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

[hellofist]

Should have done more.

[But she doesn't have a time machine, it's over now, she can't change anything. Dick did, he fixed Bludhaven, he went back and checked to be sure. She just has to remember that, cling to it so she doesn't lose herself completely.

She won't be what Nyssa wanted, not ever. She turns a corner and there is Barbara and suddenly, things seem a little less hopeless. She just keeps on walking, reaching out to touch her mother's hair once she's close enough.]

Saw you, again. At home. We... made up.

Private Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara reaches up, caressing her cheek.]

Good.

[The word is soft, and desperately relieved.]

She's your mother, too.

Private Video

[hellofist]

[She leans down to get in close, hugs Barbara as tightly as she can.]

Yes. It... felt like that, then. She, um... had Canary, with her. It was nice, seeing them together.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara hugs back, tight and fierce.

Her eyes go a bit wide, and her hand drifts to the golden canary at her neck.]

I wonder if they know.

[If she'd ever have known, without this place.]

Did you - was there anyone else?

[hellofist]

Pilot. Wasn't really... paying attention, to her. Focused on mission, then... on you. Then mission again.

[bodilesswarrior]

I meant - for you, Cass. Was there anyone else there for you, when you went back.

[hellofist]

Oh...

[There should be a way to pad this, but there isn't. There's no nice way to say any of what she has to say, but this is Barbara. She deserves a softer answer, there just... isn't one.]

No.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her face crumples, just a little bit. That's what she'd been most afraid of; that Cass would face the world alone.]

I'm sorry.

[hellofist]

[Cass just shakes her head. What is there to say about that? She's sorry too but apologizes about it don't help anything. Having Barbara back was good enough.]

How have things... been here, for you?

[bodilesswarrior]

Okay. [Not good, because with Cass gone it felt like a hole was torn through her heart, but -

Suddenly, she grins.]

You need to meet Jonesy.

[hellofist]

[Well, that gets a curious look.]

Who?