ichoosefight | 12 - Return of the twice prodigal daughter

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game: the last voyages

12 - Return of the twice prodigal daughter

Heya Barge! Miss me?

[ Steph hasn't been gone that long, but at her age the time shows more easily. She's 18 now, about to turn 19, her hair a mite shorter and neater than it was when she left. Her expression is cautiously optimistic. She has no idea how much time has passed on the barge yet. ]

It's been a little over a year for me. Everybody I told about the barge says hi. Babs too, even though I told her that was gonna be weird. I guess I'm now officially your newest warden.

Soo... what's the damage? Do I need to reintroduce myself?

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OK also that but mostly because I was young and stupid and made some really bad decisions.

Like being Robin? [Cheap shot.]

Actually? Yeah. Batman's not the kind of person you ever get approval from. I tried anyway. And that got me killed.

[And here he thought all the superhero types were partyline buddies.]

Why would you want his so approval so badly, anyway. All he ever does is meddle where he isn't wanted.

[He's getting...pretty angry now, just thinking about it.]

Twenty years gone and people are still trying to uphold his legacy. What a pointless, stupid waste. Gotham was better off without him.

He wanted me to stop doing the one thing that made me feel in control of my life. I wanted to prove I was worth something. If he wasn't around I'd probably still be stuck with my awful dad. I owe him a lot.

Who is he to judge.

[He can't keep typing or he might accidentally melt the damn keys. Cursing himself silently, he switches to voice.]

If he wanted you to give up control, your sense of self-worth, then don't do it for him. It really is that simple. [His voice is shaking with barely suppressed rage.] You don't owe him a thing.

[ Awww, you do care. ]

You're a little late with that advice. I never did like being told I couldn't do something. I just pushed it a little too far, is all.

[If she asked directly, he would insist he was simply supporting an anti-Batman agenda.]

I gathered. [He hesitates, and then, every syllable grinding...] I don't suppose I have to tell you the obvious, do I?

Not if it'll give you an aneurysm.

Ha. Funny.

[Another pause. No, go ahead, he decides - finish ripping that particular band-aid off.]

I'm from Gotham. I wasn't born like this. So how do you think I ended up this way? Who do you think was involved?

I imagine some less than wise decisions about chemical products.

[ Yeah, she kind of guessed. ]

That. Would be the abrupt Cliff's notes version. Yes.

But I didn't get there without a little help from a man in a mask.

I am sorry.

But in fairness, I accidentally started a city-wide gang war.

I don't see exactly what one has to do with the other. Or is the point you're trying to make, 'Everybody makes mistakes'? [All livid, mocking incredulity. Though at least the actual anger part, it's not directed at her.]

The point I'm trying to make is that some mistakes are deadly. And you're lucky if you're the only one they're deadly to.

I don't expect the Batman to feel guilty over what he did. I just expect him to eventually have to pay for it.

Preferably at my hands.

Yeah, that's the thing about the barge. It tries really hard to get in the way of revenge plots.

Well it's a little hard when your would-be target isn't here, that's for sure. Then again I wouldn't want either of them to show up on this ship anyway.

[Wait, what did he just-? Uh oh.]

...him. I meant 'him'. Slip of the tongue.

The plot thickens.

[ Freudian slip? ]

I meant either version of Batman. [No. No he didn't.]

Are you in trouble with two generations of Batmen? Because that's kind of impressive.

[Barely suppresses a snarl.] Far as anyone can tell this latest version, that I've had run-ins with, can't possibly be the first one. He'd be too old. He's probably dead.

But since time on this ship is clearly not an entirely fixed concept, the original could still make an appearance, couldn't he? I doubt I'd enjoy him very much, either.

[Hey, way to come up with an evasive explanation that sounds completely legit and rational! He's somewhat proud.]

Wait, you mean nobody has any ideas? [ It was pretty obvious to the public that Nightwing was the kid who used to be Robin. It's not all secrets all the time. ]

It's not a former Robin or something?

Who cares. [The words trail off in a shout.] What difference does it make? There's still someone out there prowling around in a batsuit, making life difficult for people like me, either way! Treating it like a riddle to be pulled apart doesn't change any of that.

For people like you. [ Her voice is completely flat. ] Like you and my dad, who think that as long as you don't get caught the rules don't apply to you. That as long as you don't wind up in jail nobody gets hurt.

You know exactly why you're here, don't you. It probably wasn't even Batman's fault you got dosed.

12 - Return of the twice prodigal daughter

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[voice] this was a new level of fail

[voice] gold medal in failing?

[voice] and my name in the hall of fame

[voice] and your face on a box of wheaties

[voice] only the sugar frosted kimd

[voice] they're the only kind worth eating, lbr

[voice] preach

[voice] amen amen hallelujah

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