Colors Burst Chapter 2 Begins Mar 26

[Excerpt from a larger piece featured in Acme Today. Interview conducted by staff writer Lori Hagen.]

Lori Hagen: Welcome to Acme Today! We are delighted to be the first publication to snag an interview with the Lancer Association's newest member. Hello, Wildstyle!

Wildstyle: Hiii! I am so, so glad to be here, thanks so much for having me! I started getting all these interview requests after I joined the Lancers, and it's been SO wild. Oh, ha—pun not intended.

Hagen: Well, more is in store, I assure you—life of a public figure and all that. Should we jump right into it?

Wildstyle: Absolutely.

Hagen: Tell me about joining the Lancer Association.

Wildstyle: Oh, fun! Yeah, so—you know the whole toy thing that happened recently, right? It's been all over the news.

Hagen: I do keep up with the news, yes.

Wildstyle: Aha, of course! Sorry, of course you do. So after it all went down, I ended up back in my art studio with a bunch of the Lancers. And I didn't really pay attention to them at first? Cuz I was busy painting. But then this super charismatic guy comes over and starts talking about the glunite in my paint.

Hagen: You must mean Broker.

Wildstyle: Yeah! So like, he's telling me how my paint is special and a bunch of other stuff I was only half listening to, but then he says he has an offer for me. I thought he wanted to buy one of my murals!

Hagen: He didn't, of course.

Wildstyle: Nope! Instead he just invites me to join the Lancer Association! And, y'know, it just—it felt so natural. There was this instant connection. Especially with this one girl, Kate? OH-EM-GEE. Besties at first sight. She's a total inspiration.

Hagen: "Oh-em-gee" is...quite a way to put it. But expand: what do you find inspiring about her?

Wildstyle: Oh, like everything! She has the BEST style, it's SO punk. We even have the same colored highlights in our hair!

Hagen: That's...a very surface-level answer.

Wildstyle: Well it's not JUST that. Kate's a total individual, like...she follows her own path and she isn't afraid of standing out. She stands her ground and she always speaks her mind. I love her confidence—honestly, I want to be JUST like her! Oh, oh! And also? I think she has a soft spot for kids and it is SO sweet!

Hagen: I can see why you like her. What about her—does she share your sense of "besties at first sight"?

Wildstyle: Oh, not yet, but we're getting there! Kate has this tough girl act where she pretends to give me the cold shoulder, but it's only cuz we just met. She'll warm up soon.

Hagen: Pretending, of course. I'm sure. Ahem. If you don't mind me doubling back, I did want to ask a more poignant question regarding your new membership in the Lancer Association. What do you think of the work they do?

Wildstyle: It's super important and I'm really proud I get to be a part of it now!

Hagen: You're not a fighter though. Doesn't that frighten you?

Wildstyle: I mean, I haven't really thought about the whole fighting aspect much, at least not yet. Right now it's all fresh and exciting! I'm gonna be able to paint in SO many new places!

Hagen: That's a very...optimistic way of looking at it. Some might even say naive.

Wildstyle: I'm sure it will all work out!

Hagen: Well, what about your family? Do they approve of you joining the Lancers?

Wildstyle: Uhm, I'd rather not discuss them.

Hagen: Why not? The Lov—

Wildstyle: Ugh, please don't. This interview's supposed to be about me, isn't it? Not my parents. My Lancer work is totally separate from...all that, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. Ask me something else!

Hagen: Well, alright. Tell me about your art. Why graffiti?

Wildstyle: This might sound weird, but...it just called to me. Graffiti speaks to me in such a special way. It brings color to my life—literally! I guess it was like meeting a soulmate…but for hobbies, y'know?

Hagen: That's a very strong way to put it! It's definitely not an art form many people expect from someone with your background. Like learning a senator makes crop circles in their free time.

Wildstyle: Oh my gosh, that's hilarious.

Hagen: What about subject matter—is there a theme you keep coming back to?

Wildstyle: Hmm. Maybe bunnies? I don't really think about my themes. I kind of just take a spray can and go for it, and I let it guide me. Sometimes even I'm surprised by the results!

Hagen: That sounds like a very fluid process. Do you ever run into any creative blocks?

Wildstyle: Actually, yeah, I do. That's why the whole recent toy thing happened! One second, I'm struggling to even start a piece, then, boom! Mysterious package filled with toys. They rekindled my creativity! But things got a little out of hand, as you know.

Hagen: That's putting it lightly! And you really don't have any idea where that package came from?

Wildstyle: Kepler, apparently. But no, I have no idea how they got to me specifically. I have some theories, but...I don't wanna say anything in case I'm wrong.

Hagen: Well, that provides a lovely segue into my next question! You're now a Lancer, but you are also an artist. How do you plan to balance those facets of your life—both ostensibly work—with everything else?

Wildstyle: Ooh, that's a toughie. I mean, it's gonna be hard, right? But it's totally doable. My art teacher does it! He has a day job and he's a Lancer AND he's an artist. And if he can balance all three, so can I.

Hagen: Your art teacher is a Lancer? Do tell.

Wildstyle: Oh, yeah, totally. His name is Axon and he's really awesome! Without him, I don't even think I'd be here. Not like, here here, but without his mentorship I would have never stuck to art, which means I never would have painted the toys, which means I never would have joined the Lancers. Seriously, he's a lifesaver.

Hagen: Axon? Isn't he a security guard for Kepler?

Wildstyle: Maybe! I know he works for Kepler, I don't know what he does though. We mostly just talk about art.

Hagen: Interesting... You know, Kepler has been the subject of quite a bit of controversy recently. Do you feel conflicted over your association with one of their employees?

Wildstyle: Oh, I don't think that's fair. Axon has been nothing but kind to me in the time I've known him. I don't really know much about Kepler.

Hagen: So you don't feel conflicted?

Wildstyle: I mean, I don't know a whole lot about those controversies. I just know Axon. So...no. I don't feel conflicted. Should I?

Hagen: Oh, please... You're a professional now. You can't stay blind to the numerous political factors at play here.

Wildstyle: Uh...what do you mean?

Hagen: You don't want to talk about your family, but that name carries weight. And you're a Lancer now—which means you represent Acme in the greater Shardverse. You can hide behind a pseudonym and try to separate your personal life from your work, claim ignorance to Kepler's reputation, but isn't that grossly irresponsible?

Wildstyle: Hey! That's not—

Hagen: People will ask questions, Miss Lovelock. People will interrogate everything you do and everyone you know. You may claim innocence now, but what happens when rumors spread that the Lovelocks are funding Kepler? That the recent disasters in Acme were all coordinated between the Lancer Association and Kepler to conduct experiments on the public? What will you say when people accuse you of being a plant for Kepler's public image?

Wildstyle: This feels like an attack!

Hagen: I am not making accusations; I'm presenting possible realities, some more likely than others. You should probably start thinking about these things. What would you say, if someone confronted you with any of those rumors?

Wildstyle: I would deny them! None of those are true!

Hagen: And if they demanded proof?

Wildstyle: I...

Hagen: Miss?

Wildstyle: I...don't know.

Hagen: I see. Let’s have a word from one of our sponsors.