cape_kore | Cassandra Cain | 001

[The first thing visible when the feed clicks on is... an eyebrow. Well, two actually. Two eyebrows that are drawn together with a look of confusion. Clearly, someone isn't the best at tech-like things.]

Is- working? [Here have some button pressing and nope, that just turned off the video. The audio is still working though, picking up the sounds of Cass pushing more buttons and muttering quietly before it snaps back on. This time, she grins and her face is framed better, the comm held out to show she's still in her Batgirl costume, she's just taken off the cowl and her gloves.]

Oracle? Are... you here? In weird place. Lots of cameras, so... you must be here.

[With a frown, she rubs at the back of her neck. Maybe she should talk to the general population, figure things out...]

Um, I'm Batgirl. [Wait, pause a second. Maybe the actual name would be a good thing to go by? It's not like she's ever been careful with her identity in the past so why start now?] Cassandra. New here. Found big house, no one's here. Gonna... stay.

Well, in house. Will take walks. Could use... tour? Information.

... That's all.

[Yep. She sucks at communicating in like every sense, sorry. The feed cuts off completely this time, but Cass can be found on the porch of house 17 if anyone feels like coming to see the new kid in person.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We'll find you something else. [Ah, was that snippy? Maybe a little.] You can't just--your admission to the cowl is already on the network. Permanently. They know who you are. [He expected better, is what lies under those words.]

[She lengthens the distance he put between them when she sees that, his disapproval.]

I know. Wasn't accident, to say name. My choice.

I'm dying to know your logic.

[Cass doesn't like your body's tone of voice Tim.]

I'm not hiding. If there's... bad things here, easier to find, if someone needs me. Don't have to... hide behind mask.

And if there's bad things here from back home? [It's a high compliment that he's not trying to hide from her reading. Of course, there is the low insult here that she'd willingly put them at risk. It about evens out.]

Not scared. You shouldn't be, either.

[The others always worry so much about their identities, though. She's never been bothered much by it. So she lies for him, makes up something for him so he can continue to hide himself if that's what he's so eager to do.]

You're just Tim. Nothing... special, about Tim.

[Just Tim, not Robin or his last name, nothing for the cameras to use. He could be any boy that any girl could know from their home, worried for the safety their friend.]

[His lips press flat, jaw setting as he considers the implicit pact she offers in keeping his secret. Whatever. It's her prerogative, and so long as she says nothing about the family--] Just...you should be careful. My dad-- [Brows up, you know who's on the table.] --told me that a weasel keeps its magic by keeping secrets.

[It had felt so nice to see him be glad to see her, just glad and not wary like he is now. It's only a matter of time until he starts wishing she never showed up at all, but all she can give him is what she has. It's never been much and hardly ever enough for Tim. Bruce and Dick had been easy, they had adapted to her as though she always belonged right there with them.

Tim had been harder. She can see that's going to be the case here too.]

Your dad's... not here. Just us. Guess you're... not so glad, now. To see me. Will give space, if you want.

[She had wanted to team up with him once and for all, but not if it means putting him in danger.]

He's not-- [Not there anymore, either, but she wouldn't know. He's still alive where she's coming from.

[Tim chokes and shakes his head. Zealously:] I don't want space, Cass. Not from you. I'm sorry, that's not what I meant.

[He might cut himself off, but she can still see it. They're still close, still practically in each other's arms because she never really pulled back that far in the first place, so it's easy to just move right back in and hug him again.]

There. No space.

[It's a literal interpretation, but she's good at those.]

Will... look, for other clothes. Okay?

[If that's really want he wants, will really make him feel better, it won't kill her to do it.]

[It's been rough few weeks here. It's been a rough few months back home. It's surely forgivable if, when she squeezes close again, he clings. Just a little, nothing crazy--but at the end of things, it's hard being a kid on your own!]

[She doesn't say anything at first, just hugs him a little bit tighter in return and lifts her hand to the back of his head to smooth his hair down and yeah, maybe pet him a little bit. After going so long without anyone who was willing to hug her, to be close and show affection this way, she kind of craves it.

He's not the only one holding on a little too long and a little too hard.]

Do you... want to stay here? [He seems so lonely, it only seems right to offer.] To, um, live?

Mm. [He hums lowly, coming around to the question and pulling away. Slowly, but definitely away. That's quite enough of that.] Possibly. It couldn't hurt to be in the same place. [A sniff, turning away under the pretense of checking the place out.] But it also couldn't hurt to have our resources spread out.

Up to you.

[In the past, he'd always been the one she picked to visit when she wanted to steal all his good food and use up all his hot water. With a food shortage that's kind of out of the question, but the shower is still a viable option and it's not like it'd be hard to make up other reasons to go bother him.]

See anything good?

[Because you can hide your face all you like, it doesn't stop Cass from reading the rest of your body Tim.]

Empty. So all good. [He confirms, throwing a slapped-together smile back at her over his shoulder. Read all you want, as long as you don't plan on reading out loud.] Has anyone come around here? Welcoming committee or anything?

[She'd never announce the things she reads to anyone. It's bad enough they can't keep their secrets from her, no one needs her spreading them around to anyone else.]

Yes, a few. The neighbors did. [But he'll probably want names, won't he.] Um, Fun Ghoul. Jesse. Wallie. Laura. Only Jesse... came inside. And you. Obviously.

[He does his best not to react, just to listen to the list of names as she sounds them off, occupying himself with folding the blanket over her couch.] And? What did you think so far?

[She follows him, perching on the arm of the couch with no real care for the fact that her boots are on the furniture.]

Like them. Helpful. Not trying to... get anything, or lying. Offering help.

Why? What do... you think?

I think I wouldn't let them in my place. [His response is a little knee-jerk, but he knows how it sounds--and he backtracks. Look, even stubborn dogs can learn.] But this isn't my place, and...y'know, I know you know what you're doing. I don't mean to...

[You know, boss you around. You know.]

It's okay. [She reaches out to put her hand on his arm to show there's no offense taken. It's Cass, she tends to let Tim say whatever he wants all the time.] Not yours, but yours. Always welcome here.

[A beat of silence, and he smiles easily. Relieved. Comforted a little. A lot. Tim pats her hands, looks around for the nearest bedroom or something.] Let's get you changed--I'll show you around town.

Cassandra Cain | 001 | Video

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AAAAND /ties thread phew we did it