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/video

[tolaywaste]

[He nods. That's fair. He doesn't blame her at all.]

You want to get out of that room, maybe?

private/video

[hellofist]

Yes.

[Absolutely no hesitation there, she's not really sure she likes her room at all right now.]

Meet where?

private/video

[tolaywaste]

CES?

private/video

[hellofist]

Sure. You go in first.

[She's pretty positive she'll get rain if she's the first one who steps inside.]

private/video > spam

[tolaywaste]

Okay. Be there soon.

[He waits for her, as long as it takes; he's sure she has other things to be doing, probably has to go check on Merlin for sure. The CES comes out Midwestern scrub for him, which he's fine with. He just walks - paces, really - by the door, until she shows up.]

Re: private/video > spam

[hellofist]

[It's not too terribly long before she's there, stepping in and raising a hand in greeting.]

Hi. What'd I miss?

spam

[tolaywaste]

[He smiles at her - not a particularly strong smile, but he's glad to see her face to face.]

Not much. [Oliver's gone, but he doesn't want to worry her with that right now. There's time, now she's back.] Just missed a breach, though. Or were you here for that?

spam

[hellofist]

Was here. Was a thief. Those breaches... are weird, for me. End up talking normal, can't read people. Then, back to this.

spam

[tolaywaste]

I was . . . I don't know what I was. Pretty angry, I guess.

How long does it take for it to feel right again?

spam

[hellofist]

[He doesn't seem angry anymore, so that's good at least. She's glad.]

Few days. Might take... longer, this time. Lots to... adjust to again.

spam

[tolaywaste]

Is - can I do anything to help?

[He wants desperately to help. She looks so sad.]

spam

[hellofist]

I'm... not sure. Everything's still so messed up, here.

[She touches her hand to her head, then frowns a little. Maybe she should share why with someone.]

Did you, um... know Jason? While he was here?

spam

[tolaywaste]

Not well, no. We talked a couple times, but no, I didn't know him.

spam

[hellofist]

[Well, that makes this a little more difficult.]

He was... wrong too, sometimes. In his head. It's side effect, of... Lazarus Pit, thing that... fixes people. It's magic, but sometimes... things shouldn't be fixed.

spam

[tolaywaste]

For you, too?

spam

[hellofist]

[She nods, looking quite uncomfortable about it.]

Mostly... better, I think, but things... they're still not right.

spam

[tolaywaste]

[He ducks his head, looking at the ground with his hands in his pockets.]

I know I probably can't fix it. But if I can distract you or anything like that, you know, I - I want to know.

spam

[hellofist]

[It's not a surprising thing to hear, but it still means so much too hear it, to see it in him. She needs this, these reminders that just because she's done bad things people still care about her.

She doesn't have to isolate. She doesn't have to run. The urge is still strong, but the knowledge she doesn't have to... she'll try to hold on to it.]

I'll tell you. I don't- not sure... what I need, right now. Nothing seems... like right direction.

spam

[tolaywaste]

[He glances up at her - only briefly. He's forever stuck in this uncertain place where he's sure he can't help. But that she says she'll tell him, that helps.]

Milkshake, maybe.

[The way he thinks of her, the esteem he holds for her, that hasn't changed at all.]

spam

[hellofist]

[Her appetite is nothing like what it used to be, but it's just about impossible to turn down a milkshake when the purpose behind it isn't just making her feel better, it's about letting him do something to help her. That will make him feel good too, so how can she say no?]

Sure. Still like chocolate best, that part... hasn't changed.

spam

[tolaywaste]

[He grins, tentative but pleased.]

Still have good taste, huh?