18 - Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[It's a wry, lazy sort of smile as she gazes into the screen, chin propped on her hand.]

Hey, outside world. You've just gained access to the Barge's network. We're a rehabilitation ship, ideally.

Anyone out there from Gotham?

Comments

[theonlyresponse]

[A small smile.]

Gotham's fine, thank you for asking.

As are we.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Of course he puts Gotham first; the surprise comes next, and it makes her smile.]

Good. We're... [Stephanie is dead, and Cass is gone, and - ] Hanging in there.

[theonlyresponse]

[He raises both eyebrows quizzically, expecting her to elaborate. He hasn't forgotten how close they were, he hopes it still means something to her even now.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[She frowns, a bit, and then switches the filter.]

Cass left. [The words are soft and heavy; Barbara doesn't think she'll ever stop missing her. Even her Cass - she won't know.]

Stephanie...she left too, with Kon, but now - there's another one. One who - really died, in the gang war.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

[Bruce searches a few of the other transmissions coming from the Barge, and sits back in his chair, frowning heavily at Stephanie's.]

She's... so young. Cassandra was too. [A beat.] Left, or disappeared?

[Private]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Low and quiet.] Disappeared. I - she didn't say goodbye.

[theonlyresponse]

[He looks away, at something in the room, flexing his fingers, and then he looks at her again, wearier, even though she has more of a right to that grief than he does.]

And Cain?

[bodilesswarrior]

[And here's a topic she's much more conflicted about, and it shows on her face.] He's - better. Might even graduate.

[She pushes a hand through her hair, closing her eyes for a minute.] I'm - most of me wants him to. [There's a part of her, still, that thinks he's beyond redemption, that he doesn't deserve his life, but she knows it's irrational.]

[theonlyresponse]

We'll see, then.

[Bruce has remained stoic, but his jaw is clenched. He never thought Cain deserved it.]

[Then again, he didn't think he deserved it.]

Have you been assigned?

[bodilesswarrior]

Yeah, we will. [There's a grim sort of hope in her voice.

Then her tone lightens, a bit.] Yeah. He's a challenge, but I like those.