non-emergency huddle (week 6 meeting)

[dullshooter]

[If you're about anywhere Wednesday afternoon, you'll be greeted by Misfire clapping you on the shoulder and drawing you in for a whispered bunch of words:]

Emergency Huddle. Usual spot. See you in ten whilst I round up everyone else.

[And, half-delivering on his promise, Misfire arrives at the bowling alley bathrooms (where else could he have meant?), albeit later than everyone else, to get the meeting going.

There's not much prep work you can do for a meeting in a set of bathroom stalls, but there's a shoddily painted banner across them that reads: 'We survived this far!' It's in the slow process of falling down. Symbolism.]

Alright, cool, that everyone? Whatever - we can start. [He claps his hands.] Soooo... yeah. Let's do the meeting thing.

Comments

[specialyellthing]

Are you tryin' to make me go after them, or--

[dullshooter]

Saying stuff like that means you need to participate in the circle even more.

[inaclearing]

You can't force someone to share.

[dullshooter]

Trust me, I don't plan on it. But maybe if we all sat around and got our ghosts off our chests in a receptive, group-based environment, maybe we'd find ourselves less inclined to kill over 'em. Just an idea.

[inaclearing]

I don't disagree. Just - you really can't get anyone to say anything they don't want to. Trust me, I've wished I could sometimes.

[Curse of interviewing Peter Howland!]

cw: disassociation, brain washing, some light noncon romance, nazis

[specialyellthing]

You don't gotta stand up for me. [She smiles, though-- it's actually pretty charming the way he did it, standing up for her without violence or being all grossly territorial]

... Killer Shark. His grandpappy was one of the Blackhawk's arch-nemesis' back during the war. A nazi in spandex who piloted submarines. The OG kidnapped me, brainwashed me into thinkin' I was in love with him and that the Blackhawks were my enemy, and held me hostage for years.

When I came to the future, I was happy to find out he was dead. Only, his grandson started gettin' ideas. Took his grandpappy's technology. Broke into my apartment. I whooped his ass-- but he got away. So I went to track him down, with one of my gals. I almost lost her. When I was doin' CPR, he snuck up on me. Injected me with somethin. [ah. so there is... the real reason why she'd been so against taking the injections.] When I woke up, I wasn' myself anymore. At least, not mostly. There was a tiny part of me still -- that was aware. And I fought like hell. Enough to manage to leave my girl her keys when I locked her up-- but not enough to take control outside'a that.

Do you know how fucked up it is to be locked in your own brain? To watch somethin' else happen, through your eyes, but have no control of what you're sayin or doin? To be aware that there's somethin else in control of you, and that it loves this fuckin' piece of shit that did this to you? To remember what it was like to be like that for years? And have to wonder how long it's gonna be this time?

It was only a few hours. I knocked his teeth out real good.

I want him dead. ... But not from someone else.

cw: brainwashing

[dullshooter]

[Misfire's - rather obviously - surprised that Zinda actually starts talking, and when she gets to it, he understands pretty quickly why she didn't want to say.

Do you know how fucked up it is to be locked in your own brain? -- he doesn't, but he holds someone close to him who might. It hurts to imagine that might be what happened to him. What still is.

Misfire gives Zinda a nod in appreciation, expression noticably softer.]

...Yeah, you need to settle this score personally. [He says it with a light encouragement.] Killer Shark's a stupid name, too.

[inaclearing]

Stupid costume, too. He looks much more like a killer whale.

[dullshooter]

[Snort.]

Imagine all the times he has to correct people. “Oh no, here comes Killer Whale!” “Er- no, it’s Killer Shark, actually” …embarrassing.

[specialyellthing]

Exactly like that.

So embarassin'.

[dullshooter]

You ought to make a cringe compilation.

[specialyellthing]

What did you call me?

[dullshooter]

...you don't have the internet, do you?

[asymptotes]

[ SWEATS; ]

... How unfortunate. I'd want to kill him myself as well.

[specialyellthing]

I shouldn'.

My boss doesn't like that kinda thing. I don't think she'd hold it against me, but... that's why I left him, last time. Didn' wanna disappoint Skipper.

[hotpaprika]

[There is a long pause, before he responds.]

... Zinda

Perhaps after I am through with disposing of the Count, I could go after this man too.

[He will absolutely Murder Him.]

[fuckingguy]

[ PRIVATELY SUDDENLY FEELING NOT GREAT ABOUT HYPNOSIS ACTUALLY........... ]

This is the asshole who injured your hand with his face?

[specialyellthing]

Oh, trust me.

I hurt him way worse than he hurt me.

[fuckingguy]

It does not.

[dullshooter]

Keep your fangs on, Nandor. I'm not going to make participation mandatory.