Summary:Bluebird attempts to sneak into the batcave, Runs into Batman Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
  |
Morning's are generally quiet in the cave. It's that time between shifts - where Batman and others have completed their patrols and things are winding down. Usually Bruce has headed up by now and gone to bed. But not today.
Standing in the trophy hall, he's still in the batsuit, the cowl pulled back to expose himself as he is looking over the suits that are on display.
The various Batfamily suits are there - from the original Batsuit, all the way to the first mock-up of the Blackbird uniform.
But he finds himself in front of the one belonging to Jason Todd. Or did. The Robin suit shows none of the damage from the last time it was worn, in fact, it's not that suit - so far destroyed that it was not salvagable. Nor would Bruce had done that. His lips are set in a straight line, and his posture is one of deep thought as he considers. Ponders. All the what ifs that he allows in when noone else is around.
Bungie rope. Check.
Duffel bag. Check.
Harnesses and hooks. Check.
Lack of self awareness and survivability?! Check!
The high point of the cave entrance to the batcave was shrouded in brush. A small opening enough for Harper to get through. But to make a successful jump inside of the Batcave, well, there wouldn't be one. All it would take is a careful slip in between the large crack and a free fall that resembled a slip and a fall to the death. Adrenaline junkie to the core, Harper straps herself in nicely, in partial uniform where it counts. Her chest guard as well as knee guards in place, pads to keep her elbows safe as they could be, and goggles that were fitted close to her face it would seem that it were glued on.
She sets down upon the edge of the 'entrance', scooting forward, hands pressed to the edge and..
SHHHTHTP!
She slips, arms quickly folded in front of her as the chord that was left uptop beings to unwind, her body lurching forward to bring herself head-first which was probably a mistake, the snap of the chord hurling herself upwards with enough momentum for her to double and swing forward, upright.. and a catch. The elastic lets loose again, and she was quick enough to catch the chord with her hands, but not quick enough to wind her feet, which leaves them dangling and flailing in a messy display. And she was only about halfway down.
"Didn't think this through." She mutters to herself, finally catching her feet upon the bottom loop of the cord to hoist herself into a stand.
As she looks around, she bears down her weight to swing.. swing.. swing.. unhooking all the while so that once she was ready, she leaps into the air, with an aim towards the natural springs.
A moment of hesitation causes her arms and legs to flail, a screech, and a splash to be heard. Then a rush of water as she swims to the edge, drawing herself up quickly to sit on the edge. Her hair was all over the place, and she was instantly cold. And probably filled with regret. Karma for attempting to spy on the latest gadgets that Bruce came up with so that she could replicate, no doubt..
If Harper thought she got onto the Wayne property without detection - she couldn't have been more wrong. There were eyes on her from the moment she entered. And Bruce has been following her progress. Anyone else? She would have already been intercepted by the security teams that work on the estate.
Instead, Harper was allowed a pass. Bruce wants to see, how she does. What she does. And when she makes her clumsy egress into the cave, the cowl comes back up well before Harper gets a chance to get in a peek.
The woman's splash landing is noted, and there's a flutter of cape, and the crunch of boots on rock as the Batman lands at the edge of the pool.
"You know there are other, less dramatic ways to enter the cave, Bluebird." comes the flat response.
He at least used 'dramatic' and not 'foolish' or 'clumsy'.
"Why are you here?"
If Harper knew that she was being tracked, she seemed like she didn't know it. But she knew at least there would be some opposition from one of the family members that she either may or may not attempt to blundgeon into unconsciousness. Maybe. That would have been a fun one to explain to Batman. But the crunch of the boots has her wincing, her head darting left and right, finally looking upwards to see the cowl of the man she was trying to avoid for the while -right- there!
"Yeaah.." She says, letting out a cough, rocking to the side to force herself to stand. The hooks jingle against the metal, and her hands move to wipe the excess hair and moisture from her face. "I need a re-up." Plain and simple. No funny talk. "Didn't know how well that would go over with you since I quit." She quit. Went to work. Kept Cullen on the straight path in hopes to get him in college. The insurance was great too!
Which is why she got that question.
Why is she here?
He doesn't repeat himself, instead, he reaches down to help Harper to her feet and out of the water. Once she's out, he steps back and his arms fold across his chest.
When she says that she needs to reup, his lips set into a thinner line, and she can see the frown that tugs on the sides of his mouth.
"You quit, Harper. We had this discussion." Walking away is usually a permament step. He wants to know what's changed. And why she feels the need to come back.
Harper accepts the help gratefully, no doubt. She wasn't about to play the angsty lady card and be all snatchy. In fact, she was a little bit sore from activities that she shouldn't have gotten into, no to mention being shot still left her a little tender on the side. Her arms lift halfway as she pushes her elbows back, feet moving shoulder-width apart as she twists to the left and right. "Yeah, I know that. But, things happen you know? I was doing my damnest to keep off your radar but you got stuff here that I need access too so.." Arms flop down then raise back up, palms out. "I'm back?"
Aware of her surroundings, she takes a step aside to keep solid ground to the left, front and back of her. She may as well explain. "Chasing a drug dealer. Once that guy is out of the way then I'm done for good, promise." It was a sore subject, and maybe the silence after those words gave her cause to explain. "He's the one that got me into this whole vigilante business in the first place. I'm closing the circle."
Did Harper really expect it to be that easy? To walk in, say she's back and Bruce was gonna say 'okay'?
No, there was a reason she chose to try to break in.
"You left." he reminds her. As if that is the final say on the matter. "This life is not something you can come in and go out of as you please." Even Catwoman knows that lesson, now. It only took a decade plus to figure it out.
"You can leave the information on what you have here and I will have one of the others handle it." There's no change in his expression, no showing of sympathy to her plight. She wanted out, and he's going to do all he can to respect that wish. She's going to have to do better if he's going to take the request seriously.
"Oh.. oh oh.." Harper finally says, her head tilting back as she peels off her mask. And then it was shaken out. "I was just a -kid-. Who had to take care of another kid. Of -COURSE- I left." She shakes it out, the smacks the goggles against her thigh, which were soon tucked into her vest. No sense in hiding, she already tried to sneak in. But at least at this point, she wasn't lying.
"And no. This is my whale to go after, my family member that was hurt, my vengance to enact. I'm not going to drag someone else into my bullshit and get -them- killed." She steps back, preparing to pace a hole into the rockfloor. "So, are you going to let me borrow some things or not?"
The honesty is appreciated. However, Bruce's expression is not changing. "There are ways to handle that hardship, Harper." And he was willing to offer it to her. If she'd only asked. He's not the type to force anyone into anything. And he's trying not to force her back into the cape and cowl now. "I've seen what you've been doing since you left. This would be a step back." He points out to her.
"I can have Robin or Spoiler look into it, Harper." he offers to her again. Though that may get under her craw, all things considered - they're /younger/ than her. At least he didn't offer Helena? "Or I can have Dick take a look, through the official police channels."
But he's not yet said 'No, now get off my lawn'.
"Hardship?" Harper shakes her head. "Nothing hard about it. I wake up. Get ready for work. Part with Cullen on the subways. I do my job, come home. Make dinner, help with homework. Rinse and repeat. What people do." Plus, with the added tinkering in the basement, listening to police scanners about bears in the subway.. and arms deals with Russians. "Step back would be having all of that interrupted because.. once and addict always an addict, and me not doing everything in my power to at least see that this particular brand is off the streets.
The mention of Spoiler and Robin nearly made her laugh, it was a sad laugh. "Dude, they are -kids-. I can handle it on my own. And I don't need you to talk to Dick for me, alright?" At least he had a point there. Official police channels are good. More things moving through the pipeline means more exposure, and more eyes on the guy or at least looking for when he messes up. "None of the kids. Okay? And if Dick can get a handle on it, I'll at least consider walking away."
"Then I'll have you talk to Dick. You can decide if it's as Harper or Bluebird." The comment about them being kids draws a shake of his head, as Bruce corrects. "They're no different than you at their age." he points out as he steps back.
Again, not a no. But he's giving her a place to start if she wants to be Bluebird again.
An in.
"Now come on, I'll have Alfred prepare you and your brother a meal to take back with you and give you a chance to get a hot shower and change of clothes."
"Think I was probably a lot more angrier.." Harper mumbled under her breath. But -at- least it didn't end in them both fist-fighting each other, which is almost what she expected. Seems that the old man had changed a teeny bit! But there was a start.. no help yet but.. no. It -was- help. A help to see common sense and to take a step back, it was appreciated.
J"Oh sweet. I was hoping for a weeks meal?" She asks, much like she did back when she was probably sixteen. She begins to walk around the pool, heading towards the more sensible exits with the hope that Batman would follow.. "We're pulling overtime since the city want's do to a few upgrades to the grid. Think they're planning a new development since…"
"A week?" Bruce frowns a little. "I'll see what Alfred can do." And he will probably get her a prepaid card as well. She'll have to be a spendthrift.
But it's something he can do for an ex-vigilante.