006 | VOICE

[myresponsibility]

So. [Guess who has two thumbs and isn't going to be talking about the flood or anything else that's been going on lately? THIS KID.] How common, exactly, are superheroes or vigilantes and stuff a... thing in your world? Because we sort of just had the one back home, and it kind of seems like there's about fifty of them on the Barge alone.

[He hesitates a beat before continuing, because this is just fucking weird to be talking about, even though it seems like there are a lot of people who are pretty cool about the whole I can juggle cars/set things on fire/kill you with my brain thing on board.]

And if you don't have superheroes, then what about people with superhuman abilities? Or, I don't know, what's normal on your home planet, if you're not from Earth?

You don't have to answer if you don't want, I'm just, you know. Curious.

[Private to Bond]

[He doesn't really want to talk about this at all, honestly. Buttt he does want to acknowledge it and say thanks, too, so. Keeping it short and sweet. B(]

Thanks. For not telling her about why I'm here.

[Private to Oliver]

Seriously?

[YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID, OLIVER.]

[Private to Alex]

So, I'm Spider-Man. [...] Which you probably guessed by now, but. I thought it was fair, considering, you know. [That truth flood. B(]

Sorry.

Comments

[takeyouapart]

Some people in my world are born with magic. It's not...common, but everyone knows of it. Some of those people can speak to one another with their minds alone. A very small number have visions of the future.

We don't have....superheroes.

[Although Sorceryman is still knocking around his head since Cass suggested as much.]

[myresponsibility]

[Yes, do it, then everyone will stop making fun of Peter for being called Spider-Man. B)]

What do people with magic do with it?

[takeyouapart]

[He tried on the flight suit and that is quite enough.]

Hide it, mostly. To be a sorcerer, or to help or shelter one, are capital crimes in my kingdom and some of those bordering it.

Are you asking how it can be used, or...?

[myresponsibility]

[MERLIN I'M SURE IT LOOKS FABULOUS, COME PLAY DRESS UP WITH THE X-MEN NEXT TIME THE BARGE LANDS SOMEWHERE DANGEROUS.]

No, I guess that more or less answers it. Why is it a capital crime just to have it? That seems kinda... extreme.

[takeyouapart]

[He pauses, trying to work out an answer that's true without going into what a fucking lunatic Uther was.]

Fear, and bitter hatred. Magic is not governed by laws made by men - the King thought it better to destroy what he could not control or understand. He saw magic as a corruption within those who possessed it.

[myresponsibility]

[That's tricky business tbh.]

Sounds like a really fun guy. [By which he means "he sounds like a fucking lunatic".]

[takeyouapart]

He died some years ago. It will take a long time for the rift he created to heal.

I'm sorry, we've not spoken before. My name's Merlin.

[myresponsibility]

As in Merlin, Merlin?

Private

[takeyouapart]

[Welp been a while since he's fielded this.]

...

Sort of.

Private

[myresponsibility]

[It's okay, Merlin, Peter's not really one for prying.]

Cool. I'm Peter.

Private

[takeyouapart]

[Good. 8|]

Nice to meet you.

Do you know how it is that there's only one person who has those sorts of gifts? I mean...it seems strange there would be only one.

Private

[myresponsibility]

Only one that I know about. I guess there could be other ones who just... don't do the whole superhero thing.