Character Interview: Grayson Black

A spotlight shines on a stage with Nicholas Wiseman, this time wearing a black-and-white formal suit. He reclines on in one of two cushioned chairs, a microphone is clutched in his hand.

In the other chair sits Grayson Black, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. In contrast to Nick’s formal garb, Gray wears a pair of jeans and his usual motorcycle jacket.

Nick: Hello, hello! Welcome to the third ever Unity Spotlight. I’m your host, Nicholas Wiseman, and our underdressed subject today is the one and only Grayson Wacker Black.

Gray sighs. Then, like a light switch being flipped to “on,” he sits up straight in his chair and shoots the audience with his trademark charming smile.

Gray: Thanks for the introduction, Nick! Unfortunately, not all of us look so elegant in caterer chic. I went for comfort.

He gestures with a self-deprecating grin to his casual attire, then stares pointedly at Nick’s bowtie.

Nick laughs.

Nick: I look like I work on a cruise ship, right?

Gray: A very classy cruise ship.

Nick: Yeah, Salome picked it.

Sally’s voice echoes from behind the stage curtain.

Sally: There will be no more sequined vests on my show!

Gray: The lady has a point. You looked like a blackjack dealer during the last two interviews.

Nick: Caterer is a step up, then. At least the job includes travel.

Gray: Some cruise ships have casinos.

Nick: True enough. Now, lets get to the questions, because there are some juicy ones.

Gray, deadpan: Joy.

Nick: Since I can’t help but notice that you’re wearing your bike jacket instead of a super sexy suit like moi, let’s get to one of the reader questions: Why drive a motorcycle? Aren’t you usually the cautious type?

Gray: I don’t see the correlation.

Nick, to the camera: He doesn’t connect the dots, because he’s invulnerable. To answer your question, Meggers, the usual crashes that motorcyclists have doesn’t pose a threat to the Great and Powerful Fortitude.

Gray rolls his eyes.

Nick: He’s telekinetic, right? It’s like having a permanent forcefield of protection around his body. He can even—

Gray: We’re not talking about that here.

Nick: Fine. I’m going to combine a few reader questions. What was your first impression of me, and what drew you to becoming my friend?

Gray: That’s a tricky one.

Nick: It shouldn’t be. Obviously your first impression was that I was equal parts handsome and awesome, and you wanted to be my friend because of my devastating charisma.

Gray: Not quite.

Nick: Admittedly, I paraphrased.

Gray: My first impression of you was that you were lonely.

Nick’s smile falters. He opens his mouth to speak, but Gray holds out a silencing finger.

Gray: I saw you interacting with the rest of the team on my first day. Everyone clearly loved you.

Nick: I’m very lovable.

Gray: But you never stopped smiling. Not once, during our first ten-hour shift together, did your smile once falter. That’s how I knew that it was fake.

Nick: Wait, so that’s why you wanted to be my friend? Is this a pity friendship?

Gray: Of course not. You’re also an amazing chef, and I can’t cook.

Nick, sarcastically: I feel so loved.

Gray: You’re also the most compassionate and generous human being I’ve ever met.

Nick attempts to look like he’s not on the verge of tearing up, covering his sniffle with a cough.

Nick: Back at you, man.

Gray: You can also be a huge dumbass, but no one’s perfect.

Nick: Annnnd the moment is ruined. New question, now that we’ve established that I’m awesome: How do you feel about A. Kim? (The A. is short for ‘Asshole’, right?)

Gray: You know that it’s not. Kim is smart—they see more than most other people, and that isolates them. They’re kind of like you that way.

Nick: Exceedingly intelligent?

Gray: Lonely.

Nick glances down at his stack of question cards, disconcerted.

Nick: Yeah, uh, that’s not . . . it’s . . .

He clears his throat.

Nick:In a similar vein, how do you feel about the way Asshole Kim continues to sadistically antagonize your best friend?

Gray: I think my best friend needs to realize that it’s okay if he’s not perfect. Kim being assigned as UCRT’s MIV wasn’t a personal attack, Nick. We were in our early twenties.

Nick: That’s not why . . .

Nick frantically flips through the question cards until he finds one that makes him smile wickedly.

Nick: So, Gray, remember that list that Buzzer did a few years back? “The Top 20 Ments We Wish Would Save Us from a Fire?”

Gray, groaning: I remember.

Nick, flexing his bicep: On which I placed second, by the way.

Gray, to the audience: He had a copy pinned over his desk at work.

Nick: Before my desk blew up, at least. I’ll need to reprint that—thanks for the reminder. Anyway, the question is: do you secretly feel a teeny-tiny bit proud that you ranked #1?

Gray, vehemently: Fuck, no.

Gray looks embarrassed. He scratches at his scar, but manages to smile confidently at the audience.

Gray: I mean, no. Not at all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always happy when people recognize UCRT’s efforts. I just don’t really see what, uh . . .

Nick, quoting: Your “Looks of gold and abs of steel?”

Gray: Uh, yeah. I don’t see what that has to do with my work. You know?

Nick, once again flexing: Not really. But then again, your fan club is a little more . . . dedicated than mine.

Gray: That’s one way to describe it.

Nick: Which brings me to our next question. Any horror stories that you can to share about rabid fans?

Gray: I’m not sure that it would be appropriate. A temporary lapse of judgement shouldn’t define someone’s entire li—

Nick, interrupting: Gray has around eighty restraining orders.

Gray: Only sixty-three.

Nick: Sixty-three in Chicago alone. His popularity is on another level in the UK. It’s one of the reasons that he took the transfer to the USA—he came back to his penthouse to find this girl already sleeping in his bed, like she was freaking Goldilocks.

Gray: She wasn’t why I left.

Nick: Not the only reason, sure. There’s also your weird family stuff.

Gray: Yeah.

Nick: Which I promised not to talk about.

Gray: Yeah.

Nick: So, we won’t. Although your mom is great!

Gray: She’s fantastic, and definitely whom I miss most from London.

Nick: Which is ironic, because Mrs. Wacker-Black is born American. Is there anything else you miss about England?

Gray, laughing: Not having an accent!

Nick: Explain.

Gray: The weirdest thing about moving to Chicago was how everyone suddenly started asking me to say random words, like “aluminum” and “schedule.” And then they’d giggle like mad when I did. No one does that back home.

Nick: Because most people there have a British accent of their own.

Gray: Rather, they don’t have an American accent.

Nick, shrugging: You say potato, I say French fry. But that’s really all you miss about the UK? Not the food or anything?

Gray: I’ve yet to find a place here that makes a decent Scotch egg. But no, I’m not particularly nostalgic for British cuisine. Except maybe fish and chips? Americans don’t serve it with vinegar.

Nick: Because why would anyone want to dip their French fries in vinegar? Anyhow, I know that there’s a few things about the USA that you prefer over England. Like the tea.

Gray: Okay, Arizona Iced Tea isn’t really tea. We need to acknowledge that before continuing this discussion.

Nick: It’s definitely tea.

Gray: No, it isn’t.

Nick: Which do you like better? A cup of brewed Earl Grey . . . or Arizona Iced?

Gray: You can’t compare the two, because Arizona Iced isn’t tea.

Nick: “Tea” is literally in the name.

Gray: But it’s not even hot.

Nick: Pick. A. Tea.

Gray mumbles something indiscernible. Nick leans forward, cupping his ear.

Nick: A little louder, for those in the back row.

Grayson, defeated: I like Arizona Iced Tea better.

Nick pretends that his hand is ringing, making his own “briiinnng-briinng” sounds. He raises his hand to his mouth, pretending to answer the phone.

Nick: Hello, British Consulate? . . . Uh-huh. Yup . . . No, I completely understand . . . I’ll let him know.

Nick hangs up his hand and gazes at Gray seriously.

Nick: Your British citizenship has been revoked. Gray, I’m so sorry.

Gray, chuckling: You’re an arse.

Nick: According to Buzzer, I’m the owner of the Number-one Ment arse in the American Midwest.

Gray: Just in the Midwest?

Nick: The leader of Unity’s local New York team used to compete in swimsuit competitions.

Gray: Hard to compete with that.

Gray’s brow furrows with thought.

Gray: Wait, isn’t that Tamira? Didn’t you two used to date before she transferred to New York?

Nick: I mean, Buzzer was right. Her butt was nicer than mine, and I don’t admit that easily. But enough about my dating life—this is your interview!

Gray, wincing: I see where this is headed.

Nick: And here I thought that Salome was the only precog in Chicago! Tell me, been on any good dates lately?

Nick leans forward, all of a sudden extremely interested in Gray’s answers.

Gray: I date.

Nick: That doesn’t answer the question. What was the last good date you went on?

Gray: I went out for drinks with someone a few weeks ago.

Nick: And what was their name?

Gray: . . . I don’t remember. They insisted on calling me “Fortitude” the entire time.

Nick: Sounds like true love.

Gray, defensively: There’s nothing wrong with focusing on my career right now.

Nick: No, of course not.

Nick leans even further forward, the cards in his hands forgotten.

Nick: What do you look for in a partner?

Gray: Is this is a reader’s question, or . . . ?

Nick: Just answer the question, Grayson. What do you find most attractive in a romantic partner? Eyes? Their smile? That they come with an amazing brother-in-law?

Gray: What?

Nick: What?

Gray looks confused. Nick tries, and fails, to look innocent.

Gray: . . . I’m drawn to a good heart. That’s probably not the most exciting answer. But someone who cares deeply for others . . . that’s the kind of person I’d look for.

Nick: What if they’re constantly telling jokes? Or brooding? Or acting all cocky but secretly worried about their inner flaws?

Gray: It’s more about finding someone with shared values.

Nick: Cool. Very cool. The coolest. What about Button?

Gray: What?

Nick: What?

Gray, faintly blushing: Maybe we should move on to the next question. I think I saw one about Jeopardy in your stack?

Nick: Fine. We’ll talk later over beers.

Gray’s eyes dart longingly to the emergency exit.

Gray: Sure.

Nick: Alright, so here’s the Jeopardy question: Who’s your favorite competitor from the GOAT Tournament - Ken, James, or Brad?

Nick frowns at the question card.

Nick: Who are these people? Why are they all named after Barbie’s boyfriends?

Gray: They’re some of Jeopardy’s strongest competitors. But to answer the question, my favorite competitor is actually Alice Li—she beat Ken’s record in 2026.

Nick: It’s like you’re speaking another language, and that language is “Nerd.”

Gray, ignoring Nick: My mom’s favorite is James, though. She’s the one who introduced me to the show.

Nick: Didn’t she introduce you to ABBA as well?

Gray: She did.

Nick: And what would you say is your favorite ABBA song?

Gray: The Visitors. It’s not the most well-known, but it resonates with me.

Nick, looking directly into the camera: Psychoanalyze away, folks.

He turns back to Gray.

Nick: Most people don’t realize you like ABBA and Jeopardy, but there’s another fandom you’re a part of: Disney.

Gray: “Fandom” seems like such a strong word.

Nick: Dude. You know the entire score to Beauty and The Beast.

Gray: Yeah, well, it’s a good score.

Nick: And to The Little Mermaid. And to Hercules. And—

Gray: The audience gets it.

Nick: The reader question is: Why Disney? What about it appeals to you?

Gray: Other than the music being great?

Nick: Other than that.

Gray: I like . . . I don’t know, I guess I like how simple things are in Disney movies. The real word isn’t simple. Bad guys aren’t like Cruella De Vil or Jafar, because real people are never totally evil.

Nick: But it’s still UCRT’s job to fight them.

Gray: If someone is abusing their Ment powers and doing something that hurts others, then yes. It’s our job to stop that. But things are simpler, easier in Disney movies, because they’re escapism.

Nick: Bad guys get defeated without any of the guilt.

Gray: Precisely.

Nick: Which leads into our final question for today: What’s the hardest part about being in UCRT?

Gray: You know.

Nick: I do. They don’t.

Gray sighs.

Gray: You grow up thinking “I’m going to save people.” Because you’re superpowered, and you’re also that kid who always volunteers to hand back homework because you genuinely like helping the teacher.

Nick: You were an adorable child.

Gray: But then you grow up and start to save people, and you realize in order to save people, you need to stop other people. And stopping those people can be . . .

Nick: Messy?

Gray: Intense. That’s the hardest part about being in UCRT, for me. Not the saving, but the stopping.

The two both fall silent, a somber mood settling over the stage.

Nick clears his throat and smiles a little too brightly.

Nick: That’s all we have time for today, unfortunately! This is Nick Wiseman, owner of the second-greatest Ment ass in America, wishing you farewell and to have a marvelous April!

The lights dim, and the stage is enshrouded in total blackness. Nick’s whisper breaks through the dark.

Nick: Ready for that beer?

Gray: Sure. But I’m still not answering those questions from earlier.

Nick: That’s what you always say.

Gray: I mean it.

Nick: You always mean it, until halfway through the third beer. When are you finally going to tell Button that—

The audio cuts off.