There and back again...

[thisismylife]

Who: Artemis and any close CR getting involved in the crazy train. Eventually Princess Tutu!
What: An intervention
When: Sunday
Where: CH5 Floor 4, primarily. Occasionally various encounters around town
Summary: Something's different about Artemis and her friends are starting to worry about her. But something's up that's not for them to fix.
Rating: PG-ish? Maybe PG-13 at the most.


[Action: Sunday, June 16]
[Artemis arrives back in Luceti Sunday morning looking tired and dirty and even more evasive and wary than when she'd left for the mission over a week before. Anyone intercepting her on the way home or at home is likely to get brushed off as quickly as possible as she locks herself in for a hot shower and several straight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

But even after some rest, Artemis is suspicious, defensive and decidedly close-lipped about what is obviously wrong. Even if she's not entirely sure what that might be herself. And if confronted enough times... for once, Artemis's first instinct is going to be flee rather than fight. At least at first...]

Comments

[teenwonder]

Tomorrow's not an option.

[Oh, is it rude to be climbing into Artemis' window right now? Then rude is probably happening right now. Interventions mean all the escape routs should be covered.]

[noitatnacni]

[Zatanna is about to say the same thing—in a nicer way, yes, but to the same end—when Robin pipes up from the window and Zatanna groans.  Seriously, he couldn’t have given her five minutes?  Maybe not even that long.  The plan had been to get Artemis into the living room, some place out in the open rather than having her personal space infringed upon.
 
But no.  Not Robin, Mr. Do What I Want And What I Want Is To Creep.]
 
It’d really be better to talk about it now.  Artemis, we’re worried about you.

[thisismylife]

[She jolts, sitting up in bed with a start when Robin's voice speaks from the direction of her window and drat, that had been her escape route.

Also the move reveals she's dressed in a fresh uniform even under her sheets, prepared for anything and probably far too paranoid for her own good. If that's even possible for a teen superhero.

She directs a scowl at both of them, curling back against the headboard, her arms wrapped around her knees and tries not to feel cornered.]

I'm fine. Or at least I was until you both decided it would be fun to break into my bedroom in the middle of the night. What the hell, guys.

[curiositykills]

What can I say? Some of us are night people. [Just, you know, putting that out there. Unlike Robin, Jason isn't quite as rude about his entrance—he'd followed Zatanna and just stands near her instead.] But seriously, you've been acting strange. If something's bothering you, well, that's what we're here for, you know?

[teenwonder]

If you were compromised by something on that mission you went on, we deserve to know about it. We can get you help.

[thisismylife]

I'm not... [There's three of them surrounding her bed, staring at her, and it's triggering that sick sort of panicky feeling in the pit of her stomach, the defensiveness that feels like its second nature these days. It had been like this last time, too. With the last team. When they'd watched her with suspicion, when whispers of her being the mole had been passed about behind her back. Roy's accusations, Kaldur's silence. Wally's temper.

She curled in on herself, fingers tightening into fists as she wrapped her arms around her knees, her jaw clenching as she stared down at the bed, unable to meet their gazes, not wanting to see the expression she knew she'd find on their faces.]

I'm not compromised. I don't need help. Everything's fine.

[noitatnacni]

[She's wearing her uniform? Zatanna's concern only grows with the realization that Artemis is seriously ready to bolt. But it only gets worse with Jason and Robin both piping in, as Artemis withdraws further into herself.]

You aren't fine. [Zatanna steps forward, reluctant about what she's about to do. At the same time, however, there really isn't much choice anymore. She's shutting down.] I'm really sorry, because this isn't how I wanted to do this, but...you have to be honest, Artemis.

[And Zatanna has the power to make sure she will be. She raises a hand toward her friend.] Trulb tuo s'tahw gnorw.

[thisismylife]

Look, I know you're all just waiting for an excuse to kick me off the team, so just get it over with already, would you?!

[She didn't know where those words came from. They popped out before her brain even had time to recognize Zatanna's spell, but then she did and clapped her hand over her own traitorous mouth as she stared at Zatanna in shock. And no small hint of betrayal.

Then she's moving, with a swiftness driven out of sheer panic and survival instincts that's been honed to a sharp edge for days now. The smokescreen arrowhead triggered and tossed away from her, landing at their feet and sending up a thick cloud of smoke.

It only lasts for a few moments, but its enough for her to swing past Robin, the dimensions of her room and her surroundings an instinctive knowledge as she swings out the window and into the darkness beyond with only her bow and her quiver.]

[curiositykills]

[...you know, they probably should've seen that coming. There's not much to do about the smoke except deal with it, so Jason covers his face and waves it away. Just like he figured, Artemis is already gone by the time the smoke clears.

Still he definitely saw the look on Artemis's face and heard what she had said, and that... leaves Jason feeling kind of confused.]

Wait, seriously? What was she talking about?

[Did something happen?]