exsiliumlogs | ( pour a little salt. )

Entry tags:

( pour a little salt. )

Date & Time: all around the week of august 19th
Location: e v e r y w h e r e
Characters: supahgurl & YOU. yes, you. also the few people there's threadstarters for.
Summary: kara does stuff, and so can you?
Warnings: n/a right now. will update if needed.
Note: feel free to tag however you want. actionspam, prose, haiku... it all works.

In the aftermath of her mission to the 1960s with Max, Kara's been feeling a little out of sorts. Which is understandable, really, given how far out of her comfort zone everything that the mission involved was. It's also shoved her into isolation for a little while. Without Kal, or Bruce, or Diana--okay, really, without Diana to talk to about breaking her mentors' code of conduct not once but twice, she's floundering. And it's easier for her to retreat into her shell while agonizing over it than it is to put on a happy face over the network or anything of the sort. It doesn't take long, however, to realize that being a loner isn't going to work long-term. So she eases herself back into what was becoming habit. There's really only one difference aside from her internal feelings about all this.

She doesn't wear the S-shield anymore.

option A ►

It turns out that one really needs more experience than one can get from books to restore an old, ramshackle building to livable conditions. But that doesn't keep Kara from trying her best and learning as she goes. She's out on the edges of the city for at least a few hours every day, welding with heat vision, hammering things into place with her hands instead of using general tools. There are other places, she knows, that she could find sanctuary other than her room in her apartment. The Birds have something set up, and there's probably all kinds of spaces all over the city if one only looked hard enough. But there's something cathartic about rebuilding something with her own hands. Plus, she really wants a space of her own to be able to tinker with all kinds of things. A work space inside her own Fortress of Solitude. Or, more accurately, Squat of Solitutde.

option B ►

She lapsed in her training for a little while after she returned from the past. Oh, she still worked with her orb from within the confines of her own room, but there's nothing quite like using the actual training halls to practice. Oftentimes when she's training with her weapon, the silvery ball isn't anywhere near her. It zips from place to place in and around the building while Kara meditates and, as she gets a little better with it, roams the halls herself. The double-vision gives her a headache at first, but the more she uses it, the more she gets used to it.

In addition to training with her weapon, she's taken to the mats more. Not to spar with people--she's still too timid to try and spar with people who seem to very breakable to her. But she does mock-fight and run through kata on a daily basis. Sometimes she wishes she could do things like lift weights or go running to wear herself out, but she can't. So she tries to content herself with what she can do.

option C ►

Shopping has never been one of her favorite pastimes. It's fun when she's in the right mood, but it's not something she indulges in a lot. But she's started to wander and window shop recently. She eyes bits and bobs of technology, fabrics and dyes that she hopes she'll be able to use for a project she's got started. Sometimes she pauses to look at a pair of shoes and just smiles. Since she doesn't have a job, she has to be somewhat sparing with her indulgences, but there is something to be said for looking at something and thinking soon, and one day, just you wait.

for dick ►

Sometimes Kara thinks her powers can be kind of creepy. Like how if she focuses just so, she can use a person's heartbeat and breathing and voice to pinpoint where in the city they are. Because, really, who tracks people by the sound of their internal organs? That's just weird. But, she has to admit, it does come in handy sometimes. Like now, when she's tracking down Dick so she can give him the first part of the project she's been working on for a little while now. She flies over to where he is, touching down a few dozen feet behind him.

"Hey, Grayson!" she yells, an excited smile crossing her face. She holds tightly to the cloth bag she's got slung across her shoulder as she jogs towards him. "I've got something for you."

for anakin ►

Kara is usually up pretty early. Not having any biological need for sleep sometimes leads her into fits on insomnia, and oftentimes means she's up before the sun is. But sometimes she doesn't dream and lets herself sleep in. This is always a little awkward for her, because if she gets up early enough there's no having to deal with roommates when it comes to the kitchen or the bathroom.

There's also no having to deal with her roommates' odd friend. Friend? Colleague? Kara's not exactly sure what Anakin and Padme are to each other--she doesn't talk to her roomies all that much as she's usually out and about for most of the day--but she's thinking maybe she should ask. Just so she knows how to think of the guy in case she ever ends up walking into the kitchen in her pajamas again while he's there.

"Oh." She blinks. A flush crawls up the side of her neck as she thinks, I really should've just gotten dressed fully before coming out here instead of pulling on a sweatshirt and shorts. "Hi there."

for bucky ►

The one really bad thing about the remaining tension between Transports and those native to Exsilium is that Kara often feels like she can't fly unless she wants to get into something. It's easy enough for her to pass as human if she dresses casually and stays with her feet on the ground. She may not like doing it, but it's not that hard to do. What is hard, on the other hand, is resisting the urge to float up and grab things from the top shelf when she's out buying groceries. Because of course the kind of cereal she really wants to get is on the top shelf and just out of her reach, even if she stands on her tippy-toes.

With a frustrated and noisy exhale, she stretches her arm and balances on the ball of one foot. It's so close she can almost get it with her fingertips. They brush the box and then... it moves backwards. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

for kate ►

Kara has never been vary good at patrolling. She's never really needed to be, what with her superhearing, superspeed and all that. But she's quickly discovering that there's something calming about taking to the rooftops and using what Bruce taught her. She doesn't bother with hiding in the shadows, and she often cheats and uses her flight to make a leap and land lightly on her feet. But jogging and jumping from rooftop to rooftop while keeping an eye on the people below... it's nice. She can see why the Bats like it so much.

Speaking of Bats, Kara lands on one particular rooftop and looks around the neighboring ones curiously. She hasn't been paying too much attention to who might be around, but when her hearing picks up on movement not too far off, she starts.

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[guess who's in a store
buying some fabric and thread
steph waves at kara]

[ kara looks up with a smile,
she hasn't seen steph in a while,
and she could use some bff hang-time
thinks maybe they could kick the shit out of crime?
but she hasn't actually called,
keeps getting caught up in her work
and her renovation overhaul.
she kind of feels like a jerk.
but this is a moment of serendipity
and now she doesn't have to worry,
she can talk and hang with her friend
and maybe talk fashion trends?
yeah, okay, maybe not. ]
Hey, Steph. What's that you got?

[Okay but for real Steph has an assortment of fabrics piled in her arms, mostly in dark colours, because it's.... her, though there are one or two brighter things.]

I'm seeing how many people I can make costumes for.

[She's kidding. Kind of.

Mostly.]

[ kara looks thoroughly amused at all the bunches of fabric in steph's arms. ]

You know, you've still got time before Halloween.

[ though who knows what kind of halloween costumes one would make with that combination of colors. ]

Very funny. [Giving Kara such a look, even if she's also trying to hide a smile.] But hey, we should totally go as each other if there's a Halloween party.

[By "each other" she means their superhero identities, because clearly Kara would want to run around in the Batgirl uniform for a night.]

[ He's not even thinking about it. Bucky shoves the change out of his pockets for men on sidewalks propping up cardboard signs that spell out v-e-t-e-r-a-n in block letter capitals. He nods at old ladies when they cross the street. And when he sees blonde girls on tip-toe straining for the high shelf, he brings it down. It's a reflex. He can do it without looking at faces. There's no sign in his voice that he recognizes her, just sleepwalking politeness. ]

Here you go.

[ Oh yes, he's also wearing that dumb beanie again. ]

Thanks.

[ she says it as she turns around to flash him a smile. and then what was just a polite expression morphs into pleased surprised. hey, it's that one guy she's talked to a few times. named after that one dead president. the one with the truly awful beanie. ]

Oh, hey! It's you!

Hey, it's… me.

[ But there's a flash of recognition across his face. ]

You're not flying.

After watching the laser eye show for a while from across the street Jim is both a bit fascinated, slightly terrified, but mostly recognizing that she's doing big things, but seems a bit lost on the fine bits. Walking out into the street but keeping his distance he waves a bit.

"Never seen construction like that done outside of a SCV, how's it goin' Miss?"

It's with a little bit of embarrassment and a little bit of confusion that Kara turns to look across the street at Jim. "It goes," she says as she offers him a wave in return. After a beat she goes on, "What's a SCV?"

"Eh, construction vehicle where I come from. Does some repair too. Actually I've done hand construction, but not on that scale, even in a suit."

He looks at the building.

"Public works project or just sick of people?"

[He freezes with the mug of coffee halfway to his mouth, and- blinks]

You're not supposed to be here.

[It isn't that he doesn't know she lives here. He's seen both of Padmé's roommates in passing before. Usually at odd points during the day, or late in the evening. Before Luke, keeping up appearances had been important. They couldn't determine who from their world would arrive, or what anyone they'd met here might be inclined to tell them. As a result, he knows better than to get caught out of her room in the morning, in a state of undress.

When he'd tracked her signature last, she'd still been in her room. Asleep. He should have been paying more attention]

Hi. [He returns the greeting after a long moment. He spares time to be glad that it's second nature for him to slip the glove over the metallic arm, when he thinks there's a possibility that anyone's going to see it. He jerks a thumb at the pot on the counter behind him. He still says the word like he's never heard it before, and isn't quite sure what it is. But it's probably the only thing about being here that he genuinely enjoys, other than the presence of his son that is. Even if it is bitter ~~like his soul~~] Coffee?

Edited (omg i can html i swear) 2013-08-21 16:44 (UTC)

[ one slim eyebrow raises in a silent excuse you, i live here, as she stands in the entrance of the kitchen. it's not like she doesn't get what he probably means. she's not normally around this time of the day and so he's surprised. and half-naked in her kitchen.

talk about an interesting and kind of horrible start to a morning. ]

Coffee would be great, thanks.

[ kara wraps her arms around her middle and shifts her weight from foot to foot. she feels like she should say something, just so there's not a long and awkward silence while she gets her mug of coffee. ]

Are there any bananas left?

[ well. that's as good a thing as any to say. ]

[He nods, before stepping off to the side out of the way of coffee maker. It's difficult at times to remember that he isn't at war any longer, not really. The large gaps between the missions are far removed from what actual war is- and a conversation doesn't ride solely on purpose, and nothing else.

People here like to make small talk. Anakin had barely ever learned that skill, and has all but forgotten it now. The thanks only need a nod- It's not his place, and it's not his coffee- So the silence lingers.

Right until she asks him for- What the hell is a banana? Rather than ask her however, he sets aside the mug of coffee onto the stove, and half turns to the fruit bowl located on the kitchen table. Something yellow, orange- that's bright red. Nothing that stands out and screams-

Banana.

One guess is as good as any, he supposes. As he stretches forward to collect the fruit, he inadvertently exposes the skin of his back. And the long, upraised welts slowly fading along the length of it. Five perfect lines]

Here. [He straightens it up and tosses it to her, without any further warning. Hope you like oranges!]

Edited 2013-08-25 04:07 (UTC)

Halfpipe, contrary to Kara, is a big fan of shopping. She even got a job to supplement it, and she's been slowly finding her way around the different shops where the materials aren't completely shit and the employees don't give her looks that are too dirty.

It seems as if Kara has wandered into this little circle of shops Halfpipe has made note of, and she stops to watch the girl eye some shoes. She's learned to tell the difference between Transports and Exiles, the main one being that Transports only do a double-take while Exiles do a double-take and hold a glare at her pink hair and face tattoos. So she stops beside Kara at the window, peering in and asking, "Which pair?"

She's a little surprised when someone stops by her, but she doesn't give Halfpipe more than a sideways glance before she looks back at the window. The hair and tattoos don't even faze her. It's a little hard to be startled by someone's appearance when you hang out with aliens on a fairly regular basis. Belatedly, she realizes she probably just gave herself away to whatever Exiles may be around, but whatever. Transports unite.

"The red flats are pretty cute," she says, fingernail tapping on the glass in front of them. "If they're still around later, I may have to scoop them up."

"I'm kind of a heels girl myself," Halfpipe admitted. The truth of her statement would be evidenced in the ridiculous height of her own shoes. "But you're right, they're cute. And in about an hour there's a teenager that starts a shift here who goes gaga for a couple of winks--you can get 'em practically free."

There's no gunfire or the sound of flesh hitting flesh below Kate where a small group of men converge and light cigarettes they complain about, but take long drags of anyway. They aren't doing anything. One is drunk and he's loud. But they're all harmless.

In this city crime fluctuates, but it never hits levels she's familiar with. Instead, she's confined to the rooftop above, pressing against shadows that cloak her and she watches.

A part of her longs for something to hit. Anything to take off the stresses of the past couple of months, the war, her own mission, Renee...

But she's not supposed to allow herself to feel this much while on patrol. Damn.

It doesn't take Kara long to pinpoint where the other rooftop lurker is. Two roofs to the west of her position, above the smokers and the noisy drunk. This time, she doesn't even bother with faking a hop, skip, and a jump across--she just floats on over, keeping a relatively safe distance from Batwoman. Wouldn't want to get a batarang to the face, after all.

"You know, I'm pretty sure they're mostly harmless," she says quietly.

It's hard to miss the shock of blue and red -- and of course that blond. Still, she shifts from her spot so she's less in a lax position and standing tall and proper, shoulders squared.

She relaxes a touch seeing it's only Supergirl.

"I'm not here for them." It's true, but she's not sure why she's wasting time here anyway.

[ His heart leaps up when he hears his name, which probably does say something about how... long it’s actually been since he’s heard anyone say it that way. And it’s Supergirl saying it, which means she’d remembered what it was. It’s an extra, sugary layer of icing on the cake.

He’s grinning ear to ear, hopping down off the out-of-the-way railing he’d been sitting on when he sees her touch down. It’s on the tip of his tongue to say Kara right back, only... suddenly he’s not a hundred percent sure he’s really allowed to use it, out in public like this. Better to play it safe for now. ]

Not so loud. [ It pops out automatically, along with a quick glance over his shoulder. ]

It's really for me? [ He wants to bounce on his toes with excitement, he wants to ask her a million different questions; where she’s been and what she’s been doing and what she could have in the bag that’s for him of all people. ]

How’d you know where to find me?

Even as one of the more visible heroes back home, Jaime's still uncomfortable enough with the idea of buzzing around high above the decidedly hostile Exiles that he prefers sticking to the outskirts of the city. There's honestly a good reason for him to be flying around; he knows he needs more practice with sudden starts and stops after the bombs, just as he needs to work on his dexterity in the air. A life spent happily on the ground makes it hard for him to remember exactly how much he can move while airborne.

Of course, there's also the other reason, which is a lot less logical but certainly more honest, and it's that sometimes he wants to fly for the sheer love of it. He slows to a stop and hovers in mid-air when he sees that he's got company way out here... and there are only so many petite blondes with heat vision he can think of.

"Supergirl?"

Hey, he's learning. Besides that, he feels just a little bit guilty for totally neglecting to so much as say hello even though they really ought to be allies around here. Comrades-in-arms. Temporary Titans Together, that sort of thing.

[Anakin is gone before she wakes up. Just like any other day.

That's the system they have, the one she still feels is necessitated by circumstance. Maybe things have changed here, (maybe Luke happened), and maybe the idea that such appearances are no longer required to maintain is something that tugs at the back of her mind in those moments when other thoughts are quiet. But it's not a conviction she'll back down from so easily. Even if most semblances of home are galaxies upon galaxies away, there are things they should still remember. Principles they should still uphold.

So the routine persists.

It's not late by the time she leaves her room and makes her way toward the kitchen herself, all the while unaware of anything that might shake up what has now become ordinary. Unaware as she happens to catch her roommate in passing en route, and regards her with the polite smile that is her custom.

Unaware, too, of more than one obvious welt on her neck.]

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( pour a little salt. )

C; i'm both embarrased and proud

i bet you thought i was joking about this

wow way to show me up

hey you're the one who mentioned sonnets

I didn't expect you to actually do it!!!

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Option A

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C

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\o/

A

sometime somewhat later after the other thing happened idk timeline magic