TLV 2 - Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[A young Barbara, thirteen at most, is sitting in her wheelchair - but her legs are drawn up onto the seat, one arms wrapped around them. She has the look of a child who's keenly uncertain and doing their best to ignore it.]

Does anyone know whose chair this is? [She'd been drawn to it, and it feels oddly comfortable to sit in, but it can't be hers.]

Or what that turbulence was earlier? [Maybe that could explain all of the weird stuff in her room. Well, it feels like her room, anyway, and she'd made sure to check the door just in case.]

((I'll be tagging with flawedgem!))

Comments

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[In an instant, the earnest curiosity drains from her face, leaving a bleak weariness. Her voice isn't doesn't rise or strain; it's low and flat.]

My dad is gone.

[Private]

[theboywonder]

[Oh wow, yikes, he is way too familiar with that look to not know what it means, and here comes the guilt train.]

I'm sorry. I meant- you do know the commissioner, right? Jim Gordon?

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[After a moment, Barbara nods, hands twisting absently in her lap.]

I'm living with him now, but...

[Her eyes drop. He's very nice, and she feels...safe with him. Comfortable. But - she had a dad.

A slight, sharp shake of her head, and she meets his gaze again.]

So - you're from Gotham? I haven't seen you on the news or anything. [A beat, and her eyes widen.] Maybe this is a cosmic thing. [Her mind never stops racing, even when her heart feels like it's stopped. It's comforting.]

[Private]

[theboywonder]

[GUESS WHO KNOWS THIS FEEL VERY WELL, BABS. B( He'll let the subject drop though because being grilled about it sucks.]

Maybe. It happens a lot around here. [He just knows, don't ask how.] You talked to Tim?

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[Barbara doesn't say it, but she appreciates it. Even well-meaning questioning has gotten a little unbearable.

A slight smile.] I did. He's nice. [She feels more relaxed around him than most people, for some reason.] Steph told me about the cosmic stuff, though, have you met her?

[Private]

[theboywonder]

No- Maybe. [It's the same sort of quasi familiarity feeling there. Less so than with Tim, but.] But I think I've been here before.

[Private]

[flawedgem]

Really? [Her brow furrows.] This place does seem...familiar. But if it really is, I don't remember any details. And that's...wrong. [She doesn't forget, not anything.]

[Private]

[theboywonder]

Like it's a dream you can't really remember?

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[Her eyes go wide, and she's smiling.] Exactly!

[Then her expression turns thoughtful again.] ...I feel like I should be more worried about that.

[She leans forward, slightly.] Do you feel like you're - meant to be here? That everything's fine even though it's actually incredibly weird?

[Private]

[theboywonder]

Yeah. I've read the network backlogs, too. It's weird, but I really don't think we're here against our will. And I kind of remember some of the people. [Mostly just Tim, really, although he feels like the last time he was here, Tim was a lot younger and at some point, he'd had pancakes.]

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[A pensive nod.] I feel like I - know some people? I mean...I trust them.

[And then she frowns.] Of course, if we were here against our will, that'd be a great way to make sure we didn't resist.

[Private]

[theboywonder]

No, I trust Tim. He'd know if something was going on, and he wouldn't just go along with it if it was something bad.

[Private]

[flawedgem]

[After a moment, she nods again, slowly.] I think you're right.

Still...we should be careful.