Session 14

Session 14 was actually a series of mini sessions that took place between the 24th and 28th of July 2023.

Notes were taken by Alyssa, Donna Troy, Julie, Polychrome, and Respawn.

## Alyssa - Meeting Oracle (24th)

**Entry 16**

Hey, honey. I'm back again. This memory might be a bit easier to take in. Do you remember when you first met Oracle?

It was during the job for X vs Anderson. We had spent the day looking into everything about that woman that was available to the public eye. Her age, weight, college degree and companies she's owned. We learned about Kale & Anderson Pharm and Theseus. The AI and the Robotics and the Cybernetics.

Nw, for all his dorkiness, came through for us again. We were as honest as we could be while also skirting around the details. Even so, he assisted us in getting in contact with Oracle while reminding us that he was always happy to assist if needed. The thought of asking him to come with us was tempting. Goober.

The contact was through that old journal website. God! Do you remember the username we used? It was xX\_røbintamer\_Xx. We'll never live it down. I won't let you. Oracle was xX\_robinsister\_Xx. It was fitting. We convinced her to talk to us, face to face. Mask less. It was a hard fucking ask, but still something that needed to be done.

She had been waiting for us outside of the coffee shop. Short, red hair and eyes sharper than broken glass. Oracle had lead us to her safe place and let us watch as she went through all the security that was required to get in (thought we did look away to avoid knowing her password.) I highly doubt she doesn't change it.

We met Atlas. Finally. They spoke with us for a long time while Oracle watched on. They confirmed everything we had discovered. Agreed that something needed to be done. While Oracle went back over the data, Atlas asked us a very pointed question.

"What are your flaws?"

What. A. Question.

We were honest, at least. We are flawed. We stay with people long past the time we should have left. We take more abuse than we should ever put up with. Above all, we still don't know when to ask for help when we need it most.

Atlas was satisfied with our answer; admitted they could not lie. They asked us to teach them to lie and, of course, we didn't. I would not want that on your mind, Alyssa. Brutal honesty was easier to forgive than a lie. Of course, while Oracle was doing the leader thing by putting her hand on our shoulder, we had to ask her one more question.

"Is Dick good boyfriend material?"

Remember her answer, Alyssa? She said he was and yet not husband material. Do...we want that? Do we want a family? Can we ever settle down and be happy with one? I'm not sure we can. I like the idea of it. I like going out there on that branch and checking if it would hold our weight. Maybe just something soft, casual is a better idea, Alyssa. Maybe...people like us don't obtain those kinds of endings. Forgot to purchase the DLC, ya know?

We still got this, Alyssa. I think.

End

## Julie - Veritas (24th and 25th)

Looking to figure out what the Veritas truly is, Julie goes to find Zatanna for advice. She ends up in a room that seems go on infinitely in every direction, a never-ending starlight night sky above and a liquid floor that mirrors the ceiling. Zatanna explains that “This is the Oblivion” and Julie nods along like she pretends to know what that means.

Julie shows Veritas to Zatanna and vaguely explains how she got it from Charles Dante’s collection. She tells the half demon about its origin, a people long forgotten that only exist inside dreams. She suggests that Julie should either take it to Lucifer or Abe Sapient to figure out more about it or take it to Themyscira if she wanted to make something out of it.

Zatanna comments that Charles either likes Julie a lot or fears her. Julie does not comment. Zatanna brings up being rather uncomfortable having to serve bad people while covering for Ricky in the Oblivion and the two exchange views on what it means to be good and if bad people deserve kindness. Julie expresses her naïve stance of thinking everyone deserves kindness and the opportunity to choose a better path and Zatanna warns Julie that not everyone deserves that, and it could lead to ruin by giving mercy to the wrong person. At the end of the conversation, Zatanna mentions to Julie that Ricky is doing better and is soon back to work. Though she also comments that maybe he is doing worse? Julie thanks Zatanna and leaves her alone.

After their conversation, Julie sends a text to Lucifer and goes to find Hellboy at the bar, as Abe Sapient is a friend of his. At the bar Julie manages to break Hellboy away from a drunk argument with a very drunk Constantine, and Hellboy laments that he was finally ‘winning’ but she took the victory from him. She apologized and made him an Old Fashioned to make up for it. She explains that she needs to see Abe and Hellboy reluctantly agrees to show her to him.

Hellboy takes Julie to the BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense). She ends up in a rather impressive and marvellous example of Art Deco construction. Hellboy leads a silent Julie through most of the government compound, one of the more notable events being a grumpy monkey in a suit, calling Julie a tourist. When they finally arrive to a large library with a massive aquarium where she finds two individuals. A quiet, woman in black reading something at a desk and a fish man in the aquarium. Hellboy tells Julie that the fish person is Abe and leaves immediately (But still sticks around). Throughout all of it, Hellboy has been rather harsh with Julie, who has let it slide off of her, but the quiet woman does mutter under her breath that she wished Hellboy would stop pushing people away.

Julie’s conversation with Abe goes rather well. She is curious as to the institute they’re in and their function and Abe happily agrees to share some of its story. Eventually Julie brings up the reason she came here, namely, to show him the Veritas. She crawls up to the opening where she meets Abe above water and hands him the glass. However, the moment he touches it, Abe starts to have a massive seizure and convulses. Julie quickly grabs the glass but not him, allowing him to fall back into the water.

Hellboy, the quiet woman and Julie all react, but end up just staring hoping that Ape would come back. Julie’s paralyzed by fear to do anything, not knowing what to do about the situation, with Hellboy and the silent woman arguing between them what to do. Eventually though, Abe comes to and seems very shaken. In the awkward pause that follows, especially with Hellboy and the woman’s attention on Abe, Julie slips back into the Oblivion, apologizing quietly on her way out.

Following that, Julie finally gets a message from Lucifer and to come by the Lux. When she arrives, she finds that the Lux is closed for the day and people are just kind of hanging out, with Lucifer playing the piano. Julie greets the people she knows, (Maize), but gets what amounts to a cold shoulder. It is almost like Julie expects to be treated like this by now. Julie approaches Lucifer and they briefly talk about the Veritas, Julie wondering where she could get some answers. Lucifer mentions that the brother of the woman with curly black hair enjoying a glass of cold water at the bar could help her. With that, Julie goes off to talk with her.

This woman turns out to be none other Death of the Endless. The death. There is an awkward greeting where Julie does not realize who Death is, but soon it dawns on her, and the half demon realizes it is Dream of the Endless who she needs to go meet. She asks Death to bring her to Dream so she may ask him directly and Death agrees. Julie is suddenly brought to a magnificent palace, that is both an otherworldly beaty and also her childhood home at the same time. Old memories, mixed with fantastical fantasies makes up the bulk of this palace and sitting on a throne at it’s very center sits Dream in a Namor pose.

Julie cautiously approaches and asks Dream about the Veritas and of the people it came from, as they only exist in dreams now. Dream explains to Julie the origins of the glass, how it was once a part of a much greater whole, that helped these ancient people figure out a Divine Truth and how he himself learned one. Dream elaborates that the Veritas is actually an incredible source of power and that the idea Charles Dante had about this artifact, was “the idea of a simple mind.” Dream explains that it holds a quite unquantifiable potential, if wielded right. And now Julie was the wielder.

Julie is curious as to what this divine truth was, both his and theirs. Dream says that she would need to approach him closer to learn his, while the truth of the people who created the Veritas is forever lost, as their memory only lives on in dreams. There are none of them left. He does, however, mention that there is one person else who has seen a Divine Truth and that Julie had just left him behind. Julie is unsure whether Dream means Lucifer or Abe Sapient.

The truth that Dream shares with Julie, after she approaches him and gets up real close, is that Love cannot exist in Dreams. Even when the half demon asks, if that is the case even if you dream of love, Dream simply states “It is only a dream. Nothing more.” That is a very sobering thought, but one Julie didn’t realize she needed. With that, she thanks Dream for his help, after some attempts at trying to get him to spill the beans on how the Veritas can work but gets only vague answers in return. It seems she must figure this out on her own.

## Julie - Exhaustion (26th)

After a week of feeling constantly tired, both in mind and body, Julie realizes that she needs some help. She sends a text to Raven, asking her to help her out, which the other agrees. Raven asks where Julie is, which is at her bedroom in the Oblivion, and asks for permission to enter. Soon after, Raven shows up from the shadows in Julie’s room and the two get to talking. The half demon explains how she feels drained and no amount of rest seems to be helping.

Raven offers to help and asks for permission to touch Julie, which the half demon agrees to. Very quickly, Raven realizes that Julie has expended all of her magical powers and does not know how to recharge. The half demon gets questioned on this, where she confesses to never having spend her powers in such a manner that they got exhausted. Raven explains that with time they would return but a much quicker way of going about it was meditating. She asks if Julie has ever done so, which the half demon confesses to never having done and Raven begins to instruct Julie, taking her to the quiet beach outside Julie’s room.

Once there, Julie follows Raven’s instructions in depth and soon begins to open her mind. Raven gives a warning that this kind of recharging could welcome any number of people out there into her and that she should be cautious about doing this. However, Julie is already opening her mind at this point and the warning drowns out. In Julie’s mind she encounters someone she has met before. Ares, the god of war, is drawn to her, the half demon managing to catch his attention. He draws a question out of her, Julie not realising she is even asking it, as much as Ares is forcibly pulling it out of her. ‘Should I learn the truth or is it better to live in ignorance.’

Ares considers the question for a moment before recharging Julie, filling her with his power. As he does so, he answers her question. Ignorace is bliss. But Knowledge can win wars and conquer the world. With that, Julie has gotten her answer and Ares fades from her mind. Reinvigorated, Julie thanks Raven for all her help. But before Raven leaves, Julie asks if she wanted to come along when the Renegades were going to go club/rave crawling in Halcyon. Raven agrees and asks if she can bring a friend and also how Julie feels about enhanced states of mind. Julie assumes this is drugs and says she’s down as long as Raven doesn’t say anything to Donna. The friend Raven wants to bring is Muse and Julie tries her best to not seem like she knows the whole deal with Muse and tries to encourage Raven to be honest with her friend about how she felt when Muse was walking around without powers.

After that,Raven leaves and Julie does as well. She is determined now, more than ever. She needs to figure out where she comes from and the one person who knows is John Constantine. Time to get some answers.

## Respawn - Job Application (27th)

### A Talk with Rick

Rhys scares the shit out of Rick, by sitting in their living room in the dark, and they have a heart to heart about how he was involved in the death of Vee’s brother and Andromeda’s fiancé Brandon. The League of Shadows took Brandon hostage to get Andromeda off their backs, but the agents fucked up, Andromeda was on their heels, and Deathstroke (and Respawn) was called in to clean up the mess. He killed Brandon, made it look like the fuck up agents did it, and let Andromeda incinerate them in grief. Rick advised that Rhys should not bring this up again unless Vee specifically asked.

### Research, and Relationship Management

Rhys asks Alyssa for help to get more information on Matias Jacinto, the founder and owner of Sentinel Tactical Solutions, as Rhys wants to work for him. While Alyssa gets information, records, security and such, Respawn goes on physical recon, which lands him a lot of bullet holes. Apparently their headquarters are well fortified. Good to know. He does not tell Alyssa that he’s 90-95% sure that Jacinto is Agent X’s real identity.

He then asks Alyssa if she would hate him if he had killed someone she cared about. She says no, but presses for what he means, and he tells her about Brandon. Alyssa gives the same advise at Rick. Do not bring it up unless Vee does.

Alyssa tells Rhys she’s thinking of asking Nightwing to be her boyfriend, and asks what he thinks. He says he has a good reputation, and while he doesn’t know him personally, he seems like a good choice of partner.

She then asks what he would do if he found her crying, and said that Nightwing was responsible. Rhys says he would gather information and if he was malicious, he would ask her if she wants him to hurt and/or kill him for it. To which she says she would like him to not kill Nightwing. He says he doesn’t want to either. Unless she asks for it. Then he would like to.

Rhys asks if he should threaten Nightwing to treat her right the next time they see each other, as he’s seen it in a movie, and brothers did that to the boyfriends of their sisters. Alyssa tells him to please not do that, at least to not physically hurt him, Rhys agrees to this.

### Teeth

Rhys visits Ricky who is doing relatively well, and shows Rhys his teeth collection, as well as his skin collection, which are in different neatly organized rooms who are filled. Rhys is very impressed and tells Ricky this. He asks for the teeth of Ghost, which Ricky removed from the man when he tried to break into the Oblivion a month or so ago. Ricky agrees to give them to Rhys for a favor he hasn’t decided on yet. Rhys also asks if he can turn him invisible, as he’s going to break into Matías Jacinto’s home (but the act isn’t malicious because he was told to do this, hooray phrasing) and Ricky agrees to this as well, going to Halcyon except for a foot which is still in Oblivion because of reasons, and he seems to have a field day outside. He also announced to the bar that he’s back, conjuring confetti and a marching band.

### How to Apply for a Job

Rhys gets his gear while still invisible, and tried to scale the building Matías lives in with cool suction cups, which he can’t because his Freak is -2 the building is treated with anti vigilante coating. He then decides on using a grappling gun instead like a real bat, and that works better, though he can’t help but think of how he’s super breaking the law, about to join the Godkillers, and he’s the leader of a superhero team. He feels insecure and afraid of what’s going to happen.

He finally makes it inside, and walks around Matías’ apartment, locating his bedroom after a bit. Two other members of the Godkillers are there too, and X is in full uniform in front of his computer. The other members leave, and suddenly there’s a voice in Rhy’s ear. It’s Ghost, wanting to know what he’s doing. Rhys tells him he’s got a gift for him, and hands him his teeth back. Ghost gives him a knife and tells him to go stab X. Which he proceeds to try. The two wrestle around for a bit Rhys gets stabbed many times, and eventually they end up with both of them holding knives to lethal places. X asks Rhys is he’s going to stab him, and Rhys says “only if you promise to stab me too”.

He’s offered a job with Sentinel Tactical Solutions, accepted into The Godkillers, and put on a salary. Rhys and Ghost flirt, and go on a three day date to kill Calendar Man.

Rhys also asked what Matías’ intentions were with Alyssa, and he said he’s interested in seeing where things go. Pierce the Mask told Rhys that X wants a private Oracle so, so, so bad.

## Alyssa - Job Applications and Interviews (27th)

I'll keep this one brief, Alyssa. This week has been fucking crazy and we've got more work due this weekend. God. I don't even know how to start this. My mind is still reeling.

We found out who Brandon is to Glitter Sparkle. Deathstroke slaughtered him and Rhys had been there. Glitter doesn't want to know more yet and we told Rhys not to bring it up. That is going to shatter their relationship and the team dynamic. Even if Rhys wasn't the one who did it, I can see how she would see him as guilty by association.

Speaking of Guilt. Rhys tasked us with looking into Matias Jacinto. Big ex-military guy. Tried to get a higher up charged for SA of a soldier under him. The whole case ended up with nothing happening. A month before Matias was dishonorably discharged from the military, that higher up disappeared. The investigation ended without proof. Side note, this guy also served with Slade Wilson. Can you believe that?

Speaking of assholes. We teleported to an internet café in Tokyo and fuck us, that was a migraine. I hope we never end up seeing the world in duplicates like that again. The meeting with X was different, virtual. He's different over distance than he was in person. For starters, he was in complete gear and was quiet until I spoke up. I gave him the information and tried to leave without having to give a briefing. He didn't let me go that easily and I explained everything in as few words as I could.

I guess part of me was still upset and embarrassed about the club thing. I stupidly tired to clarify that I really hadn't teleported to him, but I don't think he believes me. I couldn't help mentioning that he looked tried and should take a nap. That was the first time he's called me darling in a very long time. It was good to hear. He admitted to watching me the whole night I was at the club and I hadn't realized he had stayed in the building. I ended up trading information for information. Rhys's interest in him for his name.

He tried to play games and imply that I hadn't specified that it had to be a first or last name. I'm not sure why he gave in to me. I ended up with his name and a new com wrapped in a gatcha container. After that, I left to go home. I don't know why I feel so conflicted. I worked hard to prove myself. I had wanted his approval and I needed to be important to him. Now that I have these things, I'm confused.

I think I'll try to ask Rick about it. He's really the only adult adult we know and the only one that can be trusted with this information. Still. I know I'm not his favorite. I'm not even sure he would reply if I reached out to him. This is dumb.

Rhys is happy he got the job. I should be too.

I'm Furtim.

* Member of Halcyon's Renegades.
* Ally of Gotham's Bats.
* Employee of the Godkillers.

We'll figure this out, Alyssa. Thank god these notes are saved to physical drive instead of the computer itself. Good luck, Alyssa.

End

## Polychrome - Friends with Benefits (28th)

Vee went on patrol with Jason. It was totally not a date. They had a what-are-we conversation, he doesn’t do relationships. Both agreed to be friends. There’s a currently unspoken “with benefits,” she was very clear about still being interested in him, and they flirt a lot. She tells him her civilian nickname (Vee).

## Alyssa - No Breaks (28th)

We can't catch a break this week. After texting Redhood with general questions and learning far more about the single heroes in the area, said boy ended up in our room with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. I hope Rhys never finds out that I stole some of his clothes to dress him afterwards and I also wish I had that picture of Jason in a tie-dyed, too tight t-shirt. The text to Dick really just sums it all up. I'll add it in here.

* Dick:  Is he okay? Alyssa:  Shot in the shoulder. Its been a wild ride. We were texting and he showed up bleeding at my door. Said he was just doing his hero thing when a guy shot him where the pieces of his armor meet. He's alive. And bitching about my shampoo smelling like vanilla.

You can't see it, but I'm running my hand through my hair. Talked him into sleeping on the couch while we slept on the floor next to him, holding hands. Note, we also flirted heavily with Dick, and Rick finally texted back.

He said to hold my lines or I'd risk losing myself. I'm just really glad he didn't turn me away. I might need to cry some. Good Morning and good luck, Alyssa.

End

## Donna - Being a Renegade (28th)

### Are you A Bastard?

Feeling like she needs to interact more with the community of Halcyon that her team is pledged to protect, Donna decides to go out into the city to do just that. She doesn't receive much of a welcome at first, though she quickly attracts the attention of two elderly Jewish women who are taken with her immediately. They invite her back to their place, where she learns about a great many things: ACAB. Knitting. Civil rights. The Holocaust. It is altogether enlightening for her, and a pleasant experience at that.

Donna's urban exploration is topped off with an encounter with a police officer, Kasun Thomason. After confirming that he is not in fact a bastard (and about the danger of curses!), Donna gets to know him as a member of the community. More specifically, that there is a serious gentrification problem within Halcyon, and that many people (including him) will be attending a meeting next week to organize against it. Ecstatic at the opportunity to prove their virtue, she promises that she and the rest of her team will be there. Mission success!

### Don't Call Me Princess!

In a similar fashion, Donna visits "Fight Club" to uphold her training, and to keep appearances with the crowd there. Honest pay for honest work, of course, but she enjoys the atmosphere there, the people that she had sparred with. Though the Orphan was no longer there, she met Ravager, who she remembered from the laser tag tournament with Red Hood and all the others. Sadly, the sparring goes far worse than Donna had planned; her underestimating Ravager's skills, as well as her temper that was used against her, caused Donna to lose the match. Badly. Maybe she was not like Mother after all...

Ravager mocked her ruthlessly, going so far as to stick her with the nickname "Princess", which she absolutely hated. Donna had nothing to say back to her, though, and she was quickly driven to tears. With little places to go, Donna flew over to Rick's place. The man did her best to console Donna, which was mostly putting on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, imparting to her the great wisdom of Dolly Parton, an American treasure that quickly fostered a core memory in Donna's heart: "“Well, I always just thought if you see somebody without a smile, give ‘em yours!”

Donna also learned that Ravager was a big meanie butt. This claim was confirmed by Rhys.