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meta moderators ([personal profile] metamods) wrote in [community profile] metamemes2023-10-07 06:09 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME: OCTOBER EDITION




TEST DRIVE MEME

A Confluence, capitalized, is the converging of one or more supernatural forces. It’s common to see these at least once a month, but you might see two or three in an especially wild one. Only one of these confluences brings in people from other worlds.

Your arrival is a welcome one! Though not all the following confluences will be so joyous, the people of this world are taking you as a sign that things are finally settling down.

With that being said, you might notice that the history of this world is… changing. The world itself seems to be altering bit by bit as it settles into its new timeline. Where once metahumans as powerful as you were a rarity, now there’s a plethora of them.

You can be Neutral, living your life as an ordinary person without using your powers. But the moment you decide to make use of them, you need to make a choice.

Will you join the Guardian Alliance and use your powers for the sake of others?

Or will you join The Society, and use them for yourself?


BRAVE NEW WORLD. CENTRAL CITY.

You’re falling through the sky. Wherever you were before, whatever you were doing – it no longer matters. You find yourself hurtling towards the earth at unprecedented speeds. Thunder rolls and lightning crashes, and you smash into the hard pavement of an unfamiliar modern city.

But you’re fine. Not a scratch on you.

Around you, other people are falling like meteors. Colliding into the pavement of this street – it appears as though it was blocked off, as though someone knew you were coming. You barely have the time to process what just happened before you feel it. Something extends its presence to you, equal parts a welcome and a warning.

You are here for a reason, though that reason is yours to define. Do not let Her decide for you.

No sooner do those words enter your mind than do you hear the crash, barely having time to duck as something throws a car towards your head. The city has come alive – literally. Bits of iron and steel are weaving together to form an Iron Giant, one hellbent on knocking you and all those who fell with you right back into the sky.

It looks like you have a choice: fight, or flee.

Whether you defeat the enemy or wait to be rescued, eventually the Guilds will arrive. Heroes and villains in brilliant costumes surveying the scene, agreeing to work together just long enough to get all the new metahumans off of the streets and into somewhere more secure.

With a flash and a bang, you find yourself standing in what appears to be a school gymnasium. There, you’ve given medical treatment, something to eat, and told exactly what has happened to you – you’ve been displaced and granted into another world. You can go home, but it’s temporary – for now, at least. And they’re here to get you settled.

Once you’ve been given the introduction to your situation, you’re given the proverbial keys to a pretty lavish location. Hopefully, the LUXURY HOTEL they've put you up in will ease that sting.

The DIADEM HOTEL is usually reserved for the obscenely wealthy. Its rooms are enormous, the beds quite literally enchanted to offer the perfect night's sleep, and the food would usually cost your life savings for just a small taste. But given the circumstances, the Guilds feel its the least they can do to aid your transition into this world. everything is complimentary, and everyone gets access to a credit card provided by Winters Industries to spend on entertainment, clothing, and whatever other necessities they might need. The cards have an obscenely high limit and there doesn't seem to be an expectation for you to pay it back... unless you go completely overboard, that is.

There's a shopping center immediately across the street. It has an impressive array of outlet shops that cater to your every need. Food, clothing... and swords? If you can think of it, it's for sale. Although anything clearly supernatural or metahuman seems to be at a minimum and offered under the table. You can grab clothing made to withstand any superpower and a surprisingly mediocre Taco Bell order while you're at it.

There's a Super Cinema in the shopping complex across the street that's showing the premiere of RUN BOY RUN, a story about a young boy who is granted the ability to speak to people’s shoes – but spends every waking minute of his life ignoring his calling. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll rethink what it means to have powers – and you’ll come out with a new appreciation for fine footwear.

You’ll also find a celebration in the (quickly being rebuilt) streets. It’s become an impromptu street faire, with food vendors and other craftsmen popping up to celebrate the world returning to normal. A sign that the meta-energy isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon and the weird world you’ve been thrust into is happy to have you.

For now, at least. It’s Central City. Their opinions change like the weather.


HALLOWEEN FRIGHTS. SUNSET FALLS.

Sunset Falls is a terrifying place to live at the best of times, but it’s especially heinous during the month of October. The residents often find themselves plagued by out of towners who visit the leylines to conduct poorly researched rituals. Most of the time, these end with the summon beasts simply devouring the fools who brought them into this world before expiring.

This time, however…

A new shop appears within the village, Randor’s Resplendence, and it offers sweets, treats, and tricks. The proprietor, Rancor, is a tiny man of about fifty with a charming smile and a persuasive attitude. You will find yourself unable to even consider hurting this sweet old man, and though he might not be able to convince you to buy anything, you will find yourself wanting to take a candy or two.

Red candies cause your passions to run wild. You may find yourself suddenly falling in love, or hate. The further you give in to your passions, the hotter the fire within you runs. Careful not to burn anyone!

Blue candies cause you to rethink your life entirely. Abandon your name, abandon your job, and become who you were truly meant to be. If you are an ambitious person you become complacent, and slackers will suddenly find themselves becoming over achievers. However, the deeper you fall into this transformation – the more you find yourself wanting to scream. And a banshee’s scream is lethal.

Green candies seem to have a delayed effect. You may find yourself looking at an item you never cared about before – and now you want all of it. And you can and will attack that stranger for their pretty broach. Before long you will find yourself sprouting scales as the dragonification process sets in.

Yellow candies cause you to burst into song, singing your heart’s greatest desire for all to hear. Those who hear you will be drawn to your siren’s song.

All of these candies will wear off after 72 hours.


SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. EXCELSIOR.

Excelsior has had it rough the last few months. Though the power grid is back on, the lingering effects of the outage have left their mark. Entertainment is scarce, and in these dire times, the kids make up their own fun. Rumors of a dangerous new game spread quickly throughout the schools, both civilian and guild alike. Passing by any infected device turns you into a player, whether you want to be or not.

It spreads through an app. The app, called SURVIVOR, appears on your home screen after you’ve encountered it. The icon is a garbled mess of pixels, seeming to glitch further the more you look at it.

The moment you interact with this app – whether to open it or to delete it – you’ve sealed your fate. The connection between your mind and body is severed, and your mind is thrust into the realm of the game. And much like a zombie from a horror movie, your body begins to move on its own – wandering the streets to spread the infection, at least until other orders come.

As for your mind – well, SURVIVOR is just as it says: it’s a survival game.

You find yourself standing in the middle of a replica of Excelsior. Some will find themselves designed as HUNTERS, armed with a weapon of their choice and told to do as Hunters do: hunt. Hunters who fail to fulfill their roles will find themselves forced into it: they'll be transformed into a monstrous creature, feral, bloodthirsty, and lacking self control. There are many Hunters in the game who have already suffered this fate; they stalk the streets, eager to find prey to devour.

The rest are PREY. There are more prey than Hunters, and they are given no weapons. Death in this simulated world is not permanent, though the pain is very real. Any who fall to the hunters will find themselves trapped in a digital hell, able to watch but do nothing to assist their team until the Gamemaker resets the match. While Prey are given no weapons, they are welcome to find makeshift weapons to utilize to the best of their abilities.

Discerning who is a Hunter and who is Prey is easy: clothing is color-coded. Hunters are dressed in all black, Prey all have bright colors. Changing clothing within the game is not possible, but Prey may attempt to hide what they are by painting over their clothes with paint, or dirt, but it's not a permanent fix, and any substances will fade after an hour, leaving them to need to find something else to cover it with.

In order to survive this nightmare you must outwit, outlast, and outstand your opponents – and, most of all, outsmart the Gamemaker. There are weaknesses in the code that can be manipulated by magic, technology, or might – break the game to break free.
CLIFF NOTES.


➢ In Central City, the city itself is coming alive - forming into a massive Iron Giant that's intent on shoving Starfallen right back to where they had originally come from.

➢ Off in Sunset Falls, tourists are enjoying all things Halloween-y. There is also a new shop that is offering out some suspicious candies that, depending on the type, cause different status effects.

➢ Excelsior is experiencing a virus problem - one that is causing people to get stuck in a virtual reality horror game where everyone must fight to survive.

➢ You do not need an invite to play on the TDM! But you do need an invite to join the game. Current players can extend one invite this cycle.

Current Players are welcome to treat this as a bonus event. These events are canonically happening within the game but can be largely ignored if you'd prefer to use the month for personal plots.


WILDCARD
The world you've landed in is one that takes inspiration from all walks of comics. Explore the CITIES away from the chaos occurring to get an idea of what day to day life life is like. Something is always happening, whether it be big and bombastic as supernatural entities invading or as subtle as cats getting stuck in trees.

Perhaps you've encountered a supervillain (or hero) who needs to be thwarted, or a metahuman with unusual powers creating bizarre effects. Maybe you yourself are here to take advantage of the chaos, benefitting from other's suffering.
her_own_rules: Batgirl (pic#16515442)

Barbara Gordon | DC Comics | Current

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-08 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
her_own_rules: Computer, Babs, Oracle (pic#16521183)

1. ᴄᴇɴᴛʀᴀʟ ᴄɪᴛʏ

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-08 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
It's been a rough few hours for Barbara.

Crashlanding into the ground, with a strange voice in her head. Then, throw straight into a fight for god knows what reason with a massive Iron Giant. Then, the weirdest blitz welcome—complete with a posh hotel room, nearly unlimited credit card, non-governmental benefactors "Winter Industries," a none-too-subtle-speech about which side to choose if she wanted to wear a cap outside.

The first thing she bought was a laptop. We know, you're so shocked.

Babs has just settled into a nearby coffee shop to work on cracking the network here, too.
her_own_rules: Babs (Pensive)

2. ꜱᴜɴꜱᴇᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟꜱ

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-08 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
A little while later. . .

Does Barbara remember how she got here? Why she came here? Nope. Not really. Not important. All that matters is that she's here now in an odd little Halloween Town. She'd say she's not all that much of a candy aficionado, but after living with Cas and Steph for a while, she sometimes craves the worst things.

Besides, what could visiting a candy store hurt? It's the most innocuous thing about this place, with its weird history of monsters and ritual flock followers. Plus, that grandfatherly guy behind the counter was just too lovely and charming, getting a chuckle from her more than once, and how could she say no after that, too?

When in Rome, she thinks with a soft smile, gesturing at the sweets
"Could I get an assortment bag so I don't have to choose yet?"
her_own_rules: Batgirl (A World of Pain)

3. ᴇxᴄᴇʟꜱɪᴏʀ

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-08 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE !@#$ KIDDING ME."

Barbara swears as she turns in a circle, looking in every direction. A second ago, she'd tapped a stupid glitching square on her phone, about to remove whatever offending malware from this world had decided it was allowed to hack her back. And now she was here. Excelsior, but not. Just this side of not solid enough, like the city was laid out in computer graphics.

Then, just as suddenly:

In front of her, floating in the air, are the words "HUNTER,"
and then "Select your weapons" followed by a dropdown of options to tap on.
batinbelfry: (Babs_019)

[personal profile] batinbelfry 2023-10-08 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
It's strange the things you find yourself getting used to. Waking up in a strange bed, finding yourself in another world, the absolute need for caffeine at odd hours of the day, dealing with doubles of your friends and then doubles of them as well...

Barbara stops at the coffee shop, puts in her order then turns to find a good spot to sit and just relax when she spots a nearly familiar face in the room. She isn't spotted in return, so she grabs a second order before walking over to place the fresh drink in front of the other redhead.

"Hope you don't mind, I guessed on the flavor." So she just ordered a second of what she likes, it's bound to be acceptable.

Taking a seat across from Barbara, she shakes her head and smiles, "Hi, I'm Barbara."
her_own_rules: Babs (pic#16722753)

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-08 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Barbara is looking up from her screen to just over the top of it, where she's about to tell whatever Morning-Midday-Afternoon Good Samaritan that she is not looking for a best friend, a date, or someone to share a coffee conversation with, no less her table or even one of the seats at her table, where they can sit nearby. As politely and succinctly as possible. Probably.

Except, then she does look over it.


And.

Then.

She.

Does.

A.

Double.

Take.



It involves a lean back rather than forward. "What the-"
robintohood: (To lose this higher)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-10-09 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
Jason's out and about doing "normal" errands for once like getting groceries and returning a library book when he spots Barbara through a coffee shop window. Or rather someone who looks very similar to the Barbara who arrived in Central a while ago. As he enters the shop and gets a closer look though, he realizes this redhead has some physical differences from the other Barbara. They're subtle but they're there.

Welp. Jason supposes it was only a matter of time before she got her own double too. Apparently, the BatFamily is just prone to it under the confluences.

"Anything good so far?" He says casually and helping himself to the seat across from her.
her_own_rules: Computer, Oracle (pic#16521175)

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-09 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Not as good as I want it t—"

Barbara is answering before she's even thought about it. That voice so familiar, tucked inside the realm of those allowed to invade her personal space—her actual Oracle sanctum, whether in Dick's apartment or elsewhere; whether still in pj's with a pencil through a bun or in cape or in deep, chaos reigning supreme and sleep not last seen for any of them five days and several scrapes back—that she hadn't thought about it. Until she was apparently six words into the sentence and jerking her head up.

Finding Jason's face. "Jason?"

And it is. Jason's face. "You're here, too? Are the others?"

Except. Through a flurry of words, a near-demand for a sit-rep.
Still. There's that except. A needle scratch.

The longer she looks at his face,
and something isn't...

he isn't...
not exactly.
robintohood: (Goodbye to my enemies)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-10-09 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Barbara's response confirms to Jason that this is a different Barbara. The question now is how different is this one.

"Yup. We're gonna be a whole colony soon at the rate we're going," Jason replies dryly. "When'd you show up?"
her_own_rules: Oracle (pic#16763691)

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-09 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Barbara does not appreciate being talked more around than at. Especially while being looked at head-on. About a topic bigger than the understanding of the person across the space from you. She doesn't like that. Yes. She's aware she's the one who usually gets to do that on the daily. In-person and over her comm. At a dozen different superheroes at the very least.

It still stands. She doesn't like it.

"A few hours ago. Long enough to get this—" A gesture at the computer. "—and this." Babs tilts her head, turning it, pushing the hair that's been hanging loose & wavy over the side of her face and shoulder back, to reveal the dark purpling-up shiner of a bruise at the corner of her jaw and her neck.

"Why are you—" There's a pause. "Not you. But you. Something about you is—"

Babs knows better than to say wrong where it comes to Jason. Even lightly.

"—off."
robintohood: (Never gonna try to)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-10-09 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
Jason has a good idea of what she means. She might even be referring to the other Jason Todd that's also here.

"Yeah, I know," Jason says. "Could say the same about you too. Seen your sister yet?"

He knows she doesn't have a sister but they're in a public space so they have to be careful about what they say in case of eavesdroppers.
her_own_rules: Babs (pic#16521193)

[personal profile] her_own_rules 2023-10-09 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Barbara reaches out for her coffee, with far more shots and sugar than a human being should be allowed to have on no food yet, and studies him. That crease of confusion between her brows is sharper than it is floundering. He should know far better than that. But the longer she stares, the less she's sure of the man across from her.

"I don't have a sister. You should know that."

Her Jason absolutely would. Not unless you counted the girls. Barbara would count the girls. But there wouldn't be a reason for the singular. Nor for not calling them by their names. Then, also. "You didn't answer my question earlier. About whether the others are here, too."
robintohood: (I am real and the pretender)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-10-09 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Jason remains unfazed by Barbara's cautiousness. It just comes naturally when one is a Gotham vigilante.

"A good chunk of us are here. We even got doubles. B's here too but he's not exactly how we usually know him," Jason replies.
batinbelfry: (Babs_025)

[personal profile] batinbelfry 2023-10-09 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah I know." It's funny in a way, she had recently commented how she was the only one who wasn't doubled, and now she's sitting face to face with another version of herself. Whether she's from another universe, a different time, or whatever other kind of odd combination of things it really doesn't matter.

"Not sure if coffee is really the best drink for this kind of thing, but I don't think alcohol would do much good either. Have you talked to any of the boys yet, or just arrive?" The new version has been here long enough to make the same first purchase she did. Some things don't change across the multiverse.
diegeticmusic: (in the ocean)

Grace | Stray Gods | Clever trait

[personal profile] diegeticmusic 2023-10-12 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
A: They Might Be Giants

[Grace has had a lot of weird things happen to her lately, but suddenly falling through the sky and crashing into the pavement still ranks pretty high.

For a moment she just lays there, breathing heavily and staring into the sky, wondering how in the world she isn't dead. Sure, immortality and all, but she's pretty sure she still can't survive a fall like that.

And then there's a voice speaking in her head, and Grace grimaces, sitting up and looking around.]


Oh great. Which god was that?

[Except she's met everyone by now, and she's pretty sure none of the Idols can do... whatever that was.

Before she can spend too much time pondering it, though, there's the sound of stomping, and she scrambles to her feet, turning in time to see the Iron Giant approaching.

Grace stumbles back a few steps, eyes scanning for someone to hide - and fast.]


Oh you gotta be kidding me!

B: Material Girl

[Grace gets told a room will be ready for her shortly, and to make herself comfortable while she waits. She spends a little time looking around the lobby and the rest of the first floor, marveling at how nice this hotel is. Sure, she's seen a lot of Olympus now, but since she can't bear to part with the apartment she and Freddie lived in, she's never stayed anywhere so... swanky.

Eventually she finds her way to the hotel bar, sitting at a table for two with a martini on the way. While she waits, she flips the new credit card with her name on it back and forth, looking at it in the dim bar lights.]


I gotta admit... this is a lot nicer welcome than the last one.

[You know, when she got accused of murder and told she was going to be executed. ...Damn, her bar is low.]

C: Pumped Up Kicks

[Grace had thought coming to visit Excelsior would be fun. It's supposed to be the tech capitol of this version of Earth - maybe she could have seen the newest smartphones, or maybe a cool robot!

Instead, she's been sucked into some terrible virtual reality game, and she's the prey. Decked out in brighter colors than she would ever choose to wear on her own, Grace is left to fend for herself, running and hiding from any hunters.

She's currently crouched behind a dumpster, watching the street beyond the alleyway closely for any movement.]


Damn it, why aren't I the god of... giant hammers, or something.

[[OOC: Grace is a Greek god, specifically one of the Muses! If your character is divine themselves or able to sense it, feel free to notice; though she isn't hiding who and what she is, so it may come up in conversation anyway. Grace is post-game so she's not concerned with revealing herself to mortals.

Grace's power is the ability to make people sing what's in their hearts, so if you'd like to play with that lmk. Hit me up at [plurk.com profile] dandywonderous if you want to work something out.]]
Edited 2023-10-12 02:32 (UTC)
diegeticmusic: (can find it again)

[personal profile] diegeticmusic 2023-10-12 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
Grace isn't entirely sure why she came here, either. These days, it seems like she's drawn to weird things, it seems...

She steps into the quaint little candy shop just in time to catch the shopkeeper giving another girl the hard sell. The guy doesn't seem entirely sure about giving her the assortment bag, it sounds like, and Grace, busybody that she is, can't help but chime in.

"I'd go for red. It's... always the best candy flavor."

At least in her opinion.
womenswrongs: (02)

( b )

[personal profile] womenswrongs 2023-10-12 10:23 am (UTC)(link)
Are you complaining?

[ persephone is lounging by the bar as well, making sure her personal space was respected. which it had better be. ]
diegeticmusic: (am i alone)

perfect journal name

[personal profile] diegeticmusic 2023-10-12 02:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Can’t she just make some casual observational commentary without criticism?]

Pretty sure I was doing the opposite of complaining.

Come on; luxury hotel, unlimited credit card? For me that’s still pretty unreal.
womenswrongs: (10)

thank you

[personal profile] womenswrongs 2023-10-13 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
And you think it's all on the level? C'mon, Grace.

[ persephone dangles her glass between her fingers. ]
gothcowboy: (pic#16622675)

Jules Jourdain (Circuitbreaker) | DC Comics | New

[personal profile] gothcowboy 2023-10-16 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
From Central City, to Central City -
Part A:
"Crap-!"

Was it a jump gone wrong? Something else? He can't quite remember. Jules finds himself falling, hurtling towards the ground in a streak of black and green so fast he barely has a chance to activate his own powers. He only has a moment to curse before crashing down into the street with a heavy impact and-...

Being fine?

He sits up after a moment, dusting himself off and shaking his hair back into place. Just in time for a voice to echo through his head.

"What the... Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

Part B:

There’s a loud crunch, and his head whips about just in time to catch the car hurtling towards his head. The reaction’s almost instinctive, a flash of green light, still force, and the car slows through the air enough to give Jules time to duck out of the way.

Only to look up at the iron giant and scowl. He's going to need a hand fighting that.

"Right, of course, just my luck..."
Tall Glass of Water -
As stunning as this "Central City" is Jules is finding himself longing for a moment of quiet, something hard to do when you’re dressed up like some alt-fashion version of a cowboy. The fact that he’s new here is probably plain enough. The luxury apartment? Not a terrible place to stay, but it’s not his style despite the beauty of the gothic architecture. He doesn’t plan on sticking around here long, so he’s leaving any big spending for later.

For now? He’s found himself a spot in the closest bar that didn’t look too ostentatious, arms resting over the counter and turned to keep an eye on the place while he sips at his beer. Looking a little lost? Probably.
Trick or Treat -
"Yeah... I’ll take these... and a candy I guess.” Oddities are very much his thing, and it’s hard to resist the oddly symbolic accessories Rancor offers. Just one, maybe, and the candy is blood red, perfect for Halloween, or so Jules thinks. Jules wanders off into the town, decorated with a neat new chain necklace with an occult star on the end and his tongue dyed slightly red from the sweet…

-----------------

Passions are broad. Music, people, dance. There’s a few places all three can be found. Later on in the evening Jules can be found dancing at wherever seems fitting. Local night club? Underground party? When you know what to look for it’s not too hard to find the scene, and oh boy does he blend in. Well… Mostly. Not many others sport that sequin green style, tassels hanging off his arms and studded goth cowboy boots. It’s definitely a look.

Maybe you bump into him on the floor; maybe you spot something’s off, that he seems a bit more lost in it than is probably healthy. Either way, where you fall on that polarizing love-hate field will depend on first impressions, won’t it? Why not join the revelry.

Wildcard -
[ Plotting? Feel free to DM me, or just throw up a different prompt if nothing here strikes you! ]
Edited 2023-10-16 01:20 (UTC)
perduta: (they showed you a statue)

Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress | DC comics | current

[personal profile] perduta 2023-10-16 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
.central.
[ It's always the same.

No matter how hard she fights, no matter how hard she tries, she's never quite good enough, is she? Not for the League. Not for the Birds of Prey. If she were, people would stop trying so damn hard to fix her, wouldn't they?

So Helena watches as the heroes in their bright reds and blues and golds fight the Iron Giant, as they win the day. There's nothing bright about her costume, the colors of a bruise: purple and black. Why even wear it, when she's not in the fight, when it's bright day and the shadows she works in haven't yet started seeping from the alleys and broken windows?

She's wearing hip-hugging jeans and a cropped, clinging tank top, her wrists jingling with bracelets, as she moves through the stores here in the city, but she's eying crossbow bolts instead of shoes. Listening in for talk of organized crime in this strange city.

She'd had to get out of the gymnasium, the high school. That part of her life, no matter how much she longs for it, is over. ]

.red + blue.
[ A masterpiece. That's what the killer had murmured to himself as he surveyed the ruin of her family, as he signed his name in their blood on the wall.

Oracle was wrong. Black Canary was wrong. She never should have bothered even trying to rise past her name, her heritage, her nature. Helena chews the candy, red and blue together staining her tongue, her teeth, her lips the same bruised purple as her costume as her eyes flare with hot blue fire. She remembers. She remembers it all. The fear. The failure. She was never meant to be a hero.

She grabs the nearest passerby and swings them into a wall, delighting in the startled huff of breath that leaves them as they hit. Do you know who I am? she means to ask, but instead it becomes a keening scream, hatred and grief and rage all at once. It doesn't matter. She knows, now. Maybe she's always known. Maybe this is what she should have been praying for all along.

It's time to become who she's been all along: the capo of the Bertinelli family and the fallen daughter all at once. It's time to go on the hunt. ]

.hunted.
[ This is all wrong. She shouldn't be wearing brilliant purple. She should have her crossbow. She should be hunting, never the hunted, never the victim, never again. That's what she'd promised herself.

She should cover herself in mud, hide where she can, but instead she stands her ground, fists clenched, teeth gritted, eyes flashing in fury. ]


Come on and #!@*&% get me, then, if you can!

.wildcard.
[ want to plot or do something specific with Helena? PM or hmu @ [plurk.com profile] repeatandfade ]
feathersandflames: (Come In Real Close)

Bette Kane | DC Comics

[personal profile] feathersandflames 2023-10-16 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Central City

[One second, Bette had been trying to convince Bumblebee and Dove to give the Titans West another chance. After all, a new team had been forming in Bludhaven, why couldn't they form one in LA again? The next second...

Had she blinked? Had she stepped into a portal? Had the skies turned momentarily read? She wasn't sure, but hurtling through the sky she suddenly missed the wingpack she'd worn back as Hawkfire. She might have been able to glide down a little more gracefully. Her Flamebird costume, though, was a little more showy, a little less functional. And so she hits the pavement. Hard. She's barely recovered from that when she hears the voice in her head.]


Yeah yeah, I've already stopped letting Kate decide for me. It's why I left West - wait.

[She sits up, looking around her. This isn't Gotham City. This isn't LA. Is this - where is she? And what's that about...no, it obviously wasn't about Kate trying to guide Bette's crimefighting career? What the hell is going on? Oh, it's that. A giant robot thing, forming right before her very eyes.]

Oh, great. Must be a Wednesday.

[She reaches into her utility belt for an electrified, bird-shaped boomerang. It won't do much, but it's a start. There's no way she's running from this fight, no matter where she is.]


Diadem Hotel

[If there's one thing Bette's familiar with, it's the life of the obscenely rich. You don't grow up a Kane girl without a certain measure of wealth and privilege in your life, and so despite the fact that she's learned about how she's been yanked away from her home universe to this place, she's...surprisngly comfortable. Maybe it's because she hasn't really given it much thought yet. Maybe it's because she's glad for the fresh start. This isn't LA. This isn't Gotham. She isn't beholden to the Titans. She isn't beholden to Batwoman or Batman. For the first time in a long time - since she first became Flamebird - she's on her own. It feels freeing, and she's going to revel in that freedom fir a little bit. At least for now.

Which means a shopping spree. And maybe some boba. They have boba in this universe, right?]



Halloween

[Bette's always enjoyed a lemon drop, but she's not certain that's what this yellow candy is. It gleams in her hand though, all glossy and tantalizing. She'd only popped into the shop to see what they had to offer, but the little man, as soon as he'd seen her, humming to herself while looking over the candies - she'd almost chosen red - came over and suggested the yellow ones. He'd suggested that they complimented her mood perfectly, and wasn't it unfair that the red flavors always got top billing when the yellow ones were just as good? He wasn't wrong, she realized. Starburst had special packs for their red flavors, Sour Punch Bites had their Rad Reds bag. But what about the yellow candies? Even Nightwing preferred reds to yellows.

She pops the candy in her mouth as she leaves the shop, and soon, her humming turns into her singing softly. At least at first.]


Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game...
Edited 2023-10-16 21:54 (UTC)
perduta: (I run with a dangerous crowd)

Halloween

[personal profile] perduta 2023-10-16 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Helena's considering her own candies – one red, one blue – that sit in her palm when she hears a frustratingly familiar tune. ]

Oh, no.

[ She curls her fingers around the candies and looks for the source of the song. ]

Not Wicked.

[ Has she maybe felt envious of Elphaba's ability to take hold of her own own destiny? Is there some small part of her that wishes she, too, could be popular?

Maybe. That's not the point. ]
feathersandflames: (Lemme Handle This)

[personal profile] feathersandflames 2023-10-16 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh yes, Helena. Wicked. It's always been Bette's dream to defy the gravity that's kept her down. Nightwing telling her she should quit. Kate ordering her to go to West Point, even though she'd been the costumed crimefighter first, even though she'd trained with Uncle Jake and his Murder of Crows. No matter how much she learned, how much she trained, someone always seemed to want to hold her down in one way or another. But no more. Not here, not now. Not anymore.]

It's time to trust my instincts; close my eyes and leap!

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