Be as chalant as you like | OPEN network and action

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

action

Treason. Of course Zatanna was being arrested for treason, and it certainly took them long enough to come for her. She's only been breaking rules since she first woke up, after all. It was really only a matter of time, especially since she'd committed the cardinal sin of being contact with Dick Grayson, Alpha's most wanted criminal.

But she wasn't going down without a fight, that was for sure, and the second she'd had the opportunity, she'd broken from the center of the formation of guards and they'd been chasing her as she ducked around a corner and into what she'd thought was a supply closet. Instead, it's the Surface and Zatanna notices immediately the sunlight, the smell of grass, and the sound of birds. A second later, she remembers she's still in that fugly ORANGE jumpsuit and she's not about to get caught if she's made it this far. She sticks out like a sore thumb right now. Reflex dictates that she use her magic, so that's the first thing she tries. Even before she finishes the spell, Emit ot yrt tuo eht wen kool, she remembers she can't do magic, but the spell rolls off her tongue in full anyway and, much to her pleasant surprise, her ORANGE jumpsuit is replaced with her favorite purple tanktop and a pair of khaki shorts.

"I am so totally whelmed right now!" she squeals excitably to herself, forgetting that it's entirely possible to be overheard and sound like a crazy person. She's too busy typing what she thinks is an encrypted message to the Specials on her PDC.

network

Hey Robin? Al? Prim? I don't know how...but I found the Surface. Rob, can you track my device or something and meet the others so we can get out of here?

PS, guess I really am a mutant, so ha! How do you like me now, Friend Computer?

Comments

network;

[tryit]

Hey, word to the wise? I know this is Itinere and not Earth yadda yadda, but people are still people and unless you're an X-man, it's probably not the safest thing to announce yourself as a mutant. Even if you are part of the X-men... Here's hoping things are generally different here.

Discrimination sucks, doesn't it?

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Whoaaaaa, new face. That's what they called people with abilities or whatever in the Complex, only I could access my magic there so they told me I wasn't one. Because they're the kinds of idiots that bow to a glitched out Computer. I prefer superhero, personally, but I'll take what I can get I guess. I'm not afraid of anybody, though. If they want, they can come at me. I can take 'em.

So...anyway, sorry Hi, New Face. I imagine we don't actually call this just the Surface, so what do we call it?

[tryit]

A lot of us prefer superhero, with or without the powers that go with it.

The name's Kate Bishop and as far as I know, there's no mysterious underground filled with Morlocks here. Or glitched out computers. I've been coming and going to Itinere over the past few months, so I think I'd notice.

So, uh, welcome, I guess?

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Well count me in that, that's the term we used back home, but I didn't come from back home, so...

Nice to meet you. You can leave if you want to?

Thanks.

[tryit]

If you can still see the doors you walked through, yeah. Makes for a great guilt-free tropical trip whenever you need it.

Kind of glad to hear you didn't come from back home. Sounds like wherever you were sucked.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

But we can only go back to where we came from? Because if that's the case, no thanks. If I can go home, then I might have to start looking sooner rather than later.

Sucked is probably the understatement of the year, yeah. It was pretty awful.

[tryit]

I don't know. I've never met anyone with that kind of situation.

If I ever do and you're still around, I'll let you know?

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Guess I must be all kinds of...special, ugh I hate that word now. Never mind. Yes, that would be super appreciated, thank you. :)

[stefanged]

Considering that I'm neither a friend nor a computer, I don't think I have an opinion.

Also, welcome to Itinere.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Are you a Special?

[ She's blunt, but it is what it is. If he's not a Special, then she's not going to be as open in her response. She can't really tell from his response, the way she could the other woman, whether or not he's familiar with the whole clones versus the Specials thing and she just got out of there. She's not going back. ]

Itinere... That's what you call it here? Huh. Cool and thanks. I'm Zatanna. People call me Zee, sometimes, because it's easier.

[stefanged]

My mother always told me I was.

But yeah, no problem. I'm Stefan. I hope you like this place better than wherever you just came from, Zatanna.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

...okay the fact that you remember a mother suggests to me that you're either a Special or I'm not in Kansas anymore, so to speak.

Nice to meet you Stefan. It's hard not to like a place better than where I just came from. Quick question: where do I go...?

[stefanged]

Definitely the latter. I don't know what "Special" stands for, though I can take a wild guess.

[ He may not come from a world with superheroes - or anything like it - but he knows context clues when he sees them. ]

As in, where do you live?
You'll find a key card in your pocket, if you haven't already.
That'll be for your new apartment.
If you mean, what do you do? Sky seems to be the limit. This place's a giant resort town.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

It doesn't stand for anything, it just means everyone else hates you, basically.

[ There's a lot more to it than that, but she's a sixteen year old girl. At the end of the day, that's the part that annoyed her the most. Because if it wasn't bad enough being trapped in that place, having everyone hate her by principal was kind of awful. ]

Yeah, okay where's the apartment? I did find the key but, you know...I don't know where to go.

A resort town? How'd I get here, anyway?

[stefanged]

[ Ah. He'll just leave it at that, then. ]

It's over at [ GPS coordinates. Stefan'll take the time to lay out detailed directions too, just in case. ] As far as I understand, everyone starts in the same building, so maybe I'll see you there.

No idea. Some people walked through doors and ended up here, others seemed to just wake up here.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

It's just that easy? What's the catch? Is it haunted? Are there killer robots? Is it infested with bedbugs? What's the deal?

[ She might be pushing it, but she thinks she's funny, anyway. ]

...just woke up here, huh? Did they say anything about glitches?

[ Geez, she hopes not. Maybe she's really for real out of there. ]

[stefanged]

If it were ANY of those, I'd believe it. But tbh, I'm still trying to find out this place's deal.

[ It might not have one. Or it might be the afterlife. He's not sure. ]

Not that I know of.
If your tech's buggy, I'm sure someone can look at it.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

I guess I'll have to see for myself, huh?

[ Because maybe he just hasn't noticed yet or maybe that's part of the whole ruse; Zee hasn't decided yet. ]

It's not, people in the Complex thought I was glitchy because I remembered my real life. It's a long story.

Thanks for your help, Stefan, I appreciate it.

[stefanged]

[ Real life? If it's anything like the distinction between "past lives" and "current lives," then Stefan doesn't envy her one bit. ]

That tends to happen.
After all, You poked holes in their world order.
Don't think that'll be a problem here, but yeah. We'll save the story for later.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Oh, I poked holes in the world order, all right. Got myself arrested for treason and everything.

[ She's actually really proud of that. ]

Yeah, another time. It's interesting, or at least I think so.

Anyway, thanks for your help.

[stefanged]

Impressive. I can't say I've been behind bars myself.

[ In trouble with the law, yes. Compulsion usually wiped the slate clean. ]

I wouldn't mind hearing it once you're all settled in.
I just know, from experience, the first couple days are the roughest.

If you ever want to find me in person, I'm usually at the Interfaith Center.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

I wasn't behind bars for long, anyway. I'm here now, you might have noticed ;)

[ Weirdly, it really is one of her prouder moments in life, which is especially strange considering she's one of the good guys. That went right out the window when remembering her real life became treasonous activity. Then she started pushing her luck on purpose, stealing food outside her clearance level and toeing the line with breaking curfew and roaming around restricted areas to explore. ]

If this place is as nice as it looks, I think the first couple of days will be the best because I'll be soaking it in.

Where's that?

[stefanged]

Just a bit. (: We're happy to have you.

The Interfaith Center's over at [ More GPS coordinates!! He's even included a picture of the outer building; it's quiet and unassuming, surrounded by vibrant flower beds. ] It sounds religious, but it's meant for everyone. Plus I always stock it with homemade cookies.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

In that case, I'm happy to be here. ...actually, I would've been happy to be here anyway.

Cool, thanks. Is it like an open-minded church or something, or...? Oh, well, you've got me at homemade cookies. I'll so be there.

[ It certainly doesn't hurt that he's cute. He's not Robin cute, but he's definitely good looking enough to make her want to go see this place, no matter what it is. ]

[stefanged]

Not quite. I'm not Christian, so I wouldn't have that authority to begin with.

You'll see when you visit. It's more of a place to pray or worship, no matter what faith you practice. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans.... Humanists.... anyone and everyone are welcome.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

What if you don't really practice a religious faith? I haven't actually decided I'm in the market or anything, yet. Humanist, though...that sounds like a secret society back in the Complex. What's it mean here? Humor me.

[stefanged]

Then you'll absolutely want to look into Humanism.

It's a non-theistic (AKA "non religious") philosophy that focuses on the value and agency of human life. To them, you can understand the world through science rather than placing your faith in a higher power. I don't practice it, but I can hand over guides and resources when you drop by.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Huh...geez, now I kind of wish I'd joined them back in the Complex. Sounds like the only group that might not have been organizing attacks at large. Yeah, okay, I'll check it out. Call me curious.

[stefanged]

They probably were. Most I've ever seen them organize are board game nights.

[ jeez, what kind of world did she come from? ]

Great! I'm usually around whenever, so drop by when you're free.

[satnalahcsauoyekil]

Will do, Stefan. Thanks. I'll see you soon.