9050/Wayward Bats

Wayward Bats
Date of Scene:	03 September 2019
Location:	Batcave - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Jason returns and is caught up on current events by Carrie.
Cast of Characters:	Carrie Kelley, Red Hood

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Carrie Kelley has posed:
One good thing about living at the manor now meant easy, quick access to the cave and it's training areas. There was some hesitance to use it given Talia was about--Something that was unnerving in so many ways--But Bruce had insisted she just do what she needs to do and otherwise try to steer clear of the woman and avoid causing any offense. Easily done. Eventually that meant that Carrie had to get back to training though.

After a nice warm-up run around the grounds Carrie comes down the stairs to the cave wearing the unitard that she sometimes wore beneath her gear. It was suitable for training in, and kept her body temp regulated thanks to the material it was made from which allowed her to train longer. Got to love sports science these days. The redhead ties her hair up in a high ponytail as she approaches the matted areas with a little bounce in her step to keep her calves flexible from the run. Even as she does, her eyes skirt around trying to determine if there was anyone else here she ought to be wary of.

Red Hood has posed:
Jason took a little while to get access. Some of his pass codes had gotten out of date and he had to double-check the rotation to make sure he got the new ones properly. Algorithms and all that crap. Not his style. He'd rather just have a big fat lock on the place. But the tech was useful, no denying that.

He eases his bike in and parks it in his old slot, pulling off his helmet and setting it aside. HE'd been in town for a couple of weeks again, back from his hiatus, but he hadn't shown his face here yet. He wasn't sure he was looking forward to it.

But the job was the job. And the war was the war. He had to get shit done and things got done a lot faster with help.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
A motorcycle? The familiar sound causes Carrie to pause as she turns instead toward the sound. There were only so many of the 'family' that rode them after all. Namely the boys. "Tim, that you?" She calls out just before coming into sight of the slot that Jason had pulled into. "Ah... Definitely not," she corrects herself with a lopsided grin at the sight of the often absent one.

"Jaybird, good to see you alive. The Boss is off doing things, but..." She considers, tipping her head to the side a moment, "Some things have changed while you've been gone. Might want to sit down for a chat."

Red Hood has posed:
Jason pulls off his gauntlets, tossing them aside and nodding. "Not dead yet," he says in agreement. "Don't things always change around here? Do we have another new Robin? Is Joker a good guy now? Did he put an espresso machine in the Batmobile?" he says sarcastically.

Speaking of which, he's definitely looking for the coffee pot, starting to pour himself a cup.

"It is good to see you, though," he says more quietly.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley lets out a small puff of breath blowing her hair out of her face just a bit in the process. There was an awkward stiffness as she stands there watching him head for the coffee. It was a typical gathering spot though. "Something like that," she mutters quietly with no real humor. It's his quiet addition that causes her awkwardness to crack with a softer smile. Though she might get yelled at for it, she risks stepping to his side, and giving him a one armed hug. "Glad you're back."

"The Boss moved me in here is the first change, so no real big deal other than he did it without *asking me first*, but I've already had it out with him on that point. ... Swallow your drink," she advises, and waits until he has done so before adding the big bomb.

"Talia's hiding out here."

Red Hood has posed:
He doesn't complain about the hug, but he doesn't acknowledge it either, "Thanks," he says in that same tone and then nods.

"Yeah, he likes to get the recruits close. Easier to make sure we're progressing. Also easier to keep a hand on the leash, but, y'know...that's part of the deal, isn't it?"

He takes a long sip of his coffee before she tells him the last, and he barely managed to swallow it in time. "Well. He always has had a soft spot for her. Gotten him in trouble enough you'd think he'd learn."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"THANK you," Carrie lets out exasperated as this was apparently something she thought as well. "So far it's been okay but... Poor Damian's all messed up." Naturally. Carrie always was a bit protective of the youngset of them, if only because she started out as his teacher before learning the truth. There was that sort of mentality she'd never gotten rid of even if he was probably more capable of protecting himself than she was.

Glancing sidelong at him she asks, "You going to be okay with this? I mean you once told me some of your history with Damian's family." Not a lot of details, but enough she knew there was issues there. Even as she asks, she reaches for a cup to pour herself some coffee as well.

Red Hood has posed:
"It's part of his underlying issue. He wants to fix things. Cities, orphans. People. Women," he says. "I had to get my head beat in to learn a few things. And yeah, there's history there, but it was...business. Not personal."

Which is a total lie, but he can tell himself that, at least.

"The kid's tough. He'll be okay. Or he won't. Either way, Bruce makes the decisions. All we can do is bitch."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"He'll be fine. I'm more worried about you right now," Carrie points out as she lifts her mug to take a sip of the dark brew. "You doing okay? I mean, you were pretty insistant on going off on your own for ... Whatever you were doing." In spite of his earlier remarks to being alive, and obvious proof he was, she glances him up and down several times looking for any signs of injury he might have sustained. It was habit at this point.

"Also, how the hell did you ever get used to living somewhere this huge? My bedroom has a *name* for crying out loud."

Red Hood has posed:
"I just had some demons to work out," he says. "The thing I went through, it means I get a little...antsy now and again. Hell, it just makes me junkyard dog mean," he says.

"I had to sow some wild oats. Consider 'em sown."

The last makes him shrug and give a grunting laugh, "Don't ask me. I never felt comfortable here. Always lookin' over my shoulder, waitin' for somebody to throw me in cuffs and haul me back to Crime Alley. The thing that scares me most, though, is that most of 'em are used to it. They think livin' like this is normal."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley spreads her hands in a wide shrug, gesturing at Jason with eyes wide. Another 'thank you!' of agreement though one stated without words as she still had a mouthful of coffee she was gulping down. "Yeah! I was half afraid he'd tell me to get rid of my car. I mean I know it's old... and a bit rough around the edges... But it's mine." That was one thing she was rather irritated about, but he'd actually said he understood her need to have it around. "I still haven't explored the entire place yet. I really ought to but I feel like I'll just feel more overwhelmed."

"I do have to admit it's kind of a relief to not have to worry so much about where my rent is coming from every month, though. Kind of guilty about that, actually." Realizing she's rambling a bit she just lets out a sigh. "Anyway. I was going to get some training in... Unless you want to distract me with an actual tour or something."

Red Hood has posed:
"I'm not sure my family ever paid rent in full. Usually bits and pieces, scraping by, making do. Runnin' out int he middle of the night to squat somewhere else before the landlord came around to collect what he could. Kitin' checks and scrapin' quarters out of couches to make do."

"And the others wonder why I get kinda bitter hangin' around this place sometimes?"

"Don't feel guilty, though. Take 'em for all you can. He can afford it. Hell. Odds are he won't even notice."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley hesitates a little at that before she quickly shakes her head with jaw tightening. It wasn't often she spoke of her parents in detail. "No, I mean, I feel guilty that I'm relieved. I always made ends meet with part time jobs and stuff. My parents..." Here she hesitates. "They made enough. I was lucky. Always had a roof. Just not always food or them. They were too busy trying to seem like something they aren't."

"I get it though. Seeing such excess when you know the opposite side of things... I get it. My folks would spend all they could to make it seem like they weren't just middleclass. It's partly why I don't want them to find out I'm here."

Red Hood has posed:
Jason Todd nods, "It's okay to be relieved. You should feel good where you can. I was never very good at it, but that doesn't mean other people shouldn't be," he says, with the ghost of a smile.

"Still, I probably won't be heading upstairs too often, if Talia's lurking about. It would be pretty awkward, I imagine. It'll happen eventually, but no need for me to rush into it."

"This place is hard for regular folks. Bruce is Bruce. Barbara and Tim are supergenius nerds. Dick's circus people. And, well, me...well, the normal parts of me got battered out of my head with a crowbar."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley lightly elbows Jason's side at that with a little shake of her head. "Not all of them. You're too much a fighter for that. Just keep in mind you've got friends here, you know? We care about you and want to make sure you're okay, too. And it is okay for YOU to be happy, too, once in awhile." Grinning faintly she nods, and glances up toward the stairs thoughtfully.

"That's fair enough. I'm sure Alfred would like to know you're back though, if he doesn't already. Maybe we can arrange it so she's not around at some point so it'll be safe."

Red Hood has posed:
Jason puts down the coffee cup, "I'll try to be happy sometimes. But I won't like it," he says with a hint of a playful tug at the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, I'd like to see him, at least. Maybe steal a couple of cookies. He usually hid a few away for me."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grins at the very thought. "That does sound like him," she has to admit before patting his shoulder. "Good to have you back, Jason."