paradisa | (no subject)

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[Tim was dead. She needed to talk to Clark. Tim was sorry. Sorry, but dead, and cremating him wasn't a good idea. Steph had friends die before in Paradisa, but this time it was different because it was Tim and he was a crucial part of Steph's growing up and this was too soon after Damian leaving and Stephanie was pretty sure this was a lot of things catching up to her at once because no matter how much she wiped at her eyes, her vision was blurry with tears.

Things needed to be done, but Steph didn't want to be a mess when talking to Clark or telling people Tim had died. She had to compose herself.

Somehow that translated into running up to Uru's door and knocking frantically.]

[after going to uru's]

[Steph can't really put this off for too long, so she filters to Clark.]

Kate said you had Tim?

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[ She had really wanted to filter and find out if everyone was okay, but her time spent here has taught her when these things happen, people need a breather. It was getting late anyway, she could filter tomorrow.

But it made her fidgety regardless.

The knocking warrants a startled jump from her. She puts down her cookbook and sprints over, wishing she had one of those little peep holes to see who it was. The knocking made her a little nervous.

She opens and is stunned to see Steph looking as if she had just been crying. ]

-- Stephanie? What's wrong?

Tim, he's dead, and--[that was it. That was all she could get out before she took a deep breath, more tears threatening to fall.]

Tim's dead and I think I'm overreacting but I can't help it right now.

[ She blinks profusely, completely thrown by what's just been said? Is this a joke? Uru's waiting for her to say it is, but all she sees is Steph on the verge of crying. It suddenly feels like something is closing in on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. ]

What? What do you...

[ Tim was one of the people kidnapped. Is that part of it? ]

[She can't take it anymore. She just really needs a fucking hug or else she's going to scream.

So, incoming! Steph more or less smooshes herself against Uru.]

[ And she jumps again, mostly surprised than anything else. After a moment of initial surprise, she wraps her arms around her in return. ]

I'm-- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Stephanie.

[She feels silly crying into Uru's shoulder because Tim will come back. Two weeks, and he'd be back. Sure, there would be the damage done that death likes to cause--and Tim and emotions didn't always mesh well--but he'd be back.

Still, it sucks. Dying wasn't easy. Now she was left to handle things, and then bide her time for two weeks. She doesn't think Tim would like her to plaster his room with sticky notes like she did for Kara.]

[Ah, here comes the hardest part.

He'd been looking for her, but when he hadn't found her in the castle and his superhearing had picked up the sound of her with Uru, he'd dropped it and left her alone. He knew that she knew where Tim was -- there was no need to rush this.

So when she filters, he replies.]

I do.

How are you doing?

[Crying it out had helped in some regard. No more sobs, no more sniffles. Not because she was trying to be stoic or strong, but because she'd used them all up for now.]

Been better.

Um, I don't really know where to go from here, to be honest.

For what it's worth, I know the feeling.

[Where to go from here, though?]

Well... I've got him on ice right now, so we have time to decide, but I don't know how this "non-vanishing body" thing works. I don't know if we should bury him, or...

[On ice? Ugh. It takes her a moment to respond.]

I don't know, either. I mean--if his body sticks around and we bury him, he'd... go back to the same body, right? I mean. I don't know. [She thinks about Jason and the state of his fingers that first day he showed up in Paradisa. He clawed his way out of a coffin.

Don't go down that road, Steph.]

It's... kind of like a weird coma here, I guess. It feels weird thinking about burying him and a funeral when he'll be back in two weeks, but it feels wrong to do nothing.

That was my thought, too. It's strange in a place where death is temporary... last time we went through this, the bodies still disappeared.

But you know him best, so you probably have a better idea of what he would want. If you feel up to it, the decision's up to you. Lois and I can do whatever you need us to do.

Thank you. I really appreciate it. [The generosity at a time like this almost gets her going again.]

I don't know if a funeral exactly would be the right thing. Some sort of show of support? Notes from people when he gets back, maybe. Tim's a genius, but a little lacking sometimes in the handling of emotions. I'm not sure how he'll be when he gets back, but I think he could use something positive and not overwhelming. Stuff he could read when he inevitably holes himself up.

[She's not Tim, but that's what she would have liked--or would like.

A sigh.]

As for the body... can we keep it safe somewhere? I don't know how gross that will be, but I don't like the idea of putting him under the ground. That's a good way to make sure he has nightmares. If it disappears, it disappears, but if it stays we can just wait it out.

That's a good idea. Notes, letters of encouragement. Something like that.

And absolutely -- I'm not a big fan of a burial or cremation, seeing as this is Paradisa and, well... I doubt anyone wants that to happen when they do get to think about it later.

I'll get on that ASAP.

Do you need me to help? With his body. [Please say no please say no please say no. She doesn't want to be anywhere near it, but she has to offer.]

Good stuff. Let me know if there's anything you need, even if it's just errands or someone to talk to. And don't worry about his body -- I've got that covered already.

I'll keep that in mind. And thanks. [It does mean a lot.] I'd say more, but I'm kinda out of it at this point.

Any time, Steph. Feel better soon.

Will do.

[ She squeezes back lightly, really lost for words. This is never easy. Everyone handles death differently. Admittedly, it's jarring to see Stephanie, Batgirl, crying about it. She's never seen her cry like this. In two years, she always had this idea that Bats didn't cry over death. It was probably something they see a lot.

She moves away for a second, holding onto her hand now. ]

Do you want to come inside?

[Her free hand wipes at her face.]

Yeah.

[It feels like there's a ton she needs to do, but it can wait an hour or two. That's what she keeps telling herself.]

[ She'll gently tug Steph inside, shutting the door behind them. She moves away for a moment to grab a tissue box and offer it to her. ]

Um, what... What happened?

[Steph proceeds to blow her nose. It sounds almost comical.]

He was one of the people who disappeared. I didn't ask for details, but I was told about it, and Clark has his body, and I need to contact him soon about what to do.

[Ugh.]

Did everyone make it back? [ It feels selfish to ask at a time like this, though she's worried now about everyone else. Nobody else died, hopefully. ]

I didn't hear anything else. [She shrugs, taking another tissue from the box.] I think so, though.

I hope they're okay.

[ Standing there rather awkwardly. ]

Do we wait for Tim to...

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