Ninteenth Unused Utility Belt | Video, backdated to after the breach ends (cw: fire damage)

[hellofist]

[The feed comes on to show Cass... well, she kind of looks like crap. But more than that, behind her her room, her real room on the Barge, seems to be confused about what it wants to be. In some places it's a replication of what Merlin's room looks like - there's his bed in one corner, a large wooden table with a red rose in a pot, for example.

Other parts are what the inside of a burned down building would look like. There's smoke damage, blackened walls, the remains of a dresser. The big computer is halfway melted and warped, the screen cracked and beyond repair. Looks like the Barge couldn't recreate what home is for Cass because she doesn't even know herself anymore.]

I'm back.

[There's not... that much to say after that, really. She's back, yay, no she doesn't want to talk about it.]

It was... about a week? I think. Learned... lots of things. About me, about... what I'm for. Why I... was made. It's funny, how you can... be so sure, who you are, but be... completely wrong.

Anyway. Back.


[Private to Merlin]
Are you... working? Or in room?


[Private to Dean, Chris, and Cassel, sent separately]
Have... to give you something. Can I come over?


[Private to Stephanie]
I understand, now. Why... I'm not Batgirl. Why you are. I didn't really, before. But... I'm glad you are.


[Private to Kon]
[After far too long passes with no answer to Steph, Kon gets a slightly panicked message from Cass.]

Where is Stephanie?


[Private to Dick Grayson and Tim Drake]
I know... that you won't see this. You can't. I just miss you. I shouldn't, but I wish... you were here.

Comments

Private.

[hellofist]

[For a very long moment, she just stares at him. Part of her had hoped she was wrong, but... she's lost Steph here too. Seeing her again as she died, it had left her feeling so hopelessly lonely and returning somewhere Steph was alive, happy, smiling and ready to welcome her back? It was keeping her going.

That's gone now. Her throat is dry when she swallows thickly and Kon is starting to blur around the edges, she's not sure why until the first sob wrenches out of her.

She's gone. She's gone forever and Cass didn't get to say goodbye.]

No.

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Watching Cass is breaking his heart, one piece at a time. What can he say to her to make any of this better? Can he even say anything to her?

Then sh begins to sob and he rushes over to her side, pulling her into his arms if she lets him.]

This isn't the end. You'll get to see her again. My deal will allow us to visit whoever.

Spam.

[hellofist]

[She doesn't at first, her hands go against his chest to hold him back. She doesn't want this, she wants Stephanie, if she's gone here it's like she was never alive again in the first place.

Her hands tighten in his shirt, clutching and holding on until she sags into him and cries against his chest.]

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Kon rests his hands on her arms, not pressing forward, but not pulling away either. when she crumples into his arms, he holds onto her tightly. He can feel tears begin to sting his eyes.

In his heart-of-hearts, he knows Steph going back home was for the best. Heck, he encouraged her to go home and get her life back there going. But that doesn't put an end to his pain. Earlier in the morning, he found himself pouring coffee for Steph, because he's been doing that every morning for over a year.

Draws in his breath, trying to steady himself. He wants to be strong for Cass, so badly. She's been through so much, it's not fair that she has to continue to endure more and more hardships.]

Spam.

[hellofist]

[It makes sense, now. Why Chris was so upset, why Cassel kept talking about Steph and how he hurt her. The impact her return had had on them had been more because Steph was gone and not coming back, she can see it.

It takes a long time for her to cry herself out, but by the time she has no energy to cry she still feels hopeless, alone, abandoned. Stephanie feels dead and if it weren't for everyone here who remembered her, Cass thinks that maybe she would let herself believe the Lazarus Pit had put those memories in her head.]

Spam.

[an_abomination]

[Continues to hold her because words are still failing him. He desperately wishes that Steph would have waited a little longer. All he can offer Cass is the wedding invitation, and he doesn't have the heart to give it to her. Something tells him it will only make her upset, instead of comfort.

After a couple of more minutes pass, he speaks up.]

You're not alone, Cass. You've got lots of people who love you on the Barge, including me.

Spam.

[hellofist]

[She feels empty, drained, but she knows that's right. She clings to that knowledge, and to him, a little tighter. He's all she has left of Stephanie now, letting him go is too hard.]

Knew... she wanted to go. That she... would go. But thought... would say goodbye. This way is wrong.