To my fellow players,

( Opinions expressed below belong to the player only unless otherwise stated in comments )

The sun is setting, meaning New Years' Celebrations are about to start, meaning business for the cape crowd. "You know Jesse, the longer I'm here, the more I think you steered us in the right direction."

( Read more... )

She was on Earth again. Kyle was somewhere and supposed to be back soon. She was with the Titans again and Roy was acting a bit...more like the Roy she remembered rather then being this government-back near tyrant he could drop into being so easily now. Bart and Lian have been throughly chipper and...soothing...in their manic sort of way. She has yet another divorce hearing for some piece of property in a few hours, but right now it's quiet in the dawn hours of the train station base. She's flipping multigrain pancakes and she's singing...

A love struck Romeo sings the streets a serenade
He's laying everybody low
He's got a love song that he made
He finds a convenient streetlight and he steps out of the shade
And says something like
"You and me, babe, how about it?"

Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo!
You nearly gave me a heart attack"
Yeah well, he's underneath the window now she's singing,
"Hey, la, my boyfriend's back
You shouldn't come around here singing up to people like that"
Oh anyway whatcha gonna do about it?

Another day. Another paycheck. She's taken an assignment in Italy, leaving the husband and kid behind for a bit while she coaxed this boy band into actually posing instead of hamming it up. That was the morning though. Tonight, she'll fly back under her own power. Ah the joys of being a freelancer trying to save more money for the groceries!

But first, clam linguine, because, damnit, she earned it.

The Good News: Lian Harper is actually getting the hang of this "public school," thing. She's even discovered school band and has taken a serious interest in it.

The Bad News: She beginning to learn the saxophone and there isn't enough soundproofing in the world for this, much less out in the garage.

Younger Titan and older Titan having a night out on the streets of Philadelphia. It's not the dark place Gotham is, but it's not relaxed, accepting culture of San Fransisco either. Tonight, the pair are in First Hill, which is surprisingly quiet and their shift is winding down.

"So what kind of early morning food do you go for?" Troia asks. "I get to buy or cook it."

( Unintentional Moments of Tie Together. )

Some days it's not writing. It's taking dictation.

Thank the Gods it's not true. I heard the news about Jason before it could be confirmed by outside sources.

It would be hard to explain (not to mention very messy) why I owe Jason Todd more than I can repay. It's hard to explain a bond forged first by utter failure and pain then by death. It sounds even more crazy because I've worked with others longer and during moments of greater cataclysmic importance. I've even been snatched from the jaws of death by those who have surprised and comforted me, but very few have ever become so important to me so quickly.

But I still remember being numb for days upon coming back as "Troia," and then discovering there would be someone who would never see the shift - never see me "all grown up." I remember putting my foot down strongly on adding his statue to the Hall as Robin - as a Titan.

I'm pretty sure he'll laugh and be very confused about this when he returns. May that be soon.

PS: For the record, I pray the Helena rumors on the news are more than rumors. I wish both any joy they can find.

http://www.eff.org/

From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as speakers, citizens, creators, and consumers. When our freedoms in the networked world come under attack, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is the first line of defense. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 — well before the Internet was on most people's radar — and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights.

I need to stress that I am only speaking for myself here, (which is why I am putting this on a character blog) but I remember this organization helping defend Star Trek fan websites from Viacom in '96. If you feel the need to go somewhere and do something about the recent situation or just want to know the law, the EFF is helping people in spots of trouble similar to Chris. I just signed up for the newsletter and took a look around the site.

Thanks all,

M

(From here)

The bride and groom are not unknown to the unseen watchers.

::Which is accompanied by a pair of clearly self-made silver bracelets::

Jesse,

You seemed stunned that I asked you to be my Maid of Honor - my second at my wedding. I'm hoping this letter clears that up, but if you want to ask something later, you know where to find me.

I'm not sure you know this story. It's not really in the records and it's not like Jay would boast or even credit himself with this, but he got my mother to leave her kingdom and come to this world. He was the first man since Heracles to set foot on the island. What sold her on the idea beyond Jay's sincerity and his insistence that the war would indeed come to our lands was Liberty Belle. Mom scoffed at the idea she'd be allowed to fight beside men as an equal without having to battle them first. Jay brought up your mother and, well, she had to go see this modern world for herself. At least this is what Mom told me the one time I asked her about the JSA.

Without the speedsters...Without Belle...there would likely be no Wonders in this world. As the most dedicated guardian of those and the JSA's legacy, it seems like it would be a sad thing to leave you out of the proceedings.

The second reason is far more personal. Out of the 12 people who directly risked their lives in those Games, I'll admit, you were the biggest surprise. We hadn't served that long together before my "departure" and you always seemed shy and distant around the Tower - despite the brashness and confidence you exuded elsewhere. Then you arrive at the Games. You race, you fight like an Amazon, you nearly die, and most amazing of all, you faced the largest metaphysical challenge there is - the Apple of Desire - and you give it up to someone I'm not even sure you considered a friend at that point for maybe the chance in Hell it would get us the Titans and I out of there alive. We both know the ways that thing twists a mind and makes you think, "If I just hold on..."

And you let it go on the hope I would know what to do. Without you doing that - I can't stress this enough - there likely would be no Titans. Not, at least, the way they are now. There wouldn't be a wedding. I might not have had the strength to make the decision I did to bring my family home. You might not think it, (and you will likely downplay it) but you were the heart of the team that day.

After that, you've listened good humoredly while I worked out 14 years of kinks with my relationship, was there with food and a shoulder to cry on when I got exiled from my home, we've fought the good fight time and again, and we likely will in the future - because the speed demons and the displaced Amazons have the future in common as well.

The bracelets aren't Amazon style. Themscyria doesn't think much of my take on their code, plus as fashionable as they can be, they are a little obvious in a civilian identity. They are, however, offered with the same spirit - friendship and...well, sisterhood - as another legacy case, as a fellow warrior, and, yes, as a Titan.

To the past, present, and future, Ms. Quick - at least that's the hope.

- Donna

As befitting the tradition of the groom’s people, the guests are assembled in a circle around a handmade clay tier. On this tier are baskets filled with flowers. One basket holds plants from his desert home. Another basket has more worldly flowers happily provided from a flower shop in Gotham. One holds blossoms from an island which has now disappeared away from Man’s World. The final and largest one holds a hodgepodge of plants - Tamaranean flowers share space with Atlantian seaweed and Mid-western wildflowers...Themscyrian lilacs flank a small bouquet of orange roses named after a Wayne family botanist over a century ago. All from gardens surrounding a tower in San Francisco which houses a family that the couple have fought with, beside, and sometimes even against but have always been a part of.

The groom, dressed in a red silk shirt and, out of respect for private memory, plain black silk pants stands...or rather fidgets...awaiting the bride. Even through all the battles, even through the challenges of Hades domain and the pair dying in one another arms, he’s still amazed he’s even here. His daughter is by his side, holding his sweating hand, swinging his arm, and smiling a smile so big it could swallow her face.

Roy Harper and Donna Troy began their relationship as their family - the Titans - began. Their fortunes rose and fell with the volatile team. Their relationship over the past 14 years has always been a potent mix of love, friendship, duty, humor, borderline insanity, and loyalty. For some, “Titans Together,” is a battle chant. To some it’s a homecoming and reminder there is a place for caped misfits and orphans to find themselves. To others, it’s a memory of youth and times past. To this pair, it’s a way of life and today just adds one more wrinkle to that statement.

Let’s begin...

Vital Stats:
Full Name: Donna Hinkley Stacey Troy
Occupation: Photographer
Height: 5’9” (1.75m)
Weight: 143 lb (64.9 kg)
Hair, Eyes: Black, Blue
Member of: Titans, Darkstars (former)
Powers/abilities: Amazon fighter training, flight, superstrength, superspeed, projective and internal truth sense (aka it’s hard to lie around her), psychic link to Wonder Woman, lasso can project and (with more difficulty) extract memories.

Main points of difference:

Dark Angel’s plan for Diana’s doppelganger not only involved driving Hippolyta mad with grief, it was also out of jealousy and fear about her being replaced by Hippolyta and her daughters. It also involved attempting to control the being that would eventually rule Hypertime. There was also not an attack headed off by the Titans from the Kingdom Come universe, since we destroyed hat one.

Through these alternate lives Troia managed to connect with at least some of the people she knows now. Of these, her bond with Nightwing might very well be equal to that she shares with Wonder Woman. Dark Angel also mentioned Arsenal has been her lover in other lifetimes and a source of hope to her and, thus, has interfered with Dark Angel’s plans to corrupt or destroy Donna.

Roy and Donna’s relationship has been greatly expanded from what DC did and has been more intense. This includes them both falling in love from the start of the Titans, Donna helping Roy get sober, Roy being on hand when Terry and Donna ended their relationship, raising Lian together, Roy challenging Hades for her life and dying in the process, becoming engaged, and Roy being a serious threat to Dark Angel’s plans. To that end, Dark Angel forced Roy to leave Donna in order to save her life when the pair were in their late teens. Unlike the comics, she did not jump into bed with Roy after losing her memories to prove she wasn’t the “nice girl,” or to test her boundaries. If anything, after she lost her memories, she was more distant from Roy (and Wally) until her death due to heart/head translation issues. She is still the only person Lian would want as her mother though and the feeling is pretty much mutual all around except for Cheshire.

She didn’t marry Terry for love. She married Terry because she thought this would stabilize her life, grant her a “real,” family, and because he asked her to. Even though she tried with all her heart, both she and Terry still harbored feeling for their ex’s and as the Titans took up more of Donna’s time, the more emotionally abusive and controlling the relationship became. (Sorry Marv Wolfman)

The Titans of Myth are a giant question mark at this point. Supposedly, she was found by Rhea as a child in a burning building, taken to their world, given her powers through this “Titan seed,” – which is a small part of the Titan of Myths’ powers - raised until she was thirteen, and then returned to Earth to learn humility and humanity and they will wish her to return someday to be their next generation. Only, the Titans of Myth tried to recall her back to their world at the age of 16 and it nearly killed her. They took away or blocked her powers and her son’s in order to grant him normalcy and then took the time traveling version of him away – a version that supposedly died in the Zero Hour Crisis but fought her on Hades battlefield during the Games to bring her back to life. Persephone at the Games mentioned they were not to be trusted, had some hand in her curse, and with her powers intact and the Titan Seed gone, Donna is suspecting there is something to that assertion.

That said, she was not brought back to life by the Titans of Myth, living there as a Titan of the Moon, married to another mythic Titan, or anything like that. She was in the Greek Underworld and was brought back to life by a challenge of Arsenal and the Titans vs. the heroes of Greek legend. (See Olympics)

During this conflict, she was granted the boon of restoring 2 people back to life, either her children or Nightwing and Arsenal, who had fallen during the events. Because of the fear her children with Terry had of her, she felt the world needed heroes, her children needed to be safe, and their daughters needed their fathers, Troia chose to restore Dick and Roy thier lives.

She has only recently gained all of her memories back due to the destruction of Dark Angel. As such, she is no longer cursed to live short, unhappy lives."

Even though there is no love between Cheshire and Troia, and both claim to toher have destoryed parts of thier lives, she is trying for the sake of Lian, Roy, herself, and for any future family they may have to make some sort of peace with her after Dark angel switch places between Donna and Jade, including offering a safe place to live. It is unknown what Cheshire is going to do with this, but for now she is accepting medical help at Titan Tower.

Themscryria no longer considers Troia an Amazon She's gone too native. She’s having some doubts about that title herself.

( A more detailed write up. bold indicates Watchtower cannon... )

Well, no surprise there. Luthor's people just sent me a deportation notice, despite my dual citizenship. This is while all that's left working at Titan Tower is the infirmary. Ibn told them there's a medical emergency and that they will have to wait a bit until they can just tell me to leave. He told me I have 24 more hours to wait until I'm healed enough to fight for yet another home.

What happens after this war however? Provided Themscyria and I survive what Luthor throws at us, what's going to be left? I have a home here. I have two brothers in this country, a fiance` with a child, and so many friends. I was born in this country for this lifetime and was partially raised her by this land's heroes. There, I'm a princess. I'm not as duty bound to the functions of the job like Diana is, but I'm still an Amazon representative in Man's World and I'm still the daughter of Queen Hippolyta. I'm still linked to the Gods and magic of that land. I'm Persephone's champion. Even my ashes were scattered between the Tower and Themscyria. I know that my nation is Themscryria, but I also know that "Home," is where those I love are, and most would be here.

Provided I live through this, both places are going to need a set of strong hands to rebuild. I'm not sure where my hands are going to end up being. All I can think of now is the hands moving on the clock in front of me, the weapons and armor my mother left with Hawkman that I'll have to retrieve, and the fact that fight with Plasmus destroyed my engagement ring from Roy and I'll need to have that rebuilt too.

I can't ask any of the Titans (except maybe Garth, who may or may not have his own nation in tatters) to join anymore than Diana can ask any of the JLA, especially now. This is a fight my sisters and I have to do on our own. I pray for Athene's guidance and Persephone's mercy for any who fall.

I caught Lian talking with Ibn the other day about him. A few months back when the worlds were falling into one another Lian saw him - an older version. He was some possible future I guess. Ever since then, she's wanted to know about him. She even insisted on going to visit his grave when he went on the short road trip. In Ibn's time, he grew up to be a hero and Ibn's friend. He took the Darkstar mantle I used to have and joined a new group of Titans.

Things didn't turn out that way here. Here, he used the power of the Titan seed in me and the power provided as part of the Amazons to instantly grow up into a monster. I remember the look on Terry's face - the terror of it. I don't like showing off how much I can lift or anything terribly flashy with the abilities I have. They just are there and there are people better at what I do anyway. Terry liked the idea I was special at first. After awhile, he became upset if I moved the furnature by myself and Gods help me if I offered to take him flying. After Bobby defeat I begged for the power to be taken from him - from us - so he could live as a normal boy. Everything is hazy after that because Terry didn't want the Titans or my sisters on Themscyria to be part of our lives. I don't know if he actually became bitter and blamed our problems on the abilities I and others around me had, or if I just took the blame for his unhappiness on myself and wanted to fix it. What I do know is that now I don't recall a first word or a first step. I don't even remember being told that he died. My first memory of knowing it happened is when Wally and Diana came after they were notified and I was already at the hospital feeling more powerless then I'd ever been, even with my new Darkstar uniform.

Connor even told her about enough about Greece to know that he didn't want to come home, but that her father did.

Ibn offered to share his memories of his version of Bobby with me. I want to, but I admit to feeling apprehensive. I can't really place my finger on why. I mean, it's my son. My son the hero. The supposed peacemaker of a future line up of Titans out there somewhere. I'd see him grown up and be alive. Even knowing that world doesn't exsist and never could, even if it doesn't ease any pain, I have to hope it's better than this gap I have left. Of only knowing your son most clearly as someone that wanted - wants - nothing to do with you, despite loving and missing him with all your heart.

There are days I envy Kory's ability to feel through things with a clear heart or Raven's clear-headedness. I have neither on the subject, nor do I know the person who's offering this very well.

( Read more... )

When she gets up there, he's in bed already wearing a blue T-shirt and grey sweatpants he scrounged from somewhere. Lian's obviously had a trying time too. It's not often she feels the need to crawl into bed by dad. The fact her bright pink PJ have the label "Princess," (in silver sparkles - always has to sparkle where Lian is concerned) on them. Seeing them curled up together makes her smile a small silly smile.

That's when she realizes her sleep ware in on the bus. Damn. She feels almost too tired to go back and get it. She turns around to go...

And it's hanging on the door. She never thought she'd see it again. The silly smile grows as she takes the arm of the soft dark blue nightgown with the smiley face note attached, obviously left by Roy. He'd either found or kept her "comfort," nightgown - the one she'd lived in when she was sick or recovering or just plain feeling rotten. She took it into the bathroom, did her best to wash her hair (when raising her arms up was a very unpleasant experience) and around the bandages, and then slipped on the nightgown and into bed.

And then she was back up, back in her uniform with the ring she had been holding - the ring Cheshire had worn and that Dark Angel had used, her wedding ring. It felt cold and heavy.

( I'm dreaming. )

In my capacity as Princess, I've offered Jade Nguyen aka Cheshire asylum on Themscryria and she's under my protection until she is delivered there. It's a chance for her to start over, quit trying to kill us all, and maybe even offer our island a healer. If you know how to poison, after all, you have to learn what cures.

Line forms to the left for explanations as to what the hell prompted all this and for the required bitching me out.

Glad to be with you all again.

I can see out of her eyes. I haven't talked back since Diana came and almost got trapped in here with me. Besides, what is there to say? Cheshire is just as confused as I am I think and she can be violent when confronted. I'm scared to death for Lian as is. No need to panic her or even make her get used to my voice. I might be able to shout out at some key moment and throw her off.

Weird what comes mind at times like this. I just came back to life. I'm not going back any time soon without a damned good fight. So right now, I'm just sort of stuck in the back of her mind. Always did wonder what happened in here. Always wondered if there was something Roy saw that I just couldn't...always seeing her in a homicidal mood will do that. Okay, Donna, just admit it. You're the jealous type and the whole Cheshire as Lian's mother thing drives you pretty nuts. Roy's incredible arrogance in assuming that you'd be there "someday," when he got his stuff together...it's tempered by the fact you were on the same page. The part where you both fell off that page and had children with other people is in the top three things that drives you nuts about the memory being full of holes. Not knowing what scared Bobby and Jen about you or being able to retain much of thier part in your life outranks that.

Thank the Gods Jesse and Wally do not have that to deal with that snag. As I told Diana, there are no wars more brutal and ugly than custody battles.

I don't know what Mary's first word will be yet. I can't leave before I know. And I need to keep the guys from scaring the heck out of Lian's prom date. And I don't know if Bart has read Peter Pan yet, but he should and I should see to that. Have to stick around at least that long, right?

Diana managed to find her way here. I'm not sure how, but Dark Angel was also here and trying to keep her. I still feeling drained from the effort to get her out of the nightmare. Hey, I saved someone from the voices screaming for my death. As Cassie would say, "go me." I'm sick of this. I barely understand Dark Angel's motives in the first place. If I'm not Hippolyta's daughter in her mind, why keep me? Why keep shoving me though a bunch of lives I can't really recall to the point they don't make any sense anymore? Why send Cheshire to live my life if she makes it a broken thing anyway?

I need to tell the Stacey's I'm okay. Their number didn't work when I got back. I still need to take the pictures of Kory in frilly underwear for Hugo. Need to get better acquainted with Gar's girlfriend and see if Vic's search for a nice girl is going somewhere. I need to teach Luum to make Christmas cookies. And Kon. Last year before...we got busy last time. Well, maybe Ma Kent gave him cooking skills. One more reasons to get out. I want to know if Superboy can make spaghetti without setting off the fire alarm. Nope. Not ready to go yet. And Sue and Ralph are finally about to have a child...

Keep breathing. Keep a look out. Stay strong. Remember what Dick said about punches thrown in anger being the last ones you'll ever throw. Speaking of punches, I need to ask Mr. Grant and the JSA about Mom. When I was growing up, I remember staying with them for a summer. I don't remember anything except that it was like looking in on gods sometimes. Except Ted. Ted was the real deal and terribly good with this scared little girl. Wildcat taught me to box like an Amazon.

There is no way I'm rolling over and dying. I haven't held Roy the way I always wanted to. Maybe I have, but I don't remember, and I would have been too young to appreciate what I was doing if I had. Cheshire might have my life. She might have made love to the man I want to marry, but she can't do that. No matter what she tries to take, only I know the way I want to hold him and haven't yet.

Think of family...keep holding home in your heart. Have faith. When faith fails, just try and remember the sound of Dick's voice. Or Wally's...or Kory's...Diana's...Cassie's...Roy's...Lian's...

I seem to recall my guilty pleasure for Great Frog and Blue Oyster Cult used to drive Terry nuts. I wonder if it would work here. Prescription for more cowbell, Cheshire?