8 Out on the Town

After receiving the thoughtful gift, I set it on my desk and summoned Nagini as I began to contemplate my next steps. The musically challenged Metropolis had taken my first album well, especially after Blue Jay Industries had plastered my face everywhere with a monstrous marketing campaign. With the second album underway, I wouldn't have to worry about money for a while. I smiled as I stroked Nagini's scales. I had thrown in a song of my own writing along with the 'borrowed' ones, and even though it wasn't everyone's favorite on the album, it didn't lose out in popularity. And I genuinely enjoyed making music.

"Nagini?" I hissed, gaining my familiar's attention.

"Yes, master?" she hissed back.

"Have you grown in size?" I asked rhetorically, watching as the once wrist long snake wrapped around my arm.

"Master's magic has nourished me daily. I can feel my power increase as my size does."

I looked at her glistening scales contemplatively for a moment before saying, "Is that so? You know you don't have to limit yourself to just nourishment, right? Draw as much as you want from now on. It will also serve to increase my mana control, absorption speed, and stores. Just make sure not to strain yourself."

"Master is ever so generous with Nagini," she replied.

I laughed. "Of course, Nagini. I consider you a dear companion and my first real friend. You know more about me than anyone else."

Nagini fell silent for a moment but then asked, "What about master's brother who isn't master's brother?"

Her question made me raise an eyebrow. "How did you know that Clark and I aren't related by blood, Nagini?" I inquired.

"It is master's scent. Master smells different from master's brother and humans."

I decided to leave the matter there and returned to her previous question. "I can't talk as openly with Clark as I do with you. I have secrets, some of which I plan to reveal in time, and others that no one will ever learn as long as I can help it. You don't know everything about me, but you still know more than even Zatanna does."

I responded as I wrote down spells that I found would be useful to have on command. I noticed how the words faded as soon as I wrote them into the grimoire. I inserted my mana into the page, and the writing reappeared. 'Neat,' I thought.

"Master doesn't have to worry. Nagini will become strong enough to devour whoever master is training to defeat," Nagini responded as she watched me write down spells and I had to hold back a laugh and responded earnestly. "Thank you, Nagini, we will get stronger together then". Her words brought me to a moment of consideration. From what little I knew of Tamaraneans, their physical strength could, with hard work, experimentation, and rigorous training, rival the average Kryptonian. Yet with each training session with Clark, my strength quickly adapted to his naturally growing power level and overcame him, albeit with some effort. I couldn't tell if it was one of the enhancements to my race that Lucifer had done for me or if it was my Homo Magi lineage helping me adapt and overcome. Either way, I was sure of one thing: my Tamaranean power belonged to at least the upper echelon of physical prowess.

Turning my attention to the lovely grimoire, I started writing down spells once again. Next to every spell, I wrote its effects, parameters, and a brief description to help me better visualize them. I had to resist writing down my favorite 'cool' spells, as something told me that if I spent all my mana on them, I'd be in trouble. Still, that didn't stop me from adding some specific lower-level spells that would do some serious damage to start off with and would only grow stronger the more proficient I became in casting them.

I decided I wanted to try some of them out, so I flew out of my bedroom window with Nagini wrapped around my arm. A few minutes of flight later, I found an open field where there was no one or nothing for miles. I landed and took out my grimoire, which I brought along to record my findings.

My speed, though unimaginable to humans, would still fall short of Clark's sometimes. So, I decided the first spell I would experiment with would be 'Etsah,' or haste. I began to run, noting that the spell had given me nearly a twenty percent boost for the duration of a minute. I recorded this in the grimoire.

Next, I cast 'Retslob,' or bolster, and noted that it enhanced my strength to the same parameters as haste did for my speed. However, when I cast it, my haste buff fizzled out.

I continued experimenting with some spells like this for a few minutes before switching to one of my favorite spells, the one I could repeatedly cast without too much mana drain. I found a sturdy-looking tree and prepared myself. 'Tsalb hctirdle,' I chanted the Eldritch Blast spell, willing it to manifest as I visualized it in my mind and simultaneously pushed my mana to fuel it. Did I have to hold my Grimoire in my left arm and extend my right toward the tree? Not really. Did it make me feel like a badass mage acolyte? Hehehe. Needless to say, the speed, accuracy, power, and visual impact of the spell were breathtaking. Three green and black energy bolts tore through the night and rocketed toward the tree. In an instant, the area impacted by the spell disintegrated, and the tree came tumbling down.

The power of Eldritch Blast felt like I had combined my Stellar Energy Vision and Starbolt Projection, amping their output to 125%. As I considered my mana reserves, I was glad to find that I could continuously cast it twenty times before my mana levels would be lowered to a fifth of my reserve, if my guesstimation was correct.

"I want to show Master my prowess," Nagini hissed from my neck, and I nodded. I could feel the wind mobilizing as it lifted Nagini from my neck, and soon, Nagini flew at breakneck speed toward the fallen tree. Her body transformed into pure, crackling energy, and she twisted in the air as she approached her target. With her tail, she struck it like a whip, creating a deafening boom that reverberated through the empty field as if lightning had struck the spot. The part of the tree she had attacked was bisected, and the scent of ozone and burning wood filled the air. I sighed and summoned Nagini back, flying away from the scene, just in case the sounds we made had alerted someone to come and check out the commotion.

"That was very impressive, Nagini," I said telepathically as I soared into the night.

The next morning, the atmosphere between Dad, Clark, and me was a bit tense. Clark had taken my words to heart and applied for tryouts later today, and Dad wasn't happy with his decision, as well as the call about me being 'hostile and threatening' to one of the teachers at school. It wasn't the first argument between Dad and Clark, though they were few and far between thanks to my influence. But they weren't used to me not mediating and outright ignoring them. For a second, I was reminded of awkward meals with my adoptive mother from my previous life, and it made the breakfast I was having taste stale and unappetizing. Mom and Zatanna noticed my agitation as concern towards me bloomed like a weighted blanket over me.

"Master does not like awkward silences?" Nagini asked in my mind.

"I'm okay with awkward silences, as I know how they could serve to my advantage at times, especially if I keep a cool head. What I am not okay with is my family making a big deal out of petty squabbles," I responded telepathically.

"I need to go to Metropolis for a recording session today. Mom, Zatanna, and Zachary, do you guys want to come along? We can make a day of it," I suggested, and I saw both Zatanna and Zachary brighten at the idea. Mom also seemed happy with it. She had been there in the recording studio since day one and hadn't stopped accompanying me since. Clark had also joined us a few times, but Dad hated the city, the atmosphere, and the people, refusing to come along, and I respected his decision.

After breakfast, I got dressed following a cold shower to clear my thoughts. My clothes were neat and more city-appropriate than this town was used to. Mom was driving my baby since nowhere other than Smallville allowed fourteen-year-olds to drive. Luckily or unluckily, depending on how you look at it, I wasn't so popular to be instantly recognized, surrounded, and accosted by paparazzi just yet.

So we reached and entered the studio unhindered, although our little group turned quite a few heads for a second and third look. For a few hours, I completely lost myself in the music, shutting out everything around me. Nagini, as well as everyone on the other side of the glass, kept quiet as I seamlessly hit every note, put just the right amount of emotion into every lyric, and abandoned every worry I had with each intentional rasp. It was both therapeutic and invigorating. By the time I snapped out of it, I was gasping for breath, not out of exhaustion but due to the release of emotions I hadn't realized I'd been keeping pent up. I looked out of the booth to see everyone standing and staring through the glass. I gave my best smile and walked into the room.

"How'd I do?" I asked no one in particular. Mom tackled me into a hug. "Honey, that was incredible!" She said with watery eyes. Zachary and Zatanna looked ready to burst with excitement, and Lex was...

"Lex? What are you doing here?" I asked genuinely confused. Lex looked nonchalant as always, but I empathically sensed his embarrassment.

"I was dropping off some documents at LuthorCorp and was informed of your recording session happening today. I thought I'd see it in person, and it truly was incredible Percy," he answered.

"I see, well, I'm glad you could see it." We talked for a while before Lex excused himself, explaining that he had a meeting that he delayed to come and watch the recording.

After we separated from Lex, we left the studio and made our way to the mall to shop around and get some food. As I entered the mall, I took a moment to compare it to the small family-owned businesses in Smallville. The comparison made me feel like I'd transcended space and time and entered another, far more advanced civilization. It was massive, full of activity, and had more stores than I cared to count.

Zachary showed no interest in shopping, so I gave him some cash, and he rocketed toward the arcade. Mom, Zatanna, and I strolled through the stores, and soon, I became a modeling dummy for the two as they piled the clothes they wanted to see me in. The two of them also tried on a variety of clothes. Mom found a cute summer dress she wanted, but its size was too large, so she wandered off to ask an employee for one that would suit her figure. Zatanna walked into one of the changing rooms to try out her selection. A minute of waiting later, she called out from inside, "Percy, I kinda need your help in here."

Smiling wryly, I entered the changing room to a rather steamy scene and waited for her explanation as I admired her form. She turned to me in a state of mild undress. "The zipper snagged my bra; can you untangle it, please?" she asked coyly.

I had two options here. I could ignore the fact that she was the daughter of the greatest escape artist in the world. I could ignore the fact that she could change her clothes with a spell, or that even if she didn't know such a spell, telekinesis came as naturally as breathing to Homo Magi. Or I could remind her of all of those things and leave respectfully. So naturally, being the perfect gentleman that I am, I helped the lady with her tragic wardrobe malfunction. Purely coincidence, completely platonic, I thought to myself as I did.

"This one wants to mate with Master," Nagini hissed in my mind.

"Yes, I know, Nagini. Now be quiet!" I replied telepathically.

Instead of allowing me to leave the changing room after I'd unstuck the zipper, Zatanna, in a bold move, sat me down on the bench as she began to try on different clothes. I watched with a poker face, but I could feel my face, as well as other areas, heating up at the enchanting sight before me. Zatanna was like a work of art, her graceful hourglass figure enticing, and her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine from time to time, making me glad I was sitting and not standing, as I knew they would draw me in with every look. I sent a silent prayer to Lucifer to give me strength not to pounce, though something told me he wouldn't be the best person to pray to for that specific request.

Soon, we heard a knock on the door, and she hastily put on her clothes again, her cheeks tinted with red. We made our way out to find Mom giving us a knowing smile. "I, we, it's not—" we both spoke simultaneously, struggling to come up with an explanation.

"Keep an eye on my bags while I try this on," she said, waving the summer dress excitedly before marching past us and into the changing room. We were silent for a moment before Zatanna broke the silence. "Your mom is kind of a badass," she remarked, and I grinned in agreement. "She is, isn't she?"

We went to the register and checked out, with the cashier, who was a couple of years older than me, giving me the 'come fuck me' eyes, attempting to delay our departure. Having no interest in making small talk with her, I wrapped my arm around Zatanna's waist. "What happened to those shorts you liked, babe?" I asked her, and she played along. "They looked too average and cheap," she replied, giving the cashier a dirty look. The cashier snapped out of it and finished our transaction. As we left, I whispered a "sorry about that and also thanks for playing along" to Zatanna, and she simply nodded.

Mom huffed, "I can't believe people are so licentious here."

I laughed, "It happens in Smallville too, Mom. They just know you'd go into momma bear mode and tear into them if they acted the way she did, haha," I replied.

We walked around for a while longer, and I bought a few souvenirs before we regrouped with Zachary for food. Mom drove us home, the entire group having had a satisfying excursion and meal.

As soon as I set the bags down at home, Dad opened the door, having just returned from giving Clark the stink eye for trying out for the team, no doubt. "Dad? Where is Clark?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Still at tryouts," he grumbled.

"Dad, I'm not too happy with Clark right now either, but he still needs our support," I said, making my way out.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"One of us has to be there for him," I replied, and I shut the door.

I got to school to see Clark demolishing some noobs on the field while Pete and Chloe were cheering him on. "You show 'em, lil bro!!!" I shouted as I took a seat next to Chloe. He turned to me with his goofy grin, and I waved him on. Chloe and Pete eyed me quizzically.

"I thought you hated football?" Chloe asked.

"Hate is a strong word. I don't like football. What I hate is not supporting my brother because of a stupid quarrel and a moment of anger," I said as we watched the tryouts continue. Pete was already on the team, having tried out earlier in the week, but as a bench warmer, he wasn't on the field testing the new applicants.

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Vote here for the girls

Zatanna:

Wonder Woman:

Super Girl:

Raven:

Starfire:

Mera:

Black Canary:

Circe:

Poison Ivy:

Killer frost:

Harley Quinn:

Talia al Ghul:

Someone else:

*Please don't say all of the above... It would be very difficult... I'd need a tonne of motivation*

For the most ridiculous of you...

Nagini: