(no subject)

[rhymeswithgrim]

[the good news: the Bat Barn is beginning to take on a more serious tone. re-worked Frankenstein electronics and other various fix-up projects line the second floor rafters and a decently-sized training area is slowly being filled with the basic gym necessities. there are some scattered print-outs, but the barn is almost unreasonably clean.

the bad news: dude, it's a Bat Barn, complete with a (house-trained) Bat Cow.]

Comments

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Sorry, you'll just have to bear our good intentions.

[holds the clothes out to her]

[00-07.livejournal.com]

[takes them, folding them carefully in her arms]

It still seems stupid for you to waste money on me.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

It's not a "waste" if you'll be using them. Robin promised to train you, right?

[00-07.livejournal.com]

He did. I'm really excited about it.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

If it's too much, too fast, say something. You're not on any kind of deadline.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

... Robin told me I'm not allowed to quit or give up. I don't want to disappoint him.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

Neither of you should expect incredible results immediately. Robin should be intelligent enough to set reasonable goals for a beginner.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

I just want to be ready by the time we go to Gotham.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

It's not like your safety will be constantly compromised, but it's important you know how to protect yourself in an emergency.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

What kind of emergency?

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

... I don't want to sincerely say "ninjas," but it's possible.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

The ones that trained Robin?

And, um, he said the plural's just "ninja"...

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

He's being pedantic. Anyway, without context, it makes more sense to tack on the "s" so it's obvious you're talking about more than one ninja --

[aaand he's totally had this conversation before when playing D&D. shutting up.]

[00-07.livejournal.com]

It does make more sense, but Robin corrected me when I said that.

... can I ask you a strange question about going to Gotham? Robin thought I should just ask.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

Sure.

[starts to re-stack the various boxes back into place. a corner of one is soaked in green cow spittle! urge to grill hamburgers rising!]

[00-07.livejournal.com]

Will you and Batman and everyone be like my pretend family when I'm there? Would you even want me to be?

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

[uh uh DEER IN HEADLIGHTS SUPERHERO]

That's... difficult to predict.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

You can say no. I'm used to people not wanting me in their family.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't be your fault. Most agents working with Batman are asocial and work best independently. We're... not exactly known for playing well with others. Try not to be shocked.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

Robin doesn't want to be my pretend brother either.

I guess I'll have to keep looking for a family that will actually want me.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

Bonds like that need to grow organically, Vanya. I can't just lie and promise you something that could never happen. We're not family, but I am your friend. I respect you enough to be honest.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

It's not fair. You'll be Robin's brother, and he doesn't even want you to be. I'm never going to get a family.

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

[saying "we're not brothers" is beating the dead horse at this point, so]

It's sometimes necessary to... compromise your definition of family, I guess. Remind yourself that some relationships won't meet your expectations, but that doesn't mean you should take what you have for granted.

Batman is my brother through adoption. He wasn't my first family.

[00-07.livejournal.com]

Does that mean I should stop hoping I'll ever get a family that cares about me? Even an adopted one?

[rhymeswithgrim.livejournal.com]

What? No! No, I'm just saying -- I guess that even if it's not what you want, don't put what you already have down.