video; backdated to 10/28

[you_tried]

[ Squint your eyes a little everyone, when the feed opens the camera catches the direct glare of the hot sun. Whoever is holding the communicator has it positioned at an odd angle, so the video captures clear blue skies, though the sound of the ocean can be heard with the occasional tropical bird cawing somewhere in the distance. The camera jolts without warning, dipping low enough to capture what appears to be a boat deck.

Off camera, Karen’s voice can be heard snappishly saying: ]

Are you still trying to take a selfie? Could you put that down for one second?

[ The camera jerks again, capturing an image of a chest that might be familiar to those of you who own the Booster Gold Mancalendar™ (you’re welcome). ]

Is it sooo wrong that I want to document this?

I guess we can document the part where I throw you off the boat.

You wouldn’t. There’s jellyfish in there! Probably. And besides, you never said there was a rule against selfies. It’s an American tradition.

Just try me, and Jesus, would you focus on steering the boat? [ Something splashes up beside the boat, seizing Karen’s attention for a moment. She groans loudly. ] We’re getting too close to those things.

Those things are Hawaiian squeaking sharks, and they’re our friends. Say cheese, guys!

[ The camera’s focus wobbles down off the side of the boat, zooming in on a group of splashing, smiling bottlenose dolphins, which are indeed getting very close. And then: a thump. ]

... oh, God. What was that?

Uh… maybe start guessing what it wasn’t and we’ll narrow it down…

[ The clicks and whistles of dolphins grow louder. If you happen to speak dolphin (or even if you don’t), they sound… pretty pissed. ]

MICHAEL.

WHAT? It was an accident!

[ The camera jerks again, horror movie shaky-cam style, as more dorsal fins rise from the water. Did you know dolphin pods can get really, really huge? Well, now you do. ]

Crap. Does anyone know how to say sorry in dolphin?


( ooc: red is karen and blue is booster! replies from karen will have the ID read as “karen starr”. booster's reads “booster gold,” but who cares. no dolphins were harmed in the making of this post. )

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action for booster

[boobwindow]

[ Her hand reaches out to grab him by the neck and shake him roughly. ]

Why does everything with you always result in something stupid happening?!

[you_tried]

[ NO, HIS BEAUTIFUL NECK ]

Ow! I don't know! Why are you blaming me and not the dolphins?

[boobwindow]

[ WRINGS IT HARDER. ]

I told you a million times to focus on steering!

[ Which he probably can't do if she's squeezing the life out of him. ]

[you_tried]

I'm not a— hkk— professional!

[ So if he wheezes and steers the boat sharply to the left— ]

[boobwindow]

[ She feels her entire body jerk when the boat suddenly veers, her grip on Booster's neck loosening so he doesn't pass out on her. ]

Holy sh—

[you_tried]

Sorry! Sorry! You should drive!

[boobwindow]

I have no idea how to drive these things! Just airships!

[ The superhero kind, too! She doesn't let go of the steering, though, partially afraid it'll jerk again and throw them over or they'll be involved a serious hit and... water drive. ]

[you_tried]

Well, obviously neither do I! And besides, now it's your responsibility.

[boobwindow]

[ She reaches for his neck threateningly again. ]

Drive the damn boat, Booster!

[you_tried]

Okay, okay! Jeez.

[ He hunkers down over the controls, trying not to glance over his shoulder. ]

They're still following us.

[boobwindow]

You rammed one of their dolphin buddies. I didn't think dolphins could hold grudges, but this might prove me wrong.

[ How long will they follow them? Maybe she needs to scare them off so they don't get too close again. ]

[you_tried]

I thought they were supposed to be friendly!

[boobwindow]

They're not Flipper!

[you_tried]

Well, I didn't know Flipper was pro-dolphin propaganda!

[boobwindow]

You. Are. Such. A. Moron!

[ And because the dolphins are still tailing them, she slips off the robe she's been wearing over her swimwear and dives into the ocean. Booster's stance will definitely grow unsteady as the boat is just above Karen's head and she flies in the opposite direction, amping up her speed so she can put some distance between them and the dolphins. There's nobody else around, so it's safe for her to be carrying the boat for the time being.

Eventually when they're far enough from the dolphins, she plops the boat back into the water and pulls herself back up on deck, squeezing the water out of her hair. ]

There. Problem solved.

[you_tried]

[ Despite Booster having his very own flight ring, and most of his transportation involving flying from place to place, he still gets air sick when he's not the one in charge. Because he's a huge baby. By the time the boat's back in the water, he's looking noticeably paler, drooped over the steering wheel and holding onto it like it's his anchor to reality. ]

Great. Thank you. Can we never do this again, please?

[boobwindow]

[ She runs her fingers through her hair to push the matted bangs out of her eyes for the time being. Then she begins looking for her towel to pat herself off with. ]

Which part? The coming to Hawaii part or selfies while driving?

[you_tried]

No, the—

[ He shuts his mouth, huffs out a sigh, and actually has the decency to not argue it. Which is almost like an admission that he was wrong. Time to turn down the act for a second, be a real person, because they're kinda-sorta friends, aren't they? ]

... Okay, the second thing. Because I've had a pretty good time, otherwise.

[boobwindow]

[ Reaching for the towel she finds, she pauses for a moment as if to consider her own response to that before she starts drying her neck off. ]

Smart.

... this has been a nice break from all usual drama. [ She adds a bit more quietly, tempering herself. ] Honestly, I almost don't want to go back so soon.

[you_tried]

Really? You're having fun too?

[ He gives her a slightly wobbly smile, though that might be from the combo of seasickness and airsickness. ]

We could always stay here. Fight specifically island-based crime. Justice League Hawaii has a nice ring to it.

[boobwindow]

Even if I could, I wouldn't. I've still got a lot to take care of.

[ Osborn, work, and in general making sure nothing else gets gassed or blown up. ]

Besides, after some time my tattoo will mark me as AWOL if I'm not back in the US.

[you_tried]

Jeez, so responsible.

[boobwindow]

I'm a superhero and I've got a duty to carry out.

[ She drapes the towel around her neck now. ]

So do you.

[you_tried]

Yeah, technically.

[ He waves his hand dismissively. ]

... Okay, okay, I don't mean it like that, but... I don't know, Karen, do you ever miss the days of alien invasions and stuff? Just a little? Because I'm really not cut out for solving mysteries and I don't think playing whack-a-mole with jewelry store burglars is doing that much good, in the long run. And if it's something really big, oh, hey, Superman! Good thing you live two blocks away.

[boobwindow]

[ She's about to retort they were in a UN sanctioned team and Booster should be familiar with the messy world of politics, but remembering the complications plus the problems they had in the team and outside of it... well, it's not exactly a surprise he isn't eager to jump back into that. She hates dealing with politics herself. ]

I definitely prefer punching the problem than wracking my brain over it, but it's not like alien invasions were ever fun.

[ She leans against the edge of the boat, looking out over the calm waters. ]

I don't know. I don't like to think about the past too much.