Mun Finally Choked Down Rise of Arsenal

[middle_amazon]

I caught everything despite your attempts to muffle me.

I'm...I'm in this weird zen kind of place where I am beyond rage, anger and pain. I know that story is not supposed to be mine, and yet, I'm caught there, having survived Blackest Night, because I guess all of us have been taken to other worlds at the moment.  Here's the truth of this:

• You will get me home.
• You will get me back to my children, who will be alive and exist.
• You will get be back to my husband - who I know is not this person you just read.

You want to know why?

Because I am not that Donna Troy anymore - and I never will be. I will fight this battle and I will win.

Comments

[knightprodigy]

Thatta girl.

[middle_amazon]

"It's always good to see, you in any universe, αδερφός." She says, using the Greek term of "brother." "Please tell me you have something for me to hit. I saw things that were..." She can't even finish.

[knightprodigy]

"...Yeah." And Dick won't finish for her, although he knows all too well what she means, instead he moves to offer her a comforting embrace.

Greek isn't one of the languages that Dick has too much knowledge of, but by now he's heard this particular word enough times to know its meaning. They weren't related by any blood, but that has never mattered, they've been brother and sister in each others eyes since they were teenagers. "I know."

[middle_amazon]

She holds him. She wish it could be tighter. "I don't understand what happened or why it's concidered 'right' - on any level."

[flyingg]

Damn right we're going home.

[middle_amazon]

She clasps his hand. "No one left behind in these places. No one."

[flyingg]

And he squeezes hers back, just a bit, meeting her eyes. Jaw a little set. "Not in those places, and not in-between. We'll find each other, as we should."

All of his stubborn and all of his determination, flaring full-on, for the sake of his family. The very extended and indubitably his family.

[middle_amazon]

She nods. "And we'll go home, and hold our children." Her smile is fragile. "Among others."

[flyingg]

"Donna..." Quietly. "You know as well as I do how the other versions are... us and not us, all at the same time. You don't have to hold up Roy to what that other version of him said or thought. Our Roy, your Roy, is the one whose opinion matters, all right? The one who's trying to get to the rest of us right now, elsewhere. To get back to you."

Faint-faint smile attempt. "It'll be all right."

[middle_amazon]

She ducks her head. "The problem is, when it comes to these other worlds they all are still some incarnation of me out there in some way. Dark Angel saw to that. So while I am mad at him, I'm more mad at me." She steps back, but not out of the hug. "Plus, there has always been that thought, somewhere deep in my mind, that I was settled for. That no matter what I want or have come to believe, it can be all ripped away."

Her voice is barely a whisper. "And I stood on Lian's grave, watched compromise after compromise. Those things are out of my hands in that world. If I even think about that for a moment at all, I'll break like glass. So being petty? It's focus."

[flyingg]

"No shattering." Quickly, and while he doesn't pull her back in, his hands tighten where they are, just a little. "And no, you weren't settled for. He fought for you, too, just as you fought for him, and just as you fought together, for the family of you."

Easing his hold, but only to rub her arm slightly. "You weren't always dealt the same cards. That's also why they are different worlds, because things weren't the same, even if you were in all of them." Lookit them blue eyes, all earnest and focused, because he damn well knows how important Donna is. "I don't know if you can make things right for all of the reincarnations of yourself - my guess would be no, but I'm pretty sure saying 'impossible' is ridiculous, with all we've seen - but I sure do know that, either way, you need to start by making it right for the Donna that you are. Then you could reach out and help. When you're strong."

When you're happy. Because there is strength born of desperation and being backed into a corner, but there is an even deeper, more lasting strength that comes from being in the place and in the state you're supposed to be in. With your reserves full and your mind working to its best speed.

[middle_amazon]

She smiles a bit more. "That," she replies. "Has to be one of the greatest best man follow up speeches in the history of all of Hypertime."

She can't, "make it right" any more then she could change the Earth's orbit. Nearly impossible, and even if she somehow managed it, there would be consequences.

[flyingg]

And he blinks, looking sheepish for a moment. "I was thinking more of the situation and... things that needed to be said than as a best man, but, um, thanks?" Cue an equally sheepish smile?

And no, that's what Dick thought, but he can't exactly dismiss the possibility of anything anymore, can he?

Plus, his point about getting herself into proper state and shape still stands.

[middle_amazon]

She steps back from the hug now. "Anytime. But I still liked your line about the mission logs."

"You know, we never got to finish our honeymoon. Light attacked and - and maybe this needs to be corrected."

[flyingg]

And he lets her go. But doesn't step far away from her, either, because he'll never ever say it or overtly show it, but the fact that she's there - where they are now - is that which makes the difference between freaking out badly enough to get lost and freaking out but doing the job anyway. So just for a moment, sticking near to her. "Yeah, well, in that reception, it was the truth. Maybe other than Sandy, at the time."

... and then his eyes actually light up again. "You know, somehow I'm sure that may be a good idea. By the time we're all back, you might even trust Indigo to help keep the kids safe, too." Since they are relying on her right now, Lian and Ceridan, and that might help a bit. Making it home safe.

[middle_amazon]

"Do any of our children need to read when we 13 and fighting a giant robot named 'Honey Bun?'" She shakes her head. "Okay, maybe they do."

"Let's sign you up for one of trips, too, Robbie. I'm not the only one who married the readhead next door."

[flyingg]

"You ever looked up what happened to Hans?" Talking about Honey Bun. "Or any of the rest?" He has. Once or twice. When his mind is so stuck on a case and he has some reaction or another keeping him holed up until it's done.

... annnd then. Eyes widen slightly and he ducks his head. "I've got a ways to go before I earn it. But after that... oh, yes." Slight smile. "I hear Santorini is very nice on the eyes. And minds and hearts."

[middle_amazon]

"I didn't feel the need, no. I rarely do look up the people we encounter. I'd feel like a stalker. Though, Kon and Bart chased Ding Dong Daddy out of the garage he was using to run a theft ring, so maybe I should."

"The only thing on top of her lap better be -" She's not Tula. She cannot finish that line. "Not her computer."

[flyingg]

This... strikes him as amusing, actually. "The thin line between guardian angel and stalker. I've no idea where it is... and I've only done it once or twice, not... really kept an eye on them." And. Looks down. "Sometimes it's just good to remind myself that not all the the things we've done had strings attached to them." That the people they saved are alive and well, that the bad guys didn't come back for them once his back was turned. He doesn't even think about it, most of the time, and he has no idea why now.

And then back to brighter things. Because, yes, that idea is definitely... welcome. "Why, no, I believe my plan for the time doesn't involve bringing a laptop. Or a pad. Or even a smartphone. Of course, if we don't bring phones, somebody will decide to come get us in person and that would spoil the whole thing, but we can do without smartphones."

[middle_amazon]

"You need to remind yourself the whole world isn't Gotham." She nods. "That's healthy."

"I have the number for a beachfront hotel with a literary theme where eletronics are frowned upon. I also am offering Lian a chance to see her cousin. Will that do?"

Then I finally caught up with RoA and Dick headdesked at why Donna was angry...

[flyingg]

"... pretty much, I guess. Not something I need all that often." He'd probably not share that with many. And possibly assumes that Babs knows. But this is Donna.

"You're asking me if taking my librarian wife to a literary themed hotel while you make sure our baby daughter ... well, not quite a baby, but still, making sure Sandra is safe, will do? I think I can safely say that it will do beautifully. Even better than.

"And we can extend the time the kids spend together while you two have some time alone, as well. No earthquakes attacks. The number of people who'll have any idea where they even are will be ... trustworthy." You can't attack a target you don't know the location of, after all. And that'd only be the first line of defense.

The set up was bad enough. Ranking lower than Cheshire on a certian list did her in.

[middle_amazon]

"Gods, Dick. Roy and I didn't even finish our honeymoon!" Dr. Light attacked and...yeah. She blows some bangs out of her face.

"I hope he still wants to," she adds. "Before you both..." she can't finish the sentence. "We were having some problems."

And that one thing she saw? That last straw thing?It did shake her pride.

Like ~in bed~ is the most important thing. Or like Roy was thinking anywhere NEAR clearly then.

[flyingg]

...

Quietly, and, yes, just a bit... worriedly. "I can't make his choices for him, sis. But he did trust you to be there for Lian and Aidan more than he trusted himself, before we returned. And that's... something, isn't it? Something to work from." Closes his eyes for just a moment, before meeting hers again. "We have a lot to rebuild. We'll do it all together."

A lady has her pride - and she does wonder if her husband settled for her in any way.

[middle_amazon]

All she can do to that is nod, and hope. Well, maybe not. The words come from her before she thinks about them.

"I'm fighting for him this time. As soon as I find a way."

No. No, he didn't. Also, she probably has learned since the last time THAT Roy... ahem.

[flyingg]

And he nods. And leans in to kiss her cheek, squeezing her hand.

"He has all the reasons to try for the best, back home. And none to waste himself away. I believe in you. Both of you."

Here and now, that's what he can give. But it's from the heart.

[bodilesswarrior]

You tell 'em, Troia.

[middle_amazon]

"Since when do these games the muns play feel more like reality then reality?"

[first_of_avalon]

The party we're going to throw when we all get back is going to be sensational.

[middle_amazon]

"I have a private party planned as soon as the kids are in bed. I know it's a weird thing to focus on, but the anger feels more productive and focusing than the alternatives."

[first_of_avalon]

"Eventually, we're going to need a way to properly soundproof one or more of the Towers. And believe me, I know all about focusing on anger instead of helplessness."

[middle_amazon]

"I don't care if they hear me all the way to Paradise Island." Yeah, that's new. Donna normally tries for discretion. "I've always been polite and deferential and this? No more. No more until I have a reason to stop. If marriage did anything for me, it gave me permission, even occasionally the duty, to feel out what I wanted for myelf as much as for my loved ones."

[first_of_avalon]

Tula's smile has an edge of steel in it, and she inclines her head to Donna. "That's a beautiful thing you've just expressed, sister, and I look forward to seeing you rip that universe to shreds."

[littlearrow]

What's wrong, Donna...?

[middle_amazon]

That's part of a problem. "Donna." Not...

She lowers herself to Lian's level, which gives her a chance to steady herself. She reaches out for her shoulder while the other strokes her hair. I stood on your grave, daughter.

"I'm just upset, Lian. That's all."

But Lian is perceptive enough to know Donna is editing herself, more than just an adult editing for a child.

Yeah...late. Still wanna play something.

[hippie_shifter]

"Need a hug?"

[second_arrow]

"I saw enough of it to make me gag. For crying out loud, you got the worst of it. I want to smack my other self, too. Giving up on Roy like that? Not keeping a close eye on Dad to keep him from falling like that? Failing to protect my niece? And where the hell was I for all that?"

Connor steps up. "I'd like to think I am not that bad of a son or brother. It's like that other me failed them when they needed a cool head the most."