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[SCA] Thicker than Film
Title: Thicker than Film
Fandom: High School Musical + DC Comics crossover (with mentions of Uncharted and Wizards of Waverly Place)
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Rating: G
Summary: Peyton's obsession with the Justice Society of America runs a lot deeper than most people would've suspected.
It all started in AP History. You honestly hated US History, especially when you compared it to the rich and cultured history of the rest of the world. Other countries got to begin in the 1500's or even in the era before Christ, but your country? It started in the 17th century, with Plymouth Rock and Jamestown and the colonization of the Americas. (Wasn't that discriminating all the Native tribes who had lived here for centuries before Europe discovered it?)
So you'd just memorized enough facts to BS your free-response documents and your term paper. You didn't really consider history something exciting or something to consider... Then you got to the World War II Unit.
To your surprise, superheroes graced the cover page for that chapter. You didn't really recognize the costumes, much less the names associated with them (The Flash? Green Lantern? Wildcat?), but it seemed different enough from your usual generals and lieutenants and past presidents who died during their term that you read ahead - for once! - and discovered that these heroes had fought Hitler alongside regular troops. Calling themselves "The Justice Society of America," they were the world's first organized group of masked men.
As you were aware, they certainly weren't the last. You'd seen the news reports about the Teen Titans and the Justice League of America; you remembered one of your classmates proudly displaying his Batman merchandise in the hallway the other day; and you'd wished on more than one occasion that you lived closer to Keystone City, Kansas - it was the nearest city with superheroes. It was certainly more exciting than Fort Wayne would ever be.
For you, that unit on World War II was the first time you really paid attention all year. You didn't think that much about it back then, but in retrospect, it had only set the stage for your future passion. You set the JSA aside on the backburner, instead choosing to focus on your film career and your resume. You needed to put in a lot more effort if you were going to New York University! They weren't going to accept just anyone, and you knew that they needed to accept YOU more than anyone else in the world.
So when you first arrived on campus - it was the entirety of the city of Manhattan, really - you had almost forgotten about the Justice Society of America entirely. If someone had quizzed you on US History, you might've been able to recall one or two facts. Nearly everyone remembers them from History class. But not everyone witnesses them first-hand on the battlefield. The day after Mom and Dad had left, with you in Aunt Elena's (and her boyfriend's) capable hands, you had decided to take your time reaching her apartment. Certainly Aunt Elena wouldn't mind some extra alone time with her boyfriend, especially since he still lived in Florida - and you kind of judged them for their long-distance relationship, even if it seemed to work for them just fine. Long-distance relationships usually spelled trouble, and you really didn't want Aunt Elena's heart to be broken. Again.
(Mom had explained the story the first time around, but you had an inkling that she omitted some details and made up some elaborate backstory that quite simply didn't exist, in typical Mom fashion.)
To make your very long and poignant story short, you were only a block away from Aunt Elena's house when the nearest building caught on fire. There, from the safety of the ground, you watched a whirlwind - Cyclone? - along with a giant werepanther, a man in a cat suit, a glowing green light, a knock-off Superman, a red blur, and a few others rush onto the scene. In mere minutes, they not only rescued everyone in the burning building but also aided the fire department and brought the evildoer to justice.
You only had your camera phone, much to your dismay, but you still managed to catch a few seconds of the action. Whoever these people were, they were incredible. Not really thinking, you tapped the person beside you and asked, "Who were they?"
The old lady just chuckled and said, "That's the JSA. You must be new to town, huh kid?"
"Y-yeah," You stammered, trying not to sound as unintelligent as you felt. "The JSA... wow."
From that moment on, you remembered the JSA as more than just people in a history book. They were living, breathing metahumans with the ability to save nearly everyone. You were late to dinner with Aunt Elena and her boyfriend, but they had more than understood when you had explained that you had been held up by the JSA.
To your confusion, even Aunt Elena's boyfriend knew more about them than you did. The man simply looked up from his burger and asked, "Was the kitten--I mean, was Wildcat there?"
You tried not to sound as confused as you felt, "I think so. Was he the giant cat?"
"That's the one," Aunt Elena's boyfriend (Norman? Nate? It started with a N) said. Grinning widely, he digs into his burger and then changes the subject. For as long as you can remember, Aunt Elena had never been fond of superheroes; her dislike only increased when she moved out East and discovered that the JSA was headquartered in her beloved Big Apple.
So of course, you grinned back and resisted the urge to bring the subject back towards superheroes. You suspect that if you did, Aunt Elena would not only withhold dessert but also whatever favors Nate had been planning on that evening, romantic or otherwise.
From time to time, you kept seeing the JSA everywhere you went. They were obviously in the news, but they were also in the toystores (Cyclone and Captain Marvel had granted FAO Schwartz permission for plushies) as well as bookstores; they were also in the movies; they were in every nook and cranny you examined. You knew that it was the proximity factor: with the JSA prominently in Manhattan, they were obviously well-liked by their citizens.
You didn't make a big deal out of it, beyond cracking the occasional joke to Justin when you were studying for one of your exams in his sub station.
Justin had laughed along with you at first. But if you attempted to make any more jokes, Justin actually stopped you and said, "Hey man, you okay? I mean, it's cool if you're nervous about a big superhero group being so near you..."
He understood. No one else had even come close to cracking that shell, and you were immediately grateful for his help. Thus, you looked him in the eye and slowly, slowly nodded. "Don't breathe a word of this to anyone," you made him swear. "Okay?"
"Fine, fine," Justin had laughed, holding his hands up in defeat. "I promise I won't."
To your surprise, he never brought it up again, not even when Sharpay had one day launched into a long speech about superheroes and you thought you were dead meat because Justin usually liked to tattle on you.... but he didn't. Not even one single word. When Russo said he promised something, he clearly meant it.
You saw Cyclone just before you left for summer break; she was flying high over the city. Using your camera, you caught a snippet of her, and you swear she waved back into the camera just as you headed for the airport. Not that you could actually see her beyond that wild mess of red hair and her long green dress, but you thought she was probably a cute girl. Had to be; why else would she choose to openly help people without a mask? Or some kind of hiding feature beyond a floppy witches' hat and her wind? (In retrospect, the wind was probably responsible for 99.9% of the world's population not recognizing her.)
You didn't think about the JSA for a while. With show choir doing extra songs over summer break and Aunt Elena visiting, you really didn't have time to. At least, not until that big assignment sophomore year. You had just gotten into the film class you desperately wanted, and you were already assigned an amazing project! You had to create a five to ten minute film about a "real New York story." Most of your classmates took the idea literally and were off exploring the city for a love story, or quite perhaps a crime story...
You, on the other hand, knew exactly what you wanted to do. The opportunity to exorcise the lingering ghosts of the Justice Society of America was finally here, and you'd grab those superheroes by the reins and make sure that your lingering fears were only lingering fears. You wouldn't be nervous or enthralled or even suspicious of metahumans just because they lived halfway across the city from you!
So you started combing the Times for mentions of the JSA; you kept tabs on them through Facebook sightings; and you especially kept the news blaring at all times. Your roommates began calling you "obsessed," as a pet name of sorts, but you really didn't notice it for a while. You were too busy trying to track down the best New York story of a year!
"Obsession runs thicker than any film," Justin had teased once, though you suspected he found your 180 in attitude more hilarious than any attempt at finding the JSA in the flesh.
After a few days of trying and failing, you finally got your chance... and it was completely by accident. You had decided to have a rooftop lunch with Justin, since you two didn't really have anything better to do, and you were observing the New York skyline and how gorgeous it was from this vantage point. Justin had readily agreed before teasing you as you filmed it.
So what if you and your camera were in a relationship? It was at least less disgusting than the pet names Juliet had given him! Professior McSnuggy Boomboom Kins? Really?
Then, out of nowhere, the JSA flew past you. The wind rushed in your face, and the camera shook wildly before you weren't using a tripod, but you didn't care! You had finally gotten footage of the JSA, and they were fighting something ridiculously close to you! You could even get a decent view of their enemy of the day! You tried not to look as happy as you felt, but Justin had already noticed.
"Got your wish?" Justin slyly asked, leaning forward and watching you intently.
You didn't respond, instead rising from the table to get a better panorama view. You half-suspected that you should probably flee for your life, just in case the enemy breaks through the glass or something, but you didn't care. You had finally gotten the first minute or so of your story, even if your roommates didn't believe it possible.
Once the JSA had thrown their enemy to the ground, you stopped recording and turned towards Justin with a huge grin on your face.
"Yeah," You say, carefully making your way back to him. "I did."
You want to say that the enemy then crashed through your window and you got to meet the heroes first-hand, but nothing of the sort happened. That enemy they fought tried to kick through the glass - tried being the keyword - but he simply could not break through the glass! It instead hurled the enemy back towards outer space.
Immediately recording that scene, you let a low whistle escape your lips, "I didn't know the JSA could do that."
Justin looks sheepish. Very quietly, in a manner that you think you're not supposed to hear, he says, "They can't."
Since you're in such a good mood, you decide not to question him. In later weeks, you might've rebuked him or attempted to start a debate, because there was no way your precious JSA could do no wrong; there was no way they couldn't have accomplished that; and quite frankly, the JSA beat every other team in the galaxy by miles. Even the Green Lantern Corps, and you knew their reach expanded far beyond one galaxy.
But right now? You have the story of your life. If only you'd known back then, that one history unit, one chance encounter, and one film project would've turned into one of your life's greatest passions. Someone's gotta save the world... and of course, you'll be right there, every single time, recording their exploits for the world to remember. Obsession may run thicker than film, but hey: you've got all the film you need.
Fandom: High School Musical + DC Comics crossover (with mentions of Uncharted and Wizards of Waverly Place)
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Rating: G
Summary: Peyton's obsession with the Justice Society of America runs a lot deeper than most people would've suspected.
It all started in AP History. You honestly hated US History, especially when you compared it to the rich and cultured history of the rest of the world. Other countries got to begin in the 1500's or even in the era before Christ, but your country? It started in the 17th century, with Plymouth Rock and Jamestown and the colonization of the Americas. (Wasn't that discriminating all the Native tribes who had lived here for centuries before Europe discovered it?)
So you'd just memorized enough facts to BS your free-response documents and your term paper. You didn't really consider history something exciting or something to consider... Then you got to the World War II Unit.
To your surprise, superheroes graced the cover page for that chapter. You didn't really recognize the costumes, much less the names associated with them (The Flash? Green Lantern? Wildcat?), but it seemed different enough from your usual generals and lieutenants and past presidents who died during their term that you read ahead - for once! - and discovered that these heroes had fought Hitler alongside regular troops. Calling themselves "The Justice Society of America," they were the world's first organized group of masked men.
As you were aware, they certainly weren't the last. You'd seen the news reports about the Teen Titans and the Justice League of America; you remembered one of your classmates proudly displaying his Batman merchandise in the hallway the other day; and you'd wished on more than one occasion that you lived closer to Keystone City, Kansas - it was the nearest city with superheroes. It was certainly more exciting than Fort Wayne would ever be.
For you, that unit on World War II was the first time you really paid attention all year. You didn't think that much about it back then, but in retrospect, it had only set the stage for your future passion. You set the JSA aside on the backburner, instead choosing to focus on your film career and your resume. You needed to put in a lot more effort if you were going to New York University! They weren't going to accept just anyone, and you knew that they needed to accept YOU more than anyone else in the world.
So when you first arrived on campus - it was the entirety of the city of Manhattan, really - you had almost forgotten about the Justice Society of America entirely. If someone had quizzed you on US History, you might've been able to recall one or two facts. Nearly everyone remembers them from History class. But not everyone witnesses them first-hand on the battlefield. The day after Mom and Dad had left, with you in Aunt Elena's (and her boyfriend's) capable hands, you had decided to take your time reaching her apartment. Certainly Aunt Elena wouldn't mind some extra alone time with her boyfriend, especially since he still lived in Florida - and you kind of judged them for their long-distance relationship, even if it seemed to work for them just fine. Long-distance relationships usually spelled trouble, and you really didn't want Aunt Elena's heart to be broken. Again.
(Mom had explained the story the first time around, but you had an inkling that she omitted some details and made up some elaborate backstory that quite simply didn't exist, in typical Mom fashion.)
To make your very long and poignant story short, you were only a block away from Aunt Elena's house when the nearest building caught on fire. There, from the safety of the ground, you watched a whirlwind - Cyclone? - along with a giant werepanther, a man in a cat suit, a glowing green light, a knock-off Superman, a red blur, and a few others rush onto the scene. In mere minutes, they not only rescued everyone in the burning building but also aided the fire department and brought the evildoer to justice.
You only had your camera phone, much to your dismay, but you still managed to catch a few seconds of the action. Whoever these people were, they were incredible. Not really thinking, you tapped the person beside you and asked, "Who were they?"
The old lady just chuckled and said, "That's the JSA. You must be new to town, huh kid?"
"Y-yeah," You stammered, trying not to sound as unintelligent as you felt. "The JSA... wow."
From that moment on, you remembered the JSA as more than just people in a history book. They were living, breathing metahumans with the ability to save nearly everyone. You were late to dinner with Aunt Elena and her boyfriend, but they had more than understood when you had explained that you had been held up by the JSA.
To your confusion, even Aunt Elena's boyfriend knew more about them than you did. The man simply looked up from his burger and asked, "Was the kitten--I mean, was Wildcat there?"
You tried not to sound as confused as you felt, "I think so. Was he the giant cat?"
"That's the one," Aunt Elena's boyfriend (Norman? Nate? It started with a N) said. Grinning widely, he digs into his burger and then changes the subject. For as long as you can remember, Aunt Elena had never been fond of superheroes; her dislike only increased when she moved out East and discovered that the JSA was headquartered in her beloved Big Apple.
So of course, you grinned back and resisted the urge to bring the subject back towards superheroes. You suspect that if you did, Aunt Elena would not only withhold dessert but also whatever favors Nate had been planning on that evening, romantic or otherwise.
From time to time, you kept seeing the JSA everywhere you went. They were obviously in the news, but they were also in the toystores (Cyclone and Captain Marvel had granted FAO Schwartz permission for plushies) as well as bookstores; they were also in the movies; they were in every nook and cranny you examined. You knew that it was the proximity factor: with the JSA prominently in Manhattan, they were obviously well-liked by their citizens.
You didn't make a big deal out of it, beyond cracking the occasional joke to Justin when you were studying for one of your exams in his sub station.
Justin had laughed along with you at first. But if you attempted to make any more jokes, Justin actually stopped you and said, "Hey man, you okay? I mean, it's cool if you're nervous about a big superhero group being so near you..."
He understood. No one else had even come close to cracking that shell, and you were immediately grateful for his help. Thus, you looked him in the eye and slowly, slowly nodded. "Don't breathe a word of this to anyone," you made him swear. "Okay?"
"Fine, fine," Justin had laughed, holding his hands up in defeat. "I promise I won't."
To your surprise, he never brought it up again, not even when Sharpay had one day launched into a long speech about superheroes and you thought you were dead meat because Justin usually liked to tattle on you.... but he didn't. Not even one single word. When Russo said he promised something, he clearly meant it.
You saw Cyclone just before you left for summer break; she was flying high over the city. Using your camera, you caught a snippet of her, and you swear she waved back into the camera just as you headed for the airport. Not that you could actually see her beyond that wild mess of red hair and her long green dress, but you thought she was probably a cute girl. Had to be; why else would she choose to openly help people without a mask? Or some kind of hiding feature beyond a floppy witches' hat and her wind? (In retrospect, the wind was probably responsible for 99.9% of the world's population not recognizing her.)
You didn't think about the JSA for a while. With show choir doing extra songs over summer break and Aunt Elena visiting, you really didn't have time to. At least, not until that big assignment sophomore year. You had just gotten into the film class you desperately wanted, and you were already assigned an amazing project! You had to create a five to ten minute film about a "real New York story." Most of your classmates took the idea literally and were off exploring the city for a love story, or quite perhaps a crime story...
You, on the other hand, knew exactly what you wanted to do. The opportunity to exorcise the lingering ghosts of the Justice Society of America was finally here, and you'd grab those superheroes by the reins and make sure that your lingering fears were only lingering fears. You wouldn't be nervous or enthralled or even suspicious of metahumans just because they lived halfway across the city from you!
So you started combing the Times for mentions of the JSA; you kept tabs on them through Facebook sightings; and you especially kept the news blaring at all times. Your roommates began calling you "obsessed," as a pet name of sorts, but you really didn't notice it for a while. You were too busy trying to track down the best New York story of a year!
"Obsession runs thicker than any film," Justin had teased once, though you suspected he found your 180 in attitude more hilarious than any attempt at finding the JSA in the flesh.
After a few days of trying and failing, you finally got your chance... and it was completely by accident. You had decided to have a rooftop lunch with Justin, since you two didn't really have anything better to do, and you were observing the New York skyline and how gorgeous it was from this vantage point. Justin had readily agreed before teasing you as you filmed it.
So what if you and your camera were in a relationship? It was at least less disgusting than the pet names Juliet had given him! Professior McSnuggy Boomboom Kins? Really?
Then, out of nowhere, the JSA flew past you. The wind rushed in your face, and the camera shook wildly before you weren't using a tripod, but you didn't care! You had finally gotten footage of the JSA, and they were fighting something ridiculously close to you! You could even get a decent view of their enemy of the day! You tried not to look as happy as you felt, but Justin had already noticed.
"Got your wish?" Justin slyly asked, leaning forward and watching you intently.
You didn't respond, instead rising from the table to get a better panorama view. You half-suspected that you should probably flee for your life, just in case the enemy breaks through the glass or something, but you didn't care. You had finally gotten the first minute or so of your story, even if your roommates didn't believe it possible.
Once the JSA had thrown their enemy to the ground, you stopped recording and turned towards Justin with a huge grin on your face.
"Yeah," You say, carefully making your way back to him. "I did."
You want to say that the enemy then crashed through your window and you got to meet the heroes first-hand, but nothing of the sort happened. That enemy they fought tried to kick through the glass - tried being the keyword - but he simply could not break through the glass! It instead hurled the enemy back towards outer space.
Immediately recording that scene, you let a low whistle escape your lips, "I didn't know the JSA could do that."
Justin looks sheepish. Very quietly, in a manner that you think you're not supposed to hear, he says, "They can't."
Since you're in such a good mood, you decide not to question him. In later weeks, you might've rebuked him or attempted to start a debate, because there was no way your precious JSA could do no wrong; there was no way they couldn't have accomplished that; and quite frankly, the JSA beat every other team in the galaxy by miles. Even the Green Lantern Corps, and you knew their reach expanded far beyond one galaxy.
But right now? You have the story of your life. If only you'd known back then, that one history unit, one chance encounter, and one film project would've turned into one of your life's greatest passions. Someone's gotta save the world... and of course, you'll be right there, every single time, recording their exploits for the world to remember. Obsession may run thicker than film, but hey: you've got all the film you need.
no subject
Way too much commentary:
Oh, honey, at least your country's not as young as New Zealand... (That said, I actually wandered through high school without much NZ history at all.) His wee "wait, isn't that a bit racist?" is a nice touch.
That history thing is lovely, and kind of hilarious with Sharpay's "you think this is a good outfit for changing history?!" line from canon (it makes his "perfect!" line a little snarky ahahaha). And I kind of love that he only does enough to BS the answers in AP history... (Not that I know much about the AP system, hurrhurr.)
I like the bit about the JSA in WWII! Because I have an issue that looks at it a little bit (there are Nazis involved) but of course I still don't really get it
and care more about the kids anyway.I am seriously chuckling at judgmental!Peyton.
And then hilariously judgmental!Peyton suddenly turned into the sweetest nephew ever.
Ahahahaha. Actual comment on his mom, or just Uncharted being hard to believe?
Chloe's pet names are catchy... (Another friend's comment on my script: "I love how she keeps calling him 'cowboy' and it just pisses him off.")
Mildly related point of interest: Apparently Elena's phone number in Nate's diary has a Colorado area code. :|a
Ahahaha, Peyton knows what's up...
It's cool how Peyton has more of a friendship with Justin here than we'd originally thought :D And how he's the one who figures out having the JSA around kind of freaks Peyton out; I didn't see that one coming!
This sounds like it could have been hilarious.
Poor, poor Peyton: HE DOESN'T EVEN GO HERE any more and he still ends up filming Aural Intensity... As little interest as he has in show choir, he'll put up with them to put something on his filmography...
Real bromantic date, boys...
I laughed so hard.
REALLY
Oh, Justin, you sneaky thing :D
One day he will switch to digital, because ripping analog tapes to a Mac is seriously a pain.
no subject
re: history, I was actually nervous, because I'm not sure how much Peyton would like or dislike history! (I see him as someone who genuinely enjoys World History, because there's more countries and politics involved, but US History? Please.)
Ahahahaha. Actual comment on his mom, or just Uncharted being hard to believe?
It was intended to be the former (since boys think their moms tend to be weird sometimes xP), but I could easily see it being both now. I don't really think Michelle would've elaborated on Elena's love life, but Peyton believes she would.
Mildly related point of interest: Apparently Elena's phone number in Nate's diary has a Colorado area code. :|a
OH. well then... :/ I don't think she would've been the kind of girl to go to college in Colorado or live in Colorado
unless she was working with Kim Possiblebut that does throw a wrench in things for me.It's cool how Peyton has more of a friendship with Justin here than we'd originally thought :D And how he's the one who figures out having the JSA around kind of freaks Peyton out; I didn't see that one coming!
I'll be honest: I chose Justin because we didn't really have many other characters who could serve the role Peyton did. XD Not unless we wanted to go with another DCU character like Jaime Reyes, but Jaime's off dating Alex Russo in SCA...
But now that I've written this, I really like the idea of them being friends. It works surprisingly well, especially since they'd be genuine bros and not Peytom's sarcastic kind of bros.
YES, JUSTIN REALLY DOES HAVE RIDICULOUS NICKNAMES, IT'S WORSE IN CANON. (It was 3 am my time, I didn't want to look it up, but I swear it's longer and weirder.)
and ahaha it was meant to be metaphorical, but it's probably funnier if it's a literal statement too. ;D
no subject
Elena could have been originally from CO and then moved and was just one of those lucky sods who managed to keep her number forever? I'm not sure how much stock we can really put in that page anyway: Marissa from Golden Abyss isn't on it, and Chloe's entry says they met in Oklahoma, which got Jossed by the comic. (Though in my attempts to shoehorn in everything, my excuse for the latter is that she only gave him her number in Oklahoma, considering there was a distinct lack of phone number on the note she left him when she hit that and quit that. Oh, Chloe.)
I like the idea of Justin and Peyton being friends too :D Peyton needs a friend who he doesn't
hit onhave drunken sexual tension withconstantly snark at.Poor Justin 8( And Tori thought 'cupcake' was bad...
no subject
That could work! I could imagine Michelle and Elena growing up in CO and then moving off to wherever they were (and then Michelle ending up in Indiana).
Hahaha yes XD Justin's snarky, but only when people do stupid stuff... and considering it's him and Peyton, it's probably not that stupid in the first place.
The weirdest part: Justin likes the odd pet names and tries to one-up her. (I will never understand this facet of Jusliet. Ever.)
no subject
Justin can just snark over Peytom shenanigans instead.
Oh weird Disney ships. 8|