tushanshu_logs | Push, Push, Push Rewind

Entry tags:

Push, Push, Push Rewind

Characters: Zatanna / Midii / Aya + [OPEN]
Date: February 8-12
Location: All around Keelai
Situation: Catch-all for the Memory Event, with a few options for non-memory meet-ups as well

Warnings/Rating: Possible discussions of War, Death, Child Endangerment, Vaguely Described Sexual Situations, and/or Hal Jordan.

I. - Midii

⇨ Option a. - (no memory)
[On any given day, Midii could be find around the town, doing her job. In the past, it mostly involved small parcels. Goods exchanged in between businesses. She'd developed a reputation over the years of working both fast and maintaining the trust of her employers by never tampering with any letters or packages she was given.]

[Some of the parcels were heavier than others. Normally, that wasn't so much an issue, as she's purchased a bicycle some time back to get around faster...but the recent damage from the storms left many of her usual routes more challenging to cross. Meaning she had to resort to alternate paths and more open, longer routes. Increasing the chances of her bumping into a face, familiar or otherwise.]

⇨ Option b - (memory 1)
[Upon contact, memories will flood the other person's mind of...a family. One not quite whole, but still happy and loving. A single room. Dark, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming in through a dirty window and a few scattered candles. A man laying on a cot in the back, sleeping. Two blonde boys sitting on the ground by a small coffee table. Identical. Eating from equally identical plates of what looked like pasta covered in a green sauce. A boy even younger--maybe 2 years in age--laying on his stomach on the floor nearby. Using one of the candles as light as he attempted to color with bits of charcoal. There were smears of it all over his forehead and cheeks, and his hands were completely covered, but he seemed so hard at work.]

[A moment later, Midii herself--age 8--walked in holding two more bowls. She glanced at the smallest boy before frowning slightly, and pausing just long enough to put the bowls down on the table before approaching.]

[Don't even think about it. She called over her shoulder, before either of the twins could dare touch her food. Then, to the baby, she spoke in a much softer tone: Oh, Michel...we need to wash your hands again before you can eat. Or you'll end up--]

[It was then, a knock at the door rang out, drawing the four siblings' attention.]

[And the memory ended.]

⇨ Option c - (memory 2)
[There was a boy. Someone she was very close to. The mood was solemn, but at the same time, Midii still seemed...happy. To be around him. A bittersweet sentiment, given they were essentially saying temporary farewells. But, at the same time, the farewell was only because he had asked a favor of her. To guard someone very precious to him. As a fellow turtle parent, she knew how much it meant to ask something like that of anyone.

[It would also be one of the last times Midii demonstrated an act of physical affection for anyone in Keelai. And, given the reason, it was little wonder why such a memory still remained planted so strongly in her mind's eye.]

II. - Zatanna

⇨ Option a. - (no memory)
[As always, the young Mistress of Magic can be found at the Welcome Center...which seems to be a little pinker this month. As in, the fireplace was enchanted to burn a soft baby pink, filling the room with its warm glow. There were hearts hanging on the walls of different sizes and colors, and on a small table by the Welcome Center's main guest console, a plate of red, white, and pink-frosted sugar cookies were made available to any who wanted a quick pick-me-up.][

⇨ Option b - (memory 1)
[It was...not one of her fonder memories, to be sure.]

[The Landfall of Kithika involved traveling inside a bottle, an old artifact from the First War that had been found. It was a city contained with the Death Realm, and as such, possessed many...magical attributes.]

[Including the stone idols which allowed anyone who touched it to experience certain effects. In Zatanna's case...a certain evil Road Not Taken]

⇨ Option c - (memory 2)
[So, a long time ago...like early 2013...Asti decided to go for a Dive at the bottom of the ocean floor. Which would have been cool, except for the dead people. As in, Zombies.]

[Including one that was an all too familiar face for Zatanna (aka: ex-boyfriend, Dick "Robin" Grayson, whom she had to fight alongside Damian "also Robin" Wayne and end up making his zombie self go "boom" and thinking she killed him (again) until he later showed up at the palace, revived and okay. Life was so complicated back then.)]

III. - Aya *

⇨ Option a. - (no memory)
[Having gotten over her recent illness, Aya can be spotted flying about the town on a near daily basis, at all hours, as she continued to devote her time to aiding in the cleanup. Her Green Energy occasionally expelling from her palms in order to move dangerous objects. Pausing for neither sleep nor food, because they were not necessary.]

⇨ Option b - (memory 1)
[The inside of a ship.]

[In walked a man in a mask. Wearing all green. Green Lantern Hal Jordan. A pink-skinned being soon followed. Green Lantern Seargent Kilowog. Judging from their respective expressions, it was the first time they had seen the inside of the ship. Hal immediately went towards the main console, where he could be heard calling the entire inside beautiful. Referring to the ship as a female, explaining to his companion that all ships were female.]

[As if on cue, the computer itself turned on, a little holographic "eyeball" appearing in the middle of the console, lights flashing with each audible syllable uttered...in what was unmistakably Aya's voice. Her first words?]

[Please define the term "beautiful"]

[That must be the new A.I. NAV computer, Kilowog explained.]

[Hello, Aya, Hal Jordan immediately greeted her with a smile. Effectively naming the believed arteficial intelligence.]

⇨ Option c - (memory 2)
[In late September of 2014, nearing the end of Malicant's reign...there was an unexpected effect on any and all individuals with powers, including poor Aya, who found herself experiencing several systematic failures due to both her Green Energy power supply and biotechnical physical components being effected.]

* Aya is technically supposed to be immune to any and all telepathic abilities because of her nature (created from a piece of Ion, the being that lives inside the Green Lantern), so I'm fudging a few things in order for her to be able to participate in the event. Say the magic was able to rework the memory into a sort of data memory for her to wirelessly download or something idk.

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[ The depth of emotion in the memory was startling for Elizabeth, simply because she'd never personally known anyone she'd been able to connect to that deeply. Not the least of the many problems in growing up in total isolation in a tower. And the brunette wasn't sure how that made her feel... strong, in a way, to connect to someone, but also incredibly vulnerable, and that part wasn't enjoyable.

She didn't recognize the face of the boy; she'd not seen him in Keeliai in her months here. ]

Who... was that? That boy...

[Midii, herself, was still reeling from the sudden memory (and emotional) transference. In the moment, her reaction was a little more dramatic. Because she'd been caught off guard. Because she hadn't expected anybody else seeing something so...private]

[Because, while she did still think about him sometimes, those times had been fewer and further in between and involved mostly flashes of his face at best. Not...that night.]

You...saw?

[Her eyes were still wide with shock at it all.]

[ A combination of guilt and shock coloured Elizabeth's expression, and she bit her lower lip. ]

I did... but I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, Midii. There's been something so strange going on lately, I don't know why.

[Her lips pressed together, and for a moment, one could practically see the gears turning.]

Magic.

[That wasn't an answer, necessarily. Not to her. It was the beginning of a train of thought.]

This world...it's like...it runs on Dreams. I don't know how--I've never known how--but there have been so many times when it's like this world gets inside your head. If not the Turtles than the world of Dreaming itself.

So that part doesn't surprise me so much as...what was still there.

[Inside her head. A memory she hadn't though of in so long.]

Magic... not that I don't believe it, obviously, given everything here that I've seen... but I take it this sort of thing doesn't happen often? Or surely someone would have mentioned it.

Why what was there? The memory? It seemed... were you trying to forget it?

[She shook her head.]

No. Definitely not often.

[There was the time when items kept disappearing or reaping for a bit. Like the magic coffee supply at the Hotel--Midii wasn't as much of an addict as others she'd seen in the kitchens, but she did appreciated the extra caffine when she needed it. And then there was the time...much longer ago...when the baby turtles had their dream-hopping adventures. But this? This was...different.]

It's not that I wanted to forget it. It's just...it's hard to remember.

He disappeared a long time ago. Three years, I think. Maybe more.

[ Elizabeth starts a little. ]

I didn't realize you'd been here quite so long. You must have been quite young when you arrived?

[It was an expected reaction, given the implications of time involved. Midii offered a faint smile in return, though she knew it would offer little reassurance.]

Eleven.

[No use dancing around that fact, especially with all the other children that had been in Keelai at the time as well. She wasn't even the youngest.]

Most people aren't here as long as me, though. I...don't know why I'm still here, but I'm okay with it. I like it here.

I can't imagine what it must have been like, adjusting to a place like this at that age.

Mm, I heard the usual stay was much less than that... around a year? I wonder what determines why the difference for some people.

For some people, it was more. For some, it was less.

I'm not sure there is anything specific that determines who stays for how long. There aren't many who've been here longer than me, but the ones I can think of...I can't think of anything we have in common. And it's the same for the people who keep coming and going. It's all so random.

I suppose it might be too much to hope for that the random choices are done with a benign intent...

[That would be a nice thought, wouldn't it? Alas, Midii was not one for such optimism.]

If there's any actual intent at all.

[Costigan was out for a run, trying to clear his head from the recent distractions of being exposed to others' memories. It seemed the safest way to give himself some time, taking a longer and usually isolated path. It didn't even really occur to him to watch out for someone else, especially on a bicycle. Thankfully, they were both slowed as they approached an obstacle at the corner, so his crashing into her only involved her nearly toppling off the bicycle and his catching her before she could fall.

That's when he saw the girl, so very young, taking care of the boys. All children. It was over in a second and Costigan frowned at the girl as he let her go, picking up her bike.]

Sorry, I uh- I didn't see you. [He began. He wanted to know why she was forced to take care of them, where her parents were, who was at the door. But he wasn't exactly one to pry.] You alright?

[The crash had, naturally caught her by surprise. As did the sudden hands reaching out to grab her. But nothing could have prepared her for the sudden flash of memories to a time...so very long ago.]

[Nor the fact that somebody else had seen them, either.]

Y-yeah...

[Physically, she was fine. Startled, sure, but that was pretty understandable. She paused to swallow and straighten herself. Checking to be sure her bike was alright. It was.]

You?

Yeah. [He answers automatically, before even really taking a moment to decide if he actually is. Costigan frowns a little at the girl, confused by the deja vu in his mind. She looks.. familiar. But he doesn't know if it's because of the memory he's just seen her in, or if she was someone he knew before.]

Do I know you?

I don't--

[It was a reflex response, until she took a moment. Listened to his voice again in her head. Took a second look at his face. It...had been a while, but two instances in particular stuck out in her mind. Moments that replayed over and over, combined with the fact that he'd needed to ask.]

[Which meant he either remembered, and thought she didn't....or he didn't remember, but had been told he should by someone else already.]

...I remember you.

[It wasn't a direct answer, but she couldn't say if he did or didn't yet. She could only try to help him remember.]

You helped me with the consoles. I wanted to learn encryptions.

And...you helped me after I was attacked. You talked to... [Bakura] ...the person I thought was responsible. You got more answers out of him than I could have. Because you were objective.

[Something Midii had always been way worse at than she liked to think. It had affected far too many relationships in her young life, for better or worse. Usually worse.]

[Costigan teaching anyone anything about computers didn't make much sense to him, but there were a lot of things about his apparent former life that didn't seem to. The latter idea felt more familiar somehow, and he recalled trying to find out who it was and seeking out the person. Not that he could remember who it was.]

You were worried because he was dangerous.. [He hazarded, sounding uncertain of the words even as he spoke them. Sounding more frustrated, he continued.] I don't remember who it was. I was- They tell me I was here before and I'm startin' to remember some things, but I don't- I don't know your name, or why I helped you, I'm sorry.

Midii. My name is Midii.

[She didn't seem that broken up at the fact that he didn't remember her. She didn't even seem all that surprised, having grown used to the possibility of such occurrences. It wasn't as if they'd been all that close before, despite the positive memories attached to his face and voice.]

I...don't remember your name either, actually. [She admitted, a little sheepishly.] I'm sorry. It was a long time ago.

I'm not sure why you helped me either. Maybe it's because I was younger then. A lot of the adults around here liked to help us kids. I just remember you being really nice about it.

Then I don't feel bad. [He cracks a smirk, offering a hand in introduction.] Billy Costigan.

You need my help again, you come to me, alright? I don't need to remember why I helped you to know I had a reason. And it's got nothing to do with how young you are. I helped you then, I help you now.

[And he means it. He's not entirely sure that her age had nothing to do with it back then, but it's clear from her memory that Midii can handle herself and more than. Now, it's about reforging and honoring the connections he's lost.]

[She accepted his hand, though her grip was a little loose. Familiar with handshakes, but not one to perform them very often.]

That's very kind of your to offer. Thank you. I'll remember your name this time, I promise.

[Costigan drops his hand after she's shaken it, standing by to ensure the bike remains upright after their small collision. She's cute and young and he can't help but worry about her a little, even knowing how capable she is. It's in his nature.]

You too. Midii. [He repeats, as if to prove it. Then he gives another light smile.] Do you want to get coffee? Not now, I don't want to keep you. I was hoping you could tell me more about this place, maybe jog my memory a little.

Later this afternoon?

[She usually had evenings free; very few businesses open at those hours needed her services, especially the ones who didn't want to be responsible for sending a 16-year-old girl onto the streets in the later hours.]

I can tell you what I can tell you. We didn't know each other very well, so there's not much on that end I can help with...but, yeah, I can tell you about Keelai.

Sure, yeah. I'd like that. [He gives a light nod to confirm, trying not to think too hard about what people back home would think of his making plans with a teenage girl. Valdis was right about this place forcing people to change.] Call me on the console when you're ready. I'll be around.

[It was pretty clear from her body language that Midii, at least, didn't think twice about it. There weren't many children in Keelai--not anymore--so she was used to conversing with adults. And, to her, it was less a social get-together than she was doing her part in helping somebody readjust. Provide information.]

[Like...volunteer work. Only more friendly.]

Alright. I'll call you after I finish my last run.

You should hurry, before I upset any of your clients.

[He loiters there, waiting to see her off before he'll walk away, just in case her bike is ruined or she's not as well as she seems.]

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Push, Push, Push Rewind

Midii - option c

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Midii - option B

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