Application: Starman, Justice Society/Legion of Super-Heroes

[unluckiest_star]

A black-and-white blur flies into the Sorting Room from a flash of light, and lands at the applications table. The man is clad in a shimmering black bodysuit and full face mask that looks like a field of stars, and white boots and gloves. He is humming a jaunty tune

Comments

[papayagami]

When Starman pulled off his mask, Soichiro could see his name: Thom Kallor, which Starman said he was.

"Um...yes, you still are Thom Kallor, if you're wondering."

[unluckiest_star]

Thom blinks. "Are you sure? I get so confused!"

[papayagami]

"Yes I am. I can tell what a person's name is, and that's what your name is. I'm Soichiro Yagami. I don't think helping someone coming back to life can be topped, honestly." Now that would be useful.

[unluckiest_star]

"That's a funny kind of power. Not as funny as Porcupine Pete, though." He leans in closer and lowers his voice. "We almost never do that trick. See, the whole idea is that for somebody dead to live, somebody alive has to die. Brainy said it was important, so the Legionnaires volunteered -" he takes a deep breath. "- But I hate it when friends die."

[papayagami]

"It can come in handy sometimes. But there's another part that I don't like to think about." He shrugged. "It's rough, seeing friends and loved ones die."

[unluckiest_star]

"Yeah. I'd do just about anything to keep that from happening. They're good people, my friends. Heroes." He points into the air and declares, "The world needs heroes!"

[papayagami]

"They need heroes. They don't necessarily want them."

[unluckiest_star]

He deflates into a slump. "I remember that too. That's why we have the Legion Code - we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard than the law would, even. 'Cause we can do so much harm if we're not careful."

[papayagami]

"Doesn't even have to be you doing harm. The public's opinion is fickle."

[unluckiest_star]

He nods. "I know. They get scared. They should only see some of the things I've seen - they have no idea what there is to really be scared of out there."

He looks at the older man, surprisingly clear-eyed for the moment. "You've seen things too. Haven't you?"

[papayagami]

"Seen and known. Things I shouldn't have either. I'm learning to deal with it, though. That's all anyone can do."

[unluckiest_star]

Thom nods. "The kids that apply to the Legion, they think it's so cool to be a hero. They don't realize..." He looks away. "You lose a lot of sleep in this job. That's why I hold on so tight to my dreamer. I love her. That keeps a lot of the bad things at bay."

[papayagami]

Thoughts of Sayu came to his mind. "It's good to have dreams. But someday, much sooner than you'd like, their dreams get broken. Plus....the good guys don't always win."

[unluckiest_star]

He hangs his head. "I know. We try to win more often than we lose though. We try to - to show people what people can be, maybe. I don't know if it works. The JSA believes it does."

[papayagami]

"Maybe in your time and place. In mine, people were being shown how they should be by fear. He got stopped in the end.........."

[unluckiest_star]

Thom nods vigorously. "He got stopped in the end. That's what counts. Everything else we can fix. Almost everything. Kenz Nuhor -"