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

[hellofist]

[That almost gets a smile, her eyes brightening a little. Being rescued would have been good, she thinks. She made so many stupid mistakes, so many people could have been saved, but-

No. She can't think of those things now. She's on the barge, everything else is behind her.]

We was... you and Merlin?

[inexactitude]

[She will make emergency pancakes if necessary. Olive nods, then shrugs.]

Yeah. Well - Merlin was going to do the searching, I was going to hold down the fort. Offer support. That whole schtick.

I'm glad you're back, though.

[hellofist]

Me too. And glad... you were here, for him. Thank you.

[It's such a small thing to say when Olive supporting Merlin means... everything, to her. He'd been so troubled when she'd only slept for a week, knowing what she was going back to and having to operate while he was thinking of her, the danger she was in...

She'll never be able to repay Olive for what she's done, but she can do something. She just has to figure it out.]

[inexactitude]

I didn't do much. [But she's smiling, and maybe a little grateful. She did a whole lot of helping people without much thanks, and it's nice. Even when that's not why you're doing it. But it does make her feel a little guilty to enjoy it, so she just waves it off.]

Anyway. I still fully expect a sleep over sometime.

[hellofist]

[She could point out that right now she's not the best company, but it's hard to ignore how obvious that has to be. Olive probably expected it, after helping Merlin out while she was gone. And yet here she is, offering anyway.

And if she's right about Stephanie...]

I'd like that. Just... name time.

[inexactitude]

No way, you can pick. Just let me know when you're feeling up to it.

[She may not read body language like English, but she is observant - and anyone could tell that Cass needs settling in time.]

[hellofist]

[If she waits until she feels up to anything, they could be waiting for months. She'll give it a week, maybe two, and then ask. Still, Cass nods to keep up appearances.]

Sure. We can do popcorn, whole ten yards.