[VIDEO]

[janus_scholar]

[The video feed presents an older british gentleman at his desk, surrounded by stacks of history books. He looks up into the camera and smiles warmly.]

Good evening, my name is Walter Strickler. I'm a new arrival here, and I thought it best that I introduce myself. More than that, actually, I was hoping to ask a question.

I am in the midst of familiarizing myself with the history of this world, and how it differs from my own... Most of the discrepancies have been fairly minute, others less so, but it lead me to wondering about other worlds. Your worlds, and the histories theirin; if you care to share them. I suppose I'm just curious, is it common for most of us... "imports" to be from worlds that are similar, or ones that are vastly different? Is there anything here that has struck you as odd?

[There's a small pause, an aside glance, as he arranges the wording of his next question carefully.]

And, are 'powers' common where you're from? Whether it be mutations, magic, or anything of the sort. Are these things familiar to you?

Please do forgive me if I take a moment to understand anything you have to share. I must admit, I am still attempting to process all of this... But I would not want to have anyone feeling put-out for my misgivings. Thank you. I look forward to getting to know you all better.

Comments

video; ...I'm just going to give you all three of mine

[recommendations]

Powers are extremely common where I come from! Approximately 80% of the world population develops a quirk by the time they're around four years old. It's not magic, though. Mutation is closer... It's just naturally occurring. Sometimes quirks can be passed down from parent to child. Other times it's more random.

[ Have an overly knowledgeable sixteen year old explain how quirks work to you. ]

I love it! 👍

[janus_scholar]

[Overly knowledgeable teens are a wonderful thing! Knowledge is power, go to school, etc, etc.]

So it's genetic where you're from. That's sounds very different from most of what I've heard. What kind of powers do these 'quirks' entail?

[recommendations]

Yes, it is. And they can be everything, from physical appearance to control over elements, such as ice or fire. [ Thinking of you, Todoroki. ]

My quirk is Creation. I can give you a demonstration, if you'd like.

[janus_scholar]

[He was mid note-taking, but he gives her full attention at that.]

Of course.

[recommendations]

One moment...

[ Momo sets the phone down, leaning it against something so it can still capture her in the shot. She then holds an open palm up to the camera. There's a shower of pink and blue sparkling light, and then a polaroid camera springs fully forth from her hand. She then raises it to her face, taking a selfie of herself. The photo comes out-- it would seem the camera is fully operational! ]

[janus_scholar]

[He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't that.]

How on earth... That's an incredible ability! Are there any limitations in what you can create?

[recommendations]

[ Momo just bows slightly, taking the praise in stride, and sets the camera down on the desk, picking her phone up instead. ]

I can only create inorganic materials, and I have to know the chemical structure of what I'm trying to create. There is also a limit to how much I can create, as I am literally transforming the lipids of my body into new materials to do so.

[janus_scholar]

To know that kind of structural information and put it to use so effortlessly... That's no small feat. I'm impressed! And I must say, your explanation of your abilities is causing me to rethink how I should interpret my own.

[In view of the camera, he opens his right hand upward. A glowing green mist appears and settles in his palm, before solidifying into the form of a silver throwing knife.]

Left to my own devices, I might have assumed this to be some form of magic.

[recommendations]

[ She watches his display, curious from an academic standpoint. ]

It may be... I don't know much about magic, as it doesn't exist in my world. But this place has all sorts of people with all sorts of abilities.

[janus_scholar]

You've given me an open mind about it, if nothing else.

[He drops his concentration, and the knife disappears into smoke.]

In truth, I don't really need to know the machinations of how it works. It likely wouldn't affect my ability to make it happen.

[recommendations]

Perhaps. The same is not exactly true for my quirk. The better understanding of it I have, the better I become at using it.

[janus_scholar]

Of course, that makes sense for how you've described it. My power feels as though it's influenced by conceptual thought, rather than anything scientific. It's very interesting how different this can all be.

[recommendations]

Mm. It seems that your ability may be more magic than science, in that case.

[janus_scholar]

[He nods.]

I may not understand the finer details, but I appreciate your insights into all this. And do forgive me, but I think I've forgotten to ask your name?

[recommendations]

Oh, of course!

[ She bows slightly in introduction. ]

My name is Momo Yaoyorozu.

[janus_scholar]

[He bows his head as well.]

A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Yaoyorozu. Thank you again for humoring my curiosity.

[recommendations]

The pleasure was mine, Strickler-san. I always appreciate the opportunity to talk about the mechanics behind peoples' quirks... or powers, as the case may be.