tryit | 2nd Shot [action/voice]

[Okay, kidnappings on top of kidnappings? Seriously? To say that wasn't cool would definitely be the understatement of the year. One she wasn't going to touch with a ten foot pole. It would, she told herself as she trekked from the edge woods to her building, be best to just forget the whole matter. Maybe pretend that the past month was just something out of a crazy, deranged nightmare.

Because, holy shit, had she really been dating Clint Barton?!? God, was it too much to just wish it was all a dream? But no. Those stupid purple wings had been there when she had woken up in the woods (again!). And plucking a feather from the wings had hurt far too much.

First stop, shower. Second stop, Billy and Teddy's apartment to play the good friend card and announce her return in person. Thirdly? Something - anything - to blow off some steam.

Later that day, Kate can be found at the Battledome shooting arrow after arrow at stationary targets. And missing every time. When she's finally had enough, she makes her way over to the coffee shop. It's there that she takes out the journal and begins to talk:]

Someone tell me they've considered revolting. Because I'm starting to get really tired of this place and our damned keepers. Y'know, I don't care if I'm preaching to the choir, but shifts seriously suck. Actually, everything here kind of sucks right now.

How long do these kidnapping effects last anyway?

[Because not hitting the target from five feet away? She hasn't been that bad since she was a child. Forget about the fact that maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't have met those robots that came for her with explosive arrows. Call it habit. Or something.]

Actually, forget that. If it's more than a day, I really don't want to know right now. Someone want to go dancing tonight?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She takes the mug and flashes him a look of utter gratefulness. Putting it to her lips, Kate inhales deeply and sighs.

Smells like heaven.]

I don't really remember. [She grimaces, making a face. Yeah, not so pleased with that.] One moment, I was here living in Pleasantville, and the next? Blank, except for a few wisps here and there. Kinda like bootcamp, with all the fun of repeated doctor's visits.

That's about how it was for me, too. I've heard it's better that way.

[He has mixed feelings about that.]

I'm glad you're back, though. It's been too quiet around here.

Maybe. But it sucks, y'know? Not knowing?

[Not knowing what they might have done to her. If there have been violations to her body, much like those purple wings still attached to her back. There are a number of things in her past she doesn't like to remember. But at least in remembering, she's been able to work past the trauma. This?

She sighs.] I'm glad, too. Even with the mind-screwiness, Luceti's probably the better option. At least I have you guys here.

Yeah, I'm not really happy about the mystery, either. I try not to think about it.

[He's had enough of scientists experimenting on him firsthand, thank you very much. But Kate has a point.]

But we just have to stick together, right? And we'll be fine.

[She takes another sip of the coffee, eyes closing as she once again makes a point of inhaling the aroma. Billy's right. Not thinking about it would be the best course of action. She'll be fine.

They'll all be fine.]

I think out of everything, the caffeine withdrawal was probably the worst of it. I'm glad they don't expect us to survive here without coffee.

[He can't help it; he makes a face at that.]

Ugh, no kidding. I think they know we'd be a lot less productive if we didn't have any. Half of us are practically addicted by now.

And that's not including the half of us who came here already addicted.

Thank god for the local coffee shop. I don't know how we survived without it.

I'm surprised no one thought about it sooner.

Trust me, people thought of it. I think it was more of an issue of nobody wanting to actually do it.

But there's nothing to do around here most of the time.

Yeah, not really, but that doesn't mean people wanna work for free.

What's up with that, anyway? This whole no money thing?

No idea. Maybe they want to avoid all the class issues. And economics. And unemployment. Can you imagine the mess this place would be if we had to pay for everything? With how few jobs are here?

[It's weird, but it makes sense, even if it kind of encourages the couch-potato lifestyle.]

[She remembers the shift that had occurred right before the Malnosso kidnapped her. The Leave it to Beaver theme aside, money had definitely been an issue.

She winces a little and stops herself before she says anything that makes her sound too much like her father.]

Point taken.

I guess technically we could be self-sustaining if we really tried; we've got a farm in the north area, and tons of space for more if it was needed. Lots of strong young guys and girls to plow the fields or milk the cows or whatever.

[And he takes a sip of his snobby expensive latte and looks down at it.

....]

I think most of us would starve ourselves, though.

[She thinks on that for just a second before wrinkling her nose and nodding.]

Yeah, I think I'll pass on the whole working on a farm bit.

Same here. Though I wouldn't mind the eye candy of some of our best-looking village guys in shirtless overalls.

[He can be a little shameless sometimes.]

[Make that two of them. Kate grins wickedly.]

You and me both.

Hey, it's getting to be fall now. Maybe we should organize something. To, you know, promote unity in the village.

...like a hoedown?

...Maybe a less hick-sounding version of it.

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