video.

[connate]

[ when the feed clicks on, it's easy to tell that nick's in the kitchen, probably one that's similar to most in the issued residencies. his tone's a far cry from casual, but the fact that he's apparently wasting time at home at least offers some semblance of nonchalance. ]

My name is Nick Burkhardt. I'm with the Portland— previously of the PPB, currently with the... [ a pause, and extremely reluctantly: ] Heropa PD.

[ that's the formal introduction out of the way. which is the easy part; identify yourself, follow routine. going out of his way to make friends isn't something nick's done in a long time, which is probably going to be obvious in roughly ten seconds. his effort to drop the professional approach ends up sounding more neutral than genuinely amicable, but at least it keeps this from sounding like a full-on interrogation. ]

I wasn't planning on getting a tattoo, but given the choice I'd have gone for something a little less on the nose. And while I'm sure cops everywhere would appreciate the vote of confidence, something tells me this place is working with a flexible definition of the word hero.

[ definitely a judgement on what he's seen on the network rather than any kind of careful introspection. no offense. ]

Everyone's talking about whether or not we should register. I'm wondering what gives us the right to in the first place. [ a slight pause, and then he has the decency to sound a bit wry at his own expense. ] So on a scale of recycling to wearing spandex, how heroic do you think you rate?

Comments

[connate]

Flamboyant. Am I allowed to ask how, or is that confidential? [ asking to be polite, given where they are. somehow confidentiality seems like less of an issue when you're in another dimension. universe? whatever. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

I think that, given the unprecedented universal displacement I -- ah, we both -- have suffered, details are accessible.

[Yeah not shady thinking at all.]

There was an individual who murdered rather exquisitely, displaying the bodies to humiliate them -- hardly novel, true, but the allusions he made with it, well. Like the Wound Man. Highly surgical.

[connate]

[ shady thinking noted, but given that nick's the one who asked in the first place... yeah, no, still enough of a hypocrite to notice. ]

Something tells me I don't want to ask about the Wound Man. [ which is sort of like asking. ] But there wasn't anything unexplainable about it, right? You might find profiling a little more difficult with superpowers in the picture.

[slightlyoffchilt]

The image dates to surgical texts of the Middle Ages, notably appearing in Johannes de Ketham's Fasciculus Medicinae. The image depicts all the injuries a man might suffer in, say, Medieval battle. This was replicated onto the body of the victim. [Never forsake a chance to show off.] And -- I wouldn't say anything unexplainable, no. [Save for the person who actually did it, but that's why you can frame your patients right?] Which, as you say, adds a confounding factor. Which might make us all the more valuable, depending on our respective powers.

[connate]

[ sounds like one of his aunt's journals, actually. his brows raise in slightly incredulous interest, but he doesn't pry further. there's a slight pause at the mention of powers — still getting used to the fact that it's the status quo, here. ]

So what power did they bless you with? [ nick has no idea if it's even an okay question to ask, so there's a note of hesitance in the otherwise curious delivery. ]

[slightlyoffchilt]

Mine are -- [He pauses a moment, uncertain of how detailed he wants to be. After all, there's something to be said about aces in the sleeves.] Vocally based. I don't find much use for them, as one can be particularly lethal.

[connate]

[ oh, well that's comforting. vague and lethal. ] Then I'm sure we're all glad for your discretion.

[ there's a very, very fine edge of sarcasm there. while there's some honest appreciation for holding off on using dangerous powers, nick's not entirely thrilled with secrets being kept. not that he's one to talk. ] But if you think they might help you do your job, maybe that's how they're assigning powers to the people who don't already have them.