Literature
Hero, Villain, and the Rest
INT. GREAT HALL – DAY
The Great Hall hums with tension. Diplomats and politicians gather in clusters, waiting for the Tournament to begin. The Umgadi stand guard at each exit. Tall, rigid, silent.
Among them, ASTRID stands out. She’s more at ease than the others, posture looser, eyes wandering.
Across the hall, JOHNNY CAGE notices. Intrigued, he breaks from his group — KUNG LAO, RAIDEN, KENSHI, LIU KANG — and strides toward her.
JOHNNY
You look way more relaxed than the other Umgadi here. Something tells me you’re distracted.
Astrid glances at Johnny, momentarily caught off guard, then shifts her attention warily to SHAO, standing with arms crossed, position set, scanning the Earthrealm delegates with sharp, calculating precision.
ASTRID
What do you mean? Distracted?
JOHNNY
It just looks like something’s caught your eye—
Astrid opens her mouth, flustered, but Johnny keeps going.
JOHNNY
Figured maybe it was my good looks and influential reputation!
Astrid exhales, her gaze
