a finer world, part 5 ( video )

[solarcharged]

[ Oh boy, it's him: the gigantic golden Dream Daddy with the very literal sunny personality. Apollo is broadcasting from roughly half a mile above Nonah - still his favourite city, even after 18 months - with the high altitude wind in his hair and the familiar golden halo of sunlight enshrining his (unusually) solemn features. ]

Hey, everyone. Just wanted to let any new arrivals know that you don't have to be Registered to be a hero. You've just --

[ He patiently pauses to let an airplane pass noisily overhead -- it takes about twenty seconds, with Apollo only emitting the faintest of grimaces as his hair streams briefly over his face, swept up in the wake of the plane less than 200 yards overhead - before he resumes: ]

You've just got to be okay with the idea of getting arrested over it if you're caught. [ IF you get caught, ahem. ] There's been a lot of people going home lately but Impact is still active - we're not a team per se, we don't have funding or a fancy headquarters. We're just a group of Unsettled heroes who keep an eye on each other when we're at work and occasionally go for drinks.

[ Oh, hang on: ]

I'm Apollo, by the way. Hi to the new arrivals I've missed on the network. Welcome to America! [ He waves a hand in hello, bathed as it is in his general diffused glow of sunlight. ] Alternate realities are a bitch.

Comments

[solarcharged]

I didn't realise you were a culinary expert, Victor. Clearly it would have to be a joint venture.

[strikesthrough]

Far from it. I'm more in the 'kill the competition' area of things. So really, it would be more about supporting you with your start-up. You could even go ahead and brand it under Vigil Auntie Polly's Sweet Treats, A Cosmic Punch of Flavor.

[solarcharged]

[ "Uncle Polly" oh no not you too ]

You've been spending too much time with Kavinsky.

[strikesthrough]

I don't think I can deny that in good faith. Which is pretty concerning.

But you have to admit, it has a nice ring to it. You'd look good as a mascot. In a cute bonnet.

[solarcharged]

[ Sagely: ] It's true, I can absolutely carry off a cute bonnet.

But unfortunately, I'm too busy being a mascot for other things. Punching things, Unsettled things. Unsettled punching things.

[strikesthrough]

The proper response to this is why not do both? Update your brand, don't hold yourself back like that.

[Victor is a very serious super villain who has killed a lot of people. Embrace the bonnet, Apollo.]

[solarcharged]

What's that phrase about half-assing two things? I'm better off whole-assing the punching, I think.

[strikesthrough]

As long as you're not punching with your whole ass, you're probably right. If you are... I don't know, something-something think of the children, something-something danger to society.

[solarcharged]

I think we've both managed to be a something-something danger to society without any ass involvement.

[strikesthrough]

Possibly for the best, all things considered.

Besides, there's no contest about who is carrying the real weapons of ass destruction in this city. You might as well write it in the sky.

[solarcharged]

Don't put yourself down like that, Victor. You could put the ass in mutually assured destruction if you wanted to.

[strikesthrough]

When I got up this morning, believe me this was not the pep talk I was imagining. Most people just hand me coffee, you know.

[solarcharged]

I'd be sorry but you've only got yourself to blame. You started it.