8742/Temp Title

Temp Title
Date of Scene:	20 November 2021
Location:	Steve's Comic Books
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Freddy Freeman, Billy Kaplan

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Freddy Freeman has posed:
    Steve's bookstore has been a shelter for Freddy Freeman from the moment his foster parents gifted him a comic magazine for his tenth birthday. It became an obsession since then; one that requires weekly visits to the little brick shop that housed thousands of comic books. Right now, the teenager sits at a wooden table, a collection of magazines spread over the surface. He's flipping through one titled 'Adventures of the Scarlet Feather', his crutch leaning precariously on the table. The afternoon sun is soft on the bored expression on his face.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
    The door to the shop opens. Billy peers inside before entering, his posture and expression speaking of one who has never been in this place before. He's not...nervous, just cautious. And he seems to move like one who is not accustomed to taking up much space. He enters fully, softly shutting the door behind him. His gaze scans the room, eventually falling on Freddy, then the crutch. Instantly he looks away, as though perhaps he is worried he might offend. Billy moves a few more steps into the shop, now desperately trying to find /something/ to look at. Here is something! He picks up a comic. It's...Rage Rocks Rhonda, a teen melodrama comic book about a junior high school girl named Rhonda who is constantly in trouble. He sighs.

Freddy Freeman has posed:
    Freddy's read isn't much better than the antics of Rhonda. His attention often drifts to the world around him, allowing him to engage in his second favorite hobby: people-watching. "No need to look away from the sexy cripple," He grins into his book, delighted at the opportunity to tease someone he's caught in a faux pas. "I wouldn't recommend RRR. It's a comic book, I //guess//, but there are no superheroes in it, so what's the point?"

Billy Kaplan has posed:
    A slow and reflexive smile blooms over Billy's face. His earlobes and the sides of his neck redden slightly. He tosses RRR back down and looks over at Freddy. "I'm sure Rhonda is a superhero to /someone/ in her life." He moves closer to the table where Freddy sits. "You the resident expert here?" he asks the younger boy.

Freddy Freeman has posed:
"Yeah, that's a good point. There are heroes all around us, and they don't always wear capes," Freddy sits up, healthy leg bouncing. He glances towards the checkout where Steve's helping some customers. "The ones that wear capes are just cooler. I compete with that old man for the title. Don't think I've seen you around here before."

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Billy Kaplan shakes his head, causing an errant bang to slide in place and obscure his vision. He absently bats it away with one hand. "I've never been here before, actually." He looks around the room like he was in some kind of odd, experimental laboratory. He inhales through his nose deeply and lets it out in a huff. "My friend Kate says I take life too seriously and need to do more fun and spontaneous things. So...now I'm in a comic book store checking oooooout..." He glances over his shoulder to recall the name of the comic he was just holding. "...Rage Rocks Rhonda." He lets out a small laugh. "A classic."

Freddy Freeman has posed:
    "It's a good place to be. The people usually aren't too bad either," Freddy says, wrinkling his nose. "Other times, they're just as bad as the kids at school." Grabbing his crutch, the kid gets to his feet. "Well, what kind of things are you into? I can...help you. If you'd like." He stumbles through the offer like he's used to being dismissed.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Not this time. Billy falls in step with Freddy. "Okay, well it can't be comedy. I don't like 'funny' comic books because they never are. And it can't be anything based on real heroes. I can watch them on the news. And I /do/." The taller teen motions to Freddy with a quick flick of his chin. "What d'you like?"

Freddy Freeman has posed:
    "True, they're always on TV," Freddy leads Billy through a quick tour around the shop, pleased to have someone to talk to. "but the comics can still be fun even if they get things wrong sometimes. I actually enjoy them a lot." Turning to look up at him, he continues, "Are you into superheroes?"

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Billy Kaplan watches Freddy with a quiet intensity, the way one watches someone who has a passion about something. It's always infectious regardless of the subject matter. He can't help but curl one side of his mouth up in a half-smile. "Am I into superheroes?" he repeats the question rhetorically. It's an easy question to deflect. There are many pivot points. "I think superheroes are the universe's answer to a dark and overwhelming reality. But I suspect most of them would trade it all for a quiet, safe life on a quiet, safe world in a quiet, safe universe." He licks his lips and shrugs one shoulder. "But that isn't what we got, so instead we have superheroes." He gives Freddy a light, friendly nudge to his shoulder with one elbow. "So you still haven't told me what you like." He gestures a hand across the vista of hundreds of comic books around the shop.

Freddy Freeman has posed:
    Freddy's eyes dance with excitement. They dip once he realizes he's been staring, and he bites down on a little grin. He won't scare Billy away with his enthusiasm, but it's rare that the young man finds a kindred spirit. "I'm not so sure about that. I mean, I bet even Batman gets off on solving crimes and saving people. Maybe that's just me projecting, though," He takes Billy to a line of Superman comics. "He's my favorite. Think I used to have a crush on him when I was younger, but like, who wouldn't?" He laughs and shrugs, turning to face Billy. "Freddy, by the way. Podcaster, student. Superhero academic."

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Billy Kaplan picks up a Superman comic and flips through a few pages. "He ain't bad, I guess. I always thought this particular comic had a power problem. It's hard to challenge an alien who can do almost anything without throwing in kryptonite every other page." He carefully replaces the book on the shelf. "Billy Kaplan," he replies when Freddy introduces himself. He even holds out a hand, you know, for a handshake.