002 ↔ video

[5055034455]

[Saul's not a fan of using video on this thing. Anyone could be watching, and he's sure that's the case — which means he's about to show a hand of cards he never really wanted to — but he also knows he needs to come across as sincere and non-threatening as possible if he wants this request to be taken seriously. Text wouldn't work, voice... might, but also might not.

He still has his doubts, though. What he's about to do is ridiculous, even by his own standards. He'd laugh at anyone else making a suggestion like this, and he's half-tempted to laugh at himself, too, but when the feed clicks on and his image appears, he's all business. Literally: in a suit, at a desk, weapon laid out (for those who'd notice, the weapon is disengaged, the safety on; he's learning!), hands folded.]

This — [indicating the weapon, then lacing his fingers back together] — is a shotgun that's been modified to use non-lethal electrified bullets. The charge measures about 500 volts, and —

[There go his hands again, moving to retrieve one of the cartridges. He lifts it to the lens, waits for it to focus, then continues speaking.]

From what I understand, that should be enough to temporarily incapacitate a normal human being. But the problem is, I'm not sure. I've been using blanks on the dummies over in the Hold, so I have no idea what effect one of these things would actually have on a living, breathing person. So...

[He trails off, lowers the cartridge, and shifts uncomfortably in his chair.]

I realize how unorthodox and just plain sketchy a request like this is going to sound, but... who's willing to let me shoot them, and who's willing to be the medic present if-slash-when this happens? I'm looking for someone over eighteen, healthy, preferably human. I can compensate you with fifty doll—uh. Marques. Or we can negotiate, if necessary.

Serious inquiries only. Thanks.

Comments

[5055034455]

[Eyeroll.]

The answer's still no.

[controlledvariable]

Fine, but I don't like the idea of you shooting other people. Being tased is shitty.

[THEN WHEN ARE YOU OFFERING.

Because Bat.]

[5055034455]

And you think I do?

[He regards his cup for a moment, absently twisting it in circles before glancing back up at Steph.]

How much does it hurt?

[controlledvariable]

Then let me do it, saves anyone else having to.

[She shrugs, taking a sip of her own coffee - it's cooler now, thank god - as he regards his cup.]

Depends. On the voltage, where it hits, that sorta thing. All your muscles lock up, so it's a sharp kinda pain, like getting a really bad cramp all over. It's worse if, um-- if there's metal.

[She feels the "make sure people aren't wearing metal" should be implied, there, but she just rubs at her brow instead of actually saying it.]

[5055034455]

[Instead of saying "no" again, Saul gives her another look — this one's a little darker, more of a warning to stop pushing it.]

You don't have to be a hero all the time, you know.

[As for the metal — he knows. He's already planning on having Dr. Cullen check out whoever he decides to pick for this experiment as completely as possible beforehand. Saul is careful by default; this situation is certainly no exception.]

I won't be aiming for the chest. Thigh, maybe. The legs are a good target, right?

[controlledvariable]

[There's a look she's familiar with; she can't count how many times she's gotten it. His comment, though, about being a hero, just gets a shaky laugh, bitter and ragged, before she covers her mouth with her hand to smother it.

She sure stopped being a hero for a few moments when she blew up the UE compound.]

Sorry. Haven't slept for a few days.

[As if that is an explanation for how on edge she is, but she's just - going to focus on the question and hope he'll leave it.]

Legs are a good target, yeah. How's your aim coming along?

[5055034455]

[He's suddenly worried all over again, because just like Steph knows that look, he knows that laugh. And yeah, he gets it — she's Batgirl, she's seen all kinds of shit, whatever. He still doesn't think she should have any cause to laugh like that, to lose so much sleep that she's losing her grip on things.

Maybe coffee wasn't the best idea.

Then again, this seems to be his default state, lately: fluctuating between worried and pissed off, regardless of the situation.]

It's improved. I haven't shot the wall in a few days.

[controlledvariable]

[It's a relief that he lets it go, and she just drinks her coffee in silence for a moment. It takes the edge of her caffeine withdrawal headache, at least, and it's not as though she has plans to sleep in the near future. There's spaceship things to be dealt with and then she's going to... probably find Vanadi to see if he'll offer some distraction for a little while.]

That's pretty good. I was a terrible shot for ages, turns out having good hand eye coordination when it comes to throwing yourself around on a balance beam doesn't translate to being good at hitting a target.

[5055034455]

[Just because he hasn't addressed it out loud doesn't mean he's let it go — he still looks concerned, and he's not making any effort to hide it.]

You think the sentience thing is helping? Because — uh. I think we're bonding.

[He rubs the bridge of his nose and turns his attention elsewhere.]

It doesn't work on me.

[controlledvariable]

[She will ignore that concerned look if it's the last thing she does.]

Probably. [And, huh, that's interesting. Her suit has done a lot of cool things, but she's still surprised that his gun won't tase him.] For starters, I hope you had a medic on hand when you tried to test in on yourself. [Now it's her turn to look worried. Because really, Saul.] But yeah, I guess it makes sense that it wouldn't let you hurt yourself.

[5055034455]

I didn't shoot myself, if that's what you're thinking.

[But no, don't worry, he's fully aware of how stupid that was.]

I activated one of the cartridges and tested it on my hand. The barbs hurt like hell, but it didn't shock me. But that's the thing — I don't know if it's just me they don't work on, or if they don't work period. That's why I want to test it.

[controlledvariable]

[The briefly guilty look probably says that yes, it is what she was thinking.]

You still should've had a medic on hand. [But... she can see his point, and she'd want to test it out, too.] I could take you over to the UE, you can test it on giant spiders.

[That's a joke, albeit a terrible one.]

[5055034455]

[He should've had a medic on hand, yeah, but he's going to leave it up to Steph to eventually realize that he would've rather done it to himself and not bothered anyone about it just like she'd rather be the one to do it in place of someone else.



Also he was a little drunk.]

Did you just say "giant spiders"?

[controlledvariable]

[Instead of answering, she sips her coffee and holds her hand out to indicate how high they were, which seems to be "the size of a doberman".]

[5055034455]

[...no, she's got to be kidding.

In response, he gives her a pleading look. Please say you're kidding, Steph. Pretty please.]

[controlledvariable]

[She shrugs, a little apologetic, but mostly just tired.]

Pretty sure we don't have them in Britain, if that helps.

[5055034455]

Not really.

[You'd think someone from New Mexico would be a little more okay with bugs than, say, your average Gothamite, but no.]

When Collette said you were going on a camping trip, I was thinking, you know, tents and marshmallows and all that crap. Not giant spiders and spaceship-stealing.

[In hindsight, though, he should have known better.]

[controlledvariable]

[Yeah, she did't think so.]

We did that like a month ago. This was a mission to do some re-con in United Earth territory, see what we could find out, all that. In our defence, the spiders and spaceship weren't part of the plan.

[5055034455]

[And Saul just shakes his head.]

You sure you're okay?

[controlledvariable]

Peachy. [Normally she's a pretty good liar, but she can't really work up the energy for that.] I think I'm the only one that didn't get bitten by a spider.

[But her friends did, and it was a harsh reminder that they're not... as good as they should be, that they're not infallible like Cass or Kara.]

[5055034455]

[Oh, look. More cause for alarm. Saul straightens immediately, eyes going a little wide.]

Collette was bitten?

[controlledvariable]

[She waves a hand at him, dimissing the worry.]

I was exaggerating, only like, two people got bitten. Collette's fine.

[That lie goes much more smoothly, because it's someone elses's business, not hers. She has no idea if Saul knows about the morphing and the healing that comes with it, so she'd rather not say too much.]

[5055034455]

[He exhales.

Damn it, Batgirl.]

Jesus. And what happened to whoever was bitten? Giant spiders — they must be pretty poisonous, right?

[controlledvariable]

Turns out it's handy to take healers along with you on a dangerous camping trip.

[She's just - not mentioning her havin antivenom. There's no real reason she doesn't, it just seems pointless to bring it up.]

[5055034455]

You think?

[Or, you know, people could just not go on dangerous camping trips at all, but that's another moot point.]

So, what now?