002: [Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

[Victor looks a little annoyed when he turns on his console tonight. Behind him, the view of his suite is blocked by some rock. A big, talking rock to be exact. Santo's right there behind him.]

Hey, everyone. I've got a question for everyone that's familiar with superheroes. It's about the costumes. They're an important thing to have, right? For a lot of reasons like protecting and hiding secret identities.

But this guy [He jerks a thumb over his shoulder at Santo.] just says they're stupid.

Don't get me wrong, the costumes are cool but that's about it. Wearing one just to hide your identity is what's stupid. You don't see Ms. Marvel, Iron Man, or Hawkeye worried about people knowing who they are. Hell, Luke Cage doesn't even wear a costume and he kicks all kinds of ass!

Besides, you don't see any X-Men hiding behind a mask.


[Victor just rolls his eyes.]

Lots of X-Men have worn masks. [He shakes his head.] So what do you guys think? Costumes important for superheroes or not?

The answer is obviously not.

[Victor doesn't even bother replying. He just gives Santo a look.]

(ooc: Black text is Vic, Blue text is Santo)

Comments

[video]

[littlecousin]

Costumes and secret identities are different. I don't have a secret identity, but I always wear the green swimsuit when I think I'm going into a fight so that people know who I am. When we're throwing each other around, it's way easier for civilians to know who to trust if we're easy to identify.

[She pauses for a second.]

Santo, Iron Man had a secret identity for a loooooong time.

[You kids get off her lawn.]

[video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

I mentioned that but it didn't seem to get through to him. [Vic just gives a 'see what I live with?' look.] You're right though. One thing that makes costumes important is recognition.

Ms. Marvel too.

[video]

[zerotoawesome]

I like the costumes, they're awesome, but secret identities are way outdated. I mean, yeah sure Iron Man used to have one, but now everyone knows he's Tony Stark and I'm pretty sure nobody cares. I mean, it's not like his tower is getting attacked more now than it was before.

text; anonymous; English

[hackingyoursensors]

[Hmm the network is interesting today. He hasn't heard of most of those heroes. Curiosity piqued.

And since he's still at the cafe, he can reply anonymously.]

I think they are. It adds to the mystery.

text;

[alpha_squad_leader]

Mystery can be useful for superheroes. It goes with the secret ID thing.

video forever;

[zerotoawesome]

The "mystery"? [Yeah, he just did air quotes at you.]

text; anonymous

[mrsarcastic003]

Yeah--and chicks dig the cape.

video;

[wintershepherd]

[ The side effect of hanging around young kids day in and out? Jack gets just as excited about cool things like superheroes. ]

Assuming the costume isn't strictly for durability in a fight, wouldn't it depend on whether they wanted a secret identity or not?

video;

[alpha_squad_leader]

Maybe. Some heroes don't have secret identities but still wear makes for protection or to complete a look.

video;

[zerotoawesome]

I'm not knocking durability or wearing a bulletproof face plate or whatever they want to do. Masks are cool. I mean, just look at luchadores.

Why would anyone want a secret identity, though?

[traumatizing]

It's not exactly unheard of for someone to use a hero's family or friends to get to them, not to mention some people have lives outside of dressing up and punching people in the face that they'd like to keep separate. Whether or not to use them is up to individual discretion, but it's not like they're pointless.

[besides, what if you want to build a team of fake heroes who are actually supervillains but don't want anyone to know?]

Video

[alpha_squad_leader]

Costumes and masks can do more than protect an ID too. Heck, my X-uniform's bullet-proof and I could not be more thankful for that.

[zerotoawesome]

Why would anyone want to do something other than dressing up and punching people in the face? Justice is a full-time job.

[When has that ever happened? You know, besides the Thunderbolts, the Dark Avengers twice, the Fifty State Initiative twice, and Spider-Man?]

voice;

[zerotoawesome]

Yeah, lots of X-Men have worn masks, but it's not like anyone doesn't know who they are now. Everyone knows Scott Summers. Everyone knows who Wolverine is.

You know... Except for Wolverine.

video;

[alpha_squad_leader]

Maybe now but lots of the X-Men and X-related teams wore masks before their secret IDs got discovered. Heck, for a long while the school itself had a secret ID.

[crotcharrow]

Costumes are totally an excuse just to get into something skintight for the cameras.

[zerotoawesome]

Always a good reason, but you still want people to know who you are, right? I mean, you don't even wear a mask.

[alpha_squad_leader]

Well we've got to show off the amazing bodies being crimefighters give us. [He chuckles.]

Not everyone has a skintight costume though.

[Video]

[fuzzyelf]

[Oh boys, really? Kurt is rolling his eyes, not that you can really see, but he happens to have learned a small trick of moving his head ever so slightly when he does it.]

I'm pretty sure Victor's right about lots of X-Men wearing masks, Santo.

Some other people have things they need to hide and people to protect, that's...sort of the point of a secret ID. There's a lot of reports, media attention, so faces are recognised.

[There's a slight shrug. Man, there's a lot he can say about the uniforms, but he doesn't want to bore people.]

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

[Really. This is what happens with these two.]

All of the original X-men except for Iceman wore masks and some others have too. Like Shadowcat.

[video]

[backwordscompatible]

Are you seriously trying to have a discussion about superhero fashion choices?

[Not getting into the Secret Identity thing. You know, since she doesn't really have one.]

[video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

It's more about costumes in general than fashion.

[wherethestoryis]

[It takes Lois a while to get to this. Mostly, this is because she is laughing her head off somewhere. Besides, reading other input helps. A lot.

Such a perfect opportunity to tweak certain people's noses about tights. (Even if they look really, really good. But that's the fond wife speaking.) Fond wife and, frankly, a world-class expert on superheroes and What They Wear.]

People are making a lot of good points, but before I actually go into costume gossip, let me clear this up: it's not about costumes, or masks, but really about secret identities, right?

[alpha_squad_leader]

Sort of. I was talking about costumes and masks in general but Santo was focusing on the secret ID stuff.

→ text; anonymous

[controlledvariable]

[She realizes there's more to the conversation than just secret identitiies, and she does have a lot of opinions about why costumes are important for other reasons, but it's Santo saying hiding identities is stupid that has her hands shaking with anger as she types.]

have you ever stopped to think what they'd do to us, if they knew how to find us in our homes? if they could look our family up in a phonebook and come hurt them, just to get revenge on what we've done? if they could come to our school and tear apart our friends trying to get to us?

people die to protect identities, anyone who thinks they aren't important is an idiot.

[She knows she's not as careful as she could be, but she remembers hearing that Black Mask hurt her mom, after finding out who Steph was, and she's furious at someone dismissing the importance of hiding their identities.]

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

[Victor's not even switching to text. He just sets a firm scowl at the screen.]

I agree that protecting secret identities is important. But Santo and I know pretty damn well what it's like to have psychopaths and monsters come to our school, to our home and kill our friends. To have people go after our families. You don't have to remind us of all people of that.

[video]

[withoutaworld]

[ Rikki's... uncharacteristically serious as the camera pops up; she's in her Nomad costume, goggles down, though anyone who knows her probably won't have much trouble recognizing her. Her costume is not the most concealing, but it's the principle of the thing. ]

I think we all just fought a war back home to keep superhero's identities safe. I think Captain America got killed... at least partially because he thought it was important.

One day I came home to visit my grandparents and Dr. Doom was in my house. They weren't there, but if they had been...

I don't think anyone should have to wear a mask, necessarily, but if they've got family and a life to protect... or they just don't want the bad guys taking pot shots at them when they're trying to have a day off... it's important that they get to. It's not stupid, it's responsible.

[video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

I agree. For heroes that have or can have secret IDs, masks are important parts of their costumes.

Dr. Doom was in your house? Seriously? What was he doing? Raiding your fridge?

audio

[the_other_eight]

[This is said in the most dry tone humanly possible. Kids, don't use Tony Stark as a determining factor for your life choices. Clothing or otherwise.]

I don't think Iron Man is a good person to base opinion off of.

video;

[alpha_squad_leader]

[Vic nods, rubbing the back of his neck.]

Yeah, he's not exactly someone I'd choose. Never mind that he had a secret ID for a nice long time. Everyone Santo mentioned except Luke Cage did.

[Video / Anonymous]

[wallcrawler]

Costumes, all the way. Ol' Rockface is probably just mad he can't pull off a pair of tights.

[Because what's a little friendly teasing between two people at a safe distance?]

I mean, even if you don't want the whole 'secret identity' thing, it's better than people referring to you as "that guy who shops at Macy's" when you're bustin' the bad guys.

[Video]

[alpha_squad_leader]

What makes that sad is that a pair of tights is just about all he usually wears.

Exactly. There's way more to it than hiding our IDs.