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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

[arsiento]

Yeah. You got that right, anyway.

[ Well, relatively speaking, but though it's such a specific equalizer it's still a relatively significant one. ]

So how you been?

[neverdied]

Okay. [Which is a surprisingly accurate depiction of his time here. It's been 'okay'. 'Okay' is actually 'pretty good' by Jack's standards. But he realises most won't understand what an achievement this is so he's kind enough to elaborate.]

I'm not on fire. Not dead either. [Both good achievements!] You settled in?

[arsiento]

[ Diablo nods in acknowledgement, mostly to the "okay" -- he's "okay" too. It's not it's torture, being here. It's just... whatever. Weird, confusing, a little unsettling, but mostly just... fine. ]

Ain't on fire or dead neither, so I guess so, yeah. Whatever there is to settle, which ain't much to begin with -- not like I got nothing better to do anyway.

[neverdied]

[A lazy nod of agreement, just a single duck of his head.]

Enjoy it while it lasts. Always something to bother you around here, whether you want it or not.

[arsiento]

[ He shrugs, nodding once himself. ]

Yeah, but that just how life is already -- why I learned better than to ever expect nothing. Ain't none of it really matter, you know? I'm fair game.

[neverdied]

Sounds like it wasn't easy back home either. Rough time with those people taking your shoes?

[arsiento]

Something like that, yeah -- been a minute since I even needed no shoes, anyway.

How about you, man? [ Because they seem... similar... as far as outlooks go. ] You expecting any different from all this either, or what?

[neverdied]

[A brief but lingering silence as he considers that. Does he ever expect anything these days?]

Not really. Same shit, different world. Few different aesthetics but it's all the same under that. [You can dress humans in fifties gear and give them hover cars, but they're still humans.]

Not really sure what this place expects of us or why we're here, but... what does that matter?

[arsiento]

[ With a nod: ]

It don't, not really -- ain't like no one cares what we want, we can't do nothing about it. [ Not that he especially knows what he does want, though. ] Life though, right? We just gotta deal.

[neverdied]

Pretty much. [He knows aaaaaaall about life, what with the long one he's had.]

I guess if you get bored there's plenty of sides to choose. Heroes, villains and everything in between. Not sure the choice actually matters though.

[arsiento]

[ He shakes his head, then shrugs. ]

Nah. It don't matter 'cuz it ain't no choice, not really -- sometimes you just stuck as whatever you are already. You know, like for life. Even if you wanna change that it ain't never that simple. Or even possible.

[ Something he thinks a lot about, though for something that isn't simple, he's only bothered to state it in the simplest, most bare bones way he can. ]

Ain't worried about getting bored, though. I got plenty to think about.

[neverdied]

[A thoughtful sort of pause, gaze lowered, brows furrowed.]

You don't consider this place a second chance? No one knows you, or what you did. Could be anything you wanted.

[arsiento]

[ He hesitates, then another slow shake of his head. ]

I didn't want no second chance -- I didn't ask for it.

[neverdied]

Well, you got one anyway. Make the most of it.

[Beat.]

Or don't. Might not get your shoes stolen here, at least.

[arsiento]

Make the most of it.

[ Whatever that even means, right? He exhales, sharply. ]

Yeah, well, it ain't like I got a choice to begin with. Ain't none of us do, but what's it really matter? Ain't nothing to fight for either.

[neverdied]

Nothing to fight for, nothing to fight about.

Can't tell if you're extremely open to all this or just a pessimist.

[arsiento]

[ SHRUGS... but u know it both. ]

I'm just being realistic.

[neverdied]

Uh-huh. [Can't really fault the guy for that. Pessimism and realism are a way of life for Jack. Still. Diablo doesn't exactly seem bothered but multi-dimensions with super humans...]

You have abilities before you came here?

[arsiento]

Yeah.

[ Matter-of-fact, because... well, that's just what it is, a fact. One Diablo doesn't care about hiding. ]

Since I was born. You?

[neverdied]

Something close to that. [More like 'Since I was an adult, but still many thousands of years ago'. ]

So you know how to use them... Useful for them. ['Them' being the Government, mostly.]

[arsiento]

I know how to, yeah -- when I want to. Don't mean I will.

[neverdied]

Not gonna be on the front lines where the time calls for it?

[Because that's obviously what the Government are going to do with a bunch of super powered freaks.]

[arsiento]

[ He exhales, a huff somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. ]

Are you?

[neverdied]

Maybe. [A shrug.] It's something to do. Wouldn't be for them though.

[He murders and fights for himself, not Governments.]

[arsiento]

[ Diablo, of course, has, but not willingly; he only ever does that for causes -- people -- he cares about. ]

Then for what?