Tryin' to hustle some things

[viced]

WHO: Mitchell Hundred and Saitama
WHERE: HUNDRED FOR SENATE Offices
WHEN: This weekend idk
WHAT: Mitch is interviewing people for the purpose of using their stories for his political gain. You know.
Politician things.
WARNINGS: Not likely.


Being the sort of person that was normally used to being interviewed instead of being the interviewee, it was unique, to get the opportunity to play at the Fourth Estate. Oh sure, he was likely not going to have his voice even come up, in the pieces that made themselves to the circuits, but he wanted the personal touch. It was a small gesture, but taking time out of his day always served him well. It was the kind of gesture that said, very clearly, that he cared enough to actually listen to what they had to say.

Mind, it was still a sink on his time, and in the small office, with cameras and staff milling about, while they waited for the man to arrive, Mitchell was scrolling through his blackberry with one hand, the other on his laptop, perpetually in a state of motion, in a state of movement toward his goals. The coffee to his side was empty, the mug had dark rings around the white porcelain on the inside, a testament to how much he'd drank, and how little he cared about cleaning out the black swill from his mugs.

Of course, when Saitama arrived, his head would swing straight up, and instead of the deep concentration, replaced itself with a politician-perfect smile, and an extended hand. ]

Comments

[heroforhobby]

Saitama showed up somewhat on time, however, for one reason or another, he was under the impression it would be something casual. Not in front of cameras or anything proper of the sort. So in walked Saitama, in cargo pants, red crocs, a beautiful galaxy cat hamburger t-shirt with a flannel shirt over it like it came from 1993.

Being greeted so friendly was almost creepy, but Saitama reacted as he normally would, with a monotone reply and a handshake almost as monotone, "Hello. Saitama. Making a TV show here or something?"

[viced]

Did...did he think this was...

Mitchell looked him up and down. This was the person that someone like Genos had decided to become a disciple of? From first impressions, this either said something about Genos, or this guy wasn't what he appeared. He wasn't sure which one he'd prefer, but looking the man over... well.

Mitchell wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Ah, thank you for coming -- and yeah, it's, ah, the interview?"

[heroforhobby]

Hey, you wanted to show heroes were just people, too, right? Surely more people in America wear crocs then they do a tie.

"Ah," he answered at first, but after a second or two, it seemed to sink in. With dread pooling in his stomach, he pointed at the nearest camera, asking, "Wait, you're gonna film this? Why?"

His tone isn't angry or anything like that, instead, it seems to insinuate, "Who even wants to watch something like this??"

[viced]

"Well, didn't Genos tell you about it?" he asked, and sat back down, leaning back in his chair. He picked up a pen, and fiddled with it, looking down at it, and then focused his eyes back on Saitama. His lip curled into a smile, friendly, but less politician perfect than before. Instead, it was reassuring, somewhat.

"Sorry. It's -- we're trying to tell import stories," he explained. "In your own words, not mine, and not edited. We want them to be genuine -- like a piece of you."

[heroforhobby]

"He did . . ." he started, moving to join him in the empty seat, trying not to look too nervously at the cameras and people milling around. "He just forgot to tell me it'd be recorded, I guess. Thought you were just gonna write stuff down. Like a magazine or something?"

[viced]

"As catchy as a "Hundred Weekly" would be, that's not exactly the way to advertise. People don't read enough to pay attention to anything written, especially if it's longer than a Bweet," Mitchell paused, and straightened, and put his pencil down.

"So what we do instead, is we do videos. Do you, ah, need a moment? Maybe some water?"

[heroforhobby]

He almost wanted to ask what a Bweet was, but had the suspicion that would only garner him more gawping from the politician. "Nah, I'm cool. Ask away," he invited. However, if someone tried to come over and powder his head or something he might freak out just a little bit.

[viced]

"Okay," he paused, and leaned back in the chair. One of the cameras was behind him, which gave him an opportunity to hold the position of the viewer, when they got around to editing this.

"Let's just start with an introduction. Why don't you tell us who you are, and who you were, before you arrived here?"

[heroforhobby]

As the interview progressed, it may seem like things were all right but when the footage is reviewed for editing there will be many times Saitama just wasn't photogenic at all. Lots of moving or shifting accidentally into a weird position, or light bouncing off his head in a way there's a glint or lens flare. The audio at least will somewhat come out all right.

"Ah, I'm Saitama, I already told you that." People these days, not remembering stuff people have told him, (thought the man that never remembered anyone's name). "Before coming here I was still Saitama."

[viced]

It was long, and drawn out, when he finally responded, after several long moments of staring at him. "Well, just so our audience knows, what was it you did, as Saitama back home?"

Please, bro, give him something to work with, his eye silently plead. Which is really just silent staring.

[heroforhobby]

This guy wasn't a good interviewer, was he? Pausing so long like this. Well, no one said politicians had to be good interviewrs, he supposed, so Saitama kindly waited for him patiently, scratching at his ear.

"The same I'm doing now," he answered simply, one shoulder shrugging. "I was a hero for hobby."

[viced]

"Okay," there's a shift, then.

"Why don't you tell us what a 'Hero for hobby' is? I've never heard of something like that, and I used to be a superhero," it was with the vague, self-depreciating congeniality that came naturally to a politician.

[heroforhobby]

"Well," he paused, trying to think of the best way to put it. Because he thought it would be obvious using those words what he meant, but apparently not for this guy. "You know how some people get bored and want to do something to pass the time? Model trains or rock polishing? It's like that." A pause as he rubbed a wrist absentmindedly in his lingering anxiety about the camera. "I got bored."

It was a little deeper than that. He was a lost 22 year old in a big world that didn't care about him, unable to find work, seeing no future for him--but, sure, he was bored, too.

[viced]

"So you...became a hero?" wow.

"Do people... let you do that back home? In my experience -- they don't even want heroes saving the day in times of an emergency, so I'm... I know in my perspective, and that of our potential listeners, that it can be a lot to wrap our heads around. What kind of things did you do? Save cats from trees? Help old ladies across the street?"

[heroforhobby]

"Sure, if that's what you wanna do. Being a hero isn't just about beating up monsters, right? But my home is pretty different from here, I dunno about your world." A pause, because he's talking more than he normally would and that's a little strange. But he supposed he has to.

"But where I'm from there's several monster attacks almost every day, so it'd be pretty stupid to try to stop people from trying to help people." He shrugged, "The people not cut out for it learn pretty quick on their own."

[viced]

"Several?"

Mitch shrunk back, then, surprise evident. That's not normal from most worlds, even the superhero-based ones didn't really see monster attacks all that often. He straightened, before he moved on.

"I'd say they'd need someone helping, then. What kinds of monsters? Where do they come from?"

[heroforhobby]

He blinked at his surprise, but is otherwise nonplussed by his reaction. He has come to understand that not many people brought here came from as disaster-filled of a world as his own.

"Ah, all sorts." He paused to try to think of ones that he knew about. He didn't really pay attention to a lot of what monsters or people said that would tip him off about all the origins of all monsters, but he picked up a couple things here or there. "Sometimes they come from the earth. Or used to be people or were made by people. Aliens. Like that."

[viced]

"Oh, of course," he said, his voice mild, but it was obvious from his tone that he was really still trying to sort it out.

"So... you're from a place where any scifi or horror novel could exist? Essentially? Are there other people out there doing what you do, or is it just you?"

[heroforhobby]

"Yeah, a ton of people." He leaned back in the chair, crossing arms and tapping a hand on one arm. "Most go through the Hero's Association so they can get paid and stuff, but I didn't join that till this year." He paused, then realized he would inevitably be asked about the HA so he added, "It's sorta like the people that brought us here only...less kidnappy about it. And it's for fighting monsters, not other countries."

[viced]

"Huh," he shook his head, but his smile said that he appreciated the explanation. It made him look less like an idiot who just asked questions -- although he was certain that Saitama already thought that was true. He leaned back, and folded his hands on his lap.

"Well, sounds like a better deal, if I can be honest. With monsters, we know exactly who the enemy is, huh? Was that...normal, to sign up when you did? You make it sound like you did it a little later than most."