bodilesswarrior

25

[Barbara looks exasperated, more than anything, and there's a hint of amusement in the curve of her lips.]

So, this rash of robberies has been pretty harmless. Stupid, but harmless.

[The amusement fades, as she leans forward.]

That won't always be true, though.

So - anyone who wants a more advanced security system, hit me up. I've got a lot of tricks up my sleeve.

I can't do much on the magic end, though. Any volunteers?

[Private to Stephanie]

[Her smile shifts, becomes something wryly sympathetic.]

How are things going with your new Inmate?

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I do.

I think you also offered to make body armor once, before a port.

I did, yeah. Not sure how well it worked in Silent Hill, but - offer's still open. [It's difficult, when you're never sure what exactly you're facing.

She never thought she'd look back on Gotham and miss its simplicity.]

I'd like both. What do you need from me?

Anything in particular you're looking to defend against?

And what I need - depends on how your magic works, really. [She knows the gist, from reading the network, but nothing too in depth.] Can you cast lasting force fields, anything like that?

It works however I tell it to. I can make fields of antimagic, but they're.... selective, and temporary.

If she hasn't already hit you up on her own, I believe Ms. Martin would be interested.

Specifically, she was wondering if someone could put a lock similar to the one I have on her door.

Does that mean you'll let me have a look at it?

[A slight nod.] I wonder if we could - combine them, somehow. My tech, your magic.

Nobody's died yet.

Well, you're one up on me. [Once, that statement would have been bitter and guilty and angry. Now, it's almost light.]

You have a gameplan?

Not by most definitions. Right now I'm mostly working damage control. You would not believe the crap he had in his room.

I can imagine. [Totally not looking at her own projects, nope.] What did you do with it?

Most of it I confiscated. I told him he could keep doing his work as long as he did it under supervision in the lab. At least for now.

Seems like a fair compromise. How did he take it?

Terribly. But like I said, nobody died. It coulda gone way worse.

[A slight nod, before she rests her hand on her chin.] I don't think you should restrict him too much. He'll just chafe against it, find ways to sneak around you.

I'm sure he's already thinking of ways. But I don't intend to restrict everything he does. I know rules never helped me graduate.

As long as you don't feel mortally offended when I change my passcode again immediately after you've finished.

It's not unheard of, but the result usually explodes.

Fortunately for us, death in the experimentation process is a minor inconvenience.

If I'm going to die again, I might as well learn something from it.

Want to come down to the lab some time? We can experiment.

[Oh, like I couldn't hack it if I wanted.] I'd be shocked if you didn't.

Have you finished reading his file?

I gave it one read through, I was going to go over it again later.

[ You taught her well. ]

[He as good as hears that unsaid sentiment, thank you.] I have no doubts you and at least three other people I can think of would have my door open in minutes if not seconds, if you wanted. And that's not even factoring in interference being run from the Admiral.

That doesn't mean I'm granting everyone open access. It's the principle of the thing.

I don't have a busy schedule. Can I come now?

Sure thing, I'll meet you there.

I get it.

And I wouldn't, unless I really needed to.

[Good girl.] What do you think? I'm not asking for details, just - does it help?

Not much. I've definitely got my work cut out for me.

I figured as much. Seeing as I have no intention of kidnapping anyone, stealing anything, or passing out anytime soon, then it should never be necessary, should it.

We always do. [Some Inmates are definitely less difficult than others, but she doesn't think it's ever easy.]

Don't try to push it. It'll happen at its own pace.

Intentions don't always matter in a place like this.

[of course she's going to ask about this]

What do you have?

Of course. It wasn't that long ago that I was an inmate myself.

I know. But it can be - tempting. It's really easy to lose your patience. [Is she admitting her own flaws here? MAYBE.]

Well, the proximity alarms don't work on the Barge. And I don't need anything for, say, a steam tunnel that runs conveniently under my building.

Indoor stuff still works, though. Gas, electrocution, noise. A few explosives, just in case. And I've got a safe room, of course.

And no, I'm not going into detail. [Or the voice commands in the control room.]

Shouldn't be a problem. I'm pretty sure if I push too hard he'll kill me.

[ Said ever so casually. She's not really that worried, but, well, it's true. ]

[It's there on her face before she can stop it - fear and rage and stubborn protectiveness. She knows Steph is casual about it, she knows it wouldn't be permanent, but it doesn't matter.

But she doesn't acknowledge it, when she answers.]

Don't let him get away with it if he does. [She does not say "lock him in a room with me".]

[ She probably shouldn't have said anything, but Babs has a right to know what's at risk. ]

I won't. I promise.

[ Assuming she does come back, that is. ]

Anticipate the best and prepare for the worst, you mean.

Fine.

And that's available for us? [That's... a lot more than she was anticipating.]

That and more, yeah. It depends on how your room's configured, and what exactly you're defending against.

Basically.

You ever trust someone enough, you should give them access.

I'll consider making a very short list.

...anything that wants the door open.

[Her lips quirk.] Broad, but we can work with that.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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spam/log/assume?

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Private; i'm the worst about keeping up

same, don't worry