1° }} VIDEO, id: Mick Rory

[pyrogue]

[ Heat Wave turns on the video, wearing his signature costume, and tries to smile a little. ]

This is convenient, isn’t it? It's like having a support group for people stolen to an alternate universe. At least that's something. [ He wonders if it’s really a good idea, though. Mixing criminals, civilians and superheroes seems like a surefire way to get things heated. But he figures it's better than nothing.

Mick got here yesterday and has been figuring out his bearings. He’s less in shock now, so he might as well introduce himself. There’s also something he wants to address, especially given some of the folks he’s noticed merchandise for around. Just in case. ]

My name’s Mick Rory. They call me Heat Wave. I’m a hero. [ It almost sounds, very slightly, like he’s trying to convince himself when he says that. ]

I know I wasn’t always, so I wanted to make it clear. Save us all a headache. [ Pause. ] If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t worry about it. Just remember I’m one of the good guys.

[ Not sure what else to say, he’s about to turn off the camera when he remembers something important. ]

The pamphlet said Registration included health care – anyone know if that covers therapy?

Comments

[pyrogue]

[ Well now he HAS to ask. THANKS BUDDY. ] Is he here and is he gonna be a problem?

[airshow]

Yes and maybe. He's not the one from our universe, but, y'know, he's still himself, and I'd trust any Thawne about as far as I could throw 'em. And I don't have great upper body strength.

[pyrogue]

Just what we need. [ Years of reformation haven't trained out that knee-jerk reaction to Reverse-Flashes. Worsened it, probably. Playing friendly with the real Flashes does that. ]

Watch out for him, is what you're saying.

[airshow]

Goes without saying, but yeah. Honestly, I can't predict the guy.

[pyrogue]

[ Mick crosses his arms. ]

Why do you say that? [ Which is both a "Why do you say that" and a "why are you talking about him like you know him personally" ]

[airshow]

[ Trickster has absolutely never made a bad decision and thrown mustard into his window in the dead of night, if that's what you're asking. ]

All these guys from other versions of where we're from — they're weird, is all. Kind of like people we know, but a lot like people we don't. So I'm saying, don't go in assuming anything.

[pyrogue]

Because what this place really needed was alternate versions of people we know on top of younger ones. [ Since Superboy is from earlier - he remains completely oblivious to the fact he is too, from James's perspective. ]

[airshow]

Right? I swear we're gonna need one of those crazy bulletin boards with the string and the pushpins at this rate. Actually, we should get one anyway, they make a guy look like he's keeping busy.

Speaking of which, [ James says, with all the casualness he can manage (which is an awful lot), ] what's the last thing you were doing before you got here? Broadly speaking.

[pyrogue]

You would like those things.

[ He scratches his head. ] Well, I'm gonna have to take a rain-check on hunting down Murmur. Was just about to head for Keystone when I ended up here. Any of that sound familiar to you?

[airshow]

Oh good, you're not that far behind me. [ Technically true, depending on how one defines the nebulous concept of "far." ] I was worried you'd be from all the way back before the Neron disaster or something and I'd have to make a whole slideshow to get you caught up.

[pyrogue]

[ Ughhhhh Neron. ] Don't remind me. [ He crosses his arms and sighs a little. ]

So you're ahead, huh? We go after the Rogues yet?

[airshow]

[ What's the simplest lie to tell? The one where he doesn't have to keep more facts straight than necessary. ]

Getting ready to. But I guess this place decided to put all that on hold indefinitely...

[pyrogue]

Figures. [ His already crossed arms seem to tighten a bit more around his chest. ]

Don't really like leaving something hanging, but there's not much point getting hung up about it now.

[airshow]

Right. May as well take advantage of the... well, let's call it a vacation. It sounds better than kidnapping.

[pyrogue]

We can make the most of it.