tushanshu | video;

Sooo I am guessing that popping up in this place is the norm here, right? So are the freebies, which are really nice of these guys to offer. I'm guessing that this isn't earth though, so I can't exactly IM a location.

Not that I have my phone with me. [Oh boy. Hopefully dad won't freak... or the guys... or--- yeah okay, hopefully no one notices. On the plus side, not the Reach. On the down side, not Earth either.]

Anyway, little warning for the guys I'm sharing a place with. Hi, I'm Traci, if you find a strange girl coming into your home, don't be weirded out okay? I swear I come in peace. I have a peace offering too!

But wow, this place is a lot different from where I've been. I even saw a feathered cow on the way. [Wait, hold on, getting derailed.] I-- oookay, I had a reason to chat on this thing. So hi again, nice to meet you all. Any chance a lovely person out there would be willing to give me a second tour of the place? And maybe a history lesson, since I think I got the basics down, but I'm most likely missing a ton of things I need to know.

That's about it, I think. Thanks for any help I could get.

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Whoa, wait! They gave you free stuff when you got here?

I thought it was a staple. Rations, they said, though that's still more than most people would give to someone who pops in from nowhere.

... Oh hey, are you made of rock?

Oh yeah, well, that's just the basic stuff. I mean, I guess the alternative would be that they let us run around homeless and form our own gangs... Not that the last part wouldn't be so bad. We could have leather jackets and everything...

Anyway, no I'm totally a person under all of this. [He says and he casually pulls his entire arm off.]

And shades. Don't forget the neat midnight shades. I swear I don't know how they see with those things at night.

[... Well.] I don't know about you, but this is the first time I've heard of a detachable person.

It's because when you shine as bright as they do, you don't need the sun. And it's just plain cool.

[He'll just put his arm back now. It's not fun if they don't freak out a little.] Nah, I'm made of rock. I wouldn't be half as awesome if it was just armor.

A lot of gang members are as shiny as rusty metal, can't say I'm impressed.

[She's more fascinated than freaked out, sadly. Still.] That's still pretty cool. Were you always made of rock, or is this too intrusive?

Maybe you've just been hanging out with the wrong kind of gangs... Not that I'm in a gang or anything. Well- Kind of, I guess. Teams are mostly gangs but less... gang-y?

[He just shrugs.] It's okay. Just about everybody asks eventually. I've only been like this for a few years, since my powers activated.

Well, I think I'd prefer a team over a gang, so that works out IMO. So what's the right kind of gang?

... Activated? [Well, she knows there's a thing where magic started popping out for some people, but she didn't remember anyone made of rock from it. Another world?]

Hmm... You know, I'm not really sure. Maybe the ones that dance-fight instead of actually fight? They seem like pretty chill and campy guys.

Yeah, I'm a mutant. Most of us get our powers around puberty.

We can mix it up and call it capoeira, although I don't think they hang out in gangs.

Mutant? [Doesn't really sound very nice. Mutation usually is used in a derogatory way, and she makes a face at that.] Is that what they call it elsewhere?

No way, capoeira is too real. I mean like... finger-snapping ballet gangs. Capoeira fighters could still be pretty freaky in groups.

Yeah, that's kind of what my entire race is called.

Okay, finger-snapping ballet gangs? Totally weird, and I have got to see one.

Huh, that's different. Wait, a race?

You gotta watch more movies, girl. It's a freakin' classic.

[He shrugs.] Yeah, mutants are the next step in human evolution with x-genes that unlock genetic potential which gives us all really badass powers. You know how it is... Unless you don't.

Give me the title and I'll figure out how to get it to appear here.

Got the idea, trust me. I've seen too many people with super abilities back home.

West Side Story, girl. Come on, I'm not even the kind of guy that appreciate musicals, and I know this one! Good luck finding it, though. This place is seriously lacking in media entertainment.

So you're from a place that has heroes and all too?

Oh, that one. Heard the name, never watched it. I'll have to when I get back. [Because she will, and she knows it. No amount of voodoo will let her stick around this place if she could help it--- never mind her powers were still raw.]

That's right! Ever heard of Superman?

You really gotta. It's like Romeo and Juliet only a thousand times better... Because it's in America. [Oh, he doesn't doubt that they'll get back eventually. There are still so many people left he needs to punch for them not to.]

Uh... Nope. [Nevermind that Supes is around here somewhere.]

Oh, well you've convinced me then. [Not that she was American, but hey he sounds enthusiastic so she'll let it be.]

Not from where I'm from then. Everyone's heard of Superman there.

[Santo could go on and on about how everything is more amazing in America. Hell, West Side Story has a song that does it for him!]

Is he a comedian or something? [Because the codename is kind of lame, in Santo's opinion.]

[Excuse her for a moment as she stifles the laugh that comes at that comment.]

You--- have definitely never been to Metropolis.