genessia | [Intro - This Could Be Worse][Video]

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[Intro - This Could Be Worse][Video]

[Today wasn't a bad day. Okay, he'd woken up to find out he was abducted into an alternate dimension of some kind...probably?

But he was armed, not actively in pain, and not actively under attack. He was even relatively sure he hadn't been drugged. Sure, Qurac was going to have to wait, and there'd been another round of what-is-my-life but for now?

For now he was pretty good.

He's sitting crosslegged in a corner of the welcome center when he starts the video; domino mask, quiver, and bow on his lap instead of his back and trucker cap pulled down snugly. He's even smiling in a sort of loose way.]

So. This happened. You know, I gotta say so far? 10/10 kidnapping - kept my weapons, got money, wasn't tied to a thing and I have all my teeth. this place shouldn't change a thing, really, just expert.

[It's a little tongue in cheek, but he seems genuine enough, even if the bright red hair poking out from beneath his cap looks like it could use a wash. He waves the little pamphlet in front of the camera.]

Don't worry, I read the spiel, saw the hologram - I'm stuck, you're stuck, we're all stuck, no one here is at fault, I'm not going to try to take over the world - we're cool. Feels like more of a t- group thing, but hey. Brave new world. This thing asked for the social, so you've got it. Roy out-

[With another flashed smile and a shrug, he turns off the video.]

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[Dick really hadn't expected to see any familiar faces here; In retrospect, that was probably a mistake. These kinds of things were hardly ever solitary events, after all. But still, the moment he saw Roy's face on the tiny screen - late though it was, a few hours after it had been posted, as he sat up in the small room he'd been given watching his phone and the door in shifts, cross-legged on the bed - a wave of relief washed over him so strong he felt dizzy.

When he makes makes the video response, call, whatever, he's half-shrouded by the shadows in the room, but recognizable, his hair messy and wearing the black t-shirt he'd arrived in - some Vigilante Chic thing he'd picked up because it amused him and made Bruce look twice, with the Bat symbol on the front in worn gray - his expression somewhere between relieved and pensive.]

Roy?

[Roy is out when the message comes through, wandering some darkened but fairly well lit streets. He doesn't recognize the noise at first, but when he does he stops against a wall to pull it out.

He turns on the video on his end as soon as he recognizes that voice, expression somewhere between glad and unsure.]

Dick?

[There's a laugh, and he adjusts the duffle bag hanging over his shoulder. Somewhere along the line he's gotten a sweatshirt, too.]

Holy shit. It uh, just us?

[Dick watches the video carefully, though every so often his gaze flicks up to the door past the phone. He doesn't trust this place yet, and he's more nervous than anything right now, though he won't say as much. Instead, he nods.]

So far, yeah. I haven't seen anything familiar here, so.. even if it's another dimension or something, I think it's safe to say we're not in Kansas anymore.

Not unless it's a Kansas snowglobe, anyway.

[Roy jokes, trying to shrug off the strange part of the situation.]

Have you been here long? I've been playing tourist and it kinda just looks like a city - I mean, some weird off-brand city out of a tv show that couldn't manage to get any product placement but it's just kind of weird, not alien. [He looks thoughtful for a moment, glancing up then back to the screen himself.] At least I'm pretty sure it's not some Truman Show reality tv gone crazy thing.

Not long. Most of a day. [He'd spent the day wandering, talking to people, trying to get the lay of the land, so to speak. It had been a long day, made longer by the fact that he was too anxious to sleep.] It.. seems pretty normal. I think there are places here that aren't - this one's kind of central and the other cities around it are all different. I haven't been out of this city yet, though.

[He thought of something, and smiled faintly at the screen when he thought of it, adding,] By the way, apparently if you see any Easter eggs, leave them alone. A woman I met told me they do weird things to people.

You'd think they'd put that in the brochure.

[Roy frowned briefly, trying to think of if he had seen any. None so far. But he hadn't been looking for them.]

I mean, that's assuming there's not actually a giant Easter egg hunt and fabulous prizes. [He waved a hand, not even on camera.] Don't worry, nix on errant eggs. I've noticed that - the gates. I've stuck close so far too, I mean, we've been doing enough weird travel already.

Maybe if we came this close together someone else'll be here soon? [He wasn't sure who. But a brief moment trying to figure it out made him think of something else and he groaned, putting his free hand over his face.]

Alright. I'm about to make this worse.

Right? No attention to detail. [A faint smile there, but he moves on quickly, his expression somewhat more sober.] I don't think there are fabulous prizes - Allie mentioned something about body-swapping and people turning into kids or something. This place... isn't what it looks like, I think. There's more to it.

[He raises an eyebrow at that last bit, but he takes the bait.] What is it?

[Roy moves his hand off his face. Tone sounding moderately annoyed.] How about the part where we don't even really have a way to tell if we're from the same version of our universe without playing current events and I'm pretty behind in that? If this place is other universes and things like that.

I'm probably overthinking it thought and yeah, okay, like I said - avoiding the eggs. You'd think they'd have someone, I don't know - disarming them? Leaving up little 'don't touch me' signs, something?

[He hadn't wanted to think about this place too much. It appeared friendly enough and he'd been perfectly happy with letting it be or pretend to be. His expression was a little on the side of defeated now, with a side of 'don't tell me I just planned the rest of my night'.]

Edited 2018-04-05 18:24 (UTC)

[Okay, admittedly, that thought hadn't occurred to Dick, and from the look on his face it's clear he would have preferred if it hadn't occurred to Roy, either - he looks a little bit like he's been slapped in the face. He glances away quickly, hiding his expression some, and his tone of voice when he speaks is light and fragile like a piece of glass just before someone steps on it and breaks it all over the floor.] I guess we can't really be sure. At least not yet. Wanna act like we're from the same universe until proven otherwise? [It sounds like he might be smiling in that last question, but it's faint.

It's not that Dick isn't good at adjusting into new situations - he excels at it. But he isn't very good at being alone. And right now, unless he assumes that this Roy is his Roy and not some evil body double from another dimension who somehow ended up in this other dimension coincidentally at the same time he did... he was alone.

He shakes it off after a moment, though. Presses a faint smile back on. Faces the phone screen.]

I don't know about disarming them, but we could try.. I don't know, covering them in something that says 'keep out' maybe.

[Yeah, okay, Roy is more than familiar with that expression. Not from on Dick necessarily, but he flinches all the same. When'd he decide to be the paranoid one anyway? He's more than willing to go along with Dick's proposition in any case once he makes it, even if his own expression is still a little tinged by regret.]

Done. Assuming neither of us are evil? Okay, cool. Let's never do anything to find out we're wrong.

[It's a very earnest, not quite straight faced request back. The eggs are a welcome tangent to swerve back to though.]

Solo cups maybe? Could weight'em down, fishing weights aren't expensive. Did the Allie person say how big they were? Also no touch, cool, but if we like...dropped a brick on them? No I'm thinking cups and weights and post it notes. Doesn't sound like the tech side of things and I'm pretty sure no one wants to wind up stuck as me.

[He finishes with a grin.]

[Dick smiles faintly at the suggestion. It helps that this Roy sounds and acts like what he's started calling "his Roy" in his head.] Sounds like a good plan to me.

[He shrugs a little at the question of the eggs, but he's happy enough to move to the subject as well.] She didn't say, but at a guess maybe egg-sized? That sounds good to me - the cups and weights and notes. I don't want to chance dropping a brick on it, just in case we both end up eight year olds for the duration. [Nobody wanted to be Dick Grayson at eight years old. Including Dick Grayson when he was eight years old.] We'll have some shopping to do in the morning, I guess. [That got a real smile.]

Edited 2018-04-05 18:56 (UTC)

Then we have a plan!

[It isn't until the end that Roy's smile falters a little, but he tries to do a job of hiding it.]

Right, you said you've been here all day. I figured I'd find a 24-hour place - they gotta have a gas station somewhere, right? See if I can get what I need with the shiny new allowance.

[He hesitates, mostly at the idea of stopping for the night.]

If you need to sleep I guess I could check out where this key actually goes to, been kind of putting that off.

Awesome.

[He pauses a moment to process Roy's words, and shrugs slightly, smile slipping from his features momentarily. He doesn't look sad, though, more thoughtful. He waves a hand absently to indicate his surroundings.]

It's kind of a.. divey motel room without the roaches. But if you wanna try to find a place open, I'm game. I wasn't sleeping anyway.

[It was tempting, almost too tempting to take up the offer of heading out. Give them both some more excuse to stay on their feet. Shaking his head no took almost a ridiculous amount of effort.]

Nah, you're probably right about waiting until tomorrow. Don't want to trip over an evil easter egg because we can't see it, right? [He forces levity into his tone, even on top of the internal joke there. The vigilante internship thing tended to do wonders for your night vision over time.] So let's hit the hay and make sure we don't just wake up at home or something. Not really expecting it but hey, didn't expect to wake up here either. Anything's possible.

Fellow archer?

[set pre Thea going back to her addict period circa S1]

[...camera angles, Roy, camera angles, he's facepalming when the video turns back on, smiling just a hair more awkwardly - and this time the phone is tilted to keep his weaponry out of the frame.]

Me? Just a hobby. [The smile is not very convincing, which is fitting since it's a complete lie. He does not have the arms of a hobbiest, however much they're visible.]

You shoot?

[A backpack full of archery gear can be seen just off camera, the arrows tipped in red. His arms also tip her off, not a mere hobbiest after all?]

Yea, I shoot.

Name's Thea, Thea Queen.

Edited 2018-04-06 19:50 (UTC)

Queen, huh?

[Roy grins, seeming for all the world like he's amused at some secret joke. He leans in a little too, gripping the brim of his hat and squinting like he's trying to get a better view at the person he's talking to.]

Nice meeting ya anyway. Roy Harper.

[Thea's heart skips a beat, could this be her Roy against all odds?]

Likewise. And I'll sound a little nuts but humor me a second, Starling City mean anything?

[That depends, is he a lanky well-built ginger with a history in creative weaponry.]

Starling City?

[He's wracking his brain a little on that one.]

Don't think so. I mean, Star city, sure.

Why?

Timelines and realities. Its not the first time.

Oh, that. Yeah, that stuff happens.

[He pauses a moment, like he's unsure of the connection here before he catches on.]

What, you recognize me? The queen I know's Oliver, I don't know any Theas. But I mean, I guess that doesn't mean anything.

Edited 2018-04-08 00:52 (UTC)

Oliver's my brother and I have someone at home also named Roy.

[Okay. Sister he would've heard of. He's pretty sure he would have at least known if Oliver had a sister. The thought's momentarily strange to wrap his head around, and it's probably why he's a little distracted and doesn't think through his response completely.]

I'm so sorry.

[Sweet bow, dude. Ted calls later to congratulate on the attitude.]

Goodness, would that all were so magnanimous. The contempt heaped upon our commodious kidnappers isn't quite convivial, eh?

Dare I ask what you got up to to jeopardize your teeth? Did it involve archery?

[He dabbles in vigilantism/heroics, but hasn't had that kind of rough treatment. Yet. Maybe he's just not applying himself.]

[Later means the video comes with a storefront window behind him, and has since gotten his things stowed into a newly purchased duffle. He's more than a little disheartened by his -again- failed camera skills when he'd meant to keep that stuff out of sight, but he's rolling with it and seems full of energy.]

Nah, just happened to have this on me. Just bad company.

[Okay it was mostly a lie, but it was honest enough. He could absolutely blame Ollie for that.] Way too long of a story - anyway, y'know if you keep getting that much thesaurus alliteration in you're going to give me V for Vendetta flashbacks.

[Excuse you he knows all those completely unnecessary words by heart. Why a bow would be especially damning he'll never know.]

Retaining morbidity's understandable. I confess ignorance to V for Vendetta. Is that a novel? Poem?

[Not really up on contemporary pop culture, this guy.]

Started as a graphic novel I guess. [He shrugs.] I just say the movie.

[This was the type of conversation that popped up in alternate universes, right? Yeah, that sounded right.]

[Ted has very little idea what "say the movie" means, but recovers in record time.]

Aheh, and it had ample amount of alliterative appeal? I'll have to see if so.

[Only now does he catch on that Roy's probably running the errands one usually would while getting settled.]

Oh, goodness, are you very busy? Not keeping you from anything, eh?

Just this one part really, guy introduces himself with like a paragraph of V words.

[Roy shrugs.]

Busy? Haven't really been here long enough to pick up any responsibilities and I'm pretty good at not picking up my phone when I'm busy. Just kind of looking around. You know?

Haha. First impressions are very important.

I know! The temptation to sight-see is irresistible, and I'd hate to deprive one of that.

[What with this video chat and all.]

Well, I'll leave you to it. Let me know should ought trouble you; I've been in the world too long not to glean a few curiosities.

Does that mean you've been kidnapped before?

[Enis is sitting on her bed with a pad of paper and a pen in her hand. She's currently in the middle of making a list but has been completely distracted by Roy's video.]

And it involved being tied to things and missing teeth.

[She kind of wants to get him to smile longer so she can see if he has all of his teeth.]

Hey.

[He looks a little offended for a moment, pointing at the camera.]

Whether or not I've been kidnapped, I'll have you know that I've got all my teeth. And I mean, can't a guy try to encourage friendly kidnapping methods to his current captors either way? I've seen action movies y'know.

I've notice.

[A smile twitches at the corner of her lips. It isn't her fault for asking.]

That's very nice of you. I can't say I'd want to give them tips since we aren't able to leave here. [For now, anyway.]

[And there's a grin at that - great opportunity to confirm they're there. Maybe not the best, but there.]

Yeah, but, I mean I'm still pretty okay with giving them tips. And they're not really tips. Anti-tips really. Kidnapping wise? This is kind of ridiculous. I'm just not looking forward to the bondage-and-small-rooms variety - that you, uh, get in all the movies.

I mean I could try yelling, 'The only thing that would make this a better kidnapping is if you just let us all go home.' but I'm kinda guessing someone tried that before.

[Enis's lips spread into a smile despite her best efforts to stop the expression. She thinks she knows what he's trying to do with the broadcasted remark though she doesn't know how successful he'll be.

He's certainly an interesting person.]

I don't think they have but I also don't think that'll work. [She isn't sure if there is anyone in Genessia who thinks like he does.] I can assure you that there is no bondage-and-small-rooms kidnapping here. Unless that's something you're into, I'm sure there is someone here who will do that to you. [There are a lot of kinds of people in Genessia.]

Right now, no one knows the way home or who exactly brought us here. I think the current theory is that it's the spirits of the cities though I haven't seen them myself.

It's pretty comfy for a kidnapping, but it's still a kidnapping!

[ But she doesn't look too upset honestly. ] Still, it's more like a really cool vacation!

[The bow is interesting. His reactions are interesting too. He looks like he's genuinely happy to be here as far as Mira can tell. But then again, she's always had a difficult time reading people and evaluating how they feel.]

[In short, she just thinks he's interesting. She doesn't need more of a reason than that to reach out and say hello.]

I didn't think taking over the world was a common concern~

[She casually folds her arms beneath her chest, watching his face keenly. He's able to smile so easily...it reminds her of a certain someone she used to know.]

Mira. Nice to meet you.

Kind of a semi-annual thing where I'm from, and I mean, the hologram asked me not to. Figured it was an issue here too?

[He shrugs a little, even as he squints down at the screen. Then there's a little extra smile.]

Roy. But I already told you that. Good meeting you to, if this counts. You been stuck here long? Wow. Unless you live here, I mean. I guess some of the people have to?

That often? Sounds interesting. You couldn't get bored in a place like that.

[Unlike here, where she's sitting in one of the salon's pedicure chairs. No customers means she can mess around on the phone, so she does.]

A few months. Don't worry about it, you guessed right.

[She waves her manicured hand back and forth to show she isn't offended.]

The ones that live here won't bother talking to you over the radio for the most part. ...Although I suppose there was a talking dog playing cupid a while ago, and people talked to him.

[Mira didn't. She was too annoyed about her fingernails changing color to match her moods, as was the norm during that week.]

So are you some kind of hero, then? Since you're not one of the semi-annual world conquerors.

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[Intro - This Could Be Worse][Video]

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Re: [Video][Please just let me know if I have a typo and I'll fix it, I phone tag sometimes.]

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Late to the party~

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