Barbara Gordon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bodilesswarrior) wrote2023-08-15 05:50 am
bodilesswarrior) wrote2023-08-15 05:50 am
My secretary's name is Susan, Barbara. She'll kill me if I get her name wrong, if you planned on spending the next few days as me.
[ she's been with him for three years now, an older woman made of steel. was very good at calling him on his bullshit. hated when his children just walked past her to see him. she kind of scared him a little. ]
[ she's been with him for three years now, an older woman made of steel. was very good at calling him on his bullshit. hated when his children just walked past her to see him. she kind of scared him a little. ]
...What? [First of all, of course she knows Susan's name, she's Oracle. But second of all, she is suddenly deeply concerned.]
Bruce - Selina Kyle. Catwoman. Love of your life. [Maybe that will rattle something out of him, but somehow she doesn't think so. She's got an awful sinking feeling.]
Bruce - Selina Kyle. Catwoman. Love of your life. [Maybe that will rattle something out of him, but somehow she doesn't think so. She's got an awful sinking feeling.]
I have no idea what you're talking about, Barbara. A memory you have of your Bruce, maybe.
[Oh hell.]
...No, Bruce. She's here. You've -
[She closes her eyes, for a moment. She considers the likeliest explanation for this. When she speaks, she sounds tired and sad.]
Do you remember what you gave up to save the world.
...No, Bruce. She's here. You've -
[She closes her eyes, for a moment. She considers the likeliest explanation for this. When she speaks, she sounds tired and sad.]
Do you remember what you gave up to save the world.
What are you...
[ a pause, his tone sterner. he's getting frustrated. he remembers lachesis' visions, atropos' monsters, but little to nothing about clotho... ]
We all made a collective decision, Barbara. The Moirai leave this universe, to either consign another to destruction, or return to this one to drawn when they become weak.
[ a pause, his tone sterner. he's getting frustrated. he remembers lachesis' visions, atropos' monsters, but little to nothing about clotho... ]
We all made a collective decision, Barbara. The Moirai leave this universe, to either consign another to destruction, or return to this one to drawn when they become weak.
[She peers at him, recognising the frustration easily - both because it's him and because it's her. ]
I'm aware. But Clotho asked you for something in return.
I'm aware. But Clotho asked you for something in return.
[ whatever facade of 'barbara' disturbingly disappears, and as strange as it may be to see in her (or maybe not), his eyes narrow in that very bruce way. charlie's feathers ruffle. ]
You don't know what you're talking about. Go and ask Donna if you want. She was there with me, she saw everything.
You don't know what you're talking about. Go and ask Donna if you want. She was there with me, she saw everything.
[It's fascinating, and also annoying enough that she mirrors the expression right back at him.
But only for a moment. He's clearly not ready to hear this, and there's so much else they have to deal with.
So she just nods.]
I'll do that, once this is over. In the meantime - have you talked to Cass about the outbreak? Or any of them?
But only for a moment. He's clearly not ready to hear this, and there's so much else they have to deal with.
So she just nods.]
I'll do that, once this is over. In the meantime - have you talked to Cass about the outbreak? Or any of them?
Tim and I spoke recently, Damian is working on opening the clinic with me, and Jason is volunteering at one of the soup kitchens locally that I'm sure he doesn't know is one of mine. We haven't spoken, but as long as he's keeping himself out of trouble...
[ a pause. ]
I haven't talked to Cassandra since she released herself from League leadership to me. I thought I'd give her some time alone with Stephanie.
[ a pause. ]
I haven't talked to Cassandra since she released herself from League leadership to me. I thought I'd give her some time alone with Stephanie.
[Oh, no.
This isn't a surprise, because of course Cass would sacrifice a piece of herself to save people; Barbara had just hoped she hadn't been in that position.]
Well. Hopefully I can help you figure it out. I could start with a list of names? [She doesn't want it to be a person, but that would at least be easier to pinpoint than a skill, or a particular memory.]
This isn't a surprise, because of course Cass would sacrifice a piece of herself to save people; Barbara had just hoped she hadn't been in that position.]
Well. Hopefully I can help you figure it out. I could start with a list of names? [She doesn't want it to be a person, but that would at least be easier to pinpoint than a skill, or a particular memory.]
[All she wants to do is pull Cass into her arms, but it's more important that they sort this out.
Clotho must have asked for something precious. She'll start with people from home.]
Stephanie. Bruce. Dick. Tim. Jason. Jean-Paul. Alfred. Conner. Shiva. Onyx. Brenda.
[Her voice is gentle and steady, but offscreen (and she knows Cass will see it, regardless) her hands ball into fists.
Guess who's ready to punch a god.]
Clotho must have asked for something precious. She'll start with people from home.]
Stephanie. Bruce. Dick. Tim. Jason. Jean-Paul. Alfred. Conner. Shiva. Onyx. Brenda.
[Her voice is gentle and steady, but offscreen (and she knows Cass will see it, regardless) her hands ball into fists.
Guess who's ready to punch a god.]
[Her heart sinks.
If it was someone from Gotham, at least, she could share her own memories with Cass. But she never knew Brenda.]
...You met her in Bludhaven. She was your friend. [And could have been something more, but what use is there, telling her that?
Or telling her that Brenda is gone?]
If it was someone from Gotham, at least, she could share her own memories with Cass. But she never knew Brenda.]
...You met her in Bludhaven. She was your friend. [And could have been something more, but what use is there, telling her that?
Or telling her that Brenda is gone?]
Edited 2019-12-17 06:22 (UTC)
[She's got to smile at that.] Good to know. But you could stand to talk to him when he isn't in trouble.
[Then...her brow furrows, and she taps her fingers on her - his - knee.] Not a bad choice in theory, but she might take it the wrong way. ...Speaking of the League, though, have you coordinated with them?
[Then...her brow furrows, and she taps her fingers on her - his - knee.] Not a bad choice in theory, but she might take it the wrong way. ...Speaking of the League, though, have you coordinated with them?
[Barbara frowns. It wouldn't surprise her if that was true, but she knows it's not.]
...Brenda owned a cafe. You went there a lot. [Sense memories. Her eyes alight with strained hope.] ...If you come over, I could make you tea, maybe it will trigger something.
[She bought Assam tea a long time ago, waiting for the time when Cass would be ready.]
...Brenda owned a cafe. You went there a lot. [Sense memories. Her eyes alight with strained hope.] ...If you come over, I could make you tea, maybe it will trigger something.
[She bought Assam tea a long time ago, waiting for the time when Cass would be ready.]
... I've got tea. Oolong. [ she holds up her mug to demonstrate, that look of confusion remaining. she genuinely has no idea what barbara's talking about, and even with the context and the knowledge she's missing something, it's still-- ] Don't drink black teas.
[ not that she knows why. ]
I really... don't remember.
[ not that she knows why. ]
I really... don't remember.
No. Jonathan is more familiar with variants of his serum than any of them ever would be. It seemed like the most prudent option.
Time is of the essence here, Barbara. Of course it is.
Wow, it's almost like a speedster would come in handy.
[Her throat constricts, just for a second.
Would telling Cass that there's a reason for that - would a painful shock to the system make a difference? Or would it just hurt her for no reason?]
...We need more information. About how these things were taken.
Would telling Cass that there's a reason for that - would a painful shock to the system make a difference? Or would it just hurt her for no reason?]
...We need more information. About how these things were taken.
Did you really just suggest that Bart Allen help me with this?
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