14958/Two Batgirls, One Movie

Two Batgirls, One Movie
Date of Scene:	18 April 2023
Location:	Barbara Gordon's Apartment, Clocktower
Synopsis:	Steph and Cass settle in for a movie night. Star Wars is on the screen, and unspoken friendship is in the audience. ...Mostly because Cass doesn't speak a lot.
Cast of Characters:	Batgirl (Cain), Spoiler

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Batgirl (Cain) has posed:

Vigilante justice is important. Someone must keep the streets of Gotham from becoming unending cesspools of crime and corruption. But even the most vigilant and dedicated vigilantes need some downtime. And movie night? Movie night's a perfectly suitable pressure release. Even if Cassandra doesn't seem all that released of pressure. While the table in front of the entertainment centre is stocked with beverages, popcorn, a variety of those family share sized candies... it is a /lot/. It's one step short of like... including an actual meal. But movie night has yet to truly begin.


Which is why she's standing in front of the table, staring down at it, dark eyes intent, focused, like she's trying to search out a vulnerability, a weak point. That taut, athletic body is clad in a black t-shirt and dark grey gym shorts, with black knee socks. Cassandra is dressed for movie night. Prepared. But still her lips press in a thin line, body radiating tension as she looks around.


Steph is here somewhere. She'll know the answer. Pizza? Pineapple on it? These are important questions. Questions Cassandra is not prepared to answer on her own. And it's not even getting to what the movie /should/ be.

Spoiler has posed:
Steph is, in fact, around. After all, she's the master of Movie Night. She has assembled the array of snacks and popcorn and, yes, all that's left is theoretically a pizza and beverages. The former is still a maybe. That's a lot of candy. The latter, though, is what was taking Steph so long!

She emerges from the kitchen area of the hideout with a literal ice bucket with various varieties of soda cans stuffed in it. It's even -artful-. She would do that. Cola, root beer, even one of those weird grapefruit sodas that's really really dry, goes good with gin, and just makes you want to drink more.

Steph is dressed -similarly- to Cass, but, well, way less utilitarian. Her t-shirt is baggy and comfortable, grey with a faded Gotham Knights logo on it. It's honestly too big to be her shirt. Her shorts are the tiny, sleeping variety in a nice deep purple.

Plus her socks are short and fuzzy.

She sets the bucket on the table, tilting her head at Cass's tension. "Is ... Do you not like my choices? Should I get something else?"

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
Cass's eyebrows perk as she eyes the absolute bounty of carbonated goodness, her mouth might almost fall open for a minute. Her right hand lifts to press to the back of her own neck, thumb tracing one of the myriad tiny scars that dot her, hidden now mostly by movie night uniform. Her lips quirk slightly, head shaking swiftly as she's /clearly/ eying the chilled sodas to formulate an attack plan. "No! Good. Very good."

She draws a slow, steadying breath, that physical tension raising, it doesn't take... well, Cass, to read Cass's tension as Steph remarks on it. "I'm just... still..." She frowns and huffs out a soft breath, "Want to... do it right. Movie night. Make sure it's good. For you."

While Steph's been getting the drinks, Cass has, apparently, taken every possible pillow, blanket, cushion, and other soft item to form a 'nest' of sorts more than comfortable for two. "Need a movie... hm... Angry cars movie? About family?" She tilts her head thoughtfully, "Funny plumbers?" Eyes narrow ever so slightly as she stares at Steph, lips fighting to at least mimic a grin, "May need help. Don't know... movies. Really."

Spoiler has posed:
So much caffeine, so little time. Icy cold and perfect to go with salty popcorn. So delicious. So bad for you. Nothing that a night of jumping across roofs can't fix, mind, but still a ton of empty calories.

Then again, the whole table is empty calories.

Back to the important stuff, though, Steph just shakes her head, ponytail swinging behind her. "Cass, there is no right way to do a movie night." She grabs the remote and clambers into the cushy nest, settling in. "Movie nights are about spending time with your friends and having a good time. Sometimes, the worse a movie is, the better. It's all about being -together- though, and you're here. It's already good for me."

Still, she flips the TV on, then heads for the streaming services. "I'd say we watch Star Wars, but somehow I think Tim would hear and just show up."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
There's a low, affirmative murmur from Cass, about as close as she gets to admitting she was wrong about something that doesn't require a tearful, heartfelt apology. Besides, when she sinks down next to Steph and leans in against her, that's like, five hugs from a normal person.

She reaches out to take a single length of licorice as she lets her gaze focus on the screen, head tilting thoughtfully. Thoughtfulness just means she's almost outright leaning her head on Steph's shoulder. "Star Wars good... new ones? Old ones? No prequels... too many spinny fights." Her lips press in a thin line and she mumbles, "Can't fight properly when entire room is spinning. Siiiiilly."

She nods solemnly nonetheless and murmurs out, "You pick out movie. We enjoy. Friends are most important part of movie night. Also popcorn. And butter. Very important." Sure, the calories might be empty, but that just means Cass has something to work off when she hits the gym... because she's going to hit it either way.

She snorts softly and murmurs dryly, "Could watch Rambo. But Jason would hear. ...Hm. Can't think of movie to joke about Dick."

Spoiler has posed:
A movie to summon Dick? There's a few options. "Yeah. There's a few, but none of them are funny." Flipflipflip. "Ha, we could watch Scream, it's an homage to slasher movies, but I think we'd both get mad at the TV."

She keeps flipping. "I think I waste more time trying to watch a movie than I do actually watching a movie," Steph grumps. She swaps services at least twice, then sighs and just turns on A NEW HOPE.

Hopefully Tim doesn't pop in.

The crawl begins, and she reaches over to grab a soda (root beer) and the bowl of popcorn which she sets between them. "It's an old standby. It's good, I can quote it, and you can point out the flaws in the lightsaber combat."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
The introductory fanfare has Cass shifting a little, stirring symphony making her sit up a little straighter, a bit more interested... and also the less slouchy posture allows her to reach out and grab one of those dry grapefruit sodas. She pops it open, sips, and lets out a low noise. Content. Happy even.

And she finds herself drifting into movie watching mode. Once, what seems like forever ago and last week, she'd never be able to relax and just... watch a movie. But she can. With her friends.

And she snickers softly and murmurs dryly, "Am very versed in weapons. Not laser swords. Seem... worryingly dangerous to user. What if you drop it point down?" She clicks her tongue in mock concern. And she leans in a little more, just a little almost feline brush against Steph.

Spoiler has posed:
"I think they have, like, dead man switches. They turn off if you drop it," she says with a shrug. "Look at it, though. At least in this one, this is Old Man Kendo Club." She takes a sip of the almost sickeningly sweet soda, chasing it with popcorn. This is, as they say, the life.

Double for the incredible rarity of Cass, well, being the least bit snuggly. It is very catlike, affection and contact when she wants it, otherwise the razors come out. Steph manages to not squee about it, and just settles in. No sudden movements. Nothing to spook her off.

"I'm sure somebody around has a laser sword. I mean, I'd eat my mask if, like, Tony Stark didn't have one stuffed in a lab somewhere."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
Cass's gaze keeps tracking sidelong to Steph, her lips quirking ever so slightly, just the ghost of a smile. Because Steph's... Steph. She understands how difficult it is for Cass to open up. To relax. TO lower those years and years of honed, careful defenses.

Cass clicks her tongue softly and shakes her head a little, even if it's really more just a negative shake that serves to rest her head on Steph's shoulder more in between sips and nibbles. "Wouldn't want a real one anyway. Too tempting to use. Get angry, grab wrong cylindrical hilt. VOOOOOM, Scarecrow suddenly far more scary. Also shorter. ...Everyone upset."

There's the softest little noise, it might in fact be the barest little laugh, as Cass's hand reaches out, heedless of risking getting butter mingled with Steph's hand, giving a little squeeze. "This... is good. Movie night. You. Very good."

Spoiler has posed:
This is what best friends do. Sure, there's usually more talk about romantic partners, or work, or school. This is mostly just companionable silence. Sure, the occasional comment or sass, but this is just two people being comfortable around each other without the need to speak.

It's what being best friends is all about.

"On one hand, you're right. On the other hand, I think Scarecrow probably deserves it. Dude's a jerk."

Stephanie also doesn't care about buttery hands. It's the risk you take with shared popcorn. Her head tilts just a little bit so she can catch Cass's eye with hers. Her smile is gentle and warm, and her hand twists to clasp with Cassandra's, giving her own buttery squeeze. "You're great too, Cass. Thanks for hanging out with me."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
Cass lets out a low little noise, fingers squeezing back, almost a rumbly little purr, like some sort of content jungle cat. "Anytime. Anywhere. Not just rainy rooftops. Hanging out is... good." She sips her drink and lets out another approving noise. Apparently dry grapefruit soda is /also/ good.

And even for her usual silent self, Cass drifts into absorbed silence, lost in the comfort of a close friend, and a classic movie.

Just a nice little moment to remind Cass that she's got a home now. A family. And a purpose that they share. But also more than that purpose. She can... relax. Unwind. And just... be herself. Even if she's still figuring out who that is.

Apparently, at least partly, who she is is a Star Wars fan. Also a Steph fan. But she kind of already figured on that.

Spoiler has posed:
Steph's upbringing wasn't anywhere near as harsh and brutal as Cass's. Sure, her dad was, is, a supervillain. A low rent Riddler, even. She still barely knew about it until she was almost an adult. Her home life wasn't great, but it was still there and, even in his twisted way, her dad loves her. Cass never had that. She was born and raised to be a living weapon, not a person.

She's got some words for Lady Shiva about that, but she'll probably die.

Steph only half watches the movie. She's seen it dozens of times. Instead, her mind lingers on her friend. Her best friend. How wonderful it is that she's taking the little steps to reach out. That she's -trying- to learn how to be a person. How -grateful- she is that Cass is letting her in. Letting her help. She feels a lump in her throat, but she fights it down, taking a deep breath. She can't hide anything from Cass, even that subtle shift in body language is like a ten page dossier, so she just squeezes her hand again.

Soon enough, the Death Star explodes. Everybody but the Wookiee gets a medal. The credits start.

Somehow the popcorn is -gone- and Steph has had too much soda. Oops.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
Cassandra tries not to show her concerns about her childhood, her scars... well, not the non-visible ones. If she was going to try and hide the physical ones she'd wear her costume 24/7. And she doesn't do that.

Any more.

Indeed, she wears those physical scars with casual ease. It's... the mental ones. The emotional ones. The ones that keep her so tensed and reserved when she's amongst friends. Those are harder to shake off. But... this is nice.

She barely even notices when time passes and the Death Star explodes. And then the credits are rolling and Cass is back in Gotham. Back in herself. But it's not bad at all. Because Steph's there. And Cass sighs out, eying the empty popcorn bowl... the seemingly endless array of sodas they've guzzled down. "Oops. We..." She reaches out to /tap/ an empty can, "May have underestimated thirst."

Probably still cheaper than getting a small soda at the theatre.