005 [VIDEO]

[shorttempered]

[The video clicks on and the image of Mark comes on the screen. He’s visibly nervous, and you can just barely see he’s wringing his hands as he talks. It’s clear he doesn't want to say what he’s saying, but he’s just as determined to get through it.]

Um, hi. I know the network’s not super reliable right now, and that it’s not secure and all of that, but with everything that’s happened the last few weeks, I really don’t want to wait in the hopes this gets fixed to say what I need to say. And as for Never-Speak-His-Name, well… that’s sort of the point of what I want to say, so…

[Takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and stops fiddling with his hands.]

I know some of you aren’t going to understand why what I’m about to say is so difficult, but I’m sure there’s some of you that are. And for those of you that can’t—this… this is really big for me, okay? I’m breaking pretty much the cardinal rule where I come from. But I've thought about this a lot, and with everything that’s happened… I’ve realized that this rule is getting in the way of helping people, which is what the rule is trying to do in the first place.

What am I rambling about? I’m getting to my point, I promise.

[He pauses because he knows after this there’s no turning back.]

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Mark Grayson. [Mark picks up his mask, which was sitting on his lap, and puts it over his head.] I’m also the superhero who goes by the name Invincible.

This is a big deal for me because where I come from your secret identity is everything. Your secret identity is what keeps the bad guys you fight at work from coming to your home and hurting your family. And that’s not hyperbole. I've had a super villain come to my house and hurt my mom and threaten my brother to get back at me. For something I didn't even do. My family might not be here, but I've made a lot of friends here and while a lot of them can protect themselves, some of them couldn't. Not from the likes of the people I’m used to fighting, anyway.

But now everything’s changed. It’s not just my friends in danger of getting hurt anymore. Everyone’s in danger. And that’s why I decided to come clean. So the long-winded way of getting to my point is this, and this goes out to everyone (well everyone but Never-Speak-His-Name): if you need me for anything, anything, come to me. I’m super strong, super-fast, can fly, and yes, I’m invincible. And I want to help any way I can. If you need me to be a messenger, I can be a messenger. If you need me to carry something heavy like your couch to a different room, I’ll carry it. Heck, if you need me to open a stuck jar, I’ll do it.

Everything got real with the explosions, I’ve realized that I haven’t been really helping people like I should. Stopping muggers isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s time I took my responsibilities more seriously. My secret identity doesn’t matter anymore. The safety of Keeliai does.

So I mean it. If you need help, for anything, let me know. I’ve been told I make a really good pack mule, and I’m knowledgeable about construction. Unfortunately I don’t have superhearing, so if you want to get a hold of me you’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way.

…I’m sorry this was so long, but thanks for listening.

[Quickly turns it off before he rambles any more.]

Comments

video;

[everylittlegirl]

Wow.

[She looks genuinely surprised.] That's uh.. Awesome. And I don't know if you count me as one of your friends who can't defend themselves or whatever, but.. don't worry about me, okay?

I think you're doing the right thing. [Hayley gives a sincere smile.] Is it way too super cheesy if I say I'm a little proud?

video;

[shorttempered]

[Tugs the mask off his face and scratches the back of his head.]

It was super hard, okay? There was a lot of soul searching involved there.

And I worry about everyone. It's a superhero thing. Dude, I worry about Superman, and he's about as strong as me. [Okay, granted he worries about Clark for different reasons, but still!]

video;

[everylittlegirl]

[She solemnifies a little.] I know. I know how hard it can be to reveal a secret you're used to keeping, especially when it's one that could change everything. But I still really think it's the right choice and I'm going to do whatever I can to encourage it since William's not here to help.

Just don't forget that you're Mark too.

[A beat.] Yeah, I'm kind of learning that.. How you all have that whole save the world complex. I guess that's what makes you a hero.

[backinakidflash]

"The likelihood of a secret's being blown is proportional to the square of the number of people who're in on it." Tom Clancy. Secret identities - maybe they work. I'm on-and-off that particular fence all the time.

Also - if you called yourself Invincible and then weren't. Man. That's worse than the Rainbow Raider being colorblind.

But good for you, laying it out there. No more checking for that adhesive-on-face-feeling before you introduce yourself.

[shorttempered]

I used to not really worry about secret identities until Angstrom Levy hurt my mom. I've been... touchy after that, you know?

You'd be surprised the number of people that actually ask if I'm invincible after I tell them my name. You'd really be surprised.

Oh my god I do that all the time.

[backinakidflash]

I used to not worry about them until. Well. Until a lot of things finally added up. But then Rob's dad was killed, and, y'know... it wasn't a supervillain. I dunno if I see the point in them anymore.

Betcha I wouldn't. At all.

The worst is when you get that film all over your cheeks and nose.

[backwordscompatible]

[Now, here was the thing with Superhero Identities and Zatanna.]

[On the one hand, she never had any personal need for one. Her father had used their family name as his "identity", and it wasn't as if he bothered to wear a mask. The guy practically hid in the spotlight for far longer than she'd been alive. So when the time came for her to sneak her way into the family business...she saw no reason not to do the same.]

[But on the other hand, she did understand why it meant a lot to some people. To Robin and Bruce and the others, She'd always respected that. And she would respect Mark's decision to forgo that last remnant of personal security now.]

Liberating, isn't it?

[shorttempered]

More like terrifying. Last time I said something like "secret identities don't matter" a supervillain broke into my house and threatened my mother like a month later. I know it's different here, but... I honestly can't get that thought out of my mind.

[backwordscompatible]

Well, for what it's worth, I'm pretty sure most of the people you know here can take care of themselves just fine.

[That was what they were brought here in the first place for, after all.]

video;

[skybluejeep]

[Stiles is staring. He understands exactly why this is a big deal, and he's super impressed.]

Whoa. Dude, that takes some serious balls. Well done.

video;

[shorttempered]

[Scratches the back of his neckthrough his mask.]

Thanks. You're, uh, Stiles, right?

video;

[skybluejeep]

My reputation precedes me.

[He taps his fingers together under his chin, trying to look like a cartoon supervillain. He basically fails.]

Yeah, I'm Stiles. I'm also super impressed. But I also think you're right. Secret identities here are kinda pointless. We're all on the same side. Or at least we're trying to be.

video; anonymous location

[andaway]

[It'd feel weird, to reply to this as Clark. So it's Superman the one who replies even if the subject matter hits closer to the Lane-Kents.]

Hey, Mark. Can I come over? [He'd usually already be in his window, but it feels like the kind of situation where he should be asking, first.]

[shorttempered]

[Nods.]

Window's open.

[Then he immediately turns off the feed. He knows how fast Clark can get there.]

[andaway]

[And he's indeed there in a matter of seconds. He gets inside at superspeed- he never quite had to hide when visiting Invicible and he will have to do so even less now but some habits are hard to break. ]

How are you, son?

video;

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack, having met both Mark and Invincible, is grinding some brain gears here. ]

... wait, really?

video;

[shorttempered]

[He pulls the mask off, waits a few seconds, then puts it on again.]

Really.

[fearlessherosheart]

You are truly invincible?

[shorttempered]

Well "Nigh-Invincible" didn't have the same ring to it, and I'm also not big on putting a hyphen in my name... but yeah, pretty much.

Video

[superoverachiever]

Big bad probably already knew. And hates everybody anyway. It's the little baddies you should worried about going after your friends and family, here.

[Ava goes into automatic lecture mode around other heroes. Even ones older and more experienced than her. Still, she does appreciate the impact, and so she nods gently in approval.] Good guts, though.

[shorttempered]

This isn't about Never-Speak-His-Name. I don't care about him. Well, I care about him, but I meant that I know that he's probably listening and that didn't deter me. It's about everyone else. I did some soul searching and... I just thought it would help everyone figure out what we have to help us defeat him, that's all.

Thanks.

[akito]

[ He listens to everything, though doesn't comment to the superhero stuff since that is still a bit much to absorb, even after two months on the turtle. Plus he doesn't know what to say to it other than 'hey, that's super cool!'... ]

If I get any requests for deliveries too heavy for me to take, I'll make sure to let you know!

[shorttempered]

Oh hey, you're the guy that started up that delivery thing, yeah? I would definitely love to help out if you need me. Just say the word and I'm there.

[video] Hope you don't mind a late tag to this!

[tactile_telekinesis]

I don't do the whole secret identity thing but I get how important it can be for people. Especially if you've been screwed over before.

That has to have taken serious guts, so congrats to that.

[video] I always welcome tags!

[shorttempered]

Thanks, man. I figured, with whatever exactly it is that's going to happen going forward, that people should know.

I also kind of realized that everyone here is pretty much a superhero in their own way anyway, even if they don't exactly wear a mask, so I don't have to worry about them as much as say my mom.

Still a little freaked out that I said it, though.