6284/Come Sail Away

Come Sail Away
Date of Scene:	20 May 2021
Location:	Atlantic Ocean
Synopsis:	Dick and Stephanie take Cassandra out sailing on the Atlantic
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
The weather is getting progressively nicer, temperatures in southern New Jersey climbing up to the point one can actually wear a bathing suit outside. Though any thought of swimming that doesn't included a heated pool probably is a bit too ambitious.

Still though, it's a gorgeous day, and Stephanie's exams are almost all done. Her final one isn't until next week. And so when it was suggested to take a sailboat out onto the Atlantic, Stephanie jumped at the chance.

She sent Cass a map with a dot at the marina. And a picture of a sailboat. And then headed out with Dick, his car loaded up with some food and beverages, and Stephanie's bag which includes a bathing suit for Cass, plus sunscreen, sunglasses, and all the other things one could want when going sailing. They pull up to the marina, Stephanie hopping out of the car excitedly rather than waiting for Dick to get her door. "Oh I am looking forward to this," she says, going around the side of the car to Dick and giving him a tight hug and a kiss, before unloading things to carry to the sailboat.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick returns the hug and kiss before starting to pull supplies out of the car to carry to the boat. Once he has a full load, he locks the car and heads down the dock. Gear is stowed on the boat and he checks to make sure the gas tank is full... it's a sailboat, but checking on the backups is second nature at this point. Everything seems ready to go, so he looks around for Cassandra.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
For once in her life, Cassandra does not do a dramatic entrance. In fact, she does no entrance at all, showing up late. She looked at the map and went to entirely the wrong pier, and ended up running. At this moment that the two had gotten to the boat, she'd been pelting down the road, six blocks away, trying to get to the right place. She looked like any jogger if joggers tended to try to outpace cars.

Up on the road above, her familiar figure appears as the two are already loaded. She frowns, trying to guess by their language at this distance if she's time to take the stairs. There are other people around, and this is probably one of those odd parties that Dick likes to throw, so...

She takes the steps, sweat beading her forehead. If she were one to call out, she'd do so. But we all know Cass.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown's great mood continues as she gets the food and drinks stowed down below. She climbs back up the steps onto the deck and says, "Ok, I expected the boat's cabin to be nicer than my apartment. I just didn't expect it to be -bigger-!" She's grinning, and it's not actually bigger. But it's not too much smaller at that.

Stephanie is wearing some shorts and a tank top over her bathing suit. A pair of sunglasses hide the girl's blue eyes, and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. "So, remind me again what the current laws are regarding piracy? If we see another boat, can we open fire?" she asks, looking around the deck. "Wait, where are the cannons!?"

She doesn't spot Cass just yet.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick grins, "They're hidden belowdecks so the other vacationers don't see us coming and hide their valuables. This way we can get close before we break out the cutlasses and board them to plunder their lunch." He grins at Steph and lightly swats at her butt, "Piracy indeed, silly woman."

Spotting Cass approaching the boat, he waves to her and waits for her to get onto the boat before greeting her with a "Welcome aboard Cass. Steph's got everything all set up and ready to go." He glances to Steph, "Go ahead and cast off the ropes, would you? Then we can get moving."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cassandra hops onto the boat, then stops cold as she feels the ground underneath her start to move. She frowns, hands spread out about six inches from her sides, her entire stance one of hesitant uncertainty.

The dark eyes look left, right, then at Dick. She slowly forces her fingers to relax, but with a visible effort. Can it be that Cass has never been on a ship before?

She takes a visible breath, stands up straighter, then walks up to where she can grab onto something. The inimitable Orphan, uncertain about her balance. This may well be a first.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown spots Cass as Dick draws attention to her. "You made it!" Stephanie says brightly. She goes over to give Cass a warm hug. "I brought you a bathing suit, let me get the lines first though," Stephanie says, nodding to Dick as she jumps off the side of the boat down to the dock. She goes to the back and unties one of the lines, then up to the front to untie the other. She hops back onto the sailboat deftly, stowing the lines and then heading back to the others.

Stephanie motions for Cass to follow her, and takes her down into the cabin where she pulls out a pair of bathing suits. A one piece, and a bikini, so Cass can choose which she likes. "For you," Stephanie says with a smile, motioning to them in a way that is clear enough they are for Cass. "No peeking Dick!" she calls up to the deck.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick chuckles, "If I tried, she'd probably stab me anyway. And then you would. So all in all, I'll stay up here." He moves to the side of the boat and pushes away from the dock, the moves back to the controls and fires up the engine, advancing the throttle a little and starting to steer them out of the marina. Once they clear the other boats and docks, he hits a couple buttons and the boat's automated systems raise the sails. He cuts the engine and angles the sails to catch the wind, steering out to sea.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
This is something which hasn't really come up, it seems, because as Cass is hugged and then led downward, she looks confused. Then without hesitation, not waiting for Stephanie to warn off Dick, she starts to remove her top. Completely without body modesty apparently, she strips down and has to be nudged out of sight by the actual lady involved in this affair.

Then while she's tossing the rest into a slovenly pile, she glances at Steph. She hesitates, then reaches for the one-piece though from the look on her face she's uncertain about something that takes more words than she's gotten from the Dick and Jane books she's reading in the kindergarten library readers.

The scars on her body are amazing though. Nearly every major area has been damaged, and some of them pretty awfully, but she ignores it and dresses. The only thing that throws her is the movement of the ship! She grabs at Steph when things go left, then right, and has to hold on. Her teeth are gritted tight, but she isn't complaining. Or is she, it's hard to tell.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
As she hears Dick, Stephanie lets out a warm chuckle. "Well, or, she might not really care," Stephanie says. The blond doesn't show any kind of negative reaction to the scars on Cassandra's body. She just accepts her how she is.

"Oh, this might help," Stephanie says, going back to her bag and getting out some motion sickness pills. She gets two bottles of water, taking one herself, then giving pills and water to Cassandra as well. "They'll help the boat's motion from getting to you," she explains.

After Cass has her suit on, Stephanie climbs back on deck, seeing Dick already has the boat heading out of the marina. "So, Captain, anything you need us to do?" she asks.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick considers for a minute, "Dunno, run around in skimpy bathing suits to make me look study?" He grins, then shakes his head, "Seriously, there's not a lot to do, as with most things the Wayne family owns, this thing is top of the line, automated winches for the sails and all so you don't need to haul them up by hand. So basically, just enjoy yourself."

He steers carefully around a buoy, then waves out ahead of them, "Open ocean, just the deep blue and some sunshine, so enjoy the day."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cassandra shows her face a minute later. Whether it's a tactful way to let the two have a moment alone or a chance to take the pills Stephanie offered is hard to tell. She steps up, pausing as a wave tosses spray over them all, and covers her face with one arm. The moment is a second of weakness, an instant of soft.

She then leans against the door frame, watching the water go past. Her face is wet and the suit shows off her figure, though she likely has no idea that she's doing it. Looking just short of incredible.

She turns her gaze to look out at the side, as water goes past, then looks up into the rigging. She seems to hesitate, then smile. Maybe she'll manage after all.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie looks up at the sails. "Part of me is thinking it's too bad we don't have to work the lines ourselves. And part of me is laughing and ridiculing the first part," she says, turning back to Dick to flash him a grin.

She goes over to wrap her arms briefly about his shoulders and give him a quick kiss, then turns back to where she has some beach towels she brought. She spreads them out on the top of the sailboat, and then removes her shorts and tank top, revealing the bikini beneath. She takes a seat on the towel and gets out some tanning oil and begins applying it.

"Cass, have you been out on boats very often? Besides the Batsub that is?" she asks. Stephanie looks over to Dick. "We went to the bottom of the ocean with Wonder Woman and Aquaman to recover this... fish icon statue thing. There was this three story tall lobster queen thing and... well, it was like an acid trip, really."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick sets a course and locks the wheel in place so he can move around the boat, moving over near Cass, who seems oddly hesitant for some reason. "You ok Cass? It's pretty calm today, you'll get used to the movement shortly. It's just the waves we're passing over. It's called getting your sea legs, soon you'll be scampering around the boat with no problems." He looks up to the bow where Steph is prepping herself to sizzle in the sun, then chuckles and adds, "STeph's apparently planning on spending the day tanning. Don't know if that's your thing, though I kind of doubt it."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cassandra is clearly listening. Her eyes are on Dick, and that has always been a sign of undivided attention in her. It's not even entirely clear if she speaks english, or if she's reading his lips or something like that, but when she's looking right at someone that's a sign of something important going down.

The mention of Steph causes her eyes to flick at the blonde, but only for the tiniest instant. The way Steph leaves them to talk, she takes it as a moment to talk with Dick kind of 'alone', and without any of a ladies' tricks she glances down at her legs. Pale, scarred. She blinks then suddenly seems to shiver.

"No," she offers. In words. That can be heard. Then she forces a smile that almost looks pasted on. Standing in the shade of the boat's overhang, she seems most comfortable there. Then she glances up at the stern, at the wheel. At Dick. At the wheel. Her face gets an anxious expression, and she purses her lips a little bit.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick smiles when Cass actually answers him, then adds "Don't worry about it, everybody likes doing different stuff. We're here to relax, so you do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you want to stand here the whole time, you can do that, but I think once you get used to the movement, you'll find it's more fun to move around, look at the scenery, that kind of thing. You can go up front and hang out with Steph if you like too. If not, I can show you how the controls work if you like." He gestures at the control area of the boat.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
The gesture is followed, but in Cassandra's normal fashion she also glances at other things. Stuff that Dick glanced at, that she noticed. How his gaze occasionally falls on Steph. How he looks at her as well on occasion, but doesn't stare. She tilts her head, then experimentally lets go of the ship.

She nods. That famous balance seems to be taking over, and while she may not have been on many ships (the submarine is totally different!) she seems to be getting used to this one. She even gives him one huge sign of trust, and holds out a hand to steady herself...on his shoulder.

If Stephanie was watching she'd likely gasp. That is, from Cass, equivalent to letting him take the lead in a fight. Or a dance.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick Grayson nods, "There you go. See? You're already starting to get the hang of it." Not having been around Cass as much, he doesn't fully understand the significance of the gesture, but he knows Cass isn't big on touching, so doesn't make any sudden moves to throw her off. "Did you want to take a look at anything in particular, or just stand here a little longer to get used to the moment of the boat?"

He glances forward to make sure nothing has gotten into their path that needs to be dealt with, then looks back to Cass. "It's a little wierd not being on solid ground, I know. Usually the ground doesn't move under you. So you went down in the sub, huh? That must have been kind of cool."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Most of what Dick said there went over Cass' head. She can't respond to the questions about the submarine, because how do you say 'submarine' in body language? You can't, and it doesn't translate. So when her eyes pass over Dick as he talks, some bits of what he says get hints of duller responses, less direct attention.

But she motions toward the front of the boat. She has bare feet, apparently having chosen to skip the boat shoes provided, and walks to the tiller. Where she immediately starts to look it over, the sudden deep interest obvious, and she looks back at him. Points to the wheel, then to the floor. Then the sails, and spreads her hands questioningly?

This is how she talks. It isn't too hard, if you know how to read it.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick Grayson nods and walks over as well, "Ok, how it all works. The sails catch the wind, which pushes the boat forward through the water. The wheel here controls the rudder under the water at the back of the boat, and the angle of the rudder makes the boat turn in the water. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, we angle the sails to best catch the breeze to push the boat. It doesn't respond as fast as a car or motorcycle does, because the water is thicker than air, so it takes longer to turn in it." He demonstrates by turning the wheel a little and pointing out when the boat starts to respond.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
She smiles. The asian lady, who shows such a thousand yard stare to anyone who she must battle, smiles. And it is such an honest, young and warm smile that she may be crying 'thank you', with all of her heart. She beams at the explanation, then turns and looks out at the ship with wide eyes, taking it all in.

As the ship turns, predicted by the turning of the wheel, which in turn is predicted by Dick's movements, Cassandra leans against the turn. Perfectly, she nods. Then she steps, up.

Onto the front, onto the bow itself. She takes a deep step, then grasps the bowsprit rigging, and steps onto the sprit itself. And laughs, into the wind, as she feels the water beneath her feet.

And the sea, held in check by the ship. And by her friends.