exsilium | 2nd. ( video. )

Entry tags:

2nd. ( video. )

( The problem here was, so far as Ellie could see it, was that there were people. Too many people, a claustrophobic press of Transports jammed in so that she felt like she suddenly had some idea what it was like for cattle to be run through the crush. Whether or not they were all destined for an abattoir was another matter entirely.
Not just that, but they weren't the right people. Some of them seemed decent enough, but they weren't her human safety blanket or the guy that kept them all going, or the one that she could always feel superior to. (To be honest, it was a relief none of them were Lee.)

This might be why she is addressing the network from one of the bombed out buildings rather than her place, which she hasnt visited for a few days. Ellie's just surrounded by debris, dirt and water damaged walls, though some of the prior are concealed by some pretty massive piles of paper. She's propping herself up on her elbows, not looking right at the device. )

I was wondering what there is around here in the way of record keeping. I mean, these things have got a lot on them, but something other than that. Pens, paper - the tangible stuff. In case the network fails, or something.

There's probably already something, but I haven't had time to figure all that out yet. And maybe if there isn't, we should make one. Record the people who have been here, what they know, experiences and stuff. Not just stuff that happens here, but before. Or, um, elsewhere, I guess. Wherever home is.

( Despite this being a video broadcast, and deliberately so, she has to yet glanced at the camera. She does now, very briefly, but there is a definite guilty expression to it. Ellie opens her mouth again, but thinks better of it. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She tightens her hold, not that it can get much tighter, and slides her hand up from between Ellie's shoulder blades to curl gently around the nap of her neck.]

Sure does. And I'm kind of known for being hard to get rid of once I set my mind to something.

[Not that she wouldn't back off straight away if Ellie ever asked, but she knows that's not really what they're talking about right now.]

( admittedly it was cr that she hugged a lot but still )

( Gradually, her breathing calms. ) Set your mind? Are the bad puns deliberate, now?

( Ellie suspects that she should just stop talking about serious things, let them stay in this comfortable place where teasing and joking and cuddling are the staples of their interaction. The other stuff is too painful. Even so, it feels off to hold things back from Steph. She's rather cut her belly open so Steph could see the whole twisted mess of it, and then she can decide if she stays or goes. )

[Steph waits until Ellie calms down, laughing a little at the criticism.]

That one was entirely punintentional.

[Because why say "pun unintended" when you can say "punintentional".

She's glad things are settling again. It's not like she isn't used to tense conversation, but it's nicer to just joke around.]

( That would be a punch to Steph's shoulder. Very light, but definitely a punch. ) You're terrible.

( Not that the hug was sacrificed to allow her to bat Steph, though. Priorities, after all. ) God, I think we might need to upgrade waffles and milkshakes to something bigger, after all this.

( It's so novel that she can just go somewhere and buy food, now, but it's a massive relief. Not that she's taken care to eat enough the last few days, holed up and crunching away at dry noodles and then having to drink vast amounts of water to make up for it. )

You love it. [Robins are supposed to pun, after all.

And she just lets Ellie punch her, because doing otherwise would require her to stop hugging, which she doesn't want to do.]

I dunno, waffles and milkshakes are pretty good comfort food. I guess we could add ice cream.

[She's probably going to end up trying to pay for it all, as an apology for snapping at Ellie.]

Sometimes.

( Grumbled, but she's smiling a bit against Steph's neck, tucked up comfortably under her chin. Weak, but still smiling. )

You're such a sugar addict. ( Never mind the whole milkshake thing was her idea, nor that she has been known to empty entire tubes of condensed milk into her mouth in one sitting.

NO STEPH THAT IS NOT HOW ASKING SOMEONE OUT FOR FOOD WORKS ELLIE WILL PAY )

The puns are part of the job, you'll get used to them.

[Since Ellie is obviously going to be hanging around her a lot.]

You're the one who was easily bribed with chocolate. [Don't start with her, Ellie. Regardless of whether Steph actually has a sweet tooth.]

I like puns. ( Fine, she'll admit it.

Hey now. It's a half-hearted protest, but a protest all the same. ) I could be bribed with a slice of bread, idiot.

( Maybe not right now, but when she's starving, yes. ) Buttery toast is better than chocolate, any day.

I should introduce you to the Robins. [She's not sure if that's actually a good idea or not, but she can imagine Ellie and Jason getting along, at least. Maybe Ellie and Carrie.]

What about buttery toast with nutella? That's kind of both.

[Now she wants nutella...]

Do their outfits have little beaks?

( Otherwise she will not be impressed. )

That sounds really good.

( Hmm. ) Or vegemite. Or cinnamon sugar. Or mashed banana and honey.

( What was that she was saying about Steph's sweet tooth... )

No! [This is probably the most defensive she has ever been about superhero stuff, you just dont make fun of Robins, okay.] They're just-- It's a long story.

[And not really hers to tell. They're Robin because it was what Dick's mom called him.]

You need a moment with your thoughts, there?

[Not that she can't blame Ellie for thinking about food a lot. She remembers what it feels like to be starving.]

Okay, sorry. ( Immediately feeling a bit guilty, pressing herself little harder against Steph. Reflex more than anything. ) I'm sorry.

( For once, she doesn't pester for the story. )

Don't encourage me, I might start drooling on you.

It's okay. [She smooths her hand down Ellie's back, a silent apology] Robin's just... It's important.

[It was some of the happiest moments of her life. She remembers the look on Cass's face the first time she saw Steph in the Robin suit, she remembers swinging through the air and laughing with delight.

Her throat suddenly feels a little tight, but she tries to ignore it.] Well you already drool on my pillow.

Robyns are like that. ( Contact reassures her, and she exhales in silent relief. )

I do not. You drool on your pillow.

( It's totally Ellie. ) And you snore.

( Okay now she's just teasing. Trying to get back to that lightheartedness, scrabbling a little. )

[She's heard the name before, but she decides to leave it be for now, to let Robins and Robyns and their important just have their silence for a little while.

And she'll let Ellie have that lightheartedness.]

I'm allowed to drool on my pillow, it's my pillow. And I don't snore.

[She's trained to wake up at the slightest noise; she'd never sleep if she snored.]

It's still your drool. No Australian sourced saliva on your pillow, sweetheart.

( She grins a little. )

Fine. Maybe it's your roommates.

You know I can do a DNA test, right?

[She has the resources to do a basic contrast and compare test, and if she had access to better equipment she could do a proper test.]

I'll have to soundproof my room, then.

[She could do that, too.]

( Okay, okay. She pulls back, cocking an eyebrow. ) You were one of those science nerds in school, weren't you? Like in tv shows with science fairs and stuff. We don't do that weird stuff in Australia, you know. That's just your lot.

( Extremely fondly said, even with the gentle mockery. )

Nerd.

[Steph just crinkles her nose in distaste, but there's amusement, too.] I'm not very smart at all. [She says it lightly, but there's something about it that suggests it could be serious. She makes a bad habit of comparing herself to Babs, Tim, Bruce.]

But what I do, it's not just punching bad guys. We're detectives, at the end of the day, we go to crime scenes and track down criminals. I had to learn all forensics, including how to do DNA tests.

[She nearly made a CSI reference, before remembering that Ellie wouldn't get it.]

( She doesn't buy the humour in it. The corners of her mouth tugs into a frown. )

But you're not smart. You're just a detective, and fight crime, and can do forensics. And all the other stuff, like treating wounds.

( Oh, Stephanie. )

[Her smile twists into something a little rueful]

You should meet the other Bats, the ones back home. My friend took the bar because she got bored, got a law degree from Harvard just 'cause she had some time between tracking down supervillains and managing half the superheroes in the world. and my ex, he's not even eighteen yet and he runs a multinational corporation.

[She looks at Ellie, a sort of do you see? expression on her face, and just shrugs. She might be good at what she does, but she doesn't think she's very smart.]

Okay, Steph. All right.

( She puts her hands on Steph's shoulders, steering her back towards her bed and sitting her down, before crouching in front of her. )

Okay. Your mate got a law degree, went to a big fancy school? And your ex, ( that feels unpleasant on her tongue ) runs a multinational corporation.

( Right, she's mulling this over. Give her a moment. ) We've got a word for people like that back home. A couple, actually: freaks, and show-offs.

( A hopeful little grin. ) I'd rather you were Steph the battler than Steph who can juggle six chainsaws, perform open heart surgery and teach a law class at Harvard. None of that matters. At the end of the day, who you are is bigger than stuff like that. I couldn't give two craps about the other stuff. The multinational guys and the lawyers have done jack all to help us.

[She lets Ellie lead her to the bed, even sits down, but she frowns at everything that's said.]

They're good people. They're vigilantes, too.

[She doesn't like the thought of Ellie putting down Babs and Tim just to make Steph feel better. Because she loves them both, even if things aren't the same with her and Tim, even if Babs can be kind of frustrating sometimes.

Still, she knows what Ellie is trying to do, and she appreciates the sentiment.]

But thanks. [She manages a little smile.] It'd be pretty cool if I could juggle chainsaws.

Them being good people is what matters, not the rest of it. And you're a good person, too.

( She shrugs, awkward, and drops her gaze. ) I don't reckon I would've done too good without you here. You don't need to be some genius to be smart and good and make a difference. Comparing yourself to people like that'll just make you crazy.

( Besides, she knows how painful doing it can be. ) I'm never going to be like Robyn or Corrie, and maybe they weren't geniuses or lawyers or nothing like that, but they were smart and good and made a difference.

( Hmm. ) And if you were any smarter I'd never hear the end of it.

[She's quiet for a little while, trying to process everything that Ellie's said. Mostly she's just trying to let it sink in. She knows Ellie's right, but it's hard to ignore the way she's thought about herself ]

I'm glad I met you.

[It sounds so awkward, like it's not really enough to say thank you for everything Ellie has done, but it's all she's got. Well, that and a warm, soft smile.]

You should be careful not to talk me up too much, then you really won't hear the end of it.

[Not the best joke, but it's her way of saying that she's heard what Ellie has said, that she's taking it to heart, but also that she isn't sure how to respond with words. Sometimes jokes are the best she's got.]

2nd. ( video. )

maybe a whole tag???? no who am i kidding

how was i sleepy enough that i wrote the name of CR from a past game LMAO oh me

lmao I wasn't gonna say anything

It's totally short for Steph right it makes perfect sense

I can see it

yes good you can stay

well i am so glad you are allowing me to

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)