subsystem | voice

[ Kitty's voice is cheerful, girlish, and energetic. She hasn't been around lately: the effects of getting out the warning about the invasion of Olympus had intense physical effects on her, and a long period of unconsciousness has been followed by a period of working hard to recover from that physical weakness. So this post's chipperness is partially motivated by the fact that Kitty's persona/alias Lizzie is just a chipper person, and it's partially motivated by the fact that Kitty wants to prove to herself that she's recovered and in good health and spirits. So...Honestly, that energy is frankly bordering on manic. ]

Hullo, Zion! Or at least the network-users of Zion. It's Lizzie again.

A few things. The first of these things, I think, is going to make some of you quite happy. I expect a lot of you remember the restaurant I work at - Cafe Modak - it's the one with the best food in the whole city, so you might have heard of it. If you pay attention to those sorts of things. Anyway, Chef and Mrs Dutt - that's our owner - are putting together a little celebration dinner, for the people who helped defend Olympus. And also when I say little celebration dinner, I actually mean that it's going to basically be a feast. Everyone's invited, but people who helped out get to eat free. So if you've got any dishes to request, just request them here, and I'll pass it along to the two of them.

Anyway, the second thing is that we really don't all know each other so well, do we? I mean, we do all use this, but I hardly know any of your names. Or anything about you. So we ought to play one of those silly games like they make you do, to get comfortable with the people around you. So...How about we play a few rounds of two truths and a lie? If you all know that game. Or you could do a little introduction speech. Or just talk about your favorite sims, if you do sims.

[ Translation: let me pick your brains and figure out what sorts of people you are. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh!

[ She gives a little giggle. ]

But, erm, really.

[ Kidding, kidding. ]

I didn't actually have powers myself. I'm an archer.

And here's the part where I reveal that this was all just a terribly clever plan to get you to reveal what your lie actually was.

[ But - ]

Does powers mean, like, magic, then?

So clever it only took ten times as long as just asking. I walked right into your devious trap.

Sometimes magic. Mostly more specific things. Shapeshifting, telekinesis, the ability to kick open portals to other worlds, super-strength. People had all different kinds of powers.

[ That's....certainly...a lot of things they can't do where she's from. ]

And - they worked for the government?

Some of them. There were a bunch of different teams at different times. Some government, some independent, plenty of powered villains, some aliens, lots of people just doing their own thing. We had a little of everything, really.

Oh.

[ She thinks about that a moment, then finally confesses: ]

That's all really weird. We haven't got anything at all like that where I'm from. Either...powers or...people...just going after criminals just because. [ Thank goodness. ] They're a bit keener on just...making a living and keeping their heads down, you know.

[ Kate laughs, briefly. ]

So are most people in my world. We're not called 'super'heroes because just everyone does it. It's actually very few people, but when that's your life you don't spend much time with anybody else anymore.

Can I ask why? Why you do it.

Someone needs to protect people. I'm good at it.

Yeah, somebody needs to clean up rubbish, too, but they don't do it unless they've got a good reason to.

[ Kate finally bristles at that. It's not a huge reaction, but there's an edge to her tone that wasn't there a moment ago. ]

How about because it's the right thing to do? I think if you're capable of it it's more like you'd better have a good reason for not using your skills to help people.

[ She does hesitate a little bit at that edge - not because she's scared of conflict, but just because she doesn't want Kate to dislike her. So, more cautiously: ]

Well - it's just that there lots who do. It's not a natural thing to stand up and throw yourself into danger, is it. I know I wouldn't have the courage to do that.

[ Never mind that's just what she did, not so long ago. ]

[ Yeah, Kate's not going to let that one slide by. ]

Why did you volunteer to deliver the warning about Olympus, then?

Erm.

[ Oh. Yeah. She tries to come up with a smooth lie, but the best she can really do is - ]

Right, that...Well, that's a different sort of thing, I think.

[ So smooth. ]

How is it different?

Well -

[ Um. ]

It was - Our backs were against the wall, right. It was just a...reaction to immediate danger, instead of a real act of courage.

[ Nailed it. ]

[ Kate is 100% unconvinced. ]

There were other people there. You could've kept your mouth shut, nobody's going to force a teenage girl to be the one to take that on. But you stepped up anyway.

Well...Lots of people were volunteering. I probably just wasn't thinking about the risk. Anyway, the point is, there's lots of cowards, aren't there.

Uh huh. [ Still not convinced, but if Lizzie wants to be modest, fine. Kate can let that go for now. ]

Sure, there are lots of people who aren't brave. What's your point?

[ Whew. ]

My point is - you've got to decide to be brave and stand up. It's not something that comes naturally. No one just stands up to injustice with no reason.

Sure they do. Some people are just naturally brave, just like some people are naturally fast or smart or intuitive or whatever trait. But fine, what was your reason, then?

[ HA ha got you now ]

[ She actually makes an honest-to-God ugh noise. But, fine. A truth for a truth, right? ]

My reason was that someone had to, or lots of people would die. And when my straw got pulled, that was it, and fair was fair. They wanted me to not do it, but one person's courage failing leads to a...chain reaction of failed courage. So it was do it or watch people die. And that's an easy decision to make.

Exactly. You see that people are going to get hurt and you know you can do something to stop it, so you do it. It's so easy it's almost not a decision at all.

[ do you see her point here ]

Well -

[ She gives a frustrated little growl. Kitten Jones does not sound very fierce making that noise. ]

But it is different! I mean, me, I just had a little panic reaction to what was going on in front of me. It's totally different to be sitting at home, and thinking, 'Right, all right, tomorrow I'm going to start shooting arrows into the rotten arses of the exploiters of this city.' You know. There's just got to be, like, a moment that makes you decide, right? Like - an article in the newspaper, or...seeing someone getting their teeth kicked in, or something.

voice

ye....es. Eva for short

It is kind of a mouthful

and 'man' is a terrible nickname

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject