001 ( voice; )

[electroburst]

[ chk. chk. chk ... sigh. to some, it'd be a painfully familiar sound: the click of a lighter wheel, failing to produce a spark, and its owner, highly disappointed. the sound continues, albeit distantly, and in random intervals throughout the rest of the post. this guy isn't about to give up hope. ]

O-kay, so, I got a question: what the fuck? [ chk. chk. ] I've been doing my homework, and I'm pretty sure getting the obvious shit out of the way first has been done enough times that I'd be wasting airspace here, but I just gotta ask: what the fuck. [ chk. ] I woulda negotiated a better contract. Kinda was looking for a buyout anyway, not that this counts seeing as I'm being offered laughable pay and is there even a benefits package? Come on.

[ chk. chkchk. ]

Oh, superpowers, though. Can't forget about that. As if I needed more help running up the walls! Hey, yo, you think maybe I'll finally be cut out for the prime time? [ chkchk ] Maybe join the Major Asskickers Club instead of peddling whispers and cloak-and-dagger type shit while all the really cool guys spend all their time saving the world! Oh, man, that would be, just— so fun. [ chk ] I'm shaking, I'm that excited. When I get this worked up, you know what really settles my jittery little arrhythmic heart? A smoke!

[ chk chk chk— okay something hits the ground super hard, it makes a heavy clink and a thud and that thing is definitely his shitty lighter. ]

For fuck's sake. Anyone got a light?

Comments

permavoice

[killtime]

I do. For all the fucking good it'll do you through the Network, Butterfingers.

[electroburst]

Tch, I wound up here with the one lighter that's just for show. I'd just hit the convenience store, but I'd rather travel.

[killtime]

You anywhere remotely near Maurtia Falls?

[electroburst]

There already, as it turns out.

[killtime]

Good. Saves my ass the trouble. Send my comm the street name if you've figured that little piece of shit out already.

[electroburst]

What's there to figure out?

[ a "what, like it's hard?" by any other name. he sends his intersection over once he spots the street sign, a minute later. ]

Audio

[xth_gambler]

Yes, it definitely seems that you might not have all the lights on. But I do not know if someone can assist you in remedying this clear problem.

[electroburst]

I'm starting to think the actual point was to leave me in the dark, yeah. Anyway, all lighter metaphors aside, "got a light?" is how I made all my friends back, uh, where I came from, so I was hoping it'd get me somewhere here. Can't be all that different. You see one junk town, you've seen 'em all, right?

[xth_gambler]

I have seen many less than amusing worlds, that is true. Yet it is still a thing, isn't it? One learns to roll with the worlds.

[electroburst]

Worlds, towns, same shit. Long as they all got somethin' that makes fire, I can deal. Anyway, sounds like this is far from your first space-time travel rodeo. How's this one rank?

[xth_gambler]

This world is more populous, but more tedious as well. I'd claim it was boring, but I cannot say that for certain.

[electroburst]

"Tedious."

[ he says it like he's committing it to memory. ]

That 'cause you haven't had enough fun yet? Don't tell me they're working you too hard.

audio.

[goldtoxicity]

Dude, being a superhero is not all it's cracked up to be. [ but, uh ] I guess it beats the hell out of whatever entry level job they stuck you in, though?

[ he's Not Home because home is awkward right now, so. ]

What city are you in? I might be able to provide one.

[electroburst]

Don't even get me started on— what a god damn insult! I'm a vet, for fuck's sake.

[ uuuuughhhhh (expressed internally). expressed externally: only a small sigh. ]

Maurtia Falls. I'll travel if I gotta.

[goldtoxicity]

I'm in De Chima. Not a huge fan of the Falls, their whole vibe kinda bums me out. If you wanna meet me here I can give you one, and like, probably a crash course in what to expect?

[electroburst]

Sure, yeah. De Chima...

[ sounds like he's racking his brain for something. does that ring a bell? listen, he can only store so many rapid process memories at once. this is a lot. ]

Nope, can't remember. You got directions?

[goldtoxicity]

It's in Virginia. You can hop the 'porter over here and I'll meet you.

[electroburst]

Gotcha. Who'm I lookin' for?

voice;

[mycrosstobear]

That's why you've gotta keep matches as backup.

[electroburst]

I usually do. Can't keep track of how many fuckin' firestarters I got on me at any given point, then suddenly I'm kidnapped in an intergalactic kinda way and they leave me with the one that's only just for show.

There's no way that wasn't on purpose.

voice;

[heliophilic]

If you haven't figured out by now that all the real action goes down with the cloak-and-dagger shit, you don't deserver the cloak-and-dagger shit.

[electroburst]

I'd like to offer an amendment: all the good action goes down with the cloak-and-dagger shit. The Major Asskickers Club is full of losers with big problems.

[heliophilic]

Then why join a sinking ship?

Is it the 4 seconds of glory?

[electroburst]

Curiosity. Kills cats, an' all that, but the satisfaction of knowing the grass was always greener on the shady side of the tracks'll bring me back, no prob.

[heliophilic]

When has anything good ever happened to the Major Asskickers Club that wasn't immediately undone?