originalbeachboy | for brave_heart

for brave_heart_verity

[Sandman could in fact not dance the maccarana atop the Empire State Building, because he couldn't dance the maccarana.

He could, however, easily appear at an open window atop an elongated pair of legs and seamlessly slip in a stream of sand into Verity's home. Force of habit as much as anything, his tendency to take the 'back entrance' to anywhere was one of the reasons he was so tricky to catch.]

Yo, doll! You around?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Flint is not quite the degree of listener she is, being generally rather impatient. But he does his dues, silently listening with his head half turned to her and half towards the rapidly darkening city, that will soon brighten up artificially.]

And that's how you got yer power? Right from a baby?

Yup. I never had a chance.

[Another drink.]

I'm not sure when dad told mom, or if he ever did. He didn't tell me until he decided I was "old enough to handle the truth." Which was ten years after he left us. Mom's always been of the opinion that I should at least pretend to be okay. I know she loves me, but... I don't know if she doesn't understand or doesn't believe me. Either way.

I know they got divorced because of me. They both think that isn't true, but their fights almost always started out about me. How I was being difficult or mean because I didn't automatically buy into all those lies people tell kids. And it seemed like the rest of the world agreed with that assessment, so I just stopped trying after a while. If the world was going to be horrible, I'd just stay home.

Geeze.

[He drinks at the exact same moment she does, meaning she always has his full attention.]

I mean, I always hated being treated like I was dumb just 'cos I was a kid, but that's on another level. No wonder you locked yerself away from the rest of us jerks.

[He feels a profound sense of similarity- abandonment at a young age from the father certain it was their fault, a well meaning but ill equipped mother, an unwelcoming world. She retreated, he lashed out.]

You're not a jerk.

[In another life, she might have been one of those profoundly good people he spends so much time fighting. But in this one, she's ended up squarely in the Neutral Selfish center of the alignment chart.]

Lots of other people are jerks, but hiding didn't work.

[Yes he is, a great deal of the time to a great deal of people. Just not to her and like three other people max. So he lets it lay.]

You can run, but you can't hide. Always the way. So. Something musta happened, right?

[Otherwise, why would she even be talking to a bum like him?]

[Finally, a sign of a smile from her.]

I made a friend, and I realized I don't have to be lonely. It's actually kind of a funny story. My mom was on my case again about staying home alone all the time, and eventually guilted me into trying speed dating. Of all things, right? I figured it'd be a couple of hours and at least the drinks would be good. The night went about how I expected, and then Loki sat down and told me a story.

[He gets a small one of his own, the sly little ones that can either mean he's finding something nasty darkly funny or it's something sweet that makes his inner softness. It's kind of odd how close those two are in appearance.

It's the latter, this time. Mostly. Loki has a bad rep even among crooks, so it's kind of humorous to think he'd be a good influence. Then again... Look at him.]

Didn't think you was into stories.

I like true stories. And he's a really good storyteller.

He's not the same one, you know. He's a different Loki now. Younger, nicer.

[She's very protective of him, in her way.]

Would you believe I never met the guy?^*

[He shrugs lightly, taking a swig of his drink again.]

So I ain't really got room to judge. A fella's reputation can only tell yah so much.

((^*As far as the player knows at least! Watch this space.))

I have to admit, I am a little surprised there aren't monthly bad-guy meetings. How do you guys keep making teams if you don't hang out together?

[She's honestly curious about the second part.]

All sorts of ways. Put an ad in the paper once.

[Yes, they actually did.]

Wait. Seriously? And people showed up?

Loads of 'em. Most of 'em were useless or worse, but they came. We even set it up in the Baxter Building, caught the whole Fantastic Four before we held try-outs.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose in the way people only do when thinking about the most frustrating stupidity.]

I worked for years with a guy who called himself Paste-Pot Pete and he was the most competent guy in the room that day.

And the cops didn't break up the party?

[She takes a long drink.]

I'm really starting to regret the whole "paying taxes" part of being an adult.

None of the guys who showed up were wanted criminals, so couldn't do nothing about them. Dunno why they didn't come up for US though. Maybe we're that frightful.

[He shrugs widely.]

We had just taken down the FF. And Thundra and Tigra, 'cept she was called the werewoman at the time.

[Which, as anyone who knows the basics of linguistics knows, is stupid.]

Maybe they were waiting for someone with powers to show up?

[Yeah, that code name is giving her inner linguistics lover a minor fit.]

Definitely not buying a ticket to the policeman's ball this year.

Yeah, one did. Evil alternate Reed Richards from the other side of the sun, who joined our team.

[Said so casually.]

I'd rather have the cops still hang around though. They're easy to handle.

Probably why they don't mess with you. They know they can't.

I know it's cruel, but I always love it when the odd one tries.

[He lets out a little chuckle.]

The look on their faces when cuffs go right through my wrists is priceless!

[She smirks at the thought.]

That does sound pretty funny. Do you have a catchphrase for when you do that?

Nah. Never really had a catchphrase. Unless you count 'Nothing can stop the Sandman.' I used to say that a lot, but then the Juggernaut came along and ruined it.

[ And no, he's not related to Cain Marko.]

Well that's rude.

[Hey, she brought snacks. And they've made a good start on the drinking, so they should probably eat something. Would he rather the spicy candied nuts, or the parmesan crisps?]

But I guess there's no honor amongst thieves.

Hey! I got plenty of honour. There's a code.

[He goes straight for the nuts, but it's clear when they're in his mouth they're not actually what he expected.

Not that he dislikes them, just a bit of surprise on his face for a second.]

...Not so many of us follow it any more though. Used to be everybody played the same game, but now...

[Long slow sigh goes here.]

You're better than them. Something something punk kids, right?

[She's teasing. And wondering what's up with his reaction to the nuts.]

Are they too spicy?

Nah, just weren't expecting it. They're good.

[He chews thoughtfully on them for a bit.]

It ain't all the new guys, anyway. I ever tell you 'bout Rhino?

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