paradisa | ( o55 )

[ stephanie brown ]

[ Just as expected, she dwells on this for some time. They haven't spoken in months and had things not ended up this way, she would have kept ceased communications. There isn't much anger she holds toward the other woman anymore, but there is a severe lack of trust. For Kate, if she could not trust someone or they didn't fit her standards as reliable, she dropped them, no matter how guilty or guiltless she felt about it.

But to not say anything would be cruel and nobody deserves that. While she doesn't consider her a friend anymore, she's still an ally. ]

Come to the clinic.

[ kidnapped filter ]

[ Kate abhors using those words for this filter. Time to check in on everyone, though. ]

How are you all doing?

[ If you're in the clinic, holla. ]

[ And it should not come as too much of a surprise, but Kate leaves out a filter to her own friends. At least for now. She's tired and has to deal with Stephanie soon, so she wants to be completely prepared for whatever is to come. She doesn't mean to make anyone worry.

With some effort, she manages to sit up on her bed. She's currently in the clinic, much to her chagrin. Never has she liked being stuck on bed rest and being made to feel so helpless, frustrated and tired. It makes her feel like a victim, something she's always hated since the time she was a child. Even knowing the clinic staff were just doing their job, it makes her feel petty.

Now? She feels restless. She pours through the journal for details on what's happened in the castle during the days she was stuck elsewhere, yet there's nothing that really explains what exactly happened. As usual, there's no reason. There's never a reason.

She shouldn't waste any energy feeling so angry about this. ]

[ ooc; open in the clinic to whoever! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Kate hates to be seen by others like this. Again, it makes her feel vulnerable and exposed. She hides her discomfort though when Clark enters. ]

You didn't have to check in. I'm fine.

[Clark cares, Kate. Clark cares. He smiles.]

I knew you'd say that.

[ A quiet groan as sits up properly to face him. ]

I've had worse.

Haven't we all? [He pulls up a chair so he's on eye-level with her.]

I know you would have protected them regardless, duty and all, but thank you for getting the others home safe.

[ It's weird to be thanked, especially by another cape. ]

That goes to Tim and Yuan. Arya and Belle would have been killed if not for them.

I'm thankful for them, too, but I somehow don't believe you just sat there and did nothing.

[ WELL, NO... ]

I could never do that. There were kids and other defenseless people. [ Animals.

A pigeon. ]

[A pigeon...]

I think it's warranted, then.

[ It flirts with all the ladies, too. ]

... You're welcome, then.

[Smiles. Look, positive reinforcement is a Superfamily thing. You Bats could stand to do that over crippling angst.]

How are you feeling, otherwise?

[ To be completely honest? She mulls over it for a moment. Physically she feels like crap and would like to go for a massage at a spa. Emotionally, she's just exhausted. ]

Better than when I was first dropped off here. [ She sighs. ] Stephanie knows.

[He nods, slowly, looking away from her for a moment. Well, that spares him having to tell her, but he's sorry that Kate had to go through that.]

How did she take it?

As well as one might. [ Needless to say there were tears that made Kate's levels of discomfort sky rocket. ]

Tim's last words to us were that he was sorry.

[ She frowns, looking down at her lap. She doesn't know what to make of that message from someone nearly half her age. ]

Sorry for dying? [Wow. Clark's not sure what to say, and for a moment he just stares into space.] It scares me that we have kids involved in this. Every time something like this happens, I just... I don't know how to justify what Bruce does.

These kids feel like they have to apologize for not surviving terrible things.

[ She nods, at a loss for words briefly. Kids dying isn't something she's unused to, but it brings back some dark and terrifying memories she'd rather not relive while she was awake. ]

I wish I could tell you myself, Clark, but I don't know how he does it either.

I doubt telling Tim to hang up his uniform would work well.

[He nods.]

I don't think it would, either, but at this point, I have half a mind to just... I don't know, insist they work with me so they at least have some measure of supervision. No more of this working alone thing.

[ A bitter look. Not directed at Clark or anything, just bad memories in general. ]

The last thing I want is another kid snapping and trying to murder someone here.

Definitely.

[Pause.]

Lois and I were talking getting a house in the city. Some place a little safer, with a little bit of a buffer between us and the other residents. How badly do you think Tim and Stephanie would balk if we offered them rooms?

Well, you know how Bats are. They like their privacy.

[ She can't honestly speak for them, but she imagines they would need a lot of time to think about it. ]

Yeah. I mean, I'm not looking to be their guardian or adopt them or anything. I just want them to be in a position where they have adults looking out for them, not falling out of touch with us for weeks at a time. I know Lois feels pretty strongly about this, too.

You'll have to ask Stephanie and Tim directly; I've never been particularly close with them.

But it's a good idea. [ Better Superman to keep an eye on these kids than her. ]

[He nods.]

Why don't you get along, if you don't mind me asking?

[ Because she has unrealistically high expectations of people. ]

I do mind.

[That's alright by him.]

My apologies, then.

I work alone, that's all. [ She's never really worked with the others back home. Dick a couple of times, but that was it.

Idk, we don't talk about Countdown and the possibility Babs had her and Renee look for Piper and Trickster. ]

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supes - 2012-06-22 16:56 (UTC) - Expand

gevurah - 2012-06-22 23:11 (UTC) - Expand