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What's So Great About Being Special?

October 17th, 2001

Participants: Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain and Barbara Gordon

Scene: Acting on his earlier promise to drop by and check in on Cassie and Barbara, Dick stops by their apartment. But as usual, even that simple sort of social visit can not be entirely unmarred by the unofficial job they all pursue...

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Barbara Gordon's Apartment [Clock Tower]
The apartment isn't a large one, though it's comfortable for one person, perhaps two. The kitchen and dining area is in one room, and there is a small living room, with a TV set. There's also a pair of bedrooms, one for Barbara and a spare. Barbara's is enchanced with the needed equipment so she can move from the chair to the bed without assistance. Everything in this apartment has been sized down, so a woman in a wheelchair can access it, including the cabinets, the freezer, the dining table, the bed and the TV, among other pieces of furniture.
People and Things:
Barbara
Cassie

Other exits: [FD] Front Door to Top Floor

As the elevator comes to a stop at the top of the tower, Dick steps off of the lift and immediately crosses through the rather dark hallway towards the lone doorway on the far side. It's almost becoming a rather regular stop in his daily routine. Rapping three times on the door, he takes a step back and glances towards the small camera perched in one corner of the dark room, the device almost lost in the shadows and waits. Naturally, once again he hasn't called before stopping by -- but hey, he did tell Cassie the other day that he'd be stopping by again soon. At least he shouldn't be entirely unexpected.

There's a click of the doorknob, as Babs glances up at him from her wheelchair. Pushing back to allow him room to enter, her hand doesn't leave the door, so she could close it after he enters. Inside, there are dinner dishes in the sink, like two people has just finished their meals.

Well only sorta unexpected as Cassandra hadn't told Babs of the visit or the promise to return. In fact she'd only spoken when spoken to that night and when Babs had been busy with other things the girl had left a drawing on her pillow and slipped out for a good portion of the day to walk about the area around Old Gotham and Midtown. She'd lost track of time and even had needed to stop and rest before returning during which she'd seen TOmmy and the two had spoken resulting in a non-talkative Cassandra that night and so far today.

When the door slides open revealling Barbara, Dick smiles and nods, stepping quickly into the living room to allow her to shut the door behind him. "Sorry for just dropping in on you two. But I told Cassie when I stopped by the other day that I'd be back to see how you and her were doing," the young man says amiably, rubbing his hands together absently to restore some of the warmth the cold evening air sapped out them on the way over. Glancing towards the table, his smile broadens slowly. "Well, at least my timing is good, I guess. A few minutes earlier and I would've caught you at dinner."

Barbara smiles just slighty, "Don't be worry for dropping in Dick, you know your always welcome." She glances at Cassie then adds, "You know she doesn't say much."

Cassie wrinkles her nose as her sole response to Babs's words nd then moves a step or two towards the sink to begin washing the dishes. Its something to do and it leaves the others some privacy to talk or whatever they want and a small part of her also hopes they'll forget she's there at least for the time being.

His mouth quirking with barely suppressed amusement, Dick nods his head in understanding and steps deeper into the comfortable room -- made that much more so by the welcome presence of warmth on this chilly autumn eve. "I know," he replies with a smile. Oh, how he knows. His gaze flickers across the room towards the kitchen, resting on Cassie for a moment as she begins to clean up from the evening's meal before they dart back to Barbara, his expression growing more serious once more. "How's she doing?" he asks softly as his hands slide into the pocket of his jacket.

Barbara shakes her head, "Phsyically, better. Mentally....I don't know....I think she holds herself to blame." She sighs, "She needs a lot of thinking, and a lot of help."

Cassie doesn't hear the conversation taking place in the other room or at least from her continued actions in the kitchen it doesn't seemshe can hear the two especially once she turns on the water. Ok so that doesn't mean she's not wtching some reflection of the two from the window over the sink but its not enough to get a cear read of the two only bits and pieces which are readable.

With her assessment being rather similar to his own, Dick turns his concerned gaze back towards the girl that attends to the dishes in the sink. A rather ordinary scene, no doubt being repeated in coutless homes across the city at that very moment. But then, Cassandra is far from an ordinary girl. "I spoke with her the other day... well, as much as she speaks at least. I'm worried about her Babs," he admits quietly before shaking his head slowly. "The rest of us have practically lead an ordinary life compared to her. And now she has these doubts to cope with too."

Barbara sighs, "Define normal, Dick. Most people don't live in a wheelchair." She glances at Cassie, "She's a special lady, Dick...and she's earned that mantle...I don't think anyone else in Gotham would handle such a awesome challenge."

Water splashes against the dish in her hand as it streams out of the faucet, once wet she reaches for a splone and begins to wash the dish with it before lifting it under the stream once more to rinse it clean and the place it on the counter for it to dry. The process is repeated with the next and while she places it on the counter she turns her head slightly to catch better sight of the two as if knowing despite her efforts she's still the topic of conversation.

"She is that," Dick Grayson agrees softly, dipping his head in acknowledgement of Barbara's words. As the chill from the evening outside finally begins to pass, Dick slides the jacket off of his shoulders, gripping it loosely in one hand before walking over to lay it across the back of one of the chairs near to the table. "But it's still a lot for anyone to deal with, regardless of how special," he murmurs back in reply before drifting over towards the kitchen slowly, lifting up a hand in greeting towards Cassie as the smile spreads back over his features. "Hi," he offers in greeting. "I told you I'd be back to check in on you. I hope you're getting enough rest?"

Barbara smiles encouragingly at the girl, hoping to get the girl to smile. Or at least turn around so she would talk to Dick. She also nods to Dick's words.

Has anyone ever thought that maybe sometimes Cassandra wishes she wasn't 'special'? Most likely not considering she normally shows so little in the way of emotions except in the matter of blaming herself and the fact she so willingly goes out each night and normally doesn't wish to do anything but train. Sighing softly the girl's shoulders rise and fall with the breath before she raises her right hand to wave, "Hi.. I'm fine..", though she doesn't yet turn back to the sink but remains watching the two.

The burdens of being young. Of course, those burdens are only amplified when one has never really been allowed to have been 'young' in truth. It is a feeling that Dick Grayson is passingly familiar with, though he embraced that fact as a teenager and only came to regret it at time afterwards. "Good. You're not getting too stir crazy yet, are you?" he asks with an amiable smile. Of course, it's not exactly the most pleasant time of the year to be out and about in Gotham City, but even with the blustery weather it's still nice to get out and about from time to time... especially for one used to doing so every night.

Barbara watches the two quietly, not sure of what to say, since her thoughts have already been spoken. So instead, she checks one of the many printouts.

Cassie's eyes move over to Babs wondering if she had seen the note she'd left and if she had whether she'll give away her little jail break of yesterday. Whether she does or doesn't Cassandra shakes her head slightly not lying when she answers, "No." It'd be lying if she tried to pretend she was here all the time but avoiding actually answering is just an omission.

Ahhh, the fine lines we cut sometimes. And when one's mentor is the Batman, it is sometimes necessary not to tell the absolute, complete truth. Not, of course, that he doesn't always find out in the end. That's the problem with working with the world's greatest detective. "Good. I know how it is sometimes when recoperating from an injury. The walls seem to start to close in," Dick replies with a quiet chuckle, taking her answer in not quite the right way. Not that he's one to comment on something like that. He leaves that sort of thing to Bruce. "Once you're a little stronger, we'll have to start getting you out again. So long as it's nothing too physical, I'm sure no one will mind. Too much." Of course, someone might mind a little. But then sometimes Batman is just too fussy.

Barbara nods slightly, "I think we'll get you out of here soon." She says softly, looking at the printouts, and frowning, "Damn..." She mutters under her breath. "this is not good."

Cassie nods her head slowly in response to Dick's words playing along with the miscommunication which keeps her from having to lie about the day before. She starts to nod her head once more in response to Babs's comments when the redheaded woman mutters under her breath. The movement of her head stops before tilting slightly to the side to watch Babs curiously before keeping to her rather monosyllable pattern, "Trouble?", she asks though she knows she won't be allowed to go out anyways.

Well, that doesn't sound too good. And almost an entire day had gone by without anything too serious going wrong too. Turning away from Cassie and the soapy sink where the dinner dishes are nearly finished, Dick's smile fades away almost at once as he glances over towards Barbara and the readout in her hand. "What is it?" he says, almost at the same time as Cassie makes her inquiry. Ahh, just what Gotham needed. Even more troubles.

Barbara says, "We do have the scarecrow locked up, right?" She looks puzzled, "Cause I'm reading over one serious wierd police report that matches his mo."

Cassie never had asked for the details of the night she was hurt preferring to not hear the details of her failure, but as Babs asks if Scarecrow is locked up she turns her brown eyes to watch Dick assuming he will answer the question. From what she'd heard when she'd woken she knows Mad Hatter and Bane had gotten away but the third villian's location is a mystery to her.

A frown grows on Dick's expression and he walks away from the kitchen to join Barbara, pausing just behind her as he glances at the printout over her shoulder. "It can't be Crane. I stayed at the amusement park that night until the police arrived. They took him and the Hatter's two henchmen into custody," he replies, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion. "Unless he's somehow escaped again. But surely we would have heard something if that had happened," he continues on, finally straightening up and ceasing his hovering at Barbara's back. No, he couldn't have possibly escaped already. Even with Arkham's dubious record at keeping criminals like him in jail, it doesn't seem possible. "Damn. There's either something missing, or someone's copycatting the Scarecrow."

Barbara says, "Could it be Ivy? There are some herbs and planetlife that causes similiar reactions...but why would she?""

Tossing the sponge into the sink and then turning off the water, Cassandra moves after Dick to catch the exchange of words that occurs between the two. Wiping the water from the dishes from her hands and onto her jeans she takes an interest in what they have to say though its a distracted curiously without her heart in it knowing she won't have a part in this but hoping she can keep Tommy out of it.

At Barbara's suggestion that Ivy might somehow be involved, Dick hesitates for a moment and once again allows his gaze to flicker down towards the printout as he nods slowly. "I suppose she could be involved somehow," he agrees, the frown on his features growing at that thought. It certainly isn't a pleasant one. "But as you say, why would she?" he continues on, his voice quiet and thoughtful as he ponders the matter. But finally he shakes his head and takes a few steps away once again, moving to leaning against the back of the nearby couch. "It's all speculation. Until we know more, have a better picture of everything, all we can do is guess. There's just not enough information to know for sure," he muses outloud.

Barbara nods slightly, "There are two other options...Joker and Hatter. Odds are on the Joker." She frowns deeply.

For a few minutes Cassandra stands there listening as first Dick makes his deductions and then Babs makes her own. Scarecrow had been with Mad Hatter and Bane at the time of Dick's and her own arrival at the carnival, but from what she had seen Scarecrow had been there in opposition of the others though she's not sure why. Joker didn't seem to be involved except for the location of the events. Irregardless after watching for a few more moments the teen turns quietly and heads to her room leaving the two to work.

Wrapped up in these new concerns, Dick doesn't even notice Cassie leave -- at least at first. Instead his attention is almost entirely focused on Barbara and his own thoughts. What is it about Gotham that just seems to attract these sorts of problems and mysteries? "You could be right. Certainly the Joker seems a more likely bet to try to terrify people, and he's certainly clever enough to use someone elses modus operandi to do it, if it suits his purpose," he agrees slowly, a single nod accompanying his words. "We'll have to keep a watch out for any similar incidents. I'd hate to jump to a premature conclusion." Not so much because it would be unfortunate to blame the Joker for something he didn't do. There is no need for more reasons to want to see that madman brought in. But it would be unfortunate if someone else slipped through the cracks because of the focus on the Joker.

Barbara nods slightly, passing some of the printouts to Dick, the ones about the killing she took from the police band and the local news. "Situation isn't good however."

Leaving his perch near the couch to retrieve the printouts from her, Dick nods his silent agreement, taking the papers from her and doing a more thorough scan, eyes flickering over the words. "Most definately not. Whoever it is, be it the Joker or someone else, it means trouble," he replies with a shake of his head that is a mix of frustration and sorrow. "When is there ever good news here," he continues, finally looking up and sending a darting glance over towards the kitchen, only to find Cassie long gone. Poor kid.

Barbara says, "Never....though I think if we catch all these guys, we'll at lesat get a break.""

"I wouldn't count on that quite yet," Dick replies, some of the frustration and worry draining out of his countenance as he turns his gaze back towards her, tucking the small group of papers under his arm. "Even if we could get the worst of them like the Joker off the street, there's still all those small time thugs and thieves. I think we've pretty much signed up for a full time job for the rest of our life," he replies dryly.

Barbara nods, "That's a realization I got when I first started....it's a full time job...a truth based on a lie."

Well, there's no deny that. Dick understands the realities of what they do all too well, and despite sometimes having his regrets and second thoughts, he's still at it afterall. "I know. It would just sometimes nice to believe that eventually we'd be put out of work. That there'd come a day when we weren't needed," he replies quietly, glancing down at the floor for a moment before chuckling, the laughter having a slightly mocking tone to it. "We're probably the only people who actually want to be put out of work."

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...The Joker... The Mad Hatter... Bane... Harley Quinn... Ivy... and now someone else seems to be causing problems for the poor beleaguered city of Gotham. Another long night lays ahead for the vigilante protectors of the city...