video;

[onthe_threshold]

[The feed initially shows just a torso, but with a muttered curse the camera is adjusted so that it points higher, revealing the face of a man thoroughly sick of life's little irritations. You know, like technology, noisy neighbours, and waking up in a different universe. Again.

His good eye squints, making sure he sees the 'recording' light.]

This is Matthew Callahan, designate: Threshold.

I need to find Selina Kyle. Any accurate intel on this matter will be rewarded.

Comments

un: apollo | video

[solarcharged]

[ He isn't sure how, he isn't sure why, but that combination of names rings a bell. Something from home, probably a throwaway line in a file stored somewhere in the Carrier's databanks, or maybe something from a half-overheard conversation between Jenny Sparks, Jackson King and Christine Trelane. An info exchange? Updates on... IO, maybe? Wetworks? Apollo can't quite put his finger on it, but the bell still rings. ]

Callahan. Threshold. [ He frowns thoughtfully at the feed. ] Why does that sound familiar?

un: threshold | video

[onthe_threshold]

Gonna have to narrow it down. Familiar from here, from a world with a load of metahumans hunting people from the government, or from your home universe?

Because I feel like I've seen your face before, too.

[solarcharged]

Home universe. [ The frown only deepens at the other guy's reply. Apollo's face is everywhere in his own time, thanks to that whole... taking-over-the-United-States thing. ] I'm from 2008, if that helps. The Hawksmoor administration ended three years ago.

[ With fifteen thousand dead in a nuclear blast on the White House lawn, sure. ]

[onthe_threshold]

[Matthew snaps his fingers and points.]

Apollo.

[solarcharged]

[ There we go. ]

Right. And you're something to do with IO, right?

[helpdesk_hero]

[Shit, the man was real? Oh dear. David takes a deep sigh and answers because he can't help the strange feeling of connection he has to a man he's never even met.]

She'll find you, no doubt, Matthew.

[onthe_threshold]

[For a wonder, Matthew's sour expression cracks and is replaced by a smile that is a little goofy in its sincerity.]

Hey! Prodigy! You're here, too?

[helpdesk_hero]

David. I really prefer not to go by that name, no matter what he chose. But yes, I'm here.

[onthe_threshold]

David, sure. You remember all that shit? I'm getting the impression not everybody does.

[Private]

[helpdesk_hero]

I... sort of had a situation where I had no choice but to remember. I woke up dying.

video;

[rebelarrow]

[Judd doesn't recognize the face, but he does recognize the name of the woman he's looking for.

And as her "bodyguard", he supposes he should do his due diligence. By the time he turns on his own camera, he looks none too pleased (though, truth be told, it's his usual face).]

What business do you have with Ms. Kyle?

video;

[onthe_threshold]

[Perfect: they have matching grumpy faces.]

Personal. You her secretary?

[rebelarrow]

We prefer the term executive assistant.

And I missed your reason.

[onthe_threshold]

And I said it was personal.

Look man, I just spent a couple of years in another fucking reality or some shit and she was there. I need to see her.

[rebelarrow]

Most of us were.

[And thanks for reminding him of that horrible experience.]

Let me rephrase my question--do you mean harm to Ms. Kyle?

[obediences]

[ Matthew Callahan. Not a name Luther ever knew before his stint in the City, but now watching this video feels like seeing an old, long-standing, missing colleague. He's still not sure if he particularly likes the other man — but then again, Luther isn't the man he was over there, either.

God, this is weird. ]

Threshold. Space. Do you remember me?

[onthe_threshold]

[Matthew's grim face is split by a grin.]

Well holy shit. The guard dog.

[obediences]

Yeah, sure. That's me.

[ It's only a moment later that Luther realises he'd answered using the default video setting, too; hadn't clicked it over into audio or text. Ten years in the City of not being self-conscious about his appearance have thrown him off, gotten him into different habits.

But the man on the screen looks... oddly different from the one that Matthew knew. Luther's shoulders are broad and hulking, almost exaggerated; more like a body-builder's physique than the lean enforcer he'd been. ]

I didn't know you existed in this world, too. Didn't seem like everyone made it over.

[onthe_threshold]

I just got here, right before everything went all dystopian. I already miss it.

Good to see you. Really.

[obediences]

Well, welcome to this world. And sorry for any times I was an asshole, over there.

[ Apologies don't usually come that quickly to Luther, but it's somehow easier when it was, technically, another version of him. ]

Do you actually miss it?

ID: Selina Kyle | VOICE ▸

[catlady]

All things considered, one would assume you'd be better at not blowing up my spot.

video;

[onthe_threshold]

Selina! Miz Kyle, you remember me? And, uh, sorry, but... you really do? [Like an excited puppy.]

[catlady]

I remember a lot of things, but... yeah. Yeah. I remember you.

[ Which is... well, she's still trying to sort through all that. ]

[onthe_threshold]

From the other place, not the stupid spa.

I'm really sorry, Miz Kyle, I just didn't know how else to find you. I had to know if you were okay.

[catlady]

The spa wasn't so bad. No weird creatures rising up out of the hot springs. The other place, was... well, I guess we actually managed pretty well there, didn't we?

No. It's fine. I'm fine. I would have preferred you hadn't been quite so public about it, but what's done is done.