Mind Your Manners [ Red Arrow ]

[Artemis Crock]

Seattle was a drab and grey city that was a significant contrast to the lively and green environment of Vietnam. In fact, any other city in the world had more of a personality than that of Seattle’s and it made Artemis wonder why this depressing little conglomeration of buildings and people were actually considered a suitable place of business and living. She couldn’t even believe she was here; Artemis loathed the weather, which since the day she had arrived was nothing but rain, grey skies and this disgusting cold breeze that nipped at the back of her neck. Wait, why was she even here again?

She scoffed slightly and hunched her shoulders together to try to retain some warmth. Her eyes narrowed as she felt a drop of rainwater fall atop her head but she soon discovered that it was just some residual water falling from an awning she had walked under. Disgusting, was all she thought herself as she continued down the street the high afternoon sun trying desperately to peek through grey clouds.

Family had brought her here. After landing back in the states after her not so successful trip to Vietnam had left her a bit discouraged and on a certain level lost on where she wanted to go next. Clearly she was chasing after ghosts and if she continued at this rate then she would be on a road to nowhere. A hapless can that got in her way was kicked rather violently across the street and Artemis looked up at the sound of delighted children who ran about within the school’s playground. Family was here, but they didn’t know of her presence. She watched them – mostly her mother from a distance just to see what they had made of their lives. Her wheel chair bound mothered tried to live a somewhat normal life and her father; well he looked to be down the same career path. That wasn’t surprising and the very least; her mother was trying to better herself.

“Lian! Lian! Come play tag!”

Artemis slipped out of her subconscious and her gaze refocused as the child’s high pitched voice grated her ears. She looked into the playing field, her grey eyes scanning over the small children. Tiny bodies ran about, their pudgy legs and arms flailing rather uselessly as they played with one another. Artemis could never recall such innocence, not in her childhood. Tag was like a death game for her, if you ever got hit you died. Friends? She had none, schooling? She was home schooled and taught only by the best (and what her father could afford), innocence – she never had that.

Her eyes fell upon the young girl who was surrounded by a group of five children - probably the Lian who was called out earlier. For now, the young girl’s back was faced toward her and she studied the thick black hair and bounced as the girl nodded in agreement with the group. Suddenly, she was slapped on the arm and the children scattered, screaming and yelling as they tried to cover as much distance from the young girl. The side of Artemis’ mouth lifted slightly as she watched the girl look around in slight confusion and then begin to slowly turn around.

For a moment, the pair made eye contact and in that exact moment, Artemis’ heart completely froze.

Every function in her body had come to a deafening halt and the screams of the children that were once so grating and imposing on her ears had gone completely silent. She was almost in her own world now, where the young girl and Artemis just stared at each other, unaware of the world around them. Time froze and Artemis could hear the rapid beating of her heart as it threatened to burst out of her chest. Was this real? Was she seeing this correctly? Her eyes trembled and began to water as she forced herself to not blink, she didn’t want to let this image fade away, and she had to make sure. Lian turned, once again covering her face from Artemis as she turned and chased after a girl in a pink dress.

Artemis’ world slowly filtered back around her and with shaky hands she slowly pulled out her chocolate bar, smart phone from her pocket and after five attempts finally unlocked the screen. She was darting her eyes from the screen and to the park as she fumbled through her phone of the image of the young girl of the past. The picture finally loaded on the screen and yes, there it was the same girl was staring back at her, just like the girl in the field. Artemis’ heart was beating unbearably now and she slowly backpedaled trying to be logical about this entire situation.

No this couldn’t be just a coincidence, the resemblance was too uncanny. That little girl had to have known something about the little girl she was searching for, Artemis knew it, she felt it in her bones and even if she were wrong she was willing to take her chances.

Two and a half hours later

The cold did not discourage her, Artemis sat on a bench in a park across the school and watched it diligently. She waited, waited through the hours for the school to finally be over so that she could finally get things rolling again. She shook her leg here and there, stuffed her hands deeper into her pockets and rocked back and forth like a deranged person, but she was determined. Determined to understand this connection, this similarity that this young girl had to a vision of her past. Artemis would not let this chance get away, she was not one to believe in coincidences, in her upbringing she was taught that there were no such things.

The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school day and Artemis quickly sprang from the bench her bones and muscles almost creaking as they were forced from their frozen state. She quickly rushed forward, her heart beating quite rapidly as she made a beeline across the street and joined the crowd of parents that had generated in front of the school’s entrance, all intent on picking up their loved ones.

Her heart was unstable and her breathing was slightly labored as she squeezed in between two mothers who were fixing the scarves of their sons. Grey eyes darted over the little heads and faces, trying to distinguish the only one that mattered. Then she saw it and her heart stopped again, amazed at the striking similarity. She pressed forward, paused to recalculate her approach and then finally Artemis walked towards the young girl.

She pulled her dark shades back, and over her head so her facial features weren’t so hidden and in an effort to look friendly she plastered a smile on her face, though awkward had traces of sincerity. Her excitement could be blamed for that and Artemis moved forward with a slight hop in her step and her hands in her pockets.

“Hey Kiddo, how was school?”

Her voice chimed, immediately catching the attention of the young Lian Harper who looked at the young woman rather apprehensively.

Tag: Red Arrow

[Red Arrow]

Rule 1: Always watch your surroundings.

[/color]

Lian Harper was a many things at the age of five and a half years old. She was popular, smart and funny and pretty in a sort of offsetting way that made some of the girls jealous. She wasn’t mean, no she was caring and kind, which made it hard not to like her, but there was another side to her, a side most of the kids didn’t know. A secret side she hides from the world. Her life is a danger to her father, something she knows he’ll never admit, but to him, having her openly being her father, caring about her, makes her a liability.

Most kids her age don’t have to worry about being used against their families to get money, or to hurt her father. You see her family dynamic is different, it isn’t normal. Her dad takes care of her, while her mom is out of the picture; she had done bad things and has to play the game of time. Her father was a single dad, and he went to work, but what he does it puts him at risk everyday against people stronger than him, people that could easily hurt him. Her father is a hero; he protects the city and the world when they can’t protect themselves. It doesn’t make it any easier when he leaves her with the baby sitter at night to go patrol, or go up to that big tower out in space.

Sometimes she wonders if she asked him, if he’d stop, if he wouldn’t be a hero anymore. She’d seen him come home with bruises and bleeding wounds and she wondered what would happen if one night he just didn’t come home at all. If he didn’t come home, would her mom come get her? What would happen to her, where would she go? What would she do?

The idea of losing her father was something she never thought about, she didn’t want to give her thoughts the power to make it real, to make it happen.

She was pulled from her thoughts by the loud chatter of her classmates and friends, those that didn’t know what she did and couldn’t possibly begin to understand it. As she listened to them, and what they wanted she smiled broadly. It was easy to flow into the positive energy the kids around her gave off; it was easy to for a little while focus on her friends, on having fun. As she was told she was it, she gave a laugh, her body slowly turning to check her surroundings to see just where all her friends were and who she might be able to catch first. Her eyes locked with someone who wasn’t playing, not this woman was too old to play with them, but there was something about her, which made her still, her eyes locked with hers.

Lian had manners and knew that excessive staring was wrong and broke the contact, her mind not on the game, but on the woman sitting on the bench, she’d looked so lonely, lost.

Her attention span was caught by her friends now and she took off her legs carrying her in a run after Lily a fellow classmate and friend in a pink dress her mother had picked out for her to wear today.[/blockquote]

Two and a half hours later

Class had dragged on, and her attention had been once more captured by the woman she’d seen earlier out on the playground. There was something about her that just made her want to see her again. She rested her hands on her arms that had folded across her desk as she let her mind play over the woman, trying to take her details, and think up reasons she would want to know more about her. Maybe she was one of her father’s friends? Maybe, he knew a lot of people.

As the final bell tolled signifying that class was over, Lian wasn’t the first person out, but she wasn’t the last. She walked down the crowded hallways, watching as other students ran to their parents and hugged them, a quick glance showed her that Roy Harper was late, possibly held up with business. She walked down the stairs intent on going to sit on the curb and wait for him, he’d be here soon, or he’d send someone with her, and they’d be sure to say the code word that would let her know, it was safe to go with them.

She stopped the flash of movement caught her attention as she watched dark shades be moved to display gray eyes. She marveled for a moment in awe at the lady from across the street, she was here in front of her and it would seem she wanted to talk to her, why? She didn’t take another step, merely stared as her mind tried to come up with reasons why she was here, perhaps she really was friends with her dad, or the other option, she was an enemy.

Against the little ball of nerves in her stomach she answered her, wanting to please her, for reasons she didn’t understand, maybe she could take away some of the pain in her eyes, the sadness. Her father had the same look, whenever she asked about her mother, she’d stopped asking.

“It was good…kinda boring though.”

Lian waited her hands mimicking the older woman as her hand were stuffed in her pockets of her warm jacket that was supposed to help against the cold. She wanted to know what she wanted, she wanted to help and against her better judgment she took a single step forward and tilted her head to the side, her black hair being caught by the wind and taken back behind her shoulders, the chilly air touched her face, but she ignored it. She wanted an answer, and she’d wait all day for one, if the stubborn set of her jaw was anything to go by.

[Artemis Crock]

[style= text-align: justify; padding: 5px; width: 550px;] ¬If there was any caution on this young girl’s mind, Artemis did not know. What was apparent was that the young, raven haired girl was instilling enough trust to step forward and with body language display that she was willing to be brought into Artemis’ graces. Too easy, too soon – was what she thought as she listened to the young girl respond. School was boring she said, Artemis couldn’t related. Her entire academic career had been spent in her home under the tutelage of a well paid teacher. She enjoyed learning, but the school environment was completely foreign to her. In response she could only nod and mutter, ”Yeah… must suck.”. Her voice was low and raspy and she awkwardly looked around trying to come off as suspiscous.

”Anyway, we should like probably go… It’s cold out here.”

Her voice though not cold was merely distant. She had intended for this charade to go this far, but if she was being given this opportunity then she had better bring it to its full potential. The question however was, what exactly did she want to do with this young girl? Kidnapping was not exactly against any of her morals (wait did she have any) and this wasn’t a new job to her. Artemis recalled the time she and her father had kidnapped an eight year old son of some snooty aristocrat. Ransom money was demanded and in a matter of hours they got what they wanted and the annoying little squirt was set free. Artemis recalled smashing the boy’s temple when he would not stop crying and she was only two years older than he.

Biting her lip she gestured with a flick of her head to the young girl and began to walk in the opposite direction of the school. She had no idea yet as to where they would go, but for the time being she would improvise. Identifications had to be set in place and Artemis needed to know more about this girl, she needed to know if she had any connection to the woman that she sought.

It was either that or proclaim that she was absolutely nuts.

“I’m Paula Nyguen.”

Artemis began, adopting a combination of her mother’s name. She wasn’t stupid enough t ro release her real name. She had no intention of killing the girl, so if she set her free she couldn’t risk having her share her name with her parents. How embarassing would that be? Walking down the sidewalk, she kept a good deal of space between herself and Lian. Not wanting to look too close, but appearing to be close enough so that no one looked at the pair in a suspiscious manner. She also needed to be close enough to nab the young girl into an alleyway or something if that were absolutely necessary.

”Your-“

She paused wondering what parent to use in her sentence, looking around, she spotted a man across the street with her father and decided to go with it.

”Your dad’s running a little late, but we can go to a ice cream shop or something until he’s ready to come get you.”

Artemis rolled her eyes at the suggestions, really an ice cream shop, was that the best that she could think of? Whatever – she thought to herself, kids loved ice cream and she wouldn’t mind one herself.

”What do you say kiddo?”

She looked down at the young girl, the face of the sister in the picture looking back at her and Artemis’ face softened. Even if it was just a feeling, at least this moment here and now made her feel that she was somehow connecting with her lost sibling. Her heart melted and though she did not show it, all she wanted to do was bring Lian close into an embrace and forgive her for the sins her mother had committed. [/style]

[Red Arrow]

Lian looked at the older woman and listened, her hands curled in her pockets. She wasn’t sure what to say to her really. She cast a look around and frowned not seeing anyone remotely familiar from her father’s few sets of people he had pick her up. She turned her gaze back to the lady and merely watched her, she wasn’t giving off the malicious intent that the last lumbering buffoon had, had towards her. Not this seemed more to be something else. Apparently whoever was supposed to be getting her, wasn’t’ here yet, they were late and her curiosity was getting the better of her, she would go, for the sake of finding out why this lady had such a sad look in her eyes.

She knew better than to go off with strangers, and it wasn’t as though whoever would be popping up shortly would allow her to go, so she took a few more steps, standing closer to the slim woman. She followed her out of the sea of parents and in the opposite direction of her house. Her blue eyes looked at every street sign as they passed, she tried to keep straight where they went; not that she was too worried about it. She had a feeling her father would be notified of her disappearance and would find her before anything bad happened. She knew her dad would always come for her.

As her name was given, Lian turned those brilliantly blue eyes up at her, quickening her steps so she was running a little bit to get in front of her and walk backwards, her hands still stuffed in her pockets but she could look at her. She couldn’t help the little smile that twisted along her lips, she highly doubted that this very pretty ladies name was Paula, not unless her mother had not realized what a pretty person she’d grow up to be. “You’re too pretty for Paula to be your name, you know. Why not something more pretty like…” she trailed off her face scrunched up in thought as she looked hard up at her, but there was no ill intent on her face, just a deep concentration. “Megan or Jade, or oh, oh I know what about Gwen from Spiderman?” she asked her hands moving from her pockets to cover her mouth in a childlike manner as she laughed the sound rich and childlike. She was assuming this woman was a hero like her dad, so they must have secret identities like he did.

Lian looked at her and nearly rolled her eyes at the suggestion, what would this woman do when she realized that she’d gone with her out of curiosity and not because she was supposed to pick her up, her father was paranoid and well this would be a most interesting situation, she could only imagine what sort of tongue lashing was going on back at her school right now. “Sure, ice cream sounds good, what is your favorite flavor?” she asked those blue eyes once more trained on her with an attention span not many five year olds could muster.


Star City Elementary:

[/i][/size]

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE ISN’T THERE!?”

The young woman pulled the cell phone away from her ear and frowned, her wings folded on her back, and hidden under her long black trench coat. Her youthful face pulled down in a frown and she was getting some interesting looks from people. The voice on the other end was angry, more so than that, he was worried, she could hear the slight tone changes in his words, most people wouldn’t pick it up, but she wasn’t normal, no, there was far more to her, than Roy Harper knew, but that wasn’t ideally what he needed to know right now. What he wanted to know was where Lian was and she couldn’t’ give him that information.

“She isn’t here Mr. Harper…she was last seen leaving the school grounds with a black haired woman, I wasn’t able to get much more, but she went willingly. The woman looked like Lian, the few school officials thought it was her mother.” came the crisp words back to him.

Roy was furious and worried, he knew what this was, who this was, who had taken his daughter…it would seem Jade was back in town, but he didn’t know how that was possible. He didn’t give much more too young woman. “I’ll handle this; just go back on patrol or something. Whatever you do, don’t be there when I arrive.” and with that he hung up.

The last thing he needed was for to be there. He wasn’t happy that she’d been late, had she been on time this whole thing may have been avoided and now he had to find Jade, because she had taken their daughter.

His steps took him to the teleportation tube. “Recognized Red Arrow. State your destination please.” Came the computerized voice from somewhere above his head. “Star City.” came the tight response. He knew Cheshire wouldn’t hurt Lian, but that didn’t mean he would allow her to take her from him. His eyes narrowed and he glared into the white light as he was teleported to his home town. As he moved from the alleyway, he pulled on a long black jacket that covered up his uniform enough and only showed the black and red of his shirt not enough to let people know they were dealing with Red Arrow, not they would be dealing with Roy Harper. He shoved his mask that covered the blue of his eyes into one of the pockets and shoved his bow and arrows into a black pack on his back, as he made a show of needing to go to the school and to disregard the police and the school.

Once that was taken care of he’d made his way down the street, going the same route that he’d been told his daughter and her mother had taken. He wasn’t too happy about this and Jade was going to hear all about this, once he caught up with them, and he would.
[/blockquote]

[Artemis Crock]

[style= text-align: justify; padding: 5px; width: 550px;]The young girl’s submission was remarkably easier attained than Artemis had anticipated. There was some surprise on her face as the young girl trailed after her and the pair began to make their way away from the school. They looked like an odd pair no doubt; both hands shoved into their pockets and an awkward waddle-strut that either seemed to imitate. Artemis was unsure of where exactly to go, but when a diner came into view she was a little more confident in how things were going to play out.

As a car drove by, she barely heard the name escape the girl’s lips. But it was there and all it took was a slight strain to hear it. Jade. It exited her lips so sweetly and so softly, smooth like velvet and caressed against Artemis’ ears as she suddenly froze in shock. The laughter that erupted from the child brought her back to a steady composure and she pursed her lips trying not to give anything away in her expression. Body language alone was revealing too much and by the way the child responded and reacted she was a lot sharper than Artemis gave her credit for.

Artemis knew a thing or two about witty children.

The young girl spoke up again and Artemis felt the child’s curious gaze rest upon her. She shifted uncomfortably in her own skin as the pair stopped at a crosswalk for the light to signal their rite of passage. There was slight disbelief in the young girl’s voice as she spoke and Artemis couldn’t help but raise her brow. Was she underestimating this child? Was she the one being duped in this situation? It was evident the girl knew something she did not. Either that or she was going completely insane.

She never did like kids anyway.

“Green tea.”

They continued and she let out a false laugh that sounded more like a poorly released burp or cough. When they finally reached the diner, Artemis quickly shot her arm forward and made sure to pry the door off its latch with as much efficiency as possible. She looked down at Lian expectantly and waited for her to walk into the place of service before following after.

A waitress that greeted them with a bright smile and a quirky, “What can I do for you sugars?” reassured Artemis into believing that the pair looked anything suspicious. With their matching raven colored hair and almond shaped eyes the duo looked like sisters or mother and daughter – it was at that moment Artemis realized their continued resemblance and she was beginning to wonder if this was merely more than a coincidence. Addressing the waitress pleasantly, Artemis got them a booth seat in the back and the pair sat down across each other on the sparkling, plastic, plush booth seats.

Menus were laid out before them, and before Artemis could allow any of them to dive into its contents, she gently placed her hand over the articles and leaned forward in her seat. Hair like midnight gently drooped around her small, round face and her glossy grey eyes stared into the innocent blue pools of Lian Harper.

“You like the name Megan? Jade? Have any favorite people by those names?”

Alright now she was probably sounding a little creepy, but time was moving and any moment now she would be caught red handed. [/style]

Tag: Red Arrow

[Red Arrow]

Lian sat back further in her seat, as far away from her as she could get. As she observed the woman in front of her, not sure why she was being so suddenly pushy, with why she wanted to know why she’d picked those names. Her arms crossed over her chest and she leaned further in her seat, placing the edge of one dirty boot against the edge of the table, the picture of a defiant child. When people pushed, just how stubborn she was, it seemed only Roy Harper ever saw this change. Could it be from her mother’s absence? Was it a lack of mother figure in her life? Her blue eyes narrowed in a glare but despite the look of defiance, she seemed to be pondering her question, as if though if she decided to answer.

She did take note of the fact that Paula didn’t deny or defend that it was indeed her name, so she assumed she was right, but this begged the question why was she pushing to know if she had any favorite people with those names. Her lips quirked up a little bit at the idea of this woman trying to threaten her mother, fat chance she’d hurt her, no her mother would wipe the floor with her, that could just be her child mentality how kids viewed their parents as gods, as immortal protectors.

It didn’t’ help that sometimes, sometimes Lian visualized her mother coming to see her, or having that perfect, happy family that other kids seemed to have. She wanted her mother and sometimes it really ate at her, that she had given her up like this, just handed her over, that she wasn’t trying to find her. Her lips pulled down in a frown and her eyes misted over, as a look of sadness descended over her, her gaze had faltered to the table top and her fingers had dug into her sides, a form of self-mutilation. Get a grip Lian…she’s gone, she didn’t want you.

[/color]

As her gaze went back to staring into the gray pools across from her, she had made up her mind, and her body dropped the defiant look. Her foot moved from the edge of the table and landed with a sort of grace on the floor with barely a stomp of irritation some other kids might do. Her arms uncrossed and she leaned forward in her seat, her elbows resting on the table as her hands rested on her cheeks, to better make funny faces, if she started to get emotional. Started to care.

“My mother…her name is Jade. She’s very pretty; I guess maybe I was hoping you were her…but I don’t remember what she looks like, I remember she has black hair like mine” she said and pulled a strand of her own hair rather roughly and curled her fingers brutally around the raven locks. Her blue eyes had taken on a hard look, a look no child should know; no child should have that sort of hate, not at her age. Her childhood was already over. She shrugged her shoulders and pulled at her cheeks, making a funny face and giving a little laugh, it was forced, but how would she know. “Green Tea is really your favorite ice cream?” she asked skeptically. “Really, is it even a flavor?”
[/blockquote]

[Artemis Crock]

There was a systematic tapping of her fingers upon the plastic covered menus as Artemis sat in anticipation for a response. Long slender fingers drummed a random rhythm as she stared long and hard at Lian, her grey eyes like daggers (unintentionally) as she stared on with such intensity she had to blink for fear she might actually light the child on fire. She took the moment to relax, regain her composure and maintain that calm demeanor she had otherwise held for a good part of this encounter. Pushing off the table, Artemis let her body slump into the hard cushion and she looked on at Lian who had a look of mild deliberation on her face.

You’re like five or something, there’s not a lot to think about.

Artemis’ thoughts turned dark as her own impatience and temper was running short. Time was not necessarily on her side right now and she didn’t want to cut things too short, not when she had this wretched, gut feeling that she was close to some sort of breakthrough.

Her spirits lifted when she saw Lian’s body language change suddenly. Defiant and strong her shoulders once stood, but now they slumped down as if in defeat and the fleeting look in Lian’s eyes had left to be replaced by a more somber expression. Artemis ignored the transpiring stages of emotion and leaned forward again, her eyes wide and trembling slightly in anticipation.

All this time all she ever had to go by on her sister’s identity was a faded photograph and a name she recalled her mother crying out in her sleepless, drunk nights. The appearance of Lian had to be no coincidence, as did her familiarity with the name (or maybe Artemis was just being too hopeful), either way the almond shape of the young girl’s eyes, her slightly oval face and the thick, raven colored hair that was planted atop her head made Lian a splitting image of the young girl in the photograph. If not for her gleaming blue eyes Artemis would not hesitated, she would have taken her up, whisked her away and demanded to know everything about the child. Oh wait, she was already doing that.

A sharp intake of breath as Lian spoke gave away a lot more than Artemis would have preferred. Her lithe fingers were gripping the edge of the table now and she felt her nails try to dig through the false, marble top. She looked as if ready to hyperventilate, but instead she retained an expression that was akin to a fish that had just been forcibly extracted from the depths. As Lian pulled at her dark hair, Artemis subconsciously found herself brushing her fingers through her own. There was a connection, she could feel it and as her heart beat faster and faster she realized just how close she was to Lian.

She was potentially her aunt.

Momentarily speechless, Artemis said there, her mouth slightly agape and looking rather dumb as Lian continued to speak. Ice Cream the word brought her back to reality and as the world shifted back into realism around herself, Artemis found herself slightly frustrated and angry. Not at Lian, but instead at herself for being so taken aback and for letting her emotions write cleanly upon her face. She lashed out, unexpectedly on the most ridiculous topic.

“Of course it’s a real flavor!”

It was her sudden outburst, and she cried out while slapping her hand on the table and pulling the menu toward her. She briskly flicked it open and look arduously for the ice cream part of the menu.

“I bet you haven’t tried, Corn, Red Bean or Lychee!”

Artemis added rather accusingly as she found the section with the listed flavors. She wrinkled her nose in slight annoyance at the sight of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry as the only options. Lian should know about green tea ice cream, and all the other flavors that were considered exotic in the states. In fact, her mother should have been the one to introduce them to her as a show of tradition.

-A pause, Lian said she didn’t remember what she looked like. More frustration and Artemis felt her sister slip through her fingers like water, this girl had been absolutely useless.

“What do you mean you don’t remember what she looks like? That’s stupid, she’s your mother – how can you say something like that? Like- like she left your or something.”

Not entirely unbelievable, after all Neế Nguyen had allowed her daughter to suffer the same fate. It was possible that Jade had only followed in her mother’s own legacy, whatever that may be.

[Red Arrow]

Her eyes crinkled a little bit and she wanted to laugh, her lips pulling up in a grin. This was a first, she’d never expected this, these others flavors to be said or for this woman to seem so outraged that she hadn’t heard or tried them at least. Perhaps she would one day. She wasn't sure she'd like them, but she wasn't against trying new things, those just didn't sound very appetizing but perhaps she'd be surprised, maybe her mothers heritage would kick in and she'd find she liked those odd flavors. She made a little note for herself in her head to look up those flavors, out of curiosity if nothing else.

“Maybe one day I’ll get to try them, where do you find those flavors? I don’t think we have it here.”

She said her eyes widening in that innocent curiosity stage that all kids seemed to get when truly interested about some things. This woman despite her strange emotional slips, seemed to be nice enough, all things considered. A little brash and she came on strong, but it seemed she wasn’t quite sure how to be anything but. It was fine Lian really wasn’t scared of her, no for whatever reason this woman wanted to know more, not really about her, no this centered around Jade, her mother.

She had lied a little bit, a small fib, but sometimes it was easier to try and forget what her mother looked like, but she knew, she could not forget her features. She could point her out in a crowd; at least she hoped she’d be able too. It had been two years sense Roy had custody of her, and for those first three years her mother took care of her. She’d dream about her, about her mother coming to pick her up from school, or the one that played with her the most in her dreams. Her mother kneeling in front of her and pulling her close, telling her she loved her. She’d find her hands tightening on her waist jacket, it was white, and covering up the weapons she held on her person, and then she’d step away and was gone in the shadows of the night, she’d move to run after her, to beg her to stay to not leave her alone, in the empty apartment and she could never be sure how long she waited alone in the dark, but then Roy had shown up, her father, the one man she’d never met until that night two years ago.

She flipped open her menu, but her attention was caught on the pair of three older men who had come in, they weren’t customers, no it seemed to be more than that, they were taking stock of who was here, how many people were here, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she caught a flash of black, the tail end of a pistol handle, as the man who had it, put his hand back in his pocket. Her eyes fell back to her menu, before they noticed that she’d seen they were packing heat.

“We should….”

She didn’t get a chance to say more as Artemis said what she did, and it caused her blue eyes to focus on her, too narrow for tunnel vision to swallow up anything she saw but her. The anger she felt had been blinding, how all she was seeing was the raven haired woman in red. She’d never been so angry before in a long time, and she brought it back, perhaps it was because she sort of looked like her, she looked like her mother.

“She did!”

The words came out harsh, and angry and she said things she couldn’t take back, but they kept coming anyway, all the anger, everything she’d hidden away was coming out.

“She left me, didn’t say when she was coming back she just left. She abandoned me and she didn’t come back, my father came to get me. How do you think that makes me feel?!”

The words were snarled out and her hand slammed on the counter top and she was leaning over the table staring at Artemis was a hate filled gaze, but there was a sadness there, as a lone tear slipped down her cheek and she left it to run its course down the oval of her skin.

“You look like her, only difference is your eyes and you look more American. You don’t act like her.”

As the last bit of angry words came out, she took a breath and pressed the heel of her hand against her eyes and slumped back in her chair, her cheek resting against the table top, as she didn’t look at the woman across from her, she didn’t even care, that she know knew that she knew what her mother looked like.

Her eyes gazed at the men as they seemed for the most part to ignore them, as they went for the cashier at the register, the one with the gun was coming their way, and the other man was going around the other way to hassle the other few patrons in the diner.

”I needed to know if you were her and I don’t know how I feel that you aren’t.”

She said, the words with a sort of disappointment in her tone, as though she'd wished for a different conclusion then what was befalling them. Her eyes lifted to the African American man who had slithered his way over to hear some of their conversation. She wasn’t afraid of him, her blue eyes merely resigned, this was the second time in the last three months someone had tried to hurt her. She wasn’t worried, this man was nothing compared to Dog face, the one who had held her over the side of building. This guy was toast; her father wouldn’t let anything happen to her.



~Red Arrow~

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Roy found his trek following them was remotely easy enough, it wasn't hard to twist his way down the side walk, or go down the street. He didn't need to really look to see the pieces of a light blue napkin, little pieces left by his daughter, she was such a smart girl. Their abrupt end, left him nervous, that is until he cast a look around, his blue eyes pausing as he looked around at the area, up at the signs and then down each street, and let his gaze travel over the building. He saw the diner, and allowed his gaze to travel to the occupants. It didn't take him long to stop the black hair from his place on the other side of the street. He could easily see who he assumed could be none other than Jade and Lian at a table, clearly visible from the window.

A move he didn't appreciate, he moved his attention to the rooftops looking to see if he could see anyone hanging out with a snipe rifle ready to take a shot at his daughter. He didn't think it would happen, but their were plenty of ways for Cheshire to try and force his hand, or others to force theirs. They each had enemies, lots of them and it made Lian a prime target, one that he was working to do his best to avoid, to keep her from being involved, but still able to have all the normal things a child should at her age. He could give her everything, everything but her mother.

What caught his attention was the men who'd just entered the diner, he knew something wasn't right, and as he made his way across the street, ready to do something about it, be found that he didn't need to do anything at all.
[/blockquote]

[Artemis Crock]

The topic of ice cream had long left Artemis’ mind. In fact, the whole situation had gone right over her head and she was about ready to get up and leave. She had gone through all this trouble for nothing, but a dead end and slight aggravation from some child that was less than half her size. Way to go in in terms of being productive, Artemis thought to herself as she picked up the fork that lay to her right and began to try to balance it on her finger.

By this point in time as Lian and Artemis sat in silence the young raven haired woman was deliberating her mode of escape. Should she just get up and walk out the front door or take a stroll through the kitchen? Did the bathroom have a window? She could crawl out of there as well, anything to get her away from this disappointing experience.

The ringing of the diner’s bell that signaled new patrons did not entice her enough to turn her head in attention. Instead she took a look at Lian who was staring off in the entrance’s direction and whose eyes quickly turned down to the menu. Artemis found it odd, but the young girl’s next response was even more peculiar. In fact in revealed that she had fibbed in the first place and now in her anger she revealed that true appearance of her mother.

I look like her?

The idea churned in her head and she looked pensively in the distance as she analyzed Lian’s face and the words that erupted from her mouth. Coincidence or not, everything that Artemis had learned today was way too convenient to just be luck. There was a connection here, a connection that seemed a lot closer than she wanted to admit. If they were talking about the same girl- woman that she had spent all this time looking for that would mean what Artemis had deduced earlier on.

She was indefinitely this young girl’s aunt. As much as the thought scared her it also brought delight – it only meant that she was that much closer to finding Jade. To finding a long lost sister that was in desperate need for an apology.

There was of course a setback, Lian wasn’t lying when she proclaimed her time with her mother was severely limiting or rather – nonexistent. She felt a little flustered and in response placed the hell of her hand against her right temple and began to knead the area. Too much information in so little time, she didn’t want to overexcite her and later find out that she would be disappointed. She’d be damned if she was led astray by some four year old.

Her grey eyes looked to Lian as she inquired about her real identity. She studied the young girl’s face, recognizing the plea in her eyes that desired only the truth. She wanted closure, Artemis supposed she could give her that much. It was after all her fault the child was out here anyway. They were both searching for something and if it was the same person then she supposed that Lian could be in on the secret. She didn’t have anything to hide anymore.

Artemis opened her mouth, thin, pink lips parting to produce speech but she was rudely interrupted by a massive dark-skinned man who stood over them with a malicious glint in his eyes.

“Oh God!”

She heard someone scream from the front, she did not allow the exclamation to avert her attention. Instead she merely focused on the young girl in front of her whose eyes were focused on the marbleized table. Artemis lips pursed as she gripped the fork that was held within her grip, the blunt edges of the utensil cutting into the skin of her palm.

“You girls mindin’ yer own business?”

The man finally spoke, his warm breath radiating down to the top of her scalp. She wrinkled her nose in disgust as he leaned forward on the table, his hand planted upon the surface. Artemis’ grey eyes moved slowly, looking at the veins that popped off his dark skin. The flesh on the back of his hand moved as he flexed his fingers flat on the table, pushing his entire weight into his palms as he leaned forward.

There was commotion in the background, sounds that signaled struggles and a gunshot that brought the populace of the diner to quiet down their cries and shouts into a hushed state of fear. Artemis did not dare move her eyes off the man’s hand or even allow her head to move ever so slightly.

“Hey sis…”

Artemis began, catching the man’s attention as her raspy voice filled the silence.

“I dropped my wallet; can you pick it up for me?”

First of all, Lian wasn’t really her sister but due to their similar appearances she was sure that would be an easy lie to fall for. Secondly, she hadn’t dropped her wallet but Artemis was hoping that Lian was smart enough to put two and two together and that this was merely her way of saying ’get down and stay down’. The last thing she needed was a big scene occurring and the authorities showing up to not only apprehend these wannabe criminals, but also the kidnapper – Artemis Crock.

As Lian lowered her head, the man’s eyes followed her – exactly what Artemis wanted. His attention displaced, she expertly twirled the fork in her hand and with as much force as she was capable of, brought the ends of the fork slamming down into the back of the man’s hand. It pierced through with some struggle, the massive flesh of his hand holding up a good fight as the fork made it half way through his hand. Artemis grit her teeth and ignore the howl of pain he emitted as she pressed the fork down even harder, feeling it hit the surface of the table.

His body trembled and he began to lower his head in pain as he tried to take a hold of his fork with his free hand.

“Y- you… bi-“

His voice quavered, but he was unable to finish his statement as Artemis grabbed the back of his head and with necessary force, slamming it onto the surface of the table. She heard the crunch of his broken nose and watched blood gush out from underneath his head. A smile of satisfaction crawled onto her face but it lingered only for a moment as she acknowledged the shouts of the men as they called out to their accomplice.

“Stay here.”

Was all she said as she produced her collapsible bow from her messenger back and pushed body out of the booth. The man’s partners in crime had turned their attention to the back, their eyes laden with confusion and frustration as they saw their friend double over and the raven haired woman walking forward rather defiantly. In her right hand she held out her contracted bow, her eyes flaring with anger as she stared each man straight in the eye.

“Hey.. hey!”

One man said as he slowly raised his weapon.

“Don’t do anything stupid!”

Another said, his eyes looking livid as Artemis flicked her arm and her bow flexed into its full length. The wheels at the end of each respective limb twirled as the cable expanded to its full length and were held taunt at its maximum length. She ignored their raised weapons, taking out an arrow from her bag and placing it into its nub and onto the arrow rest. Her eyes challenged their own as she flexed her three fingers, raised the bow, and slowly with little effort pulled the cable back and took aim.

The pair looked rather taken aback as they stared at Artemis, her bow held in ready position and the tip of her arrow staring straight at them. She shifted uncomfortably in the silence, looked at one another and then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Seriously? What the hell?”

One man said, slapping his friend on the back as she chuckled amongst one another. The crowd within the diner seemed to cast the look of optimism from their eyes as they saw that Artemis’ heroic attempt was damn useless in the face of these crooks.

“Who- What are you supposed to be? Robin-a Hood… what are you gonna do? steal from the rich, give to the poor?!”

They laughed at their poor joke and continued to slap each other on the back as if they were having a gay ole’ time. Artemis’ lip twitched slightly, but she did not allow her expression to falter as her grey eyes stared the pair of men. They continued their boisterous behavior, wiping tears from their eyes and staring at Artemis, allowing her the privilege of a response.

They shouldn’t have given her that much.

“Artemis.” She said rather flatly as her arm trembled slightly “and I’m on a hunt.”

As the last syllable escaped her lips she released her fingers on the string and watched as her bow fly forward and ripple in the air slightly. As that occurred, she unsheathed another arrow and loaded it into the bow. When the first arrow struck the man in the shoulder, she was already releasing she second arrow, aiming straight for the second man’s collar bone. The pair cried out in pain as the arrows hit, but even then that was not the end of their torture.

As a final touch, Artemis had loaded another arrow and shot it at the light fixture that was fixated above the men. With a quick excise through the frail wire that kept it suspended, Artemis was able to cut the fixture loose and watched as the twenty pound light source descended upon the men and crashed upon their heads.

Knowing that were more than taken care of, Artemis turned on her heel and looked to the area where Lian should have been. She paused, realizing the young raven haired girl was no longer there and a chord of worry was struck in her chest.

Tag: Red Arrow