What's on TV? Justice! [Fifi]

[Estelle Flores]

It wasn't as though the only things Estelle ever watched was Star Trek and Lord of the Rings. She had other interests and shows and movies to watch whenever she wanted!

Sometimes she watched the Justice League cartoon.

Which somehow always seemed to be able to clear everyone out of the student lounge, but she didn't have it on her computer, and it was so hard to find online, so whenever it came on Cartoon Network, she would dibs the TV. Usually, she would feel guilty. Nowadays, she was too busy thinking about school, and probably maybe Henry, just a little bit.

Sighing slightly, she turned her attention to the cartoon. It was the episode where Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman turned into children. Awesome.

When she heard someone walk into the room, she called behind her, "Hi, hope the TV doesn't bother you!"

[Fifi Hart]

Fiona didn’t do a whole hell of a lot of socializing in the student lounge, but it was the holiday season and many students were still out and about with family or spending as much time as possible with them. Fifi vaguely envied them, but not as much anymore.

She wandered into the lounge in a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, her painted toes bare on the carpet. She’d planned to just grab a candy bar out of the machines and head back to her room, but she couldn’t help but notice a cartoon on the TV. Shortly after she was addressed by the tiny girl on the couch.

Fifi peeked at her, her face scrwed up in confusion. “What the hell are you watching?” Fifi asked, tilting her head curiously. “Is…that Wonderwoman?”

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle jumped in surprise at the question. She peeked over the pillow she had snuggled up against and gave the girl a bashful grin, “Yeah. Baby Wonder Woman! I’m watching Justice League. It’s the episode where they all get turned into babies.” She gave the taller girl a shy smile, “You’re welcome to join.”

She scoot over to allow the girl to sit down next to her, should she so choose. Estelle brushed her hair out of her face, “By yourself for the holidays too?” She hoped the girl wouldn’t think the question as rude or prying. She just wanted to show some solidarity.

“I’m Estelle Flores, by the way,” She held out a little hand for the tall girl to shake, “Nice to meet you.”

[Fifi Hart]

Fifi tilted her head to the other side, as if viewing the TV sideways would somehow make it easier to understand. “Justice League? Like Superman and the gang?” Fifi lowered herself suspiciously down onto the couch next to the small girl, her own eyes glued to the TV. This was fascinating.

Sheepishly, Fifi shrugged one shoulder. “Pretty much. But it’s cool. I like it here.” She grinned impishly and shook Estelle’s hand. “Fiona Hart. Call me Fifi, Estelle.” She introduced. She quickly drew her hand back to smack it over her mouth, muffling a squeal.

“oh. MY GOD.” She gasped, squealing with delight as she pointed at the TV. “What is that thing?!” She gasped, her toes curling in glee. “It’s so fucking cute!”

[Estelle Flores]

“Yup, yup,” Estelle nodded with a grin as her new companion slid down onto the couch next to her. Estelle tucked her knees under her chin and watched the cartoonish figures run across the screen, hilarious only because they were tiny, children versions of usually intimidating superheroes. It sorta seemed to fit the theme of Hammel. Although using your powers to fight crime seemed like a really bad idea.

Estelle nodded back, “Same here. On both counts, actually.” Estelle certainly was happier at Hammel than she was at home; a fact she only occasionally felt guilty about. “Nice to meet you, Fifi.” She grinned broadly.

She was going to ask something else when Fifi squealed, pointing at the screen. Estelle’s grin all but split her face in half. “That’s baby Etrigan!” she explained, “He’s, like, sometimes a demon and sometimes a dude and it’s sorta confusing but doesn’t he make the cutest baby?” Estelle’s voice was as high and squealing as Fifi’s because baby Etrigan was really, really cute.

[Fifi Hart]

Fifi’s momentary squealing paused as Estelle tried to explain what Etrigan was. She wrinkled her nose. “Fucking…cartoon is confusing!” She grunted, before returning to her previous delight. “Whatever! He does make the cutest baby.” Giggling and leaning so that she bumped slightly into Estelle, Fifi sprawled her long legs out in front of her.

“Well. At least now I’m entertained, and I have some company.” She waited for a commercial before she sprang to life, crossing her legs on the couch and turning to face Estelle. “Okaysorealquick. Tell me what’s going on so I can at least pretend to understand this cartoon.”

[Estelle Flores]

Estelle laughed, “Can you believe that it’s supposed to be made for kids?” She shook her head, “Crazy. I gotta say though, I know far more people our age who like this cartoon than little kids.” She shrugged and let that speak for itself, “Maybe it’s like My Little Pony,” She hypothesized idly, “Everyone likes it nowadays. I’ve not gotten around to seeing it yet.”

“Okayokayokay,” Estelle wiggled in excitement, “Superfast. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern are fighting crime or something and then Morgaine le Fay, in a total bastardization of the original mythos of both the Arthurian legends and the Justice League comics canon, turns them all into eight year olds after her son, Mordred, kidnaps all the adults in the universe and stuffs them into another dimension or something.”

She paused, “Although, now that I think about it, I think there was an issue of JLA that had something like this, but whatever! The point is, it’s totally ridiculous.” She beamed at her newfound friend, caught up in comics-excitement.

[Fifi Hart]

“My Little Pony actually is made for kids. I bet this is actually targeted to teens…” Fifi scratched her chin thoughtfully. “Probably not to girls. But they have Bronies…so whatever. You can do what you want.” She huffed, waving her hand dismissively.

Fifi nodded quickly as Estelle blazed through a re-cap, screwing up her face in complete confusion. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” She exclaimed. The commercial break ended and she fondly smacked Estelle’s knee. “OH! It’s back on!” She exclaimed excitedly. Stupid perhaps, but quite addicting all the same.

“Maybe I’ll start reading comic books…” Fifi murmured under her breath, resting her chin on her hand. “Are they all ridiculous like that?”

[Estelle Flores]

“Bronies??” Estelle shrieked, her voice full of incredulity and glee, “Oh my god, is that a thing? Is that really a thing that happens?” She tilted her head back and laughed loudly, “That’s the best thing I’ve heard ever.”

“Isn’t it just?” Estelle agreed, laughing, “The best way to handle it is to not think about it too much. Just accept the absurdity.” She wiggled in her seat when the commercials ended, “Oh yay! I think you came in on the good parts, too. Wonder Woman is way more hilarious as an eight year old girl.” Estelle had Feelings about Wonder Woman as a symbol of femininity and power. Namely that she was sort of a jerk, and Estelle wouldn’t want to be like her at all.

Estelle nodded at Fifi’s question. “Yeps,” She replied, “Super ridiculous. Especially if you read the stuff that happened in the Nineties. I don’t read much Marvel, so I can’t help you there, but comics across the board are pretty ridonkulous.”

[Fifi Hart]

Fifi giggled just to hear Estelle laughed so loud. Clearly she had no problems with someone hearing her. If anyone was around, that probably would have been the case. Rolling her eyes a bit, Fifi nodded. “Totally is. Just a buncha guys that…happen to like My Little Pony. Sorta weird if you ask me, but they don’t seem freaky or anything.” Fifi shrugged.

Listening to Estelle rattle off about the absurdity of comics was enough to keep Fifi’s smile on her face. “Geeze. Clearly I have the wrong hobbies.” Fifi murmured. Sometimes all someone needed was a smile, and if comics were that stupid it would probably work.