01 // Video

[pale_blue_arrow]

[Brendan took the explanation he got when he arrived about as well as could be expected, all things considered. It wasn’t the Promised Land, but it was a step up from home – not a big accomplishment, there – and much as he wasn’t keen on playing social butterfly, it was best to get the lay of the land when it came to the people. And hey, at least the powers that be were nice enough to patch up his glasses. Other than looking tired and deadpan, he’s practically good as new; at the very least, he’s composed as he looks into the camera and sets it up, though it takes him a moment to get the angle right.]

Sorry ‘bout the lack of technical skills. Not used to these things just yet. My name’s Brendan Frye. I’m a sophomore, though I somehow lucked my way into some AP classes, back home at least. I don’t bring a lot of skills to the table, here. Thought I was done with other people’s home-brewed chaos and frankly I don’t see myself getting too involved if I can’t figure out a way to not be one more burden for the people with real powers. All I got’s some healing and just enough strength to be useful, maybe.

I know nobody here owes me answers and I’m not looking to get in with anyone’s cliques; got no need to make waves and zero interest in that. Basically I’ve got some questions about school here, I wanna know what laws are different from back in California and if the cops around here are worth a damn – ‘cause they were crooks back in San Clemente – and if anyone can offer any bits of advice, that's all I'm after.

[With very little fanfare and no goodbye, he snaps the camera feed off. Whatever his feelings are on this superhero business, and he himself isn’t a hundred percent sure on what he feels, he’s playing it close to his chest for now.]

Comments

[pale_blue_arrow]

So, long enough to have some advice, I'd hope. Any tips you wish you'd known when you got here you could give me?

[inmyothertights]

Don't fall in love with straight boys?

[pale_blue_arrow]

Already did that, just not here.

[Not that he ever informed said boy of those feelings, because Brendan didn't do feelings. Or at least, he tried not to do those kind of feelings given it never seemed to end well for him or for whoever ended up with him.]

Anything else?

[inmyothertights]

Oh. Well.

Hm.

Don't trust Russians. Get used to weird stuff just happening.

[pale_blue_arrow]

I take it there's some kind of logic behind the Russian thing other than broad stereotypes here. Makes about as much sense as anything else.

Define your term when it comes to weird, though. Normal is a foreign concept on a good day for me.

[inmyothertights]

Once they kidnapped a bunch of us and put us in a submarine.

Weird is. Well. Last month half the population fell asleep for like three weeks.

[pale_blue_arrow]

That wouldn't be the worst thing that's happened to me.

Was the cause for that ever found?

[inmyothertights]

The sleep or the submarine?

Oh, don't worry, we found out who it was.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Both. I've been sort-of kidnapped before and apparently, according to my file my ability to heal is now boosted up by sleep. Not sure if that'll come in handy, though.

Who, as opposed to what. So these things usually have a person as the source? [That adds a layer of strange to it, but he supposes that's to be expected here.]

[inmyothertights]

Well, we'll try to keep that from happening again.

Yeah, who. Around here it's almost always a who.

[pale_blue_arrow]

I love that 'try', it fills me with hope. [The driest of tones, there.

He raises his eyebrows slightly, then furrows them.] Well. So much for quitting the private investigator gig. You got any pointers for when I'll have to track these people down later, dollface?

[When digging for information, throw in a compliment. Hey, it works with girls.]

[inmyothertights]

You are fifteen.

[Dollface, seriously???]

[pale_blue_arrow]

Sixteen, actually; birthday was a week back. And you didn't answer my question.

[He has said much less flattering things and meant them as compliments. That said, if you're looking for him to be embarrassed, sheepish or even remotely apologetic, keep looking, Billy. Brendan has no concept of shame.]

[inmyothertights]

No flirting with me for two years.

Befriend someone with magic.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Pretty sure flirting isn't the bit that's against the law. Otherwise my old high school wouldn't have had enough staff to stay open. [San Clemente: a spicy cesspool of crime and creepy.]

Magic. That's a thing, here. [Brief pause, and then:] How'm I supposed to tell if someone has it? Unless there's some cape and wizard hat legislation here nobody told me about, that's not a visible trait, right?

[inmyothertights]

Wow. Yeah, your high school has problems.

I am. I mean I do. Have magic.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Whole city was like that, t' be frank. Problems on top of issues on top of just plain wrong.

Huh. [It used to be nothing phased him, but here, he pauses again just to try to recalibrate his understanding of things.] I have questions but I've also got no idea what's a stupid or offensive thing to ask there. Although my inner Drama Club reject wants to know if you do actually rock a cape, 'cause I would.

[inmyothertights]

Well. Yeah. I kind of do rock a cape.

[pale_blue_arrow]

All you have to do now is quote Shakespeare while wearing it and you'll be the perfect human being. [Brendan has priorities. Whether or not they make sense to other people isn't his problem.]

Is magic a thing that can be taught, here? Some kind of spell to duck bullets would be aces.

[inmyothertights]

[What did he say about flirting!!!!]

I thinks some people can teach it? I mean, not me, but I have a store, and uh. Jonathan Strange might be able to help you.

[pale_blue_arrow]

[It's less flirting and more that Billy is living out ten year old Brendan's dreams and Shakespeare is all it would take to complete everything. Besides, who has a cape and doesn't do dramatics? It'd be a wasted opportunity on so many levels.]

I never thought I'd say these words and not have them be sarcasm, but a magic store or regular? And thanks for the heads up duly; I just need to figure out what I could even offer as payment, I'm broke as hell here. Not that I've ever been rolling in dough to start with, but still.

[inmyothertights]

Magic. I sell mostly spells. And rare books.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Still broke, but again: good to know. I'll try and scrounge up some cash and hit you up when I've got something. Where've you set up shop, anyway? I'm livin' in Heropa right now.

[inmyothertights]

De Chima but I'm thinking of offering a free transportation service soon. I live in Heropa, though.

[pale_blue_arrow]

Guess I'll see you around, then. In the highly unlikely event you need me instead of the other way around, I'm in Heropa 001. Although if you've burned through resources enough to hit me up y' might just want to give up.