![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[ It's not Diana's favourite coffee shop, not described in those particular words. But it is the one she lingers over the menu in indecision, wanting to try most of what's on the menu. The cafe is half-open, always with a pleasant breeze. The staff know he likes particular seats. Some habits, Bruce allows. It helps when his usual companion is an immortal goddess with vambraces that reflect bullets. ]
[ More than that, he looks forward to this little thing they've carved out for themselves here. He sends her a quick message that there's someone else joining them today, someone he wants her to meet. And he's there already watching Cass frown at the menu. He stands up to pull out the chair for Diana. ]
[ More than that, he looks forward to this little thing they've carved out for themselves here. He sends her a quick message that there's someone else joining them today, someone he wants her to meet. And he's there already watching Cass frown at the menu. He stands up to pull out the chair for Diana. ]
[ His test — all things considered — is simple. They walk past the pod containing Clark, and she remarks he looks familiar. That's it, and that's really all the confirmation he's been looking for. Kara is either a master manipulator or simply that earnest, and Bruce has enough exposure to what Kryptonians are capable of that he knows which conclusion he'll reach. ]
[ As expected, they don't find Jason's pod, but she wholeheartedly promises she's willing to come here again until they do. The moment she's picking at her food again he brings over two cups of tea, and begins, ]
There's something you should know.
[ As expected, they don't find Jason's pod, but she wholeheartedly promises she's willing to come here again until they do. The moment she's picking at her food again he brings over two cups of tea, and begins, ]
There's something you should know.
[ It's tempting, when the call for new competitors goes out. The energy of the place amplified by its enclosure. Money changes hands, and the air is charged with the smell of sweat, blood, and the thirst to see both by the end of the night. The first rule of fight club is nobody talks about fight club, and the line stays locked and loaded by the internal commentary in his mind that sounds awfully like Dick Grayson. ]
[ A few rounds for a quick buck sound good when he measures the opponents, nobody with extremely surprising abilities that'll make it hard to earn a little extra playing the odds. ]
[ He's not surprised to see 76. Bruce neither likes him nor trusts him, and doesn't need to do the former for the latter. They work well enough together that a casual nod towards the betting pool is enough to convey his meaning. Hey, maximise the profits, and they both walk away winners. ]
[ Doesn't mean he goes easy. Doesn't mean 76 makes it easy on him, either. The crowd's roaring for a throw, one of them just has to get into the right position. ]
Give it a moment.
[ Through clenched teeth, only for his opponent's ears, almost blinded by the glare of the lights above him. ]
[ A few rounds for a quick buck sound good when he measures the opponents, nobody with extremely surprising abilities that'll make it hard to earn a little extra playing the odds. ]
[ He's not surprised to see 76. Bruce neither likes him nor trusts him, and doesn't need to do the former for the latter. They work well enough together that a casual nod towards the betting pool is enough to convey his meaning. Hey, maximise the profits, and they both walk away winners. ]
[ Doesn't mean he goes easy. Doesn't mean 76 makes it easy on him, either. The crowd's roaring for a throw, one of them just has to get into the right position. ]
Give it a moment.
[ Through clenched teeth, only for his opponent's ears, almost blinded by the glare of the lights above him. ]
[ The shooting range is one of those on the outskirts of Olympia, with more space and fewer eyes. Asha hasn't bought any guns yet, but she's been paying attention to the models. The rifles look the heaviest and trickiest. Their mechanism isn't immediately apparent to her, but the owner was willing to explain. ]
[ So she has been at the range for a long while before sending a polite message to Ocelot asking to meet here. When he arrives, she's holding a shotgun, examining it. The target is littered with various shots that made it (and didn't). ]
An arrow is quicker, [ she remarks, wryly, seeing him. ] are any of these useful?
[ So she has been at the range for a long while before sending a polite message to Ocelot asking to meet here. When he arrives, she's holding a shotgun, examining it. The target is littered with various shots that made it (and didn't). ]
An arrow is quicker, [ she remarks, wryly, seeing him. ] are any of these useful?
[ looking for his son amongst the many stasis pods isn't a joyful activity, especially not given that they don't find jason — but kara thinks even if they had, it would have been a mixed blessing. it'd be good to know he's here, of course, but he wouldn't be awake and that's difficult, too, isn't it? at least that's how she imagines she'll feel when she finds her sister, james, winn, any of the people she considers family and friends.
so she's a little more subdued than before, which really only means she isn't bouncing with excitement at the food in front of her any more. when bruce hands her a cup of tea and starts, kara glances up, catching her lower lip with her teeth for a moment. ]
What is it?
so she's a little more subdued than before, which really only means she isn't bouncing with excitement at the food in front of her any more. when bruce hands her a cup of tea and starts, kara glances up, catching her lower lip with her teeth for a moment. ]
What is it?
[ He can lead with at least three different lines. The value of each is measured, then, ]
I'm a friend of Clark's.
[ He sits, clasping his hands on the table. The slope of his shoulders is even, but not imposing. This isn't an interrogation — he got that already, earlier. She knows enough, and she doesn't remember. ]
From work. Not his desk job.
I'm a friend of Clark's.
[ He sits, clasping his hands on the table. The slope of his shoulders is even, but not imposing. This isn't an interrogation — he got that already, earlier. She knows enough, and she doesn't remember. ]
From work. Not his desk job.
I'm not surprised.
[ Another time and place, a joke about their respective secrets. Gotham City would crush Clark in more ways than the world has, it's not a place meant to answer to his brand of justice. And Bruce finds Metropolis intolerable. ]
We were both dealing with Luthor.
[ Found they worked together better than they worked apart. Alfred is writing a glowing review of this embellishment somewhere. ]
That's not what I came here to say.
[ Her chance to ask what questions she wants before he changes the subject. ]
[ Another time and place, a joke about their respective secrets. Gotham City would crush Clark in more ways than the world has, it's not a place meant to answer to his brand of justice. And Bruce finds Metropolis intolerable. ]
We were both dealing with Luthor.
[ Found they worked together better than they worked apart. Alfred is writing a glowing review of this embellishment somewhere. ]
That's not what I came here to say.
[ Her chance to ask what questions she wants before he changes the subject. ]
[ While 76 may not be here because of the earning potential, he realizes that he's probably the odd one out. That being said, he wouldn't have expected Alan here to be the sort of person who'd be that set on money. Not that he knows him particularly well, but let's just say it had been a feeling.
Still, it isn't any skin off of his back to draw this out a little for the sake of putting on a good show. As it is, he's already been pulling his punches so he doesn't knock Alan flat on his ass too early into the fight.
They end up in a grapple, 76's gloved hands gripped tight around Alan's biceps. The man is a little larger than him, but it wouldn't be hard for 76 to toss him over his shoulder if that's what the crowd wants. ]
Didn't really come here to act, y'know.
[ In other words, he's only going to put up with the charade for so long. ]
Still, it isn't any skin off of his back to draw this out a little for the sake of putting on a good show. As it is, he's already been pulling his punches so he doesn't knock Alan flat on his ass too early into the fight.
They end up in a grapple, 76's gloved hands gripped tight around Alan's biceps. The man is a little larger than him, but it wouldn't be hard for 76 to toss him over his shoulder if that's what the crowd wants. ]
Didn't really come here to act, y'know.
[ In other words, he's only going to put up with the charade for so long. ]
[ The money helps, but it's more the pleasure of getting it off a rigged system. He's moving on after this, just to be a calm spectator, chat to the other refugees. But first, the old one-two. ]
[ Can't say he doesn't miss not holding back much on the punches. ]
I know.
[ He can't elbow the man in the gut, but he can move backwards and slam him against the edge of the cage. ]
[ Can't say he doesn't miss not holding back much on the punches. ]
I know.
[ He can't elbow the man in the gut, but he can move backwards and slam him against the edge of the cage. ]
( one of these days, she'll be the one introducing Bruce to someone. at least, so she hopes. there's plenty of faces she yearns to see again in the quiet hall of pods. so far none have woken, as much as she wishes it. perhaps in time. Diana does not have it in her to begrudge those gifted with reunions when she has yet to have one.
Diana greets her friend with a touch at his arm and a smile as she sits, though her attention is on their guest. ) You must be who I am meant to meet. Someone ( Diana sends Bruce a glance with lifted brows, before returning to Cassie, ) neglected to share your name. ( she offers Cassandra a hand over the table. ) Diana. And you are?
Diana greets her friend with a touch at his arm and a smile as she sits, though her attention is on their guest. ) You must be who I am meant to meet. Someone ( Diana sends Bruce a glance with lifted brows, before returning to Cassie, ) neglected to share your name. ( she offers Cassandra a hand over the table. ) Diana. And you are?
[ When Batman stands Cass looks up from her place of glowering at the menu in the hopes of convincing the letters to stay put and make themselves properly understood. The woman is gorgeous and she moves like raw power and Cass?
Is totally in awe. ]
Cassandra. [ Nosewrinkle, standard teenaged expression. ] Cass.
[ Only people who don't know her well call her Cassandra. Once, she was told about the curse of Cassandra and was rather unamused at the entire idea. ]. He's like that, [ she says, a bit of a rueful smile. Why so weird, Dad? ]
Is totally in awe. ]
Cassandra. [ Nosewrinkle, standard teenaged expression. ] Cass.
[ Only people who don't know her well call her Cassandra. Once, she was told about the curse of Cassandra and was rather unamused at the entire idea. ]. He's like that, [ she says, a bit of a rueful smile. Why so weird, Dad? ]
[ He shrugs at them both amiably. He is how he is. ]
She's my daughter.
[ Diana's lasso could prove the truth for all to see, but it's not how Bruce wants to know. She wants redemption, she says he's her family, and he's not a man to leave a child adrift. It's that simple. ]
My turn to meet the future, [ wry, between him and Diana. There's a hundred year gap between his knowledge and hers, and this is a little bit of karma. ]
She's my daughter.
[ Diana's lasso could prove the truth for all to see, but it's not how Bruce wants to know. She wants redemption, she says he's her family, and he's not a man to leave a child adrift. It's that simple. ]
My turn to meet the future, [ wry, between him and Diana. There's a hundred year gap between his knowledge and hers, and this is a little bit of karma. ]
Luthor? Lex Luthor?
[ kara's lips press together. she never dealt with lex luthor herself, but she's heard about him. about everything that's happened. ] He's been in prison for years. [ so has bruce been working with clark all this time and clark never mentioned him?
or this is something else. kara can't make sense of it yet, but she's not suspicious. curious, confused. ] What did you want to say?
[ kara's lips press together. she never dealt with lex luthor herself, but she's heard about him. about everything that's happened. ] He's been in prison for years. [ so has bruce been working with clark all this time and clark never mentioned him?
or this is something else. kara can't make sense of it yet, but she's not suspicious. curious, confused. ] What did you want to say?
( daughter. not quite the connection she was expecting, and a bit of surprise is painted on her features, though Diana does not voice it. Bruce is surely not the sort to say such things lightly, so who is Diana to argue? )
Cassie, then. ( Diana may or may not be known for using Full Names on people when the impact is needed (Bruce would know), but she can handle a nickname. she laughs in agreement, he is like that, there's no disputing it. )
It will be a change for you not to be ahead for once, ( Diana muses to Bruce with a half smile. to Cassie, she adds, ) He knows of me from a future I have yet to reach. Now you will be ahead of us both.
Cassie, then. ( Diana may or may not be known for using Full Names on people when the impact is needed (Bruce would know), but she can handle a nickname. she laughs in agreement, he is like that, there's no disputing it. )
It will be a change for you not to be ahead for once, ( Diana muses to Bruce with a half smile. to Cassie, she adds, ) He knows of me from a future I have yet to reach. Now you will be ahead of us both.
[ That's more like it. 76 makes a low growling side behind the visor as his back jars against the metal bars, his grip tightening on Alan as he braces himself to turn things around.
No one ever said they had to fight fair. If anything, a place like this would probably encourage them doing whatever it took to win.
Again, 76 isn't aiming to incapacitate Alan, but he jams his knee up toward his gut to get him to back off.
Let's see what you can do. ]
No one ever said they had to fight fair. If anything, a place like this would probably encourage them doing whatever it took to win.
Again, 76 isn't aiming to incapacitate Alan, but he jams his knee up toward his gut to get him to back off.
Let's see what you can do. ]
[ Cassandra shakes the Amazonian's hand, putting the menu down with the other. She's five seconds from picking the thing that sounds very much like fancy ham and cheese, honestly. ] Cassie. [ Cass breathes out, beaming. It's like a whole new name, a whole new person; no one's had a personal nickname for her before, so this is very novel and kind of awesome really. ] Nice to meet you, Diana.
[ She glances back at her father; it must be difficult for him not to be all knowing, the Great Detective. Also she's not the best storyteller so it's not like she can fill in many blanks for either of them - Oracle would be better for that, definitely - but she also doubts that either of them are going to ask her to explain the future, their futures, in general. ]
How long...have you been here?
[ It's not a question she's even asked Batman, yet. ]
[ She glances back at her father; it must be difficult for him not to be all knowing, the Great Detective. Also she's not the best storyteller so it's not like she can fill in many blanks for either of them - Oracle would be better for that, definitely - but she also doubts that either of them are going to ask her to explain the future, their futures, in general. ]
How long...have you been here?
[ It's not a question she's even asked Batman, yet. ]
If you're ready to order, go ahead.
[ He's very comfortably seated, leaning a little into Diana's space. There's always his vigilant edge visible to Cassandra (and Diana), but it seems muted now, like it's considering a nap. ]
We both woke up about eight weeks ago.
[ He'd been absorbed with finding Clark first — having been told he was awake — but he'd found Diana shortly after. ]
Been settling in since then, trying to find out more. I found a dojo that'll have me, and I've been reaching out to others.
[ He's very comfortably seated, leaning a little into Diana's space. There's always his vigilant edge visible to Cassandra (and Diana), but it seems muted now, like it's considering a nap. ]
We both woke up about eight weeks ago.
[ He'd been absorbed with finding Clark first — having been told he was awake — but he'd found Diana shortly after. ]
Been settling in since then, trying to find out more. I found a dojo that'll have me, and I've been reaching out to others.
It feels longer than a few months.
( odd to consider that she's been here longer than she had ever been with Steve or trying to find Ares. since her waking, Diana has not found any leads as to the God of War, but surely he must linger in the darkness somewhere.
still, even Diana knows that's probably not good starting conversation.
she takes the menu in front of Bruce to scan the items, clearly not unaccustomed to him next to her. she likes to see the vigilante at rest on occasion, and knows better than to wake it again by remarking on it yawning. )
I work for the City Guard, at present. If you would be inclined, Cassie, I will put in a word.
( odd to consider that she's been here longer than she had ever been with Steve or trying to find Ares. since her waking, Diana has not found any leads as to the God of War, but surely he must linger in the darkness somewhere.
still, even Diana knows that's probably not good starting conversation.
she takes the menu in front of Bruce to scan the items, clearly not unaccustomed to him next to her. she likes to see the vigilante at rest on occasion, and knows better than to wake it again by remarking on it yawning. )
I work for the City Guard, at present. If you would be inclined, Cassie, I will put in a word.
Eight weeks...
[ That's not very long, but a lot can happen in that amount of time. Their friend woke up and fell asleep again. She came here. Who knows what else.
But this...the vigilance that blinks, this is a good thing. Unfamiliar, a little, but still...good. It looks good. ]
I...don't know. Yet. Thank you, [ she adds quickly, lest Diana think that she isn't appreciative - she doesn't even know her, not really, but still. ] I do want to help.
I'm not. Good. At...daytime heroics. [ Another nose wrinkle as she fixes another glare at her menu. ] I think.
[ While the adults share a menu she pulls out her phone and snaps an image. Batman's voice floats out of it, confirming for her that the long, nearly impossible word starting with E immediately followed by cheese was just a name, and the menu offering is just a fancy grilled ham and cheese.
Cass can work with that.
She repeats the name perfectly once someone notices that they're ready to order, and looks back to Diana. ] Do you like the Guard?
[ That's not very long, but a lot can happen in that amount of time. Their friend woke up and fell asleep again. She came here. Who knows what else.
But this...the vigilance that blinks, this is a good thing. Unfamiliar, a little, but still...good. It looks good. ]
I...don't know. Yet. Thank you, [ she adds quickly, lest Diana think that she isn't appreciative - she doesn't even know her, not really, but still. ] I do want to help.
I'm not. Good. At...daytime heroics. [ Another nose wrinkle as she fixes another glare at her menu. ] I think.
[ While the adults share a menu she pulls out her phone and snaps an image. Batman's voice floats out of it, confirming for her that the long, nearly impossible word starting with E immediately followed by cheese was just a name, and the menu offering is just a fancy grilled ham and cheese.
Cass can work with that.
She repeats the name perfectly once someone notices that they're ready to order, and looks back to Diana. ] Do you like the Guard?
Page 1 of 7