Audience: Hanako

[becomemod]

Comments

[hanaban]

What? No-

[ He catches the ball with one hand, and almost immediately throws it back at Mouse, like they're playing Hot Potato ]

It's so we can have some privacy while you tell me all your secrets!

[becomemod]

[ Catches the ball. ]

Oh? [ Hmm ] If you want romantic secrets, I don't really have any. What about you? Do you have a crush on anyone? [ Throwing the ball back! ]

[hanaban]

[ The ball bonks him on the head this time because he does, but he doesn't want to talk about it!! ugh, throwing another one back—- and then a second in quick succession ]

Aw, you mean there's really nothing going on between you and Blue Ox?

[becomemod]

[ Oh! They only catch the first ball, while the second one lands. Bonk! ]

Hehe. Nope! We're just friends. I think? [ Throwing the ball! ]

[hanaban]

[ hehehe he catches the ball no problem this time, and tosses it right back ]

"You think?" You've been together, what, six months now? What have you guys been doing all this time?

[becomemod]

I'm still pretty new to having friends. I didn't really have the chance to make many of them where I'm from.

[ Catching and returning it. ] All of us do spend a lot of time together, but it's mostly fighting the criminals that keep breaking out every week.

[hanaban]

[ He hums thoughtfully, because there's a difference between not having the chance to, and not wanting to, situations aside... ]

Breaking out of where?

[becomemod]

The slammer! You would think people would build a better place to lock them up, but they keep finding ways to get out. It doesn't help that they also have powers.

[hanaban]

If they're so dangerous and keep escaping, why don't you just take care of them... you know...

[ mimes stabbing someone with a knife ]

...permanently?

[becomemod]

That would be easier, but everyone says that killing is against the rules here.

[hanaban]

Whose rules? The mayor?

[ The mayor he and Will couldn't corner and beat up? ]

Troublemakers wouldn't misbehave if it's understood they'll be destroyed if they cause too much harm to people.

[becomemod]

I don't know if it's the mayor who has these rules. He doesn't so a whole lot besides being held hostage or do boring mayor things.

He is kind of funny though! And very short. [ #important to know ]

Some of the others don't really like killing and I don't want to disappoint them.

[ Mouse would be down otherwise ]

[hanaban]

[ Being held hostage... They should just let the guy get kidnapped and put Mouse in charge of the city instead ]

Shorter than me short? [ #important to know ]

Killing is a bad thing, but... [ it's a terrible, unforgiveable deed. also illegal. but sometimes necessary... right? ] Isn't that how you lost the other heroes in your group?

[becomemod]

[ Mouse for Mayor! ]

Yeah! Really short. [ Bending down to put their hand at knee level ] Super duper short! Oh, but I shouldn't talk about people like that, huh?

[ They don't seem very sorry about it. They do look down at the mention of the others. ] We did. It was really, really sad. They were trying to protect us all, and while we did win in the end, I don't know if it'll ever feel better.

[hanaban]

[ KNEE LEVEL... that's such a puntable size ]

Four people, right? How long ago was this? What happened? Is the one who did it still out there?

[ Should he not pry and bring up bad memories? maybe. But he wants to know.

...

gently tosses another ball at Mouse like this makes it okay somehow ]

[becomemod]

Horse, Pig, Dragon, and Monkey. [ They catch the ball and hold it for a moment. ] It was about a month ago and it happened so fast. One moment we were getting our butts handed to us and then the next we gained the upper hand thanks to the others. I didn't even realize they were gone gone until after it was over.

[ As for the last question. They roll the ball in their hands before tossing it back. ]

I don't really know. They have been really, really, really quiet. They disappeared soon after the fight, so maybe they actually perished?

[hanaban]

If you're not sure, then it's safest to believe they're still out there. How many were there? And what do they look like?

[ If they're still hiding out in society as that large a threat, they have to be taken care of as soon as possible, none of this waiting and seeing. Not if he's supposed to be a "superhero" and becomes a target, he'd want to get them out of the picture immediately ]

[becomemod]

It was only one person. They looked really fancy wearing all white and a top hat.

[hanaban]

And a monocle and a cane?

[becomemod]

That would be such a funny image! I don't remember if they had a monocle... they did the whole boring speech that villains usually do and they had a whole bunch of ruffles.

[hanaban]

[ Oh, he loves that, actually. Villain speeches are the best opportunity to swoop in and slice them in half while they're distracted ]

Aw well, that's too bad... So, tell me! What was their "superpower"? You guys have a plan in place to counter it by now, for when they attack again, right?

[becomemod]

They shot lasers! [ Pew pew ] We know how to handle it better now, but I'm not the one who does plans. [ It's on the others o7 ]

[hanaban]

[ pew pew! ]

Who's the leader of the leaders, then?

[becomemod]

Hmm. I don't know! I think it's kind of equal after we lost Monkey.

[hanaban]

[ he winces a little, sorry to keep bringing up your dead teammates!! ]

Maybe you should bring it up with them. It's hard to get things done without a leader, especially with so many people to organize. And sometimes, somebody needs to step up and make the tough decisions, when everybody else can't come to an agreement.