video; a dung beetle intro post

[deadkord]

[ The video opens to a man in bug goggles and a baby blue cowl sitting in a pretty nondescript living room—no decorations or anything in sight, so he must be really new. ]

Hi there. The name's Blue Beetle. I'm a new arrival, and as I'm sure you can imagine, I have a lot of questions. But there's one really awkward one I'd like to get out of the way right from the start.

So: who else is supposed to be dead right now?

Comments

[video]

[timecapture]

Dead?!

[deadkord]

Only technically. I mean, I'm breathing now, and my head's in one piece, so that's a good sign that I'm not anymore!

[timecapture]

Holy shit! Are you alright?

[Max, that is quite probably a stupid question.]

[deadkord]

I just said I'm breathing, didn't I? Heart's beating, too, though I think I might still have a heart condition. Do they fix that kind of thing when they resurrect you or whatever?

[ Why would this random teenage girl know that, Ted. ]

[timecapture]

I... hope so.

[But if he's alive, maybe Chloe would be if she came here, too. Just the thought is enough to get a lump in Max's throat.]

I'm glad you're alive, though.

[deadkord]

Me too.

[ Clearly this girl is having Some Emotions, and Ted's never quite sure how to treat teenage girls when they aren't upset, so he's gonna go ahead and try to change the subject. ]

So... What's your name?

[ ...Ignoring that it says her name right there on the ID. ]

[timecapture]

Maybe you should go to the doctor?

[All of the emotions, Ted. She's grateful for the change in subject.]

I'm Max.

[deadkord]

It's on my list of things to do eventually.

Max, huh? Great name.

[timecapture]

Do I want to know what the rest of the list is?

Thanks! It's short for Maxine, but... [She really doesn't like being called that.]

[deadkord]

It's not a very long list, yet. And hey, I've already checked something off it by... is this technically vlogging?

[video]

[timecapture]

I'm... not sure? I'm more into stills than videos, so... maybe?

[deadkord]

A photographer, huh? If you've done any commercial work, I bet you've run into a friend of mine.

[timecapture]

I'm still a student, actually. I did get one of my photos in a museum once. [A long time ago in a timeline far away.] But... what friend? I'd love some experience.

[deadkord]

Booster Gold. I'm sure he'd love to give you the experience, too.

[timecapture]

Is that seriously his name? Oh, right. Superhero name?

[Because it seriously sounds like an advertisement or something.]

[deadkord]

Well, yes, but I can count on one hand the people who call him Michael. And it's usually only when he's in trouble.

[ Max has probably seen him in an advertisement. ]

[timecapture]

Um, are you sure you should just say people's secret identities like that...?

[Max has no idea how all of this works, can you tell?]

[deadkord]

Normally, no, but trust me. He doesn't have one.

[timecapture]

Why not?

[deadkord]

You'd have to ask him that.

[timecapture]

I guess so. I'm more of a photographer than a journalist, though.

[She says, while being nosey.]

[deadkord]

Hey, sometimes the two go hand in hand.

[timecapture]

Sometimes. [She had considered taking a photo for evidence that a security guard was bullying a fellow student before stepping in, after all.] Film for my camera is pretty expensive, though.

[deadkord]

You actually use film? Wow.

[timecapture]

Yep! Analog, all the way.

[She almost used "analog for life", but.. well.]