Video

[real_archer]

[A fifteen year old girl with a ridiculously long blond ponytail is sitting in a dimly lit room. She's been playing around with her communicator since arriving, trying to get a feel for the place, even though with her new super-vision the pixels give her a headache. Basically she's heard a few things about monsters, a lot about conspiracies, and none of it was particularly comforting.]

Here’s the deal: I think this is all crazy, but it's not like I’ve got anything better to do, so I’m going to play along. Apparently we’re all big bad heroes now, off to save the day. [She rolls her eyes.] Great.

But this? [Holds up her wrist tattoo for the folks at home] Is completely creepy. I can't even buy alcohol, but they gave me a tattoo while I was unconscious? That's beyond creepy. It's--ugh, I don't know. Super creepy.

[She looks down at the tattoo, scowling and muttering under her breath.] Seriously, my mom’s going to kill me if I come home with a tattoo… Thanks a lot for that.

[She leans back, arms crossed over her chest and favors the comm with a suspicious glare. She’s lonely and more than a little freaked out by all this, but you’d have to torture her to get her to admit it.]

So... what now?

Comments

voice; encrypted

[performance]

[ He deliberately leaves any name off this transmission, but maybe she'll recognize a familiar voice. ]

No way. Artemis?

video

[attractedtodarkness]

[one long-haired teenager is staring at the screen. No smile on her features. She looks bored in fact]

Nothing like being tagged to show off how heroic you are.

Now you get to decide whether you want to be registered. Be careful though, the last swear in ceremony came with an explosion.

[she's totally still bitter about that]

Re: voice; encrypted

[real_archer]

[She's startled by the response and although the voice is vaguely familiar, she's immediately annoyed that whoever is talking has chosen to hide... basically everything. She makes a move to shut off the video, but stops herself and instead glares defiantly into the camera.]

Yeah, I'm Artemis. Who are you supposed to be?

Re: video

[real_archer]

An explosion? [She shakes her head--why even bother being surprised at this point.] Oh yeah, this is going to be fun...

What happened?

[performance]

You know, Robin? Your teammate Robin? Please say you know me, because this has been the weirdest month, and that's saying a lot.

[real_archer]

Robin?!

[Artemis almost falls out of her chair in shock. Recovering her balance, she snatches up the comm as if by bringing it closer, she'll be able to see him.]

Robin! What--? But... how?!

video

[attractedtodarkness]

Someone decided they didn't like the way the government is celebrating a train's launch. Or something like that. No one knows for sure yet.

video.

[selfequipped]

For what it's worth, the odds of going home without your tattoo are high.

[Kate knows it's not the most reassuring piece of information, but the rest of it isn't something she can really identify with anymore.]

text

[lyingheart]

That depends. Are you under 18 and without a high school diploma or GED?

video/

[ktfod]

Creepy- I'm not sure I get what you mean?

video;

[gottaswing]

...damn, you're right, I didn't even think of that.

[Pulling up his sleeve he looks at his own tattoo with new-found distress.]

Imagine explaining that one to your mom.

permavid

[demonspawn]

At least you can only see it in the dark. Tell your mom it's more economically friendly than a nightlight.

Re: video.

[real_archer]

How would you even know that?

[Because if she knows something about how to go home, then that is way more important than the tattoo thing.]

Re: text

[real_archer]

[She frowns as she reads, then switches over to text. It just feels more natural]

Yes. Why?

Re: video/

[real_archer]

[Artemis looks disbelieving]

How do you not get it? What is not creepy about getting branded while you're knocked out?

Re: video;

[real_archer]

[Artemis shrugs and leans back, satisfied that her point has been made.]

That's assuming you ever see her again, of course.

text;

[hoboagogo]

just put a watch over it or something
wristbands
big bracelets
etc

or tell your mom to shove it

Video

[everylittlething]

Maybe you can pretend your tattoo is a glow bracelet that you've become really attached to?

Re: permavid

[real_archer]

You can only see it in the dark?

[She glances down at her wrist. With Artemis's new super enhanced vision, it feels glaringly obvious all the time.]

Text

[real_archer]

Oh em gee, why didn't I think of that? I'll just tell my mom to shove it and that makes getting branded like a cow totally ok.

Re: Video

[real_archer]

Yep, that should go over great. "Hi, mom! I know I disappeared and stuff, but hey--I'm a raver now!"

[Artemis sketches out a brief glowstick dance with her hands before flopping back in her seat with a frustrated sigh.]

[hoboagogo]

nah it just makes her back off i figure
make all the indignant noises you want, ain't like its coming off or theyre gonna stop
if they cared about your opinion they wouldve asked

[lyingheart]

As a what next, for now, I'd advise talking to school officials in Heropa.

[everylittlething]

Well, if it makes you feel better, my daddy didn't get mad when he saw mine. And he said I'd be grounded for the rest of my life if I got a tattoo before I turned 18.

[real_archer]

So I'm just supposed to sit back and take whatever they want to do to me without saying anything? Sorry, but no. If they wanted someone without opinions, they should have gotten a robot.

... actually, even robots get to have opinions.