1st At Bat [Video]

[batteredbatter]

[Do you like the color pink? Because good god, this kid's hair is pink. And his baseball uniform, somehow. What school did he even drag that from? It certainly isn't THIS school's baseball uniform. Does the Institute even have a team...?]

Well, we all survived the first week of classes and made it to the weekend so... I think it's time to get down to the important business here finally: who wants to play baseball?

[Look at this loser, he is so excited.]

I used to be a pitcher for my middle-school team! Hmm, though I wonder how that would work here – y’know, with all the, uh, advantages people have got. Are there any special rules for sports here?
Well, I guess we can just trust no one will cheat. I mean, what’d be the point in playing then? So yeah, if there are any other players – or people who want to learn how to play – come on and out to the quad and let’s get a couple teams together, okay? The weather's still pretty nice and the light's long, so let's get in some games before the season ends!

Comments

[batteredbatter]

[...he didn't know they made noises.]

Um, well... haha, I don't really have anything that can be used that way. [He hasn't thought about the fact that a pitcher who can probably throw two-hundred pitches and still be in decent shape is an amazing power] I'll leave all the flashy plays to you.

[tofudog]

You got it!

[Someone telling him to be the centre of attention? OKAY]

Hey, I've gotta ask. The hair-are you like me, or is it dye?

[batteredbatter]

The- oh, the hair! [He laughs a bit sheepishly and pats his head] It's kind of always been this way, at least as far as I remember. I think it was more normal when I was a baby but it changed pretty early on? Now that I think back on it, I don't know how my parents never thought I might be a mutant earlier...

[It probably crossed their minds but they were too busy just encouraging Koshi to be himself and being supportive to even consider "maybe it's a sign of a greater genetic deviancy that will forever cause him to be discriminated against for the rest of his life".]

So, uh, were you always green?

[tofudog]

Just since I was nine. I don't know what being green has to do with shapeshifting, but I'll take it!

[Sure, he'll never have a normal job or be able to go out in public undisguised, but who cares if you're a superhero. Beast Boy hasn't had personal experience with the public in years, and his attitude towards them and his own condition is fairly rose-tinted. People were jerks online, but they can't be that bad in real life!]

[batteredbatter]

Yeah, I don't know what pink hair has to do with injury recovery either.

[Yeah Tanaka sometimes had trouble convincing people it wasn't a dye, but compared to this guy's deal that seems like nothing.]

I'm Koshi by the way. Koshi Tanaka. It's nice to meet you!

[tofudog]

I'm Beast Boy! Right back at ya.

[Injury recovery, eh? Yeah, not much use on the diamond as far as be can see either.]

[batteredbatter]

[Yeah, Koshi kind of doesn't really know what all his powers entail yet...]

Oh awesome, is that like, a codename? Are you on a team already or something?

[tofudog]

Ex-Doom Patrol reporting in!

[His arm springs up in an exaggerated salute.]

I'm pretty much just a normal X-student now, since I left. I'm on the bench unless something big goes down.

[batteredbatter]

I have no idea what that is but it sounds awesome.

But wow, I guess that means you've been at this whole business for a while.

[tofudog]

[He HATES to brag but oh wait no he doesn't]

Uh-huh! I've shut down more baddies than a millipede has legs.

I counted.

[batteredbatter]

I guess you would know, huh? Though I dunno how useful turning into a millipede would be... except for counting the legs, I guess?

That's really cool that you've actually taken down villains though.

[tofudog]

Is that what you wanna do? Be an X-man someday?

[batteredbatter]

Maybe! It's a tough choice between that and major-league pitcher.

[tofudog]

You're that good?

[Their team is gonna rule!]

[batteredbatter]

Uh, well... gotta dream big, right?

[TBF, the idea of becoming an X-man seems just as likely to him. Considering most of his powers did their work while he was unconscious, he still doesn't feel very different from a normal person.]