MISSION: GRAB THE EYEBALLTAUR

[initiates]

Date & Time: March 7th, 1994
Location: The MICA campus: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Characters: Everyone
Summary: All transports are shipped back to 1994 to steal art from art students. Also, some of them arrive bodyswapped.

The Initiative has timed the incoming waves of Transports to the MICA campus for Freshmen Orientation, but even so, the flood of newcomers gets a few surprised glances. Looks like MICA's up for a major boom in attendance next year, wow. But do some of those freshman look a little old to you? …And do some of them seem to be freaking out a lot more than usual about being in Baltimore?

The cloaking devices, with holograms visible only to the natives, will be blending everyone in with the native 90s fashion senses, and all non-humans will find themselves getting much more tame curious glances than they might back on Exsilium, as they project a human appearance to natives around them. So at least there's that. Just try not to get arrested, hit by cars, or challenged to any break dance competitions as you grab and run off with bizarre works of art, alright? The weirder it looks, the more likely it probably is to be the power source the Initiative needs for the Transporter.

Oh, yeah, and sorry about the body-swap-around. Just deal with that as best you can, because the mission really must go on. Any harried and worried Initiative employee along on the mission that you might be able to find will just sputter a hasty not-really-explanative explanation and hurry away, trading frantic messages with the headquarters in Exsilium. They'll get this all sorted out by the time you get back, don't worry.

Comments

[implying]

[ Well, there's little arguing with a look like that. His right glove slips off into his left hand. There's faint scarring creeping down from beneath the sleeve there, but at least it's a better sight than his left hand, which stays firmly gloved. ]

And I need a naked hand for it, do I?

[controlledvariable]

Do you usually make so much of a fuss when girls are asking you to take clothes off?

[She manages to keep a fairly teasing tone, but there's something a little shaky in her voice, and without much preamble she wraps her fingers around his wrist, gently guiding his hand to her hip, then to the bare skin of her stomach. There's no mistaking the fact her skin is - almost entirely scar tissue, something twisted and painful underneath her clothes.

She isn't looking at him. Maybe it's ridiculous to be nervous about something like this when he seems to have it worse, but it's a mindset she can't set aside easily.]

[implying]

[ He'd had a response, but it goes forgotten when his hand meets her skin. The last remains of his light tone and smile fall away, and he raises the left hand as well to rest lightly against her hip. His right hand moves slowly, experimentally, taking over from her guidance, but not wandering far.

He doesn't need to see anything, he knows exactly what he's feeling. ]

May I... ask?

[controlledvariable]

[She swallows hard around the lump in her throat, ignoring the fact that it's been a while since anyone's touched her so intimately. Mostly thanks to those scars, but she doesn't stop him, even if her point's been made, her fingers still curled loosely around his wrist.

Her lips twitch in a weak attempt at a smile.]

It's amazing what someone can do with a powerdrill.

[She's not sure how she manages to sound so flippant.]

[implying]

[ There's a little skip in his breath to hear that, and his hand pauses. It wasn't the work of anyone here, he knows that, it's too old for as long as she's been here. Horrors of home, then. ]

Steph...

[ Not a very productive or insightful comment, but it's about all that can make it through the wilting horror. His hand shifts to rest open-palmed against her lower back, atop her shirt, suddenly protective. ]

[controlledvariable]

It's fine.

[She lets go of his wrist, sliding her hand up to his shoulder instead, even if she should probably tell him to back off. Ellie knows about the gang war, about the people that died, but she skipped over this detail in the story.]

I'm not looking for sympathy, I just want you to know that I get it.

[Sometimes it occurs to her that she only ever gives away little pieces of herself. Ellie knows about Batgirl, she told Nikolai about her daughter, and Vanadi has this.]

[implying]

[ He nods, even as gratitude floods in to mix with unavoidable sympathy. ]

Thank you, then.

[ And one more thing makes him feel frankly ridiculous for clinging to the mask. Still, though — not here, in what is technically public. He leans in, mask tipping as he brushes a kiss against her cheek, and there's a small smile in place when he leans back again. ]

To be fully honest, I think I would much rather find coffee than continue to admire poor examples of human art. Would you like to come with me?

[controlledvariable]

You don't have to thank me.

[She tenses, briefly and almost imperceptibly, as he leans in, but relaxes when he just kisses her cheek. And despite still feeling a little shaky, she manages to return the smile.]

Coffee sounds great. [Her tone is a little more relieved than it probably should, because not talking about this anymore also sounds great; she doesn't regret telling him, but that still doesn't make it easy.] I still don't get why they thought it was necessary to send all of us here, just to steal some art.

[implying]

Well, you must admit, it's really quite a lot of art to paw through.

[ The move is slow and reluctant, but he does pull away from her, and tugs the glove back into place.

And, with an elbow out to her: ] Shall we?

[controlledvariable]

Which is why they should've sent someone who knows what they're doing.

[She's not exactly the most tactical of Bats, but she can think of at least a dozen better ways to run this mission.

When he moves away, she spends a moment fussing with her clothes, a hint of awkwardness in her posture as she tugs the hem of her shirt back into place. There's no real reason for her to feel awkward, but sometimes logic doesn't work.

Still, she takes his arm when it's offered, happy to let him l] I wish it was Fall, I'd introduce you to spiced pumpkin lattes.

[Steph has a soft spot for horribly sugary, seasonal coffes. No one is surprised.]

[implying]

[ Oh yeah, he knows the sight of that fussing. It's terribly familiar. But it gets no comment, and he only starts forward once her arm is in his. ]

Never you fear, I spent some time in the Fall in New York City, once! Spiced pumpkin latte sounds distinctly familiar.

[controlledvariable]

You got to go to New York? [If she sounds jealous and a little wistful, it's only because, well, New York is a stone's throw from Gotham, even if most worlds don't actually have a Gotham City.

Less seriously:] Maybe one of the coffee shops will have some leftover flavour syrup from Christmas, that'd be a much better thing to steal.

[Steph you just can't rob a Starbucks because you have sugar problems.]

[implying]

I did! With two beautiful people, who could tragically not be coerced into a threesome.

[ He sighs wistfully, and leans to push and hold open the door for her. ]

Really, New York was a bit of a disappointment in that regard.

[controlledvariable]

You should probably try 'convinced' rather than 'coerced'. [Said lightly, but the look she gives him is a bit of a warning, because she doesn't approve of words like coerced being thrown around when it comes to sex.]

But really, I don't think it's fair to blame New York for the fact you didn't get a threesome. I'd have to hold a grudge against every city except for my home town, if that were the case.

[She might be joking, she might not be. Who knows.]

[implying]

[ Yeah, yeah, he can admit (and the look helps) that it was poor phrasing, but he's too busy enjoying the memories to pay much mind to it. That had been a good trip. ]

My dear! [ He sounds scandalized. ] Only your hometown? Really, you'd best get to work on that embarrassing record.

[controlledvariable]

I never travelled much! [The defensive tone is mostly feigned, she doesn't care that much.] And I don't really... [a vague handwave meant to communicate "have sex"] Do that sorta thing much these days.

[He already knew that, but now he knows why.]

[implying]

Why, I can't imagine why not!

[ No, he can, but this makes a better argument. ]

Not only are you a perfectly lovely, beautiful young woman, but you know me. [ He grins. ] You might think of me as a real estate agent of a good time. [ A beat, and he adds: ] Sans the literal selling, I suppose.

[controlledvariable]

A real estate agent? [Her tone could not be more dry.] That's terrible, Vanadi.

[By which she means "really lame"]

[implying]

[ No, it totally was, which is mostly what makes him chuckle. ]

I can't speak for you, but I've met my fair share of very alluring and sexy real estate agents!

[controlledvariable]

[Wait she actually has to think about that.]

I don't know if I've met many real estate agents. I mean, I probably have, but I don't ask people what their jobs are.

[Also she doesn't get out into the real world much.]

[implying]

Well, then either you really must begin meeting more people, or you really ought to be more curious about the ones you do meet! [ He offers a shrug. ] Or both, perhaps?

[controlledvariable]

I could probably stand to meet a few more people. [She admits that a little sheepishly, since she has been more than a little withdrawn the last couple of months.]

[implying]

Why, then you're talking to the right man, my dear. I'd be more than pleased to offer up a few of my friends, I've quite a good collection!

[controlledvariable]

You make it sound like collecting friends is a hobby or something.

[No, Steph, it's just called being sociable and not horribly suspicious of everyone.]