[Almost immediately when M'gann suggests Artemis's subconscious is matching her memories from Bialya the colors change subtly, becoming greener. Darker. And somehow indefinably pointy. Images and memories flicker, almost too quickly to catch, as Artemis's mind tries to settle on what she needs.
Of course, all she can think of right now are things she's not supposed to remember. Things she doesn't want to remember. Sportsmaster's voice calling her "baby girl," Cheshire's mocking laugh and grinning mask, her mom in an orange jumpsuit when they wheeled her away--
No. Not now. She doesn't need to hide any more but not now.
The team, gathered around the computer screens with her family's mugshots on display. Wally's weight against shoulder. In her memory, M'gann steps forward--]
Stop!
[She's shouting at herself and it works. The memory flickers out.
She's tempted to tell M'gann that they're done. This was what she'd been afraid of in Bialya. Let someone in and suddenly secrets are leaking out all over the place. For all her secrets, Artemis can barely tell a decent lie in real life, much less in her own head.
But she needs to remember.]
Okay. Okay, I can do this.
[Despite her words, she looks to M'gann, seeking reassurance.]
action
Of course, all she can think of right now are things she's not supposed to remember. Things she doesn't want to remember. Sportsmaster's voice calling her "baby girl," Cheshire's mocking laugh and grinning mask, her mom in an orange jumpsuit when they wheeled her away--
No. Not now. She doesn't need to hide any more but not now.
The team, gathered around the computer screens with her family's mugshots on display. Wally's weight against shoulder. In her memory, M'gann steps forward--]
Stop!
[She's shouting at herself and it works. The memory flickers out.
She's tempted to tell M'gann that they're done. This was what she'd been afraid of in Bialya. Let someone in and suddenly secrets are leaking out all over the place. For all her secrets, Artemis can barely tell a decent lie in real life, much less in her own head.
But she needs to remember.]
Okay. Okay, I can do this.
[Despite her words, she looks to M'gann, seeking reassurance.]