"It's mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack, not rationality."

[lightningbride]

[There's a familiar girl walking the streets of Luceti today with an intense, focused expression, newly returned from her mallynapping. But those who know her will quickly realize that something is very off. Very, very off.

The more innocuous difference is that she's taller, with longer hair and a more mature face, though she still wears her yellow-and-black striped jumpsuit. She's also toting around a katana -- an odd choice, considering her weapon of choice as a Hero.

Ah...Heroes and HeroTV. That's where things start to get interesting with this one. If you come up and talk to her, maybe you'll find out just how interesting they are.]

Comments

[lightningbride]

[Her reaction to Mega Man is considerably friendlier than to Alice, since he's clearly just a kid. True, he's only a few years younger than she is right now, but her own memories of being that age seem a lifetime ago.

When she glances over her shoulder at the sound of her name, Pao-Lin blinks confusedly for a moment, then gives an apologetic smile.]

I'm sorry, I don't think we've met before.

[purestpurifier]

Huh?

[He looks puzzled, troubled, really. ...He can tell she's being sincere, just by her mannerisms, but this just feels wrong.]

...We haven't? ...Guess you don't remember the name "Mega Man" then?

[lightningbride]

Can't say I've heard of you before. [A wry, sad smile.] "Mega Man", huh? You thinking of becoming a Hero or something with a name like that?

[purestpurifier]

[Mega Man blinks. He could swear this woman was the spitting image of Pao-Lin. But why didn't she remember?... Well, maybe it's better not to push it. If she doesn't remember his name, it's probably no good to keep going.]

...Well, not really. I'm a Digger, kind of like an explorer and treasure hunter. "Mega Man" is my actual name. I know, it's... kind of strange, but it's what Gramps gave me, and I like.

hmm I clearly need at least one other smile icon for Bride-Lin, lol

[lightningbride]

[A Digger? Pao-Lin's never heard of that job before. She wonders what country he's from.]

I see. Well, that's good. I won't have to tell you to stay far away from HeroTV, then.

Possibly!

[purestpurifier]

...Why's that?

[He genuinely does look confused about this one, and he's not actually trying to pry, but he's not one to take warnings lightly.]

[lightningbride]

Because it's a sham, run by some of the dirtiest bastards ever to walk this earth. [She places a hand on her hip and looks around.] Doesn't look like you get TV around here, though, so that's good. Means you don't have to deal with that.

[purestpurifier]

A sham? Like, are they the ones who cause the problems that Heroes are needed for anyway?

[It's the only deduction he can actually make, given what she's told him.]

1/2

[lightningbride]

2/2

[lightningbride]

[She smirks at him.]

Smart kid, aren't you? Wish I'd been as smart as you when I became a Hero. Everything's so obvious in retrospect.