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Good morning Keeliai, how are we all today?

[Steph is sitting at her console, leaning back in her chair with her legs propped up on the desk. She's smiling, and for those that know her, it's the sort of smile that should be extremely concerning. Those that don't know her may also be feeling like they're about to hear something they don't want to.

She is going to be a terrible person today.]

I'm going to preface this message by saying that anyone under the age of 16, or whatever the age of legality is where you're from, should tune out now, please and thank you. I'm not gonna be explicit or anything, but it's probably not going to be appropriate for kids. [she gives a pointed look, yes you, Damian, switch off the computer now.]

I was taking an anthropology class back home, and my professor happens to be here too. [she wrinkles her nose, like yes, I know that's super weird, how do you think I feel?] And he's been giving me assignments and stuff, because apparently being kidnapped by a giant turtle isn't a valid excuse not to keep up with coursework. The topic we'd been studying before I got brought here was human sexuality, and Professor Craig suggested I write a paper on kedan sexuality instead. [Hi Bruce.] Except, uh, after the last couple weeks, I'm not really keen on that idea.

But I have been thinking about all these people with superpowers running around, and like - we've got comics back home, right? But they tend to focus on the whole defeating supervillains and stopping alien invasions side of things, which is great, sure, I love a good action story, but there's something that just never really comes up.

[she looks directly at the camera, the very picture of scientific curiosity] Do they - or, do you, for the superpowered people in the audience - ever use their powers for sex? This isn't a rhetorical question, by the way, if you have used your powers in the bedroom, feel free to share with the class.

And in the interest of not excluding anyone from the conversation, anyone who's just a regular old human, or whathaveyou, you can discuss what sort of powers you'd like to have, and how you'd use them to impress the gender-of-your-preference.

Don't feel like you have to respond directly to me, you're more than welcome to talk amongst yourselves. I figured we could use a little lighthearted chat to take our minds off the situation. Don't you agree?

[She winks, clearly trying not to laugh, and sits back in her chair to wait for responses]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You don't have to apologise. We both sort of got here, I think. I won't push.

[opportunity for Steph to go in a completely different direction!!]

Thanks. [It makes her wonder if she should tell Brandon that part of her story. She can easily work it into the cover she's already made; it was a gang war, witness protection is common enough]

It's probably a little silly to be oversensitive about that stuff when we're "between life and death". [she says those last few words in a kind Scooby Doo voiceover tone. ~oooh ghosts~]

[She smiles a little at the tone]

No, I don't think so. If anything, I imagine that may make it worse sometimes.

How do you mean? [genuine curiosity]

It can remind you, perhaps more than it might at home.

That's true. I guess I just sort of look at it as like-- [she pauses, scrunching up her nose a little as she thinks] Not really that we should be desensitized or anything, but sort of like that?

I dunno. [She looks a little apologetic for not being able to explain it better.]

No, I think I understand. In the sense of not letting it weigh us down?

A bit like that, yeah. Even if not all of us are dead, we're still getting it pretty much shoved in our face every day. It seems counterproductive to get really caught up on it.

[Not that she'd blame anyone who was kind of freaking out about the whole death thing, but - personally, she tries not to let it get to her]

I do agree, for the most part. I admit I thought I was dead upon arrival, and the atmosphere played into that. But I think even if I were, there's still a lot to be done and had here, while we are here. That's the important part.

[Duty, jobs, Steve. She's all too used to compartmentalizing.]

I was... pretty sure I wasn't dead. [she thought she was still being affected by the Black Mercy, like waking up and hugging her mom had been just another in the long series of dreams. Bruce's tests had helped reassure her that wasn't the case.]

But yeah, I mean - I think it's totally fair if someone couldn't handle it, death is a big thing. But I'd rather just get on with what needs to be done.

One of the first people I spoke with here was supposed to be a dead man. It didn't initially help dissuade me from that line of thinking. [Sergeant Barnes showing up didn't help either.]

[Peggy nods.] Not everyone is capable of such a thing. But I've lost that luxury over the years.

[War did that. Not carrying on, not getting things done meant only more death. Quiet, private grieving was how she dealt with it.]

Edited (add ALL THE THINGS) 2012-10-07 07:55 (UTC)

That - wouldn't help, no. I was lucky enough to talk to plenty of confused but certainly alive people.

Yeah, I can understand that. [A different kind of war, maybe, but it'd be a lie to say Gotham isn't like a warzone most days.]

It was all cleared up quickly enough, thankfully. Well, made clearer at any rate.

I'm sorry you do. [Because she doesn't know Steph's whole story, and it's not pity for whatever might have happened; Peggy would never appreciate that herself, and she's pretty sure Steph wouldn't either. It's just unfortunate.]

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