Bold New World #5
=====Stryker's Island=====
*Stryker's island. I've been here a few times since the news. While Arkham is old, aging and there's breakouts every single week, Stryker's was recently revamped and high security. Defenses were tripled in the wake of the Society's Belle Reve job last summer. The inmates aren't really insane, but they are damaged. I was just starting out when I met Volcana. We ran into each other at this rock festival. I was a pyrotechnic, she was trying to rob the joint. It was love at first sight. For me at least. Every time I lit a flame since that night, it was her body I saw dancing. Tempting me. So of course when I went full Firefly, I went straight into Metropolis to meet her. We joined the Pyro Guild together, along with our favourite cheerleader, Rigger. With Snowflame out of the picture I thought we could finally be happy, running errands for the Society, kissing on the side. Then Atomic Skull, a newbie called Joseph Martin, went and got himself killed by a psychic gorilla. It was all but over between us after that. I couldn't work with the Society knowing they would kill any of us without hesitation, and she couldn't give up her power. Then I got a call that changed everything. She was pregnant. With my baby*
Gar- So how do we do this?
Doctor- I don't know, we haven't had a meta give birth here in... we haven't had a meta give birth here.
Mick- That's comforting.
Doctor- We've got dampeners on. It'll dull her powers, so that the baby comes out safely.
Volcana- Gar. If anything happens to me or this baby, I'll burn your face off.
Gar- Too late sweetheart. Remember?
*I gesture to my blackened mug, and she moans. In pain or annoyance I can't tell*
Volcana- Urgh. Can't I have anything?
Gar- Hey, could you give us a moment? Please.
*The guards and doctors stand their ground. Very considerate. Mick leaves though. Good on 'im*
Gar- What happened to us Claire?
Volcana- What do you mean?
Gar- I mean... We had something, didn't we? There's still got to be a spark in there somewhere.
Volcana- Gar, honey. I was experimented on. I lost my childhood to the government. I turned to stealing to survive. That thrill you get? I never had that. On the streets I made a *uhn* promise, that I'd never be powerless again. So I made my own power. First with Snowflame, then with you and the Society.
Gar- You never... With like Lex or anything... Did you?
Volcana- Oh god no. I hate suits. No, I stayed with you because you showed me a different side to fire, and a different side to supervillains. *uhn* Look, I'm carrying this baby aren't I? You think if there wasn't ever anything I'd keep the damn thing?
Gar- I... I don't know.
Guard- Mr Lynns? You've got someone outside for you. Give her a little space eh?
Gar- Right. I- Be careful.
Volcana- *smirking* I'll try honey.
*She's lucid, with all the medication they've put her on I don't know what she really means and what she doesn't. Everything burns, I think as I leave*
====Outside====
*Drury's waiting for me. He's sat on a bench outside, a memorial for Dan Turpin- some cop here. His eyes light up, and what starts as a handshake becomes a full on hug. A bit uncomfortable when you're 90% scar tissue*
Drury- Gar!
Gar- Drury.
Drury- This is great! Fantastic! You're going to be a dad! We can have playdates-
Gar- We already *have* playdates
*I wasn't going to let him forget the bouncy castle "job"*
Drury- With the kids Gar. With the kids.
*He motions to the bench, and we sit down together. I know Drury's been taking things hard. The mayor job finally gave him that recognition he always wanted, and it's all up in flames. But he puts on a goofy grin and I admire him for it. I always have in a way*
Gar- Drury, how the hell did you become a good father?
Drury- Haha, I'm not... I'm not a good dad Gar. I didn't come back into my kids lives until they were 14, even longer in Simon's case. I think of all the birthdays missed because of trips to Arkham and battles with the Bat almost every night. I promised myself it would be different with Cammy, but first some evil Speedster had me run errands for him and then I got myself locked up for another six months. But y'know, you can only try your best, you love them with everything that you've got and you hope they love you back. And hope that just maybe they won't screw up like you do.
Gar- Yeah, but who taught you that?
Drury- Are you kidding? You did. You've had to deal with me, for what? 20 years? You've stuck by me, even when you're so much more capable. Like, you could have been A-List if you let me go, but you didn't. You stayed, you were patient- you taught me so much. I've had a lotta dads- my real one, Ono, Gaige... You're the best of them Gar, always have been. You just do what you did with me and you're on your way.
...
Gar- Drury, I have to ask you something.
Drury- Yeah?
Gar- Will you be his Godfather? The kid needs someone he can depend on.
Drury- It would be my honour.
...
Drury- So, you ready to go back in there?
Gar- Yeah.
*After a lot of blood, screaming and heated words are thrown, the baby comes out. It's a girl*
Drury- Aw, look at her.
Mick- She's beautiful. ... What? I can't complement the little bastard?
Volcana- Gar, it's our baby.
Gar- Yeah. Yeah she is.
*Everything may burn yeah, but with any luck, she's going to be around for a very long time*
Gar- Introducing Josephine Selton-Lynns, welcome Josie, to a bold new world.
Bold New World #5
=====Stryker's Island=====
*Stryker's island. I've been here a few times since the news. While Arkham is old, aging and there's breakouts every single week, Stryker's was recently revamped and high security. Defenses were tripled in the wake of the Society's Belle Reve job last summer. The inmates aren't really insane, but they are damaged. I was just starting out when I met Volcana. We ran into each other at this rock festival. I was a pyrotechnic, she was trying to rob the joint. It was love at first sight. For me at least. Every time I lit a flame since that night, it was her body I saw dancing. Tempting me. So of course when I went full Firefly, I went straight into Metropolis to meet her. We joined the Pyro Guild together, along with our favourite cheerleader, Rigger. With Snowflame out of the picture I thought we could finally be happy, running errands for the Society, kissing on the side. Then Atomic Skull, a newbie called Joseph Martin, went and got himself killed by a psychic gorilla. It was all but over between us after that. I couldn't work with the Society knowing they would kill any of us without hesitation, and she couldn't give up her power. Then I got a call that changed everything. She was pregnant. With my baby*
Gar- So how do we do this?
Doctor- I don't know, we haven't had a meta give birth here in... we haven't had a meta give birth here.
Mick- That's comforting.
Doctor- We've got dampeners on. It'll dull her powers, so that the baby comes out safely.
Volcana- Gar. If anything happens to me or this baby, I'll burn your face off.
Gar- Too late sweetheart. Remember?
*I gesture to my blackened mug, and she moans. In pain or annoyance I can't tell*
Volcana- Urgh. Can't I have anything?
Gar- Hey, could you give us a moment? Please.
*The guards and doctors stand their ground. Very considerate. Mick leaves though. Good on 'im*
Gar- What happened to us Claire?
Volcana- What do you mean?
Gar- I mean... We had something, didn't we? There's still got to be a spark in there somewhere.
Volcana- Gar, honey. I was experimented on. I lost my childhood to the government. I turned to stealing to survive. That thrill you get? I never had that. On the streets I made a *uhn* promise, that I'd never be powerless again. So I made my own power. First with Snowflame, then with you and the Society.
Gar- You never... With like Lex or anything... Did you?
Volcana- Oh god no. I hate suits. No, I stayed with you because you showed me a different side to fire, and a different side to supervillains. *uhn* Look, I'm carrying this baby aren't I? You think if there wasn't ever anything I'd keep the damn thing?
Gar- I... I don't know.
Guard- Mr Lynns? You've got someone outside for you. Give her a little space eh?
Gar- Right. I- Be careful.
Volcana- *smirking* I'll try honey.
*She's lucid, with all the medication they've put her on I don't know what she really means and what she doesn't. Everything burns, I think as I leave*
====Outside====
*Drury's waiting for me. He's sat on a bench outside, a memorial for Dan Turpin- some cop here. His eyes light up, and what starts as a handshake becomes a full on hug. A bit uncomfortable when you're 90% scar tissue*
Drury- Gar!
Gar- Drury.
Drury- This is great! Fantastic! You're going to be a dad! We can have playdates-
Gar- We already *have* playdates
*I wasn't going to let him forget the bouncy castle "job"*
Drury- With the kids Gar. With the kids.
*He motions to the bench, and we sit down together. I know Drury's been taking things hard. The mayor job finally gave him that recognition he always wanted, and it's all up in flames. But he puts on a goofy grin and I admire him for it. I always have in a way*
Gar- Drury, how the hell did you become a good father?
Drury- Haha, I'm not... I'm not a good dad Gar. I didn't come back into my kids lives until they were 14, even longer in Simon's case. I think of all the birthdays missed because of trips to Arkham and battles with the Bat almost every night. I promised myself it would be different with Cammy, but first some evil Speedster had me run errands for him and then I got myself locked up for another six months. But y'know, you can only try your best, you love them with everything that you've got and you hope they love you back. And hope that just maybe they won't screw up like you do.
Gar- Yeah, but who taught you that?
Drury- Are you kidding? You did. You've had to deal with me, for what? 20 years? You've stuck by me, even when you're so much more capable. Like, you could have been A-List if you let me go, but you didn't. You stayed, you were patient- you taught me so much. I've had a lotta dads- my real one, Ono, Gaige... You're the best of them Gar, always have been. You just do what you did with me and you're on your way.
...
Gar- Drury, I have to ask you something.
Drury- Yeah?
Gar- Will you be his Godfather? The kid needs someone he can depend on.
Drury- It would be my honour.
...
Drury- So, you ready to go back in there?
Gar- Yeah.
*After a lot of blood, screaming and heated words are thrown, the baby comes out. It's a girl*
Drury- Aw, look at her.
Mick- She's beautiful. ... What? I can't complement the little bastard?
Volcana- Gar, it's our baby.
Gar- Yeah. Yeah she is.
*Everything may burn yeah, but with any luck, she's going to be around for a very long time*
Gar- Introducing Josephine Selton-Lynns, welcome Josie, to a bold new world.