100,38 - Two roads diverged and they both looked pretty nice actually

[ichoosefight]

[ Video ]

[ Steph sits at her desk, as usual when she makes video posts. She's been affected by the flood, but she doesn't look particularly different. She's always been very good at hiding her scars, and although her clothes cover most of them she has makeup over one slash across her cheek. Dodged a bullet - literally. ]

You know what I don't understand? I mean, it's probably a human nature thing - sorry, sentient being nature. Whenever there's a flood we all climb on top of each other trying to figure out what it is. But either someone's affected and they know it and they can tell us flat out, or they don't know it and there's no way to figure out what's different until after. So, if there's no obvious danger, why bother? Now don't get me wrong, I'm the curious cat incarnate, it just seems kinda silly in the grand scheme of things, doesn't it?

[ She shrugs. Food for thought. Then she turns the video to private. ]

[ Private to Doyle ]

How goes it, inmate mine? Still in your own skin? [ Doyle's always been a bit dour, but Steph counters it with high spirits, good humor and a stern tone, even when he does something wrong. It seems to work better for her than sinking to his level of spookiness. ]

[ Private to Jon ]

Hey lover, I haven't seen you all day. What have you been up to?

Comments

[ichoosefight]

Questions like, do you remember meeting me?

[theonlyresponse]

Yes.

[Beat.]

Do you remember me?

[He hopes she will, but she probably doesn't.]

[ichoosefight]

Tall Dark and Gloomy? How could I not?

[ She smiles more easily now. Maybe it was a false alarm. ]

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

[Okay this is weird. That's Barbara, not him.]

I think you're affected by the flood.

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

What makes you think that? Everyone else seems to think I'm the same as ever.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

Tall, Dark, and Broody. I know someone who fits that description, but it's not me. Hence, you're different.

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

Not - [ She snorts. She can't help herself. Bruce Wayne, anything other than Tall Dark and Broody? Couldn't be. ]

Oh man. You are so affected. When you first got here you were an inmate, remember? Didn't hardly talk to anyone?

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

[But here he is, Steph. Cheery, mild-mannered Dr. Wayne. He smiles even. But now he's just frowning.]

No, I've always been a warden.

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

[ But that is so weird! ]

Unless everyone else I know is affected, I'm pretty sure you're the one who's changed.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

But [He looks disappointed.] What happened to him?

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

I don't think I can really answer that unless you tell me what happened to you.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

First - who is Spoiler?

[Please still be her :(]

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

Nobody. Not for a long time. [ Only a year or two, but it seems like longer. ] Not since I became Batgirl.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

[He sighs and looks down, at his feet.]

I see. My world doesn't have this... Batgirl.

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

[ What but no she was pretty sure it did and also why? At least she knows Cass isn't around in his world already. ]

What about Babs?

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

She's there.

[He's not outing her, though.]

There's vigilantes, mostly women.

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

Okay, but she's like, she's okay? You're scaring me here. [ Of all the things that could have changed, please tell her Babs is okay. ]

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

Of course she's all right. [Almost indignant, and protective. He treats her, for crying out loud.] Why?

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

Because! [ Babs looked after her when Bruce refused to. They got very, very close. ] She's like a second mother to me. After what happened with the Joker I think I'm allowed to be worried about changing histories.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

The Joker? [He frowns, and his expression becomes black as thunder.] The Laughing Man, you mean? What did he do?

[This alt universe stuff is... worrying now.]

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

You don't know? [ Forgive her lack of tact, she's really been thrown for a loop. ]

He... attacked her. Crippled her.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

[Both hands cover his mouth in shock.]

When?

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

[ This is the real reason they don't give spoilers. She tries desperately to repair the damage. ] It was years ago, before I even got started. She's fine now. Just, you know, in a wheelchair.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

Oh. I -- I see.

[Trying to recover, nbd.]

[Private]

[ichoosefight]

[ Oh god. This is not going according to plan. ]

I'm sorry. This is really weird. Like, weirder than normal.