video;

[sidecar]

[The video opens on a three-year-old Lloyd Irving, peering curiously at the tablet with a "What's that thing?" before Kotetsu turns the camera back around to himself.]

Anyone recognize this kid? He says his name's Lloyd, and he knows someone named uh...Noishe?

[Yeah, that's all he's got and he's probably butchering the pronunciation, but there's only so much info you can get out of a toddler, okay.]

I found him wandering around the Hold by himself, so if there's anybody here from his world it'd be a big help to hear from them.

Comments

[sidecar]

[So casual!]

Even if it's just for a couple days, you'll wanna have stuff that's comfortable.

[ex_lecturing315]

( ...grumble )

You know where to go?

[sidecar]

[Don't trust him, Barnaby, he has terrible taste.]

I know a few places.

[ex_lecturing315]

Good places?

[sidecar]

[Wow, picky.]

The best you're gonna find around here!

1/3

[ex_lecturing315]

If you say so...

[ex_lecturing315]

( he leaves the feed going since he means to go on and ask for details - but it's a little cold in here, and a jacket's a jacket, right? so he goes to pull on one draped across the back of a chair - very nice, exactly what he'd like if beyond what he could imagine affording right now, and sadly too big -

- he has good control of his powers, really good, since he's had them for so long, but he still has his lapses sometimes.

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip. )

[ex_lecturing315]

( nnnNOOOOOOOOOOOooooOOOOO.

maybe

he didn't

hear that.


CASUALLY PICKS UP THE TABLET AGAIN. )

Are you planning on telling me about them today or not?

1/2

[sidecar]

[Meanwhile, Kotetsu can't help but be cheerful about how well this is going. Sure, he screwed up the first time he tried to talk to Barnaby, but now he's going to get another chance and--]

[sidecar]

[OH MY GOD NOT THE JACKET. BARNABY IS GOING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS HIS FAULT LATER, JUST WAIT!!]

That's... that's the fourth time...

[ex_lecturing315]

( STOP SHUT UP THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN )

Well?

[sidecar]

[Barnaby is really going to pretend... Psssh, yeah, okay, after he's had a few seconds to get over the shock Kotetsu can't help laughing. Behind that tough guy act Barnaby really is just a kid after all.]

[ex_lecturing315]

( W O W

ugh laugh it up )

I thought a Hero should be more mature!

[sidecar]

[Bunny, he takes back all the comments about you not being cute. Clearly you just expended your cuteness points when you were a kid.

Trying... not... to... laugh..]

You're okay, right?

[ex_lecturing315]

Of course I'm okay! Why would I waste time talking to you if I weren't?

[sidecar]

You're still having some trouble getting used to your powers?

[ex_lecturing315]

Not really.

( HUFFY )

Mr Maverick says....

( it's not very common for such small children to develop their abilities, so maybe they take longer to master than for someone older to start with. maybe it's those volatile emotions he's always chided on. )

...it doesn't happen that often.

[sidecar]

[He doesn't react as badly to Maverick's name this time, but it's still enough to get his attention and make him look a little more serious.]

It's not a big deal. Hundred power's really hard to get control of.

[If Barnaby hasn't considered becoming a Hero yet then it makes sense that he hasn't done much training with his powers. Still, it's a surprise somehow; another addition to that increasingly long list of reasons why Kotetsu doesn't know Barnaby as well as he thought he did.]

[ex_lecturing315]

( that's...really not the kind of response he was expecting to get, honestly, which maybe flickers in his expression for a second. it usually is a big deal because it means something or other has been destroyed, someone's been inconvenienced, and it's his fault. not that mr maverick would blame him, of course! but mr maverick expects better of him where he should expect better of himself, and a lack of control isn't going to get him anywhere closer to fulfilling his goal. it's only the truth; he trusts mr maverick more than he trusts himself.

so he maybe tenses a little at that, considers an answer, and then says flatly: )

Like I said, it doesn't happen very often.

[sidecar]

[Shrugs.]

So a little more practice and you'll get the hang of it. Even if you don't wanna be a Hero, it'll be good for you to know what you can do.

[ex_lecturing315]

Yeah, I guess so.

( maybe hero academy will be good for something after all... )

[sidecar]

[That doesn't sound very confident, Mister.]

Don't worry so much! People from the future are always right about these things.

[ex_lecturing315]

We're all technically 'from' the future right now.

( or in it anyway )

[sidecar]

That's different!

[Stop being smart, ugh.]

Look, I've gotta keep an eye on this kid for now, but you wanna meet up later? You can at least check out some stores for yourself and see if there's anything you like.

[ex_lecturing315]

( :/!!!!!! )

Alright. You can let me know when you're free.