Welcome to town!

[Brian]

The ferry continues puttering towards the wharf at a pace which is probably quite fast -- it's throwing up a huge plume of water, after all.  But from here, it's taking its time and can best be called ... plodding.

Another person joins the three would-be heroes standing on the wharf.  This is a boy of probably no more than twelve, in what's likely a home-made costume.  It's mainly white and blue, with a blue cape, and a black mask.  There's no obvious symbol or name on his costume, but he is holding a small device with a blinking screen, occasionally prodding at it.

He glances up when he realizes other people are also on the dock.  "Greetings!" he says with far too much enthusiasm.  "What's up, fellow heroes?"

[Bjorn]

"One less seagull," the Gargoyle mutters sotto voce.

[Halbarad]

"Eh, the big-scary-demon-of-fire thing just isn't me," Balrog replies. "I mean, really - getting the brimstone smell out of everything would be a total pain, and all the fire and darkness stuff? Thanks, but I'd LIKE to have a place to live without burning it down just walking inside."

Glancing over at the area's local demon-lookalike, he looks somewhat abashed. "Er... no offense meant."

[Bjorn]

"Hey, don't look at me," the Gargoyle says defensively.  "I'm not a demon."

[Brian]

The boy blinks, seeming to only just at that moment realize his present company.  His smile turns somewhat sickly and he takes a step backwards, turning a hopeful gaze to the Shoveler.  "Um, hi?" he tries.

[Edward]

"This is Gargoyle,  this is Balrog, and I am the Shoveller.  What's your name?"

[Brian]

"I'm B-"  He cuts himself off with a nervous chuckle.  "I mean, I'm Action Kid!  I'm going to be the Distr-Action!-man's side-kick!"  He even puts special emphasis on Captain Ash's heroic name.  "I can't wait to meet him," he adds, still somewhat nervous of Balrog and the Gargoyle.

"Is that our boat?"  At this point, the ferry is a little over three quarters of the distance to the quay.

[Edward]

"I...see."  The Shoveller sighs.  "Just don't get your hopes up, this is hero tryouts, they might be having sidekick tryouts some other time."

[Halbarad]

Balrog sighs. "I've done the sidekick thing before - believe me, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Stupid Misery..."

He falls off into muttering under his breath at that, only the word "frog" popping up as distinguishable at one point.

[Brian]

The Action Kid looks at Balrog in confusion.  "I've never heard of a superhero called Misery," he says with a shake of his head, one eye on the approaching boat.  Now it's near enough to make out some detail, and the whine of the engine comes into earshot -- though as soon as it does, it also subsides.

[Halbarad]

Balrog coughs at that. "Uh.. you wouldn't have, it was a long way away from here," he explains, looking slightly embarrassed - insofar as that's possible for an ambulatory suitcase.

[Bjorn]

The Gargoyle frowns suddenly.  It's not really a pleasant sight.  "Hey," he says to the Shoveller.  "Wait a minute. You were in a movie, weren't you?  Are you really William Macy?  Because, no offense, the camera really doesn't do you any favours."

[Edward]

"No, I'm not him," The Shoveller replies.  "But I did find his performance very inspiring; he helped me find my gift."

[Bjorn]

"You got your powers from the movie?" the Gargoyle asks.  This is obviously a much better approach than his.

[Edward]

"I was watching it..."  The Shoveller doen't mention *how* many times he watched it.  "...and it struck me that I could do that, too.  Of course, there was a certain lack of ranged attacks, so I added these." He points to his bandolier of thrown spades.