roar 001 - video

[beardedveteran]

[ For the first few seconds of the feed, a middle-aged guy is staring hard into the camera, looking perplexed. Probably a common sight on the network whenever a newcomer appears, but this guy is wearing a green-and-white eyemask along with a smart-casual shirt and tie, like he started to dress up as a comic book hero but got lazy after that. He can

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[vinovidivici]

[ It doesn't compare to the facial acrobatics Kotetsu just pulled off, but Claire's got what would otherwise be some impressive head-scratching action going on. That was rather a lot to take in. And the mask is distracting. ] Lemme see if I got this straight, fella. You're sellin' - justice?

Video forever

[beardedveteran]

[ That sounds like the tagline for an action figure. Not that he's in charge of that part of business-- well, he cracks a grin that's not too exaggerated, the least he can do to retain some air of coolness, shaking his head ] Heard me wrong? I'm a Hero for justice, savin' civilians, arrestin' criminals... You know, Heroes! NEXT! But I can't really do all that stuff without Lloyds or a manager or someone to sort all the bureaucratic stuff out while I'm on-scene. The usual!

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[vinovidivici]

[ Enjoy a slightly bemused face representative of the halcyon days before superhero comics were even a thing. At least the idea of heroes with managers is no weirder to him than anything else. ] Buddy I probably understood about half of that, but that half sounded...

[vinovidivici]

Neat? Are you some kinda cop? That mask makes ya look more like a crook.

[beardedveteran]

--What! No way! [ A hand flies to his mask to slip a thumb under the edge, but he thinks better of peeling it off so quickly and rakes his fingers through the side of his hair, seeming nearly panicked. A crook, seriously?! ]

You can't mistake me for a villain! This ain't the face of a bad guy, look at me! And to clear things up, I ain't a cop either. [ Blows an errant strand of hair out of his eyes almost sulkily. ] I'm a protector of justice, I do what the police forces and judges can't. Saving people in trouble the moment they're in danger and beating up criminals too powerful for the police forces to handle. I usually have a cool suit to do all that stuff in, and it helps me use my powers, but it didn't get brought here with me...

[vinovidivici]

I didn't mean nothin' by that. [ He's holding up his hands placatingly but not hiding his amusement at getting such a rise out of Kotetsu. And okay that little speech was kind of impressive. Anyone who beats up bad guys without answering to the fuzz has got to be worth talking to. ] So what're you coverin' up for if you're such a great guy?

- You had powers before you got here?

[beardedveteran]

[ Starts twiddling that bit of hair between finger and thumb-- it's interesting talking to a guy willing to chat about Heroes when he doesn't know anything about them. ] Gotta hide my civilian identity. There're some nasty types out there-- say, what if a kidnapper or a murderer knew my face, found out my name, where I live-- it'd be dangerous for me and anyone I know. Best not to risk it, you know?

[ But he lets the hair go after that (it twirls lazily into the air and curves back towards his forehead) and shifts. The topic isn't too unusual for him. Having it pointed out, though, is still hard to get used to. ] Er, yeah. I'm what they call a NEXT at home-- have been since I was ten. [ His expression seems to light up, and he sits forward; ] Wait, what d'you mean by 'before' I got here? Are there NEXTs here too?

[vinovidivici]

Oh, sure. That makes sense. [ Back home Claire's "civilian identity" is buried somehwere with its face mutilated beyond recognition. Okay, it wasn't actually him, but he gets what you mean! ] So Wild Tiger's a moniker, huh? Do I gotta call you by the whole - [ hand waving ] - or can I call you Mister Wild, or somethin'?

If "next"s have the kinda power that's like healin' or teleportin' or anythin' like that, then yeah. The Core-thing gives them to people when they get here... somehow. [ Don't ask him for details on this weird science stuff. ]

[beardedveteran]

[ There's a kind of static pause where he- almost grins, one corner of his mouth lifting, before he just laughs aloud. Not maliciously-- he's just reminded of a couple of friends from back home. ] Anythin' along those lines works! Just 'Tiger's fine, I'm used to that. Don't worry about the 'mister'-- what can I call you?

The Core, huh? [ Stroking his chin, leaning back-- the cogs are turning, very slowly. Probably because this guy's speaking his language. ] To tell you the truth, even where I come from, NEXTs... ah, people who develop powers have been appearing for some time, but they haven't figured out the reason why yet. I wonder if it could be something like this.

[ And suddenly, he droops his shoulders with a sigh. Those sound like cool powers, almost better than what he has... ] Man, teleporting would be a great power. I could jump home whenever I wanted.

[vinovidivici]

[ He's not quite sure why the guy's laughing (maybe "Mr. Wild" is his father's moniker or something?) but he grins at it anyway. ] Tiger. Claire Stanfield's the name but since we're not botherin' with formalities just Claire'll do.

Could be, huh? [ He scoots forward in his chair. Even if the way the Core works doesn't interest him the powers sure do. ] What power do you have?

[beardedveteran]

Alright. [ He disciplines his laughter into a steady smile. ] Nice to meetcha, Claire.

Mmh, it's called 'Hundred Power' where I come from. My strength and speed and senses and whatnot get stronger by a hundred times, and it makes my body pretty much invincible... [ His tone is somewhat nonchalant, even whilst sporting an irritable expression as he gradually leans out of the camera feed, seemingly strained, and brings back the plastic starter packet containing basic bathroom supplies. He peers at it as if it were a stray animal off the streets. ] Is there a toothbrush in this thing?

[vinovidivici]

Uh-- mine had one, yeah! It was pink. [ He'll blame that blurted bit of surplus information on the sudden change of topic. He'd been listening pretty to Tiger's description and he goes right back onto that subject. ] That's pretty interestin'! [ "Interesting" is a huge understatement if the grin he shoots Tiger is anything to go by. You really gonna greet such an honestly admiring look with a lie of omission? ]

[beardedveteran]

Pink? Ehhh... [ With a sudden shake of the camera (somebody's decided that opening this petty packet is a two-hand job) and a plasticky ripping sound, the feed focuses blurrily on the contents of the packet tumbled haphazardly on plain bedsheets.

The toothbrush is yellow. There's a mutter of 'wonder if I can trade' before the feed rights itself to as before, Kotetsu wrinkling his nose down at the set. Oh, and then he remembers what he was saying after looking at you. Of course! ] Ah-- hahhh, really? It ain't like it's without its limits.

[vinovidivici]

You got a plastic razor too? [ He is never going to shut up about the damn razors. ] I'd trade ya but I figure you don't want a second-hand toothbrush.

Limits? Oh, otherwise you'd be usin' it all the time, right? So what's the catch?

[beardedveteran]

Heh, sorry, you guessed right. [ He roots around the collection of toileteries on the bed until he finds the razor, and holds it up, inspecting it. Really basic compared to the increasingly-layered-blade types you get in Sternbild, but it'll do. ] Yeah-- this?

Pff-- somethin' like that. Prolly make some things a bit easier. [ Turns the razor until it catches the light on the blade. ] Well, it's public knowledge back home, so-- It lasts five minutes an hour, so I can be in that state for five minutes at a time, once every hour. Which ain't a bad deal, considering how strong I am in that time!

[vinovidivici]

Yeah. [ Scrutinising Tiger through the video screen with one hand pensively curled across his mouth. ] You gonna be able to keep up your beard with that? [ emphasis on "beard" because... just look at that thing! those things. ]

[ There's a quick battle between incredulity and amusement for control of his facial features before they divide up the territory equally. ] It's not a bad deal except if you compare it to not bein' limited to five minutes.