[ Barbara lifts that small device in her hand over her shoulder, still heading up the steps, so he can see the screen. It's full of a counter now. Counting down. (She's already used it to turn back on the security system since he walked in the door behind her, too. Barbara Gordon; she's a multitasker.) She ushers him into an elevator. Because, of course, there's one.
She needed it at the beginning. Still did some days at home. Still might some days here. ]
I told you in the labyrinth that I have two jobs. Batgirl is one of them. This is the other. And while it's something I do for many of the heroes in my world, it's something I do most of all for you.
[ When the doors chime open, she holds a hand out for him to go first, leaning back on the wall. ] And I'd like to keep doing that for you here.
[ Even through the doors it's impossible to miss. The sound of fans and servers. The machinery seen from the open doors is nothing like the computers in the Bat Cave, where they first metβbarely working. More shell than substance. This room is alive. Everything is state of the art and top of the line from her time. Lights flicker from any number of places. There's a whole wall of monitors before a desk (camera views of any number of the locations here and a blank center screen save for a floating green mask). There's so much in every direction. Everything Oracle had wanted or needed for so many years, in the best and worst of times.
All of it hallowed in the golden sunlight streaming in through the clock faces. ]
( steps remain slow, much like his gaze wandering around. taking everything in. letting it all record on the lenses he wears that are impossible to detect. every little detail. every entrance and exit. he looks at it all as he steps into the place. listens to what she has to say. then turns and looks to her. stares. just... so very batman of him, even at this age. )
[ Though there's the raise of one eyebrow. The acknowledgment of a question is because she won't assume what it might be. She's not going to assume entirely that it doesn't exist already. He does have the Batmobile. If a much earlier and more rumble-tumble version than the sleekness Barbara is so used to seeing at home when it is out. ]
Does it already have cameras in almost every public location? Have you already created a second network that Aurora and Echo can't access or find currently, written in a language that no universe before this one has seen yet? [ There's no arrogance in her words, even though Barbara is proud of all that she's becameβisβsince the Joker thought to end Barbara Gordon (not even Batgirl, just Barbara Gordon, a defenseless and doting young girl) as collateral to punish her father. For becoming more than she ever knew she could be beyond Batgirl. ] This is what I do, Bruce.
I'm a genius with an eidetic memory, the ability to get anywhere people don't want people given time, and the ability to write almost anything I can think up. This is what I do, for you, when I'm not in the field. Nearly anything you could need to know in the heat of a second while you're out there. To help Batman.
And I would very much like to do that here, stillβwith you.
( for all she says to himβ for all she explains, he stands there. quiet. stoic. doing the usual bruce thing of taking in everything that he's told and processing it in his own way. because even when it seems like bruce isn't listening to paying attention, he is. always.
when she's done β when she goes and makes her offer there to him, he just stares to her with those blue eyes through the thick greasepaint beneath his cowl. )
Am I supposed to be impressed?
( his tone is dry. a glance down to how much longer she has. )
Yet Damian wants everyone to answer for why you've told him everyone's avoiding you.
[ She doesn't follow him. Barbara Gordon doesn't beg. She's honest, and she's blunt, and she cares. But she won't beg. ]
If you're saying no, say no. You were my first choiceβto tell about this place, and bring here, since I found it. But that doesn't mean I have to be your choice. I want to be, but I'll keep doing this either way. With Damian and anyone else similarly inclined. For everyone. Whether they deserve it or not. That's what knowing Batman, and being raised by my father, made me.
( maybe it's because damian had β apparently β told the others not to crowd or overwhelm him. it doesn't really matter. he remembers the sketches damian drew for him of everyone. he'll know them if he sees them. he just hasn't.
standing there, back and cape facing her, he takes another look around β mentally knows what little time is left for this meeting, before he just barely glances over his shoulder back to her. )
[ Barbara's mouth tightens faintly, but she turns away, toward the computer station. She closed out the timer in her palm and, with the smallest shift of her finger, pressed send on the first of two messages that had sat behind it. ]
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no subject
[ Barbara lifts that small device in her hand over her shoulder, still heading up the steps, so he can see the screen. It's full of a counter now. Counting down. (She's already used it to turn back on the security system since he walked in the door behind her, too. Barbara Gordon; she's a multitasker.) She ushers him into an elevator. Because, of course, there's one.
She needed it at the beginning.
Still did some days at home.
Still might some days here. ]
I told you in the labyrinth that I have two jobs. Batgirl is one of them. This is the other.
And while it's something I do for many of the heroes in my world,
it's something I do most of all for you.
[ When the doors chime open, she holds a hand out for him to go first, leaning back on the wall. ] And I'd like to keep doing that for you here.
[ Even through the doors it's impossible to miss. The sound of fans and servers. The machinery seen from the open doors is nothing like the computers in the Bat Cave, where they first metβbarely working. More shell than substance. This room is alive. Everything is state of the art and top of the line from her time. Lights flicker from any number of places. There's a whole wall of monitors before a desk (camera views of any number of the locations here and a blank center screen save for a floating green mask). There's so much in every direction. Everything Oracle had wanted or needed for so many years, in the best and worst of times.
All of it hallowed in the golden sunlight streaming in through the clock faces. ]
no subject
I have my own setup.
no subject
But I doubt it's like this.
[ Though there's the raise of one eyebrow. The acknowledgment of a question is because she won't assume what it might be. She's not going to assume entirely that it doesn't exist already. He does have the Batmobile. If a much earlier and more rumble-tumble version than the sleekness Barbara is so used to seeing at home when it is out. ]
Does it already have cameras in almost every public location? Have you already created a second network that Aurora and Echo can't access or find currently, written in a language that no universe before this one has seen yet? [ There's no arrogance in her words, even though Barbara is proud of all that she's becameβisβsince the Joker thought to end Barbara Gordon (not even Batgirl, just Barbara Gordon, a defenseless and doting young girl) as collateral to punish her father. For becoming more than she ever knew she could be beyond Batgirl. ] This is what I do, Bruce.
I'm a genius with an eidetic memory, the ability to get anywhere people don't want people given time, and the ability to write almost anything I can think up. This is what I do, for you, when I'm not in the field. Nearly anything you could need to know in the heat of a second while you're out there. To help Batman.
And I would very much like to do that here, stillβwith you.
no subject
when she's done β when she goes and makes her offer there to him, he just stares to her with those blue eyes through the thick greasepaint beneath his cowl. )
Am I supposed to be impressed?
( his tone is dry. a glance down to how much longer she has. )
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[
Yes.But, way to miss the point entirely.
In a very mock-obtuse Batman-type way. ]
That wasn't the point, and you know it.
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( just saying. )
no subject
Wow, Bruce, you're not even trying. ]
Because you trust Aurora and her mysteriously mute overlord that much?
no subject
( damian is about as close as it gets. )
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[ She looks unphased by it.
It's not scary. What it is, is sad. Agrandized self-exile.
Bruce knows better, even when he tries to shut people out. ]
Hard for you or anyone else to change that while you stayed holed up in your tower.
[ A beat. ] Have you decided not to help anyone here, too? Damian doesn't seem to think so.
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( why he's been holed up in his tower. so with that, he turns. figuring that's that with this delightful conversation. )
Is that everything?
no subject
[ She doesn't follow him. Barbara Gordon doesn't beg.
She's honest, and she's blunt, and she cares. But she won't beg. ]
If you're saying no, say no. You were my first choiceβto tell about this place, and bring here, since I found it. But that doesn't mean I have to be your choice. I want to be, but I'll keep doing this either way. With Damian and anyone else similarly inclined. For everyone. Whether they deserve it or not. That's what knowing Batman, and being raised by my father, made me.
But you're the one choosing it. So choose.
no subject
standing there, back and cape facing her, he takes another look around β mentally knows what little time is left for this meeting, before he just barely glances over his shoulder back to her. )
Good luck with it.
no subject
You can see yourself out.
The door will reset behind you.