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

[Oh, this is definitely okay. He can get on board with this sort of nice Iron Man. It's kind of nostalgic.]

...You mean it? I've- I've never gotten an autograph from a real hero before.

[Not for lack of trying, mind you- he'd stood in many a line-up over the years. He just happens to have terrible luck.

...Well, up until the day he got super powers, anyway. That kind of helped.]

[Nice Iron Man. He would get a kick out of that.]

Sure thing, kiddo. Got to make the fans feel appreciated after all. [And. They're so few and far between here HE HAS TO, OKAY.]

[...This... is so surreal...

...okay. Here's the ultimate test. The Iron Man he knows would react to this, and it's risky, but... w-well, he's just a fanboy right now, right? So it should be harmeless.

Should be.

Okay, breathe...]

...I'm Billy. Billy Kaplan. It's an honour to meet you, sir.

[AN HONOR. Oh, Billy, you are a keeper. He really misses this type of thing.]

Right then, Billy--welcome to Luceti. For the time being. I'm working on a way to get us out of here, so just sit tight. [Of course he is.]

[Plenty more where that comes from. Admittedly he's probably not a healthy feeder for Tony's ego, but he just can't help it. Plus sucking up keeps him slightly out of trouble.]

I'm sure if anybody can pull it off, it's Iron Man.

[He's not sure how, though. He was up half the night trying to teleport home, but no dice.]

That's the spirit. [Not a bad remind for himself, either. Kind of gets tough to stay focused here after being here for ten months with no progress.

But hey, he's this kid's hero, so he isn't going to mention that.]

You mentioned something about--Captain America? Spider-man? Those are real, working heroes where you're from? If that's the case, we may have a good, old-fashioned dose of parallel universes on our hands. I wouldn't be surprised.

That's probably it. I've heard about that kind of thing happening before.

[...Is that the kind of thing a fanboy would know? Crap, better reel it in a bit. Or at least find a detour.]

Where I'm from, you and Cap put together a team of heroes, the Avengers, a long time ago. I grew up watching you guys save the world.

[He has? Now, that's interesting.]

You mean the team Nick Fury wanted to put together. [That again, huh. Guess SHIELD was a little more successful with the whole thing in other dimensions.] I'm the only superhero in my world. Even if you count Captain America, he's been long gone.

Cap's still on ice?

[Wait- shit. He probably shouldn't have done that. HE'S BEEN THROUGH THE TIME-TRAVEL MEDDLING SHIT, HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER AAAA]

I-I mean- he's not dead. Just... kind of missing.

[On ice...he remembers Captain America explaining how he'd been out of it for awhile when he was here--but that was a different universe. It wasn't the same. The ol' Captain was as gone as his dad was.]

Missing. You know, I seem to recall he flew a plane into a chunk of ice up north--sure seems like insta-death. But anything is possible, I suppose. Luceti sure as hell is a testament to that.

...Well... he's a super-soldier. And a hero. Someone like that isn't so easy to kill.

[The comment about Luceti is a little harder to swallow- he hasn't been here long enough to accept the idea of people not staying dead just because. Coming back from the dead? Sure, it happens all the time with super heroes. But there's always a reason for it.]

I guess this is just one of those 'wait-and-see' scenarios, then. If I ever get home to find out if he's still around? I'll send you a postcard. With my autograph.

[Two autographs so far, Billy.]

[He may just die of happiness.]

I'll be sure to put it up on my wall- right next to the Stark Expo wallscroll.

[The sad thing is he's not even sucking up at this point.]

You know, if that happens to show up here--I wouldn't mind taking a look at it. I'd like to see what other-worldly me has been up to.

[Though the fanboy-ism does give him an idea...]

...how do you feel about laundry, Billy?

[.....Not sure he likes where this is going.]

Laundry? Uh... about the same as any teenager feels about it, why?

[What? It's a great opportunity. Just keep listening.]

Well--I just so happen to be taking applications for a personal assistant. [More like a house maid, but details.] If you're so inclined to work for your favorite hero.

[Iron Man's personal assistant...

...doing laundry...

He feels a pang of sympathy for Pepper. And then for himself; if he wants to keep up the fanboy facade he... should probably accept this offer.

Crap.]

I'm- ...not so sure I'm qualified for such a... prestigious, uh, position.

[Could this be his lucky day? Do you know how long he's been trying to find someone to do his laundry?]

You're right--you're probably not. But the pool of qualified applicants is severely limited here.

[Or nonexistent.]

[WOW IS THAT EVER INSULTING but okay, he can deal with this. Tony with an attitude. All he's ever seen is the man trying to boss he and his friends around. This? It's refreshing.

...But it doesn't mean he's happy to be downgraded to Laundry Lad, even if Tony doesn't know his real potential. Maybe he could just magic it clean when Tony's not looking...

Fanboy. Fanboy, remember? Gotta roll with it.]

I-I'd be... honoured, then, sir. But I'm no Miss Potts.

Well, no one's Miss Potts. [They can just dispense with that possibility right away. Pepper was irreplaceable.

...Oh that was kind of a long pause. Ahem.]

Well, if you're certainly up for the job, I think I can give you a trial run. See how you do. Like an extended interview, you could say.

[He's almost 100% sure that he's going to regret this. Yep. 100%.]

So... you want me to get started, then? Like now?

[Seriously, what is he doing to himself.]

[You are quite right, Billy.]

Well--I guess I can give you a chance to settle in first, in you need it. Arriving here isn't exactly sunshine and daisies. But if you're ready to go, by all means. I've got plenty for you to do.

[This gonna be AWESOME.]

You haven't been stockpiling your laundry or anything, have you?

[He is not going to come in and do a mountain of dirty underwear. EVEN IF HE HAS MAGIC TO DO IT, THAT IS TOO MUCH.]

Not stockpiling, no. [Only sometimes! But he's been better recently. Usually this is what happens when he has more down time. He is domestic. It's scary.] But think of all the extra time I'll have to work on my research with you around. You're doing your part to get everyone home, William.

[There, how's that for a little credit.]

[Not bad, but-

....]

William? Man... not even my parents call me that.

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