maskormenace | one ☀ chahv: VIDEO

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one ☀ chahv: VIDEO

[One recognizes the signs, when he’s been here for a while.

Waking up in a different house and room? Check. Getting a new job? Check. Having to go through the explanation of the basics? Also check. So while there’s only one question left to ask. Clark Kent looks kind of sheepish as he faces the network, rubbing the back of his neck with a sigh.]

So, how long was I out? I hope it wasn’t that much. Sorry to anyone I worried- yes, I know it wasn’t up to me but I still don’t like it.

Also, let’s get it out so we can get it all at once: I am, apparently, a glasses model. Writing for the style section wasn’t enough.

So go ahead, let’s hear the jokes.

[Read: Please joke about it, please. Anyone who does means they are still around, and well enough to make cracks about it. Anyone who does hasn’t left back home while Clark was taking some sort of vacation he doesn’t even remember having.]

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[Clark frowns. Something about her wording, the way she says 'us'... he can't be sure, but he'd rather find out he's wrong than let it be, in this case.]

Did they kidnap you, Karen?

[ A pause before she slowly nods. ]

I was fine — not comfortable cramped in a cage full of imPorts, but I endured. The Russians had built a Porter of their own somehow.

[He squeezes her shoulders, lips tightening into a thin line. He knows Karen can take care of herself, he knows she's been doing that basically that since she landed in their world. They are family, yes, but that has never been his role in her life.

Doesn't mean he doesn't want to slap some faces around right now, though.]

I still wish you hadn't had to go through that. Why did they kidnap you, anyway? What was their purpose?

[ She wouldn't stop him from knocking a few heads around for what happened. She'd gladly join him. ]

The Soviets think of us as weapons... property of the US government, no less. To them we're a threat as long as we're running around unchecked.

And when that failed, they came for us again in February. They tried to brainwash us.

[Now Kal squints, but for a completely different reason. He's always had... issues, with brainwashing. It's one of the few ways to actually get at him- his body may be invulnerable but his mind definitely isn't. He sighs, letting go of her so he can rub his forehead.]

I'm glad to hear they just tried, and didn't succeed. What did they use to brainwash people?

There was a whole Seminar they forced us to go to. Some imPorts were able to flee, but I couldn't —

[ Leaving behind so many people, not just imPorts? She couldn't ever. ]

They tried to feed us propaganda, but they strapped us down into chairs, electrocuted us and replayed imagery over and over.

[Rao, that's... terrifying. and very old school but he should have seen that coming. He swallows, trying to push his anger down because it won't be constructive when the deed is already done. He'll just have to keep reminding himself Karen is here, and safe.]

How did you escape?

They would send us home at the end of each day... it was too surreal.

[ Like they didn't have the power to fight back initially. ]

They staged a coup and everything. Eventually, there was resistance and they were driven out, but their brainwashing almost worked.

I wish I had been here. Not that I think I'd have been able to stop it, but... [He would have been there to at least try. To try and help, to be there for Karen when she was recovering from it.]

How long was this. Did it leave any... scars behind? Are you okay, now?

Don't blame yourself. We were all caught off-guard.

[ An invasion they should have seen coming, but ultimately didn't. ]

No, we're okay now. [ As okay as anyone can be after that. ] We're a tough group, us imPorts.

Yeah. I guess we are. [The little smile he allows himself probably makes it clear he isn’t only talking about imPorts. He hesitates for a second- not that he thinks she would lie to him, but she’s definitely resilient. Stubborn, just like Kal himself. And not used to feeling vulnerable.

But she does look fine. And Kal also politely doesn’t say anything about not blaming himself. It’d end up in a circular argument, anyway.]

What happened when people found out? What was the retaliation?

[ The last thing Kal needs to hear is how the brainwashing nearly worked on her. They're both susceptible to such things, but it's always a red alert when one of them has lost control of themselves. With all that power at their disposal, someone who could control even one of them could do a lot of damage. ]

The Russians had overtaken the Porter cities. It wasn't easy with so many lives on the line.

[Clark nods. At least there's that- he was already imagining America using the attacks on the imports as a way to get free range to attack Russia and its allied countries. Even though the government never truly cared much for them outside of a possible weapon.]

Are you sure you're okay explaining all of this to me? I could always check the network.

You'll see a lot of stupidity, for one.

[ As tough a group they are, they can be completely idiotic at times, too. The arguments she had read through when she was free again were headache-inducing. ]

It's just... the US retaliated eventually. It got ugly, Kal, really ugly.

[Clark frowns, because Ugly... well. Ugly can mean a lot of different things.]

I'm assuming the cold war was suddenly not that cold?

They deployed airstrikes in Debrecen.

[ She folds her arms over her chest, fingers gripping her arms. ]

... there were a lot of people who lost their lives.

[He reaches to pull her into a hug before he even processes what he's doing. It's like his natural reaction.]

I'm so, so sorry I wasn't here. I know... it may not have made much of a difference but still. This- this sounds like a horrible situation all around. That should never be the answer.

[ Being pulled back in for a hug surprises her, but Peej isn't about to tear away from more of them, even if the subject is a heavy one. She places both hands on his shoulders, gripping him lightly. ]

It was out of our hands, Kal. Some imPorts protested, but I don't know how much of a difference it made. The Soviets declared war and America isn't going to take it sitting down.

[Isn’t, not wasn’t. That means present, and that means-

Clark frowns to himself. It’s not like it’d be the first time he’d seen such a crisis, no. But it’d be the first time he’d be completely powerless against it. At least back in their world people listen to Superman, his opinion is to be valued. In here… well. He usually doesn’t mind being just one more imPort, but in this case it does mean he’s pretty much powerless.]

So we’re at war?

[ She feels utterly useless in the face of an actual war as well. There's not much she can do besides write as Karen Starr to congressmen, imploring them to avoid aggression with the Soviet Union.

But on the other hand, it's difficult when they have invaded US territory and attempted to harm them again. ]

We are, officially.

[Kal sighs, reaching to rub his forehead. He'd expected things to have changed, but he hadn't anticipated this mess.]

I... will probably need some time to look at everything I've missed. This is taking me by surprise and I don't even know how to process it.

How bad has it been, after the kidnappings?

Things have calmed down, but I imagine it's the calm before the storm. You don't declare war and do nothing.

You really don't.

So- what? We can only wait and twiddle our thumbs until we have something to react to?

[ She shakes her head. ]

I'd rather we be ready in the case anything does happen, but we're still a scattered group with no real leadership.

[Clark sighs.] If that's the problem, it doesn't have an easy fix.

Unless the ambassadors have gained more power since I left. Otherwise I don't think there's any particular imPort everyone could look up as a leader.

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i keep using russians and soviets... DECIDES ON ONE

WORKS FOR ME

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