maskormenace | [004] [Video]

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[004] [Video]

[Hello, imPorts! Shinjiro looks decidedly exhausted when the feed turns on-- but that's not exactly a unique case after the past week's events, now is it? But he's finally home from having spent a few nights lending a hand in the Orlando area, and that seems like a good enough time to ask the network a question.]

So all've you that can't fly or teleport or whatever:

How in the hell do you get around when it comes to heroing shit like this? Gettin' through a disaster zone's a damn nightmare...

[He had no plans to go full on STALKS THE NIGHT, but damn, even getting from Heropa to Orlando had been a problem in the wake of several bombs going off- especially since his options are public transit, biking, or just plan hoofing it over. And lets be real, this is likely not going to be the last time something like this happens.

At the end he mutters a quick:]

Dunno how people in Bulgaria expected us to hop over there when we can't even get to the airport- let alone get a ticket over.

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Mostly, I think we end up dealing with disasters in our own area. And getting around in the US is somewhat easier.

In all honesty, the people of Bulgaria don't know that we're not actually allowed to leave US soil and that we get in trouble if we do. So, in a way, they had the right of it, that the US is keeping the heroes for themselves. The teleporters and speedsters and fliers just have ways around it. The rest of us need to know people like that to be able to help.

Maybe we should work on a way to be able to get more people to where help is needed. I don't know who can take people with them, but there's got to be a way.

I dunno, still was a pain in the ass just to get over to Orlando.

[Then again, traffic isn't exactly at its best in the wake of a terrorist bombing.]

That ain't a bad idea- but coordinating shit here's like herding a bunch've cats. And I dunno how it'd even work out.

[imPort carpooling, in a way...???]/small>

Yeah, but at least it's not outside of the country, which at least makes it easier to get to, even if it's difficult.

[Sam grimaces and nods.] Yeah, I know. And I'm not the sort of person who is good at that sort of coordination.

[Hunters are bad enough, and that tends to be only small numbers.]

Even if you were, it ain't like we've got a whole lot to work with. Like this network helps, but only so much.

Yeah, I know. I'm sure we'll sort something out. We just haven't needed to before now.

Yeah. And I'm sure shit like this's just gonna keep happening.

Wasn't that one guy talking 'bout a sort of... imPort communication thing? ['That one guy' SO SPECIFIC, SHINJI.] Like other than this thing. One that's like patched into police feeds and whatever.

I had to rely on the porters and public transport. I would have liked to have gone to Bulgaria and helped, since it seems like Florida was well-taken-care-of, but... well, yes, transport was the huge problem. Well, that and being told I'd be in serious trouble if I left.

Yeah, that's where I'm at too. it ain't bad for the day to day, but when you've got buildings coming down...

[An irritated sigh, but he shrugs.]

Guess super powers're only so good without a way to get out where they gotta be used.

And pandemonium on the roads leading into and out of Orlando. I live in De Chima, so it took me even longer to get there than I would have liked.

[She looks troubled.]

I don't mind my powers, but it's times like this I wish I could fly. Or transport myself.

You too? [A shrug.] I'm in Heropa most days for work an' school, so it wasn't quite as bad.

[His arms fold as he sits back because... really, he's got no solution for that.] Guess it means we're just stuck being late. Makes me wonder what most people imagine a standard imnPort being- since we're pretty much normal people with a power're two, for the most part.

Edited (grammar is hard) 2014-10-26 22:07 (UTC)

Yeah- my job is around here, so I don't have much of a reason to go to Heropa.

[She sighs, still looking unhappy.]

I think you've got a point there, though- I'm sure there are plenty of us living quietly among the populace. Not really getting involved in any of the flashier stuff.

If something goes down up north, it'll be good to have you up there. I don't think many've us are able to get from place to place that quickly. [Speedsters aside, of course.]

'Specially since there's gotta be plenty who don't want anything to do with the whole 'imPort' shit. Not like we were willing abductees and all that.

Yeah, I agree. This past week has been pretty busy as far as things going wrong, so I'll be kept on my toes.

[She nods.]

I can totally understand that... especially after what's happened recently. I don't blame anybody who doesn't want to get involved in the politics and fingerpointing.

[A nod.] Even more'n that, though. People who don't want the powers, don't want the expectations, that sorta thing.

I get that we're more able to do things than the natives- but there's a difference in wanting to be in this spot and doing it 'cause you're the only one who can. [And that feeling blows at times.]

Yeah... there's that, too. I just want to do my job as a doctor and help people, not be judged for whose lives I end up saving.

[That... really hits the heart of the issue, and he's quiet for a moment, taking it in. Shinjiro's hardly the most altruistic type-- but hey, he'll step in if he's got to-- but ugh, hates that feeling of expectations and pressure.]

...Yeah. Like I figure as a doctor you wanna help anyone you can-- but if you work yourself up over everyone you can't, you'd go nuts, right?

Exactly. It's one of the first things they taught us in med school, because if you're busy feeling sorry for yourself, or angry, over every person you couldn't help... it interferes with your ability to help others. It doesn't mean you stop feeling it, but you keep pushing on and do what you can in spite of it. The fact that other people can't understand... that they're so ready to criticize everyone they feel wasn't doing "enough"... it's frustrating.

Yeah, I get you. [A sigh out.]

I think that's what gets me more than anything. Just 'cause I ended up here doesn't mean I have some responsibility to people. I don't want to be expected to go be some big damn hero when I ain't.

Right- and it feels like everyone who comes here is expected to be heroic in some fashion... registering as a hero, complete with a swearing-in ceremony... Not everyone's cut out for it.

[Jaime looks about as exhausted as Shinji does... but he wasn't seen at Orlando at all.

But hey, who's to say he wasn't there? It was a busy place!]

Unless we set up some sort of system with our teleporters just shuttling people back and forth, driving's gonna be your best bet for anything local. Or, uh... semi-local.

[Sup, bro. he hadn't seen Jaime around, but-- he also has no idea what Jaime's secret ID is. But the guy's enough of a do-gooder that Shinjiro will assume he was helping somewhere with something.]

...Yeah, can't say I've ever given driving a try. Wasn't much've a need for it back home.

Been so many attacks the past couple months, I'd be surprised if this was the last of 'em. So I figure if I'm gonna be any help, might as well think've a way to actually get to where they need us.

That's 'cause you didn't live in America. Then again, if we're talking getting from place to place for disasters, even being able to drive won't make us first responders.

Too bad that's the only thing the natives here want from us.

[It's not precisely bitter- more just dry and cynical. He doesn't entirely keep up with politics, but he sees which way the winds are blowing.]

If we're lucky, they'll only target imPort towns.

If we're lucky, they won't target anyone at all.

[It's said dryly, though, because he's not idealistic enough to think that that's actually a possibility.]

Besides, if they decide to target us - which they have - all that is is a correlation between us and trouble. Not exactly good press.

That wouldn't be luck. It'd be a damn miracle.

Just since I've been here there's been attacks on imPort events, attacks on civilians in imPort towns-- and then Bulgaria, who's pissed because we got our own issues. Who knows what else we've missed, too.

Part've me wonders how long people'll really think the benefits've us being here'll outweigh the trouble stirred up 'cause've it.

At this rate? Not long. The real question is what they plan on doing about it.

[Beyond cutting off all their benefits.]

I almost don't wanna know- but I got a feeling that whatever it is, it has to do with what's got those Hornet assholes so jaded.

There ain't a lot of good options.

Not really.

...you run into any of them? The Hornets?

Normally, I just do rooftop to rooftop but...

[A disgruntled noise.]

That doesn't really help with getting out of the country. Clearly we need more teleporty types.

Or outside a city.

[--wait.]

You just jump clear over streets? What's your power?

That too.

[A chuckle.]

Well, I do what I can. And I guess I'm super-strong and junk, so... yeah.

Sounds handy. How far can you make it?

[Because wow, impressive, okay?? That's a long way to jump and run and junk.]

I was near a teleporter, but even that took me a while. Getting to Bulgaria was out of the question.

[He sighs. In the background, his tv is on to the news channel. He's neutral-faced as usual but there's a hint of irritation in that sigh.]

Pretty much, yeah. And then getting from Heropa to Orlando with everyone gawkin' in the streets, or whatever...

Even with Persona, we don't have the ability to teleport.

Maybe we need people who can teleport to be transportation... buddy system?

I dunno how many there are here who can do it. But that'd be pretty handy.

Guess I shouldn't bitch too much, though. If we did work something like that out, then the whole damn world'd be crying for us to fix all their shit.

Well, that isn't exactly new...

Being a scapegoat sucks.

When you are in a situation like theirs, it's easier to blame everything that couldn't help than face the realities of your own situation. Sofia wasn't able to handle her emergency. Without the number who responded in Orlando, she would have been in the same situation.

Emotional statements are emotional. They're not meant to make logical, rational sense. They can't.

Edited 2014-10-28 03:24 (UTC)

yeah it makes sense
i ain't that pissed that they hate us

just makes me wonder how much anyone thought this all out before hyping us up as magic-heroes and shit
a lot of our powers really ain't that useful

That's a curious fact, isn't it? When they've had prior understanding of how sporadic and unexpected imPort talents can be... yet there are those who decide to frame the idea of "us" as something else. To what ends. I'm not sure if oversight is the proper word for it.

[ Too purposeful... or too short sighted, if not. ]

im sticking with my theory of flaunting us at the soviets
like a bratty kid with a new toy or something

world turned just fine before we were here so its not like they really need us

It's less flaunting and more... threatening. Simply because we're the unknown factor.

No. They don't. We're just another complication in this complicated world.

It's too bad we don't have any transports, or any way to get other places quickly, huh?

Yeah. [So grumpy about this. Or maybe this + exhaustion in general.]

Like the hell are we supposed to do if someplace without a porter gets hit? Roadtrip?

I guess? Have you thought about asking someone to maybe...volunteer a plane, or a replacement porter, or something?

...Nah. I'm mostly just complaining.

[PUT EFFORT INTO FIXING THINGS??? why...]

Besides, it can't be something the military's looked over. If they wanted to hand us those kinda resources, I bet they would.

[ TEENAGERS. ]

Maybe, but that could be seen as invading another country, if they did, right?

[ HOW THEY ROLLLLLL ]

...yeah. Probably. [A quiet curse.] So we're assholes either way.

Sometimes, there's no winning. We just have to choose the best course of action that we can, and the one we can live with.

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[004] [Video]

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-whoops got distracted by dream post. >:

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/laaaately slides back in

hey girl hey

voice;

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