13 - Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's smiling. It's a cautious, calculated sort of smile, but it's real enough. The bags under her eyes have faded, but they're still apparent. Those looking keenly enough might notice she's holding herself a bit stiffly.]

Hello, multiverse.

You've tapped into the Barge's network. We're an interdimensional prison ship meant for rehabilitation. [The smile thins, sharpens.] Meant being the key word, here.

If anyone recognises me, feel free to say hello.

Or, heck, if you just want to shoot the breeze with someone from a different world. I'm Barbara.

Comments

[video]

[hackingyoursensors]

[Dick was sleeping face down in a pile of pre-calc homework. And then his Skype client opened up and suddenly-- bam-- familiarly unfamiliar voice coming out of nowhere. He sits up, blinks, pulls off a piece of paper stuck to his face, and stares at the screen blearily.]

What?

[Very intelligent, Dick.]

[video]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her eyes go wide, and then the smile becomes a grin.]

Hey there, Boy Dreamer.

[video]

[hackingyoursensors]

[He still looks sleepy and puzzled, though he's looking more closely at her. He knows that face, but from where?

Because weird message from space is much more likely than, you know, time travel.]

Hi. So can you run that [he gestures] whole thing by me again?

[video]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Obviously.]

I'm on an intergalactic prison ship and you've tapped into our communications system.

[A shrug!] Can you honestly say that's the strangest thing that's happened to you this month?

[video]

[hackingyoursensors]

I live in Gotham.

[As if that explains everything.

He's also completely unaware that the mysterious redheaded woman is Babs and knows about Robin.]

[batmanschmatman]

And how's the good ship redemption been holding up?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Okay, now she's beaming. She'd hoped, a little, but she'd tried not to focus on the possibility, because it was just as likely he wouldn't answer.]

As well as you'd expect. Same quota of bloodshed and trauma. [Quickly] Everyone's fine, though. [Everyone in their family.]

How's home? [It might not be the same as hers, she's not sure, but she cares either way.]

[batmanschmatman]

It's, you know. Gotham. [So.] But it's nice to be off the ship. I do miss you guys, though.

How're you holding up?

[bodilesswarrior]

We miss you too. [Warm and earnest and achingly sincere.]

I'm - doing pretty well, actually. I have an Inmate, now. [And also a girlfriend? but how does she even explain that.]

[batmanschmatman]

How's that been going?

[peektuttut]

Hey, Babs. How's the ship treating you?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Smiling this much makes her face hurt.]

Not that well, but I'm used to it. How about Gotham?

[peektuttut]

[Do some brooding later, it helps.]

Same old psychos doing the same old psychotic things. [More or less.] I'm used to it.

[bodilesswarrior]

I'd be worried if they weren't.

How about you? Are you making time for yourself?

[peektuttut]

As much as usual. [So, no.]

[lifeuntamed]

[Well that's as good a network as any.]

Here I was thinking I caught a virus or something. Somehow a space prison ship seems a relief by comparison.

[And strangely believable. She's dealt with being brought back to life by a mystical cat. Not much is too out of the ordinary after that.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[She's wryly amused, not least because she'd probably react the same way.]

I'd prefer that, too. ...Not that I get viruses, really.

[theonlyresponse]

You make it sound like a vacation spot.

[Dry, but warm. He's missed her.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Bruce. Barbara just stares at him for a moment, smile faint and soft and a little bit painful.]

Well, considering what happens on my vacations... [She took vacations! ...When she was Batgirl.]

[theonlyresponse]

Mine too. [A pause.] Can you secure this connection?

[I'm worried about you.]

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

Of course.

Private

[theonlyresponse]

How is everyone?

[ Video ]

[kissthatgoodbye]

Man, this is embarrassing: I swear I don't normally tap into things I'm not definitely trying to tap into.

[Have an uncertain, but distinctly sharp-eyed smile from a face that might look familiar, Babs.

Then he's grinning like an empty-headed idiot anyway.]

I'm Alec.

[ Video ]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara stares for a second. It looks like she's talking to a younger Dean, but the cadence and body language is all wrong.

But it's not like she hasn't seen this happen before, so she grins back.]

You know, somehow I'm not convinced.

[ Video ]

[kissthatgoodbye]

[Hey, at least this one's fun, and doesn't call him any of the names he sees trying themselves on behind her eyes. That makes his tomcat grin a bit more real, anyway.

He's still very obviously used to getting a lot of attention for said smile. And said face.]

Can't have that, can we? What would it take?