She gave you everything she had, but she was young and dumb

[selfmadehero.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Stephanie Brown and EVERYONE ELSE
Location: Balamb Town
Rating: PG
Open/Closed/Finished: Open
Summary: One second she was in the cave, the next she was... where was she?

The first thing she thought was "this can't be happening." Whether she was talking about her strange new surroundings or the fact that Batman had just fired her? For one stupid mistake? It was a combination of the two.

Her second thought was "this must be a test." She messed up, and now... what? He wanted her to go through some creepy training? Why couldn't he just say that? He had to know that she would do whatever it took.

Or maybe he didn't know. Maybe the reason behind this whole charade was because he wasn't sure she was really devoted to the mission. Her mission, not just his. Well she was up to the challenge. She could do it without his help. It was the same thing she had been doing this whole time. The only reason she went to him at all was because she wanted proper training and proper recognition. She wanted him to acknowledge that she deserved this chance. Instead she got a probation. Well if this was what it took, she'd play along.

First that meant changing out of her costume, which hurt, considering Batman's final words to her. She kept it in the bag her civilian clothes had been in, reminding herself that she would be putting it on again. Next she re-read the letter, then re-read it again and again. When she had it almost memorized, she knew what she needed to do.

Putting on her best 'innocent civilian' face, she found a crowded area and looked around somewhat helplessly.

"Hello?" she called out, hoping somebody who knew the area would find her. "Can somebody help me? I'm lost."

Comments

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

Pffft. Damian couldn't help snorting. "I wish. Mostly festivals and sporting events and stuff. The big events're in the Ballroom. That's on the second floor."

He paused, trying to figure out the best way to say this, "Garden's like one big mobile school. It's got three floors: students're only allowed access to the first two. The third's the Bridge and Headmaster's Office. Oh, and a basement, but no one goes there either."

[selfmadehero.livejournal.com]

She didn't ask how a school could be "mobile". She'd find out soon enough anyway. As interested as she was in the basement and why nobody went there (or more precisely, how she could use this info to her advantage) she was pushing her luck already. Instead she nodded, making a mental note to check it out first chance she got.

"Thanks for helping me out. I never would have found all this on my own." Lies, of course, but they fit with the character she was developing. Later on she could revert back to her usual self.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," He shrugged. "Garden's like one giant ring - even if you get lost, if you keep walking in one direction, you'll find where you're going eventually."

Damian figured that someone else could do a better job of explaining the other nitty-gritty (like classes and the like), so he didn't bother with it. Instead, he finally stopped before the dorms, holding the door open for her. "Here we are," He said once they'd entered the area. "The B dorms're all girls. You're 205, so that'd be on the second floor and down to your... left? I think? It's not hard to miss."

[selfmadehero.livejournal.com]

She took a deep breath and let it out. Her next big step was meeting her roommate, assuming she had one. With her luck, she would. Sneaking out would be tough if she was sharing a room with someone. As though it weren't hard enough just living with her mom.

"Shouldn't be too hard to find. They just go in order, right?" It would be a pretty ridiculous setup if the rooms were randomly numbered, but not something she would have put past Batman.

"Thanks Damian. I guess I'll see you around?"

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

He nodded to confirm, "That's right." If they weren't, Damian might've had a few more words with Headmaster than before - and that was saying something, considering Day liked him.

His good deed done for the day, Day then turned to leave. "Yeah, probably," He smiled slightly. "See ya, Stephanie. I'm over in A115 if you ever need me."

Pausing, he then added, "Or you could just send me a PM on our BBS system. Your laptop should be in your room if it's not there already."

[selfmadehero.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely," she nodded, genuinely a little excited to be getting a laptop in her room. That certainly wasn't in the brochure. Maybe this boarding school thing wouldn't be so bad after all.

Of course, in a couple of days it would probably hit her that she wouldn't see her mom or Tim for a very long time, but right now she was looking on the bright side.

[bratbeyond.livejournal.com]

That hadn't been bad at all! Maybe he could do the new student tour guide thing if he put his mind to it. (But Damian certainly didn't want to make it a habit either.) He waved, finally ducking out of the dorms and back towards the Training Center.

"Good luck!" He called, walking backwards until she was completely out of sight. "You're going to need it 'round here."