paradisa | (no subject)

Sometimes I see people doing this about "future" stuff they learn about, but I think it's time to shake it up a bit. I feel like I've accidentally taken a history class. Not complaining, of course. I didn't pay attention in school.

[Written:]

Things I've Learned About the Renaissance (in the past ~10 months):
- Wine is preferred over water (it tastes BAD and you can't convince me otherwise)
- Getting dressed takes forever because you have to put on layers, sleeves, and tie things. Zippers probably brought people to tears when they were invented. Not just because of accidentally zipping up bits.
- Various Italian words, mostly inappropriate and/or used to hit on people
- Dances are weird and make me a little dizzy
- Fresh pasta is a thing
- ~~Showing too much skin is Very Bad and makes big brother unhappy~~ [So gone!] Pants for women = weird!
- Bankers are just as boring as they are in my time
- Don't call da Vinci "da Vinci" because that is wrong
- Popes can have the cutest daughters
- Medicine is pretty much leeches and opium
- Cardinals are not all old men with wrinkles
- "Italy" isn't really a thing yet, just a bunch of city-states (or something? I forgot. Sorry!)
- Something about chaperones... dating is complicated
- Insert more stuff I should remember

[Tap tap. This is Steph not talking about nightmares or crazy cats or bumps to the head or depressing things that have occurred in the past 30-something days.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. The city was blacked out, but he had enough foresight to bring a generator for the power drill. [Driest. Chuckle.]

Everyone. My mom, Bruce... though I guess he figured it out before I ended up coming home. I wasn't kept prisoner over there or anything, but it did take me a long time to get back on my feet. [Physically and emotionally.]

And for a while, it just seemed easier, you know? Life is different when only one person knows your history and you can just build a new one from scratch.

...I understand. I might better than most, actually.

I didn't have anyone with me, though.

Did you go back?

Only because Lex found me.

[ And because she didn't have the guts to shoot him in the face when he did, like she had planned, damn it! ]

I was prepared to remain dead forever, to be honest.

I was, too. In the beginning, anyway. I was too afraid, too ashamed. But there came a point where I realized that Gotham was a part of me, as sappy as it sounds, and so was this whole vigilante thing.

The gang war and Black Mask happened a long time ago, and I'd never make the same mistakes again, but I guess some things just stick with you no matter how much you've dealt with them.

Did anybody hold it against you?

It's been tossed in my face a few times, but I'd like to think everyone's moved on.

Did it affect Damian?

No. He wasn't around, at the time. I had been Robin, and then it went back to Tim, so this is some old school stuff.

[ Damn, should say so. But she's glad Damian didn't have to mourn one more..."death", at least. ]

Do you regret it?

Which part?

[She certainly regrets stealing Batman's contingency plans.]

Making everyone think you were dead. Starting over.

I hate what it did to my relationships. I never made the choice on my own to leave, but I don't know what would have happened to me if I stayed. I think I did need to not be there in Gotham after what happened with Black Mask.

I just... should have probably contacted everyone, once I was able. I think they would have been more understanding. So... maybe a little, but not entirely? I needed it.

Even hearing the cliffnotes version, I would agree with you that you needed something like that. I guess I meant... Do you think you're better for it, or worse?

Better. I'm definitely not the person I used to be.

How about you?

...I haven't changed much, not really, despite what some people would think. But I think I'm better off. Stronger.

[ Happier? Not...really... But hopefully that will change soon. ]

You went through something nobody else can really understand. Knowing that, and seeing that you can still joke and care and try, I think you're kind of an amazing woman, Stephanie. I think I'm lucky to have met you.

Being stronger is a pretty big change, isn't it?

[... ow. Her heart. It's a little startling, coming from Lana, but it's moving all the same.]

Aha... thanks. Everyone in the Batfam has their unfortunate experience, I guess, and that's mine.

[ Well, she's impressed. Which, truthfully, is hard for Lana to feel these days. It may not negate their past complications, but that's not the point.

'Batfam', that's cute... ]

It's a welcome change, and something I don't intend to waste. Now I wish I'd learned a little more tricks of the trade from Bruce.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time before some sort of Batman pops up here again.