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[spoileralert]

12:34

Friday, May 4

Verizon

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[srsbat]

[Wth, self.]

No. Explain.

[spoileralert]

[ Thats not the answer she was hoping for. She's surprised to find that it scares her, the thought that those memories might not be real. ]

Do you know about Cassandra Cain? Do you know about Orphan?

[srsbat]

I know Cain and the alias, yes.

[spoileralert]

What about after that? Do you know about me and T- Red Robin?

[srsbat]

[After a pause.] Tim. [It's strange, but he's giving them clearance to say it.]

Yes.

[spoileralert]

[ She needs a minute. She needs to sit down. She is going to sit down.

The ground is way too fucking cold she is standing up again. ]

I wasn't sure how much of it was real. I dreamed it, the last time I died - everything after my dad was killed.

[srsbat]

You're real. Likely, we're not from the same timeline. I'm aware. But you're real, Stephanie. And we're real, too. Robin, Batwoman, Nightwing, Red Robin, Orphan, even--Jason.

[spoileralert]

[ She sighs, a little limp with relief. ]

I don't know why that makes me feel better.

[ ... ]

No, that's not true. I do know. Everything went to shit when my dad tried to kill me. Now I know it really does get better.

[srsbat]

It does. Life fluctuates through good and bad. Things will always get better. I understand at times it doesn't seem as if it will, that the darkness seem endless and suffocating. But I promise it does.

Here, too. Escape may seem hopeless, but we'll find a way.

[spoileralert]

Yeah.

[ She may talk a big game, but she sounds pretty comforted. ]

Sorry, I got kind of sidetracked there. What were we talking about again?

[srsbat]

You should get some rest.

[spoileralert]

Rest? Hah! What is that?

[ When not sleeping stops being a choice... ]

[srsbat]

[He can't even talk. He's the worst one of the bunch about not resting. Not sleeping.]

How long have you been awake? Do you have any unusual symptoms? [To explain his questioning:] I read about the MN poisoning.

[spoileralert]

Depends how you define "awake". I know I must have drifted off once or twice because I remember waking up from nightmares.

[srsbat]

Any time that you have slept here, have you always had nightmares?

[spoileralert]

I could count the times I haven't on one hand. But it's not too different from back home. There's... plenty to have nightmares about.

[srsbat]

[Bruce is quiet for a long moment, thinking.] Not if nanomachines are involved. [He's just thinking of all of the consequences. Typical Bruce.] Do you feel as if any of them have been significant?

[spoileralert]

Only the ones where the previous residents of Norfinbury were talking to us. Otherwise it's all people dying and frozen wastelands.

[srsbat]

[So both, he thinks. A mixture of both, though this is only mild evidence enough to suggest there is a way to tamper with their unconsciousness.] All right.

Is there anything else I should know?

[spoileralert]

[ She hums thoughtfully. ]

Not off the top of my head--

Oh, Al - his armor can be hurt. It can bleed.

[ She doesn't want to say that he is the armor, but it's important information. ]

[srsbat]

[that sounds fake but ok]

I'll keep that in mind. [Which might not even be a problem considering... Bruce.] What are you going to do about... the object of your affections? [It was coming. He SAID he would talk about it later.]

[spoileralert]

My boyfriend?

[ Come on Bruce get over it ]

I told you I'm picking him up tomorrow.

[srsbat]

[Uggghh.] No, not tomorrow. What are you going to do about him in the end?

[spoileralert]

[ It's like a knife twisting in her chest, and her tone goes just the slightest bit cold, distancing her from the facts. ]

Marry him, buy good life insurance. Then once he's made a few million playing football arrange a little "accident". Untraceable, of course.

[srsbat]

[Admittedly, there's a pause as Bruce quickly tries to decide whether Stephanie is being honest or merely playing a tease. His own voice is painfully level.]

You know I would have to turn you over to the police.

[Surely even Stephanie is use to his dry humor.]