WHO: Stephanie Brown
WHERE: Various Outdoors
WHEN: After Take Two Part 1
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: None anticipated

The first thing Steph does when she gets home is take a long, hot shower. Definitely top priority. The second thing she does is head down into the bunker. She’s heard about people using the vending machine and nothing terrible seemed to happen as a result. She deserves a treat, she figures, and she knows exactly what power she wants.

She waits until she’s out in the open again to try it out, and isn’t disappointed. She’s small, yes, but whatever she is, she has wings.

HOUSES

established cr

One of the advantages to being small is that you attract less attention. The same holds true for being a bird. As a robin she can glide into her friend’s houses, moving quickly and then staying still to be sure she wasn’t noticed. From there she has all sorts of fun options. She can perch on top of refrigerators, swoop down and startle someone, or steal food when they aren’t looking. A little more difficult is moving small objects around, but that’s just as fun.

Her favorite, though, is waiting until the person is distracted and landing in their hair. With hollow bones and proper timing they might never notice she’s there.

WOODS

OTA

Being a bird isn't all sunshine and rainbows, of course, and not just because it's early March. Her first real, open-air flight comes to an inelegant end as, failing to out-maneuver a hawk, she changes suddenly back to human shape to foil the poor creature.

She falls with a yelp into the foliage below.

VILLAGES

OTA

When she tires of flying and trolling her friends (which takes a good while, to be sure) Steph decides to wander around both villages, gaining an appreciation of what everything looks like when you're a small handful of inches tall. She also takes the opportunity to unnerve people as much as possible.

Getting some food from the inn? Did you notice that there's a bird on top of the fridge, or the ceiling lamp in the common area?

Sitting outside to soak up what sun there is? Don't look now, but a bird's joined you on the bench, and it looks like it's bird-watching too.

Or maybe you're just going about your business, in the dojo, one of the farms, even the library. Wherever you are, a small bird has taken great interest in your doings.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Steph gives a groaning scoff, rolling her eyes.

"Please tell me you’re not talking sexcapades again. I get it, you pull. That’s awesome, go you, but you don’t have to rub it in. Some of us have been dumped kinda recently, you know."

She’s not actually angry, and there’s half a smile on her face, but she is jealous.

More sexcapades? Wait... she was there when he was talking about Lucifer. Reeve's face turns a little red and he looks away from her.

"There is something out there, a brown colored thing, small and furry. Anne says it's called a 'skunk.' I suggest avoiding them."

Turned out two of his few encounters here had been effectively on a very potent aphrodisiac. Which raised its own questions he would rather not touch.

She blinks at what seems like a total change of subject.

"Skunks are black and white."

"This one was brown," Reeve dismisses. "And from what Anne said they normally have a spray that smells bad. Just please avoid them."

Really, he doesn't want to talk about not one but two nights of debauchery because of the creatures.

"Yeah, I usually do. For exactly that reason." There’s a question in her voice, but she doesn’t ask it.

"Run into any other weird critters?"

"Just a little bird that decided to harass me in my own home, which I suppose I can accept seeing as she could go and close my kitchen window for me."

His expression softens. Frankly, he's just glad to see her around. Around and more or less safe.

She smiles fondly back.

"But if I do it for you how will you ever learn?"

"Stephanie Brown," Reeve says, and he hates taking out the full name card, but he has it thanks to the network and he intends to play it. "I am having trouble walking across the entire length of a room and the only reason I am staying warm is because I can literally conjure fire to keep me so. But I would appreciate it if, before you head out, you could do me this favor."

Which is completely reasonable for a man who takes some time to move just about anywhere.

She rolls her eyes good-naturedly. He’s not a point there.

"Reeve Tootsie-Rolls," she counters. She knows his last name, but definitely not how to pronounce it. "Of course I will. Have you thought about staying with somebody? My place has electricity, it’s pretty warm."

Can it be? Is she actually going to share her residence with someone?

"Tuesti," he corrects, and chuckles. Strangely enough, his world has those, and so he's happy for the reference. "But if you insist, I will accept Tootsie-Rolls. But only from you."

The offer, though, makes him frown. Staying with someone else. What an interesting concept. But he wouldn't know where else to go. And then she's offering, and Reeve smiles softly.

"A generous offer," he says as he smiles up at her. "It isn't a bad short term solution, of course I think I'd drive you mad if I was in close quarters to harass you."

She beams, glad to have finally made a reference he gets.

"Oh, it's Jason you'd have to worry about. You start harassing me and I can just--" She pauses to take bird shape again, flying over to land on his shoulder and peck at his face.

Well he chuckles at that, leaning his face a bit away from her pecking.

"The bigger issue is whether either of you can cook, Feathers. I'm not able to and here at least I get two square a day. One at the inn, though with some working, and one when Brigitte decides I've been too much of a hermit and will have forgotten to eat."

She flaps her wings to just brush his cheek a few times before gliding back down to change shape.

"We have to eat too. I don't mind sharing, even if you might hesitate to call it cooking."

She's definitely not comfortable with anyone else knowing where she lives, even if Jason seems to share the information with whoever, whenever.

"If it's okay with you, it might be a temporary arrangement I can stomach," Reeve admits. "Are you sure that you're comfortable with that decision?"

He can't imagine being that much of a burden on her would truly be welcome.

"Yeah, sure," she agrees easily, shoving her hands in her pockets.

"Just maybe don't advertise. I know it's probably dumb but I... still don't really like people knowing where I live." She shrugs sheepishly.

Oh. Well... "Then I can't, Steph. I'm sorry. It's a kind offer, but being able to be here to help people is something I do."

He does seem thankful that she offered though.

Steph smiles her understanding, but she's definitely embarrassed. Maybe blue-Steph was right and she does have PTSD, but it still feels bad to not be able to help your friend because you're too scared.

"Just something to think about, I guess."

"I'll keep it in mind, Steph. And you're amazingly kind to offer it to me," Reeve assures her. And there's nothing but gratitude on his face. "But, if you're willing, I might have a list of things I could use from the storehouse. And maybe an arm to help me get to the hotspring from time to time."

She's still pretty embarrassed, but she leaps on the opportunity.

"Yeah, of course! You could probably use a for-real crutch too, yeah?"

"I could, but I've no skill with working wood," Reeve smiles.

He doesn't even know if the village supplies include such a thing. What he knows is that he's doing his best to get around, and really misses Cait Sith right now.

"You're an amazing friend, Stephanie."

Oh gosh, oh no, don't say things like that! Now she's even more embarrassed, and pretty red too. She doesn't feel very amazing.

"I'm not. All that. But I'll, I'll see what I can do, you know?"

"Thanks. I'll be here. I guess I'll be easy to find for a while," Reeve smiles, because there is so much work in front of him and he might as well dedicate himself to that.

[open] This is all we got now, scream until your heart stops

HOUSES

WOODS

VILLAGES

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good ftb point. thanks!