sixthiterationlogs | (no subject)

WHO: Stephanie Brown
WHERE: The Fountain, 6I inn
WHEN: July 16
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: Violence and injury in the narrative

A moment ago (or maybe it was hours, who could even tell anymore?) Steph would have told you she was dead. It seemed obvious. She'd been fighting for hours before she was captured, throwing herself against enemy after enemy in a desperate attempt to get things under control. Then she'd been in the hands of a sadist for... days? Weeks? A lifetime. Getting shot in the chest was just icing on the cake. Definitely dead, she would have told you.

Now she burst through the water's surface with a gasp like a quiet scream. There was only one thought in her head: If I'm alive, I want to stay that way. She dragged herself to the edge of the fountain with sheer desperation, certain she was still in the clutches of the Black Mask.

[ Later ]

The inn was like something out of a movie. Then again, Steph’s experience with hotels was pretty limited to Gotham City shitholes where criminals go to hide. She tried not to think about that as she hugged the peacoat tight around herself next to the fire. It probably wasn’t the best look for a girl, staring blankly into a fire, huddled in a coat on a warm summer evening, but her black scrub top was still drying next to her. And besides, the warmth was comforting after a frankly harrowing however-long-it-was.

She didn’t shy away from company, she just didn’t seek it out either. She seemed more adrift than anything. She wasn’t sure where she wanted to go or what she wanted to do.

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"So do I. Sometimes that means being open to the possibility of them being an ass." She shrugged. She didn't want to convince him to hate his brother based solely on a criminal record, but it was something of a sore spot.

She took a hardier sip of her tea now, doing her best not to grimace at the bitterness.

"Oh, Dante is an ass." So was Vergil though, so it evened out. Even if they were different breeds of jackasses. Vergil on the other hand seemed just fine with his bitter tea. "Anyway, I suppose you have been given the welcome speech and the run down?"

“Yeah, I guess so. Something about Observers and controlling the environment. I wasn’t really paying attention.” She shrugged. She had more urgent matters on her mind coming out of the fountain.

"Yes, the same things I was explained when I arrived. Just a few days before you." He replied with a shrug. "Well, alas, I am still to new to offer much more than that."

"Doesn't really matter," she concludes.

"I'll figure it out, or I won't. For now I'm just glad I can sit for a while."

Vergil pushed himself up offering a kind smile. "Sometimes that is the best thing to do. I wish you all the luck, Steph. I should get back to my research."

She smiles in return. If nothing else, she's grateful that he offered a distraction.

"Thanks. You too, Vergil."

A playful mocked salute returned as he moved back towards the stairs. "Don't mention it."