Video, UN: Puppetking

[throneaway]

[ The video cuts in to a very plain assigned apartment room, and a tall, reedy-looking individual who smiles to see something light up or turn on on the device. Success!

Maxwell doesn't look too worried about all this 'saving the world' jazz.

Neither does the little floating eyeball that nuzzles up to his shoulder. He pets it absently. ]

Say, pal. How many of you 'randomly chosen' otherworldly visitors were already heroes in your own worlds? How many of you were ... Less heroic?

I don't mean to be suspicious, you understand: I'm sure they actually do need help here.

But I have some prior experience with kidna--err--this kind of selection process.

Comments

[boombam]

Well to be fair, even though the more I use the word "fair" the less it looks like a word, the people who aren't fair to others tend to be assholes. I feel like it kind of makes you a nice person if you treat others fairly.

You're right that no one is required to. A lot of people don't. A lot of people will just stand by and watch someone be attacked by a Villain because it's entertainment to them. Or they wait around for a Hero to show up and save the day. Even if someone in the crowd might have a Quirk that could help.

[He's not going to mention it, but this is from his own experience. Once, he was overtaken by a villain and was surrounded by spectators and Heroes who couldn't-- and wouldn't-- get close enough to help. All while Katsuki couldn't fight the Villain off, and was being suffocated. It's terrifying to be in that position, so he understands what Maxwell says entirely when he talks about heroism being about making the actual decision to help.

It's easy to say you would in that situation, but to actually do it is something else entirely.]

But someone else in that crowd might have no Quirk at all, and decide to try to do something. That person might rush head first, and use his bare hands to try and fight the much more powerful Villain off. All by himself.

That makes him a Hero. Compared to all the other cowards who stood back and waited for someone stronger to come along.

[throneaway]

Perhaps I'm neither, then. I already know I'm not nice.

[ That second part is enlightening, and hits home for both of them. Entertainment? Watching people fight and die? Maxwell could never... Yeah, definitely decides he's not nice. ]

Considering how little time you've had to think about it, and how disinterested in philosophy you likely are? I think that's a reasonable assessment.

[boombam]

I'm not entirely disinterested in philosophy. Especially if it has to do with something I actually give a shit about. Heroism is my entire life. It's all I know. I could talk about it for hours even if the conversation was boring as hell.

Which this one wasn't. So congratulate yourself on that.

[throneaway]

That's good to hear. I Kant say I dislike the topic, either. [ For god's sake Maxwell. ]

You'll create a monster if you're not careful.

But you're not so bad yourself. Thanks for your patience with my questions, too. I may have some more.

[boombam]

[maxwell why..... hes ignoring that]

Sure. If you've got more, go ahead and shoot. Or save them for later. Whatever you want to do.

[throneaway]

Everyone here's essentially a microcosm of their own world as well as whatever they've picked up from this one. It's not how I'm accustomed to other-dimensions.

[ Sure, the Merms probably came from the Gorge, and the Constant Pigs went to the Forge and became warboars or whatnot, but as far as people Maxwell dealt with on a daily basis, they all came from the same place, and it was one Maxwell was personally familiar with. The way Ellipsa is set up is vastly more complicated. ]

I don't like to make assumptions, but I have to start somewhere with this sort of thing.

[boombam]

Well I'm not accustomed to other dimensions at all so at least you have that going for you.

I still don't understand what the fuck is happening or how I got here but I'm starting to give up on trying to.

[throneaway]

Yes, a substantial advantage, sixteen odd years of abject misery!

Are there no others you recognize, or who recognize your home when you describe it to them?

[boombam]

I've only seen one other guy from my home. And it's one of the dumbasses I have to look out for because he's a little stupid sometimes.

If you ever see a guy with half red and half white hair and a dumb stare in his eyes that's him. He's extremely powerful though, so don't let that fool you.

[throneaway]

Sounds like there's at least one great story behind "he's a little stupid".

Is he a Hero like you?

[boombam]

There's a few. He's got a good head on his shoulders but he sucks at social cues and takes things way too literally. If you made a joke like "why the long face?" he would worry about why his face looked long all of a sudden and ask you earnestly about it.

[like katsuki can talk about people who dont get social cues]

He is a Hero, yeah. Runs in the family. His old man has been a Pro for years.

[throneaway]

[ That reminds him of WX-78, too. Maxwell wouldn't be able to describe it as a possible autistic trait, but he can recognize patterns. ]

Sounds like he'd be fun to wind up. I'm glad you have at least one friend.

[boombam]

[Honestly..... both Shoto and Katsuki probably have a little bit of something there. Not that Katsuki would ever even think about anything like that, but there's definitely an argument to be made for those boys.]

At least there's something, yeah. Someone familiar that I can beat the shit out of when I need to get my anger out.

[throneaway]

You know they make punching bags for that, right? Those don't even hit back.

[boombam]

What's the point in punching them if they don't punch back?

[throneaway]

You like being punched?

That's ruffian talk.

[boombam]

I like a challenge.

[throneaway]

I've really got to stop assuming the worst, don't I.

[boombam]

Eh. It's not hard after our conversation to assume I'd be a freak that enjoys getting the shit beat out of me.

I won't deny that I am a freak in general but not that kind at least.

[though he does sometimes get people to spar with him when hes feeling bad about himself so theres probably a little bit of masochism in there somewhere--]

[throneaway]

As long as it isn't coming from a place of self destruction, I don't see a problem with it.

I don't understand it, mind you, but I won't pass judgment on it.

[boombam]

I'll pass enough judgement on it for the both of us.