video

[crimsonunion]

[There's a crackle as Ryuko taps the mic, muttering,] Oi, is this thing working? [before pausing, taking another look at her screen, and nodding. Unlike many of the other imPorts currently afflicted with a serious case of wacky hijinks, Ryuko looks perfectly normal... albeit a little bit disgruntled.]

I'm gonna cut straight to the chase: do people around here hate us? Impor- no, uh, imPorts? Is that how you pronounce it? Man, English is weird...

Anyways, I was minding my own business, grabbing some groceries, regular teenager stuff, when I passed by this cop car and all of a sudden all of the pigs inside pulled this real sour expression. Like they were two seconds from pulling over and dragging me inside.

[Ryuko groans, collapsing against her couch and spreading her legs wide as she continues her story.]

I stayed on guard the entire way home just in case they tried to jump me. I swear, even though I didn't see those two again, every time I got near a cop they gave me the dirtiest look.

[Beat.]

Okay, I glared back and made a few rude gestures in return, but c'mon. Was I supposed to just stand there and take it like a wuss?

When I was getting ready to hit the sack, I noticed that the tat on my arm changed from "UNSETTLED" to "VIGILANTE." Like this.

[Ryuko shows her forearm to the screen, where the word "VIGILANTE" is proudly spelled out in large, blocky lettering.]

Do any of you guys know what the hell is going on here?

[Apparently, somebody neglected to read the pamphlet.]

Comments

voice;

[thecacophony]

[There's the abrupt end of a laugh, because doesn't this attitude sound familiar? Was Sal ever this bad as—yeah, there's no point in asking.]

Any other time and place, I'd just say these assholes probably had it coming. Usually the government passes out some light reading before we're sent off on our way.

Sound familiar?

[crimsonunion]

Uhhh...

[Ryuko slumps, groaning. Right. That thing. That it was impressed upon her it was very important for her to read.]

In my defense, whenever people start using really stuck-up words like that, I tend to tune out. As a self-defense mechanism; it's easier easier to come up with a plan while assholes are monologuing if I don't pay attention to them.

[thecacophony]

Makes sense, especially with how we all end up here against our will...If you really want people off your back, I guess you can just show up to one of the monthly swear-ins. I'm sure someone else here can point out all the virtues about being a good, registered citizen, but it really means fuck all at the end of the day. Just do what feels right.

[A beat.]

Uh, but if you do show up to a swear-in, just be ready to kick some ass while you're there.

[crimsonunion]

Yeah, no. [Ryuko crosses her arms like a pouty preteen and scowls. Look, she's allowed to have problems with authority, alright? Every time she's brushed with authority people died. Or got crucified upside down. Or nearly turned the world into a giant ball of glorified yarn. Or... okay, maybe some of that was because Ryuko couldn't keep her lip to herself, but still.] I'm not gonna be the government's obedient little lapdog.

Figured as much. Every hoity-toity official event I've been to has always ended in a big fight. Don't think there's any way of avoiding it at this point.

Video;

[myburningsoul]

What a bunch of power-tripping bastards. But uh...What kind of rude gestures?

[Because maaaan, Galo remembers tossing a few at Vulcan and Freeze Force a couple of times. Results can vary depending on the gesture made.]

As for the tat, yeah it kind of plays with how you act here I guess. Class symbol? Anyway--mine reads like this: [Galo's wheeling away from the camera to hold out his arm, HERO brightly displayed--not hard to show that off when the man doesn't seem to know what a shirt is.]

Guess that info is in a pamphlet or something they gave us? Don't know, never read it.

eyyyy trigger buddies

[crimsonunion]

Like this.

[Ryuko flips Galo off in no less than eight different languages. She has impressive form.]

Huh, I wonder how I get one of those? Maybe the cops will stop riding my ass if I do...

[Dumb, meet dumb.]

warning: he will adopt you for your last name alone.

[myburningsoul]

Wooooah.

[Heyyo. That the face of an impressed idiot.]

I mean...maybe? Doubt it though, if they're like most authority I've run into.

[Read: The authority that only went into it for the power, and not to actually help people.]

i watched promare before i got into klk and i was delighted when i finally understood the reference

[crimsonunion]

Yeah, probably. Ditto on that.

[Ryuko snorts. She's had some bad experiences with people in uniform.

Albeit of a different kind of uniform, and one that granted superpowers, but still.]

Most people who get into positions of power are just there to throw their weight around, since the actual good guys are too busy trying to actually help people.

It took me a moment to connect the dots and then I was *thrilled*

[myburningsoul]

Dude! Right?!

[Spiritual siblings, these two.]

And then, after the dust settles, they want to be the ones to take the credit! What the hell?!

trigger shonen protags all have the same braincell

[crimsonunion]

I know, right? Freaking Takarada trying to take all the credit when the only thing he did was being a minor speedbump to Satsuki...

[Granted, Satsuki did destroy his city so Ryuko should probably afford him some sympathy, but she really doesn't have it in her right now.]

voice; id reads "Mad Burnish"

[burnishingmad]

The cops here are worthless.

[crimsonunion]

[Ryuko rolls her eyes.]

No duh. All cops are worthless.

[burnishingmad]

Of course, but you were asking about here specifically.

[crimsonunion]

I take it you've had some run-ins with the fuzz yourself?

[burnishingmad]

Calling it a 'run-in' would be giving them too much credit.

[Someone called a noise complaint about his motorcycle.]

That would also imply they can catch me.

[crimsonunion]

Another hotshot, huh?

[Unintentional fire pun count: 1.]

I can dig it.

[myburningsoul]

[What's an ID? Who does that?]

Dude, Lio. Not all of them are bad.

GALO!!!

[burnishingmad]

[GALO!!!]

I didn't say bad. I said worthless.

Yes~?

[myburningsoul]

I wouldn't say they're that either! Some of them are all right...

[burnishingmad]

They're overpaid parking meters.

[myburningsoul]

Aw, c'mon Lio. Some of them are trying their best out there.

[voice: ID reads "Wrecker"; it sounds distinctly less electronic but recognizable]

[fisitron_declassified]

Glad to hear you're still handling yourself okay, Queen Crimson. Though if anyone tried to start a fight with you I'd be more worried about them, heh.

How're the wheels working out for you?

[crimsonunion]

Going by King Crimson now, actually. It has a better ring to it, don'tcha think?

[Ryuko has absolutely no idea it's also the name of a rock band, but if she did, she'd like it even more.]

And the wheels are freaking amazing. Better than any of the hunks of junk I rode back home.

[fisitron_declassified]

King Crimson...yeah, I do like the sound of that. [He chuckles, and makes a note that he'll need to adjust his notes because yes, he's taking notes on notable ImPorts he's met here and that absolutely include Ryuko. They don't do datalogues like Wreckers: Declassified here but he's heard some podcasts while working in Knock Out's lab that seem similar enough.] It's catchy.

Heh. I'm glad to hear it. Listen, if she ever needs a tune-up and you can make it out to Jeopardy, Nevada you should look me up there. My fortunes have gone up substantially since Heropa, and I've been working on some design ideas for it in my spare time.

[Ironfist did have to consciously make an effort not to go overboard on them, but he's got some ideas that might work with Ryuko's Life Fiber powers with a little field testing that won't come near to crossing the "using this constitutes a war crime" that some of his other inventions have. And he thinks they might be becoming friends and after Skyfall he finds that an especially agreeable idea, so it's a good way for them to "hang out" as it were.]

[crimsonunion]

[Ryuko smirks when Ironfist compliments her choice of codenames. Funnily enough, it had been a mistake at first, when she first talked with Darin Ryuko had blanked on her own alias and panicked. "King Crimson" was a lot better anyways, so she decided to keep it.] I know, right? S'lot more intimidating than "Queen Crimson," snappier too.

And hell yeah, I'll head out next weekend. Can't wait to see what you have ready for me.

[Listen, if Ironfist wants to make weapons that violate the Geneva Conventions, Ryuko is hardly going to be the one to stop him.]