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

SPAM

[hellofist]

[She just holds him for awhile, soaking up what it feels like to feel real love, not... whatever it was Shiva had for her. That wasn't love, it can't be. Cain has it when he looks at her, twisted and wrong, but Shiva abandoned her. There's nothing wrong about how Merlin loves her and right now she desperately needs this.

After a few long moments, she remembers something.]

Something... kind of good happened, I guess. Barbara did tests, on my brain. In normal brains, language is... in one place. Mine is everywhere, scattered around. So, hard to learn, but I can. Just have to... find right ways.

Re: SPAM

[takeyouapart]

Oh -

[Merlin doesn't entirely get neurology - he has a high school graduate's grasp of modern science and a fairly comprehensive understanding of the medical fundamentals - but he understands that parts of the brain are dedicated to different things and that sometimes when one part of the brain fails (or is used by something else in this case, he assumes), other parts take up the slack.]

That's wonderful, Cass. You know I'll help you, with anything you need.

SPAM

[hellofist]

You already are.

[So many things will be so different now, but the knowledge that this hasn't changed, that Merlin is a constant while everything else is up in the air and confused, it's comforting in a way nothing else ever has been before.

Barbara had asked her if there had been anyone there for her while she was gone and the answer had been no, but here? Everything is here, so until she knows what she's going to do, what she's going to be, at least she's not alone.]

Tell me... what you did, while I was gone. Things that happened. How is Marquis? Things going okay?

SPAM

[takeyouapart]

He's alright. But things are - they're not going at all, really. [He frowns faintly.] I - I know I should feel worse about it than I do. But neither of us are in a hurry to leave, and so...

[He shrugs a bit helplessly. He doesn't feel any urgent need to offer himself up to be bullied and taunted and generally overlooked by someone who seems comfortable with just turning the Barge into his home and staying there forever.]

SPAM

[hellofist]

[She understands, of course. Loki had been less than pleasant, some days having to deal with that is more than anyone could want to do.]

Can I help?

[Typically if she were in a joking mood she'd offer to punch Merlin's inmate until he listened, but she doesn't have that in her right now.]

SPAM

[takeyouapart]

You help by being here, Cassandra.

[He lifts her hand, kissing her knuckles lightly.]

SPAM

[hellofist]

[There's a little bit of sting to that because she wasn't and it still feels like abandonment, but that's not what he intends. The better feelings outweigh anything else and she has to smile. It's tiny and barely counts as a smile, but it's something. It's a start.]

Good to know... that hasn't changed. You're just... naturally romantic, Merlin.

SPAM

[takeyouapart]

[You'd think he'd have grown out of blushing at remarks like that.

He hasn't. Oops.]

I think you naturally bring it out in me, that's all.

SPAM

[hellofist]

[She leans in to kiss his cheek.]

I'm okay with that.