One of Two

“So, finances…” Doctor Benjamin Maddox Beaux begins.

“Not a problem,” Fantasia Blackheart shrugs, “I plan to fund everything. I figure we start with million dollar monthly salaries, and a hundred million for capital funds to get our headquarters and vehicles together.”

The doctor raises an eyebrow, “I know the Blackhearts are rich, but don't stress your finances too hard…”

The witch pauses, thinking, ‘complete honesty is required with this guy… ugh,’ and speaks up, “I literally can't. Here…” she takes off a glove, rolls up her sleeve, and sticks her hand around behind a chair, then brings it back into view holding a Roman Aureus, a coin made of solid gold. She sets it down on the desk, and reaches back behind the chair again, making sure JUST her hand is out of sight, and does the same, producing a bank strap of five hundred euro notes, leaving it on the doctor's desk. She then reaches back again, and pulls out a bank strap of British fifty pound notes, also leaving it on the desk.

As she reaches back again, Benjamin stops her, “So you can make limitless cash?”

“It's part of the bad deal. As long as it's money, I have as much as I want.” The witch shrugs, “...as long as nobody's looking directly. If I write a check, it cashes without issue. If I run a debit card through a machine, the attached account has more than enough, and the payment goes through.”

The doctor takes a deep breath, “...and this applies to your entire family?”

“I'm pretty sure my family is responsible for about one hundredth of one percent of the current global inflation rate, yes,” the good witch confirms, “please don't spread it around, but money is a complete non-issue.”

“You clearly understand the problem with infinite money," Benjamin nods, “OK. Please don't **** it too badly.”

“I'll try to restrain myself,” Fantasia chuckles, “but with currency in circulation valued at over a hundred trillion US globally, a few hundred million a year isn't that big of an issue: There's not that many Blackhearts, and we're spread out.”

“Fine. I'll let you place the calls,” Dr. Beaux nods, “Your project, after all.”

The witch pulls her cell phone out of her jacket pocket as she nods, and dials. After a few rings, a woman picks up, “Dr. Jessica Hernandez speaking.”

“Ah, Jurassica,” Fantasia smiles, “My name's Fantasia, I am funding a super team, and you're one of the people on the short list. Your salary would be a million a month.”

“A full time job offer, then…” the woman on the other end considers. “Who else would be on this team, and where is the base of operations?”

“The plan is to construct a base in Wyoming, we have a big budget to work with. Currently we have Werhure, who has yet to make her debut, and Doctor Bimbo. I am planning to stick my own neck out as well.”

“Doctor Bimbo? He's risky, but at least well-established,” the woman considers, “.a complete newbie for the second? Hmm… I suppose everyone has to start somewhere… and what's your full name? ‘Fantasia’ alone doesn't tell me much.”

The witch cringes, “Fantasia Blackheart, at your…” she trails off, because the line simply disconnects abruptly.

“We may need some rebranding for you,” the good doctor chuckles at the obvious conclusion to the call. “But at least we already can meet the minimum, and there's another name on the short list.”

“I am aware I come with some baggage,” Fantasia takes a deep breath, and dials the other number… which goes to voice mail.

So the Blackheart leaves a message, “Hello Irene, this is Fantasia, I have a job offer for you at a million a month on a super team. Please call me back at…” she rattles off a number, “we're looking forward to working with you.”

“So we just need to wait a bit, then…” Benjamin nods.

“Yes… and probably contact your…” the good witch pauses, “ward?”

“Oh, she's in the mediation room, just off the tea room,” the doctor shrugs.

“You have a meditation room to go with the tea room?” The witch raises her eyebrows. “Why both?”

“Oh, well….” Benjamin's reply is cut off by Fantasia's phone ringing.

The witch holds up a hand as she answers, glancing briefly at the caller ID, “Hi Irene, thank you for calling me back so quickly.”

“A job offer at that rate is worth taking my break early for a personal call,” the LA woman responds, “but like, what's the catch?”

“Depends on how you define catch…” Ms. Blackheart chuckles. “It's a brand new team. You'd be working with Dr. Benjamin Maddox Beaux, another new hero going by Werhure, and myself.”

“Sounds okay…” the woman on the other end of the line pauses, “What's your hero name?”

‘And this is where it all falls apart again…’ the white sheep of the Blackheart family thinks, “I don't mask up. I go by my name, Fantasia Blackheart.”

There's a long pause before the Iron Fox replies, “and I'm not like, selling my soul or anything? I can totally quit whenever I decide it's not working out, no harm no foul?”

“That's correct, Ms. Fox,” Fantasia confirms, “I have no desire to trap you.”

“Okay, I'm in. Like, where should we meet you?” The line pipes back.

‘We?’ Fantasia thinks as she rattles off the doctor's office address.

“Got it,” the woman confirms, “I'll be over in… like an hour, I think? Talk to you soon.”

“Sounds good,” Ms. Blackheart replies on autopilot as the line disconnects, a confused look on her face. The woman turns to Dr. Bimbo, “Are you sure you haven't touched this woman with your power?”

“I have never heard of her,” the doctor confirms, “why do you ask?”

“Because she sounded a lot like your nurses, and is a busty blonde woman already,” the good witch shrugs, “she doesn't sound like any supergenius I've ever met. They're always rambling on about how smart they are and what new principles of science they've uncovered… and she was worried about being at work?” ‘I really need to see if the background check results are back,’ the woman makes a mental note.

“That's different… it's usually pretty simple to get by when you have superpowers,” Dr. Beaux frowns, “Well… we'll know once she's here. In the meanwhile, I should probably introduce you to Werhure…”