vegas was not the only hero out on the prowl for evil.

initially he paid little heed to the light footsteps across the street, barely noticing them and instead fairly intent on concentrating on his phone. his mind was focused on google maps but as his location or direction became less vegas did not quake. after all, a hero of justice needed no maps! nay, vegas assured himself his strong sense of righteousness would act not only a moral compass but a literal one as well. he thought with such joy, such mirth, julio didn't take mind to look up until his company on the barren street cleared their throat.

the direct address definitely threw julio off. despite being on the search for someone he seemed surprised by the presence of someone else speaking to him. perhaps it was the politeness that earned the surprise or maybe it was that when julio glanced down whoever it was was clearly suited up.

t'was not as if julio hadn't expected company from fellow forces of justice! a grin quickly split on his face and julio's once-over was not discreet as he shamelessly checked out the other out. nay, a little bit of disappointment set in as it wasn't a mask or hero he recognised at all. no-one who'd been featured in the sponsor company magazines piled up in his dorm room but that was nary a tragedy! for had he stumbled onto some kind of independent? perhaps a new super? his imagination bubbled over with the beautiful possibilities and suddenly the biggest priority on vegas' mind was making a good impression.

“‘sir’?” julio stated and his voice was low and quiet, the intention to draw his audience - single audience member - in closer to hear him for when he repeated it again the teen was much louder, “‘sir’, is that truly a title befits a youthful avatar of justice...?”

“behold!” his movement was sudden but it turned not to be hostile. two fingers to his temple, his other arm held out and his tight jacket feebly stretching to try and work with julio's frame, midsection even barer, “this immortal soul, the chosen champion of fate, posits a question for the hero opposite him!” a grin. “he implores excuse you, sir.”

“how may vegas assist this fateful day?”

@fate3

the hero commanded silence so julio returned silence! for a short while anyway. following what julio allowed to past for an introduction it seemed there were other matters on other hero's mind! at the raised hand, julio ceased speaking, lowering his own arms, and looked on with curiosity. he didn't hear anything on the night save for the usual quiet buzz of suburban new york. confusion swept him though vegas assured himself the silence had to be dictated for some reason or another. and while julio would accept silence for the sake of pure suspense and drama he grew a little impatient if just because standing still kept him cold. especially as there was nothing on the floor where the hero opposite was looking when julio looked out of curiosity and excitability.

when it seemed vegas could be of heroic assistance today he beamed, choosing to announce his happiness as well, “celebrations! and salutations.” jollification for later, there was another thing on vegas' mind, “for whist vegas' opposite no doubt recognises this--” pulling on the varsity jacket his companion had taken mind to check out julio thumbed the ‘VU‘ embroidered on its breast, “--he has approximately zero knowledge of whomever stands before him this destined day.”

“so speaketh, brave hero. reveal one's identity unto the night!” julio couldn't fight for justice alongside a man completely anonymous, could he?

“forsooth, vegas heard the same.” the school rumours came to mind and julio brought a knuckle to his chin in exaggerated thoughtfulness, thumb stroking along his jaw, “sure as he hears the world's beating heart he heard such whispers of deceit in vireximus' mists.” pausing for a beat, realisation flashed across the face, “there's word of something new?” that could have explained the pause the other took; bluetooth or something? julio had only really come into contact with that kind of technology during teamwork seminars.

the other stated the need for assistance the hero of justice took time before he replied. despite the ensuing chaos across queens unbeknownst to him he taking the proposition with deliberation even having initially offered. finally, after some contemplation, vegas' grin widened, “if the respective paths of two knights of justice collide who would vegas be to deny a righteous coalition?”

@fate3

in vegas' humble opinion, this hero's introduction was lacking in something and he certainly made his disappointment no secret. pursing his lips together, face fallen somewhat from its initial excitement, he continued to look on expectantly in the hope of something more. the dramatic hood reveal had promise, certainly! but such tame execution, such lazy delivery!!!!

“that's all?” it seemed so but vegas begged the facts not to be true. whilst he did not expect other heroes have as zestful delivery as he julio assumed some would at the very least try. knight. with a k. if he was scrapping the barrel there was maybe a somewhat commendable use of a pause but little else positive could be said of this hero's performance. was this all he was truly getting to work with - not even a hair-flip? and this was without having started on the hero name but vegas would suppose he could make his full judgement on that later.

vegas, hero of justice, believed he had his hands full enough already with a super-powered mugger and such a lacklustre companion.

“no matter!” he sharply continued on, mind quickly abuzz again despite the pit stop of despair over knight. after all, champions of justice were set challenges; the uninspired performance was just another thing to tackle on this sacred day. truly, this knight hero was blessed to run into vegas, “it is a pleasure to make knight's acquaintance - nay, not a pleasure, but a meeting foretold by the stars themselves!” perhaps he was feeling the need to compensate for knight's lack of enthusiasm as julio's gesture towards the sky was wild, dramatic, “see how they shine for this saintly gathering!” and that a thunderous voice was also trying to make up for the city pollution that such shining stars totally unseeable.

“truly, truly, nothing non-circumstantial will be exchanged tonight,” bringing his hand down it turned into a low dip for a exaggerated bow. once vegas found himself upright again he adjusted the jacket again but not without adding, “especially with knight so caring as to accommodate an audience had they ever the need to spell his name. truly, it is a priority all heroes should take.” it had meant to be tongue-in-cheek but vegas had to stop to consider that - would he ever need to spell out his own alias? maybe something worth considering for his future introductions.

once again, no matter! thoughts off spelling he listened in with close attention to the revelation. and what a revelation it was! bone manipulation was specific not to mention unique and julio seemed surprised by it, “is this certain?” he knew little of the demographics on campus but bone manipulation seemed a unusual power to have. openly flaunting it as an evil-doer seemed like an unwise move, even by julio's standards.

“one would have thought such details would have been spread across campus,” initially julio had no intention of doubting the information as he was handed it, it was more a reflexive habit of externalising what should be internal monologuing contemplating why bone manipulation wasn't the talk of vireximus university. it seemed doubting the information hadn't occurred to vegas just yet.

with the mention of the police julio didn't bother making his dislike subtle there either. that time he visibly pulled a face having once having been glad to be given specific details, “those false idols of justice?” vegas stuck out his tongue, a move apparently suitably mature for a hero of justice and he turned away stubbornly, “vegas had no intention of coming face to face with them tonight.” he 'd prayed to lady fate herself that he would bypass their mortal shenanigans but it seemed lady fate was rarely kind. furthermore, suspicion set in not at knight's abundant information but at the fact he was listening into police, “is vegas' companion further entangled with them?”

however, julio kept his hope up as flushing meadows corona park was definitely a place he recognised. he considered that a victory in itself. now eager to set off julio seemed prepared to set off in the wrong direction had it not been for knight's useful point the right way, “glorious, then he and knight must be on their way at once!” he already starting setting off, adding on emphatically, “and vegas shall give knight hero pointers along the way.” as a champion of all that was moral julio had to do something about that sordid introduction, no?

@fate3

vegas was elated to know that despite a lack of riveting heroing charisma knight was more or less in agree with him in regards to the power. it prompted further discussion, “vegas is not a hero who invests heavily in speculation…” speculation was but a harbinger of doom, too much was too dangerous! so he decided to conceal his considerations, if just to make him feel better, “but hark! there are whispers he hears, truths of from the immortal world!” fingers to his temple, he attempted to relay them, “lady fate wonders and she wonders unto vegas: does vireximus play a hand in the concealing?”

suddenly, he clenched at the clothing above his heart, pulling at the tight fabric of his crop top, “his heart aches as fate's does as does vu's!” a veritable congo line of aching hearts, “such pain, such mystery, lady fate can only tell vegas there is far more to be found out.” for obvious reasons, lady fate was as vague as julio himself.

knight's distrust of police seemed enough to sate vegas. whilst he still seemed a little wary julio nodded along with the words anyway for if there was anything two heroes could bond over perhaps it could be despairing over the state of current justice!!!

“indeed, it is vegas' constant hope that his path doth not entwine with theirs, he is glad knight shares the same reasoning,” a sigh before he raised his voice, “but a tragic inevitably! it is seems it is spoken that whilst vegas meets another another honourable hero he also may come to face with the police. thus the same fate is foretold for knight.” and although apps were a beautiful creation of the gods themselves combined police they were not. the tactical sense of listening in on the police did not outweigh the costs of them being the police for julio but he accepted the information for then, given it was all they had as a lead.

and hah, knight seemed eager for pointers; that was how vegas interpreted, grinning widely. they may have been in a rush but that did not stop him from imparting great words of wisdom, “didn't knight feel something missing?” alongside the other's quick pace, julio sped himself up, “pray, vegas can only hope knight felt something missing. a rip in the fabric of knight's sou!.” this was followed by something of a titter, “for otherwise knight cannot be serious! surely he does not truly expect to get by in the justice world with that kind of introduction?” julio's pace was so much to assure he kept a little ahead of the other, balancing expressive monologuing and walking fast further ahead of the other, a not so subtle attempt to keep in front, “has he spelt his name out to all those who come across him, hero and villainy alike?” a scoff, “nay, where is his hero passion? his champion delivery? where is his pose?”

@fate3

oh, further speculation was at hand, knight demanded it! at the probing question julio took a thoughtful look, knuckle to his chin in a a psuedo-thinker pose, “a plethora of reasons.” a deliberate pause, “nay, a veritable cornucopia of them! how could vegas just list one with the light of lady fate guiding his knowledge?”

thumping his chest, julio brought attention back to his dramatic acts earlier, “doth knight not remember how vegas' heart ached? the spirit of vireximus university worries, oh, how its incorporeal form broods.” another prophetic message was coming, “it sensed in its midst a populace with only one thing on their mind: retribution! revenge! suspicion!” that was actually three things but vegas heed himself no notice, more concentrated on emphasising his delivery. once again, his fingers went to his temple, “halt! vegas has been granted a vision.”

and julio actually did halt in his steps to experience it, stopping their otherwise swift progress towards flushing meadows, “he sees another world, another future.” his right hand cradled above his heart still, his other hand up in an attempt to bid silence from his companion, “a haunting reality where vireximus has nary care for the lives of its students! once innocent, now sinful students who start a calamitous witch hunt with the wicked whispers of bone manipulation. t'is a a deviant realm where heroes turn on heroes in a twisted quest to root out those who possess the villain's mastery, a parallel world which can only end in tragedy.” and with that prophecy done, he opened his eyes and stood somewhat triumphantly, “just one of the many alternate realms spawned yet not the one fair lady fate dictates today!”

picking up his pace again, he did offer one last theorem, if just a little hastily, “perhaps it is in this world vireximus seeks to extinguish threat of vigilantism with a drought of information yet–” heavy emphasis on the yet, “–knight and vegas are both here tonight with the scared words of destiny, no?” maybe knight's thought of fast work was also extinguished with julio's insistence on pausing to relay what was going on in parallel universes but from what he could tell they were getting closer and closer to the park so it mattered not, starting to cross a pedestrian bridge with his typical boisterousness.

knight even mumbled his later retorts though; to vegas it seemed he was intent on taking little of these well-minded critiques to heart with continued lacking delivery! was vegas' new companion sulking at being told he was missing something from the equation of heroism. the somewhat impassioned defence got only a laugh from the self-proclaimed hero of justice as he quickly dismisses the excuses, “hah! most villains doth not want to hear it when it is boring.” vegas assumed so, anyway, “there is one veritable upside of coming face to face with a foe in combat: a hero's coming victory guarantees an audience.”

though, vegas had to admit, some of knight's response was somewhat improved in terms of befitting a hero. however, julio had never really been one for words drying up, “nay, that is not the case for hero vegas! the day his thoughts, words and mouth dry up would be a wretched day for heroism – nay, the fate of the world itself — indeed.” it was an assured reply to knight's intense look, “for a hero must always speak of valour in times of uncertainty! thus, his introduction should reflect, not orthography.” he was grinning again; it was very apparent julio didn't intend to let the spelling issue drop. even as they finally reached an entrance of flushing meadows park.

the entrance which was closed to the public past 9pm, prompting a loud, somewhat petulant question from julio as he shivered a little, “does this villain respect little sacred?”

@fate3

“nay, there will always be an audience,” julio asserted it triumphantly. knight had the gall to look amused yet vegas was merely speaking of the truth of the ancients! the suggestion that he was naïve got a dismissive reaction as one would probably expect. especially not with that laugh beforehand; it sounded derisive but he hadn't expected such blunt words.

“‘naïve’?” initially julio repeated it with scorn and surprise but he puffed up his chest, taking the other's assertion with new found glory. vegas' bruised pride seemed not bruised for long, “behold! vegas' immortal soul has existed for over a millennia; its many reincarnations remain incalculable.” a scoff before he thumped on his chest, just above his chest, with his open palm, his tone a little petulant, “whatever naïvety knight proposes is a true product of these strange times, a figment of both knight's mind and pure circumstance. for this reason, how can he speak of naïvety?”

but of course vegas was right! not that he needed practice - or that much practice - for what he said. he'd been using third person since late high school, after all, “vegas need not fear bad delivery! he holds great confidence in himself and lady fate's blessing. perhaps it is understandable knight has that on his mind but vegas has other concerns!” he wrinkled his nose a little at knight's comment though, “vegas shall be the judge of when to say what.”

the tone of his voice was enough evidence that julio didn't think that would happen on the november night.

vegas pulled a face at the mere mention of breaking rules. folding his arms across his chest out of stubbornness – and half an attempt at conserving body heat — he proclaimed, “must knight and vegas resort to the same dogged rule-breaking as the villain at hand? must they stoop to such levels? must they?” a shake of his head.

“these truly remain dark times for humanity.”

despite the soliloquy it became apparent that julio didn't mind too much about breaking the park's laws in their investigations. he conceded to doing entering anyway; disobeying a park's laws t'was not the grimmest sin if the light of justice was at stake. besides, flushing meadow's closing times being disobeyed was not as immoral as breaking the code of justice or, alternatively, posting something against instagram's terms of use, “but in dark times, holy laws must be sacrificed.” besides, y'know, park laws didn't mean much if they caught an evildoer.

it didn't take long for julio to perk up from his self-imposed park law debate though. while he kept his arms crossed as he walked, the cold still getting to him, he was more interested in looking at whatever he could in flushing meadows park. one realisation had set in, “isn't flushing meadows really big?” and quiet too. julio revised his words to be a little more befitting for himself when he continued, “forsooth, the park is almost infinite in size.” infinite sounded far more hero-like than really big, after all.

“knight's insidious informants, did they speaketh more to him?” referring to the bluetooth julio looked to the other, shivering a little in the wide expanse of the park. for knowing that the police had warned of something in the area t'was awfully quiet. quiet save for julio's voice anyway.

@fate3