1st story. (voice.)

[reconnaissance]

( 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.

Comments

[reconnaissance]

Nothing wrong with being a bit Australian, hey. You only gotta worry when things are getting too Kiwi.

( They're more annoying when Homer uses them, she swears.

Glancing down, Ellie is so devastated to realise she has no projectiles left, after finishing her sandwich. Though she is considering stealing Steph's and starting to throw that at her, instead. )

You should find better things to do with your time.

( YEAH. TAKE THAT. Or something. )

[controlledvariable]

That's someone from New Zealanda, right? [She thinks that's what it is; there were some Australian volunteers when she was working in Africa, so she's not entirely ignorant about the whole thing] You guys have got the whole New York versus Jersey thing going on, huh?

[Because clearly New York versus New Jersey is the biggest rivalry ever.

Steph is from Jersey, cut her some slack.]

Nothing wrong with having a little fun.

[Is it possible to be smug while taking a bite of a sandwich? Because Steph manages.]

[reconnaissance]

( Hey eyebrow arches. ) Wouldn't know. Where's Jersey?

( 8 | )

You have a pretty tame idea of fun. You have a pretty boring idea of fun, actually.

[controlledvariable]

[Wow rude] It's across from New York, and it's where my home city is.

[Not sure if Ellie is fucking with her not so she actually answered.

And then. promptly sticks her tongue out]

Yeah, well, I don't see you doing much better.

[A little bit insulted if she's being honest. She's plenty of fun, excuse you, Ellie]

[reconnaissance]

Oooh. Right, New York. The place people have actually heard of. ( 8D )

You're catching projectile food. That's just immature.

( Never mind that she was enjoying making the projectiles, just hush now. )

[controlledvariable]

People have heard of Chernobyl, that doesn't necessarily make it a good thing. [Witty comebacks with Batgirl.

She raises an eyebrow at Ellie] And you were the one turning your food into projectiles.

[Speaking of food, she's just going to finish off her sandwich.]

[reconnaissance]

Hah. Fine, I'll give you that. Doesn't stop Jersey from being New York's ugly little sister, or something.

( Why are you even siding with New York, Ellie, you know nothing about Jersey Shore )

Nah, see, that's resourceful. Never know what you'll have to work with.

( And in fact, she reaches into her sock and draws out a puny, blunt little fruit knife. ) Bread'd probably do more damage than this thing, really.

[controlledvariable]

You might wanna be careful with your insults there, missy.

[But she's grinning.]

And I'll give you that one. [Resourcefulness is Steph's middle name; you have to be when Batman frequently cuts you off from Bat-gadgets.

Oh my god Ellie that knife is just depressing.] You might wanna look into an upgrade on that, how are you with throwing knives?

[reconnaissance]

Why? I didn't say it was I just said it wouldn't stop it from being like that, if that's what it actually was.

( THE PICTURE OF INNOCE-- no sorry.

Looking at her pathetic tiny knife, she snickers a little. ) It's awful. Once this was all that stood between me and a couple of armed soldiers. ( She almost sounds wistful.

. . . ) But then I hid behind a bed and stole someone's assault rifle, so it worked out okay.

( She shouldn't be flippant about it, really. It had happened too fast. One second they were inspecting to make sure that the beds were made, sheets folded up and everything looking tip top, and the next they were getting their heads blown off. She falters, but it's almost too brief to notice.

Almost. ) Well. Probably a bit worse than with throwing bread.

[controlledvariable]

I heard the implication in your tone.

[She gives a fake glare, but her expression softens as Ellie tells that story. Steph's seen what happens when kids get caught up in wars, whether they're the fights between gangs, or warlords fighting for supplies.

She hates that Ellie's been pulled away from one war only to be thrust into another, but she doubts that Ellie would want her pity.]

Just a bit worse, but why don't we give you an upgrade.

[She starts walking towards her bedroom, gesturing for Ellie to follow.]

[reconnaissance]

( JE NE COMPRENDE PAS! Mais, mademoiselle, she is all innocence!

Ooh, but she's intrigued, and tags after Steph. It's to Steph's credit that Ellie doesn't drag her rifle along with her, just cautiously moseys after and keeps looking around. Over vigilant, maybe. )

Hey. You got a baguette or something you wanna give me?

( IT'S FUNNY. BECAUSE SHE WAS THROWING BREAD. RIGHT.

Ellie shut up. Anyway, she is sort of lurking just outside the bedroom and sticking her head into it because ahhhh it's someone's personal spaaaace )

[controlledvariable]

[Steph finds it funny, she even laughs.]

I was thinking a sourdough loaf, those things could knock someone out.

[She's grateful that the gun gets left behind, but doesn't really mind the curiosity. Her room is neat, perfectly normal looking, with books set up on the table and the bed neatly made.

The latter is where Steph goes, crouching down beside her bed to grab a small, plain box that's hidden under there. This is potentially a risk for her secret identity, but she thinks her explanation so far, about her father, will answer any questions Ellie might have about why a teenage girl has a small armoury.

Which is what's in the box. She stands up and offers it to Ellie.]

Take your pick.

[There's an assortment of weapons inside, mostly different styles of knives, a few knuckledusters, escrima sticks, and a couple of deadly martial arts weapons. Notably, there are no firearms, and none of the weapons are her Batgirl stuff, they're just things she's picked up while in the city]

[reconnaissance]

( She would swear, but she is actually speechless staring at this collection. )

Just how much stuff did you pick up from your dad?

( Because giiiiiiiiiiirl. She picks up a knife or two, testing the blades against her thumb, before very carefully setting them back down. ) I don't know how to use half these things.

( Which would be painful to admit with that pride of hers, if she wasn't too busy being impressed by this stash. ) What'd you use? If I mean, if you had to pick one.

( are there nunchucks? Because if there are, Ellie is picking some up and looking at them with complete bemusement. )

Remind me not to make fun of Jersey any more.

[controlledvariable]

I'm not like him.

[It's the only answer Ellie will get to that first question, though it implies that yes, she did pick it up from her dad.

She watches Ellie test out the knives, smiling faintly at the admission. Steph knew how to use some of them before becoming a vigilante, but she picked up most her knowledge being trained by Dinah or Bruce]

I like throwing knives, they double as a long distance weapon, and they're easy to conceal. Escrima are good, too, if you're not into stabbing people.

[She taps the escrima sticks, in case Ellie isn't familiar with the term.]

I did warn you. [Not to make fun of Jersey.

And there are totally nunchucks.]

[reconnaissance]

( Surprised by that, actually. She glances over. ) I never said you were. I learned a lot from my dad, too. Don't ever make assumptions.

( Admittedly Ellie and her dad are very alike, but still. The point stands. The nunchucks are set down, and she's back to poking at the knives, fascinated by how many different kinds there are. She didn't even know there were this many kinds. ) "Time in reconnaissance is seldom wasted." That's his thing.

( So she tries not to assume, even if she is a judgmental, moody beast of a person. )

They look kind of like wickets. ( And if it came to using cricket equipment as weaponry, she'd take the bat. ) They probably hurt more than they look like they would.

( Yeah, yeah. Enjoy that elbow to your ribs, Stephanie. )

Throwing knives it is. Sorry, fruit knife; you were a good mate when I needed you. ( And, very solemnly, she is placing the fruit knife in Steph's stash of goodies. )

[controlledvariable]

Sorry. [It's said instantly, and she pushes a hand through her hair as she exhales.] I used to-- When I was young, people knew who my dad was and thought I'd grow up to be just like him, cycle of violence and all that. It's a bit of a sore point.

[She remembers asking Bruce if he didn't trust her because her dad was a criminal, but mostly she remembers him not answering, which had just confirmed her worst fears.]

That's pretty good advice to live by.

[Probably something she should listens to herself, since she isn't known for looking before she leaps.

She's a little sidetracked by wonderig what a wicket is, but huffs out a laugh at the comment about how much they'd hurt, especially with the added elbow to her ribs (it says a lot that she doesn't dodge it)] You should've seen the bruises I had when I was learning to use 'em.

[Babs can be vicious]

A good choice. [There will be a set of them in a sheath] I can teach you how to throw them if yo don't know.

[She could laugh, but there's something kind of symbolic, if a little dorky, about Ellie leaving the fruit knife, so she doesn't.]

[reconnaissance]

No worries. ( A moment, and it seems like there might be something positive she'll say, until Ellie barks something that was maybe supposed to be a laugh. She gives Steph a grin. Sharp, not especially pleasant, some of that feralness from earlier coming out. ) Terrible thing is, I probably have more in common with your dad than you do. Me and my mates are like the ghouls that the invader families tell their kids about.

( The smile fades, as Ellie picks up one of the knives, looking at the handle. ) Catching us was meant to help their morale, big time. Probably'd do more, now.

( Said very absently, before she puts the lone knife down and picks up the set. ) That might be a good idea. Sure you don't need these?

[controlledvariable]

I doubt it. [There's something firm in her tone, like she's not leaving any room for argument.] You're fighting off an invading force, not robbing banks and killing cops 'cause you think the world owes you something.

[Violence isn't inherently bad, in her opinion, it's about what you use it for.

And she lets Ellie have that absent comment without saying anything about it, since Steph doesn't know enough about the cirumstances.]

I'm sure, that's my spare set, and I can always pick up more. [She's got her actual set hidden on her person] I'll take you to the training area and give you some lessons.

[reconnaissance]

( She doesn't speak, just nods her head in a vague kind of agreement. Problem is, when you get locked up with your thoughts, it makes you wonder. If maybe they thought the world owed them something, that Australia was theirs. But they'd taken it from others, really. It hadn't been theirs then, but their ancestors - or the people who came before their ancestors turned up, for some - they just tried to clear the way and make out like the land was theirs, when it shouldn't of been. They owned stolen land. Maybe the world was just passing it on to someone else, now.

But she doesn't say anything. It wasn't the kind of thing that was easy to say, easy to ponder. She could just imagine one of the others going off their nut if she even verbalised it. Sure, Steph's not one of them, but it was a thing to think about. )

You should introduce me to your supplier. Never hurts a girl to be well armed.

( Ellie nods, very happy with that. YEAH. LEARNING THINGS. Although-- ) Hey, is it true? About weapons being sentient? I mean, should I start being a little more considerate to my rifle? Make sure I don't hurt its feelings, or something?

[controlledvariable]

[Steph won't push the subject, the nod is enough, and she can imagine that none of this is easy for Ellie to talk about. War is never easy, no matter which side someone's on.]

I'll give you an address or too, though some of it comes from the Initiative, they're willing to give you weapons aside from yours.

[Which ties in nicely to Ellie's question.] I think sentient might be a bit too strong of a word. They can certainly improve grow, even, but I don't think they have like - thoughts.

[So the rifle is her weapon. Steph hopes Ellie doesn't ask what her own is, she's not sure how to answer.]

[reconnaissance]

I hope it doesn't grow. They're heavy enough all ready.

( Oh, Ellie, where is your sense of adventure! ) Can you imagine? It'd be at you all the time for not aiming better, or some stupid shit like that. Then it'd start nagging me to clean my room.

( Blergh. No thank you. Though, having said that, she glances around Steph's room. ) Your weapon probably won't need to bug you about that. Or wouldn't. If they had thoughts.

( And now she is looking some more and she is trying to see a weapon. And isn't. Maybe she should mind her own business. )

[controlledvariable]

I was talking metaphorically. [She rolls her eyes at Ellie.

Somehow, the thought of her Batgirl suit talking to her makes her homesick, thinking of the familiarity of Babs' voice in her ear. The suit relayed all her vitals, heartrate, breathing, the adrenalin content in her sweat. If the suit could talk, it'd probably comment on all the same things]

I don't have a lot of stuff here, makes it easy to keep it clean. You should see my room back home.

[It's a lot more personalized than the one here. Steph hasn't really felt like putting up posters on her walls or buying little trinkets to put around.]

[reconnaissance]

So was I. The weight of responsibility, all that.

( Oh, shut up.

It doesn't look like the most personalised place, she has to admit. Just you wait, Steph - Ellie'll help with that. Maybe not today. Maybe not this week. But sometime, when she least expects it... )

I dunno. You've never seen a messy room until you've had to mouse plague.

[controlledvariable]

[That startles a laugh out of her] Nicely recovered.

[She likes you, Ellie.]

Mouse plague? [Does that mean what she thinks it means? Because mice aren't particularly scary to someone who comes from Gotham and is used to dealing with her rat problem.]

[reconnaissance]

I'm a smart one.

( Smartarse, more like, but oh well. )

Yeah. Just floods and floods of mice. They happen every few years, you just get these explosions of them, so you open the grain stores or anything like that and there's just all these mice piled on top of each other. Thousands and thousands, and they're all just hungry and looking for food, so they you've got these bloody great tides of mice in the house. Mice in your bed, all right, it's no good.

( Don't judge her, flying rodent lady. ) Hey, I can handle one or two mice. But when you got so many that your cats are looking freaked out?

( blergh )