001 - Video

[revoltndevelopment]

Who: Ben Grimm
Broadcast: Video Broadcast
Action: Bishop
When: June 4th

Awright, lets get this over with quick.

[ Ben's been loitering for a few days in the Marisva, getting his bearings, read'n up on what he could about this place, but some stuff you only get through good old fashioned talking face to face. Or face to camera. A huge, craggy, orange face fills the screen, all worn and weathered and animate like stone probably shouldn't be. There's a slow blink and a low sigh, the Thing rolling out his shoulders and settling in for a fun series of conversations. ]

Ben Grimm here of The Fantastic Four and Avengers ask'n for a headcount. Who all's here, who ain't, and which version of earth are ya from?

[ It ain't his first rodeo, it ain't even his tenth- it is his second in one of these weird 'crammed in a jaw and hope noth'n blows up' sortsa places though. Seems a bit nicer than Luceti. For one thing: Space! For another: he gets to pilot. ]

And can we skip the 'oh gosh gee you're all big and orange and rocky!' like I don't know. You're in space, you've gotta have seen stranger things than me by now.

Comments

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[axiomed]

There are multiple versions of Earth?

[ Which he knew in hindsight, but from the way Ben was talking about it . . . was there a way to visit parallel worlds? ]

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[revoltndevelopment]

And a prize t'the guy in paisley.

[ Ben cracks a wry smirk. ]

It's weird when you first hear 'bout it, sure. But yeah. Lotsa versions of earth, lotsa versions of- well. Everything. Dimensional travels kinda of a side gig for me.

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[passingthrough]

Fantastic Four is new. [New to her. But the Avengers reference gets her interest. So does the orange and rocky, but it's not something she'd feel the need to comment on.]

How do you expect us to tell you what version of Earth we're from? It's not like they're numbered. [Ha...ha... Earth 295 reporting?]

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[revoltndevelopment]

Pick an impotent moment in history and share it. Those are usually the best markers. Who's president of the US, if New York's fulla superheros or not, if there's some sorta bizarre post apocalyptic thing go'n on.

[ There's a scrape like stone on concrete when he shrugs. ]

That sorta stuff.

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[firstrebel]

Trust me, no matter how many times you try to pre-empt it, you're still going to get the "gosh gee you're visibly not human" stuff.

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[revoltndevelopment]

It does seem to be a pattern. "Hi I'm Ben Grim, nice t'meet ya"

"AAAH the big rock man SPOKE TO ME!" Cripes.

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[tallasaking]

[Tyrion rubbed his beard once, before turning on the video to give him a wry response.]

All right, Stoneman. If we are not on your team, what are we to talk about?

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[revoltndevelopment]

I dunno, wherever it is you're from that makes you call me 'stone man'. Got a name, said so right up front, Puck.

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[reek]

Yours is the worst case of greyscale I've seen. Why would Atroma allow you here?

[ Only partially being a dick (for now). Greyscale is a serious, nasty, contagious skin disease where he's from. ]

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[revoltndevelopment]

Nah, kid, I'm Orange. You colorblind?

[ Big and Orange and rumbling, that's him. ]

Prolly cuz they knew they'd need me to clobber @#$!#.

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[beathach]

You're right, I've seen much stranger. [another mutant? But no, he didn't mention the X-Men . . . of course, he mentioned the Avengers and he knew a form of them worked with mutants]

I can't say I've heard of the Fantastic four, though. But I have heard of the Avengers.

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[revoltndevelopment]

Yeah, we're kind of a niche group. Mostly do'n stuff like this. Dimension hopp'n, mad science, the odd bit of time travel.

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[wolfehawke]

I hate to pick nits, but if someone isn't here doesn't it reason they wouldn't answer?

[He does at least honor the request to not bring up the other man's - man? golem? - appearance. That would be rude!]

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[revoltndevelopment]

Yeah. S'why it's called a headcount. You count the heads you got.

[goldenglasses]

[Vash knows deep down that he should probably be a bit nicer to someone who just showed up, but he can't help himself. He just really likes playing an idiot.]

I am here! Which means I am not... not here! And I am not from Earth!

And yes, I believe I have seen stranger!

[Does he win a prize?]

[revoltndevelopment]

[ Who the @#$! is this clown? ]

...That's great, slick. You want a cookie?

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[unbearablynaive]

[Well, now. Someone who's already familiar with the multiple-Earths theory. Fortunately, as he's discussed this several times, the Vision has an answer.]

Hello, Mr. Grimm. I am the Vision of the Avengers. I believe we've identified the Chitauri invasion of New York City in 2012 as the distinguishing event for my timeline.

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[revoltndevelopment]

Vis? [ Wow he's...really emoting. A lot. That's odd. ]

Heard 'bout that. Ain't my world but met a coupla standup guys from there. Tony, Steve, Tasha, Clint. Knew most of 'em from right about after that, little further along. Can't say I heard much 'bout them gett'n themselves a magical robot.

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[grandstanding]

[Huh. One of the more unique appearances he's seen. And he always likes when people are up front about it.]

A version where it's 1973. [This tends to be the distinguishing factor for others, from his experience. He can't comment on the rest, as it doesn't ring any bells.]

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[revoltndevelopment]

Been to 1773 before, but not the 70s, 70s. Not since the 70s, anyhow. And you're?

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[universal_charm]

_{[ A+ to you Ben for taking this in stride and not freaking out or being ridiculous cryptic with text messages. ]}

I think I might have to try and put that line in a song.

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[revoltndevelopment]

Give it a good beat, maybe it'll do well in the clubs. Somth'n you can really dance to.

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[scanninggaydis]

How many documented versions of Earth are there?

[I mean, it sounds like this guy knows of at least a few distinct ones. And Felix knows there are at least...four? versions of Earth. Unless naming something 'Earth' is just this massive subconscious urge that spans galaxies and also alternate universes.]

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[revoltndevelopment]

I dunno, sparky, I left my handy dandy guide to the multiverse in my other pants. Best I can figure- think of the biggest number possible. Multiply that by a million.

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[ownassets]

( There's a pause before Moira actually replies because, even though she wouldn't have gone with the obvious for saying it she's still pretty new to the whole 'big orange and rocky' thing. And space )

What's the strangest thing you've seen?

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[revoltndevelopment]

Jump right in with the hard stuff, don't ya? Lemme think...Molemen were pretty weird, Galactus be'n a human was pretty weird. Silver Surfur's strange look'n, like chrome except all over. Rocket's kind of a hoot- Groot's. Well. Groot's groot.

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[notzubats]

[Whoa. Sora actually thinks this guy is pretty cool looking.]

What's the Fantastic Four and Avengers? Sounds like some kind of rock band.

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[revoltndevelopment]

...You know I'd like to say that'd be silly 'xcept I'm pretty sure I fell through a dimension where somth'n like that happened. I played the drums. It was fun.

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[athru]

What version of Earth are you from?

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[revoltndevelopment]

Most recent thing t'happen in mine is the Civil War. That was...

[ He takes a slow breath, low and gravely. ]

That was a mess all around.

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[complicatedliar]

[Oh. It's you. Well, once they got over the Ben Grimm trying to kill him bit, it had been a rather fun prank war. And he's pretty sure that this is the Ben Grimm he'd known. The wings are a dead giveaway.]

Lovely wings, Ben.

Odd that they left yours on. They took mine. And Rogue's.

[Is it strange, that he's almost relieved to see someone else from Luceti? Perhaps a bit. But he'll take what he can.]

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[revoltndevelopment]

[ He squints at the feed for a second, tiny little things fluffing up before he nods. Not his Loki. The one from the Village.

Heh.

His craggy face breaks in a smirk. ]

Probably thought it'd be funny. Big ole guy madea rock with tiny little wings on his back fluffed up like a chicken.

Action

[preformthisneigh]

[And on board the Bishop, suddenly, there trots in a tiny tan pony with a curly mane. He pauses at the broadcast, giving a soft, amused snort.]

Good luck on getting them to stop commenting on the [he makes air-quotes with his hooves] "strangeness" thing. I've been trying to get people to stop for for ages and they really don't get it. Like, ever.

Action

[revoltndevelopment]

[ This is not the strangest animal that can talk that Ben's met. It's not.


But it's still always got that half second of 'huhwhut' whenever he's faced with one of 'em. Especially when they can make quotes when they don't have fingers. Now that's talent. ]

It's more annoying if where you're from you're normal, yeah?

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[spontaneouscombustion]

Oh, I know, right! There's so many people that're scared of ME the first time! But that's okay, we don't have any humans back home so I can understand!

[Oh hey, it's a talking pink pony! Looks like she's from the same race as that Cheese guy.]

I'm not from Earth, though, I'm from Equestria!

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[revoltndevelopment]

[ Pink talking pony.

Where's his niece when he needs her, she'd love this. ]

That's a little...on the nose, don't ya think?

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[ladybro]

Hawkeye. [ she says by way of introduction. after all, he asked who's all here. and she figures one of the fantastic four is more likely to recognize the code name than her actual name. at least, when it comes to superheroing. ] Both Hawkeyes are here, actually.

[ ...as for what version? hm. she's not certain how to identify that immediately. at least, not in a public capacity. ]

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[revoltndevelopment]

Hawkeye and Hawkeye. The dog here too?

[ He's pretty sure he'd heard something somewhere about one of them maybe having a dog.

Or.

Something. ]

[ecclesiophobic]

My world was most commonly referred to as the Age of Apocalypse, even after the bastard died. [Gotta love comics.] You look.. what other name do you go by?

[It won't help; he's seen someone similar in his world, but it wasn't Ben Grimm.]

[revoltndevelopment]

Same place as Kitty, yeah? [ Cripes, that sounds like one of the worst variations he's seen. ] The Thing. Cuz.

[ He gestures to his rocky self. ]