2010-02-05 - Back In The Big Leagues
From JLU MUX
| The information contained within this log is to be considered information gained Out of Character (OOC) . This information may not be used as In Character (IC) knowledge or in roleplay unless it has been learned in-game or permission has been granted by the parties involved. Questions should be directed to staff. |
| Back In The Big Leagues | |||
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| Summary: A group of Justice League members discuss the need to revitalize the team. | |||
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Zatanna Zatara has not been on the Watchtower in a while. Which is probably for the best, as The Atom says everyone who's been up there recently was maybe contaminated by a horrible alien bacterium or something. She isn't really sure what he meant; science is not her thing. Anyway, she is up here in her top hat and tails because, by gum, she has vowed to be more of an active League presence these days. Something about positive female role models bla bla bla.
At the moment, she is sitting and talking to Gypsy. "So then I said to Flash, you know, I don't even know who that guy with the shield is. And that's when I realized I need to spend more time up here, you know? You kids need to see us leading more. It's no good for us to just leave you to your own devices when you're all so new to heroing and we've had so much drama the last year." As Zatanna says this, Wonder Woman is leading a group out out of the wing containing the training simulators. Vibe, Anima, Argent, Bumblebee, Mas y Menos, Risk, Empress, and Phantasm follow the Amazon Princess as she walks -- and as she walks, she talks.
"--brought you here for that session because we in the Justice League feel that it's important to take an active role in not only the leadership of the heroic community, but in providing the tools and skills you need to lead yourselves. It's not about controlling you or regulating you, it's about making sure that you can use your power responsibly -- that when you go into battle, you're /thinking/. A hero -- or heroine -- who uses their brain is one that's a lot less likely to come back in a body bag. All right, children. Thank you for this -- I learned as much from you as I hope you did from me. Be well, and be safe." Wonder Woman then repeats this, in Spanish, for the benefit of Mas y Menos.
The group begins filtering off toward the teleporters, murmuring amongst themselves, and Wonder Woman notices the two brunettes off to one side. "Ah! Zatanna! Gypsy!" she says cheerfully, with a dignified and firm wave.
Obsidian has not really been back up to the WatchTower much either. Sure, he has been helping the League and heroing again but he hasn't felt ready enough to be around so many others again until now. He was just walking through the halls slowly when he saw Vibe up ahead and hid in his 2D form until he passed. Returning to 3D he starts to come around the corner until he hears Wonder Woman mention Gypsy. And Obsidian quickly ducks back around the corner to hide. Maybe coming back up here wasn't such a good idea. How do you say 'Sorry I turned you into a shadow possessed minion of darkness and used you to try to engulf the world in never ending night' anyway?
Ray came up to the Watchtower to raid the food supply, hey a guy can only eat so much chicken, when they're not the Flash that is. So he walks through, and spots the ladies, particularly a fishnet clad lady, what is it with him and ladies in fishnets? He rushes over to the lady, and well shows the fanboyish nature of him, "Oh my god, you're Zatanna! DidYouGetAllThoseLettersISentYou? DidYou?" He says all at one time. Then he notices the other ladies around, "Oh sorry for interrupting." Said rather sheepishly, of course.
Slinking around the corner is the Blue Beetle. He definitely isn't walking the way he usually is when his buddy is around. In fact, he looks darn right depressed. He's tapping away at some sort of handheld computer console, sort of like an iPad, only blue and useful. When he notices the other Leaguers, he makes a sort of bored farty-sound with his lips and angles his mopey self over to them. A blue beetle-shaped robot, like a Battle Bot, comes zipping along after him, accepting the computer pad onto its back as Ted bends down to set it there. "Hey, guys. Hey."
Cassie, simply, is here. One could easily assume that it is because she was doing something with Wonder Woman, but the direction she comes from, and where our younger heroine comes from are two completely different areas. See, she's actually right -there- when Obsidian comes leaping back around the corner, a hand on the pocket of her star spangled jeans, and the other holding an ice cream cone with three scoops, one choco chip, one double choco chip, and a vanilla.
She blinks a couple of times, for you see it was some time ago, but she and Obsidian had certainly met before. Her jaw drops, and hand comes out of her pocket to point to the man, and exclaim quite loudly, "HEY!! I remember you! You got a lucky shot last time!"
"Diana," Zatanna says, with all the enthusiasm of someone who has just discovered that their papier mache diorama book report for third grade art class has been upstaged by a diorama ten times its size with working doors and windows. And like, solar-powered light fixtures or something. She watches Diana's little students file out and then looks at Gypsy. Then back to Diana. "It's been a while. How are you doing?" The sorceress is trying not to sniff the Amazon for telltale Batman scents.
All she'd smell was Empress' sweat, anyway. That girl sweats like a pig when she wrestles.
"I'm well," Diana says, but her tone is already distracted as she doesn't even look at Zatanna to reply. Instead, her gaze fixes on the very blue Blue Beetle, lips forming a small frown as she considers the man's state. "Hold on a moment, please. I think I need to speak to Blue Beetle." Not inviting anyone else's participation, Diana strides over toward the glum inventor and gives him a hug.
A hug from Wonder Woman.
"Are you all right, Ted?" she murmurs quietly during the embrace, which only lasts a moment, if that -- although the woman's strength is perhaps evident without really trying. After it ends, she rests a hand on the man's blue shoulder. "If you need to go somewhere and talk," she continues, still quietly, "I'm here for you. Okay?" She seems completely disinterested in the state of affairs of the rest of the room until she ascertains Ted's status.
Obsidian leaned slightly around the corner to peer at the assembled heroes because he heard Blue Beetle. He liked Blue Beetle. It was then that it clicked that someone was right there. The weaver of ShadowLands looks to Cassie and cringe. He freezes, hoping she'll just walk past him. He's not so lucky. "You...uh...remember me?" he asks, looking around as if searching for help. Where's Speedy when you need him? Cassie has disconnected.
Ray takes the silence as a no about the letters, just keeps his head hung down. Then he spots the nice Beetle guy, but it seems Wonder Woman already has that covered. Good thing, maybe now isn't the best time to ask the guy for money. So the nice kid does what every kid does when they're unsure of what to do now, just stand there, and pretend to be invisible.
Zatanna just stares after Diana with a vague air of 'did she just dismiss me' -- her eyeline takes her to Ray, and she snaps out of her rivalry reverie. "Oh! Uh, hi. I get a lot of letters, but I mean, I probably did get yours. Were you the guy who wanted to rip my old stockings with his teeth? I got a lot of those. It was kind of weird." Gypsy shifts, uncomfortably, between her bare feet. Zatanna shrugs a little. "I... you're Ray, right? I met your... dad, once? Whoever was The Ray before you. It's uh, nice to meet you! I'm trying to be around the Watchtower more, it's been kind of dead up here since Superman ripped his face off."
A beat. "You know. Uh, the robot one."
Still off to the side talking to Ted, Diana glances over at the mention of Superman ripping his face off, with the sort of look in her eyes like 'Yeah, real classy.' Her attention then returns to consoling her bereaved ally.
Ray shifts a little uncomfortable, "Uhm no. I would never write anything like that. Mainly they were just stuff that happened to me that day, you know, like the life of a hero and all that." Now Zatanna put the thoughts of ripping off stockings in his head, trouble. "Yeah that guy was my dad, kinda I guess. But he's still the Ray as well, he works with the Freedom Fighters still." Biological father maybe, but not a dad yet. "And really you'll be up here more, well that'll be great to have around."
"Well I just think it's probably best to, you know, be here. It's no good to anyone if we're a team in name only, you know? Like, we all should spend more time together." Zatanna looks at Diana, and does her very best to continue to smile. "I mean, I guess. It makes sense to me, at any rate. It's been too long since it really felt like a team up here."
With Ted reasonably consoled, or something, Diana filters back over toward the group, running a hand back over her hair to smooth it. Naturally, the barest sweep of her palm renders her hairstyle flawless. It is a Princess Skill. "I can't say I haven't noticed the same feeling prevalent in the atmosphere here," she notes, with the sort of authoritative tone that implies that if it comes from Diana, it's clearly true.
"Well it'll be great to have you up here some more." Cause hey more hot women on the Watchtower the better, eventually Ray will find one that likes fast food workers. "But I agree, we should have more time together, yes very good there. Oh and if you ever want a good tan for one of your shows, let me know I can help you with that."
"I, uh. Thanks, but I try to avoid tanning too much. It's bad for your skin," Zatanna says, delicately, to Ray. She looks to Diana, then. "I just think it's something worth working on. I was talking to The Flash about it, he agreed with me that we've all been pretty splintered lately, since the trip to Apokolips."
Diana stands next to Zatanna and folds her arms. By divine coincidence, this is the same moment as the comment about tanning.
Diana is, like, bronzed.
"Mm," Wonder Woman says, nodding in agreement. "Many of us have had our own concerns, as well. Perhaps the approach we should be taking is to try and encourage... dealing with these concerns with the aid and assistance of our teammates, rather than flying solo."
Having escaped Wonder Woman's scary little sidekick, Obsidian rises out of Zatanna's shadow. "Crazy blond teenagers..." he trails off.. Then he realizes he's right by the others. Turning quickly, he offers an awkward wave. "Uhh...hi."
Ray nods at Zatanna, "I understand, but hey if you ever change your mind the offer still stands." Then he spots Obsidian, oh he still remembers the guy going and evil and making them fight teamates, he does just do a quick nod towards the guy. "Miss Wonder Woman, the offer goes for you as well."
The topic of conversation is secondary to Liberty Belle's interest: it's the presence of some semi-familiar costumes that catches her eye. Her boot-heels clicking against the metal flooring, she turns away from the hangar to head for the little grouping, eyebrows arching over her mask as she catches the tail end of Diana's comment. "Ray," she greets, the amused quirk at the corners of her mouth brightening to a smile for a moment. "How would you suggest changing the... hmm, line of separation between personal concerns and those we could ask our teammates about?" she asks of Wonder Woman. "Some of us tend to be a little overprotective of certain areas."
"Yeah, I was telling Flash I tend to just mind my own business unless someone comes to me directly with a magical problem, you know? But I mean, when I think about it, there's no reason to limit myself to that necessarily." Zatanna shrugs a little. "I mean, my powers don't only work on magical problems. I don't know, I think we need more proactive stuff going on."
"It's not something that can be really dictated by any of us, Liberty Belle," Wonder Woman says, tactfully ignoring Ray's comment about tanning her, "but rather by all of us. Just the knowledge that we /can/ be here for one another is, I would say, enough to get the ball rolling. Some people will... well, some people will be the Question or the Huntress no matter what. But I don't say that to slight them, simply to point out the variety of personalities at play here. We are none of us the same, so all we can do is let each other know we're open to the bridge-building process, so to speak." Diana uses smooth, unaffected hand gestures throughout, like a professional speaker. It's unobtrusive but emphatic. "After all, that was the idea of opening up the Justice League to... well, all of you," Wonder Woman says, seeming a bit bashful at the distinction of being the only founder present. But not too bashful. "To do just that -- to pool our resources, to support each other. The Justice League is no mere army. We're a family, but only as much of one as each member is willing to make it."
Obsidian nods back to Ray and shifts uncomfortably. Thankfully, Liberty Belle appears. Hopefully she can save him if things go horribly wrong. He listens to what Wonder Woman says, pushing his cape behind. It makes sense. "I think Wonder Woman's right," he speaks up. "I mean...isn't what happned with me arguement enough to be more open and supportive of one another?"
"Hi Libby." Ray says, then just stays silent now, cause well the smart adults are talking, and Ray does feel out of place now, well okay now kid can stay silent for long, "Well having more diverse group of people is always a good idea, never know when you'll need a certain powerset."
"Obsidian!" Liberty Belle places a hand on one hip, above the flare of her jodhpurs, and tilts her head questioningly at the shadow-weaver. "'Crazy blonde teenagers'...? I can think of a few of those, but do we want to know just who you ran into?" There's humor behind the words before being diverted back to the conversation at hand. "I've never thought of the League as that close of a team, with the exception of the core members," she says with calm honesty, one gloved hand extended, palm-upwards, in Wonder Woman's direction in almost-apology. "It /could/ be a great deal tighter, in terms of organization and familiarity, but the sheer size--" That hand sweeps around to indicate the Watchtower and its attendant staff. "--makes it difficult. So you're right, Zatanna, that we /should/ be up here more." There's another smile. "I don't think games night is exactly what you have in mind, though."
Pause. "... I am never going to get used to that," she murmurs, with a quick glance at Ray. "I keep expecting... well." She shrugs. "Someone else."
"Not exactly," Zatanna says to Liberty Belle, "but it couldn't hurt. I don't know. I mean my experience with team-building is mostly with theatre troupes, but that kind of bonding exercise can actually be pretty helpful sometimes." She gives Diana the eye for a moment, and finally seems to relax in the Amazon's presence for the first time this evening. "I think it absolutely -should- be that way, Princess, so I'm willing to work toward that however I can."
Diana folds her arms as she listens to the other Leaguers, and a small smile crosses her lips. "I'm glad that you all feel the same -- or that, for all of our different approaches and sensibilities, we all seem to desire the same end result." She glances over one shoulder. "Speaking of blonde teens, though, I was supposed to meet Wonder Girl around here -- I wonder where she's gotten off to. You'll all have to excuse me -- we all know how dangerous it can be to leave one's sidekick unattended." A broader smile. "Joking. Only joking. I'll see you all around. Be well."
With that, Diana turns and exits, occasionally glancing at the floor to see if she can pick up a trail of cookie crumbs.
Obsidian offers a small wave to Liberty Belle. He glances at Wonder Woman as she goes and then nods. "It was Wonder Girl. PRetty sure she was about to attack me," he answers once the Amazon princes is out of ear shot.
Ray looks at Libby, "Huh sorry I kinda zoned out for a second. Uhm get used to what?" Hey at least he manages to talk around the women, instead of saying stupid stuff. "But we can try and find ways to work together some more I guess. Heck I've been a member of the League for a while and there are still people I don't know around here."
"The League seems to unite best when there's a serious threat -- be it alternate-dimension Founders, or Mordru menacing Metropolis, or such things -- but splits apart-" Liberty Belle's fingers splay, illustrating this, "-when there's no reason. And that Apokolips mission..." Her expression darkens slightly. "... that fractured a lot more, I think." She gives Ray a bemused look. "I keep expecting my mother when someone calls for 'Libby'." Thankfully, there's not much of a secret anymore where Libby Lawrence's ID is concerned. "Speaking of, Ray, Obsidian, do you two know one another?" There's something amusing in the thought of light and darkness meeting, judging by the gleam of amusement behind her mask.
"It's something to work on. I think it's an experiment worth furthering." Zatanna looks to Gypsy, then, who has been waiting patiently. "Oh, sorry hon. I totally forgot." With a little wave to the others, she starts to leave for the residential area -- Gypsy in tow. "I promise I'd teach Gypsy a few small charms while I was here. You guys stay safe, all right?"
Obsidian blinks a few times and look to Ray. "Not very well," he admits. "In the past...I've sort of purposely avoided you, Ray. Dr. Light as wel because of your powers," he says. "Sorry," he pauses. "Good bye, Zatanna."
"Oh I know what you mean by that one, considering my dad is also The Ray. It does take some getting used to, doesn't it." He looks at Obsidian, "Yeah haven't interacted much with him, but that I do understand." Hey they only really met when Obsi attacked the Metro tower. "Bye, Zatanna. I'll make sure to write you some more letters."
"Take care, Zatanna," Liberty Belle calls after the magician. "And Gypsy." Leaning against a wall, she folds her arms over her chest and regards the two, fighting back a smile. "I guess you might not have all that much in common. It just interested me to realize... anyway." She waves that consideration off. "Letters, though, Ray? To Zatanna?" Her gaze flicks to where the magician is heading off with Gypsy. "Dare I ask?" Poor guy.
"I'll try to answer them, this time!" Zatanna calls over her shoulder as she departs, barefooted urchin superteen in tow.
Obsidian goes quiet, just listrning for now. Once again, the weaver of the ShadowLands lets his cape settle around him.
Ray blushes at that one, "What she's a great magician, and I was fan. So used to write letters to her. You know there isn't a whole lot to do when you're not allowed to go outside or anything like that. So would do anything I could to pass the time."
"I /see/," Liberty Belle says in a tone of great illumination, trying very hard to fight back that smile. "Not allowed to go outside...?" she prompts, though, curious. "Anyway, do we want to take this to the cafeteria? I was just going to go over some records while I was up here, but company'd be better. Obsidian, you too?"
"Food yes, I can go for some of that. And yeah I had my powers since birth it turns out, so well I was kept away from light until I was 18. Since a kid with my powers would be a little scary I guess. At least that is what dad told me." He starts to head towards the cafeteria now, food awaits.
