Fifth Unused Utility Belt | Video and Spam, backdated to late last night

[hellofist]

[It's late, it's been dark for hours and she's pretty sure everyone else is sleeping, but Cass can't. It's not really a new thing, since generally crime fighters are out all night anyway, but the events of the port haven't helped much.

She's in her room when she turns the feed on, dressed in her Batgirl costume except for the cowl and gloves. She feels more like herself, dressed this way.]

What are... tips, for sleeping? Or... to do, to make tired? Don't say reading.

Is anyone else... even up?



[He said she could visit when she wanted. She even told him it might be at night and he said it was okay. That's why Cass is at Merlin's door in the middle of the night, not knocking before she just goes right in. The door was unlocked, so maybe he remembered she said she'd visit. She doesn't look around before she closes the door behind her because she's not really sneaking, so getting caught isn't exactly on her mind.

It's dark inside, which is good. It means he's sleeping instead of staying up all night doing magic things, or whatever it is Merlins do in their spare time. She makes her way to his bed, then climbs onto it to sit beside him and poke him in the shoulder.]

Hi, Merlin.

Comments

[hellofist]

[Really, that makes more sense than it doesn't.]

What do you do? To... not be bored?

NEVER APOLOGIZE he is wonderful <3

[hellofist]

[Well, that's got Cass looking flustered and a little bit red.]

W-will try walk. Other ones, won't work. Or... be enough.

[The enough part is for the food. Honestly, just the food.]

Spam

[hellofist]

[She squeezes his hand back and gives him a smile that's strained, more for show than anything else. She'd been in the clinic to help out, to keep herself busy and during that time, she had been even less talkative than usual. She's sure he doesn't hold that against her, though.]

You're lucky... you missed so much. Should have found you, took nap too.

[hellofist]

Yes. Some progress, but still... don't know much.

[looksfine]

I have a variety of scheduled activities. Including monitoring patient statuses at the infirmary, continuing research in the library, and occasionally patrolling the hallways.

[hellofist]

Research? What kind?

[looksfine]

[Aya's face remains passive, her default expression. Whenever that happens, it is usually because her words are more difficult to say than logic would dictate.]

Things...I do not always understand. Expressions or phrases encountered that I may have previously not recognized.

Spam

[takeyouapart]

[Merlin gives a sad, weak smile.]

Everyone's lucky for that, I think. If I'd been awake, if the hotel had affected me...

[He trails off, shaking his head. He doubts he needs to say the rest - that he doesn't know the upper limit of his power, that he wouldn't be able to bear it if he turned on his friends with the strength he only ever wants to use to keep them safe.]

I'm sorry it hurt you, Cass.

[fuckingvisions]

[ He lookedat her a moment a bit shocked by the outburst before smiling a bit more easily and shrugging.]

Hey, no worries love, it ain't for everyone. You never be knowin' what one's doin' up there but Arkady is good people so I generally trust her.

Don't worry 'bout it, it takes a lot more then that to hurt me feelin's love. though if you be needin' someone to talk too, I'm always willin'.

Spam

[hellofist]

[She doesn't tell him that by the end of it, she was left hiding under a table like a coward, hands over her ears to try to block out the voices. He doesn't need to know and she doesn't want to admit it. And she doesn't tell him no, never, he'd never hurt anyone even if it was on accident. She doubts he'll believe her. Instead, she leans against him and nods to acknowledge his sympathy. It's easier to change the subject.]

Saw that... your inmate graduated. No party?

Spam

[takeyouapart]

[He laughs under his breath and pushes his free hand through his hair.]

I don't think I'd be able to organise a party that'd meet Reaver's standards.

[hellofist]

[Aya's lucky she can just look things up. Cass is stuck asking for explanations, which is fine when it's someone who knows her well that she's asking. Most of the time, it's awkward and only makes her feel more out of the loop.]

Oh... Learn anything... good, lately?

[hellofist]

Thanks.

[She sounds so relieved, because not everyone would just brush it off that easily. But she wants to change the subject, and quickly, before either of them have time to dwell on that.]

Why are... you still up?

Spam

[hellofist]

[That gets a bit of a smile from her.]

What will you do, now that he's... better?

[Is that even the right word? It doesn't exactly seem like it.]

[looksfine]

Yes.

I now have a better comprehension of how to interpret "metaphors"

[truth_is_cold]

[He's going to assume that's what she meant but the slip-up is going to get a quiet smile anyway.]

I hope you're successful. I think we could all use some relaxation.

[fuckingvisions]

Because I sleep like a vampire love, I go to sleep between three or four in the mornin' and get up some time 'round noon. I work at the bar so I work later at night.

Anything aside o' insomnia keepin' you up?

Spam

[takeyouapart]

[His shoulders droop a little.]

...I don't know. I mean - I can't leave Arthur by himself, he can barely dress himself without me.

[And for better or for worse, he doesn't want to leave Morgana either. But he didn't have a concrete reason to be here in the first place, and now more than ever it feels like his largest reason to stay is to hide from his destiny.]

[hellofist]

What's a metaphors?

[Oops, that's probably supposed to be singular, isn't it?]

[looksfine]

It is a literary figure of speech that describes a subject through a comparative association with an otherwise unrelated object.

The means of comparisons are often unique to cultural individualities, which is why I did not understand Tim's initial reference. Now I do.

[hellofist]

Ah- yes. This place is... tiring.

[And never in any kind of a good way, for Cass at least.]

[hellofist]

[She taps the symbol on her chest.]

Super hero. We stay up late.

[Which is the truth, really. It's just not exactly the whole truth.]

Spam

[hellofist]

[When his shoulders drop like that, Cass transfers his hand into her other one and puts her arm around him, squeezes his shoulder gently in what she hopes is a comforting gesture.]

Have... little break, then help someone else? Don't have to go. [There's a pause and she's definitely not looking at him when she continues.] Don't... want you to go, for good.

[He doesn't want to leave, so she's allowed to be a little selfish about it too, right?]

[hellofist]

[She'll have to go back and rethink all of that in a minute. For now, the important part is what she's interested in.]

What'd Tim say?

[looksfine]

[Having a eidetic memory, Aya recites the entire speech precisely as Tim had spoken it.]

"I hate the snow. Just reminds me of the times Gotham almost froze over. Kind of reminds me of Gotham in general, I guess. There's all this pure, untouched snow - and then you walk, or drive through it, and it gets ruined, mixes with dirt, turns to slush and soaks through your clothes until all you can feel is cold."