Margery Daw Grundy (seesaw) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2013-01-09 02:07:00

Entry tags:

There's Always Free Cheddar in the Mousetrap
It was a cold day. That was good. If it had suddenly warmed up or something, she wouldn't have the nerve to do anything. But really, being on the top of her game didn't always help. She still looked around constantly even after some time here, always feeling that she was going to be trapped.

Eventually, she found him. "Superboy?"

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	first_son 2013-01-09 05:55 am UTC (link)
	Jon usually tries to make himself easy to find when he's around the base. Monitors, practice rooms or the public lounge - and he's in the latter at the moment. "Oh, hey Margery. Something I can help you with? Hungry? I have some extra snacks here." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:08 am UTC (link)
	Margery is hungry. And an opportunity to eat can't be ignored; that's well ingrained in her. Unfortunately, so is looking around suddenly before studying the food, practically instinct. "Thanks," she said, still slightly warily even after all this time, well, holed up in the base with them. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 06:10 am UTC (link)
	"Its ok, have as much as you want. We have more Doritos and soda. Let me know if you want anything else, ok? So... what's on your mind?" he asks, turning the baseball game down. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:13 am UTC (link)
	With the reassurance, Margery digs in, then quickly pauses mid-nom to answer his question. And pauses some more trying to get herself in order to address the issue. "What... what do I need to do? I mean, with the Underground, I helped take care of the littler kids and carry things and play decoy, but ..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

first_son
2013-01-09 06:19 am UTC (link)

He pauses, considering this carefully.

"That depends on what you want to do. We have our troubles, yes... and when things get bad, sometimes they get really bad fast. But no one here says you have to be a super hero. We can get you into school, or training if there's things you'd be interested in. You have a whole world of opportunity open to you - if you'll let us help you."

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	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:22 am UTC (link)
	"I live here. I can help with the work. I just don't know how. I don't know how to stop bad people instead of just try to make sure as many as we can manage survive them. I don't know what to do at a school, either. I don't know ..." 'Why you're doing this' comes to mind. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

first_son
2013-01-09 06:30 am UTC (link)

"Ok." he replies, slowly and carefully, so as not to startle her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Let's start by slowing down. No one expects you to know everything about it. We'll help you. We all learned somehow. It sounds like you have some skills that are a good start. I'm sorry we haven't been more proactive in trying to help you find something to do... I think most of us assumed you'd want a little time to acclimate."

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	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:40 am UTC (link)
	"Time helps a little, and it's not like I asked before. For one thing, I didn't want to just go out and scare people --" because she'd figured the scaring-people out pretty fast. "And besides, I wasn't sure if Uncle Eddie would be able to send the others right behind me or not. I'm guessing they ...'ll be a good while coming, at least." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

first_son
2013-01-09 06:43 am UTC (link)

He nods, taking a moment to try and manage the right mix of honest and reassuring. "They might be. Dealing with anything involving your home dimension has always been tricky and inexact. I wish we could do more. Maybe someday we'll be able to."

A pause. "As for scaring people - sometime I'll go out with you in costume. Introduce you to a few people, and let people see you working with someone who more people know a little. It might help."

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	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:46 am UTC (link)
	A long pause. "I'm trying not to ask you what the catch is. I really am." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 06:56 am UTC (link)
	"I know. But for what its worth, you're offering to help us out - that's more than enough for us. Besides, everyone we bring into the fold is one more person to take monitor duty so the rest of us don't have to as often." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 06:58 am UTC (link)
	She manages a smile. "Well, that makes sense at least." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 07:03 am UTC (link)
	"It'll make more sense after your first shift at the monitor. Everyone's least favorite assignment." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 07:14 am UTC (link)
	"It can't be that terrible." A little more snacking. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 07:17 am UTC (link)
	"Compared to actually having to deal with a disaster or something? No, its not. But we tend to forget that after the third or fourth hour of boredom and nothing happening, while not being able to do anything that distracts us from a wall of video screens. Want to see the monitor room? You can see what I mean." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 07:22 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, please... um, it doesn't get too warm in there, does it?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 07:25 am UTC (link)
	He offers her a hand up. "We keep it cool in there, to keep the equipment functioning its best. While its usually boring, it is our first line of warning a lot of the time." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 07:30 am UTC (link)
	"Okay. Good. I'm... not very good in the heat. Something to do with the quartz in my nervous system or something." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 07:32 am UTC (link)
	He nods. "Makes some sense. I'll show you how to adjust the temperature so you're comfortable in there." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 08:01 am UTC (link)
	"Thanks." And she'll follow. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

first_son
2013-01-09 08:06 am UTC (link)

He shows her the monitor room, and what the task entails. He'll also show her the environmental controls. Given the leaguers over the years who needed it hotter or colder, more or less humid, and so on, at least at times, to be comfortable, there's a fair range. Especially in areas people might spend long periods.

"We can adjust your quarters however you need. Same with monitor room space while you're in there, as long as it doesn't get too warm. I've put you in with enough clearance to adjust your own quarters for now, and we'll add you to the list when you get trained for monitor time. Speaking of which... we have video files here of our past cases, visual dossiers on a lot of heroes and villains - easy way to start learning this world's history and people. You know how to work the DVD player?"

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	seesaw 2013-01-09 08:11 am UTC (link)
	She nods. "I know that part. And good idea." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 08:13 am UTC (link)
	He spends a little time explaining how things are filed and laid out so she can find what she's looking for. "It seemed a good way to get a bit of a primer. I'd offer to answer questions, but right now, I'm not sure how much that'd help. I'll give you my com frequency though, so if you do have something you need a hand with, you can reach me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 08:16 am UTC (link)
	"Thanks. Sometimes even the questions I can think of, I wasn't sure about asking... This'll all help. Thank you. But... um... was I scary? The first day? I mean, to normal people, obviously, but, to you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

first_son
2013-01-09 08:22 am UTC (link)

He considers how best to answer that for just a moment, before shaking his head.

"With the crowd reaction, I was worried for people's safety, sure. In that sense, worry for other people - yeah. But that was just people being surprised, and afraid of something new and different. Once I got a sense of you, though, no.

But... for what its worth, on that note... you can ask me anything you'd like. I don't mind."

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	seesaw 2013-01-09 08:21 pm UTC (link)
	She listens, nods, pauses. "You were scary. For a long time. I'm sorry." Another pause. "Papa and Uncle Eddie look like bad people here." It's not really a question, but she'd been holding back stating the obvious that explicitly. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 08:25 pm UTC (link)
	"You have nothing to be sorry about. In your world, my nearest equivalent is a very bad person. My father's, if anything, worse. It only makes sense. But... yes, in this world, the equivalents of the good guys in your world are bad people. We have files on both of them. Did you want to watch?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-09 08:32 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, please." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-09 08:34 pm UTC (link)
	"This will... probably be hard for you in parts. I'm here, and can answer questions or stop it any time you want. Just remember, these aren't the same people. What our world's versions did has no bearing on who the people you remember are, or the good they've done." he starts, putting in the DVD and starting it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-10 03:55 am UTC (link)
	She nods earnestly. "Thank you. I know. But I'm going to want to trust them if I meet them. The way that it was hard not to be scared of you. I need to see what's really going on." And she'll watch. And stare. And reach without looking away to turn down the thermostat again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-10 03:58 am UTC (link)
	He lets her adjust the lounge temperature to her liking - not going to bother him. Otherwise, he lets her watch the first in peace, and just has the second disc ready. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

seesaw
2013-01-10 04:23 am UTC (link)

And Margery shivers a little as she watches, but it's not a temperature reaction. She needs it cold. She needs to be as smart as she can be so she can keep Jon's already-offered reassurance in her mind as she watches this, and handle it like an adult.

He was so .... crude. But the face was very similar, and if one slurred and snarled Papa's polite voice, it would sound just like that

When it was done, all Margery said was "Thank you. Next, please." But she said it steadily, at least.

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	first_son 2013-01-10 04:35 am UTC (link)
	Jon nods, giving her just a moment to process when its all done, then he puts in the next DVD. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-10 04:47 am UTC (link)
	She manages to continue sitting still. As she watches. This definitely looks like Uncle Eddie, just with fewer scars. The outfit, even, was totally Uncle Eddie, given the right materials. Just the things he did weren't. Silence for a while when it's done. Then. "Thank you. He didn't build a transdimensional device, did he?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-10 04:53 am UTC (link)
	"No, he didn't. A lot of other things, but no transdimensional devices that I'm aware of." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-10 04:54 am UTC (link)
	"Well, that's something, anyway." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-10 04:56 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, it is that. Not that I suspect such a thing is beyond him. We have enough other dimension travelers, and only a couple on our side, plus the people who can use treadmills." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	seesaw 2013-01-10 05:03 am UTC (link)
	She listens and nods. "I want to help with monitor duty." The smile's a little forced, but it's there. "I don't want scamper around the place like a really big scared mouse anymore." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	first_son 2013-01-10 06:05 am UTC (link)
	"Ok, we'll get you started on monitor and coms duty. We can start lessons on that tomorrow. That will give you something helpful to do while you're learning about this world, and taking field training, if you decide you want to work with the JLA full time." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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