Everybody wants to rule the world

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Downtown Cape Canaveral
WHEN: Wednesday January 15th, around 5 PM EST
WHAT: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be edited.

Cape Canaveral. It's no longer the heat of the day and in January the temperatures will be livable; not too hot and not too cold, either. A pleasant change from the City, perhaps. The sun is on its way to setting but the last light of the day still fills the sky, bursting the city into color. The air smells like ocean.

The locals are friendly and smile and wave, looking on at you in awe. They'll approach if you ask for help, or a question, but they don't want to interfere, either; if you want to be left alone you probably will be. American flags can be seen in many windows and restaurants are rolling out their dinner menus. There's no parade, no big banners, but many storefronts have handmade signs and posters that read:

Welcome, imPorts! We love you!

The woman at the Porter told you what to expect: You know what your tattoo means, you've been given your file, and you know in a few hours they're going to be here to answer more of your questions and see if you'll stand with them or if you'll go off on your own. "It's your decision," one of them had said, but you were already told what you get if you agree and what you don't if you don't. After that's done, she told you, you'll be driven to your new homes.

In the meantime, enjoy the area, or try to. It may not be what you're used to, but after the apocalypse even Florida might seem like an improvement.

Comments

[fronttowardenemy]

[ Frank arched a brow at that. He could not believe that Hooded Justice was actually making a quip at his condition, not because he didn't think the man would stoop that low (quite the contrary, he very much believes that), but because he doubted the man had any sense of humor at all. ]

But you do. [ Spoken plainly. ] This is everyone's issue: that thing you were so afraid of.

[ He remembers that conversation. How Hooded Justice refused to be tied down to governments -- how that cost him his life once. ]

[ropedin]

[ Hooded Justice said nothing. If anything, people proved time and time again why his own reticence was the most important thing. Secrets harmed few, and protected him from question or prying.

Most people would latch on tightly, and not give away the advantage when they had ahold of something. HJ knew he would do the same thing, if he were in someone else's position. But he wasn't, and that made all the difference. ]

It is a grave problem.

[ He spoke plainly, but his voice said it all, clearly telling Frank that this line of conversation was Not Welcome. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ It's odd to him, how Hooded Justice doesn't deny the idea of fear. After the accusation, Frank expected him to flare up and object, correcting him. While he obviously isn't pleased about the conversation, he isn't as defensive as Frank anticipated

It's interesting. ]

And what are you going to do?

[ It seems somewhere between a challenge and an honest inquiry. ]

[ropedin]

[ If this were any other time, Hooded Justice would be flaring. Any other time, and he likely would have told the man to shut it and mind his own business. But Hooded Justice had other things on his mind that he couldn't ignore. Things that revolved and circled, things that were on that paper that forced his attention there. Scarring on the --

Too much information.

Everything about him itched to get out, but he stayed because he had to know. They knew too much about him -- he needed to figure out more about them.

The question, though, it made Hooded Justice nervous. What was he going to do? They wanted him to be a hero, but was it as he often did, or was this going to be the sort of thing where they asked him to hero, only to follow rules that would help only the corrupt elements? The ones that created the problems? Hooded Justice didn't trust this government any more than he trusted his own. ]

What I have always done.

[fronttowardenemy]

You're prepared for that?

[ Frank sounds doubtful. He remembers what HJ told him, and he wonders what that means. He knows enough about Nelson Gardner that he doubts the man would become an illegal -- he worked for the government in the City.

So from here on out...

Hm. ]

Remember that didn't end so well for you before.

[ropedin]

I don't sacrifice principle.

[ He said it plainly, bluntly. Hooded Justice didn't trust this government, he didn't trust anyone -- not here. Nelson was a special case, something different, but even here, he knew where his loyalties would lie. He'd done it before, they'd done this before.

It was like repeating history. HJ just had to hope that this time, without the interference of the Nite Owl and Mothman, he wouldn't end the same.

He didn't trust anyone here, and Frank was one of the sorts he didn't trust to leave him to his work. ]

And not for an invasive organization. They choose to strongarm us so readily, terrify us or woo us, or both. I will not fall for their tricks.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ Hooded Justice has good reason for his motivation -- partially. Frank has seen what an enforced government rule can do to people. He opposed it then, and he will oppose it now, although his reasons will be his own.

What concerns him about Hooded Justice, however, is he isn't sure what road the man will take when this happens, and what consequences will come not just to him, but those in his company.

Glancing up at him, Frank speaks. His tone is difficult to decipher between mocking and sincere. ]

Careful.

[ That's all Frank says, hands dropping to the wheel of his chair as he moves past him. ]

[ropedin]

I do not intend to allow this.

[ As if Hooded Justice has a say, but he certainly has the conviction to believe that he will, or that he will shape things in the way that he thinks they should be.

Especially nosy people like this. His fingers tightened in the folder, an itch reminding him that he needs to burn it -- immediately. ]

I wouldn't think you would be satisfied with them knowing so much about you.

[ Pointed, as if he's trying to prove his point. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ That comment does cause Frank to pause. He glances over his shoulder, turning his chair so he can speak directly. ]

There isn't anything to know.

[ He has no identity to hide. No secrets. No weakness to cover with shame or fear.

He is a man with nothing to lose -- and that is what makes him dangerous. ]

[ropedin]

Nothing?

No secrets. Nothing to you.

And you think of me as dangerous?

[ He and Frank didn't get along anymore -- as if they had. An uneasy truce wouldn't be considered getting along, but even HJ had something to lose. He had the identity he'd crafted for himself.

If they took that away from him, HJ would lose everything.

But he would fight like hell to maintain himself, no matter what he had to do to keep it. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

Nothing. No secrets. Nothing to lose.

[ It's no surprise to him that Hooded Justice struggles with the surprise. The man guards himself so obsessively; the idea must be difficult to comprehend -- especially after they thought each other similar.

More and more, they just keep proving the opposite. ]

Aren't you?

[ropedin]

Only to certain sorts. Law breakers.

[ But whose law, was the question. HJ didn't really buy into the law of anyone but himself, written clearly in his action more than anything else.

He never had lived by any rules but his own. Then again, he knew well that neither did criminals -- and he would speak their language if he had to practically shout it to them. ]

The deserving.

[fronttowardenemy]

More than them.

[ It's a push. One he's confident to make now. He's seen and heard too many things from Hooded Justice; too much to be coincidence ]

Isn't it?

[ropedin]

Only the deserving.

[ He repeated himself. Who the deserving were, to Hooded Justice, was the real question. One he didn't intend to answer. He didn't think his work was on the line in this situation.

It shouldn't be. Even HJ wouldn't be so foolish as to take his opinions out beyond words, in some situations. Even he knew how to operate in civilized society. How else would he be considered a hero? ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ That's what he thought. ]

What comes of that will be on your head.

Repeating history.

[ropedin]

No.

[ He said firmly, sternly. ]

I will not allow it.

[fronttowardenemy]

Not that simple.

Out of your hands.

[ropedin]

Nothing is every completely out of hand.

I refuse to let it simply happen.

[fronttowardenemy]

With your method, it is.

You don't change; your ending won't either.

Don't be stupid.

[ropedin]

It will always be different.

[ There was no Nite Owl, no Mothman here. No question -- as Nelson had suggested -- of his morality, at least not in this. Not the way that was suggested to him this way. He leveled a look at him. ]

It will not happen in the same way twice. [ Because Hooded Justice wouldn't let it, even if he had to change his tactics, in small ways. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

If you're careful.

[ But he isn't going to waste warnings. HJ has made his position clear; there wouldn't be reasoning with him.

However: ]

You know what I'll do, if you overstep.

[ropedin]

I only go as far as I must.

[ Stated simply. Plainly.

He didn't fear this man -- even if he knew his face. HJ refused to give him that power, even if it was a nagging feeling at the back of his head. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ That reassurance doesn't fill him with confidence.

Frank has said as much as he will. He merely nods, and he goes.

His legs better heal before the man attempts something stupid. ]