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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?

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[ 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. ]

[ 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.

Ain't no emergency.

[ He pauses, then shrugs loosely. ]

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

Getting to know other imPorts in the meantime?

[ A measured pause. ]

And those other people from before?

Yeah, something like that. Ain't like we really got options.

[ He shakes the communicator slightly, then after a moment, shrugs again, then shakes his head. ]

I dunno -- that's what kids do. What about them?

None of them were like that before.

[ She manages to keep the disdain out of her voice, if only because this is a public conversation. ]

Now they're everywhere it seems.

What do you mean?

[ She's new like him, right? But he remembers how strongly... she felt about this last time they spoke. And like how Yuri just filled Diablo in on some of the context behind his strange encounter, someone must have done the same with Hemali. ]

Look, don't worry about it.

[ He'll see one way or another, she supposes. These brand new "heroes" are definitely hogging the limelight recently. ]

I'm not worried. [ She waves a hand and decidedly circles back to the original topic: ] So, why are you looking for shoes?

[ As far as Diablo's concerned, they can keep it. The less he gets dragged into this mess, the better. ]

Been a while, that's all -- time for some new ones. The ones I got been through the wringer, they don't feel right no more.

[ Between all the nonsense back home, dirt, smoke damage, putting his foot through a window... and that's just since he got them back. Before Belle Reve? Oh boy. ]

Just nice sometimes, you know? Putting on something new, makes you feel good. Feel different, somehow.

Maybe you need a little — what do they call it again — retail therapy.

[ Just don't pop into a thrift store for shoes. Get some classy ones! ]

[ Hell no he's not getting them from a thrift store!! Someone just point him at a Footlocker or something so he can get himself some fresh new Nikes, man.

His nose wrinkles slightly. ]

I wouldn't go that far. It's just...

[ Though, now that he's "out" again, it's true that he should probably consider getting like, some clothes and whatever else; right now he's literally wearing everything that he owns, here or back home, but he still is having a hard time motivating himself for more than one thing at a time. ]

You know, like, one thing at a time.

That doesn't sound all that exciting.

[ TREAT YO SELF 2K16. ]

What comes after shoes?

[ He doesn't just have money to burn these days, Hemali!! ]

I don't know, I ain't even got the shoes yet.

[ Never stopped anyone before. ]

Invest in a hat, maybe.

[ Is that like, a baldness crack... ]

Why a hat? You worried I ain't keeping my head warm enough?

Edited 2016-10-11 10:07 (UTC)

If you're going to get shoes, you need to properly accessorize.

[ But that was absolutely a crack at his shaved head. Her mocking smile says enough. ]

What, really? Even shoes need accessories now?

... you don't know much about accessorizing, do you?

[ Shopping time. Shopping time. Shopping time. ]

[ He just stares, and quizzically holds up one arm in view of the camera to show her his chains, then tugs the chain around his neck as well. Those are accessories, right? ]

I don't see a point in overdoing it.

You need to swap them out for other accessories! Perhaps one for every day of the week.

[ Oh my God, what. ]

Like what other accessories? I'm supposed to just wake up and put on brass knuckles because it a Tuesday, or something?

Well, you could, you know.

Nah -- think I'm good with what I got. It seem like all that jewelry gonna do is weigh a guy down, you know? What'd I need it for?

You can't be that simple a man.

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