one ( voice )

[fingerbang]

So we've weathered our first publicly broadcast display of violence. In this world, that is.

[ A woman is speaking. She sounds pleasant enough at first blush, soft and modulated and distinctly feminine, but beneath that there's the unmistakable tone of someone who very much enjoys listening to the sound of her own voice. ]

Honestly -- I knew our communal memory was short, but this kind of nostalgia has never been worth repeating. I'm sure you all think you're terribly special, subjected to this indignity and being called "hero" on top of it. That must be such an insult. It had better be, for you to react like such children.

You're not the first, you know, and what happened this week won't be the last incident of its kind. That's the tragedy of random selection, right? There's no telling what kind of people will come out. In the last place, let's see... there was the old military commander who unleashed vampires on the City and almost detonated a bomb in this country's capital. There was the scientist who experimented on children and made her own army of feral monsters. The psychiatrist who caused mass hallucinations at a parade. The one who summoned an immense baby to wreak havoc on New Year's Eve.

[ There's no trace of humor in her voice, even at that last one. ImPorts, man. They've seen some shit. ]

I could go on, if you'd like, but I think you understand by now. Do you know what those people all had in common? Not one is still here today. Some of them were killed [ one by her personally, whoops ] and some were imprisoned -- others lingered on to vanish into thin air, like so many before them. But none of them managed to see their work borne out in a lasting way. That was all under Lachesis, who had much less interest vested in making sure we cooperated than our current monitors. Her greatest concerns were always for herself. After all, with the power she had to command, we could all of us be replaced, and our lives renewed at her discretion. Her entertainment was a much more fragile matter. Whether that still holds true, I couldn't say -- as far as I know, none of us can, as none of us have died. But the heroes made up for her apathy, just as they'll do now. That's just how it goes, and this time around the deck is stacked in heroism's favor.

Don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say -- if you're going to make a spectacle of yourselves, I don't particularly care what happens to you. But every action has a consequence, no matter how untouchable you'd like to believe yourself. If you have any questions, of course, I'd be happy to answer. The only trait less attractive than ignorance is hubris. Let's not mix the two any further.

Comments

voice;

[enigmaestro]

I'm not sure if many people appreciate the irony of this.

voice;

[fingerbang]

That's just part of the problem, isn't it?

voice;

[larker]

And where is Lachesis now?

[Dammit god dammed greek Fates why.]

voice;

[fingerbang]

That's one of the numerous questions this new world has yet to answer. If she's still alive, I expect she'll make her presence known sooner or later.

[audio]

[closetshark]

Mass hallucinations? Oh, do tell.

[audio]

[fingerbang]

The man had a fascination with fear -- whatever it was he released into the air managed to evoke those of everyone it affected. I'm afraid the science of it all is beyond me.

voice;

[reptiledysfunction]

...an immense baby. You've got to be kidding me.

[and here he thought that turning into a giant lizardbeast was something else, but an immense baby? Jesus Christ, Miss Lust.]

voice;

[fingerbang]

I wish I were. Given enough time, I suppose it was inevitable that she'd bring in even people inclined to do [ PAUSE ] that.

[voice]

[glassinine]

I hope that your words of warning will be heeded. I fear, however, that they will not.

[voice]

[fingerbang]

Even one person taking note would be an improvement on the alternative.

voice

[attractedtodarkness]

Who's Lachesis?

voice

[fingerbang]

She was the one who controlled the original Porter. All the arrivals and departures, what powers we might have -- those were her work.

voice.

[glowsferatu]

Let's only hope those to whom this is addressed bother heeding it, no one wants to be the next Julian Day. That said, I wouldn't expect them to listen.

voice.

[fingerbang]

At least Mr. Day could be predicted, to some extent -- there are only so many holidays in a year. Burning people alive doesn't keep to such a strict schedule.

[premorse]

Sounds like a blast from the past.

[Honestly, people setting public places on fire is what he's more than used to. It's the rest he's morbidly curious about.]

[fingerbang]

You could call it that -- but not one of the pleasant kinds. It's all very tired.

voice;

[humanistic]

[unleashed vampires on the city man oh man that sounds crazy who would do that?? actually that whole list is-- something else. and then there's Lachesis, who controlled the porter...

in sum: awesome.]

Are you suggesting we all take up heroism, or practice subtlety? [and, actually--] This isn't going t' be another therapy offer, is it?

[more sarcastic than anything else. you don't sound like a therapist, lady.]

voice;

[fingerbang]

[ DING DING DING DING DING Mitchell is the first one who gets it! Or at least the first one to make an out-loud indication of it. ]

That's exactly right. I'll be holding group sessions starting next week.

[inmyothertights]

Wait what happened this week?

[Why did everyone focus on his stupid deal with the universe and neglect to tell him about current fucking events?]

[fingerbang]

A man broadcasted setting a museum on fire with people still inside.

[ She sounds pretty matter-of-fact about it! ]

There were no casualties, as far as I know -- but he's yet to be apprehended.

[yourpiecenow]

So, when people here inevitably start getting all crazy and genocidal, what are we supposed to do? Line up to kick them in the balls? Ask them very nicely to stop lighting people on fire? What power do we have to stop any of this shit? That's the government's job, even if they suck at it. Not ours.

[fingerbang]

Those of us who've registered are with the government -- whether they intend to actively use us for that purpose or not. And they'd be fools not to, if their other option is lining up their own to be slaughtered. Unless they have something else up their sleeve, we're the strongest weapons they possess.

Not that either of those options are very reassuring.

voice;

[godly]

[As someone who was a part of the rescue effort, he feels obligated to respond to this post.]

Rational advice... which could be interpreted as a mere challenge, if heard by the right sort of the person. Or, more accurately, the wrong sort of person.

[Such as the people who committed the crimes she mentioned, for one.]

voice;

[fingerbang]

You're not wrong. Of course, I doubt any number of words would have an effect on someone like the man responsible.

[ voice ]

[assonant]

[ That's a lot to digest, a lot to try and make himself believe.

He'll start with the part that struck him the most. ] What...do you mean by "the last place?"

[ voice ]

[fingerbang]

You already know, don't you? There's not much else it could mean. [ but: ] This wasn't everyone's first experience with this kind of abduction.

➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE since he finally got his shit together

[nestingdevil]

So again - what was that, about being rude?

[Greed's smile is as audible as it is obnoxious.]

You've been here a while then. Though this is a bit of a surprise, coming from you.

➥ AUDIO | PRIVATE

[fingerbang]

You've really latched onto that one. [ "Rude", she means. ] I can promise you, though -- this won't be the last.

[Voice]

[beenwaitinglong]

Ha...!

You know what they say. There's bad beans in every brew.

You're saying this isn't the first time this... "porter" has been put to use?

[Voice]

[fingerbang]

[ Do they say that....... but it's not important. Probably. ]

I didn't mean this porter in particular -- though that's also true. But that's another story entirely, and hardly mine to tell.

voice.

[selfequipped]

[Her first thought might be a paranoid one, but she has it just the same:]

It almost sounds like a hint that if people want out of here, they do that.

[It's a thought.]

voice.

[fingerbang]

[ HAHAHAHAHAHAHA WHAT A CRAZY NOTION
WHO WOULD EVER SUGGEST SUCH A THING ]

That wasn't my intent, I assure you -- for every one of them, there were a dozen heroes she dismissed just as easily. Leaving was never anything more than a coincidence, but that doesn't make for an effective warning.

Either way, direct attempts to force the Porter's hand never ended well. I don't expect this world's changed that.

voice

[liverletdie]

[ A pause. ]

You know what's funny?

voice

[fingerbang]

I hate to be left out of a joke, Mr. Stark. Enlighten me.

[welcome]

[Vampires? Mass hallucinations? Baby summonings? This place seems more like home all the time.]

Phew. And here was me, thinking this world was just intolerably strange.

[fingerbang]

In what way? Aside from the obvious, that is.

[ except wait this is the heart box guy isn't it, what even is the obvious to him ]

[incendere]

That's quite a history.

(read: YOU'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG WTH.)

[fingerbang]

You don't know the half of it. [ AND U NEVER WILL!!!!! ] I'd offer to catch you up, but. Well.

VOICE.

[indentcision]

[ Irritated, but not mad: ]

Out of four, half of those people you're talking about come from Gotham. Was that on purpose?

VOICE!!

[fingerbang]

Oh, no -- it's just a sample of what first came to mind. Still, I was looking for notable examples, and that city's always had a lot to offer.

AUDIO.

[selfimage]

And I had my whole hand on a of reality-based television program; a regular Truman Show. We do have our entertaining qualities.

Well, most of the time, as long as we don't run next to the popular programming.

There's always a greater scheme of things.

AUDIO.

[fingerbang]

[ all the years of adjustment to modern technology aside, a third of that totally just whooshed over her head BUT SHE WILL NEVER ADMIT THAT ALOUD, SO. ]

You know, in all the time we were there, I don't believe anyone cornered that market. It's a real wasted opportunity.

video;

[earnedmystripes]

[Okay, a lot of this post is legitimately horrifying, but there's one part of it in particular that catches his attention.]

Lachesis--that's who was in charge of the last place? [Beat.] The uh, eaten one?

[That's how Spiderman explained it to him okay.]

voice;

[fingerbang]

You could call it that. [ It's perfectly polite, but something about her tone implies she wouldn't. ] But yes, that's who she was -- though even her powers weren't quite vast enough in the end.