001 [Video]

[withthebrotherhood]

[The video feed shows Toad (in all his scummy green glory) focused and frowning as he messes with the console. It’s not like there wasn’t an explanation, but he’s bad at listening. And refraining from touching things.]

Ah… freakin’… stupid… Heeeey, it’s workin’!

[He immediately brightens. Then scowls again when he remembers what he turned it on for.]

So, uh, I'm new. Hi. Anyway, how cool are people with this deal? Maybe someday do something to fight the weird evil whatever it is, get a house on turtle island?

[The roof over his head aspect is actually quite a selling point for Toad. And there's something unnatural about admitting he exists on some kind of public channel and not just hiding in the shadows, but it seems to be what people do here.]

‘Cus that’s stupid, but how stupid? Is it worth playin’ along? I didn’t see a lot of dumpsters to dive in and stuff, so can you even be, like, no, fight your own monster, I’ll be over here, hiding. Do you actually get in trouble or go to turtle jail?

[He’s a follower. And a coward. Having some idea of how much of a tantrum he can get away with throwing will be helpful.]

...Toad out.

Comments

Video

[ixis]

An interesting question! Are there consequences in not partaking in the war? Of course, are you one capable of such? Combat-ready? Magic-wielding? Weapon-holding?

There are likely other ways to contribute, in any case. Not everyone here is as powerful as the rest of us.

[withthebrotherhood]

Iiiii'm definitely in the low end of the talent pool.

[Something he's usually resigned to, especially when it gets him out of anything dangerous.]

[ixis]

How defeatist! Do tell, boy. What talents do you have? Perhaps it is best left for others to be the judge of your usefulness.

[Naugus has just taken a shine to the kid right out the gate because he doesn't look like a standard human. Das racist.]

[withthebrotherhood]

Perhaps others should find somethin' better to do. I spit slime an' jump high. That's pretty much my deal.

[Toad takes a shine to no one.]

[ixis]

How positively...unique. You remind me a great deal of a gentleman back home, really, who had similiar talents. Flying was always good at getting results, even if he was not the...ahem, most endearing fellow.

[Which is to say Flying was straight-up mental. The nation of Mercia is still talking about his terror tactics. Anyhow, Naugus steeples his mismatched hands in front of him, resting his chin on top of them.]

Why sell yourself so severely short? What was your lot in life back in your own realm, I wonder? Are these 'talents' of yours standard fare for your kind?

[withthebrotherhood]

[The scrutiny's just making him nervous now.]

Uh, pretty lame for a mutant power, but not that weird, I guess. Most of us can pass for flatscans, though, so there's that.

[His lot in life, such as it was, consisted mainly of scrounging and pretending to be more exciting, so he'd rather not talk about that.]

[ixis]

Mutants? Flatscans? I'm not familiar with the terms. Care to enlighten?

[There's a good deal of scrutiny going on too, Toad's unease is on the money there. Naugus is already starting to peg the kid for the type who kinda cringes and hides behind others who are stronger. Who will he latch onto, he wonders?]

[withthebrotherhood]

[Which is half right. He certainly tries, but the strong ones usually don't like him enough to put up with it.

And he doesn't like explaining things. While he's not nearly as dim as one would expect from first impressions (and many impressions after that), he's not great at communication.]

Uh, mutants are... Homo superior. The cool people with powers and an X-gene. We call humans flatscans 'cus they don't ping scanners to pick us up.

[ixis]

People with-...? You are derivative of Overlanders? And why on earth would they craft means of which to scan for you?

[withthebrotherhood]

[Overlanders. Sure, why not. He's called them worse. And that's a question he can answer confidently.]

So they can find us before we mess 'em up. Doesn't usually work out for 'em. Heh.

[ixis]

You wage war on your own kind? Or are you so far removed now that it hardly counts as such? Overlanders are the xenophobic sort, at least in my experience. Of course they would reject others of their own species simply because they had advanced beyond them or changed in ways that broadened their appearances.

[withthebrotherhood]

...They started it.

[ixis]

Of course they did! I don't doubt or fault you for a second. They're afraid of anything that doesn't look like them or think like them. They've waged two massive wars against anything non-Overlander back where I come from.

[withthebrotherhood]

Oh, yeah, sounds like them.

[Not that even other mutants are that welcoming if you're green, slimy, and pointy, but that seems like a downer.]

But like I said, most of us look close enough to normal. I'm the weird one.

[ixis]

One man's 'weird' is another man's kin. And, well, anything that sets you further apart from the standard Overlander...

[Naugus ain't winning any beauty contests either, here OR at home.]

Toad, was it?

[withthebrotherhood]

Yup. So what's your damage?

[He's still leery. And while this guy could be a mutant who's from someplace with a different world for it, Toad's not going to warm up right away, thanks.]

[ixis]

Ixis Naugus, my friend! Truly a pleasure. And the only damage I present is upon those who I deign to suffer my sorcery.

[Angling to present himself as someone strong and potentially latch-on-able? Maybe. One can never have too many apprentices/knights/underlings/stooges, after all.]

[withthebrotherhood]

To how much your what now?

[It's not like sorcery is the weirdest idea he's been confronted with today, but it's hard to readjust one's thinking that quickly. He'll be duly impressed once he catches up.]

[ixis]

I am a sorcerer, boy! One of great power and capability. The elements bend to my whims and the shadows part at my behest.

[withthebrotherhood]

...Yeah, okay, that doesn't actually tell me anything. That's, what, like... ice powers or a darkness thing or what?

[ixis]

All of the above! Shadow, fire, water, air, earth; all are mine to command!

For some reason I cannot fathom properly, a great number of people on this turtle refuse to speak on their abilities, preferring to keep the cards to the vest. As if we aren't all allies here that presumably must rely on one another's capabilities at some point, at least in theory. I, for one, refuse to put my particular flame beneath a bushel.

[withthebrotherhood]

Well, that's wonky.

[He's jealous. That's a lot of powers to pack into one guy.]

I can kinda see their angle, though.

[He, for instance, isn't going to explain every facet of his powers, like the way his slime lets him stick to sheer surfaces or his affinity to water. It's good to have a few cards left to play. The Brotherhood knew everything, and they totally screwed him.]

[ixis]

...Speaking with you, I suppose I can marginally understand how some would be reluctant to out their abilities too readily. Seeing that you come from a world where Overlanders actively hunt others with powers and differing features.

But still! This is Tu Vishan and that is neither here nor there! Literally! I am here to be an instrument of victory in this realm, just as I was summoned for.

Incidentally, I can sometimes be talked into offering apprenticeship.

[Just sayin'.]

[withthebrotherhood]

I, uh, don't think I have any magic on my resume.

[It still sounds goofy, giant turtle or no. He's quite willing to understand things in terms of ridiculous powers, as long as they have "mutant" in front of them.]

[ixis]

Hardly matters. I even have manners of simply granting talents, if you feel your own are presently lacking. You know, if you decide you want to apply yourself a little and help the cause.