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[ 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?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Shoes? That's the question?

[ Someone finds this far too funny. ]

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. ]

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.

I doubt we shop at the same place.

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?

Edited 2016-10-05 04:31 (UTC)

[ 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. ]

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

I presently am wearing an Italian leather cap toe darby.

[ 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.

[ Hemali shakes her head. ]

I've heard it's a big enough city; there must be a place for [ a slight grin ] shoes. Whatever the emergency is.

[An ambiguous "we" that Yuri suspects might just refer to the powered population in general. After all, this world isn't unique in its discrimination against those that are different. Chances are, much like him, this stranger experienced such treatment where he came from. He's too resigned for it to be anything else.]

A generalization...but mostly accurate.

[He regards Diablo quietly for a moment before he continues...]

It's been nearly a month since a handful of people native to this world manifested powers, the result of a plot to improve the present and pave the way to a new future that was spearheaded by...well, it was spearheaded by someone who was not himself at the time. The matter has since been resolved, but as you can see, many of the citizens have retained their newfound abilities. Some are harmless. And then there are others who have taken it upon themselves to be less than friendly.

[ DEADEYES. Then he scoffs out a quick huff air. ]

You what? [ Honestly... ] Lemme see.

Ain't no emergency.

[ He pauses, then shrugs loosely. ]

Don't know my way around yet, though, so I figured why not ask around?

You want to... See my shoes?

Yeah, man. If that shit ain't fake I wanna see it for myself.

[Uneasily:] Why would I make up a type of shoe for this?

[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.]

Getting to know other imPorts in the meantime?

[ A measured pause. ]

And those other people from before?

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... ]

[ Diablo squints, tilting his head. ]

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

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?

[ Not an incorrect assessment, for the most part; there is in fact quite a bit of overlap between this and what Diablo's coming from. If anything, it's a lot better -- certainly more forgiving.

That being said, the explanation... sounds very familiar, though Diablo hopes that's just his mind drawing comparisons rather than the similarities really existing that strongly. It would be typical, though, if he really did find himself now in a situation practically identical to the one back home. ]

If you say so, man -- but that don't sound so resolved to me. That's a big change. Maybe everyone don't realize how big yet.

[ The look of skeptical apathy never quite left his face to begin with, but still, he shakes his head, dismissing it for now. ]

So you been here a while, I take it.

[He might notice Crane's new Italian shoes.]

In the middle of a considerable problem. What will you do about it?

[ Diablo exhales, forcing himself to take a moment to untense before responding. It's hard to entirely shake the reflex whenever he can just sense in every word and muscle twitch how much better than him someone else thinks they are. ]

I dunno, man. You tell me. Take like two seconds, so what's the issue?

Hey, man, I got enough problems. Why the hell would I want more?

[ True that they are nice shoes, though, if different than what Diablo had in mind. ]

Whatever you thinking, I don't do that.

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