[Voice/Action]

[selfhelp]

[Today is a good day for serious business, apparently. There's a certain something he's been putting off for a while, and after one-too-many dreams interrupting his sleep, he's had enough: this morning when Billy wakes up, the first thing he does is jot out a note in the journal-]

[Private to Ben Grimm]

Hey, would it be okay if I swung by to ask you a few things?

[He'll work through his morning routine until he gets a response, after which he'll go for a visit and get a hell of a lot more than he bargained for.

After that, his mood for the day is drastically altered; he'll skip out on school, trying to sort out his feelings on the matter. Tommy's still AWOL, and he's trying not to worry Teddy, but what he's just been told has really got him thinking- about people, and heroes, and the unfairness of mankind in general. And eventually he'll just go ahead and return to his journal for it. He's kind of in over his head here.]

[Open to All]

I know Luceti's full of heroes- seems kind of a standard trait for most of us, for whatever reason. Back on my world, super-humans aren't that uncommon, and in general they're revered for everything they do for the world. Some of them were born that way, and some of them are from other planets, and some were altered to get their powers, and some have a lot of talent or skill instead of powers. But they're all considered to be super heroes. There's bad guys, too- just as diverse and unique as the heroes they fight. People fear them and celebrate their defeat.

There's another group, though... humans who got their powers because of evolution. It's much more natural, in a lot of ways. Some are heroes, some are villains. Some are just trying to get by without becoming one or the other. But regular humans fear them, and hate them for it, even if they save the world just as much as the heroes they love. They're called criminals or monsters, no matter how innocent they might be.

[He hesitates- it's probably obvious to some, what he's talking about, and he's not sure if he should lock it from the mutant population, or apologize, or something, but it relates to them even if it's not by name. Hiding it wouldn't be right.

In the end he just leaves it be.]

...Sorry for the ramble. But it's not fair, and... I just can't understand why. Why hate one and love the other, when they're basically the same?

Comments

[voice]

[jamesbarnes]

People have got a long history of hating each other for no good reason, and that's without knowing the kid next door can punch through three feet of concrete.

[voice]

[selfhelp]

I know that.

[He's Jewish, he knows plenty.]

Kids with powers are scary, I get that. There's a lack of control and experience that makes it pretty dangerous. But those kids grow up to be adult heroes and they still get the same hate, when they're fighting side by side with people like Captain America.

The hypocrisy of it is kind of sickening.

[snikting]

The world ain't fair, kid. Whoever told you to expect sunshine an' daisies was plannin' on selling you something first. There's no superheroes where I come from. The closest thing we ever had was Cap an' that didn't turn out so well for him.

[selfhelp]

It's not like I was expecting it to be perfect. But if we don't question what's wrong with the world, we're not much better than people who cause it to go sour in the first place.

filtered

[relictusdeus]

[Substituting terms, the situation, at the root of it, is one he's very familiar with.]

Man will act in ways most convenient to them and seek someone to blame for all their ills. As I see it... it feeds their desperate hunger for self-worth by having them feel superior to the condemned.

filtered

[selfhelp]

That... sounds like the case, yeah. Maybe that's why they're so reluctant to change.

[voice]

[250mhzwabl]

[It's a lot to chew over, before giving a response.

First is the implication that the kid from New York City is . . . a hero? Jack has to go back and listen a second time just to be sure his mind isn't playing tricks on him, but no, most of us is right there, so perfectly easy in its delivery that the three little words become a bit uncanny. They're an odd mental backdrop to pondering the next question, even while they put into perspective the troubled tone of the whole message. But even if Jack isn't from a world where things like extraordinary powers actually exist, the question's built on a foundation that he's fairly certain most of their worlds share. Whatever the world of origin, human beings all run on the same hardware.

It's enough to make his normally-light tone somewhat pensive, when he finally picks up his journal to answer.]

Sad as it is to say, I wonder if it's a question of being thought of as actually human. Do you know what I mean?

[voice]

[selfhelp]

[...Ouch. He knows there's a certain degree of truth to what he says, but it still kind of stings to hear it.]

Yeah, I know. They've even got another word to refer to the... species, I guess you could say. It's a classic situation of fearing what you don't understand.

video

[wannabolt]

You know not all heroes here are hue-man, right?

[Huff. Okay, so maybe in his world they are, but juuust a little pet peeve.]

Either way, it's silly to hate somebody just because they've got awesome powers. What're they afraid of? Especially if those people are heroes.

video

[selfhelp]

[...talking pony...

He'd forgotten they were here too. Cue a double-take.]

Uh. I know that- like I said, there's heroes from space, and someone I'm really close to is an alien. It's just that the main problem is about humans being prejudiced.

[Action]

[complicatedliar]

[Something about Billy's tone, and his words, really worries Loki. And he's not certain how he feels about being worried for someone. It's the same issue as on the draft, though in a much less immediate sense.

He's not used to worrying about someone. He isn't certain he likes it. But it also just won't go away. Billy is important to him in his own way, and he can't quite ignore this.

And really, he'd also like to just know what happened.

He uses a mirror to locate Billy, since he doesn't want to just show up when others were around. He also picks up two coffees, since that feels like a nice thing to do. With one final check at the mirror, he uses a doorway to simply step across space and into the kitchen where Billy stands. He doesn't make any effort to hide the use of magic, since that ought to make his appearance a bit less abrupt.]

[Action]

[selfhelp]

[Billy's sitting at the table - more like flopping over it, one arm stretched out and drumming fingers against the surface, the other pillowed beneath his head, and he looks pretty deep in thought, staring off at nothing. He's actually waiting for the kettle to boil so he can make coffee, so when Loki's magic draws him out of his brooding, he sits up, attempting a smile. He's not sure how successful that smile is, but he can't bring himself to care much, either. Today's been too stressful to fake pleasantries.]

Morning. What're you doing here?

[This is Avenger territory, bro, isn't it kind of dangerous?]

[written - private]

[imatreenow]

[That is a good question, isn't it? He's unfamiliar with the concept of superheroes, and only passingly familiar with the concept of mutants, but he can think of the argument in his own terms. Humans, elves, half-elves, angels, summon spirits.]

Those with great power are revered. Those who are different are feared.

Perhaps differences are feared most when they are viewed as deviations or perversions. The super-humans you speak of are celebrated because they have earned their power, or it has been granted to them. If they come from another world, it is easier to accept that that is just how their kind is. They are valued for their power, but they are not thought of as part of humanity.

The second group you describe - they are despised because others believe they should be just like them, but they're not. They are seen as humans with defects instead.

[written - private]

[selfhelp]

That's actually a really good way of summing it up.

[So to speak. If you want to be technical, there's really nothing good about this sort of thing. But there's a definite truth to what he said, that much is certain.]

Seems almost like an uncanny valley situation when you look at it like that.

[ written ]

[touchofrogue]

[Billy. Billy. Why do you do this to her, bro? She's been trying to avoid thinking about the fate of mutants in your world since you let it slip that Scott was leading the X-Men and that you hadn't joined the Institute.

Seriously, bro. Do friends do friends like this?

But as much as Rogue doesn't want to know, she... can't... she just can't let it go. Not when it's obviously bothering him so much.]

At the Dome.

[Come talk to her if you want to.]

[selfhelp]

[...Well. "Want to" isn't really the way he'd put it- the written request feels more like a demand to him. And while he doesn't particularly feel like going out there and getting what he assumes is an interrogation or something, he figures he owes her that much. So he'll be teleporting over there shortly after he gets the message, wandering around in the halls and checking the simulation areas to try and find her.]

[voice]

[not_a_troll]

[Billy you sound awfully down.]

I see that Midgard's sentiments do not differ from those in Asgard. In a most general sense, I mean. It does not apply to my situation at all. After all, my amazing super powers do not lie in evolution.

[And Loki is not quite sure how to undo that...]

Super heroes like Tony Stark and Captain America are self-made-superheroes. They made themselves heroes, they obtained skills through Midgardian technology and horribly failed experiments.

I think this has something to do with the lack of control the authorities have over those who obtain their talents through evolution. Since it is a natural process...

I think.

Right?

I am most right, right?

[voice]

[selfhelp]

[Such is the nature of his life, eh. Still, Loki's response makes him crack a tiny smile.]

I think you are most right, yeah.

[Especially considering the government's efforts to register and regulate the supers- first with the mutant registration, and now with the SRA... it makes an awful lot of sense.]

[voice]

[rashness]

I don't know man, that's messed up.

[Said the son of Satan in the most helpful reply ever]

[voice]

[selfhelp]

Tell me about it.

[Said the soul-son of Mephisto. Sup, bro.]

[Action]

[wildbluevagner]

[After hearing this message, Nightcrawler will be immediately teleporting into Billy's room.]

[Action]

[selfhelp]

[Billy's not expecting any visitors, so he jumps when the BAMFing occurs, leaning back in his spot on the bed and gripping his journal against his chest mid-sentence.]

K-Kurt! You could've warned me!

[rocketpunch]

Hold on, hold on. You're forgetting the best kind of hero. The kind of hero who uses their own hands to build super awesome machines! ...though maybe that's what you meant by a lot of talent, huh.

I understand why, though. People are just afraid of change. That's how it always is, right? [She can relate.]

[selfhelp]

Mmhm- those are the ones with talent. Or they're some kind of genius, either way.

But yeah... fear makes people do some pretty awful things. It's the same all over the place, seems like.

[voice]

[wildkotetsu]

[... It's hard to reply at first, because hero talk has been a sore topic for him lately. He hasn't lived up to expectations--ones placed by himself, by the people he'd left behind back in Sternbild--and it's hurt him more than he'd admit. At the same time... imagining people with powers being looked down on... it's his biggest issue, aside from hurting people.]

When I was little, it was a lot like that... I used to hide my power, and I was alone a lot. But I've noticed that--well, I got older, and I noticed people started being better to us. Think they realized we weren't gonna blow up their houses or something with what we could do.

...

Maybe the more they see the good we can do, the more they'll start to see us as equals. Sometimes it's hard for 'em to believe it without seeing it.

[voice]

[selfhelp]

It takes a long time for that to work... it's been over 70 years, and there's still so much distrust and hate on both sides.

With that kind of history, it must be really hard to be a hero for people who hate what you are.

[It's pretty easy to understand why Magneto did the kind of things he did in the past, even if he doesn't agree with it.]

[Voice]

[z_jay]

Feel like I'm really just the average joe type around here but if you ever need friendly company, me and Jack always have an open door policy. So long as it's not cold outside, that is.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

[Oh geez.

This place really is full of ridiculously nice people, isn't it?]

Ha... thanks. I'm okay though, really- just mostly thinking out loud.

[voice]

[reminded]

Similarities strengthen relationships. In the same way, differences, no matter how superficial, can destroy them. It isn't right, but it is human nature. I'm sorry, lad.

1/2

[selfhelp]

[HOLY CRAP IT'S PROFESSOR LAYTON.]

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy's about on his second cup of coffee by the time Billy gets back. He's sitting on the couch, blearily looking at the fire as if lost in thought and slowly sipping at the drink, until he hears the door open.]

Mm? [He's about to ask where Billy went, but the look on his boyfriend's face makes him pause, switch gears, and instead frown with concern.] Billy? What's wrong?

[action]

[selfhelp]

[Billy remains by the door for a long moment, leaning up against it, his head bowed. He doesn't look upset so much as... well, ridiculously overwhelmed. What he's just been told has thrown him for such an enormous loop that he can't even begin to process it yet. He barely remembers walking back to the apartment from Ben's, he'd been so lost in his own thoughts.

House of M, M-Day, Wanda, Magneto, no more mutants...

There's so much he hadn't known. And now he's not sure if he's better off for it.

Belatedly he realizes that Teddy's waiting for him, so he finally pushes off the door and heads over before he worries his boyfriend too much. He doesn't answer right away, but rather climbs up on the couch beside him, flopping down on his back, and lets his head pillow comfortably on Teddy's lap whether he likes it or not, staring up at the ceiling with an expression somewhere between final-exam-stressed and shellshocked.]

I'm having an existential crisis.

[Yes, again.]

[Voice]

[cynicism]

Your problem's in the way you're phrasing your question.

There's no such thing as "heroes" and "villains". There's just people. And some people are jerks to other people. It's in everyone.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

...That's not true. It's not like I'm saying they're perfect or anything, but heroes definitely exist.

[Video]

[thefinaljedi]

Simple enough, Billy. People are afraid of things that are different. It's the nature of all sentient beings, deep down. It's rooted in our psyche.

[Video]

[selfhelp]

You don't think that's too simple? That's just... it's so depressing.

Voice

[calmbeforethe]

... Hatred, much like love, is a strong emotion. It is easy to get caught up in either one. But most people fear what they do not understand, Billy. Much simpler to lash out in anger, in self-preservation, I suppose. And once that hatred is established, it's a little difficult to get rid of.

Voice

[selfhelp]

Kind of a mob mentality, too, I guess...

I remember growing up, seeing more and more superhumans appearing, and thinking how much I wanted to be one of them. Sometimes I wonder whether or not I'd have felt differently eventually if I hadn't gotten powers too.

[voice]

[heartisabattleground]

[Sora can understand this, if only just a little. He's felt that sting of someone not wanting him around and that was with King Triton. It was only once but it's something he hasn't forgotten.

'The keyblade wielder shatters peace, and brings ruin.'

Still he's not sure how to really answer it except the best way he can think of.]

I dunno. But, no matter what those people think in the end you just gotta do what you think is right. As long as you follow your heart it can't lead you wrong.

Even if they're afraid you just need to show them that there's nothing to be scared of.

Re: [voice]

[selfhelp]

...It can take an awful long time for that kind of thing to work. That's the worst part about it, I think- that being patient and helping out wherever you can doesn't mean that they'll change their minds. Maybe not in my lifetime, or... maybe not ever. There's no guarantees, just a desperate hope.

It seems like it'd be a really frustrating and depressing life.

[Voice]

[asthehawkflies]

[Well, this is heavy stuff. He doesn't feel entirely qualified to talk about it, not when his world is so different in that regard but... Billy is a friend.]

I'm not exactly good at this stuff. I'm not a psychologist or anything but...

Well, simple answer, people can be selfish assholes.

I think, these guys, the super-humans you mentioned, people like Steve and Stark. People who ended up this way because of a serum or radiation or an exceptional, but human level talent... people look at them and see an accident. Something that could happen to them. It's unlikely, almost impossible, but it could happen. And no-one wants to hate something they could end up being.

But the others, people like you, you're born like this. Like, you're becoming something new, something people who aren't born that way can never hope to be.

And it makes it easier to fear and hate something that you can never become.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

[Well. That's a pretty good way of looking at it, too.]

Doesn't really bode well for the future, does it? If hate is so easy, it means that it's that much harder to get over it...

...Working with the Avengers, and being here all this time- have you felt any resentment for people with powers?

[His tone isn't really judging, just morbidly curious. The Hawkeye from back home started on the Avengers team that had mutants on it, but in their world they might not even exist.]

[Private to Billy]

[revoltndevelopment]

Come on over whenever you need. I'm always around.

[action]

[selfhelp]

[Billy doesn't respond, but rather heads over shortly after he gets the message, hesitating in the hall only briefly before knocking on Ben's door. Here goes nothing.]

[voice]

[isgorgeous]

[ Wow, this sounds kind of like the problems Equalists had with benders. It takes him a while to articulate it properly though. ]

Sometimes people are just looking for someone to blame. In my world there's this group called the Equalists and they hated benders because they thought we were abusing our powers.

I guess when people are upset or feeling powerless, they pick a group of people that they think are responsible and put everything on them, even if not everyone in that group's responsible.

[voice]

[selfhelp]

[He'd have offered more or less the same kind of response as the rest, but the terminology is an immediate ping. That sounds like...]

Benders... like Avatar-benders? Are you one of Aang and Korra's friends?

[voice]

[handing]

[Pepper isn't really sure what she should say when she sees this. What's obvious to her is that he's hurting, and even with the other pieces she can put together, that's foremost in Pepper's mind.]

You don't need to apologize. Sometimes people need to ramble.

[Although Billy's put this over the journal, Pepper has to wonder just how comfortable he is talking about it on the network. So after a moment, she asks quietly.]

Do you want to meet somewhere in person to talk? I don't know if I'll be able to give you answers, but I can listen.

[voice]

[selfhelp]

[He hesitates there, because while it's true that she provides a great sympathetic ear, he's not sure he really deserves any sympathy right now. Not because he did anything wrong, but because he didn't have to deal with much persecution for being a mutant when there was a much more obvious target on his back, and the truth is, he isn't that... upset, really. Just searching for answers that he's pretty sure he won't find.

It's complicated, and he hates to impose.]

You're not kept busy with- um- your little... problem?

[He's not sure what the Tony situation is like, he hasn't been by for a while.]

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

Perhaps they fear it precisely because it's natural.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

...You'd think natural would be a good thing.