thoughtformed | 001

Entry tags:

001 | Video

Uh... Hello?

[There's a young girl aiming her phone... well, relatively at herself. Her face is in frame, that's what counts.]

My name's Cassandra. I guess... this is home, now. Which is weird, but I guess... fake people need homes, too? So... Hi.

[A pause, like she isn't quite sure she wants to ask this next question, but then she just goes for it.]

If there's anyone... named Barbara, here? Barbara Gordon? Or, uh... Bruce Wayne? Would really... like to talk.

[Because it's kind of weird being somewhere new with no mission and no Barbara or Bruce telling her what the next step is. A quick smile, and then the video dips as she goes to turn it off. Is that an outline of a bat on her chest? Surely not...]

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The crest of the hill, opposite the broadcast tower. Four apartment buildings in a square. I'll be in the quad in between them. There's a Yellow Line trolley in six minuets you could catch... but it takes another six minutes for it to get here, and I'm betting you can beat it.

[He starts cautious, and ends on a challenge. From ground floor hospital to the rooftops to the apartments and down, staying out of sight, takes him nine minutes, but he knows the best route.

He pauses, calls up the stopwatch app on his phone, thinking hard, and sets it for eight minutes, fifteen seconds. Then he wheels out the front door and waits.]

[She has a head start, since she's been up on the roof of the hospital the whole time. She can think easier high up, the tops of buildings have become her habitat now. The phone off and safely tucked into utility belt, Cass goes.

It takes her six minutes and thirty four seconds to reach the rooftop of one of those four apartment buildings and another two to make it to the quad between them, slowing from a sprint to a casual walk once she sees him.]

Hi.

[Yeah, she knows she did well.]

Hi.

[Beyond the obvious -- wheelchair, double casts with external clamps to hold them in place -- there is, of course, one other obvious difference about Tim. Namely, he's about three years older than she'd remember him being.]

It's good to see you again.

[She pulls the cowl off, tucks it into her belt before reaching out to touch his shoulder. There's so much concern, so much confusion, but she's just so glad to see a face she knows here.]

What happened?

[An all-inclusive question if there ever was one.]

I've been here for thirty-three and a half months. A lot has happened. It'll take... a while, to explain everything.

Where do you want me to start?

[Her hand drops from his shoulder to wave at his legs instead.]

How?

A conversation with a god got a little out of hand. I was prepared to be roughed up -- he's an ally, more or less, and clearing the air was worth the risk... but I didn't expect this.

[She's the first person he's confessed that detail to.]

Officially, I was camping, and a tree fell on me.

People... are buying that? That it... was a tree?

Maybe. My identity... in a town this size, it's about as secret as... Green Arrow's.

But Tim Drake... has a reputation for bad luck. For being a bit of a bad joke.

You're okay, though? Not in danger?

[The frown is starting to come back.]

You said... god did this? What god? And... why?

No danger. Six months ago, I had... a misunderstanding, with an Asgardian called Loki. His family's protective of him. They don't like mortals interfering. This... was his brother's answer when I went to him last week to explain.

... Broken legs, because of... misunderstanding?

[Now she's just straight up scowling. These ass guardians aren't the only ones that are protective over family.]

A misunderstanding where I kidnapped Loki. It's... disproportionate, but understandable.

[He sighs for a moment, leaning back in his chair.]

I'm glad you're back.

[She still doesn't like it, but everything about Tim's body language is telling her not to pursue it. It's not like she hasn't been guilty of her own disproportionate responses, it's just a little harder to let it go when it's Tim in a wheelchair.

What he says, however, brings her up short.]

... Back?

... Yeah.

The island can pluck people out of alternate points on the same timeline, or maybe alternate universes. Either way, you wouldn't remember it... but some people might recognize you.

[He pushes through the explanation as quickly as possible. Better to have it out in the open.

It was funny, the number of different things he was feeling that way about, these days.]

[She's really not looking too pleased about that. Being told she's not real is one thing, but that she's apparently been here before is frustrating.]

Well, I don't... know them. So, first time for me.

I know. You just needed to know that people might remember your face and your name, and why.

[Her lips purse one more time in annoyance, but finally she just sighs and lets it go. There's nothing she can do about it right now, so it's time to focus on more important things.

Lightly, she kicks the wheel of his chair.]

Can you... use this well? Do you need help?

I'm... well, I won't be beating up bad guys with escrima, but I'm okay.

[Wheels back and forth a bit, at which point it will become obvious that he actually tore up his palms a bit racing down the stairs.]

I've got Dick looking after me. Not that I wouldn't welcome more help.

Stop.

[She reaches for his hands to make him stop aggravating what he's done to his palms. She holds his hands carefully in hers and gives them a light squeeze.]

Will help. He's little, probably has trouble... moving you around.

[He actually hadn't noticed himself until just now - he was too excited.]

I won't argue.

[Exhaling slowly, not quite a sigh. Decompressing.]

You got here at just the right time.

[Her expression is softer now, concerned. She crouches down so they'll be eye to eye now and lets go of one hand to brush her fingers through Tim's bangs, pushing them off his forehead.]

What's wrong?

It's not what's wrong. It's what's right.

[He's smirking up at her, resisting his normal gun-shy urge about physical contact.]

I just started up a branch of the Titans. And I want you on it.

[The last time she saw him they had agreed the made a good team, but in the end they'd gone their own ways, handled the city as individuals instead of as a real duo. A team wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but it probably wouldn't hurt to agree.]

Who else is... part of your team?

Dick, Steph, Supergirl, Kid Flash, maybe Zatanna, maybe Damian (probably not Damian). And you.

[He's counting on it, and, yes, pushing just a little, which he usually wouldn't do with Cass. But... the timing is perfect. And he needs her. The way he leans forward to keep eye contact, the tension in his hands, they're more forceful about it than anything he says out loud. Do this.]

001 | Video

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