exsilium | 1st story. (voice.)

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1st story. (voice.)

( there's a bit of a pause before anyone speaks. when the voice does start, though, it's pretty low. flat, almost, like the speaker is tired, and her voice sounds pretty rough and husky-- and distinctly australian. she sounds decidedly... detached from what's just happened, considering it's her first entry. )

I remember, once when I was a kid. One of the shearers bought a kangaroo to the farm – not alive, though. It was roadkill. I couldn't tell you if... he hit it, or if he just found it. I don't know if that matters.

Anyway, he brings this dead 'roo over in the back of his ute, and hauls the thing off his trailer. I'm surprised he got it on there, to be honest. He and my dad, they took it over to one of the sheds and started butchering it. It was already dead, but they still went through all the steps they use for lamb or cattle if we're gonna be using them for food. Slice the throat, first. They took the whole thing apart, until there was just this... steaming carcass, and then they froze the meat for dog food, buried the guts so that the foxes couldn't get at them.

That's a bit what I feel like right now. Like I'm a carcass that someone picked up and dropped off here. It doesn't matter if I was alive or not when they found me. ( She laughs a bit, but it's a bitter sound. ) I'm here now, aren't I? Either I've gone bush crazy and I'll be dead soon, or I'm already dead. This Initiative bullshit is just-- Jesus.

( A sigh, and a long silence. )

My name's Ellie. Ellie Linton. I don't know if names mean much to the dead, but that's it.

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You're not crazy. [It's said firmly, but carefully, meant to be a reassurance. A little more wryly, she adds:] I'm not so sure about the dead thing, I've got no idea if they can bring people here if they're dead at home.

Are you hurt at all?

[Sometimes people sounding tired can just mean they're tired, but everything else about what this girl has said makes Steph a little worried she might be injured.]

Oh, great. That's a relief.

( Be sure not to cut yourself on all of that bitter. )

Bumps and bruises. Nothing too bad. ( Although-- ) You got any of that, uhh, burn cream stuff?

( Close proximity to explosions can be a little uncomfortable. )

[There's a huff of breath there that could almost be a laugh. She understands the bitterness] Sorry I can't tell you more.

I do, actually. And bruise cream. [the advantages of a fully stocked utility belt] Want me to bring some over? Or you can come get it.

[Since - paranoia is a thing, and she'll understand if Ellie doesn't want Steph to know where she lives.]

Haven't checked out where I am yet. ( She should probably do that. ~~And then have a heart attack when she meets her ALIEN ROOMMATE hahaha sucker~~ )

The walk wouldn't hurt. I should figure out my way around this place soon, anyway.

( There is a wariness, but it's close to overwhelmed by all the other bizarre shit going on. Being paranoid almost seems stupid, at this point. )

[She puts an encyption on the message, since she doesn't feel like announcing her location to the entire network.]

There's probably a number on your door. But, yeah, I'm in 1208, just knock when you're here and I'll let you in.

[a beat] My name's Steph, by the way.

Steph. 1208. Got it.

( Ellie hesitates for half a second, before tilting her head. ) Hey. Thanks.

( Not that she needed help, or anything. Just so you know.

( → action? )

( At least, Ellie figures, numbers still work in the same way here as back in normal time. It makes finding her way to 1208 less painfully difficult, with no blows to her pride being necessitated by asking random people for directions. That would be the final straw, really.

She stares at the door - Steph. 1208. - for a good few minutes (maybe just seconds that drag long enough) before she knocks. )

Hey. It's Ellie.

( Underfed, slightly limping, scowling and generally worse for wear Ellie. 5'3" of bugger off, complete with AK-47 slung over her shoulder. Except, you know, for how she is here to get help. )

[The door opens and the first thing Steph notices is the AK-47, which she eyes warily. She smiles, though, managing to look away from the weapon to take a glance over Ellie. The girl looks like she's been through a war zone (if only she knew).]

Hi, come on in.

[She steps back from the door, gesturing Ellie into the kitchen, where there's a first aid kit on the table.]

I'm trained in first aid, if you need someone to have a look at you.

( Her hesitation before actually moving lasts a few seconds longer than could ever be considered normal, glancing behind the door, scanning the room for anything that might be hostile in any remote way. Her hand tightens on the strap keeping the gun over her shoulder, before she forcibly reminds herself to loosen her fingers. )

Yeah. Thanks.

( A little shrug. Asking for help from strangers is difficult. ) I don't want to waste your time.

[Steph doesn't comment on the hesitation, nor does she look impatient, she just waits by the table for however long it takes Ellie to be ready to come inside.

She hopes her roommates won't be annoyed that she let a girl with a gun into their apartment]

It's not a waste of time. And I figure we're better off helping each other than trusting the Initiative.

( That makes her relax a little. Steph makes sense, and at least she isn't setting off any feelings in her gut. Besides, it was hard to gather information unless you had a few sources. Didn't mean she had to do anything crazy like trust her right away, right?

She relents, and sits. ) Okay.

( A beat or two, before it occurs to her maybe she should put the gun down to make this a little easier, resting it on the table. ) Initiative sounds creepy and ambiguous anyway. They could've gone for a better name to inspire confidence, don't you reckon.

[Steph opens up the first aid kit, pulling a couple things out (the burn cream, some antiseptic wipes, bandages) before she takes the seat next to Ellie, facing her.]

It doesn't help that the apparent bad guys are called the United Earth, which just makes me think of the United Nations. [Who aren't, you know. Bad guys. (generally). Steph's taking a shot that Ellie is from Earth, since aliens probably don't have Australian accents.]

Where should I start? [with taking a look at Ellie; normally Steph would get straight too it, but she knows better than to infringe on someone's personal space when they look like that.]

Yeah. Too right. ( Ellie hasn't encountered anyone not from Earth, yet. Or not that she is aware of, at least. ) I mean, they can be bloody useless dickheads, but I'd bet they're not evil masterminds.

( Oh, right. Taking a quick glance at her arms, Ellie shifts so the one with more bruises and scrapes is closer to Steph, holding it out a bit awkwardly. Getting injuries treated could open up a can of worms with that wandering brain of hers, and mostly this kind of stuff would be a luxury. At least she isn't too grubby - floating in a river for a few hours can soak off a good bit of grime, as it turns out. Depending on the river. ) Uh, we were-- I was in a river for a bit. Water wasn't too bad, but there's a lot've farms around there. You never know what'd be draining into the river, you know?

( ALL THE ANTISEPTIC PLEASE )

I gotta say, I think I'll be keeping an eye on the UN when I go home. You know, just in case. [By "I'll" she means "Oracle will look into to make sure this sort of world isn't in our future".

She can't help wrinkling her nose at the mention of the river, but she gets to work on Ellie's arms. She's gentle, carefully cleaning any open wounds with antiseptic and applying creams and bandages where she feels they're necessary] I know. I've taken one too many dunks in the local bay and ended up sick for a week. [Gotham harbour is gross, news at 11] I've got some broad spectrum antibiotics, if you wanna be safe?

If we get home. Nothing I've heard sounds too optimistic, yet.

( She's a glass half empty kinda lass!
Ellie, in the meantime, is doing her best not to make any indication that stuff is stinging, because of her big hulking pridemonster. All the gritted teeth. ) How do you get all that stuff? Are you the local chemist, or something?

( She grows on you... eventually. Like mould in a damp basement. ) Hey, so-- are most people younger? I've seen a few adults and stuff, but seems like there's a few kids around. Seems messed up they'd want a bunch of kids fighting their battles for 'em. Giving them weapons and stuff, you know?

( Oops, that was a little hiss of pain. )

They can't keep us forever. [There's no small amount of determination in her tone. She's going to find a way out of here if it kills her.]

I volunteer at a clinic, and I live in a pretty rough area back home, so I keep my kit well stocked. Never know when you're gonna need to stitch up a couple of bullet wounds 'cause someone can't afford to go to the hospital.

[Not... even kidding. Though she'll usually get them to Leslie if she can.

As for the question about kids, Steph's expression darkens a little, and she focuses on the task at hand for a few moments to put her thoughts in order.] There was a bit of a mix up lately, something with the transporters that left a lot of people all the wrong ages. Usually there aren't quite so many kids but, yeah, it's still messed up. I tried to talk to one of the Initiative people about it, but I just got a spiel about how no one's forced to fight, as if that makes it better. 'Sure, let's send kids into a warzone, but they can hide at home base if they want! We're not total monsters!'

[....She stops, her expression a little embarrassed. Those were a lot of words (she just has a lot of feelings about kids).]

Sounds like a nice place. Real friendly.

( That makes her laugh. Rather inappropriately, she does get that, but she can't help it. )

Come off it, you don't need to look to the Initiative or weird time travel shit to get that. Try "hey, kids, you just got out of a warzone, how about we drop you right back in there with no plans to get you back out because our soldiers need a little helping hand?" No, "hey, you've done enough" or "well, you're just kids," just wham. Right back in there. "You've only lost three of your group so far, no big deal!"

( Her anger has been escalating, the petrol tanker on a hill with the break let off, just charging on through, until the point of impact--

She stops herself, realising her hands are in fists. ) At least we can hide at home base.

It was good practice for here.

[And then she goes silent, listening to Ellie and pausing in her administrations for a moment in case the other girl decides to lash out. Steph isn't concerned about her own safety, but she'd rather not waste supplies if Ellie is about to punch the table or something.

It's not hard for her to realize she's talking about personal experience, and she can't help the slight frown that comes with the realization. And, well, Ellie can't be older than eighteen.] Last I heard, Australia had the same restrictions about letting kids fight wars as the States does.

[Between the AK-47 and the knowledge of the UN, Steph is figuring Ellie is from around a smiliar time as herself.]

( The way she slumps in her chair sort of reeks of moody teenager, in a painful contrast with what she was describing. )

Get invaded and things like "laws" kinda go out the window.

( She glances at Steph, shrugs, and holds her arm out obediently. )

They probably don't talk about it that much, sending in kids to lend a helping hand.

[Steph understands moody teenagers, since she's still sometimes one herself, and starts up again on Ellie's arms once she gives them back]

We must be from different versions of Earth. Australia was never invaded where I come from. [It's hard to wrap her head around. She knows Australia isn't a huge military power, but she'd have thought Britain and the US backing it up would be enough to deter invasion.

Unless there was another World War. She doesn't want to think about that possibility.] Sounds like you're used to dealing with assholes, then. If they sent you back.

[She's careful not to offer anything that could be construed as pity, since she knows how people react to that, so her comment is basically a way to say "that sure does suck."]

Hold up.

( Somehow her frown has become more frowny. ) Different versions? Different versions of Earth?

( She was not entirely sold on time travel, and that is just... ) That's-- what the Hell does that even mean? That isn't possible. That's some kind of, I dunno, some weird sci-fi bullshit when they want to change some stupid plot hole that makes no sense! That isn't real life!

[Steph lets Ellie have her little freak out, then carefully nods.]

Where I come from, it's not entirely unheard of. [She hasn't made a secret about coming from Gotham, so she won't bother making a secret of coming from a world with superheroes and weird science shit. There are so many Transports that she doubts anyone will make a connection between Batgirl and Stephanie Brown.] I'm not much for science, so I couldn't explain how it all works, but there are multiple versions of Earth that exist in mutiple universes. Travel between them is usually difficult, so I'm guessing whatever the Initiative has got is really high tech stuff.

( Steph has the patience of a saint, lbr

Ellie is just quiet, for a little while, rubbing her forehead as if in the hope it might make everything come together in a way resembling sense.

Shockingly, it does not. )

I'm really not much of a drinker, but this seems like one of those times when a bottle or five of scotch would be a really good idea.

[While the quiet stretches on, Steph finishes patching up Ellie's arms and gets up to toss the used wipes and bandage wrappers into the bin. At the comment, she diverts her path slightly to rummage in one of the kitchen cupboards, coming up with a bottle of vodka, holding it up for Ellie to see with a wry smirk.]

I do have this. For emergencies, which I think this might count as.

[Well.]

( Oh, dear. )

Last time I had anything to drink, I did some really stupid stuff.

( Namely a Kiwi guy. I mean, nothing. )

But now I am in an alternate version of Earth in the future, so... where are the glasses?

( their friendship is already the best friendship )

I'd bet you twenty bucks it doesn't top the stupid stuff I did.

[And it's been four years since she's had anything more than champagne as a toast, but Ellie looks like she could use the drink, and Steph won't let her do it alone. So.

She gets out two glasses, sets them on the table, then pours a shot into each, setting down the bottle so she can pick up her glass and hold it out for a toast]

To alternate versions of future Earth? [her tone could not be more dry.]

→ audio

→ audio

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→ audio; encrypted

→ audio; encrypted

→ action!

→ action!

→ permaction

i like how you think

truly i am a genius

teach me your ways

i could, but i'd have to charge

what if I give you this amazing leftover takeaway container, complete with plastic fork

that does sound tempting :|a

if you call in the next ten minutes you also get a YEARS supply of dustbunnies

do i get free shipping if a pay by credit card?

but of course. BUT THERE ARE ONLY A FEW MINUTES LEFT DON'T MISS OUT.

SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW

DONE also i sort of just want to shop Ellie's head onto The Hulk for all her rage

ELLIE SMASH

the role of Black Widow will be played by Steph in this movie

can she be thor she wants a giant hammer. also i'm not sorry for this tag.

something something CAN'T TOUCH THIS also never be sorry. this is perfect.

i like that hammer time is where you went with that