selfhelp | [Action / Voice] evening + morning

[Action / Voice] evening + morning

[...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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He should probably stop asking questions he knows the answers to, but he gets the feeling that just telling her outright that he knows all about her wouldn't be wise.

Man, though. He is so over his head here.]

Pretty much, yeah. I think New York is just a breeding ground for super villains or something.

Ain't that the truth.

Well, if he doesn't introduce himself as soon as he sees this, I'll be shocked, so we've got one more here - Iron Man's alive an' kickin'.

[Waaaatching for responses carefully.]

[He freezes at that. It's brief, and he tries to recover as smoothly as possible, but.]

...Th-that's cool! He's one of the greatest heroes I know.

[...this is just weird, okay?

But she's not gonna make any judgement calls yet.]

Yeah, don't let him hear you say that too loudly. [Exasperation (and some fondness) is in her tone] His head's big enough already.

...Yeah, I hear he has a pretty impressive ego. [Rich genius playboy and all. Then again if he'd grown up the way Tony Stark had, he'd probably be pretty out there himself.]

[two months ago, she'd make a crack about how that was the most impressive thing about him. But. That was before she knew exactly what he'd done in the world where he'd done it.]

It's kinda hard ta miss.

[She will now shift the topic, all without exchanging names, because that is how she rolls.]

Batman was here too.

[Because she's curious.]

...Bat... man?

[As in the comic book character?

...

There are comic book characters in Luceti?]

Yup.

[Pause.]

Pretty sure Luke Skywalker's still around too.

[L... uke... Skywalker...

.....

!!!!!]

Are you serious?

[Heh.]

Yeah. I'm serious.

[,i>Might as well enjoy it while it's fun, kid.]

[THIS

THIS IS LIKE WAKING UP AT COMIC CON

EXCEPT THE COSPLAYERS ARE REAL]

That's... that's amazing...

[Coolest. Day. Ever.]

You seem ta be takin' this... well.

[Whatever your name is.]

I guess I can't really help myself. It's a little scary, sure, but it's exciting, too.

[Sure, if you like making like a lab rat.

She bites it back.]

So ya got the low-down already?

[NOT THAT SHE CARES. Or anything. But dang, you sound squishy and she doesn't like people going squish.]

More or less. I mean, I'm probably missing a few things, but I read as much of the guide as I could handle in one night.

[Or until he passed out. Chanting takes energy.]

Mmm, fair enough.

[She's not one to poke too much into other people's business, so right about now she'll start looking for an 'out' in the conversation.]

Makes for some thick readin'. But ya should get ta findin' your way around all right. Most folks here are right helpful.

[But not her. Nooooo sir.]

[Out? Out? Are you mad, girl, he's never letting you go. 8)]

I've noticed that. You've been really helpful so far, thank you.

[Boy, didn't Carol Danvers teach you what a bad idea that is? )8]

Easy now - I ain't most people.

[So don't come crying to her about being lost or lonely or squished or anything, because it's not like she'll... try to do something about it. Nope.]

I didn't tell ya a thing you couldn't have learned goin' far enough back in this journal.

[He can't help it, he likes to play with fire. ...Okay, lightning, but it causes fires so half-counts.]

I don't doubt you there, but you're still going out of your way to explain things anyway. It really does mean a lot.

[Gawd, kid, you're going to totally spoil her rep here. But since she doesn't want to make it so you wouldn't be able to come to her if you need something, she's not going to push back too hard here. In fact, she just gets the feeling you'll get more effusive. So. Better to shift subjects.

Her tone is lightly teasing.]

Not enough for an introduction?

[Okay, she's got a point there.]

Ah, sorry! I'm Billy Kaplan. It's nice to meet you.

[A nice normal name. And no name she knows, from any of her experiences. Here's a test, then.

After all, superheroes and mutants aren't the same thing in everyone's world.]

Rogue.

Rogue, huh.

[And the real test is: does he reveal what he knows and risk alienating her or play dumb and risk boring her? It's not like he's all buddy-buddy with the X-Men back home, so he honestly has no idea how she'd respond either way.

...Still, what's the worst that can happen? He's not exactly chasing her with a flaming pitchfork or anything. Mutants are pretty accepted in his time.]

...Like... X-Men Rogue?

[Her interest sharpens.]

Ya got X-Men in your world?

[...]

They weren't in your superhero line-up.

[If he does... then his Iron Man isn't her Tony.

"Her" Tony.

What a ridiculous possessive qualifier.]

Yeah, sorry about that. I've never actually met the X-Men, and if I went and named every super hero I'm a fan of we'd be here all day.

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