#*brave maeve's in-queue-sive kingdom

[queensupe]

“      don’t   you   ever   get   sick   of   this   shit?      ”         @vetrovcalamity​​   is   here   again,   their   MANO   Y   MANO   as   much   part   of   the   script   by   now   as   her   pageant-style   hand-waving   into   the   crowds      &      the   bleach   of   her   smile   staining   its   way   up   to   tightly   bound   cheeks.      “      i   mean,   what?      am   i   just   supposed   to   keep   kicking   your   ass   from   here   to   next   week   for   the   rest   of   both   of   our   fucking   lives?      ”         STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“      i’d   say   i’m   surprised   we   haven’t   crossed   paths   in   a   while,      ”      maeve   starts   with   a   leading   lean   of   vermouth   dryness   already   clipping   into   her   tone.      rainbow   flags   wave   from   behind   a   poster   branded   with   a   happy   hashtag   of   #BRAVEMAEVE      &      she   waves   to   the   crowd,   putting   on   a   temporary   glimmer   of   wholesome   hospitality   before   turning   back   to   @lettherebemonsters​​   with   a   flat   shear   of   her   teeth.      she   looks   him   up,   then   back   out   at   the   mishmash   of   attendance.      “      but   i   think   we’re   catering   to   slightly      different   demographics.      ”         //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

@arxchnoverture​​  |  lyric  starter  call  |  small poppies  -  courtney  barnett 

“    at  the  end  of  the  day,  it’s  a  pain  that  i  keep  seeing  your  NAME.    ”    it’s  a  battle  of  glossy  centerfolds    &    bylines.    she    &    countess  vie  for  the  top  rating  slots  on  the  major  news  networks,  going  head  to  head.    but  maeve  keeps  the  surface  tepid    (    because  cool  implies  too  much  caring    ).    she  studies  the  back-bridge  of  her  nails,  thumbing  at  a  chip  in  the  polish.    “    -----    but  i’m  sure  it’s  a  bore  being  you.    ”  

[queensupe]

“      i   suppose   no   one   can   run   that   fast.   ”         time   ticks   perilously   down      ;      each   SECOND  means   more   than   it   can   hold   within   its   clicking   hand   on   the   clock.      maeve’s   sense   of   duty   is   making   a   slow   resurgence,   clumsy   in   its   awakening.      determination   hones   itself   into   the   hard   harbor   of   her   jaw   as   she   looks   off   past   @whiitenoize​​.      all   her   fast-twitch   muscles   TWANG   in   preparation.   “      but   we   can   fucking   try.      ”      //      STARTER   CALL.

[queensupe]

“      when   i   realized   ...   the   DAMAGE   WAS   DONE.      ”   she’s   sunk   into   the   part   of   the   bottle      &      the   night   that   has   her   guilt   palpably   slick   on   the   coat   of   her   tongue,   the   time   where   she’s   confessing   her   sins   without   any   expectation   of   absolution      (      because   that’s   the   thing   about   @dicbolical​​      ;      they’re   both   busted      &      battered      &      BLINDED   by   the   things   that   ruined   them      ).         “      i   just   said   fuck   it.      i’ve   got   nothing   left   to   lose      &      i’ve   had   this   coming   for   a   long   time.      ”      //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“      why   the   LONG   FACE,   @51163​​?      ”      

she   sits   back   off   the   scene.      cop   cars   clog   up   the   alleyway   now,   stacked   corner   to   corner   in   a   sea   of   blue-red   lights   swirling   with   a   characteristic   chirping   siren   interrupting   the   din   here      &      there.      a   camera   crew   sets   up   on   the   opposing   sidewalk   with   a   makeup   chair   set   beside   it.      she   watches   a   gaffer   grapple   with   a   boom   mic   while   the   officers   mill   to   finish   their   stock   of   the   carnage.         

maeve’s   shoulders   lean   the   brick,   arms   lazed   across   her   chest.      she’s   in   full   regalia,   hair   already   curled,   lipstick   re-applied   for   her   interview.      a   framing   hand   shapes   homelander,   who’s   out   with   his   cape   a   CRIMSON   SWOOSH   interspersed   with   the   uniforms   grinning      &      clapping   shoulders.         “      we   caught   the   bad   guy,   didn’t   we?      a   real   happy   ending   for   everyone.      ”         //      STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“      listen,   @ardentsolis​​.      ”      she   hikes   her   hands   to   her   hips,   all   hardship         &         forbearance.         “      let’s   have   a   LITTLE   CHAT   about   this   team-up.      ”      //   STARTER  CALL.         

[queensupe]

“    the  damage  was  all  mine.    ”

@whistlewidow​​      //    summer  never  ended  the  damage  was  all  mine    -    ionnalee    

[queensupe]

“      keep   your   fucking   voice   down.      ”         she   is   unyielding      &      BLINDINGLY   FAST   when   she   whips   around   to   look   at   @raciingheart​​.      the   wild-eyed   look   flaring   out   around   her   lashes   matches   a   caged   animal   that   knows   the   end   is   coming   baited   on   a   string.      HOMELANDER   KNOWS      ;      he’s   caught   on   to   the   game   because   her   cards      (      that   godforsaken   video   deep   dredged   up   from   the   bottom   of   its   brined,   black-box   sarcophagus      )      are   all   out   on   the   table   because   that’s   the   level   of   leverage   they   need.      

she’s   been   him   before,   A-TRAIN.      

he’s   starting   to   get   it:      the   glory,   the   money,   the   fans   ...      it’s   all   so   fleetingly   temporary      &      just   like   her,   he’s   starting   to   realize   that   giving   up   EVERYTHING   for   it   just   means   that   there’s   nothing   left   to   fight   for      (      nothing   else   to   live   for      ).      &      yet,   the   nihilistic   notion   is   too   fresh   out   of   the   barrel   that   it’s   stringent,   a   white-lightning   sentiment   that   has   no   backbone   but   will   leave   him   cotton-tongued      &      dull-mouthed   in   the   morning   with   no   way   to   escape   the   consequence.      it   might   take   down   more   than   just   him.      

so,   she’s   at   his   side   in   a   split   second,   the   cold   shock   of   her   lips   pressed   thin   sterning.      “      SHUT   THE   FUCK   UP.      ”      she   doesn’t   point,   but   the   lock-jawed   trip   wire   of   her   expression   should   tell   him   enough.      slowly,   maeve   tilts   her   temple   enough   that   just   the   barest   nudge   of   her   chin   points   toward   the   staring,   red-eyed   little   spies   situated   in   each   corner   of   the   room.      she   does   it   so   that   he'll   get   the   implication   of   that,   too.      “      because   this   is   a   TEAM.      &      while   you   might   be   a   little   hot-headed   right   now,   i’m   sure   you   don’t   mean   a   goddamn   word   that   you’re   saying.      ”   

a   desperation   flares   the   edge   of   her   smile   that   is   so   thin   that   not   a   hint   of   honest   humor   takes   root   in   it.            

doesn’t   he   get   how   DANGEROUS   this   is?      

it’s   not   the   time   or   place   for   open-airing   of   grievances.      so,   instead,   she   gives   him   a   placating,   doleful   pat   on   the   shoulder   padding   like   she’s   consoling   a   friend   who   has,   indeed,   had   too   much   to   drink.      “      sure,   SLEEP   IT   OFF,      ”      comes   a   cluttered   laugh   riddled   with   holes   where   the   mirth   should   be.         “         &      maybe   if   you’re   still   feeling   that   way   in   the   morning,      ”      maeve   adds,   the   downward   hitch   of   her   nose   intentional.      “      -----      you      &      i   should   have   a   little   chat.      ”      //   FROM   HERE.   

[queensupe]

“      what   is   it   with   all   you   FLY-BOYS      &      the   primary   color   cape   bit,   @pagetorn​​?      ”      she   asks,   knuckles   balanced   on   the   hoist   of   her   utility   belt   where   it   lashes   around   her   waist.      she   kips   a   brow   toward   him      &      his   perfect   chin,   his   carved   jawline,   &      eyes   the   ENVY   of   the   sky.      she   waves   an   index   finger   at   the   assortment   of   features   that   like   have   ho.melander   in   lockjaw.         

“         -----         aren’t   you   worried   about   that   thing   getting   caught   in   jet   engines?   ”         it’s   a   sly   tease,   that   comes   with   a   sharp,   flinching   wink.      “      but   i   bet   your   PR   team’s   figured   all   of   that   bullshit   out   on   your   behalf.      ”      //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“         hey,   @starlighttm​​?   ”      is   quiet,   treading   toward   cautious   in   a   tone   unsullied   by   her   typical   snarking   rhetoric.      “      ------      i’m   really   glad   you’re   here.      ”      //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“      alright,   we’d   better   get   our   shit   straight.      if   we   fuck   this   up,   this   might   be   my   LAST   NIGHT,      ”      the   golden   gauntlets’   weight   is   familiar      ;      this   is   suiting   up   for   the   big   moment   to   come      &      she   shucks   them   up   past   her   wrists.         @scldierbcy​​      is   still   in   costume,   shield   shined      &      armor   pristine   as   a   press   event   could   call   for.         “      if   that’s   how   it   goes,   everything’s   going   to   come   crashing   in.      ”         &      nothing   will   be   able   to   stop   it.   

“         ——–         tell   me   you      &      butcher   came   up   with   SOME   kind   of   contingency   plan   that   involves   more   than   getting   shitfaced      on   bennies.      ”      maeve   looks   him   up      &      down,   the   temptation   of   numbing   her   fried   nerves   catching   the   tip   of   her   tongue   into   the   rafters   of   her   palate.      “         as   much   as   i’d   like   to   join   you,   we   have   to   bring   this   motherfucker   down.      ”   //  STARTER   CALL.  

[queensupe]

“      as   much   as   i   literally   could   not   GIVE   A   SHIT   to   admit   this   right   now,   if   i   have   to   spend   even   one   more   second   listening   to   you   mope   about   it,   i’m   going   to   end   up   drilling   my   finger   through   my   ear   drum.      ”   

“      this   is   not   your   fault,   @spynorth​​.      so   stop   fucking   acting   like   it   is.   ”      //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

“      oh,   come   on,   @magizian​​.      ”      goading      &      grinning   is   top   on   the   list   of   ways   she   expends   her   boredom      &      today   is   no   different.      “      TEN   MINUTES      won’t   kill   you.      ”      //   STARTER   CALL.   

[queensupe]

@developedniche​  |  lyric  starter  call  |  pedestrian at best  -  courtney  barnett

“    what  are  we  gonna  do  when  everything  all  falls  through?    ”  

[queensupe]

@btcher​  |  lyric   starter   call  |  thursday   -   asobi seksu 

“    now  that  we’ve  lost  our  way  ...    the  rest  can  all  fall  apart.    ”