[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

[selfhelp]

...A ten-speed city bike?

[Some people live in high-rise apartments that don't have enormous jets in their basement.]

I did get to fly in a Quinjet once- and a Kree warship. Nobody offered to let me drive, though.

[touchofrogue]

They don't sound like the type.

[Rogue shook her head and started making some adjustments to the program.]

How old are you now?

[selfhelp]

16, going on 17. [His lip quirks a bit.] Always wanted to say that.

[touchofrogue]

[Heh.]

This is not going ta turn into a musical number.

[Finishing the sim, Rogue straightens up.]

Was gonna offer ta let you ride with me, but since you're a few joy rides short of findin' it relaxin', you can get a lesson. Or you can just come along for the ride, if you like.

[selfhelp]

[And he was so very hopeful. But she gets mega-props for recognizing it.]

Wh- ...lessons, joyride? On which one?

[Is he driving a motorcycle or the Blackbird here? THE DISTINCTION IS VERY IMPORTANT.]

[touchofrogue]

Come an' see.

[And if Billy follows her into the room, he will see that they will have entered into an old fashioned hanger. A large old fashioned hanger. With many doors of various shapes and sizes.

And lined up in bright shiny rows are all the things with motors, wheels, and wings that Rogue knows how to drive. It's an impressive collection, considering she stopped driving things at 18 when she was sucked into this joint. It ranges from types of motorcycles, landrovers, sports cars, snowmobiles, jet skis, MACK trucks to helicopters, propeller-designed airplanes, and yes, the Blackbird. Rogue takes in a happy breath of machine and oil laden air. Oh, the horsepower in this room is enough to make a girl spin around with glee.]

Well? Take your pick.

[Little known fact about Rogue, Billy: She is such a motorhead. You don't even know.]

[selfhelp]

[He wasn't joking about the bike being the extent of his driving experience, so now that he's faced with an entire hanger's worth of coolness, all he can do for a long moment is stop and stare. Because- because hoooooly crap. This is pretty much unbelievable. The moment finally passes when he lifts a finger to point, without even taking his eyes off the machinery, and manages to mumble a response.]

You... you can drive all of these?

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue let out a happy, satisfied, and even longing sigh. Gawd, she missed driving.]

I left out the tractors. If you want your first drivin' experience with tractors, I'm disowning you.

[selfhelp]

A city boy like me? No thanks. I'm guaranteed to crash farm equipment.

[Now that he actually has to make a serious decision, though... um.]

I guess... motorcycle, maybe. I mean, I normally ride a bike, it can't be that different, right?

[touchofrogue]

[...Heh.]

Yeah, somethin' like that. Why don't you start out on the moped?

[selfhelp]

The moped. Because I was thinking that I hadn't been emasculated yet today.

[He doesn't seem terribly bothered by the idea, even if it is awfully uncool - sarcasm is his cushion, though, so whatever. He wanders over to the nearest model, lifting a brow.]

Have we got helmets?

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue casually sauntered over to her bike.]

I think the Harley would be a bit much.

[HI BABY, HOW ARE YOU!? MOMMY HAS MISSED YOU SO.]

We've got the safety features on. If you want a helmet, you can try back there.

[NOT FOR HER. HAVE YOU MISSED HER, BABY?

She's just barely containing her need to check her bike out all over.]

[selfhelp]

It's probably too noisy for me anyway. And gas-guzzling. Even if it's a simulation, it'd just make me twitchy.

[And he goes to fetch himself a helmet anyway, latching it on while he sits on the moped. Then he eyes it suspiciously for a long moment, checking out the controls. He... has never done this before.

Oi.]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue comes over and points out the pertinant points.]

Accelerator. Break. Ignition. You use the handles for steering.

[selfhelp]

...Okay. Okay, uh.

[Billy turns the key, biting his lower lip as he has to twist it a few times to get the darn thing started. Heavy machinery is so not his forte.]

If I kill myself with this, I suggest writing Teddy a note instead of telling him in perso- whoa!

[He'd twisted the ignition as he spoke, causing the bike to suddenly lunge forward. It's not exactly car-crash speed - moped, after all - but it's more abrupt than he'd expected.]

[touchofrogue]

Lean into it! [Rogue shouted. The safety protocols that she made certain were still in place (but hadn't told Billy about, because that's like learning to bowl with the bumpers in place and who does that) would make sure that if he crashed into a wall, he'd just go through it. Same with the rest of the equipment.]

Bring it into a turn! Computer, open the bay doors.

[selfhelp]

[Billy hesitates a bit too long, wobbling unsteadily before he leans forward and turns the moped, thankfully not hitting the wall (yet). By now he looks torn between uncertainty and glee, though, so at least he's having some fun.]

It's- whoa- it's not that different from a bike, is it? Just- it's got a lot more bulk to it. And power.

[And then he almost hits another wall and breaks hard with a yelp, jerking forward. So much for it being easy...]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue winced.]

Okay. That. Wasn't so terrible. Do ya think you can get it out the door?

[selfhelp]

I'll try for optimism and say yes until I crash it.

[Which is kind of the opposite of optimism, but he's not going to nitpick himself. Carefully he steers the moped back towards the door, turning the acceleration more tentatively this time, puttering his way through the door. Not bad, not bad...]

[touchofrogue]

[...well. Rogue debated for a moment and then got on her bike. She follows him out at a much more sedate pace than he usually would.]

How ya doin'?

[selfhelp]

...Doing... okay? I think I'm okay.

[He'd like to glance over his shoulder at her, but he still is kind of terrified of going head-over-handlebars, so yeah, no.]

Starting to understand why my mom used to say that motorcycles are deathtraps, though.

[touchofrogue]

[Pfff.]

You'd hardly crush a snail at that pace. [She grinned at him.] It's a steady bike, Billy, try leanin' to the side a bit. This is a nice stretch of straight road, smooth as cream. You'll be fine.

[selfhelp]

We're not going to run out of road? I know the dome's big but this is kind of...

[He trusts her, though, doing as instructed and, after a moment's hesitation, twisting to amp up the acceleration. Whether it's merely digitized or not, the bike has a pleasant thrum beneath him and the wind feels good on his face.

And he doesn't even hit a wall. Nice.]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue gave him a look.]

I know you're not askin' me to explain the science behind holo suites. 'cause I don't know it.

[She's glad he upped the acceleration, though. She followed suit, keeping even pace with him.]

[selfhelp]

[He's genuinely surprised that the speed hasn't caused him to crash yet, but he figures the bike is biding its time before it kills him. Still, the road is open and the dome seems to be giving them the space for it, so he'll roll with it.]

Probably follows holodeck rules. Secretly rolling floors or something, maybe.