(no subject)

[demonspawn]

WHO: Terry Ward, Rick Bradbury, & Mitchell Hundred.
WHERE: City Hall.
WHEN: Backdated to before Christmas.
WARNINGS: Probably a degree of social awkwardness.
SUMMARY: Terry's got a problem. Its name is Jenny Quantum.
FORMAT: Quicklog. Threads within, yo.

Comments

terry & bradbury

[demonspawn]

[ he normally doesn't sleep well as it is, but lately it's been full blown insomnia -- ever since he saw that brief news report in passing. it shouldn't have been a big deal. imports are in the news all the time, and the report itself couldn't have been more than five minutes maximum. just something about a super-powered girl in a remote country somewhere, something about rebels or factions or whatever. the only reason he even paused was because he remembered what jenny had said all those months ago. when she'd talked about taking over the world. joking about herself as a child tyrant.

but maybe she hadn't been joking after all. it'd explain why he'd suddenly been unable to use the carrier's doors to teleport anywhere. jenny wouldn't want them interfering, would she? maybe eventually she even expected them to stand with her. the idea kept him quiet for several days, left him sleepless. the usual bags under his eyes were getting awful. if it went bad, he'd regret not telling anyone, right? but if he did, he was betraying one of the only people in this universe or any other that saw him as a person.

finally, he went to the only adult he thought he could trust with something like this. someone who had helped him before. awkwardly, he knocks on the door to bradbury's office. ]

Hey, Mr. B? [ a heavy exhale. ] It's Terry.

[waiting]

Door's open. [ bradbury calls, and when terry steps inside he'll find bradbury at his desk. he'd much rather be keeping an eye on mitch, but regrettably being head of security also means it's his job to figure out at least some of the paperwork. he's glad for the excuse to push away from his desk and stand up. ]

You need something, kiddo? [ he calls terry and abby by name more often these days, but the familiarity doesn't come with necessarily knowing what's on terry's mind all the time. he doesn't pry into his personal business, but the kid's seemed like he had something on his mind. it hasn't felt right to pry, but he can't imagine this is a social call. ]

[demonspawn]

[ he lets himself in, but doesn't come much closer than that, lingering in the doorway like this whole situation still makes him wary -- just like most situations that involve trusting anyone normally do. he makes a point of shutting the door behind him. as far as he's concerned, the less people know about this, the better. it's lucky southwest phonwhatever is such a tiny place -- too small to be global news already. ]

Yeah. Look -- can we talk? It's sort of a big deal.

[ an uncomfortable pause. ]

I mean, it's personal. But also maybe an issue of international security. Maybe.

[waiting]

[ normally, bradbury's pretty laid back, but he's also capable of being pretty damn serious when the situation calls for it. and right now, with the look on terry's face? yeah, things seem pretty damn serious.

besides, why the hell would terry ever need to talk to him about international security? he doesn't let the confusion show on his face, gesturing for terry to take a seat. ]

Yeah, that sounds like a pretty big deal. [ he puts his papers aside, giving terry his full attention. ]

I'm listening.

[demonspawn]

[ he folds his arms over his chest -- an unconsciously defensive gesture. not that he's being attacked here, but he just doesn't like approaching adults with his problems. bad history. ]

It's Jenny. I saw a news clip the other day, about someone with powers starting some kinda military uprising in some African country -- and I'm pretty sure it's her.

[ well. that's heavy. he hesitates, then adds, with that same discomfort, like he doesn't like this and still isn't sure why he's saying any of it: ]

I didn't know who else to go to. Who else I could trust.

[waiting]

[ the word trust hits him like a shot to the heart. it's not a word he's used to hearing, that's for sure. not like this. because everyone knows they can trust rick bradbury to watch their back and to do his job, but this is a little more complicated than someone expecting him to take a bullet.

terry's looking at him, though, and that familiar surge of protectiveness comes up in him. why and how terry felt he could come to bradbury doesn't matter: right now, someone's counting on him, and he's not about to let him down if he can help it, even if he doesn't necessarily have the right words to respond to it with. ]

If you're sure, I believe you. [ for his age, he thinks, terry's got a better head on his shoulders than most. he takes a breath, running a hand through his hair. ]

You got any idea what you wanna do about it? I don't know how much help I'm gonna be, but I'll do what I can.

[demonspawn]

I don't know.

[ it comes out in a frustrated burst of breath, like he's been holding that confession in this entire time, since he found out -- admitting his doubt out loud, his uncertainty, it's something between relief and anger, all coated in his perpetual self-loathing. like somewhere in this, he's failed. he believes that. ]

I don't know what to do. You don't just come back from taking over a country and get a slap on the wrist. Nobody is going to care that she's fifteen, or that she's my friend.

[waiting]

[ the self-loathing's all too clear to hear, for someone who's heard his share of it himself, and bradbury exhales. ]

I'm glad you told me. But... [ he pauses, just a flicker of something almost like apology in his expression. ]

You know I'm going to have to tell Mitch about this, right?

[ because if this is as big as it sounds, if there's a chance in hell it's going to affect the rest of the imPorts -- and there's no way he can imagine it won't -- Mitchell Hundred needs to know. ]

[demonspawn]

[ he's not surprised. but hearing it out loud does make something tighten in his expression. his head tilts slightly up and away, vaguely defiant. it's not that he even outright dislikes the mayor so much as a general distrust and an underlying resentment towards adults in politics, but it probably seems like dislike for the man.

but he knows. this is important for the import community, and important for their leader to know. it isn't like he didn't think it wouldn't somehow come to this, but if he hoped it wouldn't, bradbury's shown him that any other course is getting less and less likely. ]

No. What's the point in that? [ firmly: ] I'll tell him.

[waiting]

[ he watches terry, and maybe there's a little respect in his expression. despite everything, he trusts mitch, but he knows that it's not that easy to ask anyone else to do the same. he wouldn't be surprised if terry did dislike mitch, for all that he technically works for him. the man's not exactly the easiest to get along with, when he expects things of you. ]

Probably a good idea. He might actually listen if you tell him. [ it's a weak joke, a vain attempt to lighten the mood, but his expression sobers quickly. ]

Hey. [ and then, he realizes, he doesn't know what to say. "it's going to be okay" sounds like the kind of lie you'd tell a five-year-old; "that's rough, buddy" is just plain insulting. finally: ]

Look, whatever happens? You're not in this alone. [ he stands up, comes around his desk, and -- somehow, without a flicker of hesitation -- he rests a hand on terry's shoulder, warm and solid. ]

I've got your back. [ he puts as much conviction into those words as he can. ]

[demonspawn]

[ the gesture makes him stop. he isn't sure why his chest goes all tight suddenly, at that reassuring weight on his shoulder. he doesn't know why he simultaneously wants to jerk away while wishing the moment would last a bit longer. it feels dangerously close to things like support and encouragement and -- acceptance.

things he'd only ever felt around other fuck-ups like him. the kids with the messed up powers or messed up heads and messed up pasts. even abby, good-natured and sweet abby, who still had blood on her hands and trauma enough for lifetimes.

he hesitates, something boyishly awkward and almost vulnerable crossing his face before he's glancing away, brushing bradbury's hand from his shoulder briskly like he's annoyed by it. ]

It's fine. I'm not the one who's going to have to deal with Jenny. I don't need you to have my back.

[waiting]

[ if bradbury knew what terry was thinking, he might have laughed. because he's fucked up, too. it's not as complicated as terry's situation is, and when you're talking about having a demon dad, having a complex about being left behind seems almost vanilla.

but even if bradbury's had a hell of a time trusting people ever since, he's never had a problem being there for anyone else.

the brush-off is something he expects, teenage pride and probably just terry's own personality making it unlikely he'd get a "please and thank you" in return. he didn't miss that brief flash of vulnerability, though, and he chuckles, shoving his hands into his pockets like he, too, is embarrassed by the gesture. ]

Yeah. [ he's never needed. ] It just makes me feel better to say it.

[ because even if terry plays it off, or doesn't get into it much, bradbury knows: there's a good chance shit will go down, and after that, they'll be left scrambling after the pieces. if there are even any left to pick up. ]

You ready to go see the boss?

[demonspawn]

How am I supposed to get ready to tell the mayor that my friend is probably committing acts of international terrorism?

[ it comes out harsher than he means for it too. he almost feels sorry, on the inside, and it almost shows. ]

Not that I have any freaking idea what he'll do about it. Probably send some stupid spandex-happy hero types in for the good PR. I don't even know what's worse -- thinking about what they'll do to her, or thinking about what she'll do to them.

terry, bradbury, & mitch

[demonspawn]

[ he's having second thoughts. third thoughts. maybe even fourth thoughts. he's never liked figures of authority -- especially not the ones in government -- but every step closer to mitch's office makes something instictively defensive rise in him. he doesn't want to betray jenny. but he's begun to grow more convinced that there's more at stake here.

if she really cares about him, like she said, they'd figure it out after. right? if there was an after. or maybe it still isn't too late to stop her before it gets out of hand. maybe if they'll just get someone to talk to her --

out loud, before knocking on mitch's door, half to himself and half to bradbury: ]

Great. So. "My reality altering fifteen-year-old friend may possibly be forcefully taking over a foreign country?" Should've rehearsed this first.

JUST GONNA HIT THIS YO

[viced]

[ Thankfully for Terry, Mitch could really only hear the knock, any low voices on the other end entirely drowned out by all the other things the guy had to listen to day in and day out. Sure, he made a great show of it, but really, on the other side of the door? Muffled? He sure as fuck wasn't going to listen to it. ]

It's open.

[ Of course it was. Normally, a knock was followed by someone blustering through with something or the other. The fact that it wasn't being opened immediately was unusual, hence the call. ]

[waiting]

[ it's a hard choice terry's making, and bradbury can understand the dilemma. part of it is being a teenager, he guesses. not that he thinks terry's much of a kid, but things are always a little more uncertain when you're at that age, and your friends are the only place you feel like you belong. like it's just you, together, against the world.

deciding to come to him couldn't have been easy, but it makes bradbury wonder: if he ever found himself in the same position with mitch, would he do what terry's doing now, or not? he has no fucking clue. ]

Relax. He's not gonna jump down your throat if you stutter. [ he cocks his head when mitch's voice comes through, and clears his throat, looking serious. ]

He'll listen. It's his fucking job to.

[ he opens the door then, before terry can reply, ushering him in front of him. once they're both inside, he takes up a position by the door -- not locking it, but standing guard. he nods at mitch, then at terry. ]

Hey, boss. You got a minute? [ his tone of voice implies, clearly, that he better be fucking ready to give him more than a minute. ]

Terry needs to talk to you.

[demonspawn]

[ it's exactly that -- bradbury's right. the five of them, these outcast kids with powers too big for them... sometimes it feels like they only have each other. like only they can understand each other. that's why this feels like betrayal. he knows jenny isn't evil -- just like jenny always understood that he wasn't either, despite his heritage, his powers. it feels like he doesn't trust her enough. but he's still trying to convince himself right now that he's doing the right thing.

there's tension in his shoulders, around his mouth when he approaches mitch's desk. ]

It's about Jenny. I don't know how to dress this up or sugar coat it, so I'm just gonna tell you straight -- I think she might be taking over a foreign country. And knowing Jenny, it probably won't stop there.

[viced]

[ Well, it wasn't like he could fucking say no now, but after the first words, he was starting to wonder if he should've told them to wait. After all, the phrase "I don't know how to dress this up" meant bad news, and his eyes flicked from the kid to his bodyguard in a concerned 'the fuck did you just drop on my door' kind of look, before he was right back to Terry.

And it didn't sound good, his hands clasping in front of him while he spoke, before he stopped, and Mitch's eyebrows knitted while he thought.

Mitch may not have spoken with Jenny, but he knew of her, via the network. More than that, he'd done his fair share of reading of the Authority, and he knew exactly what kind of power she had.

It wasn't good, and the prospect was even fucking worse. ]

Sit down, and tell me what you know. What country, and when?

[ Thankfully for all involved, while Mitchell could do the bullshit thing when necessary, when it came to business, he dove right in, and made a beeline for the things he needed to know. There wasn't going to be any fucking around with how Terry knew, because he didn't care. He understood in the City, people made strange bedfellows, he could appreciate that this happened more often than not. Hell, look at some of the people he'd contracted. ]

[waiting]

[ arms crossed, bradbury just shakes his head. the best he can do right now is watch, and step in if it looks like terry might need him to -- mitch can get a little intense, where things like this are concerned. he'll let terry do the explaining, for the most part, and mitch can ask the questions he hadn't thought to. bradbury wasn't good at political bullshit; he didn't see the full picture, or understand the implications.

even he knew an import taking over a country was bad fucking news, but he wouldn't be the one who could figure out how you'd even begin to prevent that from happening. ]

[demonspawn]

I don't remember exactly, alright? Some country in Africa. It was in some news clip. I wasn't really listening then, but after I put two and two together --

[ he's starting to sound angry, and he notices. so he stops, reels in. he's not mad, not really, just awful with feelings. and frustrated. remembering, maybe, when jenny came to see him at city hall a while back, how he'd known something was off. it'd felt like she was saying good bye and now he finally knew why. ]

It's probably been going on a while now. Me and the others haven't been able to use the Doors for weeks, and she's been hard to reach longer than that.

[viced]

After you put two and two together, it seemed more likely she's not doing something she should be, right?

[ He asked it, but watched the shift of the kid's expressions. He blustered through himself, but he watched for an indication that there would be more to this. Mitchell wasn't the most perceptive, but he concentrated on what he could, because he had to.

He was really only not that perceptive when it came to people. His intensity, though, that came through. Eyes locking on Terry in the way most people wouldn't do, because this was serious fucking shit. Rick had done well, bringing him this way. He'd forgotten what it was like to have someone loyal who knew who to go to in a crisis. ]

I can watch the news and probably figure that one out. What else can you tell me? You think you know why she'd have thought taking over a goddamn country was a good idea?

[waiting]

[ he shifts a little on his feet, like the tone of the conversation worries him a little. mitch, he isn't worried about. terry, though ... he doesn't want to insult the kid by implying he needs backup, but he's pretty sure the kid feels bad enough without mitch going all mayoral on him.

he doesn't say anything, but he moves away from the door and comes up beside terry, just enough to give the silent reassurance of his presence -- and, mutely, an offer to step in if there was anything he didn't want to answer. ]

[demonspawn]

[ it's weirdly reassuring. the way he can feel bradbury's presence behind him. he's immortal and a demon -- and almost an adult now, besides that -- but there's something about that presence that gives him a grain more of strength. he tries not to dwell on it. if he does, it'll make him uncomfortable. confused.

he meets the mayor's eyes. he has his own intensity, maybe derived from all that pent up frustration, or maybe from the dark power laying quietly dormant inside him. maybe it was just the seriousness of their situation. ]

She's the Spirit of the Century. She's always calling herself the "protector of humanity." Maybe she thinks she's protecting them somehow -- or protecting us. I don't know. What I do know? Is that she's a reality alterer with a mission and not a whole lot she's afraid of.

[viced]

[ If he's bothered by the kid's intensity, he doesn't show it. If anything, he appreciates it, because it shows that there's passion, and something can be said for caring about what you're worrying over.

That, and Mitchell Hundred stared down horrors that were almost unimaginable, but he didn't think on that. A flicker of thought toward his creators, and he snuffed it down, remaining on the task at hand. He remembered what Terry had said, about his powers. He could only hope that it wasn't constantly pervasive, or he may be in trouble. He essentially ignores Bradbury for the moment, he can offer all the fucking moral support he wants, but it's not going to change the situation any. ]

Motherfucker. Motherfucking reality altering-- [ He stopped himself, fighting to go into some rant about a comic book or another. There were some things one just shouldn't go into, like how House of M was a shitty event, and how reality alterers ruined everything. ]

Alright, figuring out where she's at won't be too tough, but stopping her is another thing altogether. By reality altering, you mean she can pull a lot of shit, and she can do it really fucking fast. Anything else you can share?

[waiting]

[ bradbury's eyes flick between terry and Mitch as they talk, with a sinking feeling that only grows more pronounced as things keep going on. laid out like this, the situation's unpleasantly real, even if they're talking about shit like altering reality and insanely overpowered super teens.

he thought he hated science fiction, but here he's starting to find he hates science reality even more.

and quietly, because he remembers a bitter teenage girl pulling on a cigarette like her life depended on it: ]

You think there's any chance of talking her out of any of this?