( closed )

[beknight]

Who: bruce wayne (beknight); asha greyjoy (laveers) & pals.
What: bruce makes friends; asha learns to shoot.
When: before & during the event.
Where: around olympia.
Warning(s): violence! more will be added if needed. pm/pp if you want me to set something up!

Comments

[mayarah]

If it helps people, of course I do.

[ but that brings her to another question: ] Are there others?

[beknight]

We'll have to see about that.

[ He's building something. It's still in the early stages, and he's not sure how successful an experiment it's going to be. There was a need for the League, to fight their enemy. Here it's not so clear. ]

There are a few people who'd recognise Supergirl. [ speaking of, ] You should keep your human name a secret. I understand you're not used to that, but the other way around is easier here. If not, you can ask the Orbiters for something to conceal your identity. No one will connect two lives unless you tell them.

[mayarah]

[ see about helping people? kara frowns, for a moment — and then the frown stays when he continues. ]

What do you mean, keep my human name a secret? [ and also: ] Who do you know would recognise me?

[beknight]

I mean introduce yourself as Kara Zor-El. Supergirl.

[ His voice is low, it won't carry, and he says her name without moving his lips so no one around can read it off a tape or nearby. Even though he told her to check for eavesdroppers. Her identity is secret for a reason — Bruce knows secrets. He's not taking any chances. ]

There's myself, Diana, and my daughter Cassandra. We're all in the same business.

[ The other friends she's made will approach her soon enough. ]

[mayarah]

[ he's better with her secret than she is; kara's a hopeless liar. she knows why keeping her alien nature a secret was necessary on earth and she's been continuing as she had there here as well while trying to figure out if that was necessary at all. ]

And pretend like I never lived on Earth?

[ earth has been her home, too. ]

[beknight]

Depends on how open you want to be about what happened to Krypton.

[ If it was him he wouldn't breathe a word — but they're the furthest thing from him there is. ]

It's your choice, Kara. I can help you come up with a story, if you want.

[mayarah]

Why this instead of pretending to be human? Aren't most people here still human?

[ that would be a change, but almost everyone she's met so far seemed to be human at least. that, and — ] I've already introduced myself to people as Kara Danvers.

[beknight]

Most people here aren't going to bat an eye at another alien. Pretending to be normal might make you stick out more.

[ He nods amiably enough. It's not a problem — least, not one of those that can't be managed. ]

If you want to keep doing that, go ahead. I'm only offering a suggestion.

[ Bruce's "suggestions" tend to be directives. But. ]

[mayarah]

[ he seems to have strong opinions and given that he's been here longer than she has, given that he's a friend of clark's, kara is inclined to listen. to assume that he knows what he's talking about.

but this still strikes her as odd somehow. ]

You don't think I can pass for normal? [ the question is quiet, not accusatory. she's managed for over a decade on earth and managed well enough.

she's not sure she could pass for someone who's never lived a human life. not anyone. ]

What did I do, before? And do you think I told anyone?

[beknight]

You can.

[ She and Clark have been doing it for ages. He doesn't doubt that. ]

You had a pair of glasses from the Orbiters that magically [ he hates this word so much ] concealed your identity. I'm not aware if you told anyone the truth.

[ most importantly, ]

I don't trust that. The other refugees come and go from the station all the time. If someone wanted to find you, they could.

[ And Luthor is asleep in those pods. ]

[mayarah]

[ kara never wanted to lie to anyone. she hated the necessity for it then. she doesn't like it now. ]

And you think I need to hide? If no one here will bat an eye at another alien, can't I just be me?

[beknight]

Then, be you. You know yourself best.

[ His job is to watch over them. He'll do that no matter what she chooses. ]

[mayarah]

I'm going to think about it. [ kara says instead of all the things she wants to say that would betray how badly she wants this; how badly she's always wanted to be able to just be herself. ]

I don't really know this place yet.

[beknight]

[ He shrugs, amiable. ]

Take your time. If you need an ear, I'm not going anywhere.

[mayarah]

Thank you.

[ she means that. ]

I don't know what happened to the glasses. These were from my adoptive father. [ she touches the glasses she's wearing right now. ]

[beknight]

What are friends for.

[ He knows something of fathers, and smiles. ]

I'll keep an eye on your family. If I see them wake up, you'll be the first to know.

[mayarah]

Thank you.

[ she reaches over the table to touch his hand for a moment. ]

And if you want company again while you search for your son, let me know?

[ which, actually: ] Your daughter's awake, though, that's good.

[beknight]

[ He squeezes her hand warmly — but the contact is brief. ]

Her name is Cassandra. If you can't find me, find her.

[mayarah]

All right. [ kara nods, pulling her hand back when he lets go. ] Thank you.

[ and, a beat later: ] Is there anything else you think I need to know?

[beknight]

[ Without hesitation, ]

You're not alone.

[ He knows the weight of those words and who's hearing them. It needs affirmation. ]

[mayarah]

[ it means more than kara can say. she has to swallow before she can repeat: ]

Thank you. [ this time, her words are heavier, carrying more weight than before. she's felt alone a lot since waking up. hearing that she isn't, even from someone who, to her mind, is a stranger? it helps. ]