semaphoring | Voice Testing

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voice testing: trench

Voice Testing | Setting: Trench

In The City-- a general prompt for anyone at the beach

He didn't know what 'home' was any longer.

Tenya Iida had resided in Trench long enough for the seasons to change-- the heat and coastal humidity of summer had slowed into a brisk fall that had Tenya instinctively looking towards starting a new semester at UA, a continuation of his life, his duties, and his ongoing education to become the Hero that his brother was. Yet, in Trench, Tenya found himself in a rare situation where he could exist by his own terms... as Tenya, not the man who was to become Turbo Hero: Ingenium when he attained his licensure.

It was strange. He wasn't sure how he felt. The only matter he was certain of was that Trench needed more help than was available within the city itself.

... Oh, how his classmates at UA would hardly be surprised if they could see him now.

The little cat that had appeared by his side when he arrived, a calico he had taken to calling Tama after an old Shinto deity of the subways, was curled in the hood of his jacket while he jogged over the shoreline that brisk morning and mused over what had become of his life.

Although his world still needed 'Ingenium'... Trench needed anyone with the will and heart to be a Hero.

Needing A Hero-- A fighting prompt

The Moon Presence was the only sign of hope amid the desolation of the Beast attack that had befallen Trenchwood. Corruption ran rampant through trench, and at times it felt as if the surges rose and fell with the ebb of the tide. Having grown up on an island nation, Tenya was no stranger to the power of the tides-- and it was chilling how chaos rose and fell within that pattern. Speed may have been his gift, but not even he was fast enough to help the architects and agriculture workers from saving their fields.

Fires ate through the crops, and Tenya was taking one last lap around in search of any stragglers. Food was important-- but survival was moreso. Spotting a figure at the far end of the field, he skid to a stop, heels kicking up dust and ash, and frantically sought to get the individual's attention.

"Hey, let's keep moving! It's not worth it to stay any longer!"

He'd carry them out if he had to. No one was going to get left behind

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He had been about to explain the importance of sharing meals with family and friends, as even the simple concept of connecting with others was core to maintaining proper mental health. But, it was more than that-- personal experience had taught him that there was no shame in relying on others, for matters that were as small as skinning a few bushels of potatoes or as large as saving someone's life. Glitch's surprise, however, earned a flummoxed look from him.

"You're witty, you're honest, you don't play games with what you say..." he counted the ways Glitch was perfectly fine company on his fingers while they walked.

"You might be a tad rough in your manner, but no more than some people in my class at school. That kind of thing is normal for young men like you and I."

Bafflement quickly settled into concern, and Iida shifted his glasses lower to see around the mist that was starting to coat them from the fog that seemed to linger around the town this season. "Why wouldn't people believe that?"

Well. That definitely throws him a little bit. He could almost believe that might be flirting if not for the fact how Iida seemed to be so methodical about his choice of words. He just laughs a little bit and shakes his head. "Well, I'll take it at least. Rough around the edges? Yeah, that fits to a fuckin' T for me," he answers with a small chuckle in his throat.

There's a lot to unpack there in that one question. It feels like he thinks it over much longer than the moment actually does hang in the air. Honestly? He was still trying to wonder why people even wanted to talk to him. This place and people had an effect on him that he never expected. He brings a hand to his blue hair and tucks one of the strands behind his ear before he finally shakes himself from the thought.

"I was mostly joking. I know I'm great company, just some people would definitely joke that I'm not," he says simply with a small shrug thrown in. "Ruby would definitely tease and say I have no sense of what's cool considering I make fun of her superhero comics," Glitch adds as he continues to walk. Better to direct it in that direction he thinks.

"Your friend Ruby has excellent tastes," came Tenya's totally unbiased opinion. "Although I can see why it would be difficult for some people to appreciate. Not everyone can wear a smile in the worst of battles or disasters."

He thought of All Might as he spoke. He thought of Midoriya, and that guy's impossibly bright, hopeful eyes. No matter how hard he tried to keep his own sentiments in check, he knew it was only a matter of time before the helm covering his true feelings was lifted. Scanning the street while they walked, Tenya spotted a promising looking tavern at a nearby corner.

"Why don't we try there?" He asked-- gesturing with his entire hand.

Then:

"Teasing aside, I don't see any reason why anyone should be so hard on themselves."

Tenya spoke carefully, knowing full well that ultimately his opinion didn't matter to someone he had just met.

"Besides. If Superheroes are difficult to look up to, I can probably tell you some stories about Heroes that are far less... Iconic. People following that path and lifestyle are not uncommon on the Earth I'm from."

Oh boy. He can't help but smirk a little when Iida says that of all things. Why? Mostly because that hadn't been Glitch's point. "Oh. Well. It's not like I DON'T appreciate that. I get it. It's more like...why do half the dudes wear their underwear on the OUTSIDE of their spandex?" Glitch says smirking a little more as he looked to the other guy. "I usually make fun of a lot of the impractical costumes and that's what sets her off," The boy says simply.

Though maybe he was testing his luck with that because honestly? This guy did seem like the type to have his own little mini rant like Ruby would. Either way he looks towards the direction Iida points in and nods. "Yeah, sure thing," Glitch says.

However, he has to stop looking at Iida for a moment when he goes on about superheroes and blinks a few times. "Wait. Hold on. So. You're from a world...where superheroes are the norm? Just to clarify." Because oh boy.

He could already see some interesting conversations with that.

Some of them involving Ruby making a spectacle of herself if he ever daned to make mention of it.

"That's right."

He said it with the plain tone that suggested this fact was both extremely obvious and something that he was proud of. Tenya straightened his posture and pushed up his glasses before flashing a grin at Glitch.

"Superheroics are considered a civil service where I am from, and Superheroes are treated accordingly-- with government funding, access to assistance and equipment as needed, appropriate licensures and training..."

Tenya was babbling-- and he realized that quickly once he caught sight of Glitch's face.

"Any costuming designs like that are both vintage and based on whatever the Hero and their Team felt was appropriate. Rest assured, my brother and the rest of my family choose a costume that is more heavily armored than most-- for practicality's sake, of course."

He looks at the other guy for a moment when Iida began to explain exactly what his world entailed. If anything it earned something of a skeptical look in his eye because it just seemed too...idyllic with how the boy went on about it. It was definitely hard to imagine any government being fine with letting people run around taking down supposed villains.

However, there was one lingering question on Glitch's mind when he was listening. "So. When you say people are licensed and equipped and stuff. Do you have like, Irregulars and Regulars going around signing up to be hero people?" However, when he says the question he realizes he probably needs to clarify- "Powered people and non-powered people I mean."

As for costumes- "....So you probably have some people in your world with some pretty stupid looking outfits, huh?" It's said with a shrug as he steps inside the Tavern. "Well. You got a point on armour being practical. I've only kinda started incorporating that shit into my own clothes."

The government wasn't fine-- which was why licenses were a factor and vigilantes were heavily cracked down on. Glitch's question, however, was a good one.

"There are actually more people with Quirks-- inborn powers-- than there are people without." He explained patiently. "They usually show up by the age of four and are registered as soon as they become defined. A lot of times they may not seem too impressive-- but, a person who can make their hands large enough to hold a large dog in their palm has an equal chance of being a hero as someone who can manifest fire or reduce gravity with their fingertips."

Tenya smiled, clearly eager to explain while he scoped out a table for them.

"Since so many people have powers, there is a rigorous training and licensing process. Anyone who doesn't follow those guidelines and acts to take on villains themselves... are criminals in their own right, by that system."

But that was a separate conversation, and Tenya knew that his older brother likely had Opinions on that matter. He did as well-- from his own experiences on both sides of the equation.

"A lot of students design their own costumes," he added, thinking of some of his friends. "But those undergo revisioins as they learn their skills and learn new aspects of their powers. Its a dynamic process."

Edited 2021-07-25 15:38 (UTC)

He takes a seat at the table and listens quietly as Iida went onto explain. His face remains neutral as he takes it in but he only begins to think how similar things sound between his world and Iida's. Mostly in the fact that it sounded like that the world was populated by those with powers. However, his mouth can't help but twitch into a frown though because well...

he could already see the discrepancies between them. The big one being that it sounded like such powers were genuinely accepted where Iida was from. A momentary thought of jealousy passes in his mind that it must be nice not to be locked up and fed lies...but he squashes that easily. Not something to bring up with a stranger.

He leans back in his seat canting his head a little towards Iida when he mentions the outfits. "Well. Hopefully you guys have better sense in design. In which case, what's yours look like outside of just being armour?" Because now he really needed to see what an up and coming "hero" would design.

But, another thought comes to mind as they sit there and he sheds the jacket he was wearing, not taking much care to hide the fact one of his arms was clearly robotic, as he leans back into his seat. "So. If you're training to be a hero you also have one of those hero names, right? Or is it like the comics and you can't tell me or I'll know your secret identity or something?"

Even Iida would admit that his social graces could be lacking at the best and worst of times, but he saw that brief shadow that clouded Glitch's face while he described a core facet of his world. The path towards his world's state had not been a simple one-- the divide between those with Quirks and without grew with each passing generation, and it was only Hope that kept the overall population from slipping into despair.

He had no idea what his world would look like without the Symbol of Peace... And, so long as he chose to stay in Trench, he supposed he never would.

The question earned a short laugh, and it wasn't obvious immediately whether or not Iida had noticed the robotic arm. Rather, he had shed his own jacket and started to fish out his cellphone.

"That's not a secret either. Remember when I said that everything was registered? Nearly everyone knows the Agency my family associates with, and Heroes stumbling into fans while off duty is pretty ordinary, too."

Powering it on, he started to flip through the pages to his image gallery and scrolled quickly through the archives to some of his favorite photos of his older brother. The way his sleeves rode up as he moved revealed the perimeter of scarring along his arms-- apparent stab wounds, healed over but still fairly recent.

Grinning when he found a particular photo, he laid the phone on the table and pushed it toward Glitch.

"That's a photo of my older brother, Tensei, in his armor. His Name..." He trailed, an uncomfortable look briefly furrowing his brows in his own frustrations before quickly taking a breath and continuing:

"His Name... Was Ingenium. Though he's only thirty, he was forced to retire early due to injuries... And he's asked me to carry the name once I complete my education."

Edited 2021-07-25 18:53 (UTC)

It's hard not feel some mix of emotions of anger, sadness, jealousy. A whirlwind of feelings that he didn't want to even acknowledge so he decides to just focus on what Iida was saying. He's not sure what he's really to say about being registered as a hero or not. The comic books all made it seem like you just did it without regulations.

He's quiet as he listens though as Iida pushes the phone to him. He tilts his head looking at it and it's really not hard to see the similarities that Iida and his brother share. "Sounds like you guys would have a lot of enemies if you're all basically celebrities'" Glitch says as he looks over the photo. Though the way Iida went on about it, Glitch looked up towards him. "Sounds like you admire the guy," he puts simply.

As for what happened to him? Glitch frowned slight unsure of what to say in turn. There were more questions he could ask but he decided maybe best not to for the time being.

However, he's pulled from his thoughts though when he notices the scars that run up Iida's arm. He blinks a few times, before he finally gestures to them. "How'd you get those if you're only suppose to be in training?"

Because from his understanding training doesn't normally lead to that unless it was training in Deerington or something even worse was going on in the other's world.

Tenya had been about to comment that their lifestyle wasn't about the celebrity, but about living as glorified civil servants that people trusted would be around for a crisis, when Glitch's question caught him off guard. Setting the phone on the table, Tenya self consciously tugged at his sleeve...

"Just being a student doesn't make us immune to bad decisions... Or keep us safe from trouble."

With a sigh, he pulled up to sleeve to show Glitch.

"My brother was attacked and nearly killed by a villain. He survived, but with injuries that mean he'll won't run again without a lot of time, effort, and hard work. He was forced to retire at only age thirty... And I was so trapped in my own anger over this that I went after his attacker while out on some field training."

Edited 2021-08-13 09:37 (UTC)

Glitch remains silent as he sits back in his seat when Iida gets into that tidbit of his life. He feels a little awkward about it only because this seemed pretty personal. Maybe Iida was just open to sharing these kinds of personal things with people but Glitch sure wasn't. Still, Glitch frowns just a bit at that the brash actions.

"I get wanting to take down the guy who fucked your brother over, but that was probably a stupid fucking idea," Glitch says bluntly. He figures the other might've been told that before but hey; Glitch was not someone to mince words. "If anything might've been better to take back up with you if this guy was serious on the whole murder thing," Glitch says with a small frown.

"Trust me, on that. I might not have ever gone after insane murder hobos before but if they get you alone they don't hold back," Glitch says, not able to help but to look at his own mechanical arm; The memory of what Maul did to him still burned in his mind.

It wasn't a subject he was open about, but he wasn't going to hide in shame over his own mistakes either. The scars he had earned that day were a reminder to him to plan his strategies more thoroughly... and to never forget the key point which he had forgotten that day:

He wasn't alone.

Eyeing the robotic arm once more, Tenya momentarily pondered on how both another classmate and himself were dangerously close to having similar sort of assistive device. The Support Class had kitted all of them out with upgrades, but replacing an entire limb was beyond even their expertise.

"...I know that, now." he said at length. "It was a mistake to think that there weren't people willing to team up. Even my brother had the whole of Team Idaten backing him at normal times."

The whole of the city had been glued to the televised bouts during the Sports Festival, they way they did during other athletic events on a large scale. Tensei had been attacked during one of the rare times he was alone and unable to quickly call for an assist.

Taking his glasses off, Tenya heaved a wearied sigh.

"You may not have gone after villains like that on your own, but you sound like you've certainly met them. Is that how your injury happened?

Edited 2021-08-14 18:15 (UTC)

Maybe he should've expected that question to come after what he just said. He opened the door for it after all. While the arm did feel like it was still the same one he lost it was hard not to see it and know he lost his real arm and had to adapt. He turns it over, looking at the palm of the mechanical part with a deep frown. He thinks to get up and leave and excuse himself, not really wanting to answer.

But, honestly? That would probably be pretty irresponsible, wouldn't it? At the very least he could give this guy some warning about one of the more dangerous residents among the Sleepers. "Pretty much. There's a guy named Maul here-" Glitch says, (the irony of the alien man's name not escaping him)

"And he's more than a little fucking psychotic. He attacked me about a year ago when the town we were in made him crazy and when I fought back to at least keep him from murdering me? He's had it in for me. Says that what I am is an abomination and all that shit with what I can do.

Several people had to get him to 'promise' not to come after me but soon as that was gone? He decided to do what he wanted," Glitch says with a low voice. But, finally he looks back to Iida with a furrowed brow. "I'm not telling you this because I want a pity party, but, to let you know how dangerous this fucking guy is. His temper is hair trigger and he's willing to do anything if he's slighted. He's got horns on his head and red and black skin with gold bloodshot eyes. He's not hard to miss."

....Glitch was talking to a guy whose full name was Iida Tenya, from a country where the world 'idaten' referred to track and field runners, and who had jogging as a hobby. The irony of such a name was noted with a nod-- such things were reasonable, after all.

"There's no reason for a pity party," Tenya replied, replacing his glasses and giving Glitch a serious look. "Sometimes, there's no easy way of avoiding those who wish to hurt you."

Beyond rivalries which may or may not be friendly, evidence was starting to show that the more powerful villains in their small region of Japan had foul intentions for multiple of his classmates. No matter what precautions they took, and no matter how many pros were around, it was impossible to stop everyone. With brows furrowed, Tenya took mental note of the man Glitch was speaking about. A man like that would be hard to miss.

"A man with a temper like that, aiming to murder a young man like you for no reason?" He clicked his tongue, dissatisfied. "He must be more of an 'abomination' than you are. What is it that you do that would make him say that to you?"

He's already in this deep, might as well keep going. He takes a moment to think on what to say as he sinks into his chair a bit. "You wouldn't be wrong with that," Glitch replies quietly. Of all the people he met, Maul was probably the worst person he's met. But, that doesn't really answer Iida does it. So he lifts his hand as blue electricity sparks off of it. "He doesn't like me because of my powers," Glitch answers simply.

Though he feels at the very least he should give Iida some more context on this. "Apparently, he's had a bad experience with it that it causes him a lot of distress. But you know, using your fucking trauma as an excuse to be a shitty person and fucking murderer doesn't hold much water with me. Can't just do awful things to people and play the "I'm a sad victim of abuse" card and expect to get away with things," Glitch says flatly.

But, the words Maul said to him has stuck with him even moreso, clinging and dripping off him like a heavy weight. It was hard not to think that he was right when his whole world revolved around the idea people like him with powers were in fact, not good.

"He doesn't like electricity generation?"

Tenya didn't bother to hide his surprise. Electricity control was such an ordinary power in his world that, again, it barely warranted any attention. One of his classmates had a similar ability-- and he was what some would call a Class Clown!

"That's appalling. Everything you're describing about this man is appalling." He shook his head, having heard such slippery slope arguments by people as an excuse far too many times. It was easy to feel pain and distress in these kinds of circumstances, but being better and stronger meant rising above such matters.

"But... you're absolutely right. Sometimes, the people who cause the most trouble need to work the hardest at healing themselves. It's no one else's responsibility to bind them with promises-- and you shouldn't have been put through that."

"Apparently he had a bad time with it as a kid. Not that that gives him the right now to do what he does," Glitch says bitterly. There were plenty of other things Maul did that didn't involve electricity that was just as bad. He remains quiet though when Iida offers his consolation. He's not really sure what to really say to that, other than brush some of his own blue hair behind his ear. "Trust me. He's pretty a pretty gross guy to know."

"Thanks. You're sweet," Glitch says simply. The word feels like it comes a little unnaturally to him since it's not something he'd usually say. Either way, he shifts a little uncomfortably as he gets up from his seat. "We should probably call it here. You've probably got stuff you need to do," Glitch says somewhat awkwardly.

There he went with the compliments again. Tenya, tongue-tied once more, struggled to find the words as Glitch started to get up.

"That-- thank you."

He sucked in a breath and awkwardly dipped his head in a bow. "I never would have known who to be careful around without your warning. But, Glitch-kun-- no, maybe you prefer just Glitch? At least let me thank you appropriately..."

Tenya stood, feeling not unlike an awkward puppy that was too big for such tight quarters and perhaps it's own feet, and regarded Glitch in earnest.

"We came for food. At least let me buy you a meal. And tell you about my powers. Fair is fair, isn't it?"

Glitch hadn't seemed terribly comfortable with all of the personal admissions he had made, and Tenya didn't blame him. But, with that depressed look on the guy's face, he didn't feel right just leaving their first meeting on that beat.

It's hard to notice how much Iida does tower over him in this setting. He was about to turn to leave but he's sort of stopped when he looks at the figure standing in front of him. He remains quiet for a moment watching them bow to him and well he can't help but chuckle a little bit. "You're an earnest kind of guy, aren't you?" He says it easily because well, it's hard not to notice.

If he had met Iida a year ago he might've kept most of this to himself, maybe even called the other boy a fool for being so open to tell him things. But, he shakes his head a bit at the offer. "All right. Sure, I'll take you up on that," Glitch says, his face lightening just a bit. Weird how things could turn like this.

Instantly, Tenya beamed.

"Really?" He gushed, heartened by just this simple little gesture of acceptance. Regardless of their circumstances, he recognized a certain something about Glitch that he recognized and couldn't quite let go of. The harsh truths he uttered were countered by an odd shyness and a shadow that resembled depression. But, going beyond...

With Glitch's own surprise about Tenya's life, and the allegations of Maul both regarding and treating him as an abomination, Tenya couldn't help but wonder what Glitch's home must have looked like. Even if he couldn't fix any of these problems, earning a smile was enough.

"That. I-- well." He stammered, tongue-tied once more. "What kind of food do you like? The menu looked like it had a decent variety for what we usually find in this town..."

Trailing, he sat back down at their little table and regarded Glitch once more.

"No matter what you say, or what other people say about you... you're a pretty good guy. Don't listen to words like that."

It's hard not to laugh a little at this display. He'd always been so distrusting of people and assumed the worst before he really knew them. He would have to blame Ruby for him finally trying to think the best of people.

He gives something of a shrug though when asked on food and the like. "I'll eat pretty much anything. I'm not super picky, so long as it's you know; not human bones or something," Glitch says waving a hand dismissively in the air. Was that a joke or was he being serious? Who knows. Either way, he sits down again but is stopped again when Iida goes and says that.

He's talked to this guy for only a couple hours and he's saying things like that? It gets another little laugh from him. "Uh...thanks. I don't hear that a lot so...yeah," is he flustered laughing?

He's flustered laughing.

The flustered laughter was impossible not to notice, and for a second Tenya panicked. Had he said something out of line and embarrassed the guy? Clearly they were separated by culture and likely the more complex aspects of their worlds-- but, surely even a social faux pas could be forgiven, with time?

"Human bones? I don't think that--" He began, questioning the obvious, before quickly shaking his head and waving down a server. Swiftly and politely, he ordered a bowl of beef stew and some hearty brown bread for the two of them. Despite the sea faring nature of Trench, the locals seemed well versed in how to use the local resources to their maximum advantage.

Sitting down, he continued. "Sorry for taking liberties like that. It's doubtful that there's human bones in our meals when we're such a valuable resource to the local community. Whether they make a fuss over it or not... they need our help."

It was their blood that had the potential to alter the world, after all.

"And... Glitch." He said the name once more without honorific, practicing that custom for himself-- because it was rude to expect the whole of the city to adjust to his own sense of propriety when there were a host of other issues. They all had to adapt.

"I understand that accepting kind words can be hard after difficult things have happened. They probably sound like a lie, yes? But the people you choose to surround yourself with, who see you for the kind of person that you are, have no reason to lie.:

He pushed his glasses up as he spoke-- and then, unexpectedly, leaned forward to get a better look at his mealtime companion. The darkened cheeks and the flustered expression still worried him...

"Are you feeling okay?"

"You would be surprised how many times freaky shit ended up in food in the last place," Glitch answers with something of a bored tone. Either way, it doesn't stop him from pulling up one of the bowls of stew that Iida order for the both of them and begin to eat. Partway through eating he does look up at Iida. He pauses at their words only realizing a kind of gentleness coming from them.

It leaves him at a loss of words to say the least, as he brought a hand to brush some of his blue hair behind his ear nervously. Was he feeling okay? Honestly? He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm...as fine as anyone can be in this place. I mean, I chose to come back here since it was that or go home which...isn't great," Glitch says, bringing up a hand to wipes his tired eyes as he leans back in his seat.

But, he wasn't answering the question was he? Another exhale as he shifts his eyes to look off towards the ocean. "Honestly. I wish things were better."

Brows lifted with curiosity at Glitch's words. The 'last place', as Glitch called it, was a fairly common source of conversation among the world hopping veterans within Trench-- and not for the first time Tenya felt a quiet respect for anyone who survived that literal nightmare.

"...You're talking about the outcome from what happened in that dream, Deerington, aren't you?"

He had paid attention to the local history, but everything Tenya heard was so convoluted in places that even he couldn't make full sense of it. It was even doubtful if the people who had stayed long-term within the dream understood everything about what they had lived through.

Voice Testing | Setting: Trench

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