VIDEO: in which shitty teenagers pee at england.

[centurybaby]

[ the video opens up to the stretch of green, fenced field that may or may not be vaguely recognizable as the anglo-scottish border. in the distance there's a road, but besides that and the wire fence, there's just a group of teenagers standing on the scottish side that look distinctively like they're up to no good.

from off camera, a girl's wry voice can be heard: ]

Still fucking think we should call it the Authority.

[ terry's keeping his distance from the others, all furrowed eyebrows and frowns. if he's going to do this, he's sure as hell not doing it next to the telekinetics or mr. friggin' lightning pants over there, so he situates himself furthest away from the camera, tactically near some foliage. ]

Who the hell even cares what it's called.

[ striker is front and center. because he's striker. he's wearing regular clothes instead of his lightning pants, which is a courtesy to you guys, since otherwise he would have to pull his onesie all the way down to his butt just to free willy. ]

You should. If you don't have a good name, you can't have good branding. [ And then, pointedly: ] And "Authority" isn't going to generate good branding.

[ julian is a few paces away from striker, their new king of social network. he's dressed normally, with his jacket sleeves wrapped around his arms and his metal hands being floaty at his sides. ]

This whole thing is about rejecting authority anyway. But I don't even know why we're debating it. [ He glances between them all. ] You know you aren't beating the Hellions for a name. It's got way too much of a ring to it, and you're lucky enough to have me on board, which means no copyright issues. You should be fucking grateful.

[ he pauses, then looks out at the wild, untamed gross, nature-filled scottish landscape before them. ] So are we doing this, or what?

You guys are insane. No one is going to remember the Authority or the Hellions.

[ a few steps away from julian is quentin, he smirks at the fence and then to the guys. with a casual shrug he shakes his head before placing his hands on his hips. ]

Are you pee shy, Jules? [ another quirky grin. ] The Omegas have no room for shy little babies.

[ the camera turns around so that it's facing jenny, who exhales smoke from her cigarette at the feed before addressing it: ]

Fuck you guys. You're all shitty team leaders with shitty team name ideas. [ she makes a face, sticking her tongue out. ] And no electric piss or crossing streams, assholes. Nobody likes that shit.

[ there's a distinct symphony of tsssssss sounds. jenny rolls her eyes at the camera. ]

Boys.

Comments

[centurybaby]

So am I. I've fucking seen myself be a tyrant. You don't think it starts out this way, with fucking intimidation and biased laws and all that bullshit? You aren't fucking pissed off at the fucking propaganda and oppression?

Fucking suit yourself then. But I'm not standing the fuck around or sitting on my ass while this goes down.

[glowsferatu]

No, you're facilitating the soiling of a fence.

Terribly effective method of subversion, that one. Really, I admire the creativity of your agenda! What next will you attempt, running some form of unlocking instrument across the colorful varnish which decorates the automotive vehicles some disagreeing individuals may possess?

Really now, Jenny.

[centurybaby]

[ a long, scrutinizing pause.

then finally, simply: ]

Fuck off, Kanaya.

You can fucking disagree if you want. But you don't get to fucking patronize me.

[glowsferatu]

You talk so loftily about taking a stand, of fighting against the forces which bring you such displeasure, and this juvenile display is the best response you can fathom?

I fail to see how that doesn't invite patronization!

[ mostly because she's a jerk in a jerky mood ]

[centurybaby]

You're being a bitch.

[glowsferatu]

Well, you're being an idiot, so perhaps that's only appropriate. You have your own personal city aeronautically suspended for your own use. What should it matter that some handful of territories should draw boundaries to discourage your passage?

And, more importantly, how is this meant to convince them to reverse that decision?

[centurybaby]

This isn't about just me. You're not fucking listening to me.

[ she's lighting another cigarette, baring her teeth around it briefly in an irritated expression. ]

Look, if you wanna pick on somebody 'cause you're in a shit mood or you're a lonely bitch or whatever the fuck, fine. But I fucking thought we were friends.

[glowsferatu]

[ she's not addressing the earlier accusation. she doesn't want to have to deal with the possibility of it being true. instead, she says something that is indicative and just why it can be so difficult to be her friend sometimes. ]

And friends don't allow shortsighted stupidity to pass unremarked.

[centurybaby]

[ snapping: ]

Don't fucking talk to me like a child, Kanaya. I'm not a fucking child.

[glowsferatu]

[ she bites back the first response she wants to make. that would be rude, even for her. ]

Fine. Then let's approach this with the degree of thought given to mature, rational individuals such as ourselves.

So it isn't about you, it's an attempt to make some kind of a point. Exactly how effective do you find this undertaking to have been at communicating that intention? What sort of follow through on it do you have planned, if any?

How much thought have you actually devoted to this?

[centurybaby]

[ testily: ]

Consider it a warm up. You don't think we could really fuck with them if we wanted to? Look at us. Look at fucking Terry, or QQ, or Jules-- any two of us, fuck, maybe even one of us would be enough to terrorize entire fucking country.

We're just acting out now. We're just showing them we're pissed off. If we wanted to do something real, we would. And maybe we will.

[glowsferatu]

That may be the very sort of fear which inspired this. I genuinely couldn't blame them for seeing us as monsters in need of chains, sometimes.

[ well, herself at least. ]

[centurybaby]

Except we have done anything yet.

[glowsferatu]

Not a moment ago, you framed this as a statement of intent. Can you really be sore that they have preemptively expected that you may follow through on the threat?

[centurybaby]

I said we could. If we wanted.

[ a long, hard pause. ]

You seriously gonna sit here and argue words with me, Kanaya? Because it's getting fucking petty.

[glowsferatu]

I'm arguing impressions and the consequences that will result from them.

You're the one who turned the discussion toward semantics just now.

[centurybaby]

Because you--

[ she stops. makes an irritated noise. ]

Fuck it. It's not fucking worth it.

[glowsferatu]

That's precisely what I was saying from the beginning.

[centurybaby]

Are you fucking done?

[glowsferatu]

Hmph. Well, someone's in a mood today.

[centurybaby]

Maybe it's my fucking hormones.

[glowsferatu]

I believe there are supplements which could assist in correcting that.

[centurybaby]

I can't even fucking express how fucking helpful I think you're being today, Naya.

[glowsferatu]

I could, uh, research the requirements and applications for you, if you'd like. Perhaps even acquire an initial sample.

I've had no fond time acclimating myself to human hormones, personally.