002 | Dictated

[hellofist]

So, uh... everyone uses journals, here... But I can't read. Know I'm... missing a lot, like this. So, was wondering... are there teachers, here? Or just... someone who can help?

Can't pay, but can trade. Can teach to fight, hand to hand or... with weapons. Most kinds. Going to gym now, can meet there. Can meet... just to spar, too. Could use... sparring partners.

[The recording stops there, but Cass will be in the gym ready to spar with whoever wants to drop by.]

Comments

[hellofist]

[They can work their way there. With both of them asking him, how can he say no? No one can say no to two Batgirls.]

Then, definitely want to. [Anything to make sure Stephanie is having fun.] You... pick night, will be there.

[secondchances]

Will do.

Now, reading! How do we wanna do this...

[hellofist]

[Okay Steph now you're just kind of getting a look. How is Cass supposed to know how learning to read works?]

[secondchances]

Hey, I'm learning how to teach reading as you learn! So give me a minute, here.

[Browses some children's books. Easy start, right?]

[hellofist]

Will give a million.

[She quickly pecks Steph on the cheek before just letting her figure this out, selecting her own book at random. They have a lot of pictures so that's nice at least?]

Do you have... favorite book?

[secondchances]

[She pulls out a few and holds them against her chest. Might as well get a stack going.]

Favorite book? I'm not a big reader... they made us read some stuff in middle school high school that I liked, I guess.

[hellofist]

[Cass takes her book to the nearest table and sits, watching Steph juggle her mini library. Does she really think they'll get through that many right now? Flipping open the book she has, peering down at the letters, Cass isn't so sure.]

This... will take awhile.

[secondchances]

[Steph hopes you like mice, Cass. Once she has a good amount, she joins Cass.]

You're not going to learn overnight. It definitely will take some time, but we've got lots of it here.

[hellofist]

[She'll learn to quickly and if the way she smiles and reaches out to touch the cover of the book is any indication, she likes the artwork. The smile doesn't last long, though. It dims when she has to be realistic about this.]

Yeah, but... won't you get bored?

[secondchances]

Teaching you? No way, Cass. [It's not as exciting as sparring, but she's determined to be a good teacher.]

[hellofist]

[Well, Stephanie's body language leaves no room for argument there.]

Okay. [She scoots her chair a little closer to Steph's, the better to see the book.] How do... we start?

[secondchances]

[Steph leans in so that their shoulders are touching.]

Hmm... let's see what you know. Do you know what sounds letters make?

[Kinda important before diving in to actual reading.]

[hellofist]

Yes.

[Well...]

Um. Some. This is A.

[She points to the right letter and says it right, but she knows that's not exactly awe inspiring amounts of progression after all the time she should have had to learn this stuff in Gotham.]

[secondchances]

What comes after A in the alphabet?

[Maybe they need to check her foundations before jumping into books.]

[hellofist]

B.

[On her own she goes through the rest of the alphabet, though she gets stuck more than once or twice. It takes minutes when it should only take a few seconds, but Cass just keeps going. She's determined, wants to get through this. Once she's done, she gives Steph an apologetic look.]

This will... take really long time. Sorry.