maskormenace | ❮❮ 01; video. ❯❯

[The video feed flickers to life, revealing the face of a young man decidedly still in his late teens. He's calm enough, almost professional, and his words will be spoken with the deliberation of someone who's put some thought into what they're going to say.]

I'm going to bypass what I assume are the usual comments concerning the... inconvenience of being brought here. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was either in the middle of something important or simply has more pressing matters at "home", so there's little point in being redundant.

[All-in-all, he appears to be taking this alright. There's only the slightest twitch, a furrowing of the brow -- but to anyone who claims to know Light well, this is merely an indication that's he a lot more irritated than he's letting on. (Consider it a blessing that no one really knows Light all that well.) He continues.]

My name is Light Yagami; I was a first year college student in Japan before my arrival. I understand that there are shared residencies here... in that case, if you happen to be one of my housemates, I'd appreciate you letting me know. I'd like to familiarize myself with your names, faces, backgrounds, personalities and et cetera, just so I can get a sense of [what he's getting himself into] who I'm living with and what daily life is going to be like. Just out of curiosity.

Secondly -- and this is directed to anyone seeing this -- I'd like some advice as to how to adapt here. This is a - [a pause because the notion sounds ridiculous but here he is] reality that isn't my own, so as far as I know, down could be up and up could be down. Explanations of do's and don't's are welcome, as is just general information if that's all you have to contribute. And yes, I know I've already been given a summary of what's supposedly happening; it's just that I wouldn't mind getting second opinions, or just meeting the people here.

[He looks as if he's about to end it there, and then, as if remembering something:]

Oh, and is the calendar on this thing right? February 26th? It's almost my birthday again.

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So then... [a small pause] Masked and costumed heroes patrolling the streets, fighting off evil villains and the like? You're saying I should just accept that now.

Tell you another thing. That's my life where I come from. Complete with the loud explosions from time to time and friends who can do the impossible.

Honestly, Heropa's kind of low key.

I'm almost jealous. You make my life at home sound pretty mundane. [Never mind that pretty important murder case he was trying to help solve. But he's not keen on mentioning that publicly anytime soon.]

Well, if you're used to this sort of thing, any words of wisdom for me? I'd prefer to avoid any "loud explosions" if at all possible.

It depends on how you are, but if you're not used to it: lay low. Go along with things. Try not to seem to be ... useful.

[Because Kate's suspicious. Because Kate doesn't trust any of this.]

[He's gathering that so far. However, Light also has his doubts about all of it.]

In other words, don't draw too much attention to yourself. Sounds like the opposite of what a "hero" is -- or, rather, it doesn't sound like you particularly trust those who have brought us here.

A machine that's independent of their power brought us here.

[Though she knows some people will doubt that. She doesn't. Not at the moment. She knows some people who have slipped through, and with thorough files on them ... she knows they wouldn't be choice "heroes," no matter what skill set they have.]

But no, I don't trust the government that scraped together this idea to keep us in check while they're in the middle of the Cold War.

[He's skeptical, yes, but he has no reason to disbelieve what she's telling him. Honestly, he's appreciative for any sort of information he can get, and so he just nods.] I see.

Seems too... opportunistic. Strategic. Especially in a historically displaced war. [A Cold War in 2014. Things continue to get stranger.] Not that they would be gracious enough to admit that to us even if it were the case.

I think there's a fair chance that any confessions will come by way of action. But the big thing about the Cold War is just that—it's cold. Fighting didn't take place, unless it was off the radar. [And she knows it was off the radar.]

We'll have to be prepared if that changes.

Of course. International tension is what mostly made it unbearable, but... well, this is a different reality. Things could turn out differently. Which is why I agree with you; everyone needs to be prepared, in their own way.

Ah, may I ask your name?

Kate Bishop. It's a pleasure.

The pleasure's mine. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Were you assigned a job when you arrived as well?

I was, but I won't be taking it. I guess you could say it's irrelevant now.

...You're referring to registration.

[Or in this case, he can guess, a lack thereof.]

Bingo.

Guess you can retranslate my advice as "don't be me."

I don't know if I'd think of it quite that way. All of us here have more than enough reason to be cynical about everything around us, if we bother really thinking about it, just as you mentioned.

Us "imports" are in a very... precarious position when it comes to whether or not we should register. It's admirable thing, to be comfortable in your decision.

Comfortable, sure, but that doesn't mean that I'm not waiting for the sky to fall.

So to speak.

Have you found it difficult to settle in here, being unregistered? It certainly puts you at a disadvantage.

I settled in while remaining undecided. I took a little while to declare, even keeping myself off the streets until I was positive.

And I've got a knack for learning things quickly.