tushanshu | 001. video;

( A sleepy Steph starts up the video, yawning a little before she takes her thumb off the camera to reveal herself. She's not messy or sloppy or anything like that, just yawning. Her voice is very matter-of-fact and she nods occasionally as she speaks to confirm how right her point is. )

Y'know I think this place needs to give newbies a warmer welcome. Hotels give you like coffee and maybe a fruit basket? We need that, waiting in our suite for us. Maybe with a cute message card saying something like, "Welcome to our city, and oh, remember you're stuck here! Have a mocha on us!" It's common courtesy to give folks some kind of compensation.

( She pauses. She's forgetting something, isn't she... Oh, right! )

Oh yeah, I'm Stephanie. Or Steph. Probably not Stephie. ( Bad memories associated with that one. ) Aaaand I really want a mocha. That actually sounds really good right now. Nice to meet you and especially nice to meet you if you know about a Turtlebucks close to the Wood Sector.

( Confirm her secret identity in this place as an ordinary and hilarious college student? Check. She honestly is seriously thinking about her situation, but for now she doesn't want that to show through as Stephanie Brown. Gotta be safe and all. )

I think that's everything? Laters.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That's Stephanie. Dinah finds her grin contagious.]

That's a great idea. Here, let me give you directions. [It really isn't far from the suites, but maybe not the easiest to find. She's proud to have found it herself.]

It'll take me maybe half an hour to get there?

Yeah, I think I can find my way there! Would meeting up in an hour work for you?

( Just in case she gets lost. She won't, but she also wants some time to get ready. You really can't meet up with your former sorta mentor with messy hair. )

Sounds perfect. Gives me time to get changed. See you there.

[Because, although they're not visible while she's sitting at the console, Dinah's currently wearing those fishnets. She signs off and changes into something a lot more civilian-like before hopping onto her motorcycle and running over to the Wood Sector.]

( Steph ends up at the cafe early, sitting by herself at a table near the window. She's stirring her drink absentmindedly when she hears the sound of the door being opened. Looking up, she spots Dinah and instantly perks up. She doesn't get up and hug her or anything like that, since that would clearly make too much of a scene, but instead she waves enthusiastically as if spotting her would be impossibly difficult. )

Hey! Over here!

[The enthusiastic waving certainly gets her attention. And her approval, muted as it is. It's always nice to know that all these years as a Bat-mentee and apparently 'dead,' (Dinah still isn't sure what happened there) isn't dampening her inherent Steph-ness.

She grins and heads over to the table, catching a waiter's eye as she does so.]

Hi. You didn't have any problems finding the place, did you?

( She shakes her head quickly. )

Nope! I mean, if I did, I don't think I'd be here? Or I'd be later and more annoyed, maybe with my hair messed up. But I'm good.

( That made sense. A pause and she then chimes in, looking away guiltily. It's not a big deal, but some people have problems with eating before them? Who knows. )

Oh, and I didn't know what you wanted and I was seriously coffee-deprived so I ordered already... Hope you don't mind.

I don't mind at all.

[Babs never waits for people before getting coffee. Maybe it's not strictly good etiquette, but it's what Dinah's used to. She orders her own coffee quickly and adds an order of her particular favorite cake, enough for two.]

So I have to say it's a relief to see a cheery face after all the batscowls we've got here already.

I can imagine it's been hard dealing with them all this time. Actually, I don't have to imagine. I can just remember. ( She laughs. She's not making fun of her teammates, just... teasing! )

I tend to prefer working with Barbara over them, anyways. Speaking of... do you know if she's here? ( She misses O already. )

[Dinah is totally making fun of them when she laughs.]

She's not. [There is no way - no possible way, that Babs would be here and Dinah not know it. There's not even room for doubt.]

It's terrible. I've having to use those computer things by myself.

( Frowny face time. She's dealt without Babs, and kinda without anyone at all when Proxy was busy occasionally. Buuuuut she doesn't just miss her as Oracle, but as a friend. And she's sure it's hard for Dinah too. )

Darn. It's like she's the only one who didn't get the turtle party invite, huh?

She smiles again, laughing a little at the joke.

If you need anything, I can help. She taught me everything I know, almost.

[It's not just Oracle, and it's not just a friend. There are plenty of friends Dinah misses: Helena, Zinda, her Diana, and then there's the family. But Babs was more than a friend, and in many ways more than just family. Without her best friend in her ear, she feels incomplete. Not knowing about Steph's relationship with Oracle at home, she doesn't know quite how deep that frowny face goes.

She shrugs it away in favor of thanking the kedan who has just brought coffee and cake, and in occupying herself with the application of milk.]

Can you link up to the microtrans-thingies in my earpiece and feed me all the information I ever need so I look like the smartest woman alive but never need to stare at that computer screen watching everyone's conversations?

[Bet you can't.]

... Okay, so I can't do that.

( They don't teach that in college classes or Batgirl 101, okay. That's Oracle 101 or Proxy 101, something just not... Steph 101. Steph begins digging into her own cake and continues talking through bites. )

But I can use a computer, so there's that. And I'm really good at Spider Solitaire.

[Dinah deflates, acting more disappointed than she really has a right to be.]

Well, that's two skills I don't have. I never really graduated beyond Freecell. And the consoles here only have Mahjongg. Which I guess Im not terrible at, either.

I don't think I know how to play Mahjong. So you can teach me that one and act like you know a lot about computers.

I like the way you think.

[It makes Dinah seem smart, anyway.]

Be warned, it's a huge time suck, though. Worse than solitaire.

( Steph nods, taking a sip from her coffee. She makes a face before realizing she forgot to add any cream. If that liquid is cream? It's... close enough. She adds it, stirs her coffee a little, and then continues. )

Maybe, but will it have the cute fireworks going off whenever I win? That is the best part of solitaire, you know.

Cannot guarantee fireworks.

[Freecell doesn't have fireworks, but Dinah will admit they sound exciting.]

You'd think someone would add them, but no. You'll just have to play for the satisfaction of a game well played.

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