✞ || FIFTEEN || [video] - Backdated to an hour post-sunset

[unetrustworthy]

[The sound of sporadic fireworks can be heard in the background as Midii's face appears, hands tightly covering her ears.  The poor girl's eyes are red, voice quivering when she speaks.  She appears to be huddled beneath an outdoor table, knees pulled up to her chest.]

I thought your American Independence Day was not until tomorrow, yet people have been setting these fireworks off since--

[Another explosion in the sky, loud enough to cause her to visibly jump, letting out a small yelp.  She looks close to tears.]

Is there some place I can go where I will not hear them?

Comments

[video | batcomm]

[batmantled]

Underground usually works. Though I guess there's always a shortage of caves in Manhattan...

[ and a beat! ]

It's Midii, right?

[video | batcomm]

[unetrustworthy]

[A nod]

And you are...Batman.

[video | batcomm]

[batmantled]

Hey, you got it in one. [ He knows they've spoken before, but it's been a while. ]

I don't know how much it'll help for me to say it, but the explosions are usually pretty temporary. Give it an hour or two and they'll die down.

[video | batcomm]

[unetrustworthy]

I never forget a face. Or mask.

[She doesn't look particularly happy at the thought of this going on for "an hour or two"; when you're ten, and frightened, that can seem like an eternity]

They have been going off at random for the last several days now. And I am sure tomorrow will be even worse.

[video]

[electromexican]

Yeah, it gets pretty bad sometimes. [FORGIVE HIS AMERICAN BRETHREN...] LA got crazy like that too. Tried a basement?

[video]

[unetrustworthy]

[She peers at the video suspiciously. It's not you, it's her; her nerves were particularly on edge, making her even more nervous around strangers than usual]

Who are you?

[video]

[electromexican]

Victor Mancha, just got Ported in a few weeks ago.

[video]

[unetrustworthy]

Do they have fireworks where you come from?

voice

[hastheedge]

We tend to get a bit...excited when it comes to fireworks. Any kind of pyrotechnics, really.

voice

[unetrustworthy]

Are you the one setting them off?

voice

[hastheedge]

No. I was using a general 'we', in the sense of 'Americans'. Though, I suppose it's mostly 'American teenage boys' than general Americans.

voice

[unetrustworthy]

Oh.

And I suppose there is no way to tell them to stop?

Video

[plays_with_dolls]

People don't seem to care the effect that noise can have on some. My penthouse is soundproofed just because of things like this. If it's alright with Max you could stay here until the holiday is over. I have plenty of spare rooms so it wouldn't be burden at all.

Re: Video

[unetrustworthy]

...is it far?

Video

[plays_with_dolls]

Not to far. I can have a car sent if you'd like.

Video

[unetrustworthy]

There is someone coming for me now.

But if he does not have a place in mind already, I will ask him to bring me to you.

video;

[hacktivist]

[a quick evaluation of the feed, a quick evaluation of his hands--contemplating interference and how best to run it. When he speaks his voice is low and calm, but intense]

Temporarily leaving the City is a possibility. I would not expect the noises to stop until well after midnight of tomorrow. But you will have a day of respite, at least.

Midii. ...Would you like company?

video;

[unetrustworthy]

[Biting her lip, she nods hesitantly into the camera.]

There is someone coming for me. Batman. The taller one.

video;

[hacktivist]

[a beat. Trust is not a word Ghost frequently uses in relation to persons outside himself, but he--has a reasonable assumption that Bat-people aligned to Max are, if not trustworthy, then at least less likely to be a danger to her.]

The reactions you are describing are an ordinary response to combat fatigue referred to by drug-pushers-slash-doctors as post traumatic stress disorder.

Said another way, there is nothing "wrong" with you for this response.

voice;

[futurebatwoman]

[ ... at New Year's they're going on vacation somewhere in the country, she decides when she sees this around ten at night. Dick's already there, presumably. Midii has offers of help (Ghost is looking out too, she owes him her thanks for that). But still. It has to be voice, since Max is still in costume. A keen ear might hear the rush of wind in the background. ]

Did Batman find you?

voice;

[unetrustworthy]

Not yet.

But he is on his way.

voice;

[futurebatwoman]

If he can bring you back to the apartment, we'll find a way to soundproof it for you.

Video

[halfwitch]

Midii? Where are you? [Friend is almost crying. What do?]

Video

[unetrustworthy]

At the coffee shop.

Batman is coming to get me.

Video

[halfwitch]

Are, um, are you going to be okay? Do you need help?