video; un: Julian Delphiki | Bean

[justlittle]

[ Bean hasn't made a video post to the Nets in a while. Not since last July, when he first started his growth spurt. And now here he is, having returned from a universe where that growth had gotten much farther out of hand.

He knows what awaits him now. It scares him. Maybe someday, he'll ask for help on the Nets for it. But for now, he's here with a different question. ]

Just got back from... Well, from that other universe, and from a brief trip back home. But the point is, I have a new power and I want to put it to use.

[ He cups his hands together within view of the camera and they spontaneously begin filling with... beans. Pinto beans, to be exact. ]

It's a bit on the nose, but I figured I could at least help feed people who are hungry. Food like this would have saved my life when I was younger. Does anyone know of any soup kitchens in need of a volunteer?

[ He dumps the beans into a jar that's already half full of more pinto beans, then reaches to turn off the camera. ]

Comments

Video

[john_morris]

That is remarkable.

[justlittle]

[ Bean shrugs. ] It's weird.

[john_morris]

It would be a very important power to have when you are in the midst of a grand journey in the wilderness.

[justlittle]

I don't take many "grand journeys" into the wilderness.

video;

[plentystrong]

... beans...

[justlittle]

You have a problem with beans?

[plentystrong]

Well, they're not my favorite food.

But mostly, it's so on the nose.

[justlittle]

I'm sure if my name were Hot Dog, the Porter would have had fun with that, too.

video;

[bifroster]

[Jane laughs. Of all the things ...]

That's great. I'm sure a lot of people will be calling you when word gets around.

[justlittle]

[ Bean hadn't interacted much with Jane before their side trip last month. But in the City, she had been a valuable source of inside information.

He feels like he should say something, mention that other world. But he just wants to put the memory of it behind him. ]

It's definitely more useful than the power it replaced.

[bifroster]

[Jane remember how valuable he was as well, how much his intel saved her neck. But she understands that not everyone wants to mention it.]

What power was that?

[justlittle]

I had the power to issue a command to someone, get them to do whatever I wanted. Useful, if they didn't resist, but it always just felt wrong to do.

[ He only ever tried using the ability twice. ]

video;

[hatejakku]

[ Huh... Finn chokes on and swallows a laugh. Yes, porters, haha. ]

Welcome back. You can send some of that to Aegis. We can make sure it goes to some soup kitchens, maybe keep some for relief efforts when the next catastrophe happens.

... Everything all right back home? [ Well, has anything gotten worse, he means. ]

[justlittle]

[ Bean appreciates that the laugh didn't come out. He knows exactly how ridiculous this power is. ]

I'll be sure to send some Aegis' way. I can do any kind of bean, up to ten handfuls a day. It's not much but... It's something.

[ As for his trip back home... ]

Well, I rescued my friend. But we're fighting losing battles in the war against Achilles and China.

[hatejakku]

It's something. It's enough. Thank you.

[ Finn's heard of China and Achilles. Unfortunately, the latter was some long-dead person in an old story he read, so he gathers that he probably doesn't know what either of these entities actually are in Bean's home. Doesn't need to know, anyway. ]

... I'm glad to hear about your friend. Sometimes it's the small victories-...

[justlittle]

[ For what it's worth, Bean's Achilles isn't pronounced the same way as the Greek hero. It's "Ah-sheel" not "A-kill-eez."

But he's garnering just as big a name for himself... Just not a good one. ]

It feels like all we've had recently are small victories.

Voice

[spaceforged]

[His UN has the same Black Paladin at the end as Keith’s had. His voice is different, a matter of fact baritone.]

I know a few but it will depend on your location and desire to commute. Could you tell me more about this other Universe?

Voice

[justlittle]

[ Bean had only spoken with Keith over text, but the UN similarities are not lost on him. ]

I can travel. Porter cities are easiest, of course, but I have transportation.

[ As for the other universe... Bean is quiet for a moment, then when he speaks his voice is lower, traumatized. ]

It was another Earth. I think it was meant to be the one that the Fates brought people to before they came to this Earth. There was a city where all the metas were... just the one city. It was... a dystopia. Government sanctioned attacks on metas, driving them into an underground resistance.

[ And all that is not even mentioning the fact that he was sixteen years old there, and a giant. ]

Voice

[spaceforged]

[Silence falls for a moment. The tone grabbed his attention. The details filter in as he says in a gentler tone,]

We’ll do our best to make sure this world doesn’t come to that. Are they any details you feel should be known. You can take your time with thinking about what and get back to me at another time. I know this is all fresh.

[Fresh and still bleeding. He won’t tear a wound wider just to have information. His voice returns to normal.]

I’ll get that list to you. Would over text be fine?

[iminthebook]

I know a few. H.O.P.E. has contacts with a few that sometimes we get some of the students to volunteer at. Its been a while though, We'd have to check-in and see if they are still viable.

[justlittle]

That's true, I hadn't thought to look into H.O.P.E.'s contacts.

[ That's definitely an avenue he can pursue. ]

Thanks for the reminder.

[iminthebook]

Anytime. What else is a teacher for?

[ His passion for teaching has grown. ]

If there is anything I can help with, let me know.

video;

[pullsheavendown]

Welcome...back? [Huh, did everyone return all at once?] You can make beans now?

video;

[justlittle]

Thanks. [ He thinks. ]

Eh. Peanuts too, apparently. I guess they count as a legume.

video;

[pullsheavendown]

What's with the food powers? Sheesh, if I make the ice cream and someone else shows up who can make chocolate sauce, we could make sundaes together.