a child, they actually played back! Rhett spent most of his life knowing he was special. This girl didn't seem to realize just how special she was. If she did she would be putting on concerts on the street corner for nickles and dimes. She would be using her gifts to make herself rich.  Screw hard work and honesty that was for suckers and chumps.

Rhett watched as she demonstrated her power and hung up on the person on the call. He leaned forward and still with a straight face started a slow clap. He was impressed. He didn't mind showing her a little of his excitement. Still, don't reveal just how excited you are old boy! Rhett thought quietly as she approached. Rhett was about to flick his cigarette away when it was snatched from his hand by an unseen force. His eyes followed it over to her and he watched as she put it out. That was nice, her power allowed for finely tuned finesse.

Rhett stood up and was about to give her a standing ovation when she excused herself. His eyebrow raised in a 'what the f*ck?' manner as he watched her return the phone. She told him that she wasn't a thief and she didn' feel right about it. Are you kidding me? He thought. A diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered and she wanted to be cubic zirconium.  Rhett ran his tired hand through his wavy hair.  He just didn't know what to say.  Normally he had some smartass remark loaded and ready.  But now he just stood there a moment.  He blinked several times as if he couldn't believe what he just heard.  Then the cool smile was back on his face.

Rhett walked over to her casually and place an arm over her shoulder. She probably wanted to recoil from his touch, but he pulled her in tight, shoulder to shoulder.  "Look here honey.  There is money to be made in this world.  I know you're a starving artist and that's commendable, but wouldn't you rather be rich?  Wouldn't you rather have people groveling at your feet rather than throwing quarters at them?  Wouldn't you like to reach in your pocket and feel more than your leg?  I have a business opportunity for you...If you're interested." 

Rhett reached into the inner pocket of his jacket.  He emerged with a card.  It was a blank card and it only had an address on it.  The address was printed in bold black letters.  It looked at least semi-professional.  But judging from the unreportable source it came from you couldn't exactly be sure about it's authenticity and legitimacy.

"Think it over sugar tits."  Rhett called out and then he let go of her.  Rhett started to walk off and snapped his fingers twice.  His toys began to follow him out of the park.  Rhett didn't have any desire to take back the money.  It was safe and sound right where she stashed it.  Rhett did however want to leave her wanting more.  The number one rule in show business.... Always leave them wanting more. 

The address on the card was for the mannequin factory on the outskirts of the city.  Rhett's main base of operations.  Rhett had hundreds of mannequins there, and each one of them could come alive at a mere thought of it's masters wishes.  Rhett wasn't worried about her coming to his home to stir up trouble.  She seemed more worried about the trouble he was trying to get into, but still if they were going to talk business. It might as well have be in his office.

Rhett walked out of the park without so much as looking back at Martha.  He had seen what he wanted and he was rather impressed.  He left her $2,000 richer and he knew that kind of cash would eventually claw at the back of her mind.  She'd go on a spending spree most likely, but when it ran out she'd be itching to find out how to get more.  "We leaving boss? What about the lady? Don't you want her to join us?"  Ryder asked in Rhett's head as they walked along.  Rhett actually did turn back and glance at the girl he left in the park, if only for a moment.  "Wait til she get's desperate.  Then we can see how strong her morals are.  Sometimes ya just gotta be patient."  Rhett said. 

Moving into the parking lot Rhett looked around for a second before deciding the coast was clear.  He pulled out a slimjim from inside his jacket and jammed it into the window.  He worked it around for a few seconds with a few grunts and then popped it out.  He unlocked the car from the outside with the flat crowbar looking thing.  Opening the door he tossed his tool into the passenger side floor board.  He opened the door for Ryder and Teddy and popped the trunk for the action figures to pile in. 

Rhett started to quickly work on hotwiring the car.  It was a nice car too.  Way to nice for a guy like Rhett to not look out of place behind the wheel.  The car roared to life and Rhett rolled down the windows.  A confident smile adorned his rugged handsome, yet old features.  Ryder pulled the door closed after he got in all under the mental influence of the crazy old coot.  Rhett leaned over and spoke to Martha out the passenger side window.  "Think it over!  Come see me when you're ready!"  Rhett said.  One of the Barbie dolls in the trunk jumped up and grabbed the open trunk.  The other toys pulled her feet until the trunk slammed closed.  That was his cue to leave.  Rhett turned on the radio and a good ass song blasted through the speakers.  Tires squealed as he left the parking lot.  He left as mysteriously as he came.  Leaving Martha $2,000 richer for a simple show of what she could do.  Now only time would tell what she was WILLING to do....

She didn't merely just recoil, but if he wasn't quick to get his hands off of her, he might not like the feeling of her hand slamming backwards toward his jewels. "Back of, you old fart. Personal bubble, k?" She rolled her eyes, and almost tore the damn card up, but she stuck it in her pocket where the money had been originally. "Not interested, you have fun with your dollies. Kay? Bye." And she couldn't get away faster.

About two or three days later, she wasn't desperate. The card wasn't even in her thoughts... No. She was just enjoying the music blasting through her earphones. Ahh, sweet solitude! She thought as she walked along the sidewalk. This was her in her element, this quiet person who wasn't putting on a performance just to sustain herself. She wore butt hugging jeans and a tee, flip flops on her feet and hair put up into a messy bun.

She was relaxed... and the last person she expected to run into was that creepy Puppeteer with his legion of scary little action figures and that awful teddy bear who probably talked in tongues... Not that it scared her at all, but he was such a weirdo.

Rhett was standing outside his hideout.  His hideout was an abandoned mannequin factory warehouse on the outskirts of the city.  It was in the dying part of the city.  The part of the city where there was more graffiti and shady characters than police and upstanding citizens.  Rhett was one of those shady characters himself.  The side of his warehouse had the words "Tina gives a mean bj!" spray painted on the side of it in large letters.  Rhett didn't know who the hell Tina was, but she was welcome at Rhett's anytime.  Rhett called this part of the city the wasteland.  It was Rhett's wasteland.  It was his turf and he loved ever despicable inch of it.

Rhett was working on his car.  His friend had fixed it up and delivered it on schedule.  Rhett had him bring by a few stolen aftermarket parts that he wanted to put on himself.  It gave him something to do with his time.  He couldn't spend every waking moment being a degenerate asshole after all.  "Hand me that wrench will ya?" Rhett asked over the music that was playing.  Rhett didn't bother to look away from what he was doing.  A fat little ugly doll he named Leonard waddled over to the toll box and dug out a wrench. 

Rhett didn't have to give a verbalized command to get his toys to act, but he did just the same.  Rhett's power was of the psychic nature.  The same psychic waves that made his power so strong also caused havoc.  It was taxing on his mind to focus on so many different things at once and he had to sleep to recharge his batteries.  Rhett's mind also started to crack a little.  He sometimes, and more often than not if we're being honest; had trouble telling the difference between reality and make believe when it came to his toys.  The ugly doll handed Rhett the wrench and stood there staring at him.  It was waiting for it's next order.  "Turn up the radio will you?" Rhett said wiping the sweat from his forehead.

The doll turned and walled away.  Rhett was pulling it's strings as he tried to focus on getting this damn bolt off the engine.  He did enjoy working on cars.  He loved everything about cars in fact!  His car was a black 67 Dodge Charger.  The interior was pearl white and looked like it came out of the factory yesterday.   Rhett could get all the money he wanted, but you couldn't put a price on his baby.  His car which he called Debra.  The doll walked over to a boom box on the ground playing 'Welcome to the jungle by Gun's and Roses' and turned the knob way up.  That's when it stopped and looked at A woman walking down the street.

Rhett had noticed her too out of the corner of his eye.  Rhett didn't stop however.  It was one of those things that you take in with your eyes but don't fully register.  Rhett's subconscious mind made him aware of Martha though when Leonard spoke up.  "Hey, isn't that that lady you were talking to in the park?"  Leonard asked with a sniffling stuffy nose voice.  Rhett looked up and smiled.  Slamming the hood closed he smiled bigger.  "Why yes... Yes it is."  In the background the song spit out the ironic lyric.  "WELCOME! WLECOME TO THE JUNGLE!!!!!"

Rhett watched her a moment before he decided that he needed to call over to her.  "You think about my offer sweetheart?"  Rhett was a pig sure, but he would never mistreat a woman.  He did however, throw around one to many 'babes' and 'sweethearts' to make them think of him as anything less than a gentleman.  Rhett's smile was ear to ear now.  So she showed up huh?  Well... Let's just see what old Rhett can do for her.  He thought waiting for her to call back.