exsiliumlogs | (open) celebrating everything it took to free us from the land of the broken and betrayed

Steph doesn't really have strong feelings about Valentine's Day either way, she'd celebrated it in assorted ways over the years, or just not celebrated at all, with minimal fuss. It'd been interesting to learn that the Seperation Awareness festival fell around the same time, and she'd gone to the first couple of days to check things out, talking mostly to the locals to see what they had to say about the United Earth. It'd been more business than pleasure, but on the fourteenth she decides it might be nice to relax and enjoy herself.

She decides to bring a friend, because she thinks Ellie could also stand to have a little fun, and the promise of candy - lollies, Elie insists - and food is enough to drag her outside.

Someone's selling roses, apparently having been clued in about the holiday celebrated by the Transports, and Steph can't help forking over a few coins for one, passing it to Ellie with a cheeky grin.

"Happy Valentines Day."

It was bizarre, truth be told. Living so long without calendars before they went to New Zealand and again after, dates like this lost all their significance. Not that you didn't still think of them with some fondness, maybe some longing, but when you had no idea when they might fall it was hard to get wound up. She'd missed her seventeenth birthday, being in Hell. That was weird. It wasn't like you never thought about them or remembered the pubs in Wirrawee getting decked out in green for St. Patrick's (even if Wirrawee didn't have anybody who hadn't been out of Ireland for a few generations), because your mind wandered. It was just weird having concrete evidence of a holiday.

Since Steph seemed to be one of the sane people around here that Ellie could tolerate, and who could tolerate her in turn, it was just about the best offer she was going to get - not that she'd admit it. And hopefully she'd make it sound a bit less blunt and shit than that. Besides, there's food, and she'd been a sucker for sugar before the war started.

"Oh, geez." Rolling her eyes, she takes the rose and dramatically slaps the opposite hand to her cheek. "You got me all flustered." It was just carefully concealed underneath a layer or deadpan. "I hope you don't think you're getting me to put out on the first date, sweetheart."

It was nice having someone to banter with, even if they weren't the usual (the right?) people.

"Oh, I can be patient for a girl like you," She adds a wink for effect, laughing a little at the Ellie's dramatics.

She doesn't really mean any of the flirting, but it's an easy way to talk to people and if it gets Ellie to lighten up a bit, then it's definitely worth it. And flirting is fun, even when she doesn't mean it.

"You're a real sweet talker." She snorts, and bops Steph on the head with her new petal-empowered weaponry. Why hadn't they ever tried more flora for melee purposes in their strategies, she wondered?

"The best my last boyfriend could do was call me a 'sexy caterpillar.'" Oh, Lee. Talking about him was like putting down the can opener and taking a chainsaw to your can of worms.

"I try my best," It's possible she's been spending too much time with Vanadi. She even lets Ellie get away with bopping her on the head with the flower.

The caterpillar comments gets a raised eyebrow, "Is there context for that, or is he just really bad at compliments?"

Tim could be sweet, but he wasn't great at compliments, either. And most of them were outweighed by him almost constantly questioning her skills as a vigilante.

"I was in a sleeping bag. Sadly, the caterpillar part made more part than the sexiness, in that context." Although... "He tended to just switch out the wildlife. 'Possum', 'caterpillar.'"

A little pause, and she shakes her head. "Dunno if that says more about me or him. I reckon he was just calling me a bit feral."

It's meant to be light, but doesn't come off quite the way she means it to. They'd all become a bit feral, really. "What about you? Best compliment you've ever gotten." A beat. "So I know what I have to top."

Edited 2013-02-17 02:43 (UTC)

"Well, at least the sleeping bag makes sense," Steph shakes her head, laughing, though her smile turns a little wry for the remark about Ellie being feral, "Probably says a bit about both of you."

It manages the lightness that Ellie lacked, not wanting to draw attention to the way it came out.

She has to give best compliment a moment of thought, "I don't know," She's not sure if she should give an actual good compliment, or if she should tell Ellie an amusing one. Or if she can even think of something nice that someone's said.

"Someone I admire told me I was talented, once."

It's stuck with her, because it was really the first positive reinforcement she'd gotten, for being a vigilante.

"Probably, yeah."

She appreciates Steph's ability to hold onto some levity. Despite herself, it's kind of fun actually having a rose, for once. Even if it was a joke. The texture of the petals, the vibrant colour and that warm, uplifting kind of scent. It reminded her of summer and Christmas parties.

"That's better than someone random saying something. I mean, someone you respect saying something versus a person that isn't special somehow saying something that's all songs and praises. My friend Robyn said she thought I was the bravest person she knew." A brief, hanging moment where the awkwardness threatens to latch on. "She was special. She kind of reminded me of those legendary warriors you hear about, you know?"

A slightly goofy shrug. "So what are you talented at? Accents?"

Edited 2013-02-17 04:18 (UTC)

The little ramble is - sweet, and she appreciate it as a kind of reassurance, that it wasn't silly of her to get so caught up on a few words of praise that she got years ago. And it's true, it meant so much more coming from Dinah, than useless compliments coming from a stranger.

Her expression softens as Ellie talks about Robyn, because Steph doesn't miss the past tense, "Sounds like she was," Special, and Steph wouldn't be surprised if this Robyn was right about Ellie being brave, she seems like the type.

Which is why she wants to answer that question honestly; looking down at her hand, she closes and opens her fist, like there's an answer written there, "Fighting. I'm-- They're after soldiers, you know? I guess they got what they wanted."

She gives Ellie a sidelong look, wry amusement in her smile.

"Yeah. She was just one of those people everyone could look up to." Except that Ellie knows full well that Homer couldn't stand her half the time, but Homer was sexist and Robyn didn't put up with his rubbish. Ellie was hardly likely to stop hero worshipping Robyn after what had happened. Even the slightest of reality checks would be like some kind of massive disrespect, in her eyes.

"They wanted soldiers, yeah. But soldiers follow orders and hop to it, and don't ask questions." Ellie shakes her head. "That doesn't fit with how I figure you work. You question stuff." She likes her pauses, this one, and clambers up onto a little ledge to wander along it, holding out her hands for balance. "If you didn't, you'd do stuff like your dad. You aren't a soldier or a crony, not how I figure it. That's what the Initiative wants. A smoothly run military operation with no dissension in the ranks."

And Ellie liked to think she was good at figuring people out. Sometimes she was less wrong than others.

"I know a few people like that, they're a rare breed," Steph has only met Diana once, but she didn't even hesitate to follow her into battle, and she knows how many other people look up to the princess. It's hard to lose people like that.

When Ellie climbs, Steph holds out a hand near Ellie's waist, spotting her. The words come as a bit of a surprise. It's not an inaccurate summary, but it's strange to hear you're really fucking belligerent framed like it's a good thing.

"I'm not. Like that," And she smiles, a little pleased by what Ellie has said, "Maybe they figure we'll believe them eventually and fall into line."

The problem is that she's starring to consider the Initiative's point of view.

There's a brief flicker of a smile. "She's definitely a Lincoln. Merinos are way too common." The rose is between her teeth, but she's hardly going to give up talking because of that. And hey, there's nothing wrong with comparing a friend you like to sheep: sheep are great. It was bloody goats you wanted to watch out for, miserable little things.

"Not bloody likely." She snorts at the very suggestion. "They showed us no respect bringing us here, I don't see why we should respect them or believe them. Not until they give us proof." The rose is out her teeth now, at least, held in her hand instead. "I'm not going to follow anyone I don't trust, and I can't trust them if I don't respect them." Can't be done. Won't be done. She and the others earned each others trust and respect.

Rolling her eyes at herself, she shoots a smirky smile Steph's way. "Happy Valentine's Day." Welcome to the land of Ellie's moods.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Between the rose and the fact that Steph knows very little about sheep, though she sounds more amused about it than anything.

She's quiet for a moment after Ellie's finished talking, weighing up how she wants to reply. Everything she said is true, but Steph's had a little more time to adjust, and she's from a world where things like kidnapping and time travel and different worlds are perfectly normal, so she was never quite as shocked by what happened, just that they picked her, instead of Bruce or Clark or Babs.

"Have you been talking to the locals, over the last few day? It sounds like they believe the United Earth are the bad guys," She's not disagreeing, but--

What if they are telling the truth? She can't stand by if the United Earth truly are so horrible, and if her home is in danger.

Happy Valentine's Day, indeed.

"Sheep. Lincolns are rare, Merinos are common as mud. Don't get me wrong, Merinos are great stock. Lincolns are just special." Said with a bit of a chuckle. "I don't think I've ever really hung out that much with city kids. Townies are bad enough."

That said, she jumps down off the ledge, although the effect is ruined by her knee giving away - that damn knee, it always packs it in under pressure. There's a charming crunching sound and she swears as she straightens up. "That didn't go to plan." Anyway, she was going to try and be cool, wasn't she? "Not really. Been people watching more than anything. What about you?"

Despite herself, she does place some significance on Steph's opinion. She doesn't want to get dependent, not like at Harvey's Heroes, but Steph is clearly nothing like those morons.

"Well, that makes a bit more sense," Sheep, of course, and it doesn't escape her notice that Ellie is also comparing her friends to animals, "Does that make me an exception?"

If Ellie doesn't hang out with city kids much, clearly the fact she's hanging out with Steph means that she's special. Or at least, that's what Steph's ego will tell itself.

Her hand is on Ellie's back as soon as the other girl stumbles, support in case she needs it, and there's a questioning look on Steph's face. She won't actually question it, though, instead thinking on a way to answer Ellie's questions.

"I've talked to people who've gotten out from under tyrants, and the way these guys talk..." She trails off with a sigh, and shrugs, "It sounds pretty familiar."

Her favourite animals, Miss Brown. Sheep are superior to all manner of things, so far as Ellie's concerned. In fact, she could give Steph a real earful on how great sheep are. "Doesn't the exception prove the rule? I'm only hanging out with the one of you: ergo, us rurals are better."

And Steph can tell herself whatever she wants. Ellie just reserves the right to stomp that ego when it suits her.

Much as she appreciates the hand, she all but brushes it off. Steph's already fixed her up, given her food and given her weaponry. Stumbling like that just makes her feel a bit stupid, and the support - even silent - just makes her feel a bit idiotic. Incapable would be the worst thing, so she tries to pick up the pace despite the tenderness of her knee. It's not a limp, it's a swagger. Really.

"Hmm." Her expression is thoughtful, but she doesn't buy it. Not yet. "Seems like dragging people away from their homes is a little tyrannical, to me." Despite herself, she bites her lip. "Then again, some people sound like winding up here isn't bad for them, either."

"And I'm only hanging out with one of you rurals, what does that say?" It's a familiar sort of teasing, the way her and Tim would bicker about the city itself versus the suburbs, or her and Cass in the Bludhaven versus Gotham debate (though the latter was usually about which city was worse).

Her hand drops as soon as she realizes it's not welcome, and she doesn't say anything about the fact Ellie is limping slightly. She doesn't quite match Ellie's pace, walking a tiny bit slower in a subtle attempt to get Ellie to slow down. There's no need to push herself to prove a point.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm still not a fan of the Initiative's methods, but if what the locals are saying is true, what the Initiative is saying is true... I can understand why they're desperate," And she'd want to help, even if she's not sure whether that's a good idea.

"Unlucky that you don't have more of us around, obviously." She pauses, just long enough to give Steph a condescending pat on the back. "It's okay. You can't help it."

Ellie would appreciate it, if she weren't so damn stubborn. What was it Homer had once called her so affectionately? A pig-headed obstinate slagheap? Something sentimental like that. Little things like that embarrass her, just because when lots of little things like that add up, you can get the image of someone being absolutely incompetent. Then again, Ellie was inclined to be judgmental.

"We don't know anything about the locals. They could be profiting from screwing the United Earth over, for all we know." Grasping at straws, maybe, but it didn't sooth her ire that the new "locals" around her home were the invaders. "I dunno." A shrug that is less I don't know and more it's fucked either way.

"So what are we doing, anyway?" Now now, Ellie. Be nice.

"Oh, obviously," She looks like she's about to roll her eyes, but manages to resist the urge, "I'll have to keep my eye out for more of you, so my life isn't so empty."

Her tone could not be more dry if she tried, but there's amusement in her expression, and maybe a hint of fondness.

"Do they look like they're profiting?" It's a genuine question, and she wants Ellie to really think about it. Things might look nice now, in the middle of a festival, but she knows the other girl must have gotten out a bit since she came here, and there's no way to mistake the sheer poverty of the island.

"And we are enjoying ourself," AS if to emphasize the point, Steph pauses at a street vendor to buy two Fried Things On Sticks (she's not going to ask what they're actually made of, sometimes ignorance really is bliss), offering one to Ellie, "Because we can't spend all our time cooped up and scowling at everything."

Which is a comment on herself as much as it's one on Ellie.

"Pass 'em by me, first. They might be goat people. Not worth hanging out with anyone who keeps goats." And that is a fact.

"Not yet, necessarily." Her argument is weak, and she knows it. "Maybe that's why they want to. But all we know about United Earth is from people who'd obviously benefit from taking them down a few pegs. We're just dealing with propaganda, that's all." Finally, she sighs, and gives in to the need to explain. "The invaders said they were invading Australia to more fairly distribute wealth and resources in the region, but what it meant that they ruined our lives and took all the stuff our parents and our grandparents worked hard for. And I'm not saying," she continues quickly, "they didn't need more food and resources and land, but ripping it from our hands and killing us to take it wasn't right, not by a long shot." She sounds tired, she realises, and just takes the Fried Something with a smile that could possibly be considered apologetic.

"I don't just scowl. Sometimes I sneer, mix it up a bit."

"I'll make sure to," Since apparently Ellie is the expert on the subject of people from rural areas.

But Steph will leave that particular part of the conversation there, focusing instead on what Ellie says about her home. Everything she says makes sense, and Steph gives her a lot of credit for how aware of the - grey areas, she seems to be.

"I'm sorry," It's all she can say at first, she's sorry that Ellie's home was invaded and her people killed. She has more, though, and after a second she adds, "But... from what I've heard - and I'm definitely not done looking, yet - it seems like it's the other way around, here. The United Earth are the ones who took over and killed everyone, now the Exiles are just trying to scrape out a life for themselves."

It's her current understanding of the situation, but that doesn't mean she's going to accept it without questioning, or that she won't revise her understanding when she finds more information.

"You should add a couple of glares for good measure."

That certainly makes her deflate a bit. "Yeah. That's possible." And she knows full well what it was like to be desperately fighting for your home, needing help or a break to change things to your favour. "Sometimes I just wish everything was as black as white as it seemed when we were kids. All the bad guys had big hats and curly moustaches and you know they were up to something because they had a damsel in distress and some rope and were headed for a railway line."

Leaning against the wall and taking a bite from the Mysterious Food, she takes a while slowly chewing it before she speaks. "What do you think? I half want to just dive in and do something just to keep from feeling bored and restless, and that half of me is talking up how getting involved would get us more info, but the cautious half isn't so sure." Ellie tosses Steph a bit of a grin. "The cautious half doesn't mind being bored. Both halves are stubborn as a mule."

Another bite of the fried deliciousness, and she nods, as if very carefully thinking that over. "I should broaden my repertoire. This... thing is pretty good. It's hard to glare with hot food in your belly."

Steph huffs out a laugh, a little rueful, but there's some genuine amusement at the comment, particularly when she thinks about the world she comes from. It hadn't take her long to figure out that not everyone came from worlds with heroes and villains who could be so easily marked out by their bright costumes.

She leans her shoulder against the wall, facing Ellie, taking a bite of her own Thing On A Stick as Ellie talks, and swallowing before she answers.

"I think things have never been black and white. I mean - even when I was little, I knew criminals were supposed to be the bad guys, cops the good guys, but when the cops are the one roughing up your parents, threatening your mom because she's an accessory, it's hard to remember who the good guys are," She sighs, looking up briefly, as if there might be answers in the sky.

"I just want to help people," Her voice is quiet, and there's almost painful honesty in there, maybe a little desperation; ever since she got past her desire for revenge, all she's ever wanted was to help, "But sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes that makes things worse."

Sometimes it gets hundreds of people killed in a gang war, and she rubs her shoulder absently, where the shard of glass and then the bullet went in, as she thinks of that. She can only manage a small smile for the comment about hot food.

Edited 2013-02-17 11:08 (UTC)

She doesn't know how to reply to the thing about the cops, past a mumbled apology. She liked to think that some good guys were still the good guys, but she'd learned better. Expressing a desire to knock those dickheads down a few pegs wasn't all that likely to help, either.

"I know." God, she knew. It was impossible to keep a tally any more. "Sometimes it's like you can't move in case someone dies as a result. Sitting and breathing are the only safe options, and even then." Not one of them had made it through without marks on them, and even when you were protecting your country, your friends, the cost might be bludgeoning someone with a heart and their own warmth, family and people who love them, no happy how fucking awful they are or what they do is. Hot blood and cold blood could be dangerous in different ways.

"We gotta keep going, but. Getting stagnant and counting your losses never helps. You remember them, but you can never rely on other people to do what's right. Even if we fuck up, at least we try with everything we got, and we make decisions based on all the shitty things we've seen and the lessons we've learned. Maybe we fuck up really bad sometimes, but at least we tried and we did something. If you screw up, you pick yourself up and you don't make the same mistake again. And whether you do things in one fell swoop or you just slowly work at it, then I mean-- it's like that butterfly tsunami thing. We might be small, but we can initiate something big and spectacular."

Christ. She'd gone and done another speech, hadn't she? With a sheepish smile she bumps Steph's shoulder with her own. "Preferably not an actual tsunami. That might be enough to get me to stop doing speeches, but."

Edited 2013-02-17 11:26 (UTC)

Speeches are good, especially when they're talking about something she can understand. Steph clearly listens to everything Ellie has to say, nodding a little, and then taking another bite as she mulls it over, rather than just replying with what first comes to mind.

It's good to think about this stuff, to question themselves and what they're doing, even if it can hurt a little. And it's good to be honest, she's kept almost everything to herself since landing in this city, and it's a relief to be able to talk honestly with someone, even if Steph is still keeping a secret or two.

"They built a monument to the people I got killed by making the wrong decision," It's another quiet admission, this one edged with pain, and she's sharing because she needs Ellie to know that she understands, that she might not be from a war, but she still knows that none of these decisions are easy.

She memorized every name on that damn thing, standing there until they were burned into her memory. It never came down to what happened to her, it was what happened to everyone else her decisions affected.

"But you're right," About everything, and the way she looks at Ellie is almost grateful, glad that someone else has put into words how she feels, "I've made my whole life out of fucking up and learning not to do it a second time. I can't just sit still, not at home, and not here. But at the same time... I don't want to make a move until I know it's the best one available."

→ the 14th; CLOSED

FLIES INTO THIS THREAD

FLIES INTO YOUR ARMS

WELL I NEVER

:3c

u////u

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just spamming you with all the typo corrections today :'|

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