freedomliveson

I am the fire(Cataleya/Freedom)

Cool beans! Looking forward to it :)

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

Cool beans! I'll be sure to do those things when I'm there :)

The being careful part especially xD

No worries!

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

Atlanta! Always wanted to visit. What would one do in Atlanta tourist wise?

I am the fire(Cataleya/Freedom)

Yay for getting started!

I am the fire(Cataleya/Freedom)

Clark adjusted his glasses once more as he read an article yet again on the turf war that was enveloping Gotham City. At this rate, all he could was snort out a brief laugh as he leaned back in the beige leather chair that occupied his office. It was a wonder that gangs could thrive at all in Gotham with Bruce AND Dick on the prowl, let alone Tim beginning to fly solo on his own adventures. Of course, he knew that the generic criminal mind was bent in a singular, monotonous direction and would never stray the course. How else could one explain the crime in Metropolis? He and Kara could topple an entire planet if they needed to, yet the criminals emerged out of the woodwork every other day to try and claim their supposed "stake" of the city. It was a frustrating endeavor, but one he would never give up on...not after she made him promise.

It was cancer. Of all the things in the world that she could've gotten herself tangled up in, it was cancer. Brain cancer, in fact. It was a morbid shock to hear the oncologist say how "rare it was for such a healthy woman to develop a terminal stage of cancer so quickly". He couldn't save her from this, no matter what he did. From the time she was diagnosed, it only took one month for the tumor to take her life, but not before she could tell him something that would resonate with him for the rest of his life. She was laying in the hospital bed, muscles limp and tired when all of a sudden she grabbed his hand, squeezed it as tight as she could and looked deep into his being with her piercing hazel eyes and told him:
"Don't you ever give up on this city, Clark. Please. For me." He assured her he wouldn't, but she made him promise. That singular oath bound him to forever protecting a city that might never purge itself of crime. But while he was still breathing, he could try and make Metropolis a place where others could carve out a place for themselves without living in fear.

A smirk played across his lips as he turned off the monitor, rising before walking out of the office and into the living room, noting that the island in the kitchen to his right had a bag filled with tacos with a post-it note that simply read:

Eat up, couz! Love, Kara

Complying with the directive of the note, Clark walked to the island and was about to delve into the bag when his ears picked up a faint tremor. The tremor increased in magnitude, then shouting...crackling...

"Let's go! Empty the money into the sacks!"

He shook his head, laying his glasses on the counter as he walked out of his apartment calmly, locking it behind him. He ascended to the roof through the fire escape, suit and tie shedding off of his body to reveal the trademark red and blue uniform that represented everything he stood for. He careened through the air, following the source of the tremor and swooped downward towards the Federal Reserve of Metropolis, two goons with machine guns outside the entrance. Superman landed a few feet in front of them and instructed them:
"Either you can put the guns down and turn yourselves in or I throw you through the nearest wall. Your choice." The goons looked at each other before unloading their clips on the man of steel, the hero sighing as he grabbed one of the henchmen and slammed him into the ground. The other henchmen took off.
"Figures." He looked down at the now unconscious goon.
"You need to pick better friends."

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

"That's extremely gracious of you...really, it is. We'll make sure to deliver the news personally. If it wouldn't be too much of a burden, however, we would greatly appreciate having a scout or two to guide us back to the border of Manhattan. We'll need the added protection." Avery nodded, whisps of her gray hair fluttering as she responded:
"That is a fair request. We will send two of our best to help you navigate the path back along with some supplies that will hopefully catch the attention of your leaders. We have much to offer, as you know, and if your people are as resourceful as I believe they are, I believe we would be amiss to not join forces. These are dark times, Justin. We all need each other to survive." Although Justin agreed with the sentiment, the tone in which she delivered her last statement could have been perceived as veiled foreboding. Maybe he was being paranoid, but the seed had already been planted. Was there some kind of ulterior motive behind her merging? Was this settlement a way to coax other growing settlements to their cause only to envelop them in servitude? The scout mentally shook the thoughts away, fully aware that he should be grateful that he wasn't being served up as a steak to the cannibals they had just escaped.
"Please, return soon. Much hinges on this decision."
"Of course. We'll plan to be back within the week."
"Be safe on your journeys, the both of you."

And safe it was, although it was a tad encumbered by the weight of the gifts Avery sent with them. Justin's old pack had to be swapped out with a new, larger rucksack that he could sling across his shoulder. It contained blueberries, apples, peaches, cucumbers and other bits of produce that made Justin's mouth salivate with the expectation. Of course, that expectation was met with reality when he was able to sample a peach for himself...then another. Real food! He couldn't stop talking about it to both Cam and the scouts, the latter nearly splitting their respective sides with laughter at Justin's childlike enthusiasm("WHO KNEW PEACHES COULD TASTE THIS GOOD?!?!?"). They were led to the border of the city where he and Cam's journey had begun just a few days ago, where Justin took over for guidance. It was about mid-afternoon when they arrived to the thick, concrete walls of Omega's protective barrier, some of the carnage from a few days still in place. Chunks of the wall littered the ground as they walked through the main gate, men and women dragging stretchers with covered bodies that Justin could only assume were recent deaths from those mortally wounded. Most of the settlement had been cleaned up, however, including central command. Boards covered the windows that had been shot out and the interior hallways were now being filled with caulk by some of the younger men who were beginning to learn the trade of construction. Justin found the remaining members of the council in the same meeting area discussing something quietly. Ryken was the first to rise from his chair, a glowing smile on his face.
"Good to see you're both alive...yet so soon?" His smile disappeared.
"Well, we've got some news for you that may...change everything." Justin recounted their adventures and ended with Avery's offer. June instantly chimed in after Justin said his last word:
"Well we do it, right? They've got access to actual food, shelter, water...so what if we spare a few men to go up to Portland? I'll go if that's what it takes!"
"I'm a bit...unsettled by how quickly she wanted to offer a partnership." Ryken rubbed some of the silvery scruff on his face, looking to Cameron as he asked:
"What do you think?"

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

Texas...and it's been far too long xD

Anyway, headed off for the day. Catch you on tomorrow :)

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

Florida, eh? You might enjoy these if you haven't seem them already:

imgur.com/gallery/bggY9

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

So wait, does that mean you're an east coaster? If so, I feel you. I grew up in NYC, so I remember the brutal winters and general east coast attitude...and I pity you xD

Promises left on the sand(megatrash/freedom)

We are, too! We're trying to move out to Washington state. My wife has family out there and hot diggity it's gorgeous xD