♙ 1

[howruthless]

[at first, there's silence.

The silence is then followed by gasps and sobs as Tess is forced into a sitting position like there's been a shock of adrenaline to her system. It takes a moment for her to catch her breath, and get herself oriented again, and when she does -- this isn't Metropolis Gen. In fact, this isn't even close]

What the hell?

[if you didn't know better, you might even say that there was a twinge of fear in her voice, but she'd never admit to it if she knew anyone was listening]

Is anyone there?

[a beat]

Chloe?

[it takes her a minute to get her legs under her, but she does, slowly and cautiously making her way to the door. She pulls it open, sees her name on the door, and slams it shut again.]

I repeat. What the hell.

Comments

[howruthless]

Magic.

[she can see it working, but there's still a healthy dose of skepticism]

So we've been kidnapped by a magical sentient castle.

[supes]

In a nutshell, yes.

[howruthless]

Great. That's ...

[she's trying to find the words, she really is, but she's trapped in a magical castle with three people who probably wanted her dead. But she'll figure out why they're being so nice to her later. for right now ... ]

Lois mentioned something about me being "back"?

[supes]

It's complicated, but the castle sometimes takes people, sends them back, and then takes them again without any memories of being here previously. You were here for a few months recently.

I'll go with Lois to meet you.

[howruthless]

Okay. I'll ... be here.

[where else is she gonna go?]

[supes]

Alright. Sit tight. I'm not sure where Oliver is right now, but he'll probably be by, too.

[howruthless]

I'm sure that one's gonna go well.

[that's more muttered than anything else, but the journal still picks it up]

[supes]

[Pause.]

What's the last thing you remember?

[howruthless]

[a beat, before ... ]

Chloe ... shocking me with a defibrillator?

[supes]

[Not sure when that was.]

When was that? What else was going on?

[howruthless]

Uh. ... Zod was going after Checkmate? I was breaking in to Watchtower in order to find out how much Chloe knew about the Kandorians.

[supes]

You're a few months behind me, then. Zod and the Kandorians are gone now. You helped make that happen.

[howruthless]

... I did?

[but she was trying to save them. How did that work?]

[supes]

I sent them to another plane of existence. Exiled them from Earth, using the Book of Rao.

[howruthless]

[she's quiet as she considers that, but in the end, it was probably for the best. Zod was a loose canon, and she had seen what had happened in the future in Lois's memories. But at the same time -- ]

How did I help?

[supes]

Zod destroyed the console in my Fortress, and I destroyed his tower, so I didn't have a way to power the Book, until you told me that you took the crystals from the wreckage and set them up elsewhere.

[howruthless]

[there's a bit of a nod at that]

I always knew that covering my own butt would pay off some day.

[And Lois has arrived for whenever you want Clark to hop on that thread. =D]

[supes]

[Aw, Tess.]

Well, that's why you're working for our team now.

[Being able to superspeed definitely makes him late half the time anyway lmao.]

[howruthless]

Really? You all let me in the club?

[that's skepticism again]

I'm surprised Chloe didn't pitch a fit.

[supes]

We did. Look, I'll be down in a second. We'll explain everything.

[howruthless]

Okay. I'll ... be here.