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

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

They're called the Atroma. We haven't seen any of them though, not really.

[ He thinks back to what Ben said. ] What do you mean by a headcount?

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

Just what it sounds like. Who's hear that's an Avenger, an X-man, a Guardian of the Galaxy, all that. Hero Headcount. I figure I start with that and try t'peg where on the great cosmic timeline I ended up.

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

[ X-Men. Charles leans back, assessing him. It's clear that Ben was not a mutant, he was something else entirely. Something to do with this . . . Fantastic Four. ]

I am quite an X-Men. My name is Charles Xavier.

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

.... [ Ben leans in, squinting, blue eyes gone narrow and critical. ]

...You're pull'n my leg. Chuck? Never seen you this young before.

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

You and many others, apparently. It's as if I was born old.

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

Nah it's just- even hopp'n around in dimensions and time and all that, some things kinda remain constant. We've never gone so far back as you having hair- well. There was that one time but we don't talk about that anymore.

[ SUBJECT CHANGE: ]

Guess you hear 'bout the other you a whole lot, then?

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

[ Huh. ]

Bits and pieces. It helps that I've taken a glimpse of the future and met him myself. So I understand the surprise.

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

Man, that musta been a trip. Hi young me, this is old me, here's what you got to look forward to.

[ That...wouldn't have ended all that well for him, prolly. ]

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

[ His lips twitch, despite himself. ]

It wasn't that bad. And it seems I do have a lot to look forward to.

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

First rule of interdenominational slash timeline contact- just meet'n the future or alternate version of yourself tends to dramatically shift everything around. The main beats might be the same but the improv drum solo's prolly gonna be different.

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

So I hear, but that was the point. We changed the future so the Sentinel program would be scrapped. Gone.

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

Yeah that- that's a bad run in a timeline where that happens. Never seen much of it myself, heard about it. Good to know you changed it.

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

[ Curious. ]

You're with the . . . Fantastic Four? What are they?

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

A barbershop Quartet.

[ Heh. ]

Me, Johnny Storm, Sue & Reed Richards are the founders. We cycle out when they gotta spend time with the kids. Sav'n the world is fine but good parenting is important.

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

So you are all superheroes. With the code names and gadgets, I assume.

[ Do the names get dumber? It makes Charles' X-Men sound positively enlightened. ]

[ video ]

[revoltndevelopment]

Some of the first, yeah. Didn't really get to pick our own names, cuz really. The Thing? Not that flatter'n. Stretch is Mr. Fantastic, Sue's The Invisible Woman. Johnny's The Human Torch.

Guess what he does?

Re: [ video ]

[axiomed]

I assume he's an unlicensed pyromaniac but that might be generous.

Also, the Thing? That's not very nice. You're more than that.

[revoltndevelopment]

[ Ok THAT'S funny- Ben cracks out in a gravelly laugh, loud and hooting. ]

Man, I gotta remember that one for next time I see him.

[axiomed]

[ Charles smiles, genuine. He feels at ease. It reminds him a lot of Logan. ]

I'm happy to oblige. I'm afraid I don't know much about superheroes and their ilk. For us, it's always been a matter of survival.

[revoltndevelopment]

Apparently that's how it started. In the beginning that's kinda how it goes, you don't look to go save the world from planet eat'n giants, you just wanna keep your head down and mind your own business.

But- Great power, Great responsibility, all that.

[axiomed]

[ He softens a little, taking in those words. ]

Wise words indeed.

[revoltndevelopment]

Can't remember where I heard 'em first, but it's kind of a common theme for guys like us.

[axiomed]

[ He hesitates visibly for the first time. ]

I'm not really -- a hero. I just want to run a school.

[revoltndevelopment]

And that ain't heroic? Giv'n kids that wouldn't have anywhere else to go or anyone else that understands who and what they are somewhere safe to figure themselves out?

[axiomed]

I -- I wouldn't know. I haven't been very good at it.