The knightly hero huffed and puffed long after his brisk run up the stairs, struggling to keep it hidden from the others as best he could. His armpits were already starting to sweat profusely, and his hands weren't much better. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, not just from the initial jog but now from his nerves. Here he was, in a veritable city of heroes, rubbing elbows with others dressed in costumes just like him. He looked around the group. They seemed to be mostly around the same age as him. A short youngster blitzed around them; his powers were easy to figure out. The others were more anomalous. One looked like she might be a ninja, another like he might be a cowboy. They all looked so much cooler than Dermont felt in this moment. He was the only one with a paunch, and as far as he could tell, the others were lacking his sweating nervousness. 

[color=gold][i]Steele thine nerves Dermont, Thou art a knight not a knave[/i][/color]

For once Nothung had given him something other than a scolding, and Dermont found solace in the blade's words. If a sentient sword of legend had faith in him, then he could find faith in himself as well. His confidence was bolstered enough that when he noticed the woman waiting in the lobby who clearly was a hero too he tried to wave to her, but quickly lost the nerve when he realized she was not paying attention. He gently rested his hand on the hilt as they were met with the most dangerous foe of all: bureaucracy. 

Dermont vaguely remembered this man, but ultimately, he looked like every other businessman he had seen before. Old, boring, and somewhat tired. The only real shocker about his appearance was his smile. How often did people wearing suits smile like that, so genuinely? Dermont found himself lost in thought about the stranger until the others began asking questions. The kind that Dermont had not even thought to ask and was internally cursing himself for forgetting. 

[color=gold][i]Bah! Pedantics, whenst evil rears its fetid head, we shall dispatch of it under any means necessary, aye Dermont?[/i][/color]

Dermont didn't respond. One their first day with these other heroes it was not a good look to start speaking to yourself. Instead, he nodded ambiguously both to Nothungs statement and to the questions at hand, only raising his hand to pitch in after Cameron spoke up.
"I have to second the fridge idea" He said, before quickly adding a question of his own in a much meeker tone.
"And uh, we do get paid, right?"

[color=gold][i]A hero dost not take handouts![/i][/color]

Nothung's voice boomed in his head, causing Dermont to flinch, but he gritted his teeth and endured the further scolding. He needed money; even if he was a hero, it would be if he were still an unemployed mooch. Whether or not they were, he still moved to stand besides this balding man, now standing beside the goggle-wearing woman.