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WHO | Diana and Open!
WHAT | Diana's alone and also will likely be dying.
WHERE | Adventureland
WHEN | Evening, sometime after the projection of the dead.
WARNINGS | Death, if all goes as planned.

Diana had made a promise, to keep Blaine safe, to keep those he loved safe, keep them from suffering. She has failed on all counts. Being separated from Blaine while he's still clearly having difficulty with Kurt's death was bad enough, but to see his face in the sky before she can find him again--it's just another blow.

She knew precious few of those who were still in the Arena, since so many of the other faces she'd seen projected were those she would call friends or allies. Tim she knew was somewhere, and Barbara, but for now she was alone and feeling lost and, quite literally, powerless. Not knowing what else to do, since she couldn't sleep and it was too dark to continue moving, she did the only thing she could think of while sitting next to her fire. She prayed.

The gods may not have even been able to hear her, wherever she was, but it was a comfort if nothing else.

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There were few enough people left now that it was easy enough to avoid them. But there's nothing like spending time alone to end up craving company. The fire could be a prelude to an ambush or it could just be someone keeping warm.

Ian was confident of his abilities to fend off an attack, but he still approached cautiously. He relaxed - but only a little because there could still be an ambush - when he saw the person sitting by the fire was a woman.

"Mind if I share?" he asked, sitting beside it himself and trying to look non-threatening, despite the cutlass he'd tied to his belt and plank of wood he carried.

Diana had tensed when she heard someone approaching but otherwise didn't move, trusting she could react in time if she heard the sound of an attack.

When Ian simply sat and spoke she straightened, lifting her head and opening her eyes to look him over. "No," she said, once she'd judged him as not an immediate threat. She smiled, kind though without her usual strength behind it. "Please, warm yourself as much as you need. My name is Diana."

"Thanks," he said, smiling back. "I'm Ian." He moved a little closer to the fire now he knew he was welcome.

"So you know how to start a fire." Which made her not that defenceless either.

"This is not my first camping trip," she said, dryly, and her smile faded as she added, "Though it is rapidly becoming one of the most unpleasant." Not the most unpleasant just yet, mostly because the deaths were still most likely not permanent, but getting there.

"It's not fun," he agreed. "But we're both still alive and that's the important part."

Her hands clenched into fists and she forced them to relax. "Yes, I suppose it is, though I can't help but wish there others who could say the same."

"Yes," he said unhappily, looking down. "I suppose we knew that was going to happen before we went in, but somehow I thought..." He paused because it was hard to equate his thoughts now with what the ideas he'd had before going in. "I don't know, that people wouldn't really kill each other, I suppose."

Diana stared at him, then smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. I've met others who didn't have that same faith in people. And you can still keep that faith, I think. There will always be the people who embody the worst of us, but there are those who would, and have, refused to play by the rules of this Game. It helps, to remember that."

He nodded. "You're right." It was hard to remember that sometimes in here, although it was easier talking to someone who wasn't trying to kill him. He lowered his voice to ask, "What would the Gamemakers do if we all refused to play by the rules?"

"I think it varies," said Diana carefully, lowering her voice as well though she doubted it made much of a difference. "The most common threat I've heard is that they would bring in someone we care about, but that may be a last resort. The fireworks show proved they have other ways of trying to manipulate us."

"Right." He definitely didn't want someone he cared about being brought in, but if it was a last resort, at least he'd have some warning. Although as yet he was still pondering the loopholes.

"I suppose this is just the calm before the storm," he said, his voice back up to normal volume again. "There are so few of us left that we'll have to fight or no one will win."

"And they'll make sure this ends with a winner, I'm betting," Diana said dryly. "Our place here is part of their reaction to the last time someone tried to end the game without a Victor."

"I see." Although he wished he didn't. He supposed it was a bit like the Roman Gladiators, only with more powerful people in charge. "I suppose it's better us in here than children." There were children, but at least there weren't only children.

"It's better than it was," she allowed. "There are still some children, but rather than being killed they are simply...tortured by the cycle of death and rebirth, like the rest of us. It's not ideal, but it leaves more options." Where there's life, there's hope, a trite saying with a sentiment Diana believed in heartily.

He frowned. "What do you mean, the cycle of death and rebirth?" It could mean a few things, but none of them seemed to apply here, as far as he could tell.

Tim was okay and they were alive. For now. He was probably right about not sticking together too long, but that didn't make Stephanie like the idea of separating. So far she'd managed to avoid most other players. It wasn't a perfect strategy, but she also wasn't ready to test this whole battle to the death thing. This is why she nearly turns around and heads the other way when she spies the woman, but there's something vaguely familiar about that the woman.

Slowly she makes her way closer, her hand tight on the knife Tim had given her. It couldn't be..."D-Diana?" Wonder Woman probably had no idea who she really was as they'd only met less than a handful of times.

Diana straightened instantly, more at her name than the voice itself, which she didn't immediately recognize. The face, however, she did, although admittedly more in a 'I've met you before but mostly I remember you as the friend of a friend' manner. Or an 'I've seen your face in the JLA databank since my security clearance is absurdly high' manner. "Stephanie?"

"So they say." She was taken back more than a little. This was Wonder Woman, Amazon Warrior; how had they gotten her into this place? When Tim had mentioned a woman resembling Diana, Steph didn't quite believe him. She'd fought with the woman once and seeing her in action had been nothing short of amazing. If they could trap Wonder Woman then what chance did they have?

Stay positive, Steph!

"Tim mentioned you, but seeing another friendly face is some kind of relief let me tell you." Confident that she was in no danger from her fellow player, Stephanie moved into the clearing. "Please tell me this is where things get desperate and you lady punch us all out of here."

Diana gave her a regretful smile. "I'm afraid there's not much likelihood of that just yet. The force field around here just bounces off what you throw at it, my 'lady punch' won't be much help." She gestured at the fire. "I can offer you a moment of rest, at least. I heard Tim was here, do you know how he is now? If there's anyone else we both might know?"

Resting was good. Resting with a relative ally was even better. Steph only barely managed to not fall straight to the ground. "He broke an arm, but we found this girl with magic hair to fix it." That really should sound funny, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities in their world so why not here as well? "He said Bruce is here and Babs, but they're both young and have no idea who we are. Well, they probably know you since I'm sure every universe has a Diana."

"A girl with magic hair," Diana repeated, a little bemused but not exactly surprised or disbelieving. "That was a lucky find. I've met Bruce and spoken with Barbara over the network, actually. Apparently there is a Diana, or at least someone who goes by the title of Wonder Woman in her world, but Bruce had never even heard of Themysicra." She shrugged expressively.
"As far as I can tell, he only knows of the Batman and Superman. Themyscira may not have revealed themselves to Man's World yet, but I wouldn't say my existence is mandatory for every universe."

Stephanie sighed tiredly. "Yeah Tim said something about alternate dimensions or something. Guess it doesn't matter much to me since on a good day Bruce barely acknowledges I exist." She'd long since stopped trying to win some sort of approval from Bruce, but it still stung to be looked down on. She tried to slap on a grin in order to change the mood a bit. "Seeing a young Babs is going to be crazy. I can't imagine her any other way than my professor."

"I think he notices you more than you realize," said Diana, but refrained from saying more, still not sure how they were handling the secret identity situation. Instead she smiled back, gentle. "And I know Babs is very proud of you, the one we remember at least. The Barbara that's here with us is certainly...spirited. I'm not sure she considers herself the professor type just yet."

Not because he's proud of what she's doing. She keeps this thought to herself as she softly grins at Diana's words. "I'm trying to wrap my head around her. If I end up being older than her I might freak out a bit." Steph laughed and leaned back, soaking up the heat from the fire.

"I'm so tired. A bag full of junk and not one pillow. I know I should be used to this but usually I'm running on actual food." Speaking of, she reached into her bag and pulled out a canister of water having figured out that the drops were for. "Thirsty?"

"Really? I think as a student I would have welcomed the opportunity to be the older, more experienced one for once. It would have been a nice change of pace." Growing up as she did, there were times when she yearned for someone younger than herself even more than someone her own age. It was difficult to be taken seriously as any sort of authority when everyone else was several thousand years older than you.

"Oh, no, thank you, you should save that for yourself. I'll be returning to the area where I have access to my powers in the morning and with those restored I can last for much longer without supplies." An exaggeration, but not entirely, and she was more experienced in wilderness survival anyway.

Stephanie shrugged and took a drink of her water. "Oh, don't think I won't find a way to lord it over her, but in all honesty I'd rather have my Babs here." She was fairly certain being stuck in a wheelchair would make Babs a quick target for everyone, but Stephanie knew Babs could hold her own and still offer all the advice and words of wisdom Steph could use.

There was no holding back a yawn causing Steph to apologize. "I hate to overstay my welcome, but would you mind if I caught some shut eye for a bit? I haven't slept since Tim hurt himself."

Diana laughed. "If we're speaking in hypotheticals, I say let's have both Barbaras--I don't the Capitol could stand against two at once." And it may have sounded joking to the cameras, an inside joke about a mutual friend, but there was a genuine part of her that yearned for Babs and her technical expertise, especially back in the Capitol. If anyone could manage to get them some privacy, at the very least.

"No, not all, I'll keep watch," she said, then blinked. "Tim hurt himself?"

Steph positioned her bag so that it would act as a really uncomfortable pillow while she took a quick nap. "Yeah, broke his arm, but magic girl fixed it up." She paused as she though of why Tim broke his arm. "Bruce, um, Bruce isn't in the Arena anymore." There, that said enough didn't it?

"Right. A good chance meeting for him then," said Diana, though she didn't look too happy about it. She'd known Bruce was gone, out, but it was still sobering to hear it spoken. "Well, I'm sure Bruce is watching us right now from the comfort of the Capitol. A televised death match, not really his area." Not when he was expected to kill, not even if it was only temporary.

And it was temporary, for Bruce, he was certainly back to life in the Capitol, she refused to think otherwise. They'd just gotten him back, after all.

"Tim mentioned the death thing, but...I'm not sure he believes Bruce." The man had fought hard to save Tim. In Tim's eyes probably too hard. Stephanie wasn't good at guessing what was running through Tim's head especially when it came to Bruce.

Sleepily she pulled the cloak over herself. "Just give me thirty minutes and I'll be right as rain." She needed more than that, but she wasn't going to ask Diana for anything more than a little of her time.

Diana's stomach sank even more thinking of Tim, of Tim losing Bruce again. She kept her dismal thoughts quiet, however, while Steph made herself comfortable. "Just sleep, Stephanie. I'll wake you when you need woken." After a great deal longer than thirty minutes, if she could manage it.

Life for Barbara had been getting steadily more and more hectic. Food had been scarce, and what she'd managed to find hadn't exactly been appetizing. The closest thing she had to food was in the pack - a pack that used to belong to Blaine.

He gave it to her. It wasn't that long before he died, and he gave her his supplies. It's the sort of thing that cuts, feeling like a coward because she's alive and everyone around her keeps dying.

Seeing Diana made her heart jump - in worry, excitement, and who knew what else. She found herself freezing, staring at the dark haired woman from down the way.

She should have gone to sleep once done with her prayers, but Diana couldn't find it in herself to do much aside from stare at the fire, not even meditation giving her the peace of mind she sought. Finally she sighed and rose to walk around, scout the perimeter of her tiny camp. Perhaps that would tire her out.

She came closer, cautiously - a hand held out to show she wasn't carrying anything, and to try to ward off any preemptive strike. She didn't know much about Diana - except that she came from... almost her world. Right now, that was nearly enough.

"You come here often?" She's trying to be funny, and push away any pain. her smile has a huge crack in it though. Or maybe that's just her insides.

Edited 2013-05-09 08:11 (UTC)

Diana froze momentarily at seeing Barbara. She was surprised to see another friendly face, that was part of it, but mostly--gods, she was so young. Not even the lack of a chair was more startling than her appearance. Had Diana ever known a Barbara so young? It seemed impossible.

She shook it off. This was not the time for introspection. She forced a wry smile. "I think it'll be a long time before I can come here again. Or any amusement park, possibly."

Had Barbara ever met Diana period? She didn't think so. Except for the brief trip in the capitol... Still, a hero was a hero was kind of epic anyway. So the amazon could have a tight lipped smile.

"I don't think they'll have a problem with that."

"I suppose not," she said, and gestured at the fire. "There's plenty of room, if you'd like to warm up."

She paused a moment, before flopping down by the fire. She hadn't even realized she was cold, before, but suddenly she was shivering. "Thanks..."

It was god to feel a little safe.

Diana watched her with some concern, suddenly wishing she'd made more of an effort to track down the others, rather than focusing her attention on protecting one small group. Just look at how that had turned out, anyway. "How have you been?"

"Other than half dead?" she asked, trying to smile. It didn't really work out. She was just too tired for her own humor defense mechanisms.

"No, actually, I would be very interested to hear more about that," Diana said, trying to sound more teasing than concerned. She looked Barbara over and added, "Unless you would prefer to sleep. I imagine it's been a long day for us all."

She just shrugged, lying down against her back - Blaine's old pack - but not closing her eyes.

"You think we can avoid dying for a night?"

"We can try," she said, unusually fatalistic and she knew it, so Diana took a deep breath and forced a smile again. "Go to sleep, if you want. I'll keep watch. I'm not tired, and I'm used to long nights."

"Us creatures of the night should stay up together," she offered, instead, eyes still open. Which wasn't to say she wouldn't pass it. But now that an actual offer had been made... she felt like her cape and cowl were on the line, somehow. Heroic pride was half of what let her keep going, anyway.

Diana laughed, softly, to avoid attracting unwanted attention. "In a city, I would agree with you completely. I'd trust your expertise ahead of mine, in fact. Here, I think, taking turns to sleep would be best." And if Barbara's turn bleeds into Diana's, well, sometimes you just lost track of time. "Long day tomorrow. Most likely."

Edited 2013-06-11 23:32 (UTC)

She made a small noise, still staring up. It might have been agreement - or a snore... She'd been up and worried too long. At the limit of what her body could take.

She was passing out.

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Oops. ;;

I saw nothing >>

Yesss. Good. DX

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