tushanshu | Entries tagged with † bart allen

[Behind Luke is an organic-looking wooden wall, possibly recognizable as part of the console alcove in one of the Wood sector suites. He's evidently settled into his new quarters and it didn't take him long to figure out the technology of the console.

It's a bit archaic compared to what he's used to but it's simple enough. He would fiddle with it and see if he can give it an upgrade but he's been warned about the anti-tampering system in place, so he won't. For now.]

Hello. My name is Luke. [He intentionally leaves out his last name. Luke has no idea who he might meet here and his family's name has become associated with a lot of unpleasant things as of late. Better to be safe.] I've just arrived a couple weeks ago and the map of the city that I was given is helpful but not quite what I need at the moment. I want to ask if anyone takes regular trips up to the turtle's head and wouldn't mind a travel companion. It sounds like a place I'd like to visit soon.

I'd also like to offer my services. Where I come from I'm a guardian of the peace. Not necessarily affiliated with any government or law force... freelance, if you will. I help because I can. Please, call on me any time.

[Now that his powers have returned and he's had a few healing sessions Luke feels in much better sorts to be offering such services without hesitation at his own abilities.]

notaheroascientist

[the screen turns on to reveal Carlos in his ever-present lab coat, pushing his glasses up his nose as he nervously grins at the screen]

I believe this is the point where introductions are in order, so...my name is Carlos and I am a scientist. I am not of this world, but from what I have been told neither are any of you. I'll need to run some surveys on that later - scientifically speaking, other worlds are very exciting. I mean, I'm here in a world where an entire city can be built on the back of a giant turtle the size of - well I don't know what size yet, I'll need to run some tests, or maybe just find an accurate map - but it's got to be at least the size of Rhode Island! There are just so many rules of physics that this thing must be breaking! Like, how does a turtle that large even float? And that's just in this world, I can't even begin to hypothesise about what else might be...

[Carlos coughs, suddenly remembering that this is actually the time for introductions, and figuring out what on earth (or in this case, what on turtle) he is meant to be doing next, and not time for Science]

Um. Yes. But I can figure that all out later, I'll need time to organise a proper survey questionnaire anyway. In the meantime - this is me, hello [Carlos waves quickly], and I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me where to get food, groceries, that sort of thing. Also is all of this [Carlos waves around him to indicate the place he's been set up in] something paid for, or am I going to need to pay this all back? I meant to ask, but I kind of got distracted with all of my questions about the turtle.

Also I...I realise this is a long shot, but the last otherworldly universe I got stuck in had this fantastic wifi, and I didn't have to worry about my phone's battery dying either. Which meant being stuck in a desert that was not of this world wasn't so bad, because I could still ring home. That...that's not going to be possible here, is it? I mean, obviously if time is not passing in my world then there is no time in which anyone will be able to answer the phone, but I...I just thought I'd check. Just in case.

problematical

[ River has stayed in the city while most of the Foreigners venture into Valishaera and the less-pressing thrum of white noise they create has helped her focus, working away studiously at her computer. Picking apart the console's coding structure is peaceful and it occasionally throws out randomized bits that even she doesn't expect. Thus as people come trickling back to the city between jaunts into the Dreaming side, they will find a fully encrypted message containing a permanent code to install waiting for them as a follow up to this plan. Those who worked on the project: Aya, Rex, Mike, River and others, can probably find embedded fingerprints of their work in the final result. ]

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home, your house in on fire and your children are gone. All except one and that's little Ann, for she crept under the frying pan.

You can all talk in secrets again.

[ OOC: Full encryption functionality restored for the network! ]

everylittlegirl

[Hayley swivels back and forth in her chair a couple times before she stops, leaning forward to talk to the console.]

Hey. So like, normally this is a message I would send privately, but we don't exactly have all those encryptions right now, so.. ignore this if it has nothing to do with you.

Who here knows a lot about where powers come from? I told this guy I'd ask some friends, but I haven't really seen them- you?.. around and I don't want to keep him waiting, you know? People fishing for information need not apply.

[A beat and Hayley glances over her shoulder to the direction of Mark's room. It feels weird talking about this, knowing he's next door.]

Also, does anyone have aluminum foil, potassium bromide, and bleach? I need some.. for a project.

ajrimmerssc

[Arnold Rimmer's gitty face appears on the feed, nostrils at full flare. He is decidedly unhappy, but what else is new?]

So this is how we're welcomed, is it? Oh, hallo, you live on the back of a giant turtle now, toodle pipski. I've heard of some shady dealings in my life, but this one takes the proverbial vindaloo.

If anybody could be so kind as to direct me to the British Embassy, or the Ionian Embassy, hell, I'd even settle for directions to Wales. That would be spiffing.

tactile_telekinesis

[Okay so to some people, there’s a fairly familiar face on the screen. Familiar in a couple of senses, one being that he might look like a younger version of someone already here ~~hurrhurr that’s funny~~. Two would be from the mis-spell adventures from months ago. Conner’s not able to fit in any of the clothes stored in his room, so he’s still in his black t-shirt with the red S-shield that might help with the whole ‘familiar’ thing.]

I’ve ran in to a massive problem. This? [He pinches his shirt and then lets go.] Is the only thing that fits me now.

This is still so weird. So uh, hey I’m Con-uh yeah, Kon.

runrightround

[It's a room. His room. His new room. This is all very... He doesn't know how to feel to be perfectly honest. He's been quiet up until this point, but he needs to say a few things now.]

[The fact that he's doing this as Kid Flash has less to do with maintaining his identity and more to do with the fact that these are the only clothes he had on him.]

Turtle. I mean. Big turtle.

[This isn't really making a good impression, is it? Okay deep breath:]

Okay, we're fighting a war, I get that. That's great. [...] Uh, it's not great as in hooray, but... Wherever I need to be, I'm there. Let's go punch this Mmmuhhh...

[Oops. Not supposed to say it, are they? Normally, he wouldn't really pay any mind to something like that, but everyone seemed pretty adamant about it...]

You know who in the face.

But, in the meantime, what exactly am I supposed to do with this?

[He holds up what appears to be a backpack with medical symbols on it. Of all the things to come here with...]

Dead serious, if anyone needs a heart transplant within the hour I've got you covered. Please find Kid Flash in one of the trees.

[The voice is calm, the face is panicked.]

shorttempered

[The video clicks on and the image of Mark comes on the screen. He’s visibly nervous, and you can just barely see he’s wringing his hands as he talks. It’s clear he doesn't want to say what he’s saying, but he’s just as determined to get through it.]

Um, hi. I know the network’s not super reliable right now, and that it’s not secure and all of that, but with everything that’s happened the last few weeks, I really don’t want to wait in the hopes this gets fixed to say what I need to say. And as for Never-Speak-His-Name, well… that’s sort of the point of what I want to say, so…

[Takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and stops fiddling with his hands.]

I know some of you aren’t going to understand why what I’m about to say is so difficult, but I’m sure there’s some of you that are. And for those of you that can’t—this… this is really big for me, okay? I’m breaking pretty much the cardinal rule where I come from. But I've thought about this a lot, and with everything that’s happened… I’ve realized that this rule is getting in the way of helping people, which is what the rule is trying to do in the first place.

What am I rambling about? I’m getting to my point, I promise.

[He pauses because he knows after this there’s no turning back.]

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Mark Grayson. [Mark picks up his mask, which was sitting on his lap, and puts it over his head.] I’m also the superhero who goes by the name Invincible.

This is a big deal for me because where I come from your secret identity is everything. Your secret identity is what keeps the bad guys you fight at work from coming to your home and hurting your family. And that’s not hyperbole. I've had a super villain come to my house and hurt my mom and threaten my brother to get back at me. For something I didn't even do. My family might not be here, but I've made a lot of friends here and while a lot of them can protect themselves, some of them couldn't. Not from the likes of the people I’m used to fighting, anyway.

But now everything’s changed. It’s not just my friends in danger of getting hurt anymore. Everyone’s in danger. And that’s why I decided to come clean. So the long-winded way of getting to my point is this, and this goes out to everyone (well everyone but Never-Speak-His-Name): if you need me for anything, anything, come to me. I’m super strong, super-fast, can fly, and yes, I’m invincible. And I want to help any way I can. If you need me to be a messenger, I can be a messenger. If you need me to carry something heavy like your couch to a different room, I’ll carry it. Heck, if you need me to open a stuck jar, I’ll do it.

Everything got real with the explosions, I’ve realized that I haven’t been really helping people like I should. Stopping muggers isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s time I took my responsibilities more seriously. My secret identity doesn’t matter anymore. The safety of Keeliai does.

So I mean it. If you need help, for anything, let me know. I’ve been told I make a really good pack mule, and I’m knowledgeable about construction. Unfortunately I don’t have superhearing, so if you want to get a hold of me you’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way.

…I’m sorry this was so long, but thanks for listening.

[Quickly turns it off before he rambles any more.]

unobtainableredemption

[Kaine had been trying to wait until Peter or someone got the consoles fixed, but that didn’t seem like it was coming any time soon, and he didn’t want to wait any longer. Taking a page from some of the others, he holds up a piece of paper with the same message written in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. His handwriting is sloppy, but he was trying his best to make it legible in every language. The only thing betraying his true feelings on the news he’s delivering is the way he tightly clutches the paper. ]

May Parker and Miles Morales have gone home.

[He holds it up for about a minute, before holding up a new page.]

Anyone with business with either one of them can take it up with me.

[He pauses for another minute, then holds up a third piece of paper.]

What’s a more secure way to talk to people?

[Another minute, then a fourth piece of paper.]

Want to talk about the shit going on. Not stupid enough to do it here.

[He holds up one final piece of paper.]

Open to suggestions.

[He puts the last piece of paper down and turns the feed off.]

backinakidflash

These

things are

still glitching, yeah? I

should repeat ever

ything four times

make sure

it gets

out, but that'd make

it take

four times longer

than

normal.

Voice post

cause somebody

thought it was a

good idea to

make me sit

through The Ring.

The static

creeps me out.

Everybo

dy see

how

Dumbass went and Mal

icent'ed up the joint?

Is there

something that

I never

got taught? Some rule

about

how when you

take

over you

have to

make the HQ

look

like an

evil

HQ? Interior Design

for Superv

illains 301. I mean. Seriously. Wi

th the black

and the spikes.

It's

like a vid

eo game.

Check

that.

It IS

a video

game. And I've played

about

17,000

versions

of it.

That's the

giant ass

dungeon

that you can't get into

until

you're leveled

. It's Bo

wser's Ca

stle.

It's

Ganon's Tower. It's

Ice

crown Citadel, and

I'm in

full 245s.

I know

where this is

gonna go. Can't miss

it, because

Dumbass made

it look

like Evil Vegas.

So we

walk

waltz or

storm or

sneak

into the

castle and

avoid

the lava

and the

fire and the falling

shit that's

always there. Always. Falling. Shit. Note to

self:

helmet. Get to the

throne room

and duke it

out,

only they take a

helicopter

or trap

door or

leap off the

balcony

because the

game's not

over yet.

Anybo

want to

catch

a cultist and fi

nd out where

the escape route

goes so

we can

cut

that one off?

Or they

tell us where

he really

is. Cause it ain't

under the

neon arrow

sign saying

"Evil Overlord Lives

Here." Don't

tell me

that

video games

aren't

educa

tio

nal.

( Failed attempted encryption to Hayley Stark )

traumatizing

[Today's discovery is that Terry's still deeply uncomfortable with making video posts to the network at large, but it seems like the fastest and easiest way to flag down anyone he knows. Or who knows him for... Whatever reason. He doesn't look directly at the camera, spending most of his time on-screen looking just slightly to the side of the console.]

I think I've been gone about five months, if I'm right.

[He pauses and looks down at his hands, frowning while he works through what he wants to say in his head.] I'm not sure if there's anyone here still who knows me - I didn't know many people when I was here before - but, uh. [ahem] I'm Terry.

I've... A lot's changed. [wow great job pointing out the obvious, idiot.] I'm still wrapping my head around it all, but if there's a, I don't know. A handbook? [...] "A Summarised History of Tu Vishan: A Foreigner's Perspective." That would be really helpful.

[Beat.] Thanks.

tactile_telekinesis

[For anyone close to him, or that knows him, they'll have noticed that he was gone. Vanished for a few days with no sign of him at all. But he's back on the network and scratching at his nose.]

So the ride from the palace is better than getting' fished out the sea, that's for sure. I don't get why we even arrived in the ocean to begin with.

[He pauses and looks a little thoughtful as he looks around his suite.] Guess I wasn't gone for that long, huh? I mean, it doesn't feel like it was and it doesn't look like I was going by the network.

Always thought if I left this place and came back it'd be a bigger gap between it. Guess the turtle ain't so bored of me yet.

So what'd I miss? Anythin' interesting?

looksfine

[You may be pleased to know, certain residents of Keelai, that Aya had no intentions of offering another long-winded highly detailed technical analysis of...whatever it is she's up to at the moment. In fact, her latest message is surprisingly simple:]

It has been brought to my attention that my choice of vocabulary and diction is considered...unnecessarily formal by some.

[To put it mildly.]

I have made several attempts to alter my speech patterns, but have realized that I still lack a more concise understanding of what precisely entails formal versus familiar speech. Therefore, I am seeking any an all information regarding more colloquial expressions or terms that may be used in everyday conversation, which I will do my best to learn and subsequently employ accordingly.

Thank you.

((PRIVATE TO: HAL JORDAN (2011) - 100% AYA ENCRYPTED))

[Her eyes narrow, however, when the following message is delivered. Anger was not quite an accurate assessment of her emotions at that particular moment...but annoyance wouldn't have been a stretch.]

You did not follow through with your agreement to meet with me last month, and have since done nothing to rectify this error.

I wish to know why.

backinakidflash

[It's been some time since Bart has graced the Network with a post. After Tim left the first time, that had been a miserable one to make. The shine is definitely gone like the cheap, shiny (lead-filled) paint on a kids meal toy.]

You know what is one of THE most annoying short story I've ever read? Hills Like White Elephants. Cause like. The Lottery was a trainwreck of stupid and gross, the one where that girl got shot out of the airlock was tragic, Super-Toys Last All Summer Long, All in a Summer Day - they're all about the worst of humanity, and I get that.

[It's strange how he has a hard time coming up with a short story that wasn't A huge downer, but, since he's venting, he doesn't pause the fast-paced, near breathless delivery to muse on it for long.]

But Hills Like White Elephants, man. It's four pages of doing nothing but waiting for this couple to stop dancing around the topic and complaining that everything tastes like licorice. Like that's a bad thing. I'd cut off my arm for a twizzler. All right not the whole arm, but me and my pinkie have never been on the best of terms. Twizzlers are nature's straws. And that's how they go. On and on. For pages of nothing that dance around everything and you just want to shout at them to freaking say it already because the rampant silence is killing her and the incessant chatter is putting him off. But on the other hand, who cares about him? He's a scumbag, and I hope that - in the fiction of Hemingway's - she grew a spine and dumped his fatass and ran off to run a tourist bar in Borneo. Because he was freaking selfish.

[He shrugs at this terrible understatement. 'Shithead' would be better, or reprehensible dickwad, but this isn't actually a symposium on the works of Ernest Hemingway. It just seemed like the best way to bring up how there were so many things, including Malicant, that no one talked about directly. Talk about white elephants by bringing up the story where they talk about white elephants to ignore the white elephants.]

So, yeah. Most annoying four pages I've ever read, and that's not counting all the essays analyzing it. Half of them were longer than the story! That is what happens when you hafta keep avoiding a topic. The coding and decoding detour takes way longer than flat out talking about it ever could, and. Let's be real. Not talking about things is halfway to lying, and oh-what-a-tangled-web hasn't stuck around for two centuries because Marmion is such a gripping read. Ohgoditreallyisn't. Why am I talking about Walter Scott?

[He actually stops here, scratching behind his ear for a moment until the tangent becomes a parabola and re-intersects with the original topic.]

Ugh, right. Hemingway. Things snowball. Before you know it, you're in an entire room full of white elephants, crowding out all the oxygen, and you can't turn around without face planting in saggy gray butt. Names that you shouldn't say, that you can't say, things you don't want to say cause you'll upset someone else or you, or piss them off and. It's turning every conversation into "Oh. We're talking about that now? OK."

ALL of it could be avoided if people just said what was on their mind because decades of watching what I say is getting old. I can't take it. I'm not wired for patient and subtle. I'm gonna be the first Allen in four generations to get gray hair. Because all I can do is sit here like -

[He jumps to his feet dramatically, pointing off in the distance.] "What in the world could that be?"

[And sits back firmly, as if it's possible to sit down resolutely with enough speed and force. Bart slaps a hand on the desk for good measure.] IT'S A WHITE ELEPHANT. It sucks.

And so does Hemingway.

problematical

[ River's sitting in her suite in the Water, evidenced by the soft colours and natural materials in her background. She touches the screen carefully, teeth pinching her lower lip as though she doesn't know recording has started -- but then she starts speaking without changing anything, so maybe she does know. ]

High chance of improbability even in this 'Verse, can't go between-between-between. Even if you use orthogonal coordinates, meeting at right angles. Two wrongs to make a right, two rights to make a wrong, the graph is broken. Order of chelonii or testudines but even the largest can't hold a city. Can't check the book, no chapters on waking up in new places.

[ She seems briefly frustrated, whether at the improbability of her situation or merely her own inability to verify what the kedan told her is unclear. She hadn't had the opportunity to think on it much with being drafted into the bottle, with all that had followed that and now that she did, she was still no better equipped to explain anything. Her fingers tangle in a dingy chain around her neck, tugging at a small ring and charm that seem very tarnished. ]

I'm supposed to have a job.

---

((OOC: Relink for River's permissions post too, if you haven't filled it out yet!))

alderwood

As some of you may have noticed, there was an incident in Kithika that resulted in numerous people being injured or killed.

Those responsible are making reparations. Visiting hours in the prison are 1300 to 1900, for anyone that wants to see Kal or Jor-El.

[His expression flicks down to paperwork on his desk, which he straightens out meticulously.]

I'm offering compensation for any injuries sustained. This was done in my service, so if you were hurt either fighting the Kryptonians or the other dangers in Kithika, speak with me.

runawayandroid

[Victor is looking straight into the camera; he's got nothing to hide, after all. He seems fairly nonchalant about being here, and he mostly is, except for a couple of concerns about people he's left behind. Sure, giant turtle cities are pretty weird as alternate dimensions go, but he can cope. At least people seem to be friendly enough, and it does sound like his help might be needed.]

Hey. My name's Victor, and I just got here, so I thought I'd say hi and see who else is here. I, uh, don't think many people will recognise me, unless my friends turned up as well and I just didn't see them. Mostly I'm looking for a couple of kids called Molly and Klara, so if anyone sees them can they let me know?

[He shrugs, and looks down at the console itself, now looking a little confused.]

Anyone know how these consoles work? I usually do okay with technology, but I can't even tell what these are made of. I don't want to mess around with them if I don't know if I can read the code... if they even run on code.

[He'll avoid mentioning why he's usually good with technology, though. He's not sure what kind of prejudices people even have here, and cyborgs usually make people a little uncomfortable even at home. He looks up again suddenly, having just remembered something.]

Speaking of which, I'm meant to find a job, apparently. Anyone know anyone who needs a mechanic or an electrician? I'm not officially trained, but I'm good for an amateur and I pick things up pretty quickly.

cherrywood

[ For those who have spoken to Milyn before, they might note a stark departure from her usual bubbly smiles and demeanor. Instead she addresses the console with a level gaze and a calm, succinct tone of voice. ]

Hello Foreigners. The source of the miasma has been identified.

In the time of the initial war with the Enemy, three vessels existed representing the three Planes of Life, Dreaming and Death. The trinity was thought lost during the final battle with no trace of them remaining... until now. It appears that one of them -- the vessel of the Death realm -- remained hidden within the Palace of the Landed Sky and has been, as you can see, opened. These vessels contain lands which exist inside those Planes.

As you have no doubt witnessed, the black fog permeating the city is only one symptom of the corruption contained within this dimension. It poisons what it touches and will continue to spread, overtaking everything if it is not stopped, blighting both body and mind. I have tested it extensively and nothing I have found so far suggests that anyone here possesses an immunity to it; you may note that even the magics and abilities you harness likewise cannot purge it.

There is no other way to stop the contamination in Keeliai other than to strike at its source: within Kithika, the land housed inside the bottle itself and encompassed by the Death Plane.

By imperial decree of the Alderwood Emperor, all Foreigners capable of combat must report to the Palace immediately. You will be sent to Kithika through the vessel, to locate and destroy the source of this affliction. Bring any weapons and tools you have to aid you. If the corruption cannot be cleansed it will infect everyone and everything in the city before spreading to Tu Vishan.

If you fail, there will be nothing left for you to return to.

denyamenti

[ While he's purposely activated the console, "Ryou"'s attention seems to be directed offscreen towards the windows, specifically at the black fog that's slowly rolling into the city. ]

Is anyone... ah, I mean... I know there are people here with magic. Is this something that's-- supposed to happen? Thank goodness it isn't coming inside but... what's going on?

bludhavenknight

[Dick is at the console in Jason's apartment, since there are good reasons for him to still be there (like going through his things). And maybe he looks kind of tired, but he was working late so there is also a good reason for that.]

This is my first time making one of these, and here's hoping that it's going to be my last. [He sighs, scratching his head for a second.]

But Jason Todd is gone, for those of you who knew him. [He knows it's not exactly a large number.] I'm sorry that I have to let people know that; like I said, I hope this is the last time I have to do this.

[But he's aware that it probably isn't. That's all he has right now.]

( 100% Batcryption for Batfam )

[An hour later, Dick comes back on the network, and now he doesn't just look tired; he looks really tired.]

I shouldn't have said anything about that being my last. [He frowns, swallowing hard.] For those who knew her, Shayera Hol is also gone, I've just found out.

[He's really going to miss her, and he can't even begin to imagine the pain of someone else.] I think that's all for right now.

Tu Shanshu

video; public

[Video]

THIRD VERSE ☯ VIDEO;

thirteen : to another galaxy [video]

Series I - Video

15. [Video]

01 ⚡ [ VIDEO ]

005 [VIDEO]

VIDEO

voice post; anon location

001; video

14. [Video]

➢ 004 | VIDEO

Video; take the big game down

first verse ☯ video;

[video]

1 ⏚ [Video]

VIDEO | MILYN | LANDFALL EVENT BEGIN

004 ≠ ( VIDEO )

[ video ] Another disappearance post

Links