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

[yourpiecenow]

[... well shit should she just be open about this here like it's not like there's any stupid coven to protect why should she be proud of who she is and what she is--]

Witchcraft.

[connate]

[ oh. way more familiar than what he was expecting. there's a very slight delay, and he sounds more curious than skeptical. ]

What kind of witchcraft?

[yourpiecenow]

Well, because this place is a shithole, I only have a fraction of my powers... But, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and transmutation-- that's being able to teleport, basically.

[connate]

[ wow that is like, five billion more things than the witches he's used to. ]

That's just a fraction? I was expecting something more along the lines of the occasional magic potion.

[yourpiecenow]

I guess you expected green skin and warts, too.

[you fucking racist]

[connate]

[ welllll ]

Not green skin and warts, no. Besides, aren't you supposed to have glamours for that?

[ the fact that she reminds him of a 'friend' from back home probably isn't helping with the manners. ]

[yourpiecenow]

... I'm going to guess that the shitty witches from your world are a lot different than my kind of witches. And I'm not glamoured; I'm just naturally gorgeous.

[connate]

[ admitting that he's dealt with witches isn't exactly dangerous here, is it? he's already seen weirder on the network. there's a very slight pause, but he doesn't hesitate on the words. ]

We can only hope. Ever heard of a Hexenbiest?

[yourpiecenow]

... Gesundheit?

[connate]

[ maybe not. there's a slight smile, though; pretty sure he's had the same response at least once. ]

Never mind. Must be a local problem. [ and actually, maybe more importantly: ] So this place can take abilities away from people, too? Do you know if that's common?

[yourpiecenow]

It seems like more people get powers than lose them, but I haven't talked with any really powerful people. [slight implication

that nick here is included in that]

[connate]

[ wow

rude ]

Really? Not even the ones in capes?

[ being a mature adult demands deflecting and keeping things on the down low. that said, he probably looks annoyed enough for it to be clear he's holding his tongue. ]

[yourpiecenow]

They're all pretty powerful, I guess, but this place constrains us. It's probably easier for the people without powers to get used to having them than it is for powerful people to get used to being not so much.

[jeez hipster cop chill] I'm guessing you have something supernatural going on, if you know so much about witches.

[connate]

You see a lot of things working homicide. [ still trying to keep secrets in superhero city, that won't last long. ]

Not always things you can easily explain. But I'm sure this place will beat the best Portland had to offer.

[ not. ] What job did they set you up with?

[yourpiecenow]

Magazine model. Not all of us get to be exciting things like cops.

[connate]

We all have our talents. [ slightly patronizing? maybe. ] And I don't know if exciting is the right word.

[yourpiecenow]

Like murders aren't excited. [pss nick everyone here is a freak] Add superpowers to the mix, and you're bound to get some crazy shit.

[connate]

I can't wait. [ more like everyone everywhere is a freak. ] At least I know who to call if I need some witchy backup.

[ not a pun at all, you're super polite. also a little bit serious— he's not one to waste resources. ]