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

Don't go inflatin' Stark's ego any more'n it's already inflated, mon ami.

[Aaaand there's Gambit. There's no mistaking that guy for anyone else. And yet he looks (and sounds) younger, too! What did he do, stumble into an issue of The Young X-Men or something?

...Not saying it isn't awesome, mind you, he's just boggled.]

Ah- sorry, I forgot. I can't really help it, though. He's someone I've admired since I was a kid.

[Low laugh. A fanboy of Tony's. Somebody's going to have to knock the Iron Man down a few pegs sometime soon, he's sure.]

We all gonna be drownin' in his ego soon enough, m'sure.

Take it you jus' got here, then.

[Yeah, he'll probably regret the ego-stroke eventually. Today's not that day, though.]

Yeah, just last night. Still getting used to the thought of not knowing when I'll get home.

[Or rather, trying not to think about it at all.]

Don't t'ink any of us really get used to that part.

Mais, maybe you'll be the lucky one an' get outta this campin' trip early.

[He almost gets a laugh for that one.]

I wish, but I've never been known for my luck.

Funny, 'cause I've always been known for mine an' it sure ain't stuck around for my trip here.

[Maybe we swapped.]

[Wouldn't that be nice?]

Maybe these Malnosso guys are luck thieves.

[....heh. Thieves. Now was that accidental or just testing the waters again...?]

[Ah, that almost makes him laugh. But he does grin despite himself.]

If they were better thieves, we wouldn't even notice they done it.

Guess they're only experts in kidnapping and mad-scientist talk.

Classic super villain types, non?

[Just what you're looking for, right?]

[Oh yeah, he just looooves super villains.]

Could do with a few less of those in my life, if it's all the same to you.

Lemme guess. One too many run-ins wit' crazy guys in capes.

[You're not talking to a previous villain, not at all.]

I'm from New York. We get a new super villain every other week back home.

[It's kind of fascinating how often the city gets rebuilt, actually.]

They are real fond of New York, ain't they. Good t'ing so many hero-types hang around up there.

You'd think that the villains would learn to go somewhere else, what with Avengers HQ in the city.

You'd t'ink, huh. Mais, nobody ever learns.

Well, rest easy, mon ami. Ain't got too many big baddies 'round here 'sides the Malnosso. [And even Magneto behaved himself - relatively - while he was here. Common enemies work wonders.]

[That's a relief, at least. He's not so sure he'll be resting easy, but the idea of not having to worry about a bunch of super villains showing up to crash the party or destroy the village is nice. And he'll trust the word of an X-Man. ...Assuming he's an X-Man already. Gambit's track record is more iffy than the others.]

I'll try to remember that. Honestly what might keep me more awake is the lack of sirens. Luceti's nothing like NYC.

Ain't much like Louisiana either, mon ami. I wasn't used to the quiet either. I'd say it grows on you, but it ain't done that yet.

[Yeah, that track record is still perfectly iffy with little weighing in on the Good Guy side. But still, that X-Man thing is more or less floating on the horizon here. Might as well do the neighborly thing. Sort of.]

Name's Gambit, by the way. Welcome to Camp Luceti.

Yeah... thanks. I'm Billy, nice to meet you.

[He probably shouldn't start gushing about how cool this is.]

I gave that guide a read-through- anything else you think I should know?

Aside from what's in the guide? Look out for furniture that tries to eat you. [Beat.] An' I'm not makin' that up. Good news is, I t'ink it only happened once. But there's remainders hangin' on from that once.

...Man-eating furniture? Wh... is that one of those experiments the guide talks about?

[He's not sure how he should feel about that one. 8| Besides "holy crap".]

Non. Not an experiment. Jus' somethin' a neighbor of mine had sittin' in her livin' room.

[Wow. Um.]

Interesting neighbours you've got, then.

Luceti at its best, mon ami.

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]