Joshua Christopher (
ofhope) wrote in
paradisalogs2013-06-25 06:07 pm
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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 bathausenemy camp
when; june 25/26
rating; pg for now
what; surprise visit!
where; the bathaus
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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"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.
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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."
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"Why?"
She wants to lie and say Cass isn't around, but she's gotten into enough trouble with lies lately.
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"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.
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"Cass, you have a visitor."
Stephanie doesn't bother masking that she's not exactly excited.
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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?"
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"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.
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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.
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"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?"
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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."
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Except it sort of is, because she wants nothing to do with Joshua.
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"See you later, then..."
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"Be careful of any stray velociraptors that could have followed us back."
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Adios, suckers. And by suckers, she means Joshua. Because he sucks.
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"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.
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"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.
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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?"
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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?"
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"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."
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"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."
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"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."
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"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."
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"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."
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"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?"
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"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?"
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"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."
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"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?"
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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."
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"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."
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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."
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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.
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"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."