1 ⚙ VIDEO; Sunday Afternoon.

[viced]

Well, everyone, it's been a long fucking while, hasn't it?

[ It seems so weird, to see Mitch without his usual, old backdrop of an office. He's not in a bedroom, either, but instead outside, probably a park, but he sure as hell doesn't look comfortable. He's just kind of holding the communicator, there's not the usual production-quality that his addresses normally came with. Starting over, starting from the ground up. He's smiling though, as much as a guy who's lost a career can smile. ]

We've got a lot of new faces on here too. I'd say welcome to the City, but it's not really the City anymore. [ A pause. ] Welcome to Cape Canaveral, imports.

We've had a lot of people offering rundowns, so I'm not going to do that, we've had appeals for cooperation, something I would wholeheartedly encourage, but more than that, I wanted to pop in and let you know what I'm here for. Back home, where I really come from, I was the Mayor of New York City, [ A pause. There are other things, but he won't address those, ] and then in the City, I was also the mayor, your mayor, really. It's difficult to distinguish a classification like import, no matter what you do, you know? Anyway, when I showed up here, they apparently knew me well enough, they didn't give me one fucking job, they gave me two. I'm your representative here.

What that means, of course, is that I'm here for you. I know how cheesy, and ridiculous it sounds, but it's true. I'm here for each and every one of you, and I mean that wholeheartedly. I know it's a lot to take in, coming to another goddamn world, and suddenly there's a tattoo on your arm, a file in your hand, and you're being asked to register for these people. I know it's not easy. I know it's not the first thing that comes to mind when showing up in a new goddamn world, because I'm pretty sure most people are going to get caught up on the fact that it's a new goddamn world.

And that's where I want to come in. I want you to understand just as I do, I want to make sure that if there are any fears, or anything holding you back, let me bring them up with the people in the government, let me bring issues you have up. I'm good at this for a reason, and if you need a voice, I'm going to be it. So don't hesitate, and if you don't want to do it here, just tell me when and where, and I'll make sure we can talk -- or you can call me anytime, and I'll be here to listen.

[ And like magic, the number seems embedded in the message. ]

Anyway, like a lot of people have already said, we have to work together to make do here. If we don't, we're going to fall apart, just like before, and I cannot and will not let that happen if I can help it.

Thanks for listening folks, and have a good rest of your afternoon.

Comments

audio.

[prearcadian]

Sounds like a lot for one guy to bite off. Was it easy enough back in your city?

audio.

[viced]

Easy? Never. I don't like doing things the easy way. If it's not hard, it's not worth doing.

video

[cardea]

A representative?

video

[viced]

You know, kind of like a congressperson? Only, you know, for imports only, and I mostly liaison with the people in charge of us.

voice;

[waiting]

Guess this makes it official. I can't call you "boss" anymore.

voice;

[viced]

Shit, with as unpopular as I am normally, how long do you think it's going to be until the first assassination attempt? I'm going to need some muscle.

video;

[youbastard]

That sounds like quite the job to be given. [Definitely not one she'd ever want.] Can I ask though, have they given you any inside information beyond what the rest of us know?

video;

[viced]

I'm just as new as the rest of you, why would they trust me with extra intel yet?

text

[guiloteen]

what happened before?

permavoice

[viced]

Which part? I mean, I was there for four and a half years, there's a lot that happened before.

Or are you asking about what brought us here?

video;

[iampretty]

[it's a good thing Kate taught him how to google because he knows what a representative is now!]

If you need any help with anything, let me know and I'll try my best to help. After all, while I'm sure you'll do a great job, it's always nice to have a helping hand!

video;

[viced]

Well, I'll never say no to more help. [ A beat. ]

What exactly is it you do, though?

voice;

[enigmaestro]

Leaping the helm already? My, my.

voice;

[viced]

Well, if I don't, then we're not going to have much of a direction, you know?

video;

[pyms]

[ Mayor? Representative? Well, then. ]

Hi there. My name's Hank, and you might have guessed it, I'm new around these parts. I'm sure you have a lot of people asking you questions, if not you might soon, so I'll cut to the chase. Why the tattoos?

video;

[viced]

[ A pause, while he weighs the question. It's an important one, and not one he likes. ]

I can get an official word, if you'd like. As far as what they do, they seem to work with our communicators, and they mark what our status is.

Extrapolation is all I have, for the moment, although I assume most of it is because they need some way to make sure they know who's an import and who isn't. Not all of us are disfigured. [ He draws a finger along the side of his face -- drawing attention to the circuits there. ]

video.

[selfequipped]

[There are a number of questions, but she decides to go with the easiest.]

How'd you end up in charge of the City if no one liked the imPorts there?

video.

[viced]

If I can win an election back home being the only sad fuck with superpowers, the City was actually easier.

I just did what I always do -- I campaigned.

video;

[viced]

Well, that's kind of what they pay me for. Or some of what they pay me for.

Video

[incendere]

Well, I'm glad to see that such positions exist here. It certainly makes the whole situation a little less disconcerting, though I'm sure a job such as that must be difficult to handle, considering how many imports they seem to be taking in.

Video

[viced]

Hey, at least they've got someone to do it -- someone willing at least.

Besides, they need someone to run interference, if you ask me.

video;

[abadidea]

[Isaac gives a small smile as the video initializes.]

You know I'm in if you need a hand, Mitch.

video;

[viced]

Kind of you. I'm sure I'm going to need a lot of fucking hands over the next few weeks.

[video]

[beastofasister]

...Ah, I'm a little surprised they're giving us someone like you, to be honest.

[Which is probably either oddly astute or oddly cynical for a girl her age to say, but.]

[video]

[viced]

Are you? [ He has a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. ] Honestly, I don't think you should be. They knew enough about us from before that they're keen to not repeat the same mistakes again.

video;

[sleuthy]

[ An impressive resume, if what he he claims is true (and achieved through respectable means). Still, Veronica doesn't spend much time considering his achievements or trustworthiness. They don't matter, really. She's suspicion of everyone, regardless of their objective merit.

Right now, she's lounging at the police department, as one does when given a surprisingly useful position, at a desk that may or may not belong to her, shhhh. ]

So, Mr. Hundred. [ what a name, geez. ] What are your thoughts on registering?

video;

[viced]

Well, that depends. My thoughts are that I don't have a problem with it personally, but I can understand also why there are reservations about it. My experience isn't everyone else's experience, after all. When I registered -- or our equivalent of registering -- with my government, they never did me any wrong, but I've heard of different experiences from different people.

[ He shrugged. ] Then again, with what they're offering, it's a pretty decent trade off, if you can stomach being beholden to the government.

voice

[retconman]

[ Ah. Max listens with, albeit a bit skeptically, but this is just the kind of consolidation that appeals to him even if he's expecting a good portion of it to be 1) biased or 2) hot air, because he wants to know who's who. ]

Cheesy as hell-- [ He looks at the name on the communicator. ] Mr. Hundred, but everyone has to start somewhere. You've got your work cut out for you, no doubt. How are you planning to handle all the dissent you're bound to have to pass along?

voice

[viced]

[ Oh shit it's max lord

and there's no money this time :( ]

Er -- well -- [ That's strange, he'd figured Max would know his track record by now. Play it cool, Mitch. Play it cool. ]

Honestly? It's no different than the dissent I've faced before. I mean, the City had a hell of a lot of dissent, and New York City after 9/11? That was just plain hell when it came to that. I think it's important to listen to concerns like this, and then devise a course of action once I've heard the different voices we've got coming in. After all, such a diverse crowd will give us a really diverse insight.

voice

[acclimatized]

[ john is impressed! ]

Nice speech.

voice

[viced]

[ A pause. ]

Thank you. You really mean that, or are you fucking with me?

voice

[fishbreath]

You have mentioned, I think, registering with with your government? At home. [ not that she be creepin or anything ] Why did they want that?

voice

[viced]

Well, when you're the only person who has superpowers, it's kind of something they're going to do. It wasn't necessarily registering, like this. They knew my name, who I was, I had a special nondisclosure agreement with the NSA.

voice;

[recurring]

You're a politician?

[Color her...slightly shocked. Only slightly.]

voice;

[viced]

Yeah, actually. Sorry, I should have made that clear before, I know we're not the most popular of people around.

video;

[gandere]

What a generous offer, Mister Mayor.

[ That sickeningly sweet smile she has is warning enough. ]

video;

[viced]

Er -- [ He's worried. ]

You have an idea, then?

voice ».

[nitidus]

Will you be taking up the position of ImPort PR, Mr. Hundred?

voice ».

[viced]

As the representative, it's a little more complex than that, but close enough, yeah.

Go figure.