video | post murderworld thoughts
So um... I've been thinking about this for a while. Ever since we left Harrub, actually...
[ He grimaced a bit, pausing for a couple of seconds. Glancing off to the side, before taking a breath, and addressing the camera again. ]
But um, after the whole Murderworld thing... it's kind of become clear that some of us aren't... handling things that well... [ He was thinking about Videl specifically, but the anon meme has also made it clear Videl wasn't the only one. ] I know we all took the oath for various reasons, and we probably all expected different things out of becoming a superhero. But um, some of us probably didn't expect this... so...
... With the whole "Legionnaire Legacies" thing coming around the corner, I think we should... [ Another pause, as he tries to figure out how to phrase this. ] ... um... I guess, share our lives with each other? To make sure we're prepared, in case... in case the news digs up stuff about us, and tries to drag us through the mud with it.
[ This is so weird and strange and against everything Gohan knows. He's usually the most secretive person in the world, but... he's kind of had to cope with having an open identity, so might as well go all in. ]
I guess um, I should go first? My name's Gohan, and... if you have any personal questions for me, I'll be happy to answer them...
[ He grimaced a bit, pausing for a couple of seconds. Glancing off to the side, before taking a breath, and addressing the camera again. ]
But um, after the whole Murderworld thing... it's kind of become clear that some of us aren't... handling things that well... [ He was thinking about Videl specifically, but the anon meme has also made it clear Videl wasn't the only one. ] I know we all took the oath for various reasons, and we probably all expected different things out of becoming a superhero. But um, some of us probably didn't expect this... so...
... With the whole "Legionnaire Legacies" thing coming around the corner, I think we should... [ Another pause, as he tries to figure out how to phrase this. ] ... um... I guess, share our lives with each other? To make sure we're prepared, in case... in case the news digs up stuff about us, and tries to drag us through the mud with it.
[ This is so weird and strange and against everything Gohan knows. He's usually the most secretive person in the world, but... he's kind of had to cope with having an open identity, so might as well go all in. ]
I guess um, I should go first? My name's Gohan, and... if you have any personal questions for me, I'll be happy to answer them...
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Did you... did something happen to you that you're not proud of?
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A... a few things, really... [ Being kidnapped multiple times, being too scared to act when it meant saving a life, having to kill someone... yeah, there were more than a few things. ] I uh... well, for starters, I've been too scared to admit to people what I actually am...
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I don't know. I don't think I really deserve all that, you know? [She looks at her hands and sighs.] Put a;; these powers to the side and what do you really have?
Just a teenager who keeps cracking jokes to hide the fact that she's pretty terrified with all this.
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[ Okay, that had slipped out before he could catch it. But at the same time, he wasn't exactly regretting it. ]
I mean, the first time I was told I had powers, and I was given the responsibility to use them, I was... kind of terrified. Like, really terrified. I... actually let a lot of friends down just because of how scared I was.
But, I mean, you still do it, right?
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What bothers me is people finding out how I got to become Spider-Woman. The police really love me back home, you know.
[Her tone would suggest otherwise.]
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... Tell me about it.
I uh... I wanna hear about it. [ A pause. ] I promise I won't judge you for it.
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Back when I was still in high school, me and someone else were just a couple of lonely kids. Didn't really fit in with the rest of the crowd, you know? So we bonded through that.
I ended up being bitten by a spider and became Spider-Woman but, he... He was still that lonely kid. Picked on, made fun of, bullied. You know, the whole treatment.
He ended up idolizing Spider-Woman to the point where he wanted to be special, like her.
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... What happened?
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I don't know how he did it but he ended up giving himself powers.
[He finally got what he wanted.]
He turned himself to a monster. A huge Lizard.
I had to stop him, you know? But I didn't know who the Lizard really was until it was too late.
He died. My best friend died because he wanted to be like his hero.
The same hero who got him killed.
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... I'm sorry.
[ It was the only thing he could think to say right now. ]
That... You don't deserve that. Neither of you did.
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[It wasn't really "fine" or "alright".]
Just something I'm gonna have to live with him. I think about him every day, really. But honestly, it's just easier for me to make jokes and be Spider-Woman than it is to be Gwen-Stacy.
Police don't really know the whole story, though. They don't know that Peter was the Lizard.
They just know that it's my fault he's dead.
I got my own police hotline, too. The whole "public enemy number one" treatment.
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He didn't think about the consequences of that back then. But he sure was thinking about them now. ]
... I've never gotten that sort of treatment. [ A pause, as he tries to rephrase that. ] It's... not something I've ever thought about, I mean... the police labeling me as a criminal...
... But that's not who you are though, no matter what anyone says. You did what you thought was right. That's... that's the whole point of this. Of being a hero.
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[Gwen just sort of leans all the way forward until her forehead hits the table.
Thunk.]
Being a hero is hard.
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I can agree with that.
[ Although, in the interest of fairness... ]
... But um... just... just so you know... [ Gulp. ] You're... not the only one who's gotten people killed...
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Yeah, I know all that.
And I know that all I can do about this is to just keep going on with my life.
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[ He's quiet for a moment, not sure what to say. Facing the table himself, as he intertwined his fingers together and seemed to be deep in thought. ]
... Would you believe me if I said that I honestly haven't been a superhero for that long?
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[Without a second though, really.]
How long?
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[ It was kind of embarrassing to admit, really. ]
I've... been fighting threats bigger than me all my life, but it wasn't until I started going to a public school that I thought I could... you know, actually stop crimes and keep people safe.
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You and the cops get along well? Sure they must've loved having you around and doing their job for them.
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[And why doesn't she have popcorn right now.]
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It was really uncomfortable. And then she found out my identity in a few days and blackmailed me.
[ a pause. ]
... You know, it's really awkward saying that out loud, and realizing that this is how I met my girlfriend.
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[Because what the hell, man.]
But I mean, you guys still seem happy together, so what's a little blackmail to find that special someone.
Am I right?
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Yeah, I guess... I mean, it was awkward, sure, but... I don't regret meeting Videl, or being Saiyaman, or teaching her how to fly...
[ He slumped forward then, arms crossed on the table. His chin resting on his arms, as his demeanor shifted. ]
... Honestly, that's the most normal thing in my life. Being Saiyaman, meeting Videl...
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[She just sort of grins.]
There might just be hope for you, yet.
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