𝐹𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒜 𝒢𝒾𝓇𝓁

The smile that remained painted across her features was unavoidable, the mere presence of this woman and her emotions filling Perenna to the brim. Folding her hands at the small of her back, she listened intently as the curator spoke. “I’m sure it’s hard to determine the true nature of how everything happened, seeing as so much history was shared through stories. What I wouldn’t give to pick the brain of someone who lived in an era so different from our own modern society,” she peeled her eyes from the woman to take in the exhibit once more, pacing a few steps to observe a different angle. Exciting was certainly a word for it, but she was almost certain it was far less exciting than their city full of superheroes fighting crime.

“Is that so?” Perenna countered, brows raised. “It’s not often you see someone so young devoted to such ancient history.” Unexpectedly, a thought that wasn’t her own danced across her mind. It was simple, but deep, innocent, yet provoking. A small child, probably in their first few years of school had strayed from their school group, and Perenna could hear their thoughts as if they were speaking just a few feet away. Her eyes grew vacant as she forced the intrusive and unwelcome thoughts of others from her mind as she reinforced the protective walls around herself, backing out of her mind palace before locking the door behind her. She was still weak from her encounter with Anya, and it was beginning to seep into her daily life.

Bringing herself back to reality, she took a breath before blinking and moving her eyes slowly to meet Diana’s once more. “What? Sorry, I totally zoned,” she lied, fanning her hand as if brushing the instance away. “As I’m sure you’re aware, malleable, young minds seem to steer clear of exhibits such as this, opting for more exciting and hands-on experiences. Psychologically speaking, it makes sense for the way their brains function. Attention span is fairly low, until teenage years,” Perenna spoke quickly, her brain defaulting to the thing she knew best: psychology. “So while it makes sense developmentally, it’s clear to me they are missing out on some gorgeous pieces,” she added, smiling back at Diana. “I would love nothing more. I’m Perenna,” offering her hand, she once again was overwhelmed by a sense of safety and protection, and the knot in her gut loosened enough for her to loosen up a bit. “I’m prone to getting lost, so it’s like you’ve read my mind.”

What I wouldn’t give to pick the brain of someone who lived in an era so different from our own modern society...

Now she really had to resist the urge to chuckle out loud. Suppose she felt the sudden irrational urge to reveal that she was the ancestor of half the marble sculpted deities in the room, that might have really baked her noodle. “Yes, if only such a thing were possible. I imagine it would be very...enlightening,” Diana remarked instead, tucking a secret smile away. Watching her digest the artwork made her wish she could somehow peer into her thoughts, simply to enjoy the sensation of viewing it through different eyes. Another point of view, another interpretation. Another perspective, another interpretation. Diana’s attention strayed briefly as she heard the distinct sound of children in the far distance. From several corridors down she caught the glimpse of tiny humans in maroon school jackets and clasped hands skipping through the exhibits. Likely on their way to some of the more kid interactive installations downstairs.

Diana lifted a shoulder at the mention of her young appearance. “Well, it's considerably more intriguing to me than most subjects. Underrated, even” she replied nonchalantly. “But then again, I’m bias”. Diana found the woman’s sudden lapse into detailed psychological jargon and analysis charming. She watched her briefly ramble about it with wordless amusement, one dark eyebrow lifted. With a laugh, she tucked a wispy strand of hair behind her head. Intelligent and beautiful “Not the direction I expected you to go, but sound logic” she agreed.

𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓣𝓸 𝓓𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪'𝓼 𝓣𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮

♦♦♦

𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐒 laughing because of her reaction. ❛ I know, but I’m laughing at your reaction. Your face yer shoulda see it. ❜ Once more she wasn’t lying, but telling the truth. ❛ Pfft… I didn’t murder anyone… I mean the kill part is normally more of Joker part. ❜ She was obviously referring to killing people in the moment. In fact, she hasn’t killed at anyone on that moment, but in her life, yes, she had murdered people. ❛ I’m better than this. ❜ She shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. She began to wiggling a bit because her arms was starting to get dormant.

❛ I’m not going anywhere tho. ❜ She was watching in delight the way she used the shield to get the goons. Quinn wasn’t really into any artifact of that museum. She even considered in take a shiny thing for a certain roommate but her said roommate is picky, so she let it go. The jester stood up, and getting bored at the situation. Oh, yeah, Quinn at times could be easily bored. Harley wasn’t sure if the all the talking was to her of the lackeys about the cops. One thing she is sure, at the least Diana for the first time gave her attention for at the least 1 minute or so, with her interrogatory, this was her highlight of the day. The only thing she was craving at the moment is to get a huge unicorn ice cream.

Those who had been knocked to the ground by her reliable shield cowered as Wonder Woman stared intently down at them, all the intensity of righteous justice in her hardened gaze. Fortunately, they were wise enough not to confront her or -- or flee for that matter. Their colleague, on the other hand, was not as bright. He appeared from around a granite pillar, where he'd remained hidden during the capture of both Harley and his fellow goons. 

A bat held loosely in hands, quivering in hesitation, he slowly stepped up behind the Amazon and willed his features into determination. He only need to distract her long enough to get away, that was all. Harley may have devised the haphazard plot in the hopes of attracting the attention of her favorite superhero, but he wasn't about to leave empty-handed. And he sure as shit wasn't going to wait around for the police to haul him away. Fuck that.

Too afraid to full out swing it, he opted to smack the butt of the bat against the back of her skull. Diana jerked slightly in surprise, head whipping around to find the source of the attack. As soon as Diana's turned to face him all his bravado drained, leaving his face pale. Diana's eyes followed the bat as it slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground before returning to his face. "Hey, hey, okay I didn't mean to-" Diana didn't let him finish his excuse, drawing her fist back and hurling it forward. Not her full strength by any means but strong enough to hurl him several feet back.

🌊🌊🌊

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀 think of the first day she met Ada, where she was disturbed with new ‘world’ that to her was BARBARIC. In Atlantis people don’t see 'humans’ in a good way, they’re mostly portrayed as barbaric, horrid and super evil. She put her Atlantean device on the pocket of her jacket. ❛ Okay… ❜ She refers to one day thanking her roommate. ❛ Good to know. ❜ It always good to know about people she could rely with. Re-adapt to the things all over again, in the 'land’ was a bit stressful to Mera. She remembering having a really hard time on the land, before she stay for longer. Arthur was 'tutoring’ her but he was teaching her all the wrong things purposely but that time in land, they had duty to do, so she couldn’t explore much the 'land’.

❛ He’s stubborn. You think it is funny, because it wasn’t you who had your life risked in something written in children’s book. ❜ It’s not like she hate, hate him. It’d hurt her pride to admit she likes him, as much as he gives her more headache than anything else in this world. ❛ Anyway, let’s not talk about that big dumb fish. ❜ She shook her head, and sighs deeply, walking by her side holding her shining trident by the moonlight. ❛ I don’t want to think of Atlantis. I want disappear and eat pink clouds. ❜ Mera was referring to cotton-candy. The still have issues the memorize name to the things. ❛ I wish we have pink clouds in Atlantis. But all we have is raw seafood and fish. ❜ The food from the 'landlubbers’ are way better on her opinion.

Diana merely shook her head in muted amusement at Y’Mera’s resistance to admitting Arthur was, at his core, quite a reliable teammmate. But she was right, she and the Commander hadn’t had the same first experiences. Regardless of his sometimes reckless behavior, they’d saved the world together. That was the type of bond that didn’t break. “Alright, as you wish, no more talk of the ‘big dumb fish’” she stifled a snicker at the use of such a childish nickname. Yet, reminded herself to reveal it the next time Arthur vexed her. 

There were rarely moments for silence in the life of a telepath, and while meditation was usually a place of solace for the woman, now it was fractured and broken thanks to the Russian assassin barging in unannounced. Perenna took several personal days following that intrusion, trying to rebuild her sacred mind palace as she attempted to work through the mild trauma she endured.

 Where better to experience silence than a museum? Stepping foot into the building, there was a blanket of relief that washed over her as she felt the emotions of the other museum patrons. Peace, awe, and inspiration wrapped around her warmly as she bypassed others moving about. Each step immersed her deeper into her contemplative meditation, viewing each piece silently as she moved toward an exhibit that seemed to be looked over by most.

Another individual joined her, adoration rolling off their person as they observed the pieces. The voice gently pulled Perenna from her mental rebuild, bringing her back to the present moment. “Lovely doesn’t begin to give voice to the feelings this exhibit elicits,” she replied quietly, eyes moving to meet the other woman’s. Walls were still up around her heart and mind, but there was a sense of protection and ease that rolled off this woman, allowing Perenna to relax more than she had in many days. “I’m grateful for the lack of foot traffic, but I’ve been intrigued by this exhibit from the first moment I saw it. Sure, the other exhibits are interesting, but there’s a feeling of mystery that surrounds this one. Keeps me coming back for more.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got to say…you can interrupt anytime.” Perenna smiled softly. “That was honestly the gentlest interruption. Refreshing, really. You know quite a lot, are you a curator, or just an avid art enthusiast?”

Diana was pleasantly delighted this woman shared her admiration for the piece, a little grin softening her lips as she realized her rash ramble hadn't discouraged her from continuing to appreciate the exhibit. She took a moment to examine the woman beside her, and was admittedly struck. An attractive assembly of striking features; from the warm chocolate skin to the charming curls and, lastly, the appealing slant of her eyes. And her smile, the way her cheekbones rounded and dipped into dimples, it disarmed her momentarily. Though she never took much interest in things like that prior she couldn’t help but acknowledge this fact.

But she was quick to recover before revealing any visible sign she was affected. Instead, turning back towards the piece and hiding the light dusting of pink brightening her face behind another smile. "Well, I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear that someone shares my sentiments," perhaps encountering this woman was exactly the last bit of motivation she needed to revive the exhibit. "It is incredibly intriguing, especially since that particular time in history is interpreted and retold in so many variants. The era of gods, and warriors, and deities. Can you imagine? Very exciting"

♦♦♦

𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 herself but cackled at Diana’s words. She already told her what was her real intention. ❛ Ohhh, pluuhhhaaa.seee! Don’t talk like that! Makes me think of Batsy. ❜ She refers in regards to ‘what she should said for herself’. The jester was really excited to see Diana, after so long! She was genuinely her fan, since long time. Not all people knows this secret, except the poor reporter Lois Lane, in which the blonde always vexed her to get brand news information the whereabouts of Diana or even to collect her pictures. Her heart was thundering, and her grey-bluish hues glinted in happiness. If after this situation she goes to jail, that time it’s Wonder Woman putting her behind the bars not Batman or Brattywoman or any boring heroes.

Quinn was making an effort to stop cackling, at this rate she was laughing for being a little nervous around her, and butterflies running on her stomach and her cheeks flushing. ❛ So, do you think after dating Mr. J, I’m not using to pain?! Oh, come on, ya can beat the hell out of me. I don’t care, ya can throw me in the wall and call me of 'my lizard’, I just love you. You’re way prettier than the pictures. ❜ She was telling the truth.  ❛ Ya could hang me with this lassos’ and I’d show ya incredible things with gymnastics I can do. ❜ She made a funny way of raising her brows a bit playfully and flirty. ❛ I know yer would never look at me if I don’t cause a little ruckus. It worked. ❜ Diana was really interesting... A bit of short temper or so she thought. Maybe she has weakness of short-temper person. People that could potentially murder her in nick of time, just excited her the most. ❛ I think you’re fool for not liking me. Like the queen Taylor Swift would say… 'I could show you incredible things’.  ❜ A then she cracked her neck in both sides, and back to her attention to Diana again. ❛ I know this is madness or brilliance, but it’s remarkable how often those two traits coincide. ❜ She refers to the effort to make a petty crime in order to get Diana attention.

Well this was a first. 

Diana had tangled with her fair share of criminals who took pleasure in causing havoc just for the sake of public reaction and disarray. To her knowledge, she'd never come across an antagonist prepared to wreck havoc in the hopes of attracting the attention of a particular hero for reasons that were not sinister in nature. The flamboyantly clown was correct; with the lasso wound tight around her chemical stained biceps she was incapable of deceiving her. "This is not a laughing matter," Though if it hadn't been utterly improper given the circumstances, she may have chuckled at the absurdity of it. But in disbelief rather than amusement. For there was nothing humorous about unintentionally garnering the adoration of a renowned psychopath, especially if she was ready to seek her recognition. Instead, her brows drew together in disapproval. What an unusual turn of events. However, with someone as notoriously volatile as Harley Quinn involved, she shouldn't have expected things to go well.

"I ask that you take this a little more seriously, endangering the life of innocent people isn't the way to get anyone's att-" her lecture was cut short by Harley's outrageous bdsm declarations. Oh, Great Hera, the daft woman was propositioning her! "No, no. I don't intend to use any form of violence to-" she stopped herself from finishing her sentence, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Silence" she demanded, growing weary of the interaction. Her piercing gaze was drawn to the sound of raucous voices. She noticed a couple of Harley's lackeys attempting to flee out the side entrance with some of the museum's artifacts, while she was distracted. Dropping Harley, she unhooked the shield on her back and hurled it across the distance. The shield's blunt edge struck their feet, knocking them to the ground. "You" she pointed a finger at the jester. "Stay put"

🌊🌊🌊

𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 and hated Atlantis at the same time. ❛ It’s just all Atlanteans like to follow protocols and royalty stuffs. ❜ Atlantis for a certain thing they’re modern and for others, they were so archaic. ❛ My fiancé or well, former fiancé is Orm, the ocean master. He was in jail, escaped from it, and began a riot to take me down and others that aren’t in agreement with his stupid ideas. Vulko is my confidant, so he helped me… I couldn’t trust a lot of people because well, whoever helped me out would have a death sentence.❜ The princess didn’t want to bring any more death. There are matters more important than killing her own kinds. ❛ She is the first person I met here on this ocean of concretes and grey. ❜ The Atlantean looks around gesturing delicately the big buildings that exist not so far where they were.

An amused smirk appears on her rosy lips, when Diana assured her that won’t need her help with drowning. She was in a way trying to be ‘playful’ and ’serious’ at the same time. Mera felt the jacket being wrapped around her, not moving any second when the brunette put it on her. ❛ Thanks. ❜ It was a bit chilly anyway. At the mention of Arthur a big scowl appeared on her face. ❛ Oh, that big dumb fish. He is the reason why I got myself in so much trouble. I don’t trust him not even a bit. He’s such troglodyte. ❜ She sighs deeply while thinking of him. The princess didn’t regret for saving him, even though he was incredibly annoying. She wants the best for Atlantis and she knows he could bring the best for it, even when there is time he doesn’t believe in himself.

Diana could sympathize, to some extent, with the stark disparities between their homelands and this contemporary world of mortals they'd chosen. She'd never forget her first excursion from Themyscira, which she'd been convinced was a necessary departure from all she'd ever known. Acclimating to the world of man had not only been jarring but also overwhelming. Regardless of the sense of fulfillment and purpose she'd gained stepping into the destiny set for her, there were moments when she reflected on the time in her life when she wasn't Wonder Woman. When she was just Diana of Themyscira, when she was naive to anything else. She continued to listen to Y'Mera's recounts of the events the led her here, lips thinning in displeasure. "Well, then I hope to one day thank this Lady Ada for sheltering a good friend," she remarked. "And I can assure you that as long as I am able, you will always have another ally in me."

Sometimes, even Tamiel was glad to be old. Upsides of having amassed a small fortune in the past, meant that she had no need to work for a living. It did, unfortunately, mean that she generally had to stay out of the history books. Even though most of them are a load horsecrap. It was worth it, she decided, for days off like this.

Slipping her phone from her pocket, she frowned as she thumbed through pointless emails when, out of nowhere, someone knocked into her, hard enough to jar the device from her hand, the stranger nimbly plucking it from thin air. Who was this stranger with speed beyond that of a human and strength enough to knock an angel off-kilter?

Plastering a smile on to her face, she just shook her head, brushing off her apology. “It’s fine - nor was I.” Silently, the angel took in the stranger’s analysis of her, even if it were for only a moment. There was something strangely familiar about the young woman. Maybe I knew her ancestor. It was an odd occurrence but not unheard of. “As am I but, I will admit, I too find you rather familiar.”

A friendly smile kept Diana's features pleasant and welcoming, save from a slight tilt as she sifted through decades of recollection. A sense of urgency to make her appointment prompted her to dismiss the unexpected meeting and chalk the familiarity up to frantic stress. But she'd always been taught to follow her instincts, and she was positive she knew who this person was. Certainly not someone unimportant. Five thousand years of time and memories and Diana never met anyone who wasn't important in some regard before. 

She blinked out of her thoughts, realizing she'd been staring attentively in thought, and brushed aside her awkwardness with an airy chuckle. "I have one of those faces," she evaded gracefully. Far too adept at dismissing any suspicions about her identity. Diana held their phone out to them. "Well, I hope you reach your destination without any further mishaps. Take Care!" and again she immersed herself into the throng, though her thoughts lingered on their features.

The Man of Steel couldn’t help the smile that danced across his features, his head shaking at Diana’s gentle tirade. “The boys are currently napping, but the moment they are up, I’d be more than happy to introduce you,” he teased back, taking the gift back from her hand before wrapping her in a warm embrace.

“It’s so good to see you, Diana.” It felt like years had passed since their paths crossed, and even longer since they’ve been able to sit and have a proper conversation without needing to drop everything and swoop into action. “How have you been? Europe been treating you well?”

Diana made a point of exaggerating her disappointment at not being able to see the infants straight away, her lips curled in a false pout. But she understood the importance of babies getting enough rest, both for them and for their parents. "Alright, I suppose I can conjure a little patience," she retorted jokingly. "However, you'll need to keep me engaged." Besides, she was eager to catch up with one of her favorite heroic colleagues. Even though time seemed to pass in a nanosecond for her, she felt it had been much too long since she'd seen Clark's beaming contenance. That kind and inviting expression greeting her was an instant soother. 

She glanced around the loft before taking a seat across from Clark. This was a house that was full with love. Not that she hadn't curated her own home into a cozy escape, but it was clearly a habitat of solitude. Whereas Diana noted the subtle nuances of a family home. Aside from the baby items scattered about -- two coffee mugs in the sink, two pairs of slippers by the sofa, a newspaper divided into two stacks. Her heart twinged.

CLOSED

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” 

Diana was presumably one of the only ones who didn't travel around the museum via the staff corridors. She reasoned what was the point of their labor; acquiring, classifying, and frequently spending months restoring artifacts if they didn't go and appreciate them in all their magnificence on a from time to time? She glimpsed the curly-haired woman as she was wandering through one of the older installations. Marble grecian and roman statues on exquisite display. According to the museum director, this specific exhibit was being considered for replacement, but since she'd joined the team, she'd been working hard to persuade them that all it needed was some new pieces to restore appeal. Understandably, she favored the exhibit. It reminded her of home. "This particular piece dates back to about 260 A.D.," she explained, casually coming to stand beside her. "The central figure, the one seated on the panther, is the deity Dionysos. And these larger figures on either side represent the four seasons" cautious not to breach the cordon barrier, she pointed at each from a distance "Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall"