video & log;

[totalmilf]

VIDEO; OTA

( When the feed comes up, Darcy is still in the car on the way to the housing for Displaced Supers. It's loud in the background between one of her children shouting excitably about all the things he sees out his window and the other repeatedly asking "Mommy? Mommy? Mama? Hey Mommy?" as her attention goes to the camera instead of him. Darcy's an expert at ignoring her children when she needs to ignore them.

She neither looks panicked nor upset, just a little tired and a little annoyed. Darcy liked her life in Lawrence and she's hardly in the mood to have to create a whole new network of people to keep herself safe. In the meantime, the tattoo on her hip and the boys' amulets will just have to do. )

So, okay, what's all this about superpowers? That's new.

( In the background, the child trying to get her attention quiets briefly before asking "Who's got superpowers?!" Darcy's attention turns briefly to the child. )

Don't worry about it, baby.

( Her attention turns back to the camera. )

That's not real, right? Also, what's the longest anyone has been here, so far?

LOG; CLOSED TO ALLISON HARGREEVES

Once they arrive at the housing, Darcy helps the boys out of the car and takes their hands in hers to lead them through the front gate and up the steps to enter the building. Admittedly, these digs are a lot nicer than the apartments back in Lawrence. That said, she moved out of those goddamned apartments years ago and into her own house, one which might or might not have been best described as a McMansion. This is definitely a downgrade as far as that goes, but certainly an upgrade from what she started in, anyway.

As she moves through the lobby and then down the hall for the first-floor apartments, her boys are chattering animatedly and swiveling their heads to take in everything around them, and Darcy's just trying to keep herself calm. This is beyond obnoxious.

When she reaches apartment 102, Darcy lets go of the boys' hands. "Don't move, Clark," she says, already knowing that Conner won't. She fishes the key to the apartment out of her jeans pocket and is surprised to hear the sound of dogs barking behind the door as she turns the knob. Looking up at the apartment number, Darcy's brow creases. Definitely the apartment they told her...

Before she actually opens the door, Darcy just cracks it slightly and calls out. "Hello...? Anybody home?"

Comments

[offtheboard]

You are much better adjusted than I am, that's for sure. I think I'd be in a straight jacket if I were in your shoes by this point.

[Stan's joking, but there is ane lement to truth. Having that little control, the world making that little sense...that would go badly for Stan.]

Still really young, wow. And it's nice to meet you too, you are much stronger than I am given you've got two litle guys depending on you wading through all of this...adjustment periods differeing and all. I haven't heard of anybody else coming in with their childrenbefore you, granted that doesn't mean much.

[totalmilf]

Well, I certainly hope so. I've been doing this on and off for almost six years now. This, though? This sounds pretty mild. The place I've been the longest was overrun by demons and filled with superheroes, so talk about mind-blowing. You say that, but...you'd be surprised about the things you learn to get used to over time.

( Then again, there are some things that one just can't ever get used to and who knows if he's different than she is in that vein. )

Yeah, and they're a real handful, too.

( She laughs, but the truth is, they're exhausting most of the time. )

I'm really blessed that they're so resilient. I'm always sort of an anomaly. Twins when most women have single babies; single mom when everyone around me in my own world and the ones I've been to have doting husbands; always one of the few whose children get dragged along with her. You know...I guess I'm just special like that.

( Her tone is wry and she rolls her eyes a little. )

[offtheboard]

[Stan whistles, shaking his head; he literally still can't wrap his head around it, honestly. Sure, he might one day find that this isn't so strange to him and maybe with more understanding it won't feel like his reality has been upended and make him feel like everything is wrong and a struggle, but he's just not there yet.]

Sounds like I would. Right now I can't imagine but you've clearly got seniority on me in all of this.

[Stan offers a smile, albeit, a small one.]

I can't say I know from experience, I can only imagine that they're a handfull on top of all of this. But blessing does sound about right even if all of it's an anomaly and you're special. Sometimes it's a good thing to be the stand out.

[Not necessarily in his case, but her's - being blessed with the kids doesn't seem so bad.]

Did they set you all uip with everything that you're going to need having them with you, though? They were a little useless when it came to me. I got drugged and dropped off, so I've got to ask.

[If not Stan, despite not knowin her, can't stand the idea of those kids having to go without, so he'll help figure something out to give a hand on a fellow kidnappee.]

[totalmilf]

You'll get there if you're stuck here long enough, sweetie, trust me. It sounds hard to believe, but I'm telling you. You'll see.

( Darcy smiles a little, looking down and shaking her head. )

I used to think standing out was the only way to be. I'd be kind of okay with blending in once in a while, though.

( She looks back up at the camera, lifting her eyebrows. )

They drugged you? And no, they didn't really give me much, but they did give me money, so...I'll figure it out later. They don't need anything right this second; they'll live. But thank you, that's really sweet.

[offtheboard]

I hope you and everyone else is right about that.

[Right now he's still not sure he wouldn't bow out of being here, the biggest reason not to is his friends. And he isn't alive there.]

I never worried too much about blending in. When you're one of the only Jewish kids in town you kind of get used to it, I guess. I've always just done my own thing.

[Unashamed at that.]

I was pretty upset and worked up, but yeah. They drugged me and dropped me off at the apartment building. I wasn't being very cooperative, though. If you need any help you'll let people know? Your kids shouldn't suffer or do without. I think there are enough of us here that we could giev a hand. My buddy has been here a while and I can always pick his brain or whatever on how to help get you anything you might need for them.

[totalmilf]

If this place is anything like the other places I've been, we are. It's just a big adjustment.

( It's easy for her to be confident, though; she doesn't know his individual situation and Darcy won't ask. Over the years, she's learned that it's best not to ask, but just to be prepared to listen if it's offered. )

I used to love standing out. Things change, you know? But I also think that doing your own thing and standing out versus blending in aren't mutually exclusive concepts. I've always done my own thing, too. Not enough people do. I knew I was going to like you for a reason, Stan.

( She looks unpleasantly surprised to hear that Stan's being understandably upset and worked up had resulted in him being drugged and left to figure it out on his own. )

That's no excuse; that's a terrible thing to do. I'm so sorry you went through that.

( Darcy huffs a soft laugh and shakes her head. )

Oh, I'm sure between this stipend and their auntie, they'll want for damn near nothing, but I really appreciate that. I'll keep that in mind.