[Action / Voice] evening + morning

[selfhelp]

[...This doesn't look like Prison #42. At least, not as he recalls it. Billy pushes himself upright in the grass, squinting in the early evening light, and absently lifts a shaking hand to his ears. There's no device there, nothing to prevent him from casting any spells... a fact he proves to himself with a wave of his hand, conjouring up a shirt to go with the unfamiliar white pants he finds himself in. What's all this about, exactly? Some new trick that Stark and Richards came up with to keep their prisoners placated? Or has he - against all odds - been freed and dumped somewhere in the wild?

What've you gotten yourself into now, Kaplan?

Cautiously he lets his magic take him up to the tree line, resting on a high branch to get a better look around. Up ahead, not far in the distance, he can see a village, but it's so small and old-fashioned that he doesn't recognize it at all. Wherever he is, it's pretty remote.

Well, whatever. What does location matter to a witch who can teleport? His priority is finding Cap and the rest of the Young Avengers. Teddy's probably flipping out right about now. Dropping back into a crouch, he sits himself down on the branch, cross-legged, and lifts his hands again, letting the glow return to them, and begins chanting under his breath-]

"IwanttobeinNewYorkIwanttobeinNewYork..."

[Yeah, he's pretty noticeable like that. Especially since he'll be there until he's discovered, pointedly not teleporting to New York. Awkward.]


[In the morning, however, things are a bit different- he's settled (sort of), he's rested (a bit), he's informed (just enough). And he's sorted out how to use the journal. Thus, around mid-afternoon, he sends out a message:]

Okay, this is weird, but... let's give it a try. Hey, uh, whoever's listening out there. I've heard there are people from all over the galaxy, and lots from Earth, especially. That's where I'm from, too. I was wondering, though- are there people living here who'd be considered "super heroes"? Here or on your own world, I mean. I'm actually-

[Actually... he really shouldn't just announce it. What if someone from the Initiative is here and remembers him when they get back to Earth? Even a slim chance isn't worth the risk.]

...I'm actually a huge fan of the superheroes from Earth! You know, heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-man... I've been a fan since I was a kid. Though I guess it's not unusual for someone from New York. There's a ton of superheroes living in the city these days.

Sorry for rambling so much. To be honest, I'm just nervous... I've never been to another world before.

[....]

Teddy? You here?


[ooc: first dibs to action (chronologically) goes to Buffy, otherwise he is free to be met wherever/whenever. Also if you could have a look at his permissions post I would be much obliged!]

Comments

[herotypical]

[ she thought about willow. ]

Where I come from? The magicks can hit you like a few pints of bourbon and leave you more of a wreck.

[selfhelp]

Sorry, I'm underage.

[...And he's being rude. Goddammit, Billy, behave. Your inner-mother is scolding you.]

...Look, I know that... a lot of witches aren't safe. Or they're dangerous to other people, or reckless with their powers... maybe even crazy.

[He thinks briefly about the Scarlet Witch - his maybe-almost-mother - and how her magic had recreated the entire world. Yeah, he knows the danger. Then again, if she hadn't done that, he probably wouldn't exist at all. Funny how life works out that way.]

...I'm trying, though. To be careful, and... to not do anything that would make me dangerous. And I'd never kill someone with my magic.

[herotypical]

Dangerous to yourself, I mean. Not just other people.

[ her voice softens. ]

[selfhelp]

...O... oh. [He looks surprised for a moment- honestly, that thought hadn't occurred to him. Though in retrospect, it makes sense, considering what Buffy's gone through with Will-

...ow...

...Wait, what season is she from? Is she current? Does this place work like that?

Priorities, Kaplan.]

Thanks, but I think I'll be okay. Usually I've got someone around to watch my back.

[But-

...shit.

Teddy.]

[herotypical]

But now you're in a wacko new place where everyone's a stranger and back-watching involves looking at a pair of wings you never had before.

[selfhelp]

Uh... yeah. [Wow, he suddenly feels very awkward.] ...Any advice?

[herotypical]

Find somewhere to live and make friends. Fast. Here can be a very lonely place, but only if you allow it to be.

[selfhelp]

...Geez. [Sounds so fun. Billy makes a mental note to do a full roster check for the team once he's given his magic a rest - there's definitely something funny about his powers here - but for now, he just nods.]

I don't have money with me or anything... is there some kinda teen shelter? Or a shack in the woods? I can totally hobo it for a while if I have to.

[herotypical]

You don't need it. Money, I mean. We have a Welcome Centre for newbies to get themselves situated and lots of empty apartments but...our economy doesn't exist. Not in the normal way. Everything's free.

[ usually, she likes to joke about this part. to slyly offer to cover the costs a new feather would normally incur. but she feels sympathy for this one. too much to just joke. ]

[selfhelp]

[B... wuh...

Yeah, this is going to take some serious getting used to.]

So I just... grab an apartment, get myself some food, and veg out until something happens? That's the plan?

[It's not exactly the most assertive choice ever.]

[herotypical]

It's a plan. To start with. Believe me, you'll wanna get those things looked after before the first Shift hits.

[selfhelp]

Shift? A shift to what?

[Don't you just love clueless newbies, Buffy?]

[herotypical]

Shift. Experiment.

[ she picks her way around a fallen branch. ] Insanity. Take your pick.

[selfhelp]

Oh, right. The... weird stuff.

[Which is still a little hard to swallow, but then again he's walking through the woods at night with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's not sure if much else can surprise him at this rate.]

Okay, so... friends, apartment, settle in. Wait for the crazy. Got it.

[A pause, and as they approach some of the nearby buildings, he lifts a hand, more blue light flaring around his hand, to transform his costume back into civvies. Whether this place is safe or not, he doesn't want to get caught like that in public.]

And that's it? Just wait around and hope for the best?

[herotypical]

[ a sly glance at that change. filing it away... ]

For now? Yes. There's a guide to familiarize yourself with and a war to be fought. But it's best to take it in steps. Not big old leaps.

[selfhelp]

Is that why you asked me if I had my journal?

[Just a guess, at this point; he lifts the book questioningly. She'd called it a welcome wagon, after all. Sort of.]

[herotypical]

Mmhm. Like I said, it's a thousand times more eloquent than I am.

[selfhelp]

...Ah. Guess I'll have to read that, then.

[He hadn't expected an all-inclusive guide to all things otherworldly.

There's a moment of hesitation as he considers his options, but finally, he glances over at her and lifts his hand a bit sheepishly.]

Hey, uh- Billy. That's my real name. Sorry about before...

[herotypical]

You're forgiven. You didn't pull a gun on me or try and gut me or...try and kiss me so you're already batting well above average for my weirdest New Feather encounter.

[selfhelp]

Okay, I'll take that as a good thing. [Sounds like she's had a fun time around here. Then again, it wouldn't be Buffy if it wasn't wacky weird funtimes.

Speaking of which-]

So... is it too weird that I already know who you are, or should I pretend like I didn't act like a complete idiot back there?

[herotypical]

[ oh god. was this another one of those people who knew...? ]

It's...a little weird. I can't lie on that front.

[selfhelp]

...Sorry, then. I try to avoid that kind of thing.

[The best he can muster is another sheepish smile. Yeah, he screwed this one up royally. Way to go.]

Blame it on magic? That usually works for me.

[herotypical]

Don't get me wrong. I...know about the thing. That some people have seen -- [ she can't even say the words. ] Heck, I've met people that I've realized can't be real.

But we are. We all are. We have to be.

[selfhelp]

[...Ah. That makes sense- some "real" things were in the Buffy show, too, so it only makes sense that the fictional idea would've come up.

...So... does that mean that in some other reality, he'd be fictional? Because he honestly can't decide whether or not that's awesome.]

Well, I don't think I could've been caught by someone who wasn't real... that sure felt real to me.

[herotypical]

Gee. How grateful I feel for the vote of real-confidence.

Don't worry. You'll get the hang of the weirdness parts soon enough. If you're used to magic? You'll cope just fine.