001 | Video

[heliophilic]

[The video clicks on to show a young man in a black cowl whose mouth is speckled with blood. Sure, there appears to have been an attempt to clean it off before turning the feed on, but he's missed quite a few spots. No matter, Midnighter has more important things to attend to.]

Hate to break it to any of you who actually knew him, which from what I can gather is a grand total of 3 of you, but the last guy with my name is gone. Apparently whoever the hell it is that brings us here liked me better. Probably because it seems like that guy makes me look like Booster freaking Gold. For everyone else, name's Midnighter. I've already done my homework and gotten the basics, so no need for anyone to give me a big speech.

That said, two questions:

[He holds up a gloved hand, palm facing him, as he counts his questions off with his fingers. He does this mostly because he realizes his palm is also caked in blood from touching his wound. Unfortunately, there's some on the back of his glove too.]

1. When the time comes and you so graciously choose not to become a government puppet, how exactly do you get around to the other Porter cities? From what I can gather, the porters are a puppet-only privilege.

2. Where does a guy go to have some fun around here? I was just about to get into an extremely messy breakup, and I could really use the stress relief.

[Does he mean punching or partying? With him, it's impossible to tell.]

I'll also accept recommendations for a good place to eat.

Oh, and anyone with business with the other guy can take it up with me. Figure it's the least I can do.

[Rubs some of the dried blood off his mouth with a fisted hand before turning off the feed.]

((OOC: Midnighter has a permissions post, and I'd really appreciate it if you could fill it out when you get the chance. Thanks!))

Comments

video

[rathercommon]

Erm -

[ Good questions, but first, with a touch of alarm - ]

Right, whose blood is that, and if it's yours are you all right, and if it's someone else's are they all right.

video

[heliophilic]

[Pans the camera down to his chest, where a portion of his armor is all but destroyed in a large circle below the crescent moon symbol... not all that far from his heart. His chest is bandaged, but the bandages need to be changed, as the blood has already seeped through them.]

I've lived through worse.

[Physically, at least. The story behind that particular wound won't heal for a long, long time.]

video

[rathercommon]

[ A noise of frustration and worry answers that sight. ]

Right. Can I assume from the bandages that a doctor has seen to it? Or is that a home-done patch-up.

[walkingballpit]

[ Frowning into forever. ]

Out of curiosity, can you access things that were locked to the old you?

[heliophilic]

Didn't check.

But you bet I'm going to now.

[mightthinkthat]

[ Francis looks amused but like you're amused when someone has tried too hard. ] Am I supposed to rush to cry out my flimsy defence because you called people who register a puppet?

You'll pardon me if I'm not terribly worried about the respect of a man who considers pinky swearing an unbreakable bond. [ Why do people take swearing so bloody seriously here? ]

But as I'm here...

One. Have you tried walking?

Two. I believe we have an arcade here in Nonah. [ Tetsuo would be delighted to entertain you, dude. Also it's a kid's hang out, which seems appropriate. ]

[heliophilic]

[Oh how quaint, someone who thinks he's clever.]

Did you hire someone to write that for you, or did you manage to come up with that all by yourself?

And not that I owe you a damn thing, but whoever decides to register is none of my damn business. It's your life, you're free to make whatever mistakes your little heart desires. But if you think for a second that the government isn't looking for you all to fall in line and play nice with them, you're delusional.

[Please, like he thought everyone who registered with the government fell in line with it. Still isn't going to stop him from being skeptical of the government's motives in the first place.]

Or maybe you know that already, but you think you're smarter than they are. You might be, you might not. Either way, not my problem what happens to you.

[illuminescent]

Oh-

You're-

Oh. Do I apologize?

[heliophilic]

What's there to apologize for?

[pushtheboundaries]

I'm assuming you mean someone unregistered. You can use them, you just have to go through a bit more effort.

[beat]

You missed a spot. Ah-[and he. taps the side of his mouth.]

[heliophilic]

Just how much of an effort are we talking?

[Attempts to scrub off the dried blood with a knuckle.]

Next time I get kidnapped and sent to an alternate dimension, I'll make sure they take me from a time when I'm not bleeding all over my b-- ex-boyfriend's floor.

video

[deadkord]

I can't say I met the guy, but if he makes you look like Booster, I'm not sure that's such a bad thing.

[ You look like you shop at Hot Topic For Adults, M. ]

video

[heliophilic]

I really look like the type that would sell my mother if someone offered me enough money?

[Sorry, he has no idea who you are. The only Blue Beetle he knows looks completely different.

Then again, even if he knew who you were, he'd probably say the same thing.]

video

[pobrecisco]

Uh. What kind of fun? Because with the whole cowl and blood thing you've got going on, I'm kind of wondering if you're a freaking vampire or something, and that might mean a whole different definition of fun.

video

[heliophilic]

I've met vampires, and trust me, they're not nearly as good looking as me.

[That isn't to say they're hard on the eyes, either...]

But I'll take that as a compliment. As for where the blood came from...

[He pans the camera down to show off his stab wound. Don't worry, he wrapped it up first.]

Blood's what you get when you stab someone through the chest.

video;

[selfpraise]

[Seeing someone covered in blood may be unusual here, but it's nothing out of the ordinary for Dorian.]

Visit a bar. There's going to be no shortage of intoxicated people who would be willing to either fight or sleep with you.

[A pause.]

Unless you're picky.

[Reasons why Dorian doesn't try and pick up people at bars since only women tend to approach him there.]

video;

[heliophilic]

[You are officially his new favorite person.]

Finally, someone who gets me. No one appreciates a good dive bar these days.

What kinds of bars we talking about? I'm going to need names and locations.

[A smirk.]

Depends on your definition of "picky."

video

[performance]

Um, you might also want to talk to a doctor? If that's... you know... your blood. Before you go party. Just a thought.

video

[heliophilic]

Accelerated healing. I'll live. Besides, releasing some steam would be far more useful to me right now than someone in a white coat prodding me.

[Mainly because he's so pissed right now. Angry at what happened, angry at who did it to him, angry that he didn't see it coming... And why does this kid look so maddeningly familiar?

Maybe if someone would stop staring at his face and start staring at his name, it would all become clear.]

Voice

[viced]

Actually... [ No, never mind. Mitch, don't get into the shitty history about here and the other place. ]

I'm pretty sure each city has its own unique offerings. So depending on where you're at, you might find your location really boring -- or really exciting.

[ A pause. How the fuck does Midnighter know Booster Gold?

No, we're not asking that question. ]

Voice

[heliophilic]

Actually...? [Excuse you, Mitch, it's rude to start a story and then suddenly stop you know.]

Got any more vague non-answers for me or should we start over and have an actual conversation?

video;

[assays]

[Her first instinct is to offer medical help, but after seeing the conversation between the newcomer and Kitty, she refrains.]

The Lucky Cat Cafe is a nice place to eat. It's in Heropa.

[She'll choose to focus on anything but his apparent injury.]

Some of the bars serve food too.

video;

[heliophilic]

[You mean altruism isn't something to be immediately suspect of?]

Does it serve just coffee and desserts, or are we talking meals?

[Both are fine, he's just curious. Just because Midnighter doesn't have to eat, doesn't mean he doesn't greatly enjoy it.]

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[enustari]

[Elsa doesn't normally add to the welcome wagon, but she knows what it's like to have people judging or fussing over you when you just want a good drink, so:]

Maurtia Falls has all the best bars. And by best, I mean seediest.

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[heliophilic]

[Thank you, for focusing on the important things.]

So you were right the first time when you said "best."