eachdraidh | 1. {video :: both courts}

[ The face that comes onscreen after a few obvious jostles might be one you're familiar with (if you are, sorry, he's probably not the one you're looking for). Johnny's half-concerned, half-amused with the general state of things and it shows in the way he's looking into the locket, clearing his throat. ]

Ever wonder how this feels like some weird State of the Union address? Except with a lot less people. Or maybe it's like making a YouTube video. Here I am, talking to you guys, and I can't even see your faces. [ He shrugs. ] Oh, well -- anyway.

What's up, strangers of Drabwurld? I have three questions: [ Holds up one finger. ] one, why is it called Drabwurld? Did its founders hate being here, or does Brightworld just not have the same ring to it? Ha, there's your thought of the day.

[ Two fingers. ] Two: Anyone seen a big orange walking rockpile lately? Grumpy, looks like he lost a bet with a mudslide? Failing that, how about a guy who can stretch to grossly disproportionate levels, or a girl who can turn invisible? If found, let me know; they can be pretty ornery, and reach dangerous levels of boring when put together for too long.

Three, and I can't believe this didn't come first. It's a very important question, so I'm gonna need all of you to be honest with me, whoever you are.

[ He leans closer to the screen, loses the smile and gets serious. This is crucial. ]

Which side's got the hotter babes? The Seelie, or the Unseelie?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not 'a lot of people'.

[ Johnny's different, you see. He shrugs, cocky, impetuous; the entire opposite of the man he's speaking to. ] The way I see it, if I'm gonna disintegrate and die, I'm gonna do it in style, and it's not like worrying about it is going to make me live longer.

Is that what's going to happen to you?

[Johnny you're making him all frowny worried. It's gonna give him wrinkles!]

Has anyone looked into a way of stopping it, maybe even reversing it?

What? No! It's a figure of speech!

[ He hopes. Man, even if it happens to him, he's gonna find some way out of it. ]

Reed was. Turns out the world needed us powered so we can protect it. Overpowered supervillains, crazy dudes, not mutually exclusive, et cetera. [ He continues. ] And hey, buddy. If you keep frowning like that, your face is gonna stick that way. Between you and me, it's gonna be a shame if that happens.

You protected the world?

[That smooths out the wrinkles. You're almost an Avenger, Johnny boy.]

Well, if you're in the business of protecting people, you've come to the right place.

Too many times to count. The last big one was Galactus about to eat up the entire planet. Japan.

[ Why does Johnny feel like he's impressing a big brother? ]

Why's that?

A lot of people here have talents of their own. But some don't, and they need people to look out for them.

Yeah, why not? [ He's grinning. ] I'm all about the lookin' out for others.

[ Especially babes. But no, seriously, he's planning to keep an eye out on people anyway. ] What about you? What do you do?

Before I came here? Or after?

Before. And after.

Before, I was a soldier.

[There's a ~~little~~ lot more to it than that. But Steve never really learned how to describe himself as anything else.]

Here, I take care of the people I'm close to, and as many other people as I can.

Soldier?

[ Well, it'd suck if he got dragged here during one of the many wars they're waging right now. Or maybe it's better. He doesn't know. ]

Did you come here with people you know?

There was someone waiting here for me at first. A few of them have arrived since.

You?

Nope. I'm pretty much Lone Rangering this gig.

[ He does sorta miss them. A little. ]

[He was going to say something else first, but-]

You like cowboy movies?

[ Johnny looks like it's an inconceivable notion for any red-blooded American male to not like cowboy movies. ]

Who doesn't? [ Wait. ] Do you?

You're talking to a guy who once ran for vice-president of the Brooklyn chapter of the Roy Rogers fan club. I might've even given the impression that I was related to him.

[ Oh man, oh man, oh --

huh? Wait. ]

Dude, that's like the '40s? How'd you even run for vice-president at that point?

I was in my early 20's at the time, that's how.

Wait, which year did you come from?

2014. But before that, 1945.

It's a long story.

[ yeah, uh. Johnny's quiet for a long moment, then: ]

Are you a vampire?

[Well that's the first time he's ever been asked that.]

I'm not a vampire.

[ YEAH HE DOESN'T BELIEVE YOU. THE MATH ADDS UP. Johnny frowns, unconvinced. ]

You're practically a hundred years old. How's that work? I'm thinking even botox has its limits.

It's simple. I was on ice for seventy years.

[Simple.]

[ AHAHAHAHA what ]

What?

Video

starspangled - 2015-02-22 14:24 (UTC) - Expand