001 - Video

[hawkfire]

[The feed crackles to life on the face of what seems to be your typical Southern California girl. Blonde, tan, athletic, perky. A close look at her eys belies a sort of fire there, though. A steely-eyed determination punctuated by the sparkle of promise. She's a stranger in a strange land, sure, but she's also aware that she's not the only one. More than that, she's been chosen. CHOSEN. Not as a tennis champ. Not as a childhood beauty pageant queen. No. She's been chosen as a HERO. The excitement all over her face is hard to miss.]

Hi! I'm Bette. Kane. Bette Kane. Is me. And that could probably have gone a little bit smoother. Some of you might know me as Flamebird. Maybe Hawkfire. Most likely not, though? I'm not, like, as popular as Batgirl.

[She even sounds like your stereotypical SoCal girl. A little Cher Horowitz, a little Elle Woods, a little Summer Roberts. Bright, warm, perky. A slight uptick. The excitement that was on her face a moment ago is shadowed by a little bit of self-doubt, suddenly.]

Actually, is there anyone from home here? I mean, I'm obviously new, but you know. If you've heard of Gotham City, or Metropolis, or Coast City... Drop a hey my way? I mean, even if you're not from back home, say hey. I could use some help getting acclimated. Find the hotspots for food, clothes.

Meting out justice.

You know how it goes. I'm thinking I'll brave the rain and head into the city later, but. A buddy might be nice.

So yeah. ...This doesn't sound like a Tinder or Hooq profile, does it?

[She opens her mouth to say something more and then visibly thinks better of it. Click.]

Comments

encrypted

[boobwindow]

It's going to be one of those alternate universe things. It never ends here.

[ It's quite the headache. ]

In my world the Titans have been around for years. The first Robin was part of the team before he moved onto being Nightwing.

Encrypted

[hawkfire]

You know, I always suspected that the first Robin became Nightwing. Could never get an official confirmation, but they both had that butt.

[Bette laughs lightly.]

Funny, though. How many similarities there are, and how many differences. So close. So far. I wonder what she's like. That other me. If she's happier. More successful.

encrypted

[boobwindow]

I can't answer that for you.

Honestly? Don't think about those things. Easier said than done, I know, but you'll get wrapped up in things you can't control.

[ Been there, done that. ]

encrypted

[hawkfire]

Better to just look at the situation we're in and work from there.

Whatever this situation is, anyway. It's...I'm going to need some time to acclimate. Possibly with bottomless campari spritzers?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

A lot's happened over the winter. The bottom line is the US is officially at war with the USSR.

Re: encrypted

[hawkfire]

How retro of us. Or them. Or both of us.

I'm guessing this is why they brought in some of us masks? Along with an inordinate amount of civilians from Earths similar to ours?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

Would you believe it if I told you they don't have control over the Porter?

encrypted

[hawkfire]

Ugh. Tragically? I probably would. Let's be honest. Tech, created for whatever good use, generally tends to malfunction and make with the crazy. Why should it be different on any other Earth?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

They actually found it.

Probably should have left it alone, but let's be honest that wasn't going to happen.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

I mean, if people left things alone, we probably wouldn't have things like honey.

And cross-dimensional travel.

But seriously, the honey. Who was the brave idiot who looked at a beehive and just assumed that they were hiding something delicious in there?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

So that's the bad news. War, a Porter with a mind of its own. I suppose not too far off from what we're used to.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

Well, we've each faced our fair share of wars, I guess? But the Porter thing. It pulls us in on its own.

Does that mean it pushes us out on its own as well? And if so...where does it push us to? Home? Somewhere else?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

It does. We haven't been able to discern a pattern, but it will randomly port us out. Sometimes it's temporary and other times permanent.

It sends us back home. The catch is we don't remember our time in this world when we are sent back.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

And when we come back? If? Our memories of home have been updated, and we earn back our memories of here?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

Basically.

There are times people come back without their memories of this world, too.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

And they have to relearn all of this again?

Oh no. I do not pity them one bit.

encrypted

[boobwindow]

It's unpredictable. They might have had their memories erased or they're from an alternate universe which is why they don't recall.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

Have you been here long?

encrypted

[boobwindow]

A little over two years now.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

....So you've pretty much gone native, then.

encrypted

[boobwindow]

I wouldn't say that. I don't think I'll ever be, honestly.

Any of us.

encrypted

[hawkfire]

Never know. You stay anywhere long enough...

[Then again, thinking about being a California girl living in Gotham City...]

Never mind. I couldn't go native in Gotham City. I understand.

encrypted

[boobwindow]

Why the transfer to Gotham anyway?

encrypted

[hawkfire]

I needed to get away from LA. I needed to escape...well, you know. I tried the Flamebird thing out there, and it failed miserably. So I needed to move somewhere and start fresh. I have family in Gotham, and I figured I'd transfer out there, change my major, do something different.

Should have realized that Gotham City would have brought my past crashing into my present.

encrypted

[boobwindow]

You were out of the business for good?