Current
Oh shit. I’m 1610 days in. I’m a Ultimate now.
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likes
6 yrs ago
Ya know...I don't think my last status aged well.
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7 yrs ago
To all y'all whose 2K19 New Year's resolution was to make it to 2020. We lit out here.
15
likes
7 yrs ago
Man, Discord out here playing GAMES.
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7 yrs ago
Praying for all y'all in the Bahamas. Dorian ain't being the best tourist.
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Bio
You can call me DC.
Been roleplaying about 9+ years now. Trying different websites out to see what happens, so, if I happen to have encountered you before, don't be afraid to give a shout out.
I work nights and am usually up for most hours of the day. Because of that, I'm often running on no sleep, so that's a thing.
@DClassified I’d say that could work so long as it’s within reason. You’re only in Claremont. Not downtown yet.
Fosho, when I said that, it was coming more from the impression that it’d be kinda like the game where heroes get stronger over time and unlock new abilities nd stuff like that. At work on it now though.
So like, I was thinking to do a character that is more or less a reincarnation of Sun Wukong. Dialed down though, so like, he wouldn’t have all the same transformations and magical abilities. He’d be around Spider-Man tier in terms of a physical capability analogy. I figured, given Malevola, there may be room for something like this. If not, lemme know. 🤘🏾
Typically when he roamed the wilds, it would be silent with fear. It was how he was raised to be: The Apex Predator. Resistance would be met with the crushing of rivals and consumption of prey. Though, things had changed since he came to this land of the west, far from his old home. Change was the only constant in the wild, and as such, you were to adapt or die.
In the last moon cycle, Ro had learned from Tenzi and Kassy. He was taught many things, like more west words and how to read them on paper. How to play nicer with the others so that he didn’t scare or hurt them. Ro even gave them names too. Ro gave Rock (Viktor) his first, then Daffy (Daph), Buzz (Zach), Bright (Cora), Chuma (Vince), Bluey (Pei), and Dati (Will).
The wildchild took to the top of a palm tree to watch over them. The height of it also allowed him to bask his skin in the sun’s warmth similar to the many iguanas on the island. Of which most of his body was uncovered, outside of a pair of blue boxer shorts. His headbush flowed with the soft ocean breezes and his eyes grazed between the water and sand as each of them spoke.
Ro was told not to eat the fruit and vegetables, because they were for Daffy, to instead wait for Chuma to finish preparing the other food. Though, his ever active appetite was starting to make him antsy. His view was going to go back to Chuma but something else caught his eye on the way there.
Boobies! On the way here, he’d seen quite a few of them. Although he’d been quite passive in his tendencies as of late, he still had the urge to act on his instincts. Ro remembered that his instincts could be scary to people, but surely no one would mind if he grabbed them really quickly. He crept nearer to them slowly, eyeing how plump and Brown they were. It would take no time to put them in his mouth and—
"Ro! Come help me hunt a fish!"
Ro’s head whipped to Kassy’s direction as soon as she called for him. The sudden movement caused the birds to notice and fly away. While normally prey escaping would be disappointing, seeing Kassy made happy tingles in his chest. So, without much hesitation, he took off from the palm branch like the Brown Boobies did, extending his arms as he drifted down to his mke.
Interaction | Black Canary Kassy AKA @Mistress Dizzy Location | Secret Sanctuary | September 28th |
In an opening of dirt, between the brush and beneath the sun of the African plain a battle took place between a hyena and her cub. The savannah son felt a swift breeze wash across his face as he bent backward to dodge a swiping rod. A foot extended outward in the same motion for his opponent’s stomach. Though, opposed to it being an attack, it was a means for further evasion, the boy pushed off and leaned into a back handspring.
With the distance made, the cub no older than nine stared down the tall woman. She stood firm in her defensive stance, raising the spear with one end aimed at the boy’s chest. The child with the mane of curls lowered his stance, clawing his fingers like a tiger’s. His steps led him into a half circle around her slowly, baring his teeth at his weapon wielding opponent.
“Rah!”
His approach was a pounce forward from on all fours, and a small exchange ensued. Aggressive, clawed strikes were blocked and countered by the woman warrior easily. She was obviously more experienced, barely having to move for her defense. Though, when she went on the offensive to strike with the spear’s sharpened end, the boy lowered his shoulder to dodge beneath. At the same time that the trap triggered, the bushbaby clasped his fingers into a snake’s head.
In a fluid motion, he threw the fanged limb beast directly into the Hyena’s front wrist. With the precise strike causing her grip on the weapon to loosen, the Son of the Red grabbed hold of it. Though a clever manipulation of leverage and swinging his smaller body around hers, he managed to wrest the spear away.
Retreating once more, he cartwheeled several feet away. In a relatively impressive display of dexterity, he twirled and spun the spear around himself. A smirk glimmered his features as he spun on the ball of his foot. Yet, just as soon as he was to finish with a pose, he was met with unexpected speed.
A heavy heel was aimed at his head, and in a desperate measure he raised the pointed staff to block. Though, it wasn’t much help, as the Hyena’s strength still launched him from his feet. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he couldn’t even fully fly back when she then caught him at the foot in mid air. The inertia of initially flying one way to be yanked another caused him to lose the spear. Dangling upside down by his leg now, he raised his hands to protect his face from an oncoming attack...but it never came.
Hesitantly, he opened his eyes to see disappointment on the woman’s face, which honestly hurt worse than if he’d been struck..
“You have lost focus again, Kila.”
Her voice matched her body, feminine but rugged. The wild child went limp, and the Hyena captain let him go. He flopped on his back, displacing some dust, but it didn’t seem to hurt in the slightest. Simply lying there, the preteen looked up at her from the forest floor.
“I...I am sorry, tenzi Iwisa…” The student addressed the master, though Iwisa shook her head.
“You may have the ability to apologize to me, but your enemies will not be so gracious. Your theatrics mean nothing in true battle.” She critiqued, stern in her delivery. The lion cub stood up but his face did not leave the ground.
“Yes...I know…Baba would not be pleased…” His voice was more diminutive in comparison. The veteran warrior sighed while kicking her spear up from the ground to her waiting hand. While in her grasp, she twirled it against her palm a single time in reflection.
“Do remember why Baba brought you to me?” Iwisa took on a more compassionate tone.
“To be strong and fast like he is?”
“Your baba is strong and fast, yes, but your baba is king because he knows to control his focus. When to focus your strength, how to focus your speed; So you can use those things to protect your home.” Iwisa explained, resting the spear on her shoulder as she lowered to a crouched position.
Afterwards, she extended her open palms out in front of him. The bushbaby remembered this exercise, and took a neutral stance. He threw a quick jab at one of them, but Iwisa caught his wrist and took the opening to poke a few fingers into the boy’s side quickly. Tickled, little Kilimanjaro wiggled and giggled a few paces away.
His eyes closed for a second, but as he opened them, he noticed Iwisa staring off into the distance. Her expression was very serious, and it shrunk the little one’s smile. He wanted to ask what she saw, but the boy was afraid of the answer.
His eyes wandered around the rather destroyed room. Metal unnaturally curved like vines in the walls, which showed insulation and framing. Machines had shattered as though made of legos. The electrical lights in the room had gone, leaving it enveloped in shadow aside from light of the sun reclining in the ocean.
The cause, sat with his arms around his knees in a fetal position, in the midst of the chaos. His throat hurt from holding whales back within it. Despite doing the work of the Tasmanian Devil whispered to his ear, some part of him wished to keep it contained. His eyes had been a waterfall as he suffered in silence.
A hurried step and a familiar sound would shatter that silence. "Kila? Ja?" Kassy had been going from room to room since they'd touched down from the Watchtower. She was still fighting off the nausea, honestly, but there was something far more important than her own discomfort to deal with. Someone.
"Where are you, KJ?" She was near, carrying the scent of the sea and the soothe of the waves, as she always did.
The savannah son could smell it through the walls, through a shaky breath. His headbush unfurrowed from around his face and he looked toward the double doors. Hesitantly, he trotted forward, nudging his head through the cracked opening.
“Ka-assy?”
The voice she was looking for answered, albeit worn and tired sounding. He wasn’t in as rough shape as when Daphne initially found him. Most of the topsoil on his topside was gone. The scratches were nonexistent; but there was a weight under his eyes.
Instead of a response, her footsteps picked up. Nearly a full run, until her feet took her where she needed to be. The door to the training room slid open, revealing an exhausted and still-queasy looking Kassandra. "KJ!"
Between the tired young adults, the bigger one rose to his feet with a slightly hunched posture and leaned forward. His arms clasped around her shoulders, releasing some soft but deep sort of whimpering sounds between breaths.
It took just that for Kassandra to burst into tears, clutching him close with shaking hands. "Oh, I was so afraid… they wouldn't let me join to help look for you! You're okay. I'm so… so glad…" Pearl-white tears rolled freely down her cheeks. After a few moments, she pulled away, cupping his face as if to make sure he was real.
The only note of her discomfort was a sudden stillness in her. A split second wariness, an uncertainty. And then she gently touched his tired eyes, her cool thumbs gently resting against the dark circles on his face. "...which one are you, right now?"
“The one that remembers too much…”
Ebony eyelids enclosed over amber irises. He was sure that he was going to get into trouble for what had happened in the gym. Though, that pushed itself to the back of his thoughts slowly. With Kassy here, it was like a fog was clearing up, allowing him to focus his thoughts on something.
"Ja." Kassy knew she was being repetitive, but… something felt not-quite right about that answer. But there would be plenty of time for that later. "Sweetest, you need a bath. And perhaps a shampoo. You smell like the woods."
“I…y-yeah…you are right.” His eyes reopened but they wandered around the room and the halls as his memories recollected themselves. “I-I…I’m sorry…I didn’t know what to do…I was lost…then…then the Red Beast…I— he…guided me back here…home. But I couldn’t come back…I was angry…and hurt…uhm…” The bushbaby stopped his broken rambling.
His head turned briefly to look over the gymnasium that he destroyed, fidgeting for a moment. A careful step took him away from it, towards the dorm rooms. Focus— Washing off would help. “Is…is everyone else okay?”
"We are, more or less. But don't worry about us. You need to take care of yourself right now. If you come back after your bath, I'll help oil your hair for you. Would that help?"
Ja nodded, but didn’t let go of her hand until he got to his room. He picked out clothes that were looser, to the point that one may wonder what era he lived in. It was more for comfort than style; a large white t-shirt and harem pants with different colored paisley patches on it.
The shower he took wasn’t very long, just enough to be effective and mostly chase the smell away. His nerves still seemed to eat at him, rocking in place as he waited outside the bathroom for her to return.
Kassy didn't go far. While he was occupied, she did her best to clean the training room. She hadn't known Ja was so capable of - no. No, that was a lie. She'd known he was capable of destruction. They all were. That's why equipment was replaceable. She left the unfinished requisition list in the corner next to the broom, and went to Ja's side again as soon as she heard the water stop.
Seeing him from afar, so closed up and nervous made her chest hurt. Part of it was empathy for how afraid he must have been. And part of it, even now, was pure rage.
If the people who'd orchestrated his kidnapping were in front of her. Well. She'd be back in prison by sundown.
"There you are." She slipped her hand into his and squeezed, but then frowned slightly. Picking up their joined hands, she peered close at his skin. "Your hands…" Biting back a flash of worry, she gazed up at him. "We should bandage them."
His head slightly tipped to the side to look at his own hand as well. His lips quivered then pursed. “I-It would only slow my healing down…but I made sure to clean them…I promise.”
"Oh. Alright, then." She offered up a soft smile. "Let's take care of your hair." She walked into his room, setting up a pick and the little jars of oils and creams that he preferred. Well - tolerated, perhaps, was closer.
Ja reflected her smile, smaller but present. He gently tugged at the door behind him to close it most of the way as he came inside. It felt somewhat odd to be in here…his own room, after having not been in it for a few weeks. Absent-mindedly, he walked in and sat on the floor next to where she sat. His nails traced along the carpet as he thought and waited. Then he seemed to realize something.
“Is everyone okay?”
Kassy stopped with the jar half open. "Ja… Sweetest, you just asked that a few minutes ago. We are still okay." Concern flashed in her eyes. "Are you okay?" She remembered the way his memories would scatter when he switched between Kila and Ja.
He nodded, almost reminiscent of how his head would bobble when in a happier mood. He didn’t initially realize that he asked already, but the question came up again due to certain memories resurfacing. “I…remember Cora being knocked out and Daphne in a bubble…I remember Vincent and Zach being tired…before…” He hesitated.
“I’m…here. With you, and that is okay. It helps me feel better.” He reassured, a small piece of his optimism peeking through this hollowed version of himself.
"Good. Not even the coldest riptide will take me from your side again." A warm grin slipped on her face. "The others are mending. And you will too." She leaned over, and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Do you just want to stay here, for a while? I can wait on your hair, if you want."
Ja smiled softly when Kassy’s lips found his cheek, but it shrunk slightly when his ears started twitching.
The unmistakable sound of Black Canary’s heels on the concrete floor came to a halt in front of KJ’s room. There was a firm knock on the door before the mentor entered the room. She stood silently in the doorway, observing the pair. There was a quiet sense of admiration that reflected in her eyes.
”A hot shower really does transform you, especially after everything you went through.”
Black Canary didn’t know the full extent of what KJ went through, but she was determined to find out. It was important to find out what happened to him. Important for his personal mental health, but also that of Kassy and the rest of the Team.
The second she heard approaching footsteps, Kassy scooted to a hopefully friend-appropriate distance from Ja. She was aware Black Canary was dating another Leaguer, and therefore couldn't say too much, but - it was still a bit embarrassing.
"H-hello Miss Dinah."
The bushbaby had recognized her several steps ago. The heeled boots she typically wore made a distinct clicking sound. He had often observed the way people walked growing up. It was part of his training as a way to identify people. You could learn a lot about a person through such forms of body language.
Today, the sound of these steps weren’t the heavy and deliberate ones of their stern combat instructor; instead they were the quick and soft ones of a concerned counselor. The last time he saw her was a few days ago, through the eyes of the Red Beast. He didn’t attack her…or any of the Justice Leaguers that tried to talk to him…but he didn’t respond to them either. He’d only watch, or retreat to the tunnels when they attempted to get near…It was only when Kassy had found him earlier that the beast's edge flowed into a more passive place.
He didn’t remember all that he had done since the Red Beast had come over him just yet. What Ja did remember was that he wasn’t supposed to be on that mission. He had broken protocol. It was out of fear for his friends, yes, but broken nonetheless. Those factors left him unsure of what to say when his golden globes aimed up at Tenzi Dinah.
Kassy found herself taking the lead in the silence. Subconsciously, she eased herself between Dinah and Ja as she rose. "Do you need me, Miss Dinah?"
Black Canary approached the pair, watching her body language to put them at ease. She joined them on the floor. She sat next to them on the same eye level.
”Not just you Kassandra, I also wanted to check on Ja.”. When she mentioned Ja’s name she looked right into his gold eyes. She was starting to recognize Ja when he was in charge more easily. As someone with a background in psychology KJ’s condition was fascinating. At the same time it worried her. If the personalities weren’t balanced or didn’t co exist peacefully they created inner turmoil.
”How are you feeling right now Ja?”
Feeling the Canary’s eyes on him, his lips pursed. ”I am…” ’Okay is not the right word,’ “alive, and here…It was me that made a mess in the training room…I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry.”
Kassy settled beside Ja, and after a moment's thought, wrapped an arm around his shoulders. She couldn't do much besides give him comfort, and that is exactly what she'd do.
Black Canary shook her head.
”Don’t worry about that, Ja. I know you didn’t mean to and everything can be easily replaced.”
His answer was something she expected. She wanted to do some digging into the time he spent away from the Team, but she didn’t want to push him too far. Kassy’s presence would help him to be more at ease. She didn’t see the need to separate them, on the contrary it would be better for both of them to stay close. At least for the foreseeable future.
”What do you remember about your time away from the Team?”
She wasn’t the first person to ask him this. Daphne also attempted to unearth some answers from KJ’s shattered perception, but neither the timing nor the circumstances were right.
The question made Ja sigh, rubbing his hands against his knees. His eyes started to wander, but shifted over to Kassy when he felt her arm keep him from floating away. With her silent reassurance, he found the resolve to speak.
”I…remember a lot of time in the woods. When the Red Beast had control, I lived as the wild for a few days. A hunter and scavenger… But… I… remembered here; home. After that I was in the sky…somehow I felt the way home through the Red…it tugged me back to the forest outside where Daph found me…”
"Ja…" Kassy's voice was soft, but her arm around his shoulders was careful and firm. "When Viktor and I were acting as enemies, what helped us become teammates and friends again was to say the painful things out loud. He is like you - he doesn't want to hurt people's hearts. But sometimes… it's okay to speak the truth than to keep it locked. Especially when others can see that you're holding your tongue. It will be alright." Adult presence be damned. She pressed a very soft kiss to his nose.
"...Strike. Say what must be said. We're here."
Ja’s lip twitched and he took a shaky sigh. Maybe this time would be different. Kassy was here this time…It would be okay…right?
“I…I remember being in the back of a truck? It was only enough light to be necessary…I remember Mister Slade’s eye watching me the whole time…Others from a squad I did not remember…I think it was to make sure I did not escape…When the van stopped, we were deep in the woods. I remember a runway for an airplane, and then being led inside another building that was like a wooden house, a little further than the hangar…” His heart started to race in his chest. Steady breaths. It…was in the past now…it couldn’t…
“When I got inside was when I saw her…After so long…Tibani was who they sent…or maybe…maybe she just decided to find me…She told me that I was a long way away from home…Asked me how I was doing…She…told me that Baba and the other Hyenas missed me. She said that Baba understood how confusing it must have been when…” He paused. Kassy told him to strike, and it was like pulling teeth but it was too late to stop now. She said it was better to let the truth out.
“…I was brought to america. Tibani said she understood that you guys were my pack now and that she would not force me to come home…but…” He subtly started to tremble.
“But she asked if I knew what really happened the day that the Justice League found me…She showed me to a screen that showed a camera feed. It was a recording of that day. The footage showed the battle…and…it…” His eyes started to well with tears.
“It showed me, what really happened…I…S-she told me that Iwisa had died so that I could get away…That B-…the ‘Red Lion’ used his claws to tear her apart…but that was a lie.” His tone had a more distinctively sharp cut on the bitter tasting word. His headbush billowed in a familiarly infamous whisp-like fashion.
“The camera showed me that it was not the Red Lion that killed Iwisa. The camera showed me…that it was Her. It…It was Vixen that killed Iwisa…” His breaths had gotten deeper, and tears rolled down his cheeks. The lights in the room started to glow a little brighter than they should, and the tablet in Black Canary’s hand glitched a little.
“It was VIXEN that killed my Amai!!”
The lightbulbs shattered with his roar, followed by a silence that filled the room; leaving even Canary speechless. The revelation far surpassed his outburst, giving rise to so many questions about the young lion’s past.
“Your Amai. Your mother? Ja, that's a heavy accusation. It…” Canary was being careful with handling this. She scooted herself closer to him, offering her hand for him to take. “From our previous talks, I was of the belief that Vixen, Mari McCabe, was your mother.”
Kassy, who had been sitting in stunned silence, pressed herself closer to Ja as well. She looked down to see his nails - claws - digging into his skin. But she dared not speak to interrupt. Instead she simply wriggled both of her cool palms over his, trying to stop him as gently as possible. What Ja said didn't make sense at all - but he had no reason to lie. Nor did he conjure falsehoods easily. No, he wouldn't say something like that without believing it true.
If it was true, the consequences of it were too large for her to grasp the edges of. But if it was a lie… then who could have made Ja believe it so fiercely? Still, she realized her mistake earlier, in insisting Ja talk about it. Maybe it was too soon? She shouldn't have pushed. Now that they were in it, though, the only way out was through.
"It's okay. We're right here. You're safe - " She looked up, searching her beloved's eyes, and once again stopped in shock.
Red.
A bellowing hiss reminiscent of a crocodile wisped through the teeth of the beast. His shoulders still rose and fell, muscles tensed. He was clearly still feeling the pain of Ja’s breaths. Yet with Kassy’s cold hands over his, he didn’t move from where they were seated. His head was heavy. The claws that had ripped into the knees of his pants, and the skin beneath unlatched hesitantly for his arms to fall to the floor on his sides instead. His headbush slowly weaved and coiled around his head.
Though his eyes still brightly burned through, looking first at Kassy, then to Dinah. First her hand, which was outstretched and empty. Next, the woman herself, who sat with posture that was lower—smaller than his was. Her face was careful and non-offensive. Though with all that, he didn’t move to take her hand either, instead he winced at seemingly another pang of pain. The wild prince pressed half of his face into Kassy’s hands on his knees, scratching at the rug on the floor quietly.
“…amai…” Could be heard from a grumbled whisper; emotionally exhausted.
“Makes sense.” Canary commented softly to herself as he retracted her extended hand. Besides a single glance down at her tablet to confirm she could continue to use it, she looked upon the young man—she looked upon the stranger, studiously.
This identity… The timing of the transformation helped to solidify an idea as to the origin of this third boy.
“You must be the protector. It's nice to meet you.” She welcomed him, not with caution, but with a warmth accompanied by a polite smile. “Ja doesn't feel safe speaking about what happened to Iwisa, so… are you here to be a wall or the person who can speak about it?” She commented inquisitively while also hoping he'd be able to answer her.
Instead there were several long seconds of silence.
Kassy frowned subtly. She understood what Miss Dinah meant, and what she wanted to do. But maybe that was too large a question at the start.
Maybe they had to start smaller. She remembered their sudden and pitched battle, which seemed like years ago, somehow, despite it being barely 3 weeks. "Hi again." Soft, careful, her hands shifted to cup his cheeks. To comfort him, and protect him. "You remember me, right? Kassy." She smiled, remembering to hide her teeth. But the warmth would shine through in her voice. "What's your name?"
At first, his eyes seemed to be absently wandering the room. He heard Dinah’s voice but her words seemed to have no hold on his attention. Instead, the wild child came to focus on the sea daughter when she moved his head to look at him. He remembered that question but not necessarily what it meant.
“Name…?” He sank his legs to sit flat and thought for a moment. He thought about other words he knew. “Kassy…?” He tried, as if it were the answer to what she asked.
"No, I am Kassy." She pressed her hand against her heart. Then gestured with the same hand to their mentor. "There is Tenzi Dinah." Carefully, slowly, she let her palm rest against his chest. "What is your name?"
His face followed each of her gestures before he got the point. What was he called? He heard ‘urhirho’ before. He heard ‘Unyana’ before…but more than anything else he’d heard:
”Ki-la…Ja…Ro…” He tried to say it but it sounded a little off between the grumbling nature of his voice, as well as how words seemed to be foreign to his mouth.
"Yes! Kilamanjaro. Good!" They were getting somewhere. Though it would get a bit confusing - Kila and Ja were two different pieces of the boy she loved. Same heart, different eyes, same spirit, different names…
"Can I… can I call you just Ro?"
He was attentive when she said his name better. Though he blinked blankly when she said the familiar last sound. Remembering her gesture from earlier, he held her wrist with both of his hands and readjusted her palm to be outside of where his heart was.
”Ro.” Ro repeated and Dinah nodded in encouragement.
"Ro." Kassy echoed him, orange eyes as soft as sunlight. "You are home. Safe."
”Ro…home.” Ro knew that word, and hearing it made him nod his head. ”Kassy home…Tenzi…Tenzi home?” He looked at the blonde woman.
“Yes.” She nodded with a soft smile. “Tenzi is here. Tenzi is home.” She added as she was sure Ro used the term in a definitive fashion. “Ro has a family here,” she said as she pressed around on her tablet. Within a few seconds she had a candid photo of the current Team amongst each other in the lounge, likely taken by Red Tornado.
“See? Family. Team.” She turned the tablet over so he could see the photo.
Ro’s eyes scanned the picture, following a line between different people he recognized. It was them. He knew them. ”…mhuri…” He mumbled the word and nodded. Then he saw her in the picture.
”Kassy.” His eyes found her again outside of the picture and the burly boy leaned into her. Home. Safe.
Kassy hugged him tight without hesitation. He was so warm - almost feverish to her touch. "I'm here, Ro. And Tenzi is right. You're safe here, with our family."
September 27th, 2021 | 2:30 PM | Happy Harbor, Rhode Island
Daphne was doodling in her plant diary, enjoying the tranquility of nature around her. She drew little hearts and initials all over her notes, not fully aware of what she was actually doing. There was a dreamy look on her face, eyes sparkling with something special, something new and exciting.
A gentle murmur coming from a patch of daisies interrupted her musings. She paused the song that was playing through her phone and listened more carefully. They sounded distressed and Daphne could occasionally catch a word, but so far it wasn’t making much sense. She furrowed her brows. What was going on?
Daphne touched the grass next to her picnic blanket and closed her eyes. Breathe…. Her mind connected to the deep interconnected system of roots underneath the trees. They described what they were seeing several yards away. A predator….
She gasped and drew back her hand from the grass. The brunette teen immediately started to survey the surroundings.
Amidst her absent-mindedness while enjoying her picnic, it was clear that she hadn’t noticed how quiet the woods had gotten. Normally this forest made itself to be obviously filled with animal life as well; but right now the cicadas didn’t buzz, and the birds didn’t chirp. It was as if all the woodland creatures were holding their breath, hiding, waiting.
Instead, it was just a soft breeze rustling through the leaves of bushes and trees. During the moment she took to look around, it would initially appear that she was alone. Then, a single rustle of leaves in a treetop a little deeper in the woods revealed the contrary. The figure looked somewhat familiar from this distance, almost human but where its head would be, appeared to be nothing but a round bushlike shape.
It was climbing across a rather high branch and, in a movement too fluid to be just human, swung its body to leap to another branch— disappearing from sight.
Daphne narrowed her eyes. She kept her gaze trained on the treeline. An ominous feeling spread through her. It made her skin prickle and her stomach turn uncomfortably. She looked down at the plates, cups and other small containers with various food items, debating if she would leave them behind and make a run for it back to the HQ.
She got up from the grass and began to take a few slow steps backwards. Like she was in a stare down with something unseen. With each step the feeling of being unsafe intensified, to a point where she wanted to bolt back to Mount Justice.
Don’t be afraid….
Stay, don’t run…
We’ll keep you safe…
The voices of plants she couldn’t see started speaking to her. From underneath the grass glaucous patches of white, mauve and red flowers started to grow at an unnatural pace. They spread out in a broad circle around her. Most remained closed, but some bloomed revealing dark markings at the base. Opium Poppies.
While she was still deliberating, she’d find that it might have been too late. Despite having just seen it across the forest a few moments ago, only a slight sound indicated how close it had gotten so quickly. As silent as the night during the bright of the day, he had made it to a tree branch extending nearly just above her picnic setup.
Now, much closer though, she was able to see who it was more clearly. The umber mane of curls was a dead giveaway, even if they were hiding his face. With all the contention that surrounded his disappearance weeks ago, it may have initially been great to see him alive. However, further inspection would reveal that the scarlet light of his eyes pierced from within the shadows. His suit was worn and dirty, clearly weathered compared to how he normally maintained it.
The Red Beast, as Ja called it, perched calmly in the tree above; Watching. He could sense her fear, even from this distance. His nose twitched as he could sense a hint of what was below. Eyes roved over them. Sleeping flowers, freshly grown. Did she grow them?
Daphne barely recognized him, with his face obscured and his suit that looked like he’d been trudging through the wilderness for weeks. The image of Ja at the docks flashed in front of her before she pushed it to the back of her mind. She breathed slowly and tried to control her initial fear of him.
With every step she took towards him a flower opened, releasing their pollen into the air. She covered her mouth and nose with the cardigan that was wrapped around her shoulders.
What happened to him and where had he been all this time….?
As she slowly approached, a few moments passed before he lumbered down from the tree, crouching on all fours at the base. Despite the best efforts of the flower guardians, their pollen seemed to have no effect on him. If she noticed closely, darker lines appeared on his seemingly barely functional suit and seemed to shift to a pattern reminiscent to that of a caterpillar. Although her caution was clear, he allowed her to approach without making any sudden moves.
Daphne managed to safely maneuver through the poppy’s which were meant to protect her. She searched for any sign of Ja within the red glow of the force that seemed to possess him. The Green continued to whisper warnings to her but she ignored it. There was a slight grimace on her face at the effort it took to shut out their voices.
When her mind quieted down she searched for the right words to say. What if she couldn’t get through to him?
"Ja….? Is that you?
What she could see of his face was dry, and a little dirty. Near his eyes though was puffy, oddly in the way it would if someone were crying and rubbing their eyes. As she was first walking over, it was clear he was watching her, but his eyes were more clearly over at her picnic basket.
When the girl of the green said his name though, he perked up, turning his head to look up at her instead. His breathing was calm, but was clearly unsure of what to do while in her presence. Several sounds came from his lips, as if trying to speak, but it was mostly incomprehensible at first. After a few false starts, he decided to attempt to repeat what she said.
”J…aaaa…?” A familiar but growly rendition of her friend’s voice came from him.
Daphne’s heart jumped hopefully when she recognized a sliver of Ja and she clutched onto it fervently. Her hesitant smile grew more sure, brown eyes filled with warmth.
”Ja….that’s your name, that’s you…”
She signed for him to stay put and rushed back to her picnic set up. The poppy flowers were already starting to wilt just as rapidly as they’d sprouted. Daphne plucked a big blueberry muffin from the basket. This time she walked up right in front of him, only an arm’s length of distance left between them. She presented the sweet like a peace offering.
He initially leaned back when she ran off back to the picnic basket. The name jumbled around in his head. Ja…Him remember Flower say that. Him remember water and dark. Him remember Flower scared…Him was supposed to protect..- The poppies were dying away slowly. Why?
A new smell emerged that stole his focus. Fruit…food…His eyes followed her return with it. When she offered it to him, he stared at her for a moment. She was not mad or scared of him anymore…? She didn’t have to wait long for him to take it into both hands. Now this close, the smell was overwhelming to a stomach that hadn’t had people food in a while. So, he bit into it, wrapping liner and all until it was gone.
Daphne never got tired of Ja making food disappear in seconds. It was endearing and impressive at the same time. She smushed his cheeks with her hands, seeming to urge him to give up the muffin wrapper. Ja’s skin felt dry and rough. There were bumps and scratches under her fingertips when she caressed his cheeks.
”Why did you eat the wrapper silly, you’ll get a stomach ache later.” She said laughing. Although knowing Ja he could stomach nearly anything. He was one of the few people at the base who ate her failed dinners, breakfasts…..and well lunches too.
His eyes quickly switched wider, mildly startled when her hands first contacted his face. Though the longer the interaction seemed to go on, he got more comfortable with it. Despite the coaxing and questioning about the wrapping paper, she got tiger-like chuffs from him instead. She was not scared anymore, Flower was happy to see him. It made the hurt and anxiousness in his chest feel a little better.
In fact, the Prince of the Wild felt better enough, that he now became more curious about what she had left in the basket. His eyes shifted past her to it. His lips twitched a little as if he wanted to say something, but the concept of words seemed strange to his mouth. For a moment he blinked, trying to think of something. She said ‘Ja’ before, and when he said it back, Flower got him something from the basket. Maybe it would work again.? So, looking back at her, he pointed to the picnic setup.
”J-aaa?”
Daphne laughed, recognizing more of Ja’s behavior the longer she interacted with him.
”Yes Ja you can eat all of it.”.
They went back to the basket and Daphne flipped it open. There were small containers of pre-cut fruit, sandwiches, sweets and several kinds of leftovers from dinner. She’d packed way too much food, as per usual. Despite having been out here for a while all she ate was a handful of strawberries. Instead of eating she’d been listening to music and doodling in her diary.
The breeze had flicked the pages on the left side of her diary back and forth, but the pen forced the current right hand page to stay down. Daphne resumed her earlier position, face propped up with her one hand, using the other hand to draw flowers around the hearts which were already there.
’YesJa.’ Was all he needed to hear, and he followed her over to the basket with some excitement.
His nose twitched as he sniffed out each of the different things inside as she was pulling them out. With it all dumped out, he immediately went to work on the fruits and sweets. They were the quickest to eat, just in case he had to run.
”Kassy is going to be so happy to see you. When you’re done eating we should go back and surprise her.”
Amidst the food items being devoured and Flower’s drawing— Kassy. Her name roused him enough to pause eating altogether. He perked up and looked around. His nose and ears couldn’t find her. His headbush picked up no different movements.
”Kassy…?” His rumbling voice was softer when he repeated it. Upon not seeing her anywhere, his amber eyes turned back to Flower, his eyebrows sloped upward. There was longing in them.
Daphne stopped doodling when she heard Ja’s voice shift in tone. She closed her journal and sat up straight, facing Ja and his crumb covered cheeks. The way he searched for Kassy’s presence tugged at her heartstrings. Why were they still even out here? She should have been dragging him back to Kassy first thing.
Although bringing him home starved would for sure mean a pitstop in the kitchen and the pantry. So there would be time lost regardless. Daphne kneeled in front of Ja and wiped the crumbs from his cheeks gently.
”Do you want to go see Kassy?”
Understanding her question more by circumstance than by word, he slowly nodded his head. His eyes briefly surveyed the food, or perhaps what was left. A good amount of the things that weren’t in tupperware were consumed. Still he also knew well the law of the wild to never waste food. So those ones held in the little plastic things he hadn’t destroyed yet, as well as some of the half eaten food, the primal prince placed back into the basket to bring with them.
Daphne’s pace was leisurely but secretly she wanted to run back and find Kassy. Somewhere deep down she still had this nagging feeling of guilt, despite having it discussed at length with the Team during the debrief and even after. She felt she should have done more, should have been stronger. Maybe then this wouldn’t have happened to Ja and Kassy. Or maybe it still would have. Whatever the facts may be, her guilt didn’t care.
The wild child followed, carefully keeping pace with her. There was some excitement in his expression and body language. Being with Flower was good, and helped him feel better about his return. Getting back to Kassy would…— He froze, near the entrance to the mountain’s interior.
While staring up at the incline of rock and dirt, he remembered what happened when he escaped; What he had seen. Even though she did not come around here a lot, going by his memory, the hurt inside made him hesitate to move forward.
Daphne glanced back over her shoulder noticing Ja’s hesitation. She gently squeezed his arm, linking them together by the elbows.
”It’s okay, it’s safe here. Everyone missed you a lot, so don’t be scared. We’ll go back together.”
For a moment longer, he didn’t budge. Half of him wanted to retreat back to the safety of the forest…but looking back down at Flower, he understood that his pack lived in there. It should be safe in there if they were there…right?
September 17th, 2021 | 16:50pm. | Happy Harbor, Rhode Island
The Knight was silent when Zatara and Mirage’s initial additions, and the response offered was a single nod.
”I see. This individual will definitely be accounted for during further missions upon further investigation on what was happening at that plant. Thank you for your analysis, Zatara. As for Mirage, I’m sure that could be arranged, I will corroborate with Black Canary and Red Tornado to arrange for more aid in that area.”
It seemed that as soon as his breath had finished, Quiver had exploded with words. All the while through his grievances, Batman kept an even expression. When it seemed that the younger man was done dealing out all his frustrations, the older one calmly divulged despite the younger’s attempt to push. Then he watched on for a moment longer as the group’s emotions unfurled around this situation. While everyone clearly had their own points, it was getting out of hand.
”Enough! All of you!”
The voice of the Bat boomed through the monitor’s speakers, with Cora’s inherent interference causing an unintended echo. In the following silence, Red Tornado now at the table across from the monitor and raised his hand.
”If I may, as their caretaker, I will accept this flaw as I have chosen not to burden them all with incomplete information. It is clear that some confusion, skepticism, and tension has formed in the wake of a full explanation of Metamorph’s condition. However, seeing as it has all come to a head over recent months, I believe it is time we shared some of what we know to aid with easing their concerns.
Firstly in regard to how dangerous Metamorph is: The reality is that everyone’s threat level was assessed prior to their selection on the team. That level does not remain static as time goes on and circumstances change, as the members of the Young Justice Initiative are people. As people, their volatility is prone to change over time, especially during their youth. The purpose of this initiative is to aid young people with superhuman capabilities. For some of you with more troubled upbringings, it is also to have a second chance; to use your skills and abilities for the betterment of yourself and others.
For Metamorph, the circumstances are all the more unique. As I am sure some of you have deduced for yourselves, Metamorph suffers from both Dissociative Identity Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder respectively. Although not all who have DID are equal in manifestation, a common persona that may develop is one that acts as a guardian to protect the others. In the assessment of him during the course of this year, as well as some prior reports from Vixen, this third alter of his did not front as often the two you all have already met.
It was a variable that we did not and do not have a complete understanding of. Being that his record of activity prior did not incur fatal action towards innocents or his team members, we decided to simply monitor on a week to week basis. We believed that it was only when under circumstances that could alarm his PTSD, that this ‘Red Beast’ persona could appear. However, it has been recently uncovered that a trigger is at play to set off this particularly animalistic side of Metamorph.”
Batman could be heard pressing keys that adjusted the screen to shrink his image and display a graphic containing schematics of one of the sonic-guns used by the bank robbers.
”As you can see, the sonic gun used in Star City has several settings for how it fires. While the most prominent was to project sound into a concussive force, another setting seemed to be catered to releasing a specifically high frequency noise. This frequency, when discharged, is too high for the average human to hear.
After the rampage at the bank, I assigned your team to the mission here in Gotham to observe for myself how Metamorph behaved in the field, via a drone as well as to isolate any potential variables. What I didn’t anticipate was for the drone to pick up this same audio frequency. This should not be possible, given the circumstances of the mission, neither of the gangs involved had access to such technology.
Regardless, by the time I managed to get to the scene, the damage had already been done…An apology does not heal Quiver or Talos’ scars, but an attempt to prevent any further injury became the priority.”
Another momentary crack in his stoicism came through a sighed grimace. Where Batman stopped, Red Tornado continued.
“You are all well aware that after the incident at the docks, Metamorph was intended to be off of the mission for that purpose. We had given him the benefit of the doubt when he left the base. A tracking bracelet was placed on his wrist so that I could monitor his movement. Yet, the signal remains on the east coast of Florida, even now after you have all returned.”
The screen changed again to show the others a live map of florida, showing a red blip near south east florida.
“Clearly it was discarded when he decided, as Rain has detailed, to warn of you a trap he deciphered. While well intentioned, the lack of communication with us led to Metamorph himself falling into the exact situation he attempted to warn against.”
”None of you are to blame for his lack of trust in us. This debriefing was never intended for you to apologize for what was out of your hands. He is none of your sole responsibility. Leave it to us to find him again. In the meanwhile, everyone, keep your emotions in check. We will keep you all updated as the situation develops as necessary. For now, get some rest. Batman out.”
Interactions | Rain AKA @FunnyGuy, The Team Location | Everglades National Park, Florida
Kilamanjaro was conflicted.
At first, it was while he was still fighting. While dodging fire and attacking their opponents. Between the pieces of action, there were small snapshots of training camps and facilities. The unsettling feeling that the few uncovered faces Kila caught glimpses of looked vaguely familiar. People he might have served with once, now with weapons aimed at him. Though, really, it only now served him not to hold back his blows, knowing their training. The hunger instilled in soldiers in training.
He’d originally convinced himself that he just needed to hold out a little longer. Keep them occupied long enough to make sure everyone was accounted for and their escape plan was assured. That as soon as the team was fully regrouped, they just needed to run. They could contact the Justice League to repel Buredunia’s efforts to capture them.
When Iceburn, Rain, and the others made their way out, Metamorph had been making his way nearer. Though, that was when an eerily familiar voice came in from his team comm system. Kila hadn’t heard that voice for years. However, the fear of that voice from childhood briefly resurfaced in his eyes. The Red Lion had employed Deathstroke before. The lingering feeling of something being amiss proved true when The Meta turned his head upward to the Terminator clutching the little flower.
However, the terminator alone wasn’t what instilled such a fear in the ever courageous young lion. It was the ultimatum given. They weren’t here for his team, like he’d thought. They just wanted him. It was now that he felt his true ignorance. This was a trap for him, because of his own sense of duty to his team; his new family. Part of him always knew that BSF would always try to get him back…When he was with the team, he always had the confidence that even if they came, they’d work together to fight them off.
Now he debated if he arrived too late or if he should have never arrived at all. Should he have sent a message Red Tornado or Black Canary what he theorized? Should he have informed them where he was actually going after he left? Maybe then they’d meet him here, even if only to attempt to stop him, they’d be close enough to help the team if he couldn’t be there. Then…perhaps Nymph— Daphne, wouldn’t be in this situation. Kila should have listened. He should have stayed benched…
When hearing Rain’s voice, suggesting to come to his position, Kila had one thought. The young lion didn’t even consider jeopardizing Daphne’s life in an attempt to fight for his own freedom. It was ultimately his punishment for the foolish risk he took. Moments of his time with the team, old members and new, flashed through his memory with every footstep.
Kila had just confessed his heart to Kassy a day ago. Maybe it was his own fault for thinking he had a chance to truly escape his captors. To find a life and love of his own. He pulled off his Metamorph mask and held it in his hands. It shook slightly in his hands shook as he walked, but he dared not dip his head. It wouldn’t be forever. He swore it.
”I’ll come quietly. Just…” He called aloud, as surely Deathstroke could hear him. Kila eyed Rain before he tossed the mask to the ground and looked up to where the mercenary was.
Interactions | Talos AKA @Daxam, The Team Location | Everglades National Park, Florida
Talos had done well in repelling the men from taking Cora initially. However, the rest of the team hadn’t quite arrived outside yet, and reinforcements were quick to the scene. Though, before more soldiers could properly encircle the duo, someone else had interrupted. A hunter that knew this prey well, their strategic positions and patterns of attack. Before this, he’d taken out some of the ones in the shadows and shrubbery first. The young lion didn’t expect to find their field leader, but he did take one of their comm-links to keep an ear out.
So far, they’d relayed the information that the ‘Zeta squad’ on the inside had been defeated by Young Justice. On hearing that specific term, it further confirmed his suspicions. Zeta-class teams were typically Buredunian prisoners given only basic training as their only use was to be decoys. They were trying to split the team up to take them in smaller groups. The Meta wouldn’t allow this.
Thus, as a tiring Talos had grown an extra pair of hands, Metamorph knocked out the soldier he’d been talking to. He didn’t stop there, flipping and weaving through gunfire to kick another. Agile, but with focused power, like a leopard. Kila remembered to be wary of the sound gun from the Star city bank mission. It took time, but the last he remembered before being knocked out was that the criminals wielded them as well.
The difference he noticed here though, were the Red arm-bands. It signaled that they were Epsilon, low level soldiers. Capable but somewhat unexpected for Kila to see. Surely they didn’t think sending these particular units would be enough to capture teens being trained by the Justice League. Even the metas they’d enlisted were bested by their newer team members. Something was off. More immediately, something felt wrong. Was it his red senses? What were they trying to tell him? Could it…?
”Grab Stormcaller, we need to regroup with the others.” Kila admonished Talos before throwing a hand up to his ear for the team comms.
September 17th, 2021 | 15:00 PM | Everglades National Park, Florida
“Retrieve the lightning bug. She should be a good addition when reducated right.”
The man of smoke instructed as he watched the battlefield from a nearby tree, hidden among the foliage with thermal binoculars. As soon as the command was uttered, the bubble on Stormcaller dissipated. While the rest of the team was occupied with their own battles and locations, the soldiers with red armbands moved on toward the burnt-out heroine’s body. They shot a flame-retardant net around her that they could pull on a cable to transport her without being too close.
“Already on it, sir. However, the others will surely be outside to provide resistance soon. Is it time to call in the big gun?”
“Not yet, the right moment will present itself shortly. Something tells me that we will soon be met with an old friend…”
Kila knew of and experienced the strange phenomenon that a person isn’t always able to recognize their own voice over a recording. It was often described as though hearing another person entirely. However, when Viktor showed him the recording taken apparently only a few days ago, the young lion almost didn’t believe it. It was his own voice essentially explaining to him that he…or they, rather, had DID. It was hard to say that the news was a complete surprise, he’d had his own suspicions. Though, his thoughts were more to the idea that he simply had a side to him that was more instinctive in nature.
The one that introduced himself as “Ja”, his…their childhood nickname, wasn’t merely a persona that represented animalistic instincts. It was as though listening to another version of himself, oddly enough. Yet, Kila didn’t recall saying those words. The tone and pattern of voice used seemed different to his own, instead being almost childlike. The sheer lack of knowledge shook Kila to the core. Enough so that, he apparently passed out, and ended up waking up in Kassy’s arms in the medbay later.
There were too many questions regarding his past as it was. This revelation could possibly fill in some blanks, but added more questions. If his team could put this together, who else knew? It felt initially impossible to believe that BSF, the Justice League…That his own Mother, didn’t know what was going on with him. Why was he the last to know? A sense of betrayal from his superiors piqued through him.
Before he could talk to Viktor and Kassy about it more, duty called, and Kila was still held off from hero work. It left him with only his thoughts now, which he now called into question.
Maybe his Amai didn’t know. From what she’d explained, he was taken by them when he was too young to remember. But with how they’d treated him in Buredunia, President Bland definitely knew about it. Did they cause his condition? Was it intentional?
Iwisa…the person who knew him best. The mother that gave her life for him…would tell him that sitting in his own mind for too long would eat him alive. To put his anxieties and energy to work by doing something more productive.
Kila had looked at her gauntlets in his room that he tried his utmost to keep in their best condition…and he noticed something. Something that made his stomach fall to his shoes. He didn’t know when it got there— whether it was via a mission taken by his alternate in Ja or this Red Beast, but there was a tracker on the right gauntlet. A tracker that the Meta himself had onced used in Buredunia.
They’d been tracking him. For how long, he wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t have been before recently with all these recent spells of memory loss. Which all started with the mission when he woke up in the middle of battle…in Kassy’s arms. The mission in Arizona! They were hunting children that day and using the girl to do it. They were trying to bring them all in. Damnit!
They’d nearly succeeded then. It took all of them working together, and even then half of their team was incapacitated by the end. The other missions since then, going by the reports, were likely feeling out what they were capable of, since they got new members. The team still had no idea how all these things were connected. Meanwhile, They would be prepared this time. This mission was a trap!
Initially his thoughts went to inform Red Tornado, or Tenzi Dinah…someone…but ultimately, he decided against it. Trying to explain all of this would have just likely come across as him trying to make up a reason to be involved. They’d patronize him and it’d be no use.
So, he’d taken a zeta tube to Fort Lauderdale. After everything that happened, he was trying to get his mind off of things. He’d heard about how the Florida beaches were nice and wanted to check them out. While he was there, he ended up taking an air tour…Thankfully it was a private tour.
One that he’d booked before he left. That way it wouldn’t cause much of a scene when he jumped out of the aircraft passing over the everglades. Then once on the ground level, he’d used the team comm’s tracking system to pinpoint their whereabouts…
All of which led him to the current moment. Through the sounds of specialized weapons, supernatural abilities, people yelling, and a blinding light of an electrical explosion— A new but familiar voice entered the comms.
”Team, you need to get out! This mission is a trap! I repeat, this mission is a trap!”
You can call me DC.
Been roleplaying about 9+ years now. Trying different websites out to see what happens, so, if I happen to have encountered you before, don't be afraid to give a shout out.
I work nights and am usually up for most hours of the day. Because of that, I'm often running on no sleep, so that's a thing.
Want to know more? Just ask.
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">You can call me DC.<br><br>Been roleplaying about 9+ years now. Trying different websites out to see what happens, so, if I happen to have encountered you before, don't be afraid to give a shout out.<br><br>I work nights and am usually up for most hours of the day. Because of that, I'm often running on no sleep, so that's a thing. <br><br>Want to know more? Just ask.</div>
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