Ωvideo

[sophos]

[It's absently on video, from her suite, and Annabeth looks a little distracted. So much so that it's a good few seconds of looking deep in thought at something off screen before she remembers to speak up. She adjusts herself, sits up a little straighter.]

Is there anyone who might have asked the Emperor about their futures? I've heard she can show you, in a sense. I need to know what that entails. I doubt it's something she'd offer for free.

[that's probably only the tip of what's distracting her atm tbh. If anyone thought she was intense before, it's like there's a little extra dark circles now. ]

ENCRYPTED 100%; ZATANNA
We need to talk. As soon as you can.

Comments

[backwordscompatible]

...you can. If you want to.

I don't mind.

[sophos]

Are you sure? [If only because she's... still a little uncomfortable making the offer in return, letting the other Robin know about her involvement yet. Unless Zatanna already shared, but she doesn't really think so.]

[backwordscompatible]

Really.

Besides, if they know about her coming, and I have to heal her, it'll just be easier to tell them than to try and make excuses, right?

[In other words, it would be harder for Annabeth to keep the secret than it would be for her. Robin knows there's somebody else, but has been understanding about not asking the who.]

[sophos]

[She's a little grateful; she hates keeping secrets from Percy. So she nods, and that probably shows on her face.]

I gave her my suite and Percy's. I'll find some way to let you know, if she shows. Even if she doesn't need healing, just so you know she's here.

[backwordscompatible]

[A not. Having one less secret to keep was always helpful, and she could see the releif on Annabeth's face.]

When that happens, I have to tell Robin she's here. [Because same thing on her end.] I won't say where, and he still gets the part about certain secrets not being mine to tell...but I can't promise he won't try to find out on his own.

[sophos]

I appreciate that. [The not telling him about her.] And I wouldn't say don't tell him - it's better if anyone who knows about her existence is aware of her arrival.

[!!] Speaking of, I'm fairly certain there were others she spoke to beyond just us. She mentioned it would endanger 'everyone she met' - and I just get the feeling that implies more than two.

[backwordscompatible]

[That...was unexpected.]

Really? But...no one else's ever said anything before. I mean--

[Okay, their meeting had been chance at best, sure, but there would've been some other hint by now, right?]

[sophos]

There's a lot of secretive people here. It's possible they didn't want to take any risks. Or maybe they're not here anymore at all.

[backwordscompatible]

Then there's no way for us to know for certain unless Eva tells us herself.

[sophos]

[She sighs.] Doesn't look that way. I'd just like to be able to warn them.

Though I guess there's no telling if they agreed to be her eyes and ears like we did.

[backwordscompatible]

I just wish I had something to tell her.

I feel like I know just as much now as I did when I first met her. I mean, aside from this business with the sewers and the Emperor being cruel enough to threaten Jack like that.

[sophos]

[She makes a face, one of understanding.]

I was hoping she might know something about the sewers, or what the Emperor might be hiding. She didn't know, but she did say the system really was part of the turtle's shell, and that all of the turtles were like that.

[backwordscompatible]

So there's a chance it could be nothing at all.

[Except neither of them believed that, did they?]

[sophos]

A one percent chance, maybe.

[Yeah nope. Annabeth is most definitely assuming there's something down there.]

Are you going to go looking? [Despite the... colorful warnings.]

[backwordscompatible]

Depends. I need to find Robin first.

[The call of disobedience was strong. Very strong. But Zatanna did occasionally have her priorities, and those priorities involved getting her sort-of boyfriend in on the know as soon as possible.]

[sophos]

[A nod.] If you do go, let me know if you find anything. I'll do the same.

[backwordscompatible]

Of course.

[That much went without saying.]

...stay safe, Annabeth.

[sophos]

I will. You, too, regardless of what happens.

[She pauses, then smiles a little weakly.] All business again. Sorry.

[backwordscompatible]

It's alright.

Would you believe I'm almost used to this by now?

[Not just with Annabeth; almost every fun outing she'd tried to plan seems to be overrun or postponed because of something.]

[sophos]

[She laughs, a little dryly.] Only if you'd believe the same for me.

[Nine times out of ten, interruptions. Or doomsday scenarios. One or the other.]

[backwordscompatible]

Deal.

[Giant androids trying to explode the world...homicidal egomaniacs...parallel words...and now this.]

[sophos]

[She grins.]

I should get back, before Percy eats me out of house and home.

[backwordscompatible]

You do that.

I'll see you at our next 'appointment' [A slight roll of the eyes. But if this is going to be how things were, might as well force a bit of humor in there, right?]

[sophos]

[She blows upward at her hair, making a face in understanding.] Yeah, I'm sure it'll be soon enough.