What happens when the chara is more laidback than the mun? This.

[flamekid]

Dearest Mun,

I hope you don't take this wrong way but you are beginning to worry me. I don't want to come across as overly critical but seriously. Stop. We'll figure it out eventually but you stressing out over this isn't helping either of us.

Now look, I know you're nervous about this whole 'voice' thing but don't. Why don't you toss me onto some memes or hit up SWS. Something easy and light. I promise we'll get along like a house on fire. [Rim shot. Someone is puny today.] Okay, that was kinda bad, but I just want to cheer you up. Can we just have some fun and figure out the rest of the details later? I mean, I know you want to find some other Invaders to play with and I agree, a Torch or a Bucky to play against would be aces but don't be afraid to put me out there with other people too.

Thanks, you're a doll!

-Toro

Comments

[cold_shoulder]

Which part of it all is the stressing about?

[flamekid]

'Everything' according to her. She's kinda a high-maintenance kinda dame. She apped me to CnC and hasn't heard back yet. So I suspect that's the main problem but there's a lot of other little things that are bugging her like no profile layout and my only having a few icons yet. I told her not to stress over it but. [An eloquent shrug.] Women, right?

[cold_shoulder]

There are many reasons to not hear about an application immediately, including scheduling conflicts among the people who need to evaluate it. *liptwitch* And that place would be intimidating.

But I have confidence in you. Both of you. *what. That's something people need to hear, now and again*

[flamekid]

I know that. Heck, she knows that but I think you got it in one with the whole intimidating as heck part. [At a loss, Toro just shrugged again before smiling widely at Bucky's comment.]

You're a pal, Buck. Here that, Munnie? Bucky here's one of the best guys I know so you should listen to him, alright!

[cold_shoulder]

*... how is Toro this bubbly, were they ever this bubbly, was he ever this bubbly? Bucky blinks those questions away, his lips twitching up again*

See, but we wouldn't be able to call ourselves heroes if we didn't aim for things scary as... heck, right?

And of course, anytime. There should be familiar faces there, and even more that you'll be familiar TO.

[flamekid]

[He is trying to be upbeat about this, Bucky. How else do you handle a neurotic mundane?] That's...one way of looking at it? And I dunno about that, Mr. B. Haven't really seen much in the way of Invaders types around here. I guess we just aren't that popular or something. [His smile wavered just a little.]

[cold_shoulder]

*Bucky's upbeat burned out a while back, he's ... well. Who he is. He can appreciate it, it just feels odd, to think he was like this, once upon a time. He knows he was, it's just. Complicated.*

Well, there is a me, and-- Wait. They don't have Steve? Now that must be...

*excruciating. For those who have lived through certain events.*

They, uh, still probably know enough to recognize you, even if you don't know them right off the bat.

[flamekid]

Not our Cap. I think the Nazis keep trying to pull the wool over my mundane's eyes. They've got her convinced the other Caps I've seen running around are for real. And they're all...weird. Tellin' stories about getting frozen and defrosted in the future? How crazy is that! If they were gonna try and pull a fast one on us, you'd think they'd at least pick a more believable story.

[So he's being deliberately obtuse. Can you blame the kid? Sorry if Toro doesn't want to accept that both Cap and Bucky are going to 'die' in the near future. And that's not even addressing the mess with the Winter Soldier. Nope, Toro's going to cling to his ignorance.]

[cold_shoulder]

*yelp. Bucky actually visibly flinches at that.*

It's... complicated, pal. Most of them aren't our Steve. In that one's story, I met him when I was six, not sixteen.

*sob, he will spare you for now, Toro. But just because it hurts too much to even imagine your reaction it you really had to deal with it. Instead, look, change of topic*

Somebody should bring about Jacqueline, hmm? That would probably surprise everybody.

[flamekid]

[He didn't miss that flinch and shot Bucky a narrow-eyed look.] That sounds like a load of hokum, Mr. B. But I'm sick and tired of arguing with my mun about it.

[Toro heaved a sigh and fidgeted restlessly before brightening a little once more.] Oh, man. I don't know what Pappy would do with himself if there was a Jacqueline around.

[The younger man shot Bucky a mischievous grin. He took great pleasure in Jim's awkward 'crush' on Spitfire.]

[cold_shoulder]

*no, probably missing it would be way too much to expect.* Might as well be, yeah.

*freezing, waking up. Winter Soldier. Watching Steve get shot from nearly close enough to be able to touch him. It all hurts too much to just dismiss it, even briefly. So he goes for 'sort of' dismissing it.*

Hah. *and Bucky manages a grin back* Having her around definitely made things more interesting, in so many ways, right?

[flamekid]

[Toro was more than willing to drop the subject in favor of talking about Jacqueline. Come on, they'd been a pair of hormone-blitzed teenagers and she was a beautiful woman. Jim hadn't been the only one sporting a mild crush on the noblewoman.] Yeah, she's a real quality dame, that one.

[cold_shoulder]

*good. And no, Jim was totally not the only one with a crush. As shown in Avengers-Invaders and Bucky's 'notes' given there...*

Exactly. And spirited, to go with that.

[flamekid]

[Can't really blame them.] Yeah which is why she'd prolly laugh in your face if you were ever stupid enough to put the moves on her, Mr. B.

[1_woman_marine_corps]

"The decades have gone by, old friend, and the only thing which has changed is your eyes. I would say this comforts me, but you seem troubled."

[flamekid]

This particular Toro had never met Namora and just looked a little puzzled and curious. "I'm sorry?" He was a polite lad for the most part fought the urge to rub the back of his head a little awkwardly.

[1_woman_marine_corps]

She frowns. "The Invaders?" she prompts. Sure, she wasn't a member, but she was Namor's frequently-around cousin. Basically, it was just those moments between panels where war bonds would have to be raised and their appearences did just that.

"Though, I can understand some confusion. I spent much of my time in the Pacific theater. I came to know you more through my cousin's missives."

Did they meet before 1947? *having a brainfart moment* Toro's 1943

[flamekid]

The poor lad was still a little confused but not wanting to hurt the woman's feelings, he smiled wanly.

"Yes, I'm sorry, it's a bit disorienting." Toro was trying to think of how to play this. She was claiming they'd met but surely he would have remembered her? She was a very striking woman after all. He finally settled for trying to look as innocuous and attentive as possible and prayed the blonde wouldn't press him further. "I trust you are well?

I'd have to look through my stuff to find out. I know she was frequently around Namor and so was he

[1_woman_marine_corps]

At the very least, she had been a proud War Bond pin-up, and - propotionately speaking - closer to his age than Jim's during the War.

"Let us try this again, since our lives can be so complicated." She reaches out a hand. The one thing he can tell is that she's not taking any offense to his confusion, and, indeed, wishes to eliminate it in a face-saving way. "Namora, Avenging Daughter of Atlantis, cousin to His Majesty, King Namor."

Yeah but I think that was all post war. Eh, who cares. *handwaves*

[flamekid]

A genuine smile broke out on the dark haired man's face when she introduced herself. Toro reached out and shook her hand politely. If he'd been a smooth operator like Bucky, maybe he would have done something charming and gallant for fun. But Toro wasn't Bucky and had to settle for a polite handshake and a smile. "Pleasure to meet you. Again."

Laughter gleamed in his eyes. "Tom Raymond at your service. But I think you already knew that."

And both were active, but not on panel much post-War - Eh, indeed.

[1_woman_marine_corps]

"Maybe not," she admits. "This place sometimes attracts those from alternate worlds. I am not arrogant enough to believe I must exist in all places."

"I suspected," she notes with a happy glint in her eye. The handshake is firm enough to show her enhanced strength and measured enough to mark her as a lady. "But, then again, your fame as a warrior preceeds you."

That's the problem with loving *covers Toro's ears* third-tier charas.

[flamekid]

The dark haired man looked a little skeptical. He was stubbornly refusing to believe all the claptrap about different verses and was just going to chalk it all up to some Nazi trick.

"Aw, shucks, now you're just flattering me, Namora." Toro rubbed the back of his neck a little bashfully. He might talk a good game but actually going through with it when a pretty lady was smiling at him? That was another matter all together.

Tiers are for people that don't love enough characters. ;)

[1_woman_marine_corps]

And Nazi's are a great blanket excuse.

She raises one regal eyebrow. "Not at all. My cousin still speaks of you with respect and fondness. Not many surface-dwellers even get a mention, much less praise from mighty Namor."

[deadthenred]

Houses and fire don't get along so nice, you know.

[flamekid]

....[He's just shaking his head at you.] It's a turn of phrase? [Toro's mouth twitched ever so slightly.]

[deadthenred]

I don't give a rot. "Blind as a bat" doesn't make change either. Bats ain't blind, I read it in a magazine once.

[flamekid]

Wait, you can read. I thought you just looked at the pictures. [Toro needled him shamelessly just to be a shit.]

[deadthenred]

I had it dictated.

[flamekid]

So wait...you had someone read to you? [Unholy glee shimmered in the other young man's eyes.] Awwww, Bucky, does Steve read you a bedtime story every night?

[deadthenred]

Yeah, he dresses up like a grandma and puts on tiny spectacles and reads me a story about princesses every night. You got it all pegged.

[flamekid]

[He tried to keep a straight face but Bucky's description of Steve dressing up like an old grandma had him bursting out into laughter.]

[deadthenred]

Hey, what are you laug— [but he can't keep it straight any longer, and starts laughing himself.]

[coinoperatedtorch]

Voice gets there in time, your mun's got nothing to worry about. Practice makes perfect, right?

[flamekid]

Exactly, but you gotta make your mun happy otherwise I've been told they do some pretty awful things to you in the name of...[He trailed off and tried to remember the exact word he was looking for.] Lulz? I think? She uses some pretty strange words, Pappy.

[coinoperatedtorch]

She means 'for laughs', Toro.

[Jim's been around his mun a while, he's good at translating]

It's not always so bad though. Most muns get around to doing pretty nice things with us all told.

[flamekid]

Oh, I see. Well then maybe it won't be so bad then. [Sure, Tom, look on the bright side. That'll never steer you wrong.] All the weird language changes aside.

[coinoperatedtorch]

All those aside yes.

So you're looking for a home then?

[flamekid]

Yes. I'm actually checking out the comm you're on, Pappy. [And that of course, made Toro very happy.]

[coinoperatedtorch]

It'd be awful nice to have you around, must admit.

[flamekid]

Aw, Pappy. [Touched, he wrapped an arm around Jim and gave him a half-hug. Shut up, he missed his Pappy, alright? Wasn't a lad allowed to miss his adopted father?]

[cap_a]

It's good to see you, son. I'm sure your Mun will have things sorted out in no time.

[flamekid]

I certainly hope so, Cap. [He spared Steve a quick smile before sobering once again.]