young_swimmer:

They had to spend a few days in Poseidonis before coming back to Titans' Tower due to Cait's wounds, but eventually she was well enough to make the trip. The physicians wanted her to wait longer, but Arthur needed to get back here and Cait didn't want to leave him around Ty for any longer than necessary. To be honest, she was surprised San Francisco was still standing after Arthur had already been there for a few days.

Once they reached Metropolis they called the Tower and Cait asked Ty to come and get them. Cait was in bad enough shape with two healing stab wounds, she didn't want to add any additional misery by flying.

Cait smiled after they appeared in the Tower. Teleporting wasn't her favorite method of travel, but it was still better than flying. The important thing was that she was home. Nothing felt better than coming home.

"Hello?" she called out.

catchmeifyoucan:

Since the calendar had turned to the month of September, Iris had been counting down the days until their birthday. She'd been planning the party since back in June. Jai normally had no problem letting her handle the party planning itself.

She had invited all of the Titans, including Pipi and Mitzi, of course. And Jon, Corinna, Traya, Cindy, Jerry, Keith, Cerdian, and Wendi, too. And Riley, because if she didn't invite him, he'd probably tag along with Dinah anyway. She also told Cait that she could bring her mom along, if she wanted to get out of the Tower, and that her parents probably wouldn't mind the company at all. Jai probably invited some people too, though the guest list was pretty much the same between the two of them.

Everything was all set up, and Iris placed the wrapped package that had Jai's gift on the table where the other gifts would go. Grinning from ear to ear, she waited for everyone to arrive.

young_swimmer:

Cerdian had given Cait the kick in the ass she needed to get things moving to rescue her father. No one else was going to rescue Arthur. The Atlantis stuff...well that was something she would deal with later. Getting Arthur back on the throne was the most important thing at the moment. Her issues with him could be worked on later. Maybe. It depended on Arthur.

She slipped into her uniform and called AJ, Cerdian and the Titans. They didn't have to go, but she would ask for their help.

dc_monsters:

The Nemean Lion once terrorized the countryside outside of Nemea devouring anyone that close to his lair. His golden fur was impervious to attack and its claws were sharper than mortal swords and could cut through any armor. It was slain by Hercules on his first labor.

The citizens of San Jose California were going about their daily lives not aware of the danger that awaited them. The Nemean Lion, a creature of myth and ferocity, ran through the streets of downtown San Jose. He roared and swiped at anyone who came close to him.

dc_holiday:

The weather was absolutely perfect in San Francisco and it was perfect for holding a cookout.

Tables had been placed outside and the large grill fired up to get nice and hot. Burgers, hot dogs, sausage, ribs, corn on the cob, pasta salad, salad and fruit salad were just some of the food available to eat. Soda, water, fruit juice and other beverages were on ice.

The Titans worked as a team and as a family to prepare the food. When they were ready, they carried it all outside and started their celebration.

It was a day of rest and relaxations for those who put their lives on the line for others.

dc_monsters:

The Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Francisco erupted in a spray of water and foam and a giant monster out of myth arose from the surf. The Kraken, a being of gigantic proportions, roared. He was free after so long. He turned and set his sights upon the city of San Francisco.

young_swimmer:

Despite all the stuff she had been going through, Cait didn't forget Ty's birthday. Cait knew he didn't want anything, he never did, but he was still going to get a gift and a party. Well, at least cake and a small celebration with the Titans.

Cait had been saving for his birthday gift since Christmas. She had something in mind, but like almost everything it would take some saving up to get it for him. Her job paid well enough, but they did have to eat and help contribute to the daily living expenses of the Titans. Mom's birthday gift to her had helped a lot and Cait knew she'd be able to get Ty the best laptop on the market.

When the day arrived, Cait made sure there was cake and candles and she made sure the Titans knew about the party. No decorations though. Cait knew low key was the way to go with Ty.

Cait went to go get the birthday boy and bring him to the party.

young_swimmer:

Cait had finally come out of her funk over losing Koryak to start thinking again. She knew what she had to do. First, rescue her mother. She would not let her mother sit in a prison cell any longer. Once her mother was free, then it would be time to go find her father. As much as she didn't want anything to do with Atlantis, she would take care of her family. Atlantis would be their concern.

Cait put on her uniform.

It was time for some action.

young_swimmer:

Cait lay on her bed and clutched the stuffed pink dolphin to her chest. She couldn't move, she didn't want to eat, and she didn't even want to go outside and see Hope and her pod. The only thing she could do was lay there and stare into space. She couldn't even cry anymore.

Koryak was gone. Her mother was being held prisoner and her father was missing, yet she couldn't do anything. Cait knew she had to go rescue her mother and find her father, but spirit and flesh were unwilling to move. She was numb and she didn't care or think about anything. She had even severed the link with Ty and pulled back into herself.

Two days ago she had taken Koryak's body to his mother's people up north. He had always been more of that world than he had been of Atlantis. Kako had been devastated at the loss of her son and Cait couldn't help but to think that if Koryak would have stayed with his mother and her people he would still be alive. Atlantis either killed people or made them crazy. It was a curse their family had carried for generations. It was the reason why Cait had turned her back on Atlantis.

Cait knew she needed to rehydrate soon as she had been away from the water for quite some time, but she couldn't move and she didn't care.

She just lay there staring at nothing in particular.

dc_atlantis:

Koryak swam as fast as he could, which at this point wasn't very fast. He was covered in wounds from his escape from Poseidonis and blood was flowing freely. There had been shark attacks as he swam from Poseidonis. They had been drawn by the scent of blood in the water and they added more wounds to his body.

Koryak was weakening quickly, but he had to press on. He had to reach the Justice League. He had to reach Cait. She had to know what was going on in Atlantis.

Driven by purpose and running on sheer willpower, Koryak reached the surface. He crawled up on the beach and fell. Sand was rough against his skin and he lifted his head and looked at the buildings. Almost there, but he would not make it. Blackness closed in and his head fell. A prince of Atlantis lay on the beach bleeding.

Later the YJLA would get a call from local law enforcement.

dc_misc:

Breaking News!  12 heavily armed men have held up the First National Bank in San Francisco. When the cops arrived before they could get away it has turned into a hostage situation. While none of the hostages have been hurt so far all attempts by the cops to negotiate with these men have failed. The police are currently looking into other options.

littleladylord:

Four different kinds of gourmet Macaroni and Cheese. Stacks upon stacks of different finger sandwiches, with the yards worth of crusts used to make a couple of heated trays of bread pudding. A pineapple-banana-pecan cake possibly bigger than the birthday girl herself. A small table of vegan stuff, just in case.

Cindy couldn't stop grinning at it. Had she found awesome caterers or what?

The band specialized in swing covers of hard rock songs, but could play just about anything. There was a dance floor. All her friends from school were there, dressed to the eights.

Of course, all Cindy's friends from school didn't really fill up the little reception hall. And she certainly didn't have a big family. But that was okay, more room for her soon-to-be-colleagues fellow super-brats.

And so she scurried, from arrival to arrival, for cheerful welcomes.

catchmeifyoucan:

Iris made her way back to Keystone from Titans Tower. She'd had fun with just the Titans girls and Pippi and Mizti. While she wasn't too sure about Mitzi just yet, Iris thought that Pippi was a good person, and once she'd spent some time with her and the rest of the Titans, she'd stop hanging out with the Raiderettes and robbing shopping malls. Maybe Mitzi would, too.

Iris was on her way home, running down Keystone's main street, when she noticed something...well, downright odd.

After all, it wasn't every day that you saw a stampede of giant wooly rhinos in a city where there wasn't much of a rhino population to begin with. Iris served to avoid being trampled.

People were running in every direction to avoid being trampled to death.

Iris pulled out her comm. She was going to need some backup. Again.

"Titans? It's Impulse. I've got a problem...."

littleladylord:

'The pleasure of your company is cordially requested by Miss Lenore Cynthia Montgomery Lord at a celebration of her 16th birthday. at 6 pm on the 25th of July.'

Calligraphy. Cardstock paper with those little RSVP cards and everything.  That should make it clear that her birthday is going to be awesome, right?

Cindy Lord's powers don't work in print, so she feels there can be no confusion about what the fancy etiquette signifies beyond, in Cindy's mind, 'important'. 

Among the rather prissy-looking envelopes sent out are those addressed to Miss Traya Smith, Miss Petra Beatriz Gardener, Mr. Jonathan Kent, Her Royal Highness Caitria Curry, Mr. Jai Allen West, Miss Iris Lillian West, Miss Dinah Michelle Kord, Mr. Riley Edward Carter,


But she makes sure the little notes on the invitations include 'Dress flexible'. She doesn't want anybody not coming to her party because they didn't feel like wearing heels or a tie.

young_swimmer:

They went into a situation looking to fight and they came back with two additional members to their strange family. Pippi and Mitzi had come back with the Titans after the fight. Now it was just a matter of getting them to settle in. Mitzi got the spare room next to Cait's and Pippi was down the hall next to Iris.

Cait stretched out on the couch in the rec room and put the Princess Bride into the DVD player. Maybe they will wander by and watch a movie.

in_a_snap:

(Timebendyed so anyone can be involved)

Jerry had heard that there was suppose to be an amazing meteor shower tonight and the best place to see it was in the Arches National Park in Utah. He had let dad knew he was going to spend the night there which his dad was totally fine with.

After teleporting in with some basic supplies he started looking for a good place to watch it from. Teleporting around the park he saw a mesa that looked like he could get a great view from. He snapped his fingers and appeared in a flash of green at the top of the mesa.

What he saw up there was something that he Jerry Carr had trouble believing. There was a organic looking machine with little robotic drones eating the rocks. And one charged right at him.

Quickly snapping both hands he teleported away and teleported a boulder right on top of the drone crushing it. Jerry let out a sigh of relief until he noticed that the drones were now eating the boulder and forming even more drones.

This was bad and Jerry knew he could not handle this by himself and felt that it would be smart to call in as much help as he could.

Teleporting back to his stuff away from the mesa he grabbed his cell phone and started calling all of the people he knew who were superheroes to get as much help as he could.

catchmeifyoucan:

Their heads clearer than they had been before, Iris and her remaining Titans were teleported by Ty in front of Keystone's Golden Ridge Plaza.

"I don't think the Raiderettes have gone anywhere...seeing as we didn't exactly scare them off last time," she said. "But we're ready for them now. We just need to divide and conquer. Get them against each other, and we've got this fight in the bag." She turned to Ruth. "And we'll get back Jayhawk, too."

This required a battle cry to get them in the mood....

"Titans Together!"

Iris sped off in the direction of the mall, to where she heard the giggles of the Raiderettes.

in_a_snap:

Jerry had finally finished up his senior project the last thing he needed to do in order to graduate from high school. It had been a long and annoying process and he was so glad to be done. He felt that he had aced the presentation, he felt that the judges loved him and his project and with the amount of work he had put into the speech  there was no way he didn’t ace it.

Jerry was ready to celebrate which for him involved going to a beach in Hawaii before doing some partying by in Happy Harbor with his friends who had also finished. He knew this great black sand beach with great surfing which he wanted to spend a couple hours at and maybe even work on his tan.

catchmeifyoucan:

Having left the others standing in the living room after arriving, Iris sped around the Tower, looking for Cerdian. She HAD to see if he wasn't angry with her. Because if he was? She would just DIE. She knew it.

"Cerdian," she opened a bedroom door, not even bothering to knock. No Cerdian. Darn. On to the next room.

dc_holiday:

Mothers are the place that we call home.
On them we rest our heads and close our eyes.
There's no one else who grants the same soft peace,
Happiness, contentment, sweet release,
Erasing nighttime tears with lullabies,
Restoring the bright sun that makes us bloom. - Anonymous

catchmeifyoucan:

Iris was a little disoriented from her and the Titans scuffle with the Raiderettes. It had to be one of the weirdest fights she'd ever had. She wasn't even sure if they'd won...or if they got their asses kicked in the process.

And where did that Jayhawk guy go, anyway?

But that didn't matter, right now, what matter was that Ceridan was lying on the floor, hurt! Iris raced over to him, her arms still full of cookies. He was her TRUE LOVE and his safety was ALL THAT MATTERED right now.

"Cerdian?" she asked, "Are you okay?"

catchmeifyoucan:

Iris laid on her stomach in her bedroom at home.

She was bored. Her homework was done, there was nothing good on t.v., and almost everyone was busy. If there was one thing that Iris hated, it was being bored. She twisted a strand of hair around her finger, looked out her window, and heaved a sigh.

Why was there never anything to do around here?

The radio, which had been playing an upbeat Taylor Swift song, suddenly cut off in the middle of the chorus.

"Word that the Rainbow Raiderettes have appeared in downtown Keystone City has reached us here at KX293 FM. The Raiderettes are currently making their way through the stores at the Golden Ridge Plaza...shoppers are in a panic...."

Iris didn't need to hear anymore. She hopped up, grinning. Finally, something to DO. Quickly changing into her Impulse costume, Iris zipped out of the house, and down to Golden Ridge Plaza. She didn't think to call Jai or her Dad.

She could take them with one hand behind her back.

She was, after all, the Fastest Girl Alive.

lantern_kid:

Henry grins as he makes certain the bowls of chips are filled. Sodas are available. He's got a hidden stash of beers in his room, but... it's an underage superhero party. They're not visible to most. Those who want one will know to ask him.

People will be arriving soon. He's got tunes, he's got snacks and drinks, he's got games set up to go, and he's got superhero kids coming from all over. While the primary purpose was to make certain the YJLA got a chance to meet Avalon and Josh, the Titans and others have all been invited, too.

This party will rock.

injus_society:

She was in Keystone to stir up trouble. She wanted to see what Impluse could do or whatever her name was. She started by kidnapping elderly people and putting them in dangerous places where they could fall and get hurt.

Then she stole every manikin in town and set them up in provocative positions all over the city. She thought everything she did was a riot. She had no reason to stop doing what she did either until the other speedster started to correct what she was doing.

lantern_kid:

Henry cut his last class today. He needs to make it out to Keystone by 4 their time, to be able to catch Iris alone. He doesn't want to talk to Jai right now... he'd be tempted to punch him in the face.

So Henry lands unseen behind the bleachers and steps out, dressed in normal clothes again, approaching the cheerleaders as they disband. Normally, he has a different motive when approaching a band of cheerleaders after practice, but today, it's business that brings him here. He stands nearby, hoping that Iris notices him waiting.

all_powerfull:

The entire world is reeling from the aftermath of the near disaster with an elder god's rise. Nowhere is more hurt than San Francisco, including Titan's Tower, and the ravaged bay. Normally, he tries to be very careful not to overuse his powers, tries not to leave the world too affected. But this is special - its both home, and its just before Cait's birthday. As such, all of his normal rules are off.

First there's the city. He isn't so bold as to try and fix the trauma and pain and all, but he can blanket the area with positive psychic impressions, and push people towards good dreams and limit the nightmares. Its a start. Then there's the damage done - using Calculator's memory of everything he's seen while above the city, he slows time until he's effectively moving at 99.999% of light speed, and begins transmuting everything back the way it was - but clean, lacking all the dirt and wear and tear, making the city as new as if everything had just been built. Even at his speed, it takes most of a day.

Then he turns his attention to the Bay - its been most ravaged of all. Death and decay fill it, lifeless fish and other creatures float on the water and litter the sea floor. Somewhere between ocean master's magic and bending time, he starts by accelerating the processes, the decayed things rot away, and become fertilizer in very little time. The spawn slime and acid is disintegrated so things can grow anew, and for good measure, he takes decades of pollution with it. With Poison Ivy's powers, he grows new plant life, then speeds its growth, rebuilding the shattered ecosphere.

Ocean Master's magic and telepathy helps him locate examples of the sea life that should live there, this time leaving out all the invasive species that had moved along the coast. He teleports a few breeding pairs of everything that should be there from elsewhere, restocking the bay. There's not near as much life there as before, but there's the bare bones for recovery.

He's given her not just San Francisco back, but renewed the city, and especially the Bay, and helped the people towards some kind of recovery, but there's one step left.
Reaching out into the ocean, he finds what he's looking for - and he returns a pod of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins to the Bay area, working just one bit of magic. One of the pregnant females undergoes just a little bit of magic, boosting her health and suitability as a mother, and the timescale is time-sped up just right.

When Cait wakes up tomorrow morning, amidst all of the astounded other headlines and reports of various signs of hope will be one that should stand out to her - just to make sure, he plants a suggestion in the lead editor's head, and makes sure there's a good photograph of the pod in the Bay, used as a sign of hope and renewal for the damaged region, making sure when she wakes, there'll be a newspaper nearby with a photo and large headline about the birth of a brand new baby pink dolphin in San Francisco Bay.

old_saint_nick:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday, it's true, but it also has become increasingly secular. It is an opportunity for love, charity, and goodwill.

There is some debate within mystical circles if there is indeed such a creature as the embodiment of Christmas Giving known as Santa Claus. But whether or not there is such a being, the spirit of giving itself is very real, be it incarnated in a fat man in a red suit or not.

Throughout this small blue planet of Earth, people have brought trees into their homes, decorated them with lights and ornaments, and placed them in locations of honor. Stockings have been placed on the chimneys. And gifts have been placed under the tree.

Some are looking forward more to the receiving than the giving. But for many, it is the act of giving which warms them, which fills them with the holiday spirit.

Each person, in their own way, becomes a part of this spirit of giving. Each person, in their own way, becomes Santa Claus.

Titans Tower is well-decorated with lights and tinsel, along with a massive tree in the common room. As for the Titans themselves...

deadlyhemlock:

From the green, the kid's unseen adversary silently watches the assembled heroes.  He wasn't expecting any of them to be able to come at him through the green, let alone turn into a giant Dinosaur.  It's a fascinating turn of events, and he has every intention of sitting back and watching safely.

dc_eldritch:

No one in the world on this night escapes it. They find themselves wanting to just curl up for a few minutes for some sleep. Weather it is just a nap or actually going to bed they find themselves sleeping. They do not get to sleep well. Screams of hosts long since dead haunt them and many of the dreamers find themselves herded up like cattle by strangers in heavy robes carrying pitch forks and guns.

"Where are we going," a man asks.

One of the robed men speaks. "To see our lord. You do not know the way. We shall guide you."

A child cries that she wants her mommy as they are separated. A man is shot for trying to run away and the smell of something burning fills the air.

The world is on fire and no one can escape it. They must go with the strangers to see their lord.

The dreamers are brought to a boat that goes across a sea of blood and gore. They find themselves marched across an island and they enter a tall nd terrible temple. When they try to really look at it a few go mad and start to gibber nonsense as their hair turns white and their skin wrinkles and shrivels up. They are suddenly very old.

The chanting is heard as the dreamers enter the temple.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn," the terrible chant is burned into the minds of people who are truly insane. People who are blessed or cursed with knowledge of the magical world find themselves puking both in the dreaming and the real world. For reasons they can not explain in the dreaming world they know that this place is terrible.

And then they are brought into the main chamber of the temple. A scream goes out as a great clawed hand comes down and begins to grab people by the dozens and brings them into the mouth of a terrible creature. The people who are eaten are lucky if anyone who can be called that. They wake up.

The are not so lucky. They think they are awake. They think are safe. But there are things lurking in the darkness of their dream world, waiting.

teddyurastar:

'Hi, Iris. I got this for you, since I missed your birthday. Not that it's like buying your forgiveness or something--'
'Hey, Iris, what's up? How was your birthday? Hey, do you have any allergi-- oh, really should've asked that one--'
'Hey, Iris! I got somethin' you're gonna love! ...great, now it sounds like one of Jordan's pick-up lines.'

Teddy Knight really isn't good at this stuff. Where he went wrong was relaying the whole dilemma to his father, Jack. When you tell a girl that she deserves fancy dinners and puppies from guys, there's always the chance she'll get attached to the idea of a puppy. From you. So what does it mean when a girl expects gifts from you? And what happens if you... well, don't give them?

Jack seemed to think the appropriate thing to do is follow up on the remark, but he kept smirking as he talked. Teddy's pretty sure his old man was just baiting him for a laugh, although how, he can't be sure. Jack never did have much luck long-term with women, and he was constantly telling Teddy to "get a girlfriend like everybody else." No matter how much Teddy protested that not everybody had a girlfriend, and that he only wanted to be Starman, not chasing the dream of Mrs. Kyle Theo Knight and sippy cups. Then his grandpa would usually chime in that some men are married to their craft, and it should be respected, admired, and encouraged! Once that ages-old argument would start between Jack and the senior Ted, Teddy could sneak away.

More than likely, the middle Knight was just showing some (misplaced) pride in his son for finally showing interest in a girl. Jack probably couldn't conceive of a single male under 50 not actively seeking a girlfriend. But Iris was just a nice girl, and she did deserve nice things, and, well, Teddy had to open his big mouth, didn't he? It's as simple as that.

'Adults complicate everything,' he thinks to himself.

Carefully shifting the box with holes in it in his arms, Teddy reaches up to ring the doorbell of the West house.

catchmeifyoucan:

Iris doesn't mind having the Tower all to herself sometimes. Not for the peace and quiet. She's never been one for the silence.

But she has no problem singing loudly off-key.

"Whoa I never meant to brag, but I got him where I want him now. Whoa, it was never my intention to brag, to steal it all away from you now." Iris jumps over the couch, landing to play a pretty damn good air guitar, bobbing her head up in down, letting her red hair fall in her face. "But god does it feel so good, cause I got him where I want him right now. And if I could then you know would."

She does a kick in the air, spinning around.

"Cause it god it just feels sooooo good...." She slides across the floor, singing into the t.v. remote. "It just feels so good."

dc_holiday:

“We need to be more grateful. I think there is no true character without gratitude. It is one of the marks of a real strong character to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in the church, everywhere. It doesn't cost anything, and it is so easy to cultivate.” - Ezra Taft Benson

In America today is a day for being thankful for the things in people's lives. Today was a day to celebrate family, friends, prosperity and health with food, family and friends. It is a time to reflect on what is important us and to recognize the gratitude we hold for having those things in our lives.

imperiousamazon:

Outside of the Titan's Tower lands yet another number to be added to the growing team. She isn't here willingly but the young Amazon sets her shoulders back with pride and scans the island with a critical gaze. She can not belive that she has been sent here still. Mother can not be serious about this!

True she had been getting mouthy but there were other ways to discipline someone than to send them to strangers. She did not care for Man's world. She may have heard stories of it's heroes and the many adventures that all the Amazons who had left the island at one point or another had but that did not mean Corinna wanted to join in on them.

She starts to walk towards the entrance to the tower and for a moment flashes back to a dream she had a few weeks ago. She knew she was going to come to a strange tower one day, didn't she? The idea rattled around in her mind until Corinna pushed it away as ridiculous right before she stopped and knocked on the front door.

No reason to be rude after all.

half_angel_eli:

Eli managed to find cigarettes from somewhere. He perched up in a tree smoking and staring up at the sky. It looked rather different. No patrol droids. He wondered if he could fill in the holes to his comic book collection. Maybe even get original DVDs of some of his favorite shows. Hell see some of his favorite shows on the television itself.

He tried not to think about going home. He didn't think he would be. They probably couldn't get him home, back to the future. That was a fun movie. He wanted a Delorian for a while. Until he found out that they really couldn't fly. Of course driving was a problem for him, with his wings and all.

For now, however, he pondered how he was going to survive. What he was going to do. And if he could even stop the invasion so far back.

Also, how was he going to get some pot.

lantern_kid:

17 years ago, a zombie invasion of New York City led to Hal Jordan to find an abandoned infant. Eventually, this infant was adopted by Jordan.

While Henry's exact birthdate is believed to be October 24th, he generally celebrates on the day his father found him... and this means he doesn't hold back when he throws his Halloween parties.

He's dressed as a zombie Hugh Hefner as he carefully checks over the snacks and drinks. People should be arriving soon. The decorations are all in place: black walls, different colored lights in each room, a strobelight by the dance floor, balloons and streamers, corpses and skeletons...

People should be arriving soon, and Henry is thrilled. He's got some cute people coming, both superhero-kid and civilian, and he's looking forward to seeing people mingle.

catchmeifyoucan:

Bendytimed to late September, early October

The cake's on the kitchen counter and everything's ready. The food is on a long table in the living room, various snacks and assorted boxes of pizza. Fun, upbeat, lively music plays in the background.

Invitations have been sent out weeks in advanced and the West house is ready for a slew of guests.

And Iris...is ecstatic. Ever since she was a little girl, she's dreamed of this. Her Sweet Sixteen. Well...technically her and Jai's Sweet Sixteen...even though Sweet Sixteen always seemed like a girl thing anyway so did that make it what, a Sour Sixteen or something for him?

Anyway....

Technical terms aside, she was as hyperactive as ever, in her brand new light blue dress and white ballet flats. Invitations had been sent out to everyone, family and friends alike.

A wide grin on her face, she zipped around the room, making sure that everything was perfect, and avoiding tripping over Jai, who was reading a book (like always) on the floor in the living room.

The doorbell rings, and her grin widens.

"I'll get it!"

young_swimmer:

Cait stood in the wrecked apartment and looked around. The place was a complete and utter disaster. There was water damage and a huge gaping hole in the one wall. So much for getting her security deposit back. The place was completely ruined and unlivable.

Which lead to the most pressing issue. Where were her and Ty going to live? She didn't have enough money to put a deposit down on another apartment, not that anyone in their right mind would rent to her, and she wasn't about to ask her father for money. Mom was an option, but it would still be asking one of her parents for help. She didn't want to ask for help if she could prevent it.

Cait sighed and started sifting through her personal belongings. The items that were not damaged and the ones that were salvageable were put into cardboard boxes. The ones that had been ruined were tossed into trash bags. Thankfully most of the books had survived and Cait wouldn't have to pay to replace the ones from the library.

deadlyhemlock:

The light of the fire is the only illumination in an otherwise pitch black canopied forest.  The sky above is so filled with stars as to appear ready to burst;  as if hanging just one more light in the sky would make the whole thing come crashing down.  All the familiar aural ambiance is gone, with the noise of cars and plane engines replaced by the much more agreeable hooting of the owl and the crackle of the fire.

An unfamiliar pair of eyes shifts its gaze between the campers, as an invisible and distant watcher takes a moment to observe unseen...

lantern_kid:

There's a flash of green light, and the heroes arrive abruptly.

"Go!" the Green Lantern declares.

roy_harper:

Roy's checked the brakes, and the tires, and the spare tire on the vehicle. He made sure all the packs had basic medical kits, that the tents were really good tents, and the flashlights were all new, with batteries to spare. He's made Lian go over the lists of essentials twice, and he's lost count of how many times he's lectured her about being in charge, and the responsibility that goes with it.

Because it's making him feel like Ollie, he'll be done now. Really. There's no more he could possibly check with her.

"You have the numbers to all the local ranger stations and the hospital, right?"

young_swimmer:

The small apartment was big enough for Cait and Ty to move about without bumping elbows too much, but with this many people it seemed smaller than normal. Wounds were tended to as best as possible and people found somewhat soft spots to relax. Cait ordered pizzas to be delivered, using up a good portion of her rainy day funds. This definitely qualified as a rainy day. She could always work a little more at the aquarium.

Work. She had to remember to call work. She wouldn't be going in tomorrow and she'd tell them an family emergency had come up. Which it had. Cerdian was family. He had been like another brother to her when they were young. He was closer to her own age than her own brother.

"So what are you all going to do now?" she asked the assembled crew. Yes, she asked what they were going to do. She wasn't a part of this and didn't want to be a part. Cait wasn't a hero.