2977/Home Away From Home

Home Away From Home
Date of Scene:	18 August 2020
Location:	Apartment 1A - University Apartments
Synopsis:	Roberto gets a tour of Stephanie's first college apartment
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Roberto da Costa

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
It had been a little while since Stephanie and Roberto had been able to get together. Life just seemed to be conspiring against them. But today seemed like it would actually work out. A trip down to Gotham for the Brazilian.

Stephanie had texted in setting up the trip:

> When you get here, head over to this address instead of to my place. I'll meet you there. 1852 Westside Drive, Gotham.

The time they'd set to meet is fast approaching. Stephanie Brown's motorcycle is parked nearby as she waits outside the entrance to the University Apartments building. The building is right across the street from campus, and is surrounded by other student housing, coffee shops, book stores, eateries, and a bar or two.

Stephanie is sitting on a low retaining wall around the grass surrounding the building, flipping through a course book from the university. She's wearing shorts and a dark purple t-shirt, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. There's also quite a smile on her face.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto texts back,

> Cool. See you there, beautiful.

And true to his word, Roberto pulls up at the appointed time, climbing out of his mother's BMW (he had yet to replace his Maseratti that was destroyed in his 'accident') he borrowed, a bag of Big Belly burgers in one hand, and a tray of drinks in the other. Being summer Roberto is wearing a blue tank top with words in white declaring: Beaches Love Me, in front of silhouettes of palm trees and blue and white shorts and to top it off a pair of Fantastic 4-Dans, also blue and white on his feet.

Spotting Steph, he waves with the bag of hamburgers and makes his way over. "So, what we doing here?" he asks looking at the building knowingly.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie glances up as the car pulls over into the parking spot. She hops up from where she was seated, a smile breaking out that only gets larger as Roberto climbs out of the car and approaches with the food. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," she tells him with a grin. She moves over to meet him halfway, throwing an arm about him for a hug, careful of not dislodging the food.

After, she takes the drink tray from him and says, "Come on inside. Something to show you," she says. There's a new element in her smile now. Something that shows in the eyes. A new excitement. Maybe a bit of pride and some other emotions.

She nods with her head towards the door and heads inside assuming Roberto follows. The entryway has mailboxes in the wall, and beyond is an elevator. Stephanie heads to the conveyance, hitting a button which opens the door on the elevator that's already on the ground floor. Once inside, she hits the button for floor eight, the top floor.

She's smiling but doesn't say anything. Just waits until they reach the top, then leads the way down the hallway. The carpeting isn't in the best shape, but not horrible. It's about what you expect in student housing. Stephanie stops at one of the doors, fishing out a key and opening it up to show a rather small apartment. One that is completely bare, no furniture or decorations. "Welcome to the future Casa de Stephanie," she says.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto's smile grows as Stephanie comes over to him and he leans across the food to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Hey babe," he greets before he nods. "Sure thing," and follows her inside, when the door is swung open on Casa de Stephanie, Roberto looks around and nods with approval. "Now this is a college apartment," he declares as he gives it another pass with his eyes and looks to Steph. "So scale of one to ten how happy are you to be moving out on your own?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie moves inside the place, closing the door behind Roberto once he's in. It does smell nice, the scent lemon-based cleaners, and it's pretty clear the place has been given a thorough scrubbing. Recently, judging by that scent. If Roberto looks he might spot a box of cleaning supplies over in the open door to the small pantry.

"It's not quite your mother's condo," Stephanie says, "But... my first place of my own. And, without a roommate to drive me nuts, even," she tells him. She doesn't add she would have liked to have a roommate, but too difficult explaining her nocturnal comings and goings in costume via the balcony.

She grins and motions towards a spot on the carpeted floor. "No table, but we can sprawl and eat," she says. "And... oh... I'd have thought I'd say ten. But part of me worries about not being there for Mom all the time. Still, I'd have to go with a solid eight," she says. "I don't really have much budget for furniture. But am hoping to snag a few friends to go prowl the curbs on big item trash day and see if we can't score a few decent items."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
It does smell fresh and clean like new beginnings, a sense made stronger by the sunlight coming through the windows. "It's great, it's a really, real first place," he says giving Steph a smile and heading for the carpet to sit down with his back against the wall while he begins sorting out the food and drinks.

"So you just grab furniture from the curb?" he asks a little curious about her furnishing plans. Definitely not something he worried about too much but he seems to be taking note. "And that's legal and everything?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie moves over to take a seat. The carpet is in decent shape, and one can tell it's been freshly cleaned as well. "Yep, once they put it out it's fair game. And not like most people would mind. Kind of a college student thing from what I understand," she says. "Granted, I have no idea just what we'd find. I will try to buy a mattress though, not going to get that from a curb," she says with a little shrug of her shoulders.

Stephanie looks around the room even as she's pulling the drinks out of the tray. There's that light of pride in her eyes. Sitting in her own apartment, across from a major university she's enrolled at. When she doubted she'd ever make it into school, or be able to afford tuition. Let alone to actually get her own apartment. "It feels good though," she says. "Have lived in the current place for... wow, ten years now. Before that we had a house. But we got driven out, after the tidal wave, you know? Had to take shelter in one of the schools. I was just ten. My memories of it, not really that great, right? After the islands were reconnected to the mainland, Mom wanted to move to Bristol, get off the islands. Didn't want to risk that happening again, I think."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto hands over a B4 (Big Belly Bacon Burger) and fries, followed shortly by a medium soda as he listens to the strange customs of American college students. "That actually sounds like fun," Roberto says. "Want me to rent a truck or something? Go around 'shopping' with your friends, plus, I'm pretty handy at lifting heavy stuff," he says with a joking flex of his arm. "However, I insist on getting you your mattress as a housewarming gift, got to make sure it's comfy and big enough for two," he says giving Steph a wink.

"I can understand not wanting to leave your mom alone, but you won't be far and you can drop in on her and grab dinner, it'll be good. The tidal wave sounds rough, I saw a lot of it on TV when I was kid, Brazil was far enough from the blast that by the time the wave reached us it was barely anything." He reaches over and squeezes her hand. "And now you've got a home of your own though. Which is pretty cool."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie takes the food gratefully. She hesitates just a moment about the mattress, but relents quickly enough. "I suppose... I mean... it's something I sort of would like you to feel comfortable with," she says, her cheeks just coloring a little bit as the admission, and the blue eyes looking anywhere but at Roberto at that moment.

She clears her throat, and sips her soda before looking back to him. "But sure, if you'd like to come along. Was hoping Tim and Carrie might be up for it. I haven't told them about the place yet though," she says. She reaches over and pats Roberto's arm, then gives it a squeeze. "Mmm. Mmm hmm," she comments about his muscles, and grinning at him a bit, shining a smile over to him.

"Haven't met the neighbors yet, not even sure if they have moved in," she says. "I hear the place is all students. A lot of parties on the weekends and all." Her eyes roam around the empty space. "I need to put up some pictures and things too. A lot to do. And classes starting soon. So, how are things going with you and school? Are you settled with a place to live?"

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto chuckles at Steph's embarrassment, and lets her deal with it, before saying, "Good, we'll do some mattress shopping later then, and just let me know when you want to go curb shopping and me and my muscles," he grins as she touches his arm. "Will be there."

He takes a fry from the box and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully before he answers. "Think I'm getting a place like this one," he says. "Mom wants me to stay at Xavier's but I don't want to have to drive to Westchester everyday after school and my dad wants me to use the condo, but rather just live life like a student for a bit, experience some of that real life people keep telling me about."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie opens up her burger, pressing down on the top to squash it a bit so it's easier to take a bite out of, fitting in her mouth better. She takes a bite, getting bbq sauce on the corner of her mouth. She grins and wipes it with a finger she pops in her mouth, comfortable about eating casually with Roberto.

"I think that's a good idea," she says. "Part of why I want to be here too. I really want to do well in school. I think, getting the scholarship kind of gave me a bit of extra drive. Like... it would be wrong of me to squander it, you know? But I also want to experience college life fully. The saying from the movie. Suck the marrow out of life? Or, ok yeah I know it was a book too. But I saw it in the movie," she says with a slight grin and shrug of her shoulders.

"Need any help moving in? I'd be happy to carry stuff. And if it's too heavy, I have a boyfriend who I hear has some big muscles," she says, giving a little eyebrow wiggle towards him. "I think not having to commute would probably be good too. Traffic there seems like it can be such a nightmare. Wasting that much time each day, just not a great way to do it I think. So are you going with business for a major, or thinking of something else?"

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto smiles at Steph's messy eating, opening his own burger's wrapper and taking a bite of his own burger. With summer being in full swing, he was rarely hungry, his body getting more than enough fuel from the sun to sustain him, but bacon burgers were awesome so he was making an exception today.

"Makes sense, and yeah, I sort of what the full college experience too, plus I've been at Xavier's since I was thirteen and it'd be good to spread my wings a bit, see what the rest of the world is like. And hey you're doing better than me, I don't even know what movie that's from," he says with a grin before taking a bite of his burger again.

"And you'll do great here Steph, you def deserve that scholarship," he swallows down his food. "Yeah gonna be business, at least as long as my dad is paying for my school, but that's okay, and definitely don't want to waste my time in a car all day, still thinking about what to get next car wise, might see if my folks will go for two more moderate priced cars so I can finally live my 'Gotham car' dreams."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown finishes off a bite before answering Roberto with, "Dead Poet Society. Oh Captain my Captain. That one. It's... ah, how's it go. Something like... I want to live large, or maybe it was 'live deliberately'? Anyway... to suck the marrow out of life, and not, when I came to die, found out I had not truly lived," Stephanie says. "I think it was the author who lived in the woods. Or wrote a story about living in the woods. Literature not really my best subject as you can tell since I only know it from the movie."

She continues eating, listening quietly and smiling at Roberto's statement of confidence in her. As he speaks about trying to get a Gotham car, she sets down her burger, wiping her hands on a napkin rather than licking the bbq sauce off of them. And then the blond moves over nearer to Roberto, kneeling there on the carpet beside him.

"I keep waiting to wake up from this awesome dream, where I have this hot Brazilian boyfriend. You know the dream, the one where he's not dirt poor like me, but doesn't mind that about me. And he puts up with my sense of humor. Even seems like he might like it. And... he's just always wonderful," she says, biting her lip. "And just... hearing you thinking about wanting a car here it really... just... you're something, you know that?" she says. Her hand has strayed to her throat, to a necklace she's wearing with a golden medallion on it, shaped like a compass with diamonds at the cardinal points.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
"Oh right, that Robin William's movie? Always mean to see that, what with going to private school and all," Roberto says nodding, and smirking about the rest. "Still better than what I know about it, but still good words to live by."

When Steph moves over to him, Roberto sets down his food and smiles, leaning over to touch the medallion as well. "Well here's hoping we never have to wake up from that dream, you're pretty something yourself there beautiful," he says without irony before he leans over just a little bit more to kiss her.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown's eyes close to share the kiss. She wasn't really exaggerating, it's difficult for her to not wait for something to go wrong. Roberto is just too perfect to choose to be with her. But she's not going to try to convince him otherwise. Her hand moves to rest softly on his cheek as they kiss, slow and tenderly, before finally drifting apart again.

Stephanie settles back down cross-legged, and reaches over to reclaim her burger, pulling the wrapper over to keep from dripping sauce on the carpet. "You're going to just kill it at Columbia, I know it," she tells him. "Even your dad is going to end up amazed with you, just wait and see," she says with a smile.

She finally takes another bite of her burger, chewing it slowly. "Just try to stay away from alien invasions and all of that while you're there, ok? New York seems like alien central or something. At least we just have to worry about, well, like The Joker," she says.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto savours the kiss and when it's over he smiles reassuringly as if he could feel Steph's fears through that tender gesture of affection.

"Here's hoping, even without the commute I still want to get down here to see you as much as possible and see my friends up at Xavier's going to be going all out to keep up with it all, but yeah, I feel good about things, it's going to be new."

As for the aliens, he smiles, "I'll do my best. Thinking about helping the people down in Mutant Town a bit though. Some people at my school are founding this group called the X Corporation to help mutants and I think I'll volunteer some time with it just to chip in, y'know? Know people like Hank for years, and it's shitty how bad of a time they get for just being them, so, might as well help where I can."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
There's so much about Roberto to smile about. The expression is always quick to come to Stephanie when he's around, and now is no exception. As she listens to what he's planning with Mutant Town, that smile is especially warm and soft. "I think that's really great," she tells Roberto.

"I probably can't even imagine what he's gone through, what any of the mutants have gone through," Stephanie says thoughtfully, eyes dropping her food. She gives a little shake of her head as if not liking her imaginings. "People are just... a-holes. Looking for anyone different than them to blame rather than doing something to make things better themselves," she says with a soft sigh.

The blond girl looks back up. "I think I might have met one. A mutant I mean. When we weren't able to get together in New York, and I said I'd go sightsee?" she says. "This girl, maybe a little younger than us. Green hair. This guy on a bike went to snatch her bag. And it was like he'd tried to grab hold of a light pole or something. Just pulled him clean off his bike like the bag was cemented to her. She seemed really sweet, called him an ambulance because he hit the ground pretty hard. Sort of... different though. Like she wasn't used to how the world works? Naïve maybe? I didn't get to talk to her long. But I got her number. Was thinking next time I'm up visiting you, might try to meet up with her and get to know her better."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
"Glad," Roberto says of Steph's enthusiasm for that choice. "Not sure when I will find the time but that's a tomorrow problem."

"It's definitely been rough for him but you're friend Carrie has been a huge help for him, never seen Hank more happy, which is saying something because despite everything he's always been a cheerful guy."

Roberto listens and nods, "Sounds like she might be one of the Genoshan refugees, I am not really sure how things worked there, but might be she was out in the country, it would make sense if she survived the attack and is here, instead of just coming out of one of those bottles. Want me to tag along if you go find her again?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The girl's smile softens a bit more. "Sure, if you'd like to come," she tells Roberto. She leans forward and brushes a soft kiss to his lips. "You really are something," she tells him with a warm, lopsided grin. "If she is from there... well, she could probably use some more friends. Maybe even introduce her to Doctor McCoy? Might make her feel better to know there's more people like her around," Stephanie suggests.

She takes another bite of her burger then, and makes a soft, happy sound. "This is so good. Thank you for feeding me," she says with a soft grin. "I haven't gotten around to anything but cleaning, yet, so no food here yet. Might be eating ramen for awhile once I get my books. Not looking forward to that. I hear they cost an arm and a leg."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto grins returning that kiss, "I try," he says with humility damped by that boastful smile of his. "And yeah, I can see if Hank wants to meet her, if she's a mutant, he'd be the man to talk to.

"Hey no problem," Roberto says about the food. "Figured couldn't go wrong bringing food. And I hear you about the books, got mine for the semester, not cheap, and business is supposed to be one of the cheaper sets, a whole lot business students in the world. I feel bad for the kids that are doing niche subjects." He takes a bite of his burger and swallows it down before asking, "You going to be okay for money?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie consumes another bite of the burger, giving a happy sigh and letting her eyes roll upwards as she savors not just the flavor, but how much the food is helping her hunger. "Yeah, I'm a lot better off than I ever expected I'd be," she tells Roberto.

"The scholarship's pretty darn sweet. I sent a thank you letter but I haven't been able to actually go meet the family behind it," she says. Family behind it. Everything about the scholarship checks out as a legitimate one established by a family at the passing of their father. Though Stephanie has her suspicions.

"Tuition is covered, and enough extra to offset books and room and board enough that with what I've saved, I could afford this. Mom's there to help if I am about to starve, but I'm trying to not ask for too much from her. The hospital's got its own financial woes, she hasn't seen a raise in three years. Just getting the scholarship was just a godsend," she says. Or a Bruce-send.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto sets down his burger a moment, picking up his drink a taking a swallow of soda before gesticulating with the cup. "Well, it wasn't us," he says, meaning the da Costas, "My dad doesn't care and my mom respects you wanting to do things on your own. So, really no clue where it came from?" he asks, seemingly digging the mystery.

"Sucks about the hospital and your mom, you'd think that with what we pay up here for hospitals, they'd have money to spare."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown lets out a breath. "Yeah. So much of it ends up going to lawyers and insurance," she says with a shake of her head. "And that's in the best of places. But in Gotham where probably 20 cents of every dollar ends up in some hoodlum's pocket? Ugh," she says with a shake of her head.

Stephanie takes a sip of her soda as she looks over at Roberto thoughtfully. "Your mom's so nice. I need to take her out to lunch once I get settled in. You know. Without you. So we can tell stories," she says, blue eyes flashing as she grins over at Roberto in a teasing way.

"How're your friends doing, by the way? I don't know that I ever heard what Sam is doing now he's graduated. College as well? And how's his girlfriend doing?"

Roberto da Costa has posed:
"Right, Gotham, guess that's why you have guys dressed up like Bats fighting crime, the place is all mobbed up," he says with a shake of his head. With his many visits to see Steph he had come to see Gotham as more than a cesspit of crime and vice like the news made it seem like, so it was sad to see it so choked with corruption. "Though I guess Batman will be splitting his time between Gotham and the moon, if the Justice League is really back."

There's a smirk at Steph's suggestion. "Oh no, she's very busy, so much to do, no time for lunch or stories," he lies with a laugh before nodding and accepting the inevitable, "She'd love that, actually, did she give you her number if not, I can, she won't mind."

As for his friends, "They're doing okay, not sure what Sam's gonna do, he's thinking it over, as for Alexgra, she's doing fine too, I think, I haven't talked to her much. How about your friends here? Tim, Carrie and all of them?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie gets a wry smile. "I don't know there's enough bad guys on the moon to keep him busy," she says. "Seems like he must be a very obsessive personality," she adds, managing to keep her smile limited to the one that was already there.

"I don't have her number but I can stop by her office for it," she says of Roberto's mother. Stephanie slips her sandals off, putting her feet on the carpet and wiggling. "Made sure it was steam-cleaned. This is probably the cleanest it will ever be," she says of the room's floor covering.

Stephanie grabs her burger again, eating while Roberto talks about his friends. "Oh, they are good. Carrie's working for a charity mostly, the Wayne one so it's actually dealing with a big amount of money. Nice being able to do a lot of good with that," she says. "Tim I need to catch up with. Was going to have him by to check out the new place. I also need to hear how it's going with this new girl he's seeing," she says with a little grin.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
"Heh," Roberto says, "Don't be so sure, with all the trouble that's been coming from space recently there might be. And yeah, must be, to throw himself into fighting crime in this city so long then branch out into y'know, saving the world," he sucks at his soda a bit. "Sort of reminds me of Mr. Summers at Xaviers, same sort of energy, just y'know about school, not world saving," Ahem.

Roberto feels the carpet and grins, "Won't last, but it's nice when things are new like this. New beginnings and all of that."

"Good to hear," he says returning to his food as well, after he swallows a bite of his burger he asks, "You mean the one he kissed at the pool party?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie finishes the bite she'd just taken, nodding until she can say, "Yep. Rose is her name apparently. She seems to be a bit of a different sort. But then Tim is the kind of guy I think that isn't an issue with."

Stephanie takes another bite of burger, wiping some bbq sauce from her mouth after. She looks thoughtful. "How do you feel about the whole, you know, superhero thing? Do you think you could ever do something like that? Put on a costume to go help other people. Tossing your body in harm's way though, with all the crazies and powers out there?" she asks.

Her eyes are down on her burger as she speaks, fingers moving to adjust a piece of bacon, but mainly just making sure her eyes don't show too much. She looks at the end, a nonchalant expression on her face.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
"Good for him," Roberto says of Tim's romantic life. "Seems like a nice guy," he says, before taking a bite of his burger and chewing thoughtfully.

"Hero stuff?" he asks, taking a sip of his soda to get his thoughts in order. "Well, remember my secret ambition is to be a fire fighter, so, basically figure heroes are the same things, just with cooler gear and powers. Same idea though, wanting to help people no matter the cost to yourself. Or well maybe for firefighters it's a little bit about looking hot on those charity calendars they put out."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie continues to eat, glancing at Roberto now and then as he answers the question. "I guess it takes a certain kind of person," she says thoughtfully. "Though hey, who wouldn't love having an awesome costume, right?" Her eyes go over to Roberto as if imagining him in a costume.

Nope, more like out of the costume apparently. "I could always snap a few pictures for a Roberto calendar," she offers. "You know. I mean, just wanting to be helpful and help you achieve your dream. I'd just keep it here. Probably hang it up, ah... bedroom ceiling, somewhere like that?" she says, eyes twinkling a bit at him before she takes another bite.