riverview | video; un: sg.rogers

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video; un: sg.rogers

How do you go about picking gifts?

[ He's just going to dive right in. No real introduction, but Steve figures that most people won't care too much about who is asking this or why. ]

I'm sure a lot of you are better at this than I am, so I guess I need some advice. How do you find a good gift for someone that already has far more than you've seen for half your lifetime? Not that I'm aiming to impress anyone, but it'd be nice to pull it off.

[ He grins a little. Okay, so maybe he's trying. Just a little. But Steve is rarely the one that surprises anyone else. He just wants a chance at doing something cool for a change. Of course, he's realistic and knows this is unlikely, but he can try. ]

I'm in a little over my head on this one. Everyone else always has the flashy stuff covered.

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It's certainly not what it used to be.

[ There's a strong vein of humor in the way Steve says that. Granted, things were never the same after he volunteered to be a lab rat, but after waking up they got even stranger. And Quarantine might be weirder still.

Or more mundane. He can't tell if that is why it feels different or not. ]

Actually, meeting gods is one of the less shocking things that has happened. Like aliens. You get used to it after the first few times.

If that is one of the lesser of the shocking things, I'd be worried to hear about what exceeds it.

Well, the aliens invading can be pretty strange. But I think we can get used to anything now.

Suppose that's true. And things that seem normal in one place are apparently pretty wild in others. Back home, 80% of the world's population have some sort of power or ability, for example.

Eighty?

[ Steve sounds awed by that. There are a lot of heroes around where he's from, but the civilian population still outnumbers them easily. They're growing, but not massive. Even the mutant population hasn't grown that much. ]

How... does everyone feel about that? Is it hard for the ones that don't have an ability?

It hasn't always been that great; at one point in the past, it was a source of great anarchy, to have so many powers butting heads. But... now, a system's been set up -- heroes who can help keep villainy and crime in check, and laws to help prohibit dangerous situations while still encouraging quirks in particular settings.

[It's not perfect, but no system really is.

You just have to be able to sell it, to keep people appeased while being fair and just.]

... Quirkless. Well.

[He rubs the back of his head, smiling.]

I'm actually quirkless myself. I suppose it comes with... feeling a bit outcast.

Among other issues, but you learn to work with it.

[ He wonders what that would be like. A world full of powers and those with powers regulating each other. Part of it makes his gut wrench, because the potential for abuse is there, he's seen it, but that's another world. He can't say what it would be like with the scales weighted differently.

Sometimes he wishes he could. If he could just understand a little more, would he be able to do more good. But he can only approach things from his own perspective in the end. He tightens his lips briefly before relaxing again. ]

Hopefully the system keeps everyone in mind.

[ And that's already too much judgment. He shakes his head, shrugging off the cloud to smile sympathetically. ]

Outcast, huh? But you must have your own talents.

Oh... well... I'm a teacher, back home, but I'm admittedly pretty new at it...

[He's super talented at coughing blood and looking ill, but you know.]

I suppose I've never really worried about having talents in my day to day life. Maybe I should expand my horizons a little, now that I'm stuck here in the meanwhile.

What do you teach?

[ That might shed some light on the man's skills. Abilities or not, everyone has talents. ]

Is that what you're doing here?

I teach P.E. here. But back home, I taught social studies.

It's a bit harder to do that now... considering, you know. Very different worlds converging.

Edited 2017-12-01 21:59 (UTC)

Well, it can always be a learning experience for everyone. That's what makes it interesting.

[Of course, part of that is just Steve being glad the Quarantine isn't too quiet. Converging worlds keep him on his toes, and without that he'd be restless.]

We get a lot of interesting people coming in.

Indeed! I've met so many unique individuals, I never find myself lacking in good company.

... Lets just hope we can avoid the more unsettling figures from our worlds.

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