Post by Golden Avatar on Jun 12, 2019 18:46:35 GMT -5
[Opening guitar riff]
[Feast Beast opening plate]
[Neon cow bursting into flames]
[Cut to Mike Evans]
Mike: Hey Hot shots, welcome back to the stream where we turn up the heat on everyone we meet. I am your host, Mike Evans and today we are meeting with prominent paragon hero, Golden Avatar. Welcome to the show G.A.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: Hey Mike, it’s awesome to be here.
Mike: Its great having you. You can see the ribs in front of you and each one is soaked in sauces of increasing heat from mild to insane and we are going to make our way through all of them. While you are taking on that first one let’s talk about some of your life choices.
[Cut to Golden Avatar, he takes up the first rib and takes a bit nodding and getting a napkin from the pile to one side.]
G.A.: Mmm thats nice, smoky.
[Cut to Mike Evans]
Mike: You asked that we provide you a vegan alternative to our normal Bill’s Wild Rib ribs and Wild Bill actually has a vegan rib selection. Our team found a post in your ProfilePage from six years ago where you said “I would be a vegetarian if it were easier.” Tell us about that.
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: Six years ago? Wow, you guys do some work.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: Food is a pretty weird thing, you know? Everyone needs it and it’s a good way to separate people from their money. There are plenty of areas where people don’t have a lot of money so high-end food places just won’t work there, but some low-cost burger joint might make a mint with people don’t have 50 dollars, but they do have 10.
[Cut to Mike Evans nodding]
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: The problem is that those places don’t help a body live, you know what I mean? You get some bad food that way and it equals up to people without much money just finding themselves in a place where there are no good alternatives to empty calories, obesity, hunger and all the things that come with a bad diet.
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: I lived that life for more than a little while and even now it’s hard to get out. Even when I can have anything I want, any time I want, I am still trained to want that thing that’s bad for me. That’s a reality. It’s not just a choice. It’s the way a person is brought up and you can’t lay that on just one person.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: The village has to do their part too. Make it possible for a body to live right. You know? So, I’m not all in your face about it, but I do want to play a part in making that real when I can.
[Cut to Mike Evans switching cards]
Mike: I get it man. Let’s move on. While you take on that next rib we have a question: You were once in the Golden Age heroes. What was that like and what happened to them?
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting the next rib. His eyes get wider]
G.A.: Okay that’s stepping up, wow. But the Golden Agers… Yeah that was a time. I was still just a kid when I got with them and they really showed me the ropes. Some of them were kind and some of them were tough. They all had different things to offer and I really feel like I got the best of it.
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: They were really good, you know. Just being together made all of them into better versions of themselves and it let me understand that could happen.
[Cut to Mike Evans nodding]
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: But you know, Galaxy hit everyone hard. It shattered the Golden Agers. They all sort of went in different directions and that was that. I like to think that they are still out there, doing their best. But one of the things that a good solid group does is show you that there is more in the world than your problems. It helps you put your own stuff aside and help someone else. And I think that’s really valuable in a world where it is easier and easier to be alone.
[Cut to Mike Evans switching cards]
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting the next rib. He makes a face and nods.]
G.A.: OOhh yeah that’s got some kick. Wow… umm yeah Dawn Patrol. It is really surreal.
[Cut to Wide shot]
Mike: That Dawn Patrol? like Hero one, WWII, Rikti War the whole thing?
G.A.: Yeah, those guys! They are legendary as you already know. It was a real act of courage just to apply. And when I was contacted about my application I was just blown away. They brought me on right then and there and not ten minutes into the interview an alert sounded across the comm unit Lady Britannia had just handed me. Someone was cosplaying as Major Britain and we had to go help him out It was a whole deal, but that was how I started my time in Dawn Patrol.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: I’m still reeling from it. They are super organized and efficient. I have a uniform and everything. There is a lot to get used to, but I am looking forward to making the kind of difference that people can be proud of.
[Cut to Mike Evans switching cards]
Mike: That sounds great man! You do a lot of charity work and appearances from Galaxy Survivors to Chiron Children’s Wing to youth outreach. But our team found some controversial charities in your repertoire as well. After that next rib, can you tell us about #LostToo.
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting the next rib. Slight zoom as he blinks rapidly and breaths out.]
G.A.: Wow, oof… that one… [coughs] yeah, that one. So, #LostToo is a movement started by Darcey Tan and Steven Gale to try to help the homeless and indigent populations of Paragon. The problem is that many segments of these population are tagged and villainous or enemy combatants through vanguard and PPD ID streams. So, offering them aid becomes problematic. There are a lot of people, good and fine people without malice or bias, who say that giving blankets, or credit vouchers or food to these people is, at best, a waste and at worst criminal itself.
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: But I say there has to be some level where humanity requires engagement or else what is humanity at all? Yes, maybe they use the credits for… well any kind of bad stuff and maybe the blankets and food don’t save them, but it keeps them engaged with the heroes and people of paragon and I believe the measure of a society is found in how it treats its most vulnerable segments.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: Whoo wow… umm, Darcey Tan wrote in her book “The Wandering” that we are all a little lost and if someone could even possibly help you, wouldn’t you want them to have the courage to try? In the end you just have to commit to trying to help someone you know you can’t save. I think it’s worth it. Not everyone agrees.
[Cut to Mike Evans switching cards]
Mike: Deep stuff man, but let’s move on to a segment we call “Explain Yourself”.
G.A.: Oh boy.
Mike: That’s right, while you are taking on that next rib I’ll tell you how this works
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting the next rib, orchestra hit, slight zoom as his face scrunches up]
G.A.: Oh my gosh! Where did you find this stuff? I can shrug off small arms fire, but this stuff is lighting me up!
[Cut to Mike Evans]
Mike: Stay with it man.
[Cut to Golden Avatar nodding and wheeling a hand]
G.A.: Yeah, whooo, yeah, I’m good. I’m with you. Hit me.
[Cut to Mike Evans looking up from his card]
Mike: Our team went out to your social media and they found that you have some public sportify playlists.
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
G.A.: [cough] Good grief… yeah, that’s probably true.
[Cut to Mike Evans]
Mike: They found that you have a playlist named after yourself…
G.A.: Ohh man…
Mike: So, while you put down that rib, we are going to ask you about some of the songs on that list and in just a few sentences explain yourself.
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting another rib and shaking his head before taking another bite]
G.A.: Okay... whooo… yeah, I can do it... holy cats, that sauce
Mike: Mr blue Sky, by Electric Light Orchestra
G.A.: It’s just a fun song, like waking up and getting ready with a song in your heart, you know? It helps me get in the right mind to take on a day.
[Cut to Wide shot]
Mike: Sure Feels Good, by Elvin Bishop
G.A.: More good feeling, it’s like doubling down on making the day a great one.
Mike: Aww Shucks, by Rupert Holmes.
[Cut to Golden Avatar laughing]
G.A.: Hah, my sister put that in there way back when, she was always making fun of me trying to avoid cursing. Turns out it’s a pretty awesome song.
Mike: Umm…Mighty Man by Mungo Jerry
G.A.: Yeah, that one is a hoot, the kazoo really sells it. I mean, who doesn’t like a kazoo?
[Cut to Wide shot, Mike going from card to card]
Mike: Let’s see, Keeping the Faith, Life of Illusion, what about You got a Friend by James Taylor?
G.A.: Yeah, okay, it’s a little sappy. But I just assume someone somewhere needs a friend and if I am pretty lucky in a day, I might get to be that friend. I try to stay ready to give, ‘cause you never know who is going to need you, ya know?
[Cut to Golden Avatar]
Mike: And jumping to the end of the list, Jackson Brown with Standing in the breach.
G.A: That one is just inspirational. I mean, what can I say? I have been knee-deep in the bad and giving up was a real option, but with that song in my heart I just can’t throw my hands up. I just can’t quit. That song is like the theme for everything I want to be.
[Cut to Mike Evans]
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A: [Fanning himself] Wow, you guys are relentless, I have met interrogators that weren’t this efficient.
[Cut to Mike Evans laughing]
Mike: We gotta’ keep it rolling.
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: I hear you man... okay… okay, I can do this.
[Cut to Golden Avatar biting the final rib]
Mike: That is wild Bill’s double radiation burn sauce, available online or at Paragon Corner stops near you. We call lit the Scoville breaker.
G.A.: [chewing] I am going to be in so much trouble
[Cut to Mike Evans looking at a laptop]
Mike: While you are working on that, I want to read you the first message
[Cut to Golden Avatar, eyes closed, orchestra hit as he pulls his head to one side]
G.A.: Ohh wow… holy! Aghhh! WoW!
Mike: Dear Golden Avatar, my brother dresses like a freakshow and hangs out with some bad types. What do I do? Signed LittleBro
G.A.: [tense music] Hah…ooo..umm yeah..aaah LittleBro, [blinking breathing out] ahhh, don’t give up. Don’t write him off. Maybe you can’t help him right now, but you are his family and that means you are his home when everything else falls away. So even if you can’t reach him now, be there for him when he needs you. That’s all anyone can ask and that’s what family is for. Hotcha MAMAA!
[Cut to Wide shot, tense music]
Mike: Dear Golden Avatar, I have money problems and my family is very poor. How are we supposed to live? Should I rob a bank? Signed, Pennyless
G.A.: [clenching his hands and gritting his teeth] OOf… Absolutely not. There is always another way, Pennyless, seriously. Go to the Paragon Press. They may not have any jobs there, but they are plugged into everyone putting in ads. They know who needs what all over the city. Working smarter is as good as working harder and robbing banks is not smart. Your family needs you and now’s the time to do the smart thing. This is not letting up! Holy katzenjammers!
[Cut to Golden Avatar laughing in a helpless way, tense music intensifies]
Mike: And finally, Dear Golden Avatar, I am single and looking for love. I was wondering what you might be doing on Friday night? Signed HopefulHeart.
G.A.: [His eyes open wide, major orchestra hit, minor zoom] What the…? Okay.. umm… holy cats! That sauce… Okay Hopefulheart, [resolve to hopeful music] I’m not really looking for anything like that at the moment as crazy as my life is, but it is awesome that you are willing to put yourself out there and go after something you want. Don’t let go of that drive. I may not be the one for you, but that person is out there and if you have the courage to find them then that is exactly what will happen, and I don’t mind telling you that you are inspiring me.
[Cut to Mike Evans closing the laptop]
Mike: Typed up and sent, well done G.A., how are you feeling?
[Cut to Wide shot]
G.A.: [head down, voice weak] I could really use that milk right now.
Mike: [Becky Jennings enters with a pitcher of milk and a tall glass] Becky Jennings, two-time Mrs. Paragon, Is bringing in the milk now, go out and visit her at BJennings on ProfilePage to see her latest experiments in mega-voltage and plasma theory. She’s one of our sponsors and a great friend of the show. Thanks Becky!
[Cut to Golden Avatar gulping milk]
Mike: Okay Golden Avatar, you’ve answered our question, you’ve played the game and you’ve made it through the ribs like a true champ. This camera or this camera or this camera, give some advice to new and upcoming heroes of Paragon.
G.A.: [looking up with a milk mustache before wiping it away] Ahh… Okay, new heroes? Yeah well, okay sure the world needs heroes, but you know what else the world needs? Doctors, writers, poets, scientists, philosophers, thinkers, leaders. You don’t have to wear a cape or flip a truck to be a hero. If you can imagine a better world and find the courage inside yourself to try to make that world happen, you have everything you will ever need to be a hero.
[Cut to Wide shot then cut to Mike Evans looking into the camera, begin outro music]
Mike: Awesome man, well said. That brings us to the end of our show. Another big thank you to Golden Avatar for showing up and facing the rib gauntlet like a true hero. Also, thanks to Bill’s Wild Rib, Becky Jennings and JenTec inc. Thanks to our patrons who help bring all this to the world and last, but not least, thanks to you for watching and having fun with us here on Hot Take.
[Crew Applause]
[Golden Avatar laughing and reaching across the table to shake Mike’s hand]
[Roll credits]
