0027 - [Video]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Finally - after having his room stripped of supplies twice, after the Mirror Barge nonsense and allies lost and warden annoyances - Scorpius is holding in his hands the sum of the hours he's spent cooped up in his cabin.

He stands up from his work desk, holding what looks to be a ridiculously sharp and extravagant blade to be fitted over an arm. It has other uses - to pick up delicate things, to turn doorknobs and so on - but the chief inspiration seems to come from excessive weaponry.

Scorpius fits it over his own arm, and with a heave, turns his arm to cut into the wall next to him. The blade embeds itself into the wall some three inches deep before stopping. Satisfied, he pulls it free and sets it back on the table]

I believe your replacement is ready, Horatio.

Comments

[ichoosefight]

You know that I did.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Then perhaps you ought to find more pleasant company in the future.

[ichoosefight]

That's just crazy talk. I can't kick pleasant company's face in.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Whom do you have, in your own world? Who is pleasant to you?

[ichoosefight]

The Birds. [ Her answer is instantaneous. ] Babs, Huntress, Dinah, Batgirl. Poor Tim is trying so hard to avoid me, but I haven't made it easy for him. I keep trying to tell him, Batman will have to get over the whole Black Mask thing eventually.

[ It does not occur to her that she hasn't named a single person not in the vigilante business. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Scorpius, however, catches onto this rather quickly, given their names. He gives a grim smile]

Any person who does not run around in a cape?

[ichoosefight]

[ For an embarrassingly long couple of seconds, she's stumped. ]

My mom? And the people I volunteer with are pretty decent, most of the time.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You don't find an issue with this?

[ichoosefight]

Well, no. I love my friends, and I love my job. That's what you're supposed to aim for, isn't it?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Not necessarily. I was fond of my position as well.

[ichoosefight]

But you didn't love your friends.

[ He didn't have friends, really. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Let's not pretend I had friends, Stephanie. I had coworkers, allies, subordinates and superiors. Never friends.

[ichoosefight]

Makes all the difference, you know.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Yet for a vast multitude of reasons, it will never happen.

[ichoosefight]

Aw, don't be like that. You have friends! You made Horatio a monstrous scorpion looking swiss army hand, didn't you?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

And how long will it be before he disappears as well?

You must admit I have a record for making allies and losing them.

[ichoosefight]

People leave. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't. That's not limited to you, or to the barge.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

And yet aside from you and Horatio, it has happened to every person I have managed to..

...I hesitate to use the word 'befriend', for obvious reasons.

You must admit it's been a poor string of luck.

[ichoosefight]

[ She smiles, pleased by the hint that he likes her. ]

No, I can't really argue with you there.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[You're annoying and perky and you don't like science, but...damn, Steph, you're stern but fair. Fairness isn't something he sees a lot of, and he's grown attached to that, at least]

What will you do, when the time comes for us to unpair?

[He leaves the question of whether he will graduate unanswered. It's more likely he believes that either he or Stephanie will leave not of their own will]

[ichoosefight]

You mean when you graduate?

[ She raises her eyebrows at him, unwavering in her conviction that he will eventually graduate. ]

Head home for a bit then come back, I guess.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Jesus, Stephanie, stop assuming that's ever gonna happen. Scorpius turns an unamused look back at her]

You would continue to warden?

[ichoosefight]

Of course. This place is as much home to me as Gotham ever was.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

...Stephanie, I wish to speak candidly with you for a minute.

You are young. And while you have much more worldly experience than nearly all people your age, you are still young, and already at the risk of becoming jaded before your time.

If the Barge is as much a home to you as Gotham, go to Gotham. You may not be aging physically while you're here, but too much time spent in a prison will age your mind and your emotions, even if you have the option of leaving.

Something to consider, while we wait out our time here together.

[ichoosefight]

[ It's always a little startling when he's sweet. For once she doesn't grin like an ass, because he does make a good point. ]

I'll be okay. I lost my chance at a life once. I'm not going to let it pass me up again.