riverview | [VIDEO]; @fatima

[Fatima's life dictates that she has to carefully manage and regulate her appearance. It's a bit of a neurosis, really. She's had to dedicate much of the last few years to proving that she's every bit as capable and mature as a bunch of vampires who have seen more than a few centuries. The mortal girl is not going to sit at the kiddie table, thank you very much. Which means not looking like a kiddie.

She wears a lot of make up. Like, a lot. It's well done and attractive, certainly. But noticeably an inch thick. Her hair is pulled back in a braid today, draping over her left shoulder. But what really completes the "I'm not a child" look is the attitude. It's her carefully schooled expression, just the right amount of jaded blase, as if to say "I've seen too much to ever be wide-eyed again."

It's her first network post. She figures first impressions matter. Although this is not how she imagined greeting the network.]

Hey, Fatima Merali here.

[She's got a thick, West Coast accent. She even says her name in a disgustingly Americanized way.]

Los Angeles, 2009, for any of you keeping track of that kind of thing.

Listen. Has anyone seen or heard from Ray Palmer lately? It's like he just vanished.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[O...kay. This guy is officially weird. And that's saying something, coming from the half-breed princess with a martyr complex.]

Well.

If you can just "stumble" into a portal, I guess there's hope for those of us actively looking for one.

[Morgan's seen a lot.]

It might be, but I wouldn't count on it? I mean, and I don't mean to diminish your desires, but you WILL get back eventually, one way or the other.

Yeah. Well. I'm not a big fan of waiting like a damsel in a tower.

[She makes her own destiny. It's a problem that runs pretty deep. Happens when you're a Merali girl.]

Call me crazy.

Good. The girls worth knowing are all down on the ground kicking the witch's ass. [Morgan flashes her a grin.] Mind if I ask why the hurry though?

Uh...I have a life?

[Not to mention Auntie Diana's still missing.]

And I just don't appreciate being kidnapped, you know?

True, but you'll be going back to it right when you left... And it's a hell of an experience, don't you think? New things to see, new people to meet, new stuff to do...?

Wait, wait.

Going back to it right when I left?

You're losing me.

[Morgan jerks up a little straighter.]

They didn't tell you that when they showed up? Said that if they send you back to home, they'll reinsert you right when you left. Much less damage all around that way.

[Did they? It's possible. Fatima was so angry when she arrived here she was spitting nails. So maybe she missed something.

Maybe.

But still.]

They could be lying about that.

[Suspicious girl...]

They could, but what's their motivation? Or more specifically, what does that lie accomplish that another lie wouldn't accomplish better while sounding equally or more plausible?

[You have no idea...]

Mitigating people's concerns about their lives literally passing them by?

Some people left behind husbands, wives, kids. They'd throw a fit if they felt like they were gonna miss milestones in those relationships.

The lie would keep them calm.

Possible, but! Wouldn't it be better to say that they can't safely return people yet, but are working on it? Because this way is just asking for someone reckless and feeling like they have nothing to lose to set up some gambit to force then to return them back. Better to keep people believing the hope is coming and have them waiting for it, if you're lying.

Well, it seems like I'm in the minority here. I'm not waiting.

Damn, guess getting a drink is right out then. [Morgan makes a show of snapping his fingers.]

Okay, your cheerful is starting to creep me out, guy.

[And seriously? Did he just hit on her?]

I think you've already had a drink or ten.

Naw, actually I don't drink alcohol. I just don't personally see a reason not to enjoy this. But I don't personally feel kidnapped, and I'm looking forward to the change of scenery.

[Now she might detect a little bit of a flicker in that resolute cheer. The change is good because it has no memories associated with it.]

I'm not going to fault anyone who does, though. It's understandable that being suddenly yanked away would be upsetting. Me, personally, I just want to make an opportunity of it and enjoy what it has to offer. I've spent too many years as a person who wouldn't.

That's very philosophical of you.

For what it's worth, it's not like my world is sunshine and puppies. It's not someplace I want to be. But it's somewhere I have to be.

I'm from Earth too, remember. Even the fuuuuuuture. It's sure as hell not all sunshine and puppies, but you can't forget that sunshine and puppies exist or else why are you even going on each day, you know?

You sound just like my Auntie Diana.

[Up to him if that's a compliment or not.]

Next, you'll be leading me in a "Tomorrow" sing-along.

Your Auntie Diana must be a wise woman who was really stupid about things for way too long, unless she actually had common sense and didn't need to have her ass kicked up one side of reality and down the other before she figured a thing or two out. [Morgan winks, clearly taking it as a compliment.] Now if you played an instrument and had the time... and the instrument...

[She'd be offended, but that pretty much sounds like Auntie Diana.

Hopefully, she's alive...]

Afraid not.

That's drinks and a jam session shot down. This conversation sure could be going better from my perspective. See, now I'm being less cheerful and more mopey. [And another wink. Morgan has absolutely no problem poking fun at himself, yet another lesson he's learned over the years.]

You certainly don't lack confidence. I'll give you that.

"If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." Sun Tzu, if you'll forgive me for being horribly trite in my quotations, but the man knew a thing or two.

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me."

Aretha Franklin.

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