genessia | 2nd Moon

[Stone Ridge, Room 104. 7:30 AM. That's Marc sitting at his breakfast table, a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice close by. His copy of the Genessia Tribune lies open before him.]

This almost reads like something from home. I mean, 'Hands of Decay'? The hell's their problem with magic?

[He turns a page. There's the bounties section in all its glory. The look on his face suggests a hint of nostalgia for a life long past.]

...man. Me and my crew would've been all over this back in the day. Little too old for that now, though it does make me warm and fuzzy knowing others here can step up to the plate.

[Finally, he takes his first sip, lifting it in toast.]

So: happy hunting to all you sellswords, guns-for-hire, and Good Samaritans. I'll be watching with bated breath.

[A barely suppressed snicker cracks his neutral expression as he reaches over to end the feed.]

Condiment Empire. Jesus...

[David will see that Marc has highlighted the entry on Fear Factor.]

I'm going in. He's either hurting people by night or forcing them to travel by it when they come to. That makes it my business.

[For a moment, it looks like he's going to end the transmission right there. "Just a heads-up," as it were. But his finger falls away after a moment's consideration.]

Anything else I should know about Everglade?

(OOC: Feel free to notice that Marc's hands are faintly streaked with plaster dust. He's been working on something since he arrived, and it's just about done.)

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I don't know. Condiment Empire sounds better than some of the other villains' names I've heard.

[ Kung Food, for example. ]

[It's good to see Cat, and he's wondering if he should out himself as 'Jake'. He decides against it for now, for both their safeties. So instead, he just grins and raises an eyebrow ever so slightly]

I raise you 'Paste Pot Pete' and dare you to come up with something weirder.

Oh, I think I can win that dare. Rogercop. Lady Wifi. Animan.

Mr. Pigeon.

[Okay, his lower lip just quivered a bit. The kind that comes before a laugh. What the hell?!]

The Kangaroo. Asbestos Lady. Typeface.

Turner D. Century.

[ He leans closer with a grin. ]

Kung Food.

[...he'll let the kid have this one. The laugh is very real though; he nearly spat out his cereal.]

Let me guess: martial artists with a Chinese food motif? Tell me they don't have a 'Chop Suey' with them.

[ Cat Noir nods, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

He didn't have time to give his minions cute nicknames.

Wasted opportunity. If any of them fight blind, they could get a lot of mileage out of 'Dim Sum.'

[A fresh bout of laughter suppressed by the napkin against his chin. Gradually, he sobers up.]

You planning on nabbing these perps? You're sure dressed for the part.

Edited 2016-03-28 03:51 (UTC)

They rarely plan that far ahead.

[ He pauses. ]

It is my job. Sort of. I don't really want to get paid for it. I just want to stop them.

[What drives many of the best heroes then. His heart's where it needs to be.]

You're gonna get a lot of friends that way.

["And enemies." This is merely implied.]

I'll never say no to more friends.

[ He gets the hidden implication though. ]

Good. Because I think you're gonna need them where you're going.

[Which is really grim stuff, if the bounties page means anything. Okay, except for the Condiment Empire.]

We're not taking a bunch of guys called the Condiment Empire seriously, are we?

Nah.

[Beat. A small playful grin.]

Okay, yeah. They're hurting people, just like everybody else on this list. That makes it serious business for a superhero, right?

Serious enough for me.

[ There were others on that list, but one thing at a time. Besides, he has to look for Conan. ]

At night time monsters roam. Everglade has vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts and the like. They aren't all vicious, though. However, any human caught outdoors is allowed to be killed by law. It's a law that was passed by the Mayor, but it's obvious he was coaxed into it. We are letting it be for now, as there have been no casualties and the protective barrier surrounding Fayren is powered by fear. It cracked once and let nasty little spirits in to wreak havoc.

So if you are going at night, be careful of that.

[Please pick the Condiment Empire. Please. He couldn't live with himself if the kid ran up against something out of his league and never came back.]

Unsolicited advice from a not-too-old man? Run if it gets too hot. 'Live to fight another day' was coined for a reason.

I won't take on something I'm not ready to handle.

[ At least, not on his own. If Ladybug was here . . . ]

But I can't quit if it gets tough. Other people might get hurt that way.

[Werewolves, huh? He eyes the spiked gauntlets he'd had on him when he was brought here, shining silver in the sunlight.]

I am... and I will. Sounds like I'll have to pull my punches in there, even if they strike first.

[An exercise in extreme discipline to be sure. But Marc really is trying to be a better hero, and he can start by not provoking some kind of war.[

Including the people who care for whoever's behind that mask.

[Kids... no, heroes. There's just no dissuading them. For Marc, it's a mirror.]

I get it though; it's what you do. And I believe in that.

[Why, yes. Cat may have heard something like that once before.]

[ He frowns slightly. Could it be . . . ? ]

Well, it helps that I'm far away from home too.

[The answering smile on his face could mean anything. Really it could.]

I think we are home, for the time being. Let's do good by it.

You really think so?

[ Is it that easy? Calling this place home? ]

[Silence. No; he really doesn't. But he can't just be cynical. So he lowers his voice, as if he's letting the boy in on a secret, and chooses his words carefully.]

What I believe is that we don't have much say in the matter. So either we bury our hands in the sand and mind our own business, or we look after each other until we're sent back or find a way out.

[Pretty obvious he's all for that second one.]

I teach others to fight now, but that can only do so much. It's guys like you that... well, I did say I'm happy to see you step up no matter your reasons.

[ He fiddles with his ring. Plagg gave him his powers. Without it, he was hopeless. This was the only time when his actions meant something more . . . where he made a difference. Where his father couldn't dictate what Adrien can or cannot do.

And sometimes, Adrien believes him. If he stopped, then he'd lose everything he has gained since then. Plagg said he was chosen for this. ]

Would you teach me? I mean, I manage fine on my own. [ A little bravura there. ] But it couldn't hurt to pick up some new techniques.

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