003 ♒ Video;

[relentlesstide]

[Ah, an occasion of dire ocean-related importance, usually the only time he bothers to post a message on these things himself. He's looking pretty pissed because what the hell are you idiots doing, but there's also... quite a bit of concern in there. Anyone who's met him can guess why easily enough, though there's no sign of the egg in the suite he's posting from.]

I think we can take that little message as a direct threat to the viable turtle eggs being discovered in the city. How many have been found so far and who's found them? We should make sure they're all accounted for and taken care of so that we can try to ensure their survival. [If there's one thing Arthur can't stand the thought of, it's these infant turtles, a new hope for this world, dying before they can even hatch. There are no immediate answers on how to protect them, but he's fairly sure that Malicant would be able to find them even without a list, so he feels it puts the foreigners at a disadvantage not to communicate.]

To "those that invited it here"? I hope you're pleased with yourselves. [Because everyone else certainly isn't, no doubt.]

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[cowled]

[And here's Bruce, in some... shadowy corner of Arthur's apartment. God only knows how long he's been standing there or to what purpose - maybe he's practicing his houseplant impression. One can never be too sure with regards to Batman, after all.

There's a further moment of silence, and then he speaks.]

I need to examine the egg.

[Well that sure is completely without preamble.]

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[relentlesstide]

[Neptune's barnacley beard, Bruce, use a fucking door once in a while, huh? But Arthur doesn't even seem too surprised, he just rises smoothly from the chair in front of his console and raises an eyebrow.]

And what would this examination involve? [Aka IF YOU FUCK UP MY BABY I WILL FUCK YOU UP. He's not letting anything more intrusive than a scanner near it, sorry.]

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[cowled]

[Arthur you are such a goon. Bruce gives him a look, easily interpreted even through the cowl.]

Did you even stop to think that finding 'viable' eggs hundreds of years old and our enemy showing up nearly simultaneously might not be a coincidence? There's a chance that these are the invitation, Arthur.

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[relentlesstide]

[And you're a jerk.]

Even if it is, what do you want us to do? Leave them here? This is a chance to maybe return a little life, a little hope to a dying world. Asti might not have to be the last of his kind. [Being an outcast, being the only one, Arthur knows that feeling all too well. There aren't exactly a mob of half-human Atlanteans running around.]

It called to me.

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[demon_brat]

[Quietly.]

Are you sure it is wise for the questions of 'how many and who has found them' to be answered over the consoles?

[Oddly enough, Damian's voice isn't argumentative. He's more pointing out something that the man might have missed. He's... well aware just how important the safety of the eggs, and later hatchlings, is. Overall, and for the carers.]

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[definingfuture]

Well, at least it told us that much. [He's trying to be gentle?]

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[relentlesstide]

I doubt it would have said anything if it would make a difference at all. [If this bit of 'forewarning' was going to tip things in their favor at all, he seriously doubts it would have put out the taunt in the first place.]

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[definingfuture]

You're giving it too much credit. Or maybe not giving us enough. Just because it doesn't think it's selling something doesn't make that true.

[The devil's in the details. Tony's glad to finally get an idea of what they are actually dealing with. The personality behind the vague threat.]

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[relentlesstide]

Maybe. [He appreciates the little bit of optimism after his visit with Bruce, honestly.] Maybe not. Too many unknowns, as usual.

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

If you want to set up - I dunno. Guard duty. I'll help. I didn't find one myself.

video; 50% encryption

[relentlesstide]

Maybe, or maybe it won't help. I think we need a better idea of what we're dealing with and what threat it might pose to the eggs. For now I just want to make sure they're all being cared for.

video; 50% encryption

[backinakidflash]

OK. Offer stands though.

[Bart salutes and closes the feed.]

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[grigio]

I didn't find any eggs, but if you want help keeping an eye on them, I'd be happy to help.

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[relentlesstide]

If you do see any in the ruins, I'd like to hear about it. I don't like the thought of them being left unattended any longer.

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[grigio]

You'll be the first person I tell.

I'm Julie.

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[relentlesstide]

Thank you. [A nod. He's not... exactly the most talkative.]

Arthur Curry. You're new?

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[bridgetothemyscira]

Where are you? [There's no betraying any worry she might feel about this threat, but given she had also seen the feed she would... prefer to use something more personal, less likely to be easily breached by this threat. Arthur, she's already deemed trustworthy and someone she can rely on, so she has no doubt about him telling her the truth when (not if, because if he doesn't give a location, she will find him herself) they meet each other.]

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[relentlesstide]

Water Sector, 2B. [There's no point in encrypting it, where he lives has never been a secret. No one's been stupid enough to attack a couple of Atlanteans in their own water-filled home, and though he worries about the egg in his group's possession, someone is always with it. If things get worse, they can find a new secure location for it. Telling Diana though? He doesn't even hesitate about that.]

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[bridgetothemyscira]

Expect me in a few minutes. I wish to speak with you regarding the situation. [She waits for an answer, still polite enough to not hang up immediately. She was a little more demanding than she would've preferred, but it wasn't really a request to meet, after all.

anonymous; audio; Batcryption 100%; eta sorry about that tag fail :(

[hackingyoursensors]

I think the people that invited it were extremist kedan more than the idiots throwing around its name. I don't think that helped, though.

[Of course, Dick's not discounting the fact that some of the foreigners might be involved. Can't exclude anything.]

I have a suggestion, though. Since it spoke over the network, whats to say it's not monitoring it? Maybe we should be careful what we share.

[A simple suggestion. He knows better than to tell Aquaman what to do.]

anonymous; audio; Batcryption 100%;

[relentlesstide]

Extremist kedan, hysterical end-of-the-worlders, could have been any of them. But no, I doubt those two foreigners just recently haven't helped.

[You are all so fucking paranoid.]

Obviously it probably is, but do you really think it needs the network to find anything out? I'm always going to doubt that technology will trump magic in that regard.

anonymous; audio; Batcryption 100%;

[hackingyoursensors]

[Better to be paranoid than gullible. Or something.]

You know, if you were trying to make me more paranoid, it worked. [THANKS ARTHUR.]

Do you know when the turtles are supposed to hatch?

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[queenoftheseas]

[When Arthur is done Mera comes up behind his chair, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. She's just dressed in her short green robe, probably wet because she was in the pool]

You know I'll help you protect the egg you found, darling.

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[relentlesstide]

[Arthur turns around in his seat to wrap an arm around her waist, leaning his head against her torso, breathing out a sigh.]

I know. Between us and the two who found it with me, it'll be constantly looked after. I just hope all the viable ones in the city have been found, that they're being looked after. This could be big, Mera. Asti might not have to be alone forever.

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[zinthosmantra]

[ Hello fellow egg co-parent. ]

If we ad more information about... that one... we could set up better shielding for the eggs.