3156/Learn to Read You Slacker!

Learn to Read You Slacker!
Date of Scene:	15 November 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Batman has a talk with Cassandra about her resistance to tutoring
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Batgirl (Cain)

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Batman has posed:
    The chill of the season does not reach into the depths of the cave beneath Wayne Manor. There is no hint to the changes of the world outside, the one constant for the Batman is here, within the cave. Instead there is the dark with halos of light granted by the low hanging sconce. The room itself is quiet save for the faint hum of the reactor so far below. It is a place of reflection, to focus on the war that is ever there before him.
    Tonight, the Batman frowns as he sits in front of the large series of displays that shine down upon him, their illumination casting the dark cowl he wears with a green glow as his hidden eyes scan the monitors. A frown marks his features at points as he manipulates the data, the stream of it causing his features to shadow as the light changes. But eventually he shakes his head and stands up slowly, the cape falling to obscure his silhouette.
    Turning to the side he only seems to just then notice the old tray service that had been left there by Alfred several hours ago, the coffee having gone cold some time past. Yet despite that he frowns, then lifts a mug to take a sip.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    There is the faintest sound from the stairs as Cassandra comes down from the manor. It's getting a little later in the evening. Time to get out to patrol. She's dressed in a tank top and a pair of sweat pants, her feet bare. It used to be she could change in her room but now that Bruce has a bodyguard, she is forced to keep everything in the cave to avoid prying eyes. Padding along the metal walkway, she glances over to the computer to see the data there but it has no meaning for her. It's just stuff on a screen.
    Her gaze shifts to Batman by the tea service which has her raising eyebrows. Alfred has been upstairs a while so she wonders how long that's been here. Turning a corner on the metal path, she comes up toward Batman and gives him a brief smile along with a nod.
    There's no need to try and explain where she's going. If she's here, she's going on patrol or she's training. Since she passed the training areas, it doesn't take the World's Greatest Detective to figure out she's going to get ready to hit the rooftops.

Batman has posed:
    A glance to the side is given, just a momentary thing as the Batman registers the arrival of Batgirl. He gives a single nod, then gestures with one hand towards the tray, offering her some caffeine if she wants it. But then his brow knits, words given to him by Diana return to his thoughts as he eyes Batgirl again.
    Turning to face her, "Cassandra." The Dark Knight is not as easy to read as others. His body language is a quiet thing, hidden well under the cape and that cowl. Yet she can still gauge him, perceive him better than most ever shall. "I spoke with Wonder Woman." He says that, the use of her other name signalling the tone of the conversation.
    Then his arms cross over his chest and there's no mistaking the tone in his stance there. The mentor, the authority figure, standing tall and passing judgement. "She told me about the tutors." No judgement in the words however, perhaps letting her explain as she can.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    To her credit, Cassandra doesn't flinch. She does drop her gaze to the side, trying to look anywhere but at him for the moment. It's her way of 'not listening' since she has to see a person to 'hear' what they have to say. To further demonstrate her feelings on the matter, she crosses her arms over her chest, not meaning to duplicate his posture but needing to close herself off from the conversation.
    The tutors had annoyed her to the point she simply refused to try. They weren't understanding and a few thought she was beyond help before they even started. She could read them. They felt they were wasting their time. So she just proved it for them by being the problem they expected. What bothered her the most is that at least two of them thought she was simply not smart enough to learn.
    She heaves a soft sight then forces herself to look at the cowled face of her mentor. She gives a little half shrug which is really the only thing she can do since it's impossible for her to express the level of frustration she had been feeling.

Batman has posed:
    Oh he knows when she is deliberately ignoring him, knows when these moments become contests of will. Those irisless eyelets don't waver, however, even as they obscure the deeper thoughts of the man from her vision. He frowns, but then perhaps to try and close that distance he lifts his hands to the cowl and pushes it back, revealing the strong features of the man known as Bruce Wayne.
    "Cassandra." His blue eyes meet her gaze and she can read the concern and the momentary struggle there. "If this is the path you're choosing..." He gestures with one hand to the side, perhaps not gesturing only to the cave, but to the entirety of what it means to take on the mantle. To take on the responsibility of this war. "Then you can't ignore any area of your training."
    He turns away, stalking back across the distance towards the computer displays and hitting a single key, bringing the feed of data to a halt. And there on those screens are words upon words, connected to images, to data, to all sorts of displays.
    "There may be a time in the future when you are on your own, or I am not around that lives will depend on you understanding."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra glances over at the displays. Her dark brown eyes move, shifting her focus from one screen to the next. The images she understands. But there are words by them, around them. Everywhere. They might as well be works of art on a wall for all they mean to her. Lines and shapes that mean nothing. Her lips twist down in a frown. He is asking her to learn. He needs her to in order to continue performing in her role as Batgirl. This man is the first person who wasn't trying to use her. He allowed her to make the choices on what she wanted to do with her abilities. He gave her a chance.
    She's disappointing him.
    It's a crushing thought and she flicks her gaze to him as he explains why it's so important. On her own. She's been alone before, running the streets and avoiding her father's attempts to find her. He gave up long ago, it seems, but the memories are still fresh for the young woman. She motions with a hand to the area where the costumes are kept, trying to argue in her own way that there are others who can do the reading, the calculating of information. It wouldn't have to be her.

Batman has posed:
    The tall man's jaw tenses subtly, hardly anyone else would recognize that micro gesture, the girding of self against a difficult truth, pushing on something that may hurt another. But then it eases as he turns his head slightly to the side, as if seeking inner guidance. Shaking his head he looks back to her, "When I took on this burden. I was alone. I could not trust anyone else to do what had to be done, so I had to learn everything I could."
    He steps towards her, towering over her as his voice is this stern steady delivery, "Others came to share my vision. But we can never know for sure who will be with us in five... ten years. I will grow old. Some of the others will move on to other parts of their lives. But if this is what you plan to do with your life. Then you cannot neglect any, _any_ aspect of your training."
    There's a small shake of his head and she can tell he's trying to be understanding. But then he ruins it all as he tries to exert that control he always feels he must as he murmurs, "This is non-negotiable."

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Others may find his closeness intimidating. It's never worked tha way for Cassandra. With her special viewpoint, she can see beyond the exterior posturing. In some ways, she has a unique understanding of the man.
    His explanation makes sense but she doesn't even want to think about the idea of him not being around. They live dangerous lives. They could die at any time out there fighting their battles. Yet, in her mind, he is eternal. He will never fall and never fade. He is more accepting of his humanity than she is.
    Nightwing has already moved on to Bludhaven. Tim has become a new name as well, having helped create the Titans. Damian has joined that team. She remains, the only world for her that of a cowl and a cape prowling the night. She is the one most likely to remain here without the draw of the world outside taking her away from the war.
    She drops her gaze a moment as the thoughts chase each other through her head. A slow intake of breath. A squaring of shoulders. Chin coming up as she meets his gaze, brown eyes finding blue. She gives a slow nod, accepting his words and agreeing to do her best to meat his expectations.
    Her biggest fear is to fail him. What if she does? What if she still can't learn? There has to be a way. SHe'll find it.