paradisalogs | sticky

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sticky

Who: Stephanie Brown and YOU??
What: Sighing a lot and getting tar everywhere
When: Today!
Where: The castle grounds
Rating: PG

Tar, tar everywhere. It was black, sticky, and warm to the touch--which Steph discovered, as it clung to her arms and neck. It didn't take too long for her to realize that many in the castle were being afflicted by this, so she tried to tough through it. It would stop eventually, and she had things to do. There was still a lot to be done in the city, before she and Cass left on the expedition.

However, the more she touched, the more tar seemed to come from her hands.

She wasn't going to be useful to anyone today, let alone herself, she came to realize.

What was the logical response?

To lay down on the grass in front of the castle, of course. Maybe if she didn't touch anything for a while, the sticky goo would recede. In the meanwhile, staring at the sky seems like a good option.

Yeah, castle. She gets the irony. She messes up everything she touches. Ha ha.

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"That's great. She's a lot of fun, Lucrezia. We should invite her over for a sleepover, once we've got the place all fixed up." You know, with more than just the bare necessities. Tim better do a good job making their place look good!

Her last year in Paradisa had been spent mostly with Lucrezia and Ezio, carefully balancing their drama. It had been stressful, but she'd do it all over again if she had to.

"First night's... for us, though." For them to settle in together because Cass has never shared space with someone in a permanent kind of way before. She spends every night she can with Steph, but it's never in a their place. It's always hers or Cass' room, or Tim's apartment.

Now, she'll have a place that belongs to her and Stephanie and the idea of that makes her a little excited.

"Definitely. We'll have to have a lot of food stocked. Chips and ice cream, and tons of sugary stuff."

The idea is nice. She's used to sleepovers, but living with friends is something she's never done before. She's enjoyed her personal space--but it was about time to take advantage of Tim and Cass being here like this, and them all getting along. She'd missed out on the opportunity before. It wasn't going to happen again.

"Then Tim can come, bring healthy food." It's a flawless plan, really.

And walking with Steph like this is nice. She had been a little worried that with Tim there, with all of her friends she's had for years, that there wouldn't be room for Cassandra too. The idea of not being able to have a place in Stephanie's life makes Cass feel sick and sad, but she's lucky. There is room for her still, all this time has passed for Stephanie but she hasn't been left behind. Steph hasn't outgrown her, still wants her close.

Her grip on Steph tightens, just a little.

"Ready for trip. It's..." She trails off a moment, trying to find the right word. "Exhausting, being Cassandra. Want to be Batgirl. Feel useless, here. Want to... make difference."

Perfectly flawless.

There would always be room in Steph's life for Cass, no many how many years had gone by. To be honest, Steph was (and has) been worried that she'd grown into a person too different from what Cass remembered. Tim had praised her for her growth and maturity, but it was still something to get used to.

"Yeah. When there's not a lot of crime to fight, it leaves you feeling very civilian. Which is nice, every now and then, but it does get old fast. I guess that's one of the reasons why I'm not too strict with the whole dual-identity thing here, which of course thrills Tim."

And Cassandra is not good at being a civilian. She's not had very much practice at it, what with Bruce being more interested in keeping her close, keeping her learning from him than letter her go out and experience life. But she doesn't really mind that, she liked being with Bruce. Batman and Batgirl had felt good. Cassandra on her own feels awkward and strange.

"Don't like it. Would rather... wear suit always. Tim makes me... do normal clothes." She only concedes to that because he does worry so much and she doesn't want to be the cause of that, but it's getting old. She's not sure how much longer it's going to last.

Stephanie grins at that. Tim was definitely the stickler out of the three of them. She can't really blame him, of course--there was always the chance that someone unpleasant from home could show up and become a big problem. But Steph's dealt with both the Joker and Hush in Paradisa, and is set in her ways. She just sort of humors him.

"Would it help if you and me went on a shopping trip when we get back from the expedition? You do have a big closet to fill up, at the new place."

Shopping isn't really something Cass cares about, but spending more time with Steph? Yeah, she can agree to that.

"Yes. Have just been... wishing for clothes." Which is kind of sad, really. She could be wishing for any kind of clothes and what does she pick? Jeans and hoodies and sneakers. She's never had to get her clothes herself, it was always either provided by Cain before she ran away or by Alfred after she arrived in Gotham. Style isn't something Cass ever learned about.

"It's a little more fun when you can go around and pick out stuff. We'll make a date out of it and have lunch or dinner, too." Focusing on fun stuff is a good way to not focus on the goop on her body.

The goop that Cass is doing an incredibly effective job of ignoring. She'd even forgotten it for a few minutes, is only Stephanie's body language that reminds her of it. In answer, Cass leans over to kiss her cheek.

"Would like date with you. Will be... first one." She pauses, frowning thoughtfully. "Guess it won't count. Since, Tim."

She's fairly certain you aren't supposed to go on dates with two different people, despite the example Tim has set in the past.

"I'm a good first date, if I do say so myself," she replies, not conceited at all. "And it still counts. Friends can go on dates, too. Tim will understand."

Girl dates are more fun, sometimes.

"Is this... before date with Ezio, or after?" If they're calling get togethers dates now is that what the three of them going out at night will be?

"Why not both?" Makes sense to her. Date with Cass, date with Ezio and Cass, date with Cass again, maybe with Ezio third wheeling? "He doesn't mind being dragged on shopping trips, either. He can carry our stuff. Makes him happy. All of this is probably going to have to wait until after the expedition, though."

Hopefully the stains went away by then, too.

"That's okay. We'll be... closer, then. Know each other better." She assumes they'll all spend a lot of time together, considering she doesn't really know a lot of people here yet. It'll be good, team bonding and stuff.

"You'll have a lot of time to get to know Ezio better on the trip," she nods. She's excited to spend time with the two of them--seriously, what couldn't they accomplish with two Batgirls and an Assassin?

Cass takes a moment to really get a good look at Stephanie now, taking in everything her body is saying.

"You want that? For me to... know him well?" The excitement is one thing, but if a friendship with Ezio is something Stephanie wants her to have it's something Cass will pursue more seriously.

Steph looks at her and nods. She holds a lot of affection for Ezio, perhaps just as much as she does for her friends from Gotham. It's been disappointing (and understandable) that he and Tim haven't gotten along, but there's hope for him and Cass.

"He's a good person. A good ally, too. If you think he'd be a good friend, too, then of course I want you to get to know him better."

Well, that settles that.

"Will try, then." To make Steph happy, but also because Ezio is interesting, because he understands the background she's from. Assassin training isn't really something she feels comfortable talking about with Stephanie or Tim, it makes their bodies tell her how sad they are, but it's commonplace for Ezio. There's something nice about just getting a nod and a similar story instead of instant sadness and regret and sometimes, fear.

But now is Steph time, and Steph is still sticky and covered in tar.

"Are we almost to... where we're going, yet?"

"Almost!"

It's not too long before they reach the onsen, a hot pool separated into two sides--one for men, one for women, and an open end for mingling. Steph does her best not to think about accidentally brushing up to Ezio's parts the last time they were there. How was she supposed to know you're supposed to go in naked?

Anyway, she leads Cass to the changing hut and starts taking off her clothes, leaving them covered in tar.

"I have no idea how I'm putting those back on, but we'll figure that out when we get to it."

Cass follows Stephanie's lead and starts to undress as well, but when she sees her friend getting... flustered? She turns her back, giving her privacy.

"Will help you. Can we... wish for new clothes, out here?" Or does wishing only work inside the walls of the castle. She really isn't sure of the mechanics here, hasn't really seen a need to ask these questions until now. "If not, can wear mine. I'll wear... tar stuff."

Share the burden and all that.

"Don't think it works out here, but I can manage with these. Worst case scenario, I cover up the important parts and just run back."

She's kidding. The last thing she needs this week is to go streaking through the grounds.

Once all the clothes are shed, Steph heads out into the water. She makes some strange grunts and squeaks as she gets used to the water, but it's definitely not unpleasant.

"Hot?" There has to be some cause for all that noise making, right?

Once they're both in Cass cups some water in her hands and brings it up to the ends of Steph's hair, trying to get some of the tar out for her.

"Hot, but nice."

She situates herself close to Cass, grinning a little at her attempt to wash the tar out. The heat does seem to make whatever dry tar loosen, at least, though her hands are still covered with it.

At least she doesn't feel quite as gross.

"So, let's have the report. Have you been settling in okay, Cass? I mean, in a general sense. Paradisa can be kinda crazy to get used to."

Cass just shrugs.

"I miss Bludhaven. Miss... having a mission." She's still working on her hair, picking little bits of tar out and leaving them floating in the water. It's not much progress, but it's magic tar so that kind of makes sense.

Cass and Ezio are similar in that regard. It's easier for Tim and Steph to slip into the civilian lifestyle. Cass never really had that to begin with, and Ezio lost his a long time ago.

"It'll be easier once you find something to sink yourself into."

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