paradisalogs | we should form a new foundation;

Entry tags:

we should form a new foundation;

who; joshua christopher & cassandra cain (w/ a super jazzed appearance by stephanie brown)
what; surprise visit!
where; the bathaus ~~enemy camp~~
when; june 25/26
rating; pg for now

After hearing that Cassandra had helped keep Lucrezia from doing Something Stupid the night Joshua had lured the mother T-Rex away, it's only polite to thank her or something, right? He never really saw her wear fancy things, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to make it nice. There's no rush to shopping in the city on a good day like this, having been in a better place since reuniting with Lucrezia and then Stopping that T-Rex (not that anyone was grateful, but what does he care).

When Joshua knocks at the front door, the bouquet of pink roses is pretty impossible to hide, so hopefully whoever answers will appreciate them.

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There are only a handful of people Steph would expect to be knocking on her door, so when she opens it, it takes a moment for the pleasant smile on her face to drop into a deep, concerned frown.

"Joshua," she says, hesitantly, mind scrambling to figure out why on earth this guy would be here with... roses. Uh. Stephanie keeps her hand on the door, blocking his view into the home she shares with Cass and Tim. That's their space, not his.

"Can I help you?"

Maybe he's lost. Please, get lost.

Oh, right, did she live with Stephanie and the other conspirators? It had slipped his mind, like things do, but he rolls with it. What does it matter to him? The complete and utter rudeness is almost amusing; at least she isn't even trying to hide those dark thoughts of hers anymore. It's better that way, isn't it?

But still, he doesn't forget his manners, lowering the bouquet. He's never been anything but polite to Stephanie, and there's no reason to negate that just because she was raised in a barn with bats or something.

"Hello, Miss Brown. Is Miss Cain here? I brought something for her."

The childlike request just makes Stephanie's annoyance soar through the roof. Joshua was not a reminder of nice things. He makes her think of Lucrezia now, first and foremost, and that makes a spot near her shoulder blade ache.

"Why?"

She wants to lie and say Cass isn't around, but she's gotten into enough trouble with lies lately.

And, really, is it worth the risk with him, Stephanie? You just never know when it will kick in, that pesky 'noise' of yours, and you aren't keeping it very quiet, after all, Miss Thang.

"No offense intended, Miss, but that's between the two of us. Would you mind calling for her, or should I come back later?"

Because he'll probably forget to, and then Stephanie can definitely be thrilled.

Her grip on the door tightens momentarily before she pulls her head back into the house and calls out.

"Cass, you have a visitor."

Stephanie doesn't bother masking that she's not exactly excited.

What a strange tone to go along with something that, really, should be a good thing. It's not like Cass gets visitors all that often, you should be happy she's making friends Stephanie!

The body language is weird too, but it makes a little more sense when she sees it's Joshua on the other side of the door. After giving Steph an unimpressed, are you for real you didn't even invite him in kind of look, she smiles at Joshua.

"Hi. Want to... come inside?"

Ah, yes, there. Someone who isn't inherently rude, making his smile a little more sincere, though how focused his gaze is always debatable. Joshua actually needs a moment to consider her offer. When he's not seeking to annoy someone, he doesn't particularly enjoy being around real animosity, even when he can't hear their noise. But it's not going anywhere, so he just nods and waits until he can step in before holding out the roses.

"I read that the light pink is supposed to mean admiration, and the dark pink is supposed to convey thanks." So the bouquet has both, because he was indecisive. And he'll hold out a small box with it, with a bracelet and charm inside, made out of brass, silver and wood.

Steph gives Cass an are you serious look back.

It's not so cool, being around two people that could read you easily. She feels like she could puke a bit. Really, what was this? Kiss butt harder, Joshua. Stephanie steps back to grab her wallet off the table, and to let Joshua in without him having to brush past her.

She'd had a rose once, back in Gotham. It had even made the move to Bludhaven with her and now it's safely in Brenda's care, so seeing roses again would be enough to make her smile wider even without seeing they're meant to be a present. She'll open the little box later, after Steph has... left?

"Thank you. You didn't... have to do this." But it's clear she's touched, she can count on one hand the number of presents she's ever been given. Moving to let Joshua in as well, she reaches for Steph's arm.

"You're leaving?"

He shrugs in response. Does Joshua ever do anything only because he has to? Even when he takes orders, they're in line with whatever goals he's set for himself, too. "I did it because I wanted to." It wasn't even Lucrezia's suggestion, but Joshua enjoys picking out gifts, because it's fun to look for unique things, and it's not like he's ever worried about money being an issue, anyway.

Joshua stands back and watches as Stephanie goes to leave. He doesn't even understand why Cassandra is stopping her, when it's obvious he's the reason she's going, but since it's clear she doesn't want her to go...

"I make her uncomfortable. I can leave, since this is her home as well as yours. I brought you what I meant to."

"I'm gonna go get a drink," and by drink, she means milkshake, not booze. Don't worry. She gently takes her arm back. "I'll let you two talk. It's no big deal."

Except it sort of is, because she wants nothing to do with Joshua.

Well, this isn't exactly ideal, but Cass won't force anything on them. She moves to kiss Stephanie's cheek, then lets go of her so she can make her exit.

"See you later, then..."

Joshua would have tolerated her staying, of course, even if it was less ideal for him. He'll still wave to Stephanie before she goes, at least, even if it will probably be taken as an insult. Whether he's rude or polite, it probably doesn't matter.

"Be careful of any stray velociraptors that could have followed us back."

"Later." She gives Cass the briefest of smiles, ignoring Joshua completely, and heads out the door.

Adios, suckers. And by suckers, she means Joshua. Because he sucks.

After Steph has gone and Cass has closed the door behind her, she gives Joshua a sympathetic smile. She doesn't apologize for Stephanie's actions though, this is clearly a long standing thing and she doesn't think either of them would appreciate her speaking on Steph's behalf.

"The flowers... really are pretty. Glad to see... you're okay."

She's okay too, her scratches and scrapes mostly healed up by now. Dinosaur land still kind of sucked, but at least it was better than crazy space adventures.

Joshua has no reaction to the smile, but he does appreciate she doesn't try to defend the blonde. Stephanie has issues, and she won't bother to overcome them. What else is there to say, when it's so obvious?

"It's rude to show up at a girl's door empty-handed." He quotes, but again, he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't wanted to. "Besides, I heard you went looking for me. At least that's what she said, though I hope you didn't because that wouldn't have been smart."

Really, he's just thanking her for appeasing Lucrezia and keeping her out of trouble, rather than actually seeking him out.

"Hard to kill." Well, more like she doesn't stay dead when she does die, but close enough. "Besides, wanted to... try to help. Never found you, though."

The present is distracting her though, so she nods the couch so he can sit if he'd like. She's just about to open it when she realizes she should probably try to be accommodating to his visit.

"Do you, uh... want drink? Food?"

Why sit, when he can look around instead? Not that he'll be opening anything ~~yet~~, but whatever's available in the living room he's checking out in idle curiosity. Although unless there's some artifact he's never seen before or some interesting books...

"Do you have any Coke? Or chips?"

Cass doesn't have much in the way of possessions, so anything that Joshua might find will belong to Tim or Stephanie. As a result of Tim's paranoia carefulness, that means there won't be anything incriminating. A few pictures, some books, a DVD collection, and a whole host of other things Cass has never actually paid that much attention to.

"Yes. Have both, hang on." And she'll go to get them both drinks and returns with an unopened bag of chips just for him. When she returns, she smiles at him and hands the food over. "Here you go."

He'll observe the pictures with a blank expression, but turns when she comes back, and he'll finally sit so that he can accept the treats. Ah, offered without any complaint, now while he is impressed by girl power, he still likes it when they know how to be proper hosts. As if modern civilization abandoned manners for the sake of individualism, at least that's been Joshua's take on it so far.

"Thank you." He opens the soda first, taking a sip while watching her absently. What else do people say when they're guests? He has almost no experience in the matter of...actually being a guest. Who would ever invite him? No one. But he has seen movies; read books, and been trained by Aion once upon a time, so he pulls from that. "You have a beautiful home."

Does she? She looks around a bit before sitting down beside him, considering that.

"Tim decorated, while we... were on expedition. It's his stuff, and Stephanie's. Will tell them... that you said so, though."

Maybe they'll give him a little more credit, even if she can tell he's just going through the motions. She smiles at him as she pops her own soda can open.

"Just be yourself. Don't worry... about what you should say. Just talk."

Her phrasing only flares up some suspicion; pupils shrinking and the unusual rings in his irises seeming to expand and then shrink as well, completely focused on her and what her aim is. She seems sincere, but that could only mean she's an excellent liar. Not that Joshua has much to hide, but he's aware of Tim and Stephanie's opinions through Lucrezia, and he can't help but find it unusual someone who lives with and is so close with them would have such a different opinion of him.

"I'm always...myself. What do you want me to talk about?" He looks to her grip on her soda, her feet, her shoulders and the arch of her back, then her eyes again; gaze empty and yet somehow calculating. "...You haven't opened your present yet."

"Anything. Lucrezia, the weather, kittens. That hot chocolate... was very good." To Cass, it doesn't really matter what they talk about. His reaction is interesting but it doesn't provoke any real reaction from her in turn, she just smiles and reaches for the present.

"You're right, got distracted. Will open now."

She's genuine in her curiosity and outright excitement in getting a gift, opening the box and looking immediately pleased by what she finds. Carefully she lifts the bracelet from the box for a better look. Bruce had a chess set, she knows what this is.

"A knight."

Hot chocolate? Oh, right... Joshua just takes another sip of his soda, ignoring the bag of chips for the moment, but relaxing a bit as her focus returns to the box, and inevitably what's inside. Then smiles again, arm propped against the back of the couch while he leans over to set down the soda and reach out to tap the charm, making it twirl.

"It's just wood and brass, but you seem to like more simplistic styles... And a knight seemed fitting. At least you try, which more than I can say for anyone else." A beat. "Do you play?"

She watches the charm spin, then undoes the clasp so she can put it on.

"Don't really have style, I don't think. Never had jewelry." Her ears aren't even pierced and this is the first present she's ever gotten that wasn't a weapon of some kind. She hardly knows what to do with such a sweet gesture, but from the bright, happy expression she's got it should be clear how incredibly pleased she is with this.

"And no, never learned. Do you?"

Joshua looks mildly surprised at her not knowing chess, considering how analytical she seems to approach things. But when she does show emotion, it's something raw, something he can appreciate more than most. It makes him chuckle, sincerely.

"That's a shame. You should get your ears pierced, and I'll find earrings to match."

Finally opening the bag of chips, he rests it between them. If there are rules about only eating at the table, he better be told soon. But he'll do his best not to mess up the couch, don't worry Batfam.

"Yeah, it's a game everyone should know. A game of war tactics. I can teach you."

Just about any game that exists, Cass hasn't played it. That isn't to say she wouldn't love to, it's just that she's never had the opportunity to.

"I'd like that. Both parts."

And there's no rules about food and the furniture, so Joshua is safe. After all, it wasn't long ago that Cass and Steph were precariously balancing milkshakes while cuddling right here, so if there happens to be a mess it's not like anyone has the right to get annoyed about it. It's just a couch, anyway.

"Is it hard, to learn?"

"I'll go ahead and start searching for the earrings, then," he chuckles, ever between a joke and a promise, even with light body language, as much as one occupied with a few bruises and scrapes can be. At least it isn't hot and itchy in Paradisa. Well, it is warm, but not jungle warm.

But he shakes his head at the question while reaching for a chip. "Depends on the person, but the basics are easy. If you're patient, then you'd have no problem learning."

She's already picked up that his memory isn't the best, so if he forgets it's not something she'll take personally. The intent means enough to her, seeing that someone cares enough to think of a gift means just as much as the actual, physical thing.

"Pretty patient. Tend to... learn fast, with physical stuff." She grins at him. "Plus, will see... what move you'd make, your plans. Will have advantage."

"Oh, hm, in that case, maybe it's not such a good idea... That's always risky."

Joshua nibbles on another chip, gaze drifting towards the nearby picture frame for a moment, then back to her. "But I guess, if you're Lucrezia's knight, then it would only be mutually beneficial for us to be able to predict one another's moves."

"Can you? Predict movement?"

It's an exciting idea, someone who could do what she can. She's hopeful that it's true, that maybe she can convince him to spar with her.

He observes Cass for a long moment before responding; her position, her own body language, though when his gaze drifts back to her face he might as well see through her with those strange eyes of his.

"Pandaemonium's call can't reach here... So the noise isn't as loud, usually. But it doesn't...work that way." Not unless it's a perfect storm type of day, but she doesn't need to know that. Usually the noise only distracts and pains him during battles. But it also makes him more dangerous. "But I've fought hundreds of demons; plenty of people."

He pauses then, and adds a quick smile. "And I've played plenty of chess. I know what to look for without any noise."

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