video; closed to hargreeves family & prim

[solipsistically]

[ His expression is mostly drawn, thoughtful, and grouchy as per usual. ]

I think once Klaus is back in one piece, we should probably start some private family training. Prim, I'd like you to come and if you don't feel comfortable joining, at least maybe you can pick up a few things that might help in a pinch just by watching.

I know we already talked about it a little, Klaus, but I might as well put it out there to the group. Some of us are rusty. Some of us have a lot to learn. Either way, people are going missing at a pretty uncomfortable rate, according to the local paper, and when you add that to the attacks on Supers?

Out of all of us, I'm probably the last one interested in picking up Dad's training to restart the Academy and go out and play superheroes, but it sure as shit wouldn't hurt to at least brush up on the skills. And...if I'm being entirely honest, maybe it wouldn't kill us to try to help find some of the missing locals. There are kids being hit with whatever the hell is happening. A nine-year-old girl isn't the one hurting Supers, but one is among the missing. I don't care about the Academy but...I've got enough blood on my hands. Maybe helping a little bit might wash some of that off.

[ His brow creases a little and he frowns, then looks away briefly before looking back at the camera, shrugging, and sighing. ]

I don't know. Either way, we should train. When are you all free?

Comments

text;

[rumores]

[ Allison watches the video from her office at the gym, since it’s her first day resuming whatever constitutes as ‘normal’ for her, with an expression that closely resembles Five’s. She also isn’t thrilled to go back to missions and playing the superhero role, but her apathy about locals going missing ended the moment she saw that kids were involved. ]

I agree. We definitely need family training sessions again. I’m ready whenever you are.

And...yeah. We should be helping to look for the locals, too. I was already planning on starting later, actually.

text;

[solipsistically]

I'm always ready. I only work part-time before the rest of the city is awake.

Should we reach out to the others and build groups to help?

[ He doesn't say, but he means with the mirrors; to the larger teams.

Five would really prefer to just stay out of it, but they don't have that luxury. If they don't report their own missing to the police to add to the numbers, but they also don't try to help with the searching, then it looks less like the Supers are apathetic and more like they're causing it. ]

[rumores]

I’m back to work today, so whenever you want to swing by is fine. We can start practicing before the rest are ready to join in.

We can. If you don’t think people will mind a big block of text, I can put up something later.

[ As much as she would prefer to use a mirror - or hell, even a video - the lack of voice makes it impossible. And her telepathy only works with proximity with other people. ]

[solipsistically]

All right, I'll be by soon, then. I've got fuck all else to do.

Too bad if they do, they can scroll past.

video;

[imprudency]

I'm in one perfectly, pretty piece thank you very much.

[ There's a threatening stab of a sudsy toothbrush at the camera. Klaus may or may not have just had a shower, considering that when the video pops on, he has a towel intricately wrapped around his head and another one wrapped round his chest. He certainly looks a little more human, a little more alive, than he had over the weekend. When he speaks again, it's around the toothbrush he'd been using seconds ago. ]

As long as we get to wear the cute little masks, I'm in. Tell me when and where.

[ He disappears from the video where he's definitely spitting out toothpaste and running the water in the sink. ]

Maybe helping find the locals will clear up some of the bad blood. I can get my delightful little undead network to start keeping their eyes out. I only know a handful, but might be worth a shot.

video;

[solipsistically]

[ Five rolls his eyes, sighing. ]

If you want to wear a mask, Number Four, be my guest.

That's what I was thinking, too, though. That and, as long as the papers aren't aware enough to report that our folks are being impacted, too, if we don't help, then it starts to look like we have a hand in it and thanks, but no thanks. We don't need there to be more reasons for them to hate us.

[imprudency]

Well okay then Number Five, maybe I will.

[ He definitely won't. Anything that nods back to their days as the crime fighting Academy could rot in hell for all he cares, but he likes the idea of the taunt anyway. ]

I'll put some undead feelers out and see what I can find. When we fighting then? I'm off work for the week and I'm going to lose my fucking mind if I have to stay in the apartment too much longer. I might start a Golden Girls rewatch and none of you want that.

video;

[ilovedirt]

One really tenderized piece.

[Ben rolls his eyes.]

And I'm not putting a mask on, I'm drawing the line somewhere.

[imprudency]

And as juicy as can be. [ He may or may not give an over-exaggerated wink and a loud air kiss. ]

But fine, we'll forgo the masks. They don't breathe well and I don't want zits on top of everything else. In more important news, we need to take bets on Five and Allison. My guess is she'll kick his ass into next Sunday.

video;

[ilovedirt]

[Ben's face is....well a mixture of skeptical and dubious, drawn into a frown. There's no part of him that wants to jump back into saving the day mandatory heroics because Ben has finally just had his taste of being normal.

But then Lydia's face pops into his mind - he was willing to prowl through the maze for her, and a nine year old girl.... and as much as it literally pains him, on some level, to give the nod Ben does, raking his hand back through his hair.]

Yeah...okay, though I'd argue I'm probably the actual last one interested in trying to be a superhero here. I can't just....say no, though, not with what's going on. And I know I'm rusty, so...count me in.

[Ben shrugs, still not quite able to muster up a smile, though, because it's not exactly something he's happy about.]

text, private;

[rumores]

I’m sorry, Ben.

You don’t have to, you know. It’s okay.

text, private;

[ilovedirt]

Don't be, it's not your fault.

And I don't want to, but I'm not going to be the only one sitting out when we could do something. I'm not going to be unleashing the horrors on anybody, but I can do my part. I should do my part.

[solipsistically]

[ Five gives Ben a sympathetic look. Yeah, that's actually probably true, now that he thinks about it. They both had their lives taken from them too soon by their powers, but Ben actually died. ]

I don't think we're going to need the horrors for this mission, Ben. You're off the hook there, don't worry. Just a search party.

[ Although, he doesn't actually know that that's true. These people are coming back, mostly, so he's fairly confident that they won't need to fight, but...there's no guarantee of that. ]

[ilovedirt]

Yeah, I'm drawing the line at unleashing the horrors in our newfound home. I have no doubt that would just go badly for everyone involved.

[Ben's not sure if he ever will unleash the horrors again if he has anything to say about it, but that doesn't have to be said right now.]

And, anyway, I can still do some of the things I could as a ghost, so those might come in handy. And I can throw a punch as well as any of you...with some practice again. I'll make it work.

video;

[imprudency]

Here's the thing, Bennyboy, you can always say no. That's the best part of being alive and not trapped as my eternal pet spectre. You don't want to fight, then you don't have to.

[ Klaus shrugs a shoulder, talking around a shirt he's just pulled over his head. ]

Come hang out instead if you want. Make fun of me because I'm definitely gonna get my ass kicked and I'm gonna need someone to tell me how shit of a job I'm doing. It'll be like old times.

[ He pauses, as though he might shut the video off, then he smiles. ] Someone's gotta keep us civil and human, anyway. We're all too competitive.

video;

[ilovedirt]

I said no plenty then too, you act like I'm shy - that was never the problem. But sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do, if nothing else I guess you managed to teach me that one.

[Ben sighs as he stands and goes for his jacket.]

I'm coming, but I'm going to brush up and do my part - and laugh at you thinking you're going to be allowed to do much in the state you're still in. You're hilarious.

[Ben manages a smile, though.]

Never worked before, bunch of uncivil, overcompetitive nutjobs.

[He does manage a playful laugh there.]

[littleducktails]

[Prim looks a mixture of thoughtful and uncertain, the tiniest of frowns on her mouth.]

I can come, but I don't feel very comfortable fighting, honestly, Five. I've never really learned or wanted to....

[She knows things have been getting bad, though, and she doesn't necessarily want to disappoint him either, but violence isn't something that Prim's comfortable with. She wants to help not hurt and even with her life in danger - could she do it?

Because she's more than aware of things that have been going on and the fact that it's a possibility....]

[solipsistically]

You're looking at it wrong, kiddo. It's not about fighting. It's about defense. Well, some of it is about fighting.

[ That's the truth and Prim isn't stupid. ]

But for you, if you wanted to join us, it wouldn't be about offensive fighting, just about knowing how to fight back if you're backed into a corner and don't have any other options.

text response;

[superdamaged]

The only thing I know about training is taking notes and keeping time.

text response;

[solipsistically]

Well, I'd say it's time for that to change. Are you up for it?

text response;

[superdamaged]

For being a superhero? Hell no, worst job ever.

text response;

[imprudency]

i bet i'll be doing the note taking and the time keeping this time darling whether i like it or not
so someone's going to need to fill my spot ;)
and critique my notes afterwards

Re: text response;

[superdamaged]

I do not volunteer as spot taker.

text response;

[ilovedirt]

Well if you decide you're willing to learn it seems like no time like the present.

And if not you can babysit Klaus, god knows he's not going to cooperate here. Pick the lesser of two evils?

Re: text response;

[superdamaged]

I'm not going to win this, am I?