x-factor investigations starts off with some great PR

[entertaining]

-- unbelievable.

[ there's the sound of clattering as the video comes on, like someone knocked the communicator over but is obviously too preoccupied to notice. even though there's only a crooked view of someone's feet, rictor's voice is raised and clearly audible. ]

What part of this did you think I'd be okay with, exactly? Or weren't you thinking about me at all?

I do not know. [shatterstar sounds defensive, but like he's rather missing the point:] Why would this upset you? You were not here.

Why would it upset me? [ there's a tone of incredulity in rictor's voice. ] Oh, wait. That's right. You wouldn't understand because you have no concept of what it feels like to only want to be with one person.

When I was not in your dimension, you were with others. How is this different? [a beat, heatedly:] And you also wish to be with Rahne.

Rahne is different. I thought she was pregnant with my -- [ hhurghh. ] That's not the point.

[ the camera starts to get unsteady, trembling a little at first, then more as rictor continues to raise his voice. ]

This isn't about me and her. It's about us, or if there even is an us at all --

Of course there is an- [and then, when the shaking becomes too intense to ignore-] Rictor? Julio!

What? [ the whole building lurches one more time.







then stops. because he stops. he realizes. dead silent and still for a long moment. ]

...That was me.

[END FEED]

Comments

permavoice

[heartlessglitch]

Shatterstar, confirm your status.
Are you alright?

[entertaining]

[distractedly!!] I am fine.

[a beat, realizing he is talking to his robobro okay] Rictor has his powers again.

[heartlessglitch]

Yes. I noticed.
Physical status: Confirmed.
Are you under emotional stress?

permavideo;

[insufferablysmug]

[ dry and unamused. ]

Congratulations, Rictor.

[shakeandbake]

I can't decide whether to be completely elated or totally pissed off.

[insufferablysmug]

What did he do?

[ she totally knows. ]

video;

[borntobewildcat]

[Tom is conveniently prepared for this moment, as he's sitting on his couch, in wereform...

With a bowl of popcorn.]

permavideo!

[entertaining]

[OH LOOK IT'S MAN-RAHNE

NOT EVEN SHARING HIS POPCORN what a jerk frowning now]

Hello.

[borntobewildcat]

[They haven't been formally introduced yet, future teammate. And it's hard to share through the comms, sadly.

Doesn't stop him from eating it, though.]

Hey.

Trouble in paradise, buddy?

voice

[currentcy]

[ Aw, fuck. ]

Man, these things do turn on easy, don't they?

fight me permavid

[entertaining]

[perks up

oh wait no

Bc frowning again]

... Yes, it seems so.

FINE PERMAVID, ARE YOU HAPPY

[currentcy]

Having trouble, Romeo?

voice;

[enigmaestro]

Shatterstar. Do you require a -- [Beat.] Personal day?

permavid!!

[entertaining]

No. [a beat, wait Eddie should know about this sort of thing better ask] ... Should I?

[enigmaestro]

Well, one's, ah, reunion with their -- significant other? Is not uncommon among imports, and it can be emotionally stressful.

But you are nothing if not adaptive, I just thought I'd ask.

voice

[tinybutdeadly]

Sucks about your argument, dudes, but I think I just heard some sweet earth-shaking.

[Actually, depending on how big of an area he shook..she might've felt it.]

[shakeandbake]

That was me.

[ again. like he's still getting used to the idea, and isn't sure if he really believes it or not. ]

[tinybutdeadly]

Nice to have another Earthbender around.

I'm Toph.

action

[shakeandbake]

[ he doesn't say anything immediately. the room looks about as chaotic as he feels. he's still pissed, of course he is, but he can't help feeling suddenly, unexpectedly complete. he's sort of torn between pushing the argument and just letting it go, going outside, laying in the grass and feeling the earth.

at length: ]

I'm still mad. [ he doesn't sound entirely convinced of it, but he might be. ]

action

[entertaining]

[shatterstar frowns, uncertainly. it's not that he's not happy for rictor, because he is. right?] Don't be.

[shakeandbake]

[ he's going to pick up a tipped over lamp and set it more or less back up on the table it came from before doing his favorite thing sitting on the couch okay.

he can still feel the power tingling at his fingertips. how didn't he notice it before? maybe he'd been trying too hard not to notice. afraid to be disappointed. ]

We didn't resolve anything. [ except his power issues but whatever okay! ]

[professorstarchilde]

So, are you going to drop a house on me if I say I told you so?

[shakeandbake]

[ dryly: ]

Don't spoil the mood, Rachel.

[professorstarchilde]

Well, from what I hear, the mood isn't so great to begin with. This is good news, isn't it?

voice

[hellionated]

So, you got your powers back. [ The I told you so should be ringing through loud and clear in this tone. ]