01→VIDEO

[myownhand]

[There’s a finger tapping at the screen a bit, then a soft laugh of victory]

Haha, knew I could get it t’work.

[A blur of red as the figure of Merida comes into view. Seems like the princess has been figuring how to work this thing for most of the morning—and been watching the various other videos and messages zipping by all day.]

I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Merida, first born descendant of clan DunBroch. [There's a hitch of pride in her shoulders, it doesn't matter where, when, or WHY she is anywhere-- she will always wear her name with pride.] I guess y'could say I'm new here, though th'-- kedan, as they were, were very helpful in explainin' most everythin'. That we’re all stuck here, no way out, etcetera, etcetera.

[Then the camera switches directions and you’ll notice it firmly pointed at a toilet.]

But what is this—and why is it in th’bathroom?

[…They don’t exactly have indoor plumbing in DunBroch. Or porcelain toilets. The kedan told her about it, that doesn't mean she recognizes it quite yet.

But wait! There's MORE.]

Also, what is this I hear about a celebration goin' on? I haven't really found my way around yet.

Comments

[backwordscompatible]

That must be handy during sleepovers.

[Personally, she preferred to have at least one pillow. Or at least a pillow substitute.]

[myownhand]

...What's a sleepover?

[she's never had one. pity the poor princess.]

[backwordscompatible]

[...really, Merida? Really?]

It's where you stay over a friend's house for the entire night.

Bad movies and even worse foods are involved, otherwise you're not doing it right.

[myownhand]

[Yup really.]

Oh, well, I've lived in a castle my entire life, along with everyone else... I guess that'd make every night a sleep over.


[....]

And what's a movie?

[Zatanna you are losing her more and more with every sentance.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Fortunately, she happens to have experience with both short attention spans and people displaced from real life time.]

Well...you're talking to me through a screen now, right?

[myownhand]

...Aye.

[She's only barely comprehending that this is even possible but yes. Yes, she is!]

[backwordscompatible]

A movie's kind of like this, only instead of just talking directly to one person, you're watching an entire performance.

[myownhand]

An entire performance? [Her eyes grow wide. She'd never got the chance to see many plays, only on the occasion one passed close enough to DunBroch to visit. The closest she really got was when her father bungled around the castle singing about the many bears he's defeated.]

That's unbelievable. I want t'see a movie!

[...Wait. She said movies. Plural.]

There's more than one? How many are there?

[backwordscompatible]

No idea.

But if you ever want to see one, you're more than welcome to come over. I have a few that managed to survive somewhere around here.

[Left over from the movie night she and a bunch of the Turtle Teens had done forever ago.]

We could make a whole night of it, and it would kill two birds with one stone.

[Teaching her about movies and sleepovers.]

[myownhand]

[Don't mind the fact that she's practically vibrating with energy right now. She's never really had any friends her age. It's just been her and her brothers. And she loved them, but she'd always wondered what it'd be like to have friends her age.]

That would be excellent. I supposed it'd have t'be after the party though. Seems everyone's up t'their eyeballs in celebration!

[backwordscompatible]

[Well, Merida, you just made one. One with connections.]

That's up to you. The party's been going on for over a day now, and I don't think it's going to stop anytime soon.

I'd say we all have to sleep sometime, but that's a lie.

[myownhand]

[Suddenly it dawns on her.


She can do what ever she want.

This is the first time she's been away from her mother-- her entire family for her entire life]

I can stay up s'long as I want, do whatever I want....

[....Yup.]

I have t'go find this party. [SHe's gotta see what the fuss is about.] Though, I can't say I really have anythin' excitin' t'wear. Just th'dress I have on right now.

[Which is a bit closer to her Disney park counterpart rather than the dress in the movie. She upgraded at the end of the movie, it's complicated.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Embrace it, Merida. Embrace it.]

["Carpe Diem" is Roman, right? If not, close enough.]

I don't see anything wrong with it. It's a dress, and it looks good on you.

Nobody's going to complain. Trust me.

[myownhand]

[She gives a big grin, confident now.]

Good. [And then there's a conspiratorial whisper--]

I was a bit afraid after seein' so many boys wearin' pants, t'be quite honest.

[SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MUCH FASHION HAS CHANGED--!!]

[backwordscompatible]

[...]

[To her credit, Zatanna does not laugh. Much. And when she does, she makes sure to do it off-screen and far enough from the microphone that Merida (probably) won't hear her. It took a moment, but she figured what the redhaired girl was referring to. And now the mental image of Kyle and Jack and Bart and all her other guy friends in kilts would not leave.]

Trust me, Merida. You'd much rather see them wearing pants.

It's when they stop wearing pants that we'll have a problem.

[myownhand]

[She nods in a way that suggests this completely makes sense-- because, let's be real, the men in her world liked to fight over the drop of a hat. So maybe kilts DID have something to do with it.]

Well, at least I won't be too out of place for th'moment.

[But she really has to wonder what's actually customary to wear now. And she'll probably be in for quite a shock when she sees what's "normal".]

And if any fights do break out th'boys'll be covered. Mostly.

[Ahahaha, you don't want to know how awful it has been for merida with all the kilt-wearing men.

And it's safe to say she doesn't know about naked wrestling yet.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna knows about the naked wrestling. Alas, there were far too many boys who would kill her for even thinking about joining in for her to dare attempt. Not that she actually would. For her, it was better as a spectator sport....]

I'm sure the world thanks each and every one of them for that much.

[myownhand]

My brothers still don't seem t'have any problem runnin' around naked. Though they are still wee babbies, so I guess that's part of it.

[head shaking NOPE. Her brothers were far too much of a handful to think about right now] So are there many others our age?

[Assuming Zatanna is close to 16 in age.]

[backwordscompatible]

[15. Close enough.]

Give or take, yeah.

One of my neighbors is from my world, and he's about half a year younger than me. The other one's a little older [by about 300 years], but he acts younger than most of the kids.

Then there are a handful of others, too. There's Korra...Kara...Bart...Tim...Kon...Kaldur...let's just say we're never short on Teen Drama around here.

[myownhand]

...Drama? What kind of drama could there be?

[SHE DOESN"T HAVE OTHER TEENS TO HANG OUT WITH. HER MOTHER CAUSES MOST OF THE DRAMA BACK HOME]

[backwordscompatible]

[Two person love triangles. Dreams. Surprise boyfriends. Rubberband balls...]

Oh, I would never want to spoil the surprise.

It's always so much more rewarding when you get to live through it first hand.

[myownhand]

[....She is so confused right now.]

I just don't get t'meet people my age very often. Th'last time I did wasn't... really under th'best circumstances.


[BUT REALLY. HOW BAD COULD IT BE....]

[backwordscompatible]

You'll get lots of practice here, that's for sure.

[myownhand]

Practice at what?

[STILL CONFUSED. THIS IS GOING TO BE HORRIFIC.]

[backwordscompatible]

Social interaction.

[Calm down, Merida. Or at least stop shouting.]