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

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Very few things take her aback anymore. This - she wasn't expecting this.

It doesn't show in her voice.]

How well do you know me, Stephanie?

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

You've been training me for the last four years. [ More often after Batman fired her as Robin, but still. ] So I'd say I know you pretty well.

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Interesting.]

You don't work with Batman?

[She might indeed have recruited Spoiler, if he hadn't gotten involved first.]

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

[ Wow this is weird. Well, she'll just have to roll with it. ]

Well, yeah, technically. [ She rolls her eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. ] I am Batgirl. But you're the one who trained me, even when Bruce wouldn't give me the time of day.

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[She's training Batgirl.

It takes her a moment to respond.]

We're not - adversaries, then.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

[ She makes a strained sort of choking sound and actually falls right out of her chair. ]

Why would we be adversaries?

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her tone doesn't change, but out of sight, her lips twitch.]

We aren't, not directly. But Batman and I...have our disagreements.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

Everyone has disagreements with Batman. Not everyone thinks of themselves as an enemy.

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

Most people tow his lines.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

And which line is it that you don't tow?

Private Voice oops wrong babs

[bodilesswarrior]

[Might as well cut to the chase.]</small. Is the Joker alive in your timeline?

Private Voice all of the babs

[ichoosefight]

Well, yeah. [ She thinks she probably knows where this is going. ]

Private Voice late babs

[bodilesswarrior]

Well. That's a significant difference.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

So... was he the only one? Or just the first?

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Quietly.] He was the second.

Then...Sionis. Zsasz. Jane Doe. Less infamous killers.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

[ She frowns. Babs always said they couldn't sink to that level, no matter how much they might want to. ]

Why?

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Tight and hard.] Because they weren't going to stop.

And every time we refused to stop them, it was more blood on our hands.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

[ She's silent for a long time, thinking. Babs is like a mother to her. And hadn't she thought the same thing, on several occasions? Hadn't she wrestled with herself over the morality of murder? But going through with it, that was something else.

And she has to admit that it scares her, and maybe that's the only reason she doesn't like it. ]

Who else? Only the murderers? Serial killers? What's your criteria, when do you stop?

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

Murderers. Rapists. The people who cause the most damage - who can't be contained in the prison system, or who just cycle out over and over.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

And what about when they're all gone?

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[A low, harsh laugh.] You know that'll never happen, Stephanie.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

Criminals come to Gotham because it's a good environment for them. Kill all the murderers and they'll find somewhere else. Somewhere less dangerous.

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

I never said I restricted myself to Gotham.

Private Voice

[ichoosefight]

So this is your life now? You travel the world and kill criminals? At least our way we have a home.

Private Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

Me? No. Huntress, sometimes. Other times, I can coordinate it all from Gotham.