[video, ID: "miles morales"] frank sinatra plays softly in the distance

[luckynumber42]

So, this is gonna sound kinda random, but. I've been wondering for a little while...what's New York like here? I just wanna know if it's anything like the New York from my world.

Actually, now that I think about it--how does the New York here compare to New York where you came from? If you've ever been there, I mean. 'Cause now I'm wondering about all the different versions of it we probably know.

Comments

[luckynumber42]

...but it still counts for something, right?

[viced]

Not nearly enough to make up for what shit he was pulling. If he'd been a real hero, he could have stopped both.

[luckynumber42]

[Miles's brows knit together as he tries puzzling this out. Something is rubbing him wrong about that statement and he's not sure what it is.

He speaks slowly, trying to figure out his thoughts as he strings the words along.]

Well...no one can save everyone and everything. If it's not worth it unless you can save everybody, then nobody would be a hero.

[viced]

That...might be alright for some people?

Acceptable losses, and all of that. But that doesn't mean... when you take on that guise? Of a hero? It's a lot of responsibility, and a lot of promise.

I don't think he'd consider himself a hero.

[luckynumber42]

[He nods.]

Well, yeah, but...you said he still saved people, right? And even if he hurt people, it was only by accident. It sounds to me like he was a hero.

[Although, he supposes, if the guy himself doesn't want to call himself a hero, then...he shouldn't have to. But in Miles's eyes, at least, he still counts. Mostly because that's how he's rationalized a lot of his own super-encounters.]

[viced]

That's not really how that works, though? I mean, great, he saved people, but he fucked up, and hurt a lot of people because he was careless. If he'd just done the one thing, sure, but there was a year there where he was being hounded by New York's finest -- the real heroes, because he was a public menace.

[luckynumber42]

[Wow. Way to hit him right in the insecurities.

Miles doesn't have anything to say to that. Because even with all the encouragement he got from Nick Fury, and the Parkers, and hell, even Peter himself, he still worries about this sometimes too. Especially with what happened with his uncle.

So he just kind of looks down.]

...I guess.

[And it takes him another several moments before he lifts his head up again to say something else.]

But, I still--I still think it's worth trying, at least.

[viced]

For some people? Yeah, absolutely.

He...doesn't really have the right stuff, I think. Wasn't really meant for the superhero gig, especially in a world where he'd be the only one. That's lonely, you know?

[ Well, he was already alone, but maybe there was something to be said for being the only hero, and the only one who knew and heard the things he heard in his head damn near constantly. ]

[luckynumber42]

...What's the right stuff?

[viced]

The making of a real hero? Shit, bravery, commitment, the ability to not be a complete asshat when you're wearing a costume?

[luckynumber42]

...You really don't like this guy, do you.

[viced]

I am that guy, I'm pretty sure I can make a call on the heroism factor.

[luckynumber42]

Oh.




Oh.

[Now it all comes together. Miles asks the next question carefully, because suddenly this conversation feels a lot more awkward. Things can get a little weird when you realize you've been talking to someone who's been dumping on themselves the whole time.]

So...what do you do now?

[viced]

I'm a politician.

And yes, I know how it sounds, but it's a better way for me to actually help, so it 's worth it.

[luckynumber42]

Wait, imPorts can become politicians here?

[Isn't there some kind of rule that you have to be born in the place you're politicizing?? And even if there isn't, Miles finds it odd that they would allow someone who's from an entirely different world to just...govern something.]

[viced]

Yes? I mean, I'm just the import ambassador for De Chima, but nothing's stopping me from taking my career forward, if I choose.

[luckynumber42]

...so you could run for president?

[viced]

I, ah, doubt I could do it here -- the citizenship test is murky waters, if you ask me. I don't want to fuck with that.

[luckynumber42]

...would you run for president if you could?

[viced]

[ Yes. ]

I...don't know, honestly. It's a hell of a lot, and juggling that and import status? That'd take a lot of balls.

[luckynumber42]

Wouldn't it be good, though? Like, an actual superpowered person as president. You could stop wars and bad guys all on your own!

[Forgive him, he comes from a world where Captain America was president for a while.]

[viced]

[ Literally why he ran for president even though he hasn't told anyone he did ]

Uh -- I'm pretty sure wars don't happen like that -- and we don't really have "bad guys" like you do here.

[luckynumber42]

What do you mean?

[viced]

I mean...there are no superheroes or villains? Our bad guys are normal criminals, and we have law-enforcement agencies to take care of them.

[luckynumber42]

[He did mention that all the supervillains disappeared. But...]

...what happened to all the supervillains that used to be around?