metalogs | Open | Oh, the Weather Outside Is Frightful

1. It's Christmas and I Wonder Where I Am

[It.]

[Is.]

[Cold.]

[It's about all Huvrye can think as he drags himself out of the snowdrift he'd crashed into, because he doesn't have answers for anything else - like, for example, where he is, or how he'd gotten here, or why he'd been falling when he'd definitely been on solid ground the moment before, or how there's snow falling from the sky and not corrupted sludge. He hasn't seen snow in years.]

[Which means this can't be Sestrinn, or anywhere on the continent, and he's...somewhere else. Somehow. Great.]

[He pulls himself out of the snowdrift, arms wrapped around him and wings trailing behind him in the snow, and starts heading towards what looks like lights. He's in his shirtsleeves - no coat or anything - and it doesn't help that his shirt is still soaked through with corruption and blood and just making the whole 'being cold' thing worse. He doesn't call out for help - he doesn't know if there's people out there, or predators, or anything - but there's lights, and he's going to at least try. It beats being stuck outside.]

[That'll change if he sees someone, and there'll be a few seconds of wary observation before he calls out.]

Where are we?

2. Gridlock Christmas

[He'd been welcomed inside someone's home. A woman and a child (with round ears and no wings but he's not about to ask right now, there are more important things to worry about) had looked him over with curiosity, then something he still can't quite believe might have been sympathy, before opening the door fully and beckoning him in and offering him something hot to drink. He'd been halfway through the drink and just starting to feel warm when the girl - who'd already asked him if he was an angel and if he was magic - piped up again. "Did you see Pa out there?"]

[And that's how he winds up back outside, voluntarily this time, with a borrowed coat that doesn't quite fit and a description of a man and a car. The car is slid up against a wall in a way that suggests collision and already half-buried in a snowdrift; the man inside is unconscious but still breathing. He can lift the car, or he can open the door, but he can't do both at the same time, so it's a good thing someone else is walking by. He waves at them, then gestures to the car.]

I can get the car out if you can get the guy out of it. Deal?

3. Christmas Wrapping (Wildcard)

[Got other ideas or want to plan something out? Write your own prompt or hit me up at

kiaxet or Kiaxet#7085!]

[Earth's only Sith was only out in this weather thanks to a sort of absentminded curiosity--and unlikely to be this strange man's first choice to play the role of a good samaritan--but fortunately he was out all the same. More importantly, he also saw no reason not to help. While the helmeted figure doesn't respond at first, instead opting to stare quietly up at the man before turning his head to survey the situation himself, he does eventually give him an answer. Even if it wasn't a particularly eager one.]

That won't be necessary.

[While it was entirely within his power to just pull free something of that size in an instant, he at least exercised a degree of caution. The car might survive the rough treatment, but the occupant would have been an entirely different matter. So instead he started small: Once he extended his hand, the vehicle only shifted slightly as he made sure the wall wasn't about to collapse once the car was clear.

Once he was convinced the wall hadn't been that badly damaged by the initial collision, he was free to exert a little more control. Soon the entire car had been lifted clear of the snowdrift and was floating its way closer to the two men before it was lowered safely--if perhaps a little too roughly--to the side of the road. Not particularly violently, he didn't just drop the thing, but just abruptly enough and uneven enough that a not-insignificant portion of the snow still piled on the vehicle was shaken free.

With that done, Nox turned his attention back to the tall fellow with the pointed ears who'd waved him over in the first place.]

Get him. If he comes to, better he sees your face than mine.

[For reasons he didn't feel he needed to elaborate, and doubted Huvrye would dispute even if he did.]

[To be fair, Huvrye is used to having terrible options when it comes to making choices. Here, it's 'masked person' or 'no help at all,' and that's not a hard one to make.]

[Though this guy sure isn't moving to assist. Huvrye gestures impatiently at the car, then gives up, digging out the front bumper and getting ready to lift it himself when the guy speaks up-]

[And the car moves on its own.]

[Huvrye stumbles backwards, gaze snapping from the car to the person and back again. The guy is moving the car. Without touching it. That's-]

[Working, is what it is, and he adds it to the ever growing list of Questions With No Answers as the car settles away from the wall.]

...yeah.

[Not his best response, but he has other priorities, and he's also trying not to reel too hard from whatever that was. He wrenches the door open and retrieves the man - he looks bruised, and he's still unconscious, so hopefully it's nothing too bad, because it's not like Huvrye can exactly help him here. He holds the man in his arms, extends his wings to prepare for takeoff, and-]

[Oh. Right.]

You, uh. You got someplace to go?

[Please tell him this weird but helpful stranger isn't also stuck in the cold.]

[Frankly, Nox had questions of his own about the curious newcomer, but he'd prove just as capable of shelving them until a more appropriate opportunity to ask them arrived. And, all things considered, there was a strong possibility he'd have that opportunity in the near future.]

I'm hardly the one you should be worried about, but yes. My ship isn't far.

[His armored robes weren't exactly keeping him warm and cozy, but he still had time to spare until being out in the cold would pose a serious risk. Something that couldn't be said for het man Huvrye was evidently prepped for takeoff with, or even Huvrye himself, and while Nox certainly didn't sound like he was overly concerned didn't have a reason not to be helpful.

If anything, building more connections with people clearly not from this world could prove beneficial. After all, who knew just how long it would be until the metas started becoming seen as an unwelcome presence again? Sure, the most recent wave was a small one, and he'd yet to hear of Little Love being affected, but that didn't mean that would be the case a second time around.]

And if you have any sense, that's exactly where you'll both be going. The med bay may be small, but it's far better equipped to treat him than anything else you'll find here.

[He wasn't about to force the taller man to accept the offer, but he also wouldn't accept any blame if he didn't and things ended badly.]

[His ship? Wouldn't water be frozen over in weather like this?]

[Still, he considers the offer - he'd been planning on bring this person back to their family - and finally folds his wings. He shifts his grip, freeing a hand, and quickly draws a simple communications array in the air, concentric circles and sigils glowing red as the alchemy activates-]

[-and connects to nothing. Nobody nearby available to connect - possibly nobody who uses alchemy, for all Huvrye knows. He can't contact the man's family if they can't answer. He pulls the array apart, leaving it to dissipate as he looks back at the helmeted man.]

And you're sure it'll work on-

[He lifts the man a bit and shrugs. He's never seen a human before an hour ago - he doesn't even know the word yet - so given that his alchemy just failed to connect, it's a concern.]

i. blizzard

[Otto regularly volunteers for Confluence duty. It's a good thing to do - welcoming others, the way he was once welcomed. Better than he was, hopefully. It wasn't exactly the best experience.

So, you know, it's his own fault he's out here. That doesn't stop him from being grouchy about it! He's out in the blizzard, of course, stamping around through the snow-driven fields like a giant spider just barely visible through the driving snow. Once he spots what seems to be someone struggling outside, he makes a beeline for them; once closer, he's very clearly bundled up and wearing a long coat that flaps dramatically in the wind.]

Are you okay? Here...put on one of these and we'll get you inside.

[One of the upper arms is coiled around a large box of coats he got from the Alliance. He fishes through it for something that looks like it would be a reasonable fit.]

ii. indoors

[Safely ensconced in the relative safety of a local church, Otto has helped to get one of the Alliance-provided generators running, and now he's moving about checking in on all the new arrivals. Usually this isn't quite his job. Getting everyone introduced to this world is more of a local-meta thing. But he's here, and a lot of the other volunteers are still out, so...]

Hi, there. Are you warm enough? Need anything?

[His robot arms are moving about behind him, sort of...looking at people? They definitely appear to be looking at people.]

[ kyle was fine, but it sure was wild watching a guy with giant arms walking around the snow. he flies close, hovering nearby. ]

Uh, you holding out okay?

Fine.

[He is, really - he's obviously bundled up for the cold, not someone who got tossed out here with literally no warning! He's just still a little grouchy about it.

Of course, not so irritated as to take it out on any new arrivals. Otto (and one of his tentacles) eyes Kyle for a second. He's sure he doesn't know every Starfallen around, but he's also pretty sure "glowing flying green guy" is new.]

Did you just get here? Pretty sure I'm supposed to be asking you that.

The name's Green Lantern. I'm new and I usually operate in space.

[ technically he operates everywhere. he never got an assigned sector. ]

Did you make those yourself?

In space.

[That's really not very specific? At the question, Otto glances sidelong at the more attentive of the arms.]

Ah, yes, I did. Back in my original world.

Well, not space here but space back in my reality. Lots of spacing adventures. Aliens. Robots. That kind of stuff.

That's pretty cool. I don't think I've seen anything like it.

[ for a moment, kyle uses his imagination to fashion similar arms as green energy constructs. ]

...thank you.

[He arches his eyebrows at the green energy constructs. The arms seem to react as well, claws opening wider and a second one turning about to take a look.]

Now, what is that? Some sort of magic?

Oh, no. They're energy constructs, powered by . . . well, will power. As long as I can keep picturing them and imagining them, I can keep them going.

[ kyle's arms wave back. ]

[That doesn't sound like NOT magic! But, then again, any insufficiently-understood science and all that...]

Fascinating! [He waves back, taking conscious control before the arms decide to get threatened or offended or something.] So, I take it you aren't going back to the shelter anytime soon?

No. I figured I'd make a giant snow plough to clean up the place. That should make things easier.

Right.

[Well, he seems to have things under control. Otto's out here to find new arrivals who need help, not to round them all up just because. The Alliance would probably differ on that, but - well, they differ on quite a few things, don't they?]

Well, the local authorities have shelters set up at that church - [vaguely visible in the distance] - a barn on the south side of town, and the high school, it's about a mile that way. You find anyone who needs it, you can take them to one of those. I'm just about to head out into the fields, make sure no one's lost out there.

[ kyle's still watching the arms, intrigued. he's a bit of a mecha nut, so he's fascinated by their movements. ]

You sure? Aren't you freezing? How do the arms manage in this cold?

Better than I do.

[YEAH obviously he's freezing! But he's also a hell of a lot better prepared for this weather than any new arrivals would have been; Otto waves a hand.]

I'll be alright. Someone's got to go gather everyone up. Trust me, I'm not gonna freeze out here.

[The arms would, evidently, just haul him home again!]

Okay. I'm trusting you and your . . . appendages.

Never trust an appendage.

[It looks and sounds like he is joking! He is not!]

Send up a flare if you need anything! I don't think there's snow monsters out here, but you never do know in this world.

[ he nods. ]

Right, keep an eye out for Yetis. Easy enough, I think?

01. Arrival

[ When he hits the snow, he lets out a most undignified scream, and he is not ashamed. That scream was deserved. Last thing he remembers, he was toasty warm in a van on a warm summer evening. And he's still dressed for that kind of weather.

Hardison stands up, hunching forward and rubbing his arms for warmth. There's a million different things running though his mind — Where is he? Why can't he remember how he got here? Did he black out? Was he drugged? Where was his team?

It's all condensed into a single, frustrated yell— ]

What the hell?!

-

02. Community Center

[ Hardison's been picked up and brought to a warm, safe place — and before he even has a chance to get situated, he steps in with the rest of the town to try and get everyone taken care of.

He's helping serve food, distribute coats and blankets, providing some basic first aid, and stepping in to fix any electronics or machines that might need his delicate touch. A couple people have brought in generators that hadn't seen use in a while, and Hardison's able to get them going again.

Under any other circumstance, Hardison would be absolutely enthralled with all the PEOPLE WITH SUPERPOWERS he's been seeing, but right now there's people who need help. He'll fanboy later. ]

-

03. Diadem Hotel

[ Once emergency services arrive, Hardison's role in the disaster relief swiftly becomes redundant. After a little protest, he finally lets himself be whisked away to Central City, and set up in that admittedly very fancy hotel.

He's sitting at the hotel bar nursing a beer, and pinching the bridge of his nose as he goes over the events of the day in his head. ]

Could be worse. I could have been isekai'd into medieval times.

[Otto blows in from the cold, snow crusted on his hair and coat, and with yet another generator to come set down at Hardison's little station!]

Got another one. [He looks the whole thing over.] You're lucky. It's terrible out there.

[Otto could easily be fixing these generators himself! But there's many people who can do that, and fewer who can tromp around in the snow on robot arms, so here we all are.]

[Two empty seats down from Hardison, Huvrye is seated at the bar with a cup of coffee in front of him. He can survive the extreme temperature just fine, but evidently being brand new in whatever place this is (and wearing a bloodsoaked shirt, despite the fact that he's no longer injured) had been enough for them to send him someplace warmer and set him up at the fanciest hotel he's ever seen in his life, like he's some sort of rich civ.]

[So he's swapped out his shirt for the hotel bathrobe - because there's nothing else in his room and he has no idea where else to get a shirt - and is wearing it over his pants and boots. (How did he get it on over his wings? It's a mystery.)]

[He looks up at that statement.]

You could've what?

[Were those words?]

[ he shrugs. ]

I don't know, I wouldn't mind that too much. Depends on the isekai, I guess.

A. Falling in a Winter Wonderland (Confluence)

Bart was a little surprised to wake up whiteout conditions, but as soon as he realized there was (yet another) Confluence, he geared up the best he could and dug his way out to help. And while flyers and magic types are usually better at this, if you somehow fell through the cracks, you might find a localized whirlwind whipped up by a teenaged speedster helping you to a softer landing. Or maybe he's running jackets, boots, and cocoa out to those ill-dressed for the weather. No matter what, he's there to help. Although he might have some issues with sliding on the icy surfaces.

B. Contractually Obligated Snow Sports

There's certain parts of being Alliance that Bart hates, and some he doesn't exactly care for, but publicity is definitely never going to make either list. He enjoys being out there in uniform, helping show people the largely harmless ways certain powers can be used to have fun. In this case, he's using his speed to liven up the lives of kids who are needing some entertainment while the schools are stuck doubling as deep freeze shelter for homes and farms that got damaged in the blizzard conditions, or are too far out for easy access should anything further go wrong.

So he's got a pile of snowballs as big as he is, and is looking for likely targets, as the kids all try to build forts and avoid the barrage and maybe get some hits in.

C. Speed Equals Power

One problem that they hadn't planned on was the backup generator at the Little Love Community Hospital going out. While there was no problem getting the people who needed to be swiftly transferred to more reliable facilities, it didn't mean the hospital could just shut down for the time being. And since it would take time to get replacements in, someone had the brilliant idea of using a speedster as a dynamo. So Bart's got a lovely Schwinn AirDyne hooked up to generate power, and is trying to keep the energy flowing.

Feel free to drop by and poke fun at him, keep him distracted, or even maybe take a turn yourself.

D. Meanwhile, Back on the Farm

And then there's the chickens. He's definitely freaked about the chickens. Sure, he'd insulated the coop and put in heating elements and made sure it was a weatherproofed as any home could be, but they're his girls.

Which means Bart is going crazy trying to shovel out the yard and get things clear so he can look in on them and make sure everyone made it through all right.

"If you're staying, maybe you could grab an extra shovel or something?"

E. Wildcard

You know what to do here.

[When he'd heard about the snowstorm in Little Love, that people needed help, Thad had rushed out from Central City without much thought. Less because he was genuinely enthusiastic about helping, and more because it was a way to keep himself occupied. That had become a habit of his, when he wasn't prepping for his eventual ousting from the hotel, he was jumping at every opportunity that freed him from the torturer of being left alone with his own thoughts.

It was fine at first. But as the day wore on, and snow kept coming down he'd started to wear himself thin. He hadn't been eating or sleeping like he should have and he was starting to feel it. Once, he would have had Craydl, or even Max in his ear, telling him to come home, insisting on it. But they aren't here, and he didn't want to go back to the stupid silent hotel. So he kept going, past what some part of him knew was likely a breaking point.

It was only when he started to feel dizzy and light-headed that he gave in to the idea of giving up. He should have just hunkered down in one of the shelters, but the idea of being trapped with that many strangers was worse than being alone.

Racing to get out of Little Love he feels lightheaded again, and slows to a dizzying stop on the edge of a farm. He's not sure how long he's stood standing there, trying to catch his bearings, but he can hear chickens in the distance, and eventually a voice. One he feels he should be more alert to. But his mind can't quite get a grip on the words. He's not even sure if he's being spoken to, or just overhearing someone, but it suddenly doesn't matter much either way when he's collapsing forward into the snow.]

Bart hadn't planned to spend hours digging out paths to the shed and the back door and everything, but he also hadn't wanted to rush. There had been more than enough of that. The peek he'd given in the henhouse had shown all the girls roosting under the heating elements and Barbara had given him a dirty look over the draft he let in. So they were fine for now. He'd have to check back on the water sitch and set out feed, but they were good.

Then he'd heard someone nearby, and pretty much assumed it was one of his friends. Except there was no response, and a moment later he heard a soft thump, and, well, that was the end of taking things slow just now.

He was a little surprised to see Thad, and carefully went to his good knee to try to rouse the other speedster. "Hey, you okay? Well, probably not, but are you awake?"

There's that voice again, but this time it's right next to him and unmistakable, even as his body is trying to turn against him and slip into unconsciousness.

With some effort he manages to fight off the wild temptation to just let himself stay and rest in the snow. Pushing himself on to his knees, he gives Bart a rough grunt in response and a half hearted shove with one hand before trying and failing to get back to his feet.

His stomach gives a painful churn at the attempt and he just manages to catch himself enough to not fall flat back into the snow.

Bart barely stops himself from trying to catch Thad after the shove, then turns to create a scout.

"Thermal wrap, you know where they are," he snaps, taking the moment the scout needs to return with the crinkly-sounding aluminum blanket to try to center himself before draping it over the younger speedster.

"Look, I know this isn't what you want, so I guess we have two choices. I can take you inside here, or run you to the triage center. But you need food and warmth." And Tim is going to kill him.

Aside from a light flinch, Thad doesn't move when the weight of the thermal blanket falls over him.

Bart was correct, he didn't want this, and he almost snapped for him to just leave him alone. But knowing how stubborn Bart could be and their last conversation, it would likely be a waste of breath. And he didn't have the energy to scuffle with Bart if the other boy felt prompted to take him somewhere by force. So instead he weighs his options from under the aluminum blanket.

The idea of being taken to a triage center was only tempting for about half a picosecond. It might get him away from Bart the fastest, but being poked and prodded at by strangers while being asked questions about his identity and medical history was arguably worse. Especially if he was being brought in by someone who looked suspiciously like an older version of himself. In an environment where clones could be treated with hostility or suspicion, or like they were property, that could turn bad.

Maybe that line of thinking was a bit too paranoid, but was it something he could really risk coming back to bite him?

Reluctantly, he eventually asks, "..Where's here?"

"My place. You don't have to come inside, but in that case I'm going to run out the electric blanket onto the porch. Or you could go sit with the girls under the heat lamps in the henhouse, but that might be a little tight," Bart says, listing multiple options, any of which would be fine, but all mean that Thad's getting at least a little care.

"I know this is not what either of us wants, but you need some help before you can run off again. So why don't you decide while I get some soup warmed." He nods at the nearest window which looks into a kitchen that is either spotless from care or lack of use, but it's hard to tell which at from here.

"Right. The farm." Chickens and all. Wasn't that just his sprocking luck.

Without warning, he tries to make another break for it, managing to stumble to his feet and out from under the blanket, but only makes it about a foot or two away before the dizziness and stomach cramps bring him to another stop. He at least manages to stay on his feet this time, but it's clear, even to himself, that he's not going to be able to just speed off any time soon.

"...Porch." He definitely wasn't hunkering down with birds, and he definitely didn't want to be stuck in his house.

Edited 2022-12-17 15:37 (UTC)

Bart is back out, before there's too much of a stumble, running through the wall with the steaming cup of broth he'd just vibrated warm. Picking up the foil blanket, he drapes it around Thad and hands him the soup. "C'mon, baby steps. One at at ime."

There's no judgement as he helps Thad to the rocker on the porch, just weary sympathy. He'd been off the front lines for a lot the help needed, both because the Alliance knew Kid Flash as a goofball and because he'd had to assuage Tim and Kon that he was safe.

"Just sit tight, and I'll get the blanket set up so you can raise that core temp. I've also got some protein bars and stuff that doesn't taste like crap."

The foil blanket is draped over him and this time he holds it around himself with the hand not holding the soup. The cold was starting to really seep in now that he'd been relatively still for so long, and he wasn't quite stubborn enough to refuse it again. As Bart helps him to the porch he doesn't quite let him touch him when he can help it, but can't do much to stop him from being close or catching him when he looks like he might stumble.

Sitting in the rocker he was directed to, he gives a non-committal noise at the offer of protein bars, choosing to stare sullenly into the bowl of soup as Bart goes for the heated blanket.

It took a little big more work to get the outdoor extension cord run and the electric blanket in position, but Bart didn't rush it. With the reflective blanket and something warm to drink, he knew that a speedster's metabolism was good enough to not go fully into hypothermic shock. But it also gave him a little time to think about the next move or two.

"Who are you reporting to for mobilization?" Bart asks, keeping to business for now. "You'll need to tell them you're done for this shift."

The first question just gets a confused look from him, mouthing the words "reporting to" to himself as he tried to puzzle out who Bart could have thought he would be in contact with. It clicks after he advises him to let them know his shift is done. The Guilds.

Frowning down at the bowl of soup again, for a moment he debates how to answer.

"No one sent me here. I saw the news and came down here on my own."

Bart can't help a frown at that. "It's dangerous to operate without Guild support. This universe isn't all that forgiving of vigilantes," he feels obliged to say. "I'd rather not see you get hunted down for that. Or, well, anything else."

While he doesn't really expect Thad to fall in line with either group, it's still something to bring up and be concerned about. Crossing lines should at least be something you do on purpose, not because one is under-informed.

"The unaligned are easy targets because the people here want powers 'regulated' or some such nonsense."

"Like for being your clone." Not much point beating around the bush. "From what I've gathered joining them doesn't seem like a particularly wise choice for that same reason."

Bart can't help a slight wince at that. "You're just as much a person as anyone else. It shouldn't matter how you came to be."

It shouldn't but it does.

"There's a lawyer, the one they're trying to pressure into joining up. Kon's talked with her. She's...well, she might as well be as close to being a leader for a third faction. And I would never expect you to join up if you didn't feel it was a good decision. You're the smart one, after all."

It's hard not to note that wince. He can't quite understand why simply stating the fact that he was a clone would make Bart react like that, but he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he merely gives Bart's statement about him being as much a person as anyone else, a soft noise of acknowledgment, or possibly agreement.

When he brings up the lawyer, Thad nods.

"Frances Starling. Guardian mentioned her." He still hadn't reached out to her yet, unsure if he wanted to. For the moment she was considered a last-resort resource. "Wasn't aware she was essentially heading a third unspoken faction."

If he feels any particular way about that, it's hard to parse with his voice staying a soft monotone. Lifting the soup bowl to his mouth, he forgoes the spoon to just drink down the broth for now.

"It's more that she's a voice for the unaligned than actually organizing anything. But, uh, yeah. Guardian didn't have anything particularly bad to say, which is a lot better than the hinkiness that I keep seeing in the Guardian Alliance. They really are pushing the line that all people with powers should have oversight," Bart points out.

"I mean, I know I've practically been a poster child for the misuse of superpowers, but I have never agreed that government regulation is going to help." It always seemed to go bad or end up with people getting hunted down like criminals or worse.

Putting the soup back down in his lap, he stays silent for a moment, mulling that information over.

"...What kind of 'hinkiness' have you seen from the Alliance, beyond their treatment of clones?"

"The Godfall incident. I'm pretty sure they just straight-up murdered a traumatized teen and passed it off as some kind of glorious win for the team. And people have mostly let them get away with things like that. Sweep casualties under the rug," Bart explains, gesturing as he talks.

"It's the kinds of things that would destroy the Justice League. The history is so different that there's not as much of an adherence to general morality. There aren't any folks like Superman or Wonder Woman that make it worth it to try to toe a line."

It bothers him. Because without those kinds of upstanding people, the moral imperative of trying to be even a fraction as good as Superman, it makes it harder to draw lines.

"Heck, the Society doesn't actually bother with actual reformation. It's more of a place to keep doing the same thing, and having people to bail you out. Unless the pressure gets too bad, then you might be on your own."

Open | Oh, the Weather Outside Is Frightful

Huvrye | Broken | OTA

Gridlock

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Otto Octavius | OTA

( i, as green lantern )

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Alec Hardison | OTA

2

3

( 03, as kyle )

Bart Allen / Kid Flash | OTA

Back on the Farm

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