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[arsiento]

[ The feed turns on shakily and abruptly, showing at first a view of mostly sky, but then it catches more blurry glimpses of scenery -- what might be recognizable as downtown Nonah, if someone were to squint or was just very familiar with the area by now -- as it moves again, as if being wrestled from someone. Voices can be heard above the fainter sounds of traffic, although there's the steady pulse of a nearby car stereo playing loudly and, occasionally, an engine revving.

Then the communicator steadies, being held at its owner's side; the camera now gives an un-aimed view the street, though at a somewhat diagonal, catching about half of the car in question in the shot. A guy's voice, about a foot away, says: "--the sickest shit I ever seen, man! Orale, show the guy, Angie!" And then the communicator moves again, the man holding it taking a step back as Angie breathes fire about five feet into the air. Only the fire and not Angie herself is visible on the screen, although within moments the speaker is stepping close again.

"You see that? It's legit, right? Just one selfie, man! Just one, come on!" ]

Then what, you'll finally beat it? [ Diablo's not speaking into the communicator, obviously, so his voice is muted, though still audible. ] I got nothing to say about no heroes, kid. Whatever you want? It ain't got nothing to do with me.

[ "Yeah, yeah, whatever! Damn, why you got to be such a bummer, dude?" The communicator raises again, rotating around to show two people: #1, a heavily tattooed man in a letterman-style jacket, "Diablo" embroidered on it like a nametag, looking impatiently at #2, who appears to be a teenager with slicked back hair ("AA" shaved into the sides), a lightning bolt tattoo on his neck, and large mirrored sunglasses. ]

Okay, how--

[ But, smiling delightedly, the boy waves into the camera, declaring: "Heeeey, imPorts! Que onda, stay crazy, guys -- we still believe in you! We got your backs now, so take it easy! Ride or die, man!" before he laughs and runs out of frame to join his off-screen friends; the car motor revs again. Diablo, still holding the communicator, does nothing for a moment except flick his eyes irritably and skeptically in that direction, then turns the camera around to capture the kids driving away. The car's plate reads "DOUBLE A". ]

Man, the hell was that. [ And now the camera once again rotates, his skeptical gaze gracing the screen. ] If that's what you all got around here, then no wonder they be importing in heroes like furniture.

[ Well... "heroes," as the still-dubious expression on his face may go on to suggest. He shrugs, then shakes his head. ]

But hey, y'know-- it's whatever. Anyone know where's a good shoe place around here?

Comments

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[hypodermicgurl]

Shoes? That's the question?

[ Someone finds this far too funny. ]

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[arsiento]

I don't got no other questions, so... yeah, shoes. Why not? I mean, I ain't never even had to think about North Carolina before, you know? But they still got Nike and shit here, right?

[ Also he so doesn't want to talk about the other stuff. ]

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[insinerate]

People. [A mildly spoken correction by a man of equally mild temperament, it would seem.] They are importing people.

[And criminals, which Yuri doesn't liken to people very often, but that's beside the point at the moment.]

Not everyone who finds themselves transported here by the Porter is a Hero. And as for them... [He gives something of a nod, as if to indicate Angie and her companions who've driven off by now.] ...that is a more recent occurrence. Native citizens to this world didn't have such abilities before last month.

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[arsiento]

Yeah, no kidding they ain't. But it don't matter, though -- we ain't ever people to them.

[ It's an ambiguous "we" that he doesn't dwell on, though Diablo still sounds pretty calm. Resigned, at least. So he's not arguing the point at all, even if he does shake his head -- more for emphasis than anything else, though.

His eyes skirt off to the side again, in the direction of where Angie and co. had been. ]

Then no wonder they acting like idiots. What happened?

[slightlyoffchilt]

I doubt we shop at the same place.

[arsiento]

Why's that? You got on loafers or something, homie?

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[snoobs]

[ She's eyeballing that boy through the screen, her expression cautiously neutral until he's disappeared. Then she focuses on Diablo, demeanor changing almost instantly. ]

Where is "here"?

[ She hasn't familiarized herself yet with Nonah. ]

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[arsiento]

[ Ah -- well, at least there's one familiar face.

Diablo pauses, taking a moment to remember the name of the city. ]

Nonah or something -- in North Carolina.

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[restingstitchface]

[He fires off the address of a place that specializes in good Italian shoes. Because one can look like a thug but there's no excuse for poor footwear.

But hey! It's this guy from the bar again.]

Prone to burglary though, so I hear.

[He isn't responsible, all right? Robbery's more your business.]

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[arsiento]

[ Diablo squints, tilting his head. ]

So where's that supposed to leave me, then, if people jacking all the merchandise?

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[kanadian]

They, uh, really like imports. [ A pause. ]

Anyway, if you're looking for shoes... I always just go to the thrift store. They're good quality, mostly. And they're comfortable.

[ He said good shoes... ]

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[arsiento]

They just stupid kids, anyway. Ain't none of my business what they do, I don't wanna be involved.

[ Then... he stares. Is he being made fun of?? He can't even tell. ]

You kidding, right?

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[neverdied]

[Here's Jack, already huffing out a heavy sigh. 'Hi' is what he means to say.]

What kind of shoes?

[arsiento]

[ Oh, it's this guy. Diablo just nods his head slightly, which is enough of a "hi" for the two of them. ]

I roll with Nikes, man. Mine ain't even that old, but they really been put through the wringer lately since I got 'em back.

[classification]

[ He can understand the feeling. Locus hates dealing with people who do shit like that. So, he's not going to call attention to it. Instead, since he's been here a while now and has learned quite a lot about the cities and their landscapes—at least near the porters, he can offer a list.

Which, as it happens, houses plenty of businesses for personal attire. It's not a long list, about 3-4 shoe stores specifically and a handful more that are department stores with an area for shoes, per import city. ]

More likely exist further in or out of the cities, these are just what I have seen so far.

[ It helps, sometimes, being so annoyingly detailed. ]

[arsiento]

[ Thank goodness some people are making contributions Diablo actually considers useful. Not that he was at all helpful himself when it comes to providing context, location, or, really, any other information that might provide some kind of reasonable starting point. But he just got here, so that's the whole point of asking, right? Right.

He stays on video, but just for his own convenience. ]

Now, this I can work with. Everyone else, they just been giving me this marked up European shit and thrift stores.

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[pyrogue]

They're new -- the fire breathers. Been putting out their messes for the past month.

Speaking of new, you just got imported, huh? Welcome to the club.

[arsiento]

Putting out a lotta fires, you mean. [ Hard to tell if he's making a joke there or not. ] I can see that now, yeah. That's where they want me -- and here I thought at first someone was just messing with me.

[ He squints again, head tilting slightly. It's the kind of greeting that it'd be polite to say "thanks" or something to, but: ]

Some club though, huh?

[asoothingvoice]

[This is a more familiar sort of questionable. Compared to the supervillains this is almost homey in the sort of warning signs he's giving off with all of those tattoos.]

The locals with powers is a new thing. As for shoes, that depends on your tastes.

[Because some cholos take their fashion very seriously. He looks like the kind.]

I think I remember someone bringing up working at a shoe store on the network awhile back, though.

[arsiento]

[ Well someone gets it, at least -- not that Diablo exactly offered any context whatsoever, except for his own face. Sometimes that's enough, though!

Not that it's a live or die necessity, especially at this point in his life. But there's also some kind of comfort in letting himself focus on such a familiar, mundane priority at the moment, considering everything else he could possibly choose to think about instead. ]

Explains a lot about the way they handling it, yeah. I mean, especially kids -- anything new like that, probably gonna seem like a real game-changer.

[ For better or worse, but who is he to criticize? ]

Any place that got Nikes, I'll be cool with.

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[itistolaugh]

Ohmygoshyes let's go shopping!

[arsiento]

[ He exhales, almost in resignation. Between Hemali and Harley it looks like apathy isn't going to be enough to get out of this unless he decided to really get stubborn. ]

Yeah, shopping with what money? The kicks I can maybe swing--

[ Not like right this second, but... probably manageable within a couple of weeks if he focuses. Ugh, thinking about money is not something he missed. ]

Ain't much more I need anyway. Like maybe some shirts or something.

[ ... And other obvious essentials, but those are no one's business. ]

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[pillz]

who the fuck did ur ink

VIDEO.

[arsiento]

[ Unlike many of the other responses -- mostly any of the ones Diablo can easily interpret as unhelpful or patronizing -- this one he takes no evident exception to. He's not going to bother switching from video, but also he's not a big texter to begin with. ]

That depends, which one?

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[morethan084]

[Daisy listened to this entire exchange, rolling her eyes at the way they wouldn't just leave him alone.]

Trust me, you haven't seen half the stuff they do.

[Like NSFW fanart, or the convention they have earlier in the year.]

Dunno if you remember me or not, we met at the bar I work at.

[She gave a weak wave.]

Daisy.

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[arsiento]

[ He makes a noncommittal sort of noise at that -- Diablo finds it annoying, especially given how he isn't some hero or person for these punks to idolize, but now that it's over he's moved past it somewhat. They're kids... it's harmless, unlike a lot of what kids could otherwise be doing.

So, he shrugs. ]

Maybe not, but that's fine with me. Ain't really my business anyway, so long as they ain't up in my face about it. [ Then he inclines his head slightly in a nod of acknowledgement. ] Yeah, I remember you. How's it hanging, Daisy?

[airshow]

You just got here and you already wanna go shopping?

[arsiento]

What, like there's a waiting period?

If you had on your feet what I have on mine right now, homie, you would too.