Owner	Pose
Tim Drake	The Bat Clan likes this little joint in China Basin. First of all, no one comes here, besides the regulars playing mah jong (illegally gambling) in the back. Mama Cho doesn't put up with anyone's BS, which is another plus. The dumplings are out of this world. And, best of all, the Bat Clan is largely left to themselves to eat, talk, and no one asks them stupid questions. It's fantastic. Tim Drake, also known as the only-yet-middle child, the 'replacement' as Jason calls him, the nerd Bat... hs already snagged a table large enough for those joining for the night. By 'a table large enough' this means two rickety tables shoved together with somewhat dubious chairs surrounding. But hey. It works. A hank of black hair hangs haphazardly into his eyes-- he really needs to get a haircut, actually-- and blue eyes skim the menu that's all Mandarin and most of which he can't actually read. However, that really doesn't matter because he always orders the same things anyway. He's dressed in charcoal-grey cargo shorts, a colorblocked tank top in red and black, and black running shoes, the latter of which are propped up on one of the other chairs waiting on the others to arrive. He's first tonight, which is a bit of a switch. It's supposed to be a sort of 'family' 'sibling' dinner tonight, which Tim has a few reservations about.     1) Damian exists. Enough said.     2) Jason is probably not going to show up, and that's going to hurt Carrie's feelings.     3) Unless Jason DOES show up, in which case probably everyone ELSE will have their feelings hurt.     4) Steph probably had to bail out of a date with her entirely more interesting boyfriend for this.     5) Babs definitely has better and more important things to do.     6) Dick ALSO likely has better and more important things to do     and finally     7) Tim is really hoping no one says a damn thing about what happened at Stephanie's party last night. But those are problems for the future, and for right now, Tim's assuming it will be like most of these get-togethers: only two, maybe three of them show up and it's generally low-key and lacking in drama. Man, is he in for a rude awakening.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley always shows up if she's able. There was something nostalgic about this place that she just couldn't quite describe. The food was good, the atmosphere was... Unique. And out of all the places other than perhaps the Bat Cave itself, coming here felt like coming home in some small way. With a small bag slung over her shoulder that may carry different clothes for later, she strides in giving a wave to Tim's direction. It's not him she greets first though: She smiles broadly at Mama Cho behind the counter and offers her a rather warm greeting in her (likely) accented Mandarin earning a smile in return. If not for this woman constantly correcting and patiently helping her to pronounce things, she likely wouldn't be able to speak a lick of it herself. "The usual starter please," she adds in before heading to the table. Soup dumplings. They were a MUST every single time no matter what else she might order. A nod is cast to Tim as she claims a seat. "Hey. Heard the party went well." If she knew of the teasing she doesn't let on... she had been busy on her phone and outside most of the event after all. Darn work calls.
Stephanie Brown	The door opens and Stephanie Brown comes in. Though she would have enjoyed a date with her beau, he's still recovering his memories and there is the obvious need for therapy and treatment. Or at least that makes sense and it's a good enough excuse while those at Roberto's school work to recover his missing memories. But Stephanie is still on a high from the graduation party. Such gatherings to celebrate milestones like that have largely been missing from her life. And in truth she'd kind of dreaded finding it would be all her mother's friends and none of her own in attendance. But that wasn't the case. And it's left Stephanie with a smile. She comes in, singing softly to herself. It's surely just some random song that she heard recently, rather than one that is somehow topical to the moment. Surely.   "But did you know that when it snows,   My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen?   "Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey   Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah   Now that your rose is in bloom   A light hits the gloom on the grey." Stephanie makes her way over to the table, her smile turning into a grin of Cheshire Cat proportions.
Jason Todd	Jason was feeling particularly generous with his time tonight so when the invite came out he actually got his ass up and made his way down to Chinatown to show up. He walks in a little after Stephanie, pulling off his motorcycle gloves and giving a friendly (weird right?) smile to Mama Cho, who he has to pause and chat with in rapid fire Mandarin, mostly about how skinny he was and how he was never going to find a girl if he didn't put on a few pounds. After all skinny men aren't rich. Or so says Mama Cho. Pulling himself away Jason makes his way to the table and pulls out a chair, spinning it around to straddle, it leaning his arms on the back. "Replacement, C, Blondie, what's new?" he asks the Bats currently assembled at the table.
Barbara Gordon	Babs probably does have more critical to security or logisticss things to do if one is just measuring on the realm of tactical and running ORACLE for the Birds and the Bats.... but that isn't how she measures things. Family moments, and yes she does consider everyone that might show up tonight family, are too rare for the busy Batlings and therefore much more precious. So yeah dumplings are more important. Also delicious. Which is why she is here of course, coming into the place and giving a friendly smile and a wave to Mama Cho. Then heading to the table. She is dressed casual, much like the party just different boots, jeans, blouse, and same leather jacket. It survived pool hugs and a pig roast so is still valiantly in rotation. "Hey" she greets everyone with a smile and pulls out one of the chairs for herself. Looking to Carrie she inquires "Usual starter incoming?" yeah she likes soup dumplings, who doesn't.
Damian Wayne	Damian was always reminded of a third of his heritage coming to this place. The al Ghul line had a distinct chunk of Chinese in them as well.   So, when he had heard that there was another meet at 'Hot Dumplings' he jumped on the opportunity. "Ni hao ma?" He asks as he approaches the counter, always taking a moment to speak with Mama Cho, he also reveled in the delight that Mama Cho had for him, quite grandmotherly, something he had never experienced before in his short life. He never knew his own grandmothers, maternal or paternal.   The two have a brief conversation, where people may hear that he actually chuckles a bit before he starts walking to the back with the rest. Even going so far to ask for his favorite oolong from the back, the one they serve to the never-ending mahjong game. It wasn't expensive or extravagant, but had a robust flavor that was not comparable.   He was dressed in a black turtle neck and black slacks, which only emphasized his tan complexion. "Everyone." He said, quite neutral a tone for the group.
Tim Drake	"Hey Carrie," Tim greets her as she adds a second order into the queue-- his own order of the soup dumplings would likely arrive the same time hers did, and there can't be too many of them. "Party was... fine." Then Stephanie comes in, and the song she's singing has Tim groaning slightly. It's going to be one of //those// nights, he can already tell. Still, he gives her a wave, pulling his feet off the chair next to him and pointing towards it for her to join. Jason's arrival surprises Tim, but he takes it in relative stride. "Not much, J," he replies coolly to the older of the murderbats. "Yourself?" he asks lightly. Babs gets a grin and an upnod in greeting. "Babs." And Damian. "Shorty."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley claims her seat gracefully sliding into it with a sigh. Her bag is slung off her shoulder to drape over the back of the chair for now out of the way. She's about to respond to Tim when the others show up causing her grin to widen quite a bit. Especially when Jason shows up. It was always good when he did, at least in her mind. Damian's own interaction with Mama Cho also gains an equaly fond smile glad that he was finding a spot in this home away from home that so many of them shared. As for Stephanie, she stands to give the girl a hug in greeting as she joins them. "Sorry I had to bail out early, there was a problem I had to take care of at the legitimate job," she explains with a sigh. "Good time though? Oh, and I hope you got my present!" The present of course was a cute stuffed animal plushie. A bit childish but super cute and snuggly. "Thanks for joining, Jaybird. You too, Damian. There's dumplings on the way of course so figure out what else you're getting," she adds.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown settles into the offered chair, and lets the song trail off with just that soft grin for him. "Dumplings, mmm. Though I've got so much roasted pork, you guys need to come by and get containers of it take home," she tells them. "Or else I'm going to end up looking like a blimp if Mom and I try to finish it off before it goes bad. She picks up the menu. They've been here plenty, but she always looks at the menu anyway. First the side she has no hope at all of reading, before flipping it over to the English translation. "Carrie, Doctor McCoy made it, was just a little late," she says. "He was a hit." She glances up as Jason and Barbara come in, giving them both smiles and waves. Stephanie has a helmet with her, in colors that are particular to her. She rests her hand on the helmet, giving Barbara a particularly big smile. "How've you been, Jason?" she asks as her eyes go back to the menu. They come back as she hears Damian, looking over and giving him a smile and nod. He didn't kill anyone at her party. She's grateful.
Jason Todd	Jason lifts his head as Babs then Damian walk in. Babs gets a nod and a "Babs," coupled with a smile, Damian and mother Cho get a longer study and a small smile from the elder murderbat, before he turns back to the table. "Great," he says about the inbound dumplings. "And doing alright, putting together some new digs since my old ones burnt down, you know, keeping busy." More like his gang of thugs burnt it down during his gorilla induced absence. The pork comment gets a raised brow, "Shit, that was yesterday? Damn it. Yeah, I'll definitely come by for some of that pork. How was it though? Everyone survive?"
Dick Grayson	Dick had been running late today, certain inefficiencies not fully worked out of his schedule, yet; however, he was not going to miss a chance at dumplings. There are certain guarantees in the world, this is one of them. Fortunately, it was not a work day so he could show up in jeans and a dark t-shirt. Once Dick enters and see the Bat Family around the table, he gives a wave and approaches, surprised to see a majority of the family here, but pleasantly so. "Sorry I'm late, still getting used to the new schedule."
Cassandra Cain	It can't be Cassandra. I say this because of the normal entrance. Blue jeans, cut off at the knee over army boots, sure. A black tee with 'I ate Tokyo' in comic sans on the front, sure. Asian with Cassandra's features. But it's WRONG. No 'sudden appearance'. No ninja moves. Just a walk in through the front door, a wave at one of the servers with a mimed 'looking for the group' that gets her aimed in the right direction. And then Cass wanders over, thumbs hooked in her pockets. Totally a Kree replacement. She even waves when she sees them all.
Tim Drake	"Not too late," Tim grins. "Dumplings haven't hit the table yet, so technically I think you're still on time," he replies to Dick. "Yeah, everyone survived," he says quickly to Jason. "Fun times had by all, no deaths, no bloodshed. And I'll swing by later Steph and grab some of the pork. It's a burden to help, but... we all do our part." He has a mock affectation of tragedy at the last bit.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown had shared the big hug with Carrie before telling her about Doctor McCoy's appearance. Back in her seat, Stephanie nods to Jason. "Yep, yesterday. I never knew pigs were that big. It was humongous, could have fed a whole second party. And Carrie, the plushie was so great. Thank you," she says warmly. Indeed, any presents will be getting rounds of personal thank you's from Stephanie. The blond teen glances over at the door, seeing Cassandra come in. Steph's face lights up. If anyone's expressions are easy for Cassandra to read, it would probably be Steph, certainly in moments like that. "Hey Cass," Stephanie says, sliding a chair from another table over beside her and making room for her.
Barbara Gordon	Honestly Barbara loves the fact she somehow has managed to avoid like ninety percent of the Bat Sibling drama. Maybe it is the fact she is either a peer or older sister sort of figure and the only one that has been doing this longer than her is Dick. Regardless she enjoys being able to watch amused and just help the others. "Everyone lived somehow, and Stephanie if you want to drop off some of that leftover pork at the Clocktower I'll help. It was damned delicious. Tell your mom.. well except maybe the damn part. I feel like I don't know her well enough to cuss in front of her..." She does brighten when Cass comes in, even if it is >wrong< because well this a good sign that she isn't maybe all lurk and brood and .. well might have some normal teen in there somewhere. "Hey Cass."
Cassandra Cain	Cass presses her cheek to Stephanie's, her eyes squinching up when she does. She gives a look of joy to every single person, her eyes sparkling. This would be the time to call her out as a body snatcher or a clone, because it may in fact be the most warm/happy she's been in known memory. The fact that she spins the chair around and sits in it backwards, with the back of it between her legs and her chin on the back rest, very her though. Also it looks like the outline of a knife in her jeans pocket when she sits like that. She gives Carrie a little two-finger salute and grins Then produces...a kitten. Orange, teeny-tiny, from under her shirt. It seems to want to see everything. Everything.
Jason Todd	"Lame," Jason says to the news everyone survived. "Though happy graduation and all that Blondie," he offers to Steph, as he rummages in his pocket of his leather jacket to find what he was looking for, a small plastic card which slides across the table to Steph. "What I know about college comes from movies but I hear these are pretty essential," Yep. It's a fake ID. "Shooters just off the campus is alright for a douchebag college bar." He looks up from the table then to wave to Mama Cho and order himself a Tsingtao, since they were on the topic of underage drinking. Dick's arrival gets a wave, "Heya, Dick, what kept ya, new beauty routine?" he asks ignoring the bit about the new schedule. Cass and he furry friend are met with a nod.
Dick Grayson	"Excellent," Dick says to Tim as he takes his seat and begins looking over the menu, until he spots the kitten, "That... was unexpected. Adorable, but unexpected. What is its name?" His attention is soon focused on Jason after the salutation and laughs, "Heh, nah. New job. Doing some consulting, now. Better hours, better pay. Also don't have to worry about /that/ anymore," He nods in the direction of the piece of plastic, "How are things going for you?"
Damian Wayne	Damian had his tea, and enjoying it. He seemed a bit nonplussed at the events of yesterday. But it was also Stephanie's party...so not bad as well.   This was until Cassandra had pulled a kitten out of her shirt and he seems to just freeze in his tracks. Keeping focused on the cat for now.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley raises an eyebrow at Cass's arrival, but her grin to the girl is genuine at least. Moreso when the kitten is produced earning a laugh of apparent understanding. "Ah, we've a new family member, no wonder you're in such a good mood!" Chuckling quietly she shifts back in her seat comfortably, and nods toward Steph. "I'll stop by to grab some. It smelled wonderful. And I'm sure I know someone who would be willing to help me polish it off, too," she adds with a sheepish grin of her own, and a little blush. "I'm glad you all got to meet him though. He's really very sweet." With that out of the way she clears her throat a little and looks around watching all of the others... and maybe cooing a little bit at the ginger cat. Though the ID earns a lift of eyebrows. "Hey I never got one of those," she mock-whines only to chuckle quietly. Leaning over across from Steph she whispers to Cass, "I think Damian wants to get to know your new friend, too."
Barbara Gordon	"I... also was not expecting a kitten." okay maybe she needs to re-evaluate the whole Cass replaced by some sort of alien. She studies the kitten from her chair and then Cass a bit more from her chair. Not moving closer yet. Honestly Dick already asked the question she has about names. "Also if I have to come bail anyone out on a DUI I will be very .. very cross guys. If you need a ride after doing dumb college stuff definitely call an Uber."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie grins and shares the cheek-to-cheek greeting with Cassandra, reaching up to rest a hand on her head gently until they part. "You look like you're in a great mood," Stephanie says. As Cass gets seated, Stephanie looks back to see the card slid across to her. She picks it up while telling Barbara, "Deal, I'll bring some by tomorrow. And we can go for a ride together too!" Ear-to-ear grin from Stephanie on the latter part. She looks at what Jason slid to her then, and laughs. "Jason! You know you shouldn't do that. I mean, that would be wrong and all," Stephanie says as she definitely pockets the fake ID while flashing a quick grin to Jason. The kitten gets a raised eyebrow. "Oh wow, he's gorgeous. He? She?" Stephanie says. Steph reaches over to rest a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, flashing her a smile before looking to the kittne.
Cassandra Cain	Cass places the little fourlegged friend on the table wordlessly, to let it have a look around. It seems a bit confused, immediately diving up to try and stand on top of the salt shakers. Salt is spilled, which Cass apparently takes no responsibility for as she lets the little furbot do his damage. She raises an eyebrow at Dick's question, then glances at the cat. Then to Barbara. Then to Damien. She then takes a straw and offers it to the kitten, who tries to murder it to death with all the viciousness of a house panther. She offers the straw remnants to Damien with a gesture. It appears to be a he, but Cass ain't talking. Quel surprise. She pauses, then motions to the entire group with her other hand. A quizzical expression shows on her face, and she spreads her hands questioningly as the hand on her shoulder includes her in the group, but not the conversation.
Jason Todd	"Finally shook the badge huh?" Jason asks of Dick. "Good plan. Never did figure out how you worked your day job and night job with that gig." As for the ID he gives Carrie a grin, "What like you don't have one already?" he asks her before smiling as Steph takes her gift. Babs is next to get Jason's attention. "Don't worry plenty of places within staggering distance of campus, as I'm sure you know. Besides, no offense to your dad, but is there a cop in Gotham that could keep up with us, drunk or sober?" The cat does get a second, curious look, but it's clear Jason isn't the animal lover in the group, or at least, is appearing not to be.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley reaches out to pluck up the tipped over salt shaker. No sense in making a mess. At least it was the salt and not the soy sauce bottle. THAT would have been far more tragic a loss. "What I do or don't have hardly matters. I don't drink. The Boss wouldn't approve." The way she says 'Boss' is different than her usual intonation of it. This was more... Just more. It wasn't this Batman she was referencing. Jason might notice the difference, though the others may not, in how she spoke of her original mentor. "Besides, mocktails are a thing now and you get some yummy drinks that way while looking like you're drinking. Works great at parties."
Tim Drake	Tim smirks a bit at the 'mocktail' stuff, but he agrees in principle. Being both underage and not interested in drinking himself. He leans over to Steph. "Just because you have the fake ID doesn't mean you have to use it," he says in an undertone.
Barbara Gordon	"True facts." Babs notes after Carrie says The Boss wouldn't approve. Though part of her can't help but think that anyone who was spying on them might think they work for some sort of mob boss with language like that. It does give her a moment of amusement. She leans back and looks over at the counter. Mmm Soup Dumplings.
Dick Grayson	"Consulting in the family business, now," Dick says with a nod to Jason in regards to the night job, the real job, "Telecommuting is nice at times, though at least everybody was understanding. Did six years, but it'll actually help a bit with the consulting side of things, knowing what actually would help in the field." Dick nods to Babs, "Though if you guys can't get an uber, you have my cell. I promise not to yell at you then, but I cannot promise that I won't have a talk later about it. I'd rather be woken up at bar close than wake up in the morning to a text of something far worse." "But mocktails are not horrible, and this may be my old job bleeding through, but it's probably better to avoid trouble at all costs." Dick shrugs and leans back in his seat, "Though, and I hate admitting it, Jason has a point, stick to walking distance if you can, though don't try to figure out your limits in the field, public intox is not the worst, but it is embarrassing as hell, and you will probably be the butt of the jokes in your friend group or at least at the precinct."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie gives Tim her best straight face, looking him back in the eyes. "Oh no. I'd never use it. I mean, that would be wrong. I never do anything that might be considered skirting the lines established by our legal system." She holds the straight look for a pretty long time for Stephanie before finally the little grin breaks out. "I think it's part of going to college though. Speaking which, I need to make a decision quick whether I'm going to live at home, or get a place on campus or near it. Dorms... I... just don't know. I kind of see 'disaster' written all over that idea. Not even counting how it would put a crimp on my coming and going at the hours I keep," Stephanie says. "So maybe a place on my own. I might be able to afford it now, with the scholarships."
Tim Drake	Tim is somewhat quiet about Steph's living situation, considering his thoughts on what to turn his home into. Well, what it's already mostly been turned into, just need to add some heroes. But that's another story. He hmms, cocking his head... just as... "Awww yeah, soup dumplings..." he interrupts his own thoughts as four(!) orders of the appetizer come out and are placed on the two tables. And yes, he does go to snatch the first one if he can beat Damian's little quick draw hands.
Jason Todd	Jason definitely gets the intonation in Carrie's words. "And here I thought yours was the cool boss," he says as he takes the frosty beer from Mama Cho with a nod of thanks. "Childhood, ruined," he says with a smirk before taking a sip. "Working for Bruce huh?" he asks Dick, before he chimes in on public intoxication. "Just name drop Bruce or Babs, that's always how I got out of things with the cops back when I was wearing the short pants of destiny." There's a nod about college. "Dunno, dorms sound fun, if they're anything like the movies." Then he too reaches for the dumplings joining the race.
Cassandra Cain	The distrust that Damien gives el kitten terrible makes Cass relent, and she scoops the little guy up into her arms. He immediately tries to murder her hand, and it makes her grin wider. That LOOKS like a giggle, even if it doesn't sound like one. She then stuffs it up her shirt without warning, the little orange head peeking out her cleavage. It looks a bit stunned but doesn't argue, and looks around curiously from the vantage point. The arrival of food doesn't get her moving. Yet. Must not be competitive enough. Though she does turn to look at Steph when she talks of moving. Her eyes widen, and she makes a little moue with her lips. Which is a speech if you know how to read it.
Barbara Gordon	"Of course my dad always gave me an earful whenever one of my 'friends' dropped our name to get out of stuff. I just explained it to him that of course they do.... he probably would have too when he was a teenager." she smirks at Jason. Then dumplings, she leans to snag one with fluid use of chopsticks not popping the precious fragile containers of soup before bringing it in to blow on it to cool it down. "Steph definitely get a singles dorm room or a place near campus. They have singles you could use, just fix the window to actually open and bam no one has to know."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley flashes a smile over toward Jason at his own revelation of that. "It was more a matter of control than the drinking itself. Not good to lose control. Trust me," she adds with a little shiver of recollection. "I had the chance to drink. We sat one night with him giving me shot after shot until I couldn't walk straight. Had to prove I could do handstands between each of them till we found my limit. It was hell." It was not a fun memory, but she certainly knew how to recognize when she was otherwise inebriated at that point. Even if it had been a long time ago. After everyone else has snagged a dumpling she goes for one herself a bit more cautious than the others that she didn't end up with chopsticks in the back of her hand. Plus she grabbed a soup spoon to cup underneat so she didn't end up with hot soup down her chin when she bit into it.
Tim Drake	Tim snags his own dumpling and happily devours it before going for a second. "Mama Cho is the world's best," he says between dumplings. "I will fight anyone says otherwise." He makes a face at the kitten, though he's glad it's not helping trying to knock back soup dumplings. Yet. "Mmph, Steph. So, uh, a thought. I have space at my place; it's a hell of a lot less than a dorm or an apartment, and you know odd hours won't be an issue." As well as having about seven different ways to come and go, but that's another issue.
Dick Grayson	"Dorms can be fun," Dick confirms, "But it's a crapshoot. It'll help you to get to know more people, and you can always move off-campus later, like if you go Greek." He says with a drink, "Mainly just hope that your dorm isn't full of fun-haters, but also not full of people too rowdy that will make you miserable during midterms or finals." Dick then grabs some dumplings for himself and looks to Jason, "Yeah, a lot more flexibility in scheduling, a bit safer, and a few other perks," like not having to carry a gun, "Also have a few ideas that I can play with in a role like that than stuck in a hierarchy where it wouldn't fly as well." He nods to Tim, "That actually isn't the worst idea, you know the roommate, which is the biggest crapshoot in college."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie waits for others to get a dumpling before she gets one for herself. She watches the kitten disappear again and then sees the expression from Cassandra. "I got into college," Stephanie says. "At Gotham U. I'm not leaving Gotham, promise," she says, and the expression on the blond's face is one of reassurance followed by a smile. "I'd like to get a place of my own. Also a bit worried about..." she starts to say before a rare moment occurs and her filter kicks in stopping the inside voice from becoming an outside voice as it does so often. "Well, anyway, lots to think about. I think it's probably time though," she says. Stephanie nods to Barbara's suggestion. "There's a place I've noticed right near campus. I might look into there. Not sure if it's filled up though. I'm kind of behind on all of this, late acceptance," she says. Almost like, someone or something greased the wheels to get her in at the last minute! Stephanie looks over to Tim at his offer. "That's... wow, Tim, that's really great of you. See, I wasn't kidding what I said in the pool," she says with a grin. "Let me think about it, don't want to cramp your style and all." Which comes close enough to the topic of Rose to yield a little mischievous grin.
Cassandra Cain	That was, apparently, the question which Cass needed answered. She gives a thumbs-up and proceeds to simply nom food, her one concern with the ongoing conversation apparently dealt with. There may be more but for now she simply feeds herself, feeds the boobs, and occasionally glances around for assassins. Hey, priorities.
Tim Drake	"Eh, it's nothing, Steph. Just... might come with a string or two, involving our night jobs." Tim grins a bit. "And... uh. Yeah. About //that//. Uh... I mean, believe me, that's... if... such... yeah. Stuff. Look, don't worry about that." Stammer stammer oof.
Barbara Gordon	Someone modifying computer records, pulling in favors, clandestine activities. Who could have done that. Anyhow Babs snags another soup dumplings and then shovels another one in her mouth with a smirk. "Apartment right by campus or a single dorm room I'm telling you. Dick is right about actually experiencing campus life and how it is really an actually useful part of the college experience." yeah she went to college too. Just .. maybe a bit young and before doing the Bat Thing. "This is nice." she gestures with chopsticks around to everyone and the place. "We should try to do this on the regular.. monthly or something." she is ever a dreamer.
Carrie Kelley	"Well his place is big enough," Carrie has to agree of Tim's offering to house Steph. The catch part earns a lift of eyebrow though in response. The rest of her dumpling is devoured before she sits back. Raising her chopsticks up she points them in Tim's direction making a 'squishing your head' kind of motion with them as she squints. "Okay, you've got something up your sleeve. Spill," she requests even as she goes for another dumpling. "Otherwise you're going to make the rest of us have to noogie you mercilessly until you do." She's sure SOME of the others at the table would back her up on this. Besides, the more he talks, the fewer dumplings he can eat.
Jason Todd	Jason munches on dumplings as he listens to his sibs talk. He doesn't seem to hate it but then Jason's always been something of a hard read. "Wait? Tim makes a move to get his ex to move in with him and we're all not going to comment on it?" he asks the table. "Unless you've got something else planned besides a little sex with the ex." Yep, Jason as always is a real class act.
Cassandra Cain	Cassandra Cain isn't going for dumplings. She's snagged a bowl from somewhere and is dipping it into the bowl, nabbing the broth with bat-family dexterity. With an acrobat's fingers she nips in, nips out. And with Cassandra Cain's stomach she sips it down happily. No, she seems to say. Not for you kitty. I will murder you an antelope later. The kitten allows this and goes to sleep.
Tim Drake	"Technically, Stephanie and I never actually were a thing, first of all," Tim says, holding up a finger. "And second, crass, Todd. Crass." He looks over to Carrie. "I was thinking of getting a little group of folks together to... uh... work the same night job, only maybe more than just around here," he says, trying to keep it where overhearing parties wouldn't understand. "I've been making some... modifications to the place. It's quite a work... room. Place. Thing."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown looks around her and is probably looking for something to throw at Jason. The odds are high at the least, but luckily for him she doesn't find anything appropriate. "I'm seeing someone that... ah, well, seeing someone. And Tim just asked someone out, so, doubt it's that kind of string. Though he /did/ talk about it being a night thing," she says, pointing at Tim with a look of mock suspicion. "Though you're making me feel like I need to read the fine print," she says in a more lighthearted tone. "I'd need to give it all some thought. I could see myself immersing myself in other stuff than college too. I think I probably need at least a year of, you know. Being there. Experiencing it like everyone else. But..." Stephanie says, and motions again with the chopsticks, but entirely different meaning. "That sounds interesting," she says of what Tim is talking about. Steph checks on the kitten, grinning and giving Cassandra a little shoulder nudge and a smile.
Dick Grayson	Dick nods to Jason, "I am sure Tim means this with the purest of intentions." The eldest Robin looks at Tim, "Besides, Casanova here already has a lady, it seems." He gives a humorous grin, and his tone switches to more businesslike when the topic switches to night jobs, lowering his voice, "But that's not a horrible idea, worked for me back in the day. Just be careful." He gives a knowing nod.
Tim Drake	Tim goes a bit pale, then grabs his tea and drinks, his face alternating between pasty white and a faint pink from blushing. "its.not.really.anything.yet.i.mean.." he mumbles.
Jason Todd	"Crass? You've met me right?" Jason asks, with a chuckle. "I'm all crass." The news that Tim asked someone out is like blood in the water, especially when Tim mumbles and stutters about it. "So," he says leaning forward, head in hands, elbows on the table. "Who's the unlucky girl?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley grins faintly at the mention of a group. "Oh, I guess you are about that age now," she murmurs with a knowing nod as if there were some huge age difference between them. "Wanting to step out, make your own thing." Her eyes slide over to Dick knowingly with a grin of amusement. "Could be a thing." Another few dumplings are taken and popped into her mouth before she pushes away from the table with a sigh. "I think it could be a good thing. You'll have to tell me more about this project. But another time. I've got some obligations of my own to look into at the moment." Standing, she puts a hand on Steph's shoulder, then Cass, and flashes a grin at Babs. "Keep the boys in line, yeah?" Of course she would.
Damian Wayne	Damian's cup had been emptied, refilled and now working on the new one. A small dish had been worked, bits of filling of dumplings had been split in different smaller bits.   The small plate usually used for soy sauce was grabbed, and the last of his cup drank, before he approaches Cassandra. "Here." Making a gesture to the chest with a finger.   Under his cup, he left a $100 bill for Mama Cho and her servers. He walked out, without another word to the rest.
Barbara Gordon	"Jason... that really isn't a big old badge of honor you should be wearing around..." yeah she is laughing on the inside, it is in her eyes. She waves a chopstick at him. "Be reasonably nice." she notes then leans back then pushes out her chair heading up to the counter to put in some more dumpling orders, not just soup this time a variety of others and maybe something akin to fried rice but appropriate for this place to have on menu. She comes back and settles back in... but not before leaning to give Carrie a quick hug good bye.
Tim Drake	"Oh, you wouldn't know her," Tim says, a hint of annoyance at Jason. "She's a friend of mine. We go back a couple years." He takes another dumpling. "Fine. Her name is Rose. And." He holds up a finger to Jason. "If you do get to meet her, I'm warning you, do not mock her about the eyepatch. It'll annoy me."
Cassandra Cain	Then Cass says something that completely blows her image. She sits listening, her soup gone into the bottomless chasm that is her belly (seriously, she's eaten twelve servings once). And then opens her mouth to answer Tim, with "Tico?" She's seen...movies?
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie reaches up to gives Carrie's hand a squeeze during the gesture before the redhead departs. "I kind of get," Stephanie says, and the next words were going to be 'a Damian vibe from her', but that filter clicks into place for the second time in a short span. And she imagines the mental imagery that might give Tim every time he sees her after that. "... kind of get the feeling she was into you," Stephanie says instead. She takes some time to eat her food then, watching the conversation between the brothers. Whenever her eyes meet Tim's she gives him a reassuring smile. Her level of teasing probably stops short of what his brothers might inflict.
Jason Todd	It's so quick even a Bat might miss it. That moment of recognition, eyes widening, fingers tensing around his beer, before the tension melts into a glimmer of a grin before his expression is molded into something more like anger, anger that doesn't quite extinguish the spark of amusement in his eyes. "Wow," he says throwing up his hands. "Really? Rose, Rose Wilson? White hair? Asian? Eyepatch?" He shakes his head. "What's with you and my sloppy seconds man, first my job then my girl, jeeze, what's next gonna find you going through my laundry for some of my old underwear?!"
Tim Drake	"Wait, you //know// her?" Tim says. Then the full implication of what Jason says kicks in. "You... know... know her." That's delivered more flatly. Well, shit. Tim knew she wasn't... you know. But he had no idea she had-- ugh, and with TODD? A glint of anger and frustration comes to the nerdiest Batling's eyes. "Yeah, I mean her. What of it? And sloppy seconds? Try //upgrade//, little Jaybird. You're the beta version, I'm the full program."
Barbara Gordon	Nearly chokes on a dumpling. "Jason!" it is not amused, not like the earlier light hearted scoldings. No she is using the Jason watch it tone of voice she almost never pulls out because to be honest it never seems to work. Then Tim is going into it with Jason which means this will just keep going "Tim!"
Dick Grayson	"Well that escalated quickly, calm down, both of you." While somewhat humorous if he was a fly on the wall, these are brothers to him, and not in the confines and safety of the Bat Cave. He nods to Babs, "At the very least, please be civil. We are in public, and it is clear that none of this was an intentional slight, just a coincidence."
Cassandra Cain	Cassandra Cain takes this moment to sideline, as the servers stand nearby uncertain if they should approach. She slips from the table, then returns with bowls of rice for her and Stephanie both. With a dumpling on each! She went for the good stuff, by her point of view. She might be grinning, though as she slides Steph her food she glances at Babs for an update on whether or not to invervene.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown's jaw hangs open for a moment before she closes it. She looks between the two brothers, unsure what to do or say. Navigating family squabbles is not something she's versed at. She leans back a bit in her chair, the posture removing herself a bit from the conversation though her eyes go back and forth between the pair like a tennis match were going on. Stephen reaches over, gently resting her hand on Cassandra's shoulder, probably assuming she's picking up on some of it but not really knowing what. But then Cass is getting up and going to get food, so she's doing a better job of it than Steph had worried. She takes the bowl, glad to have it for distraction.
Jason Todd	Oh god, it's a minor miracle that Jason can keep a straight face. This is just the sort of chaos he lives for. "Well if any of us are beta..." he says with a good rendition of a venomous grin, before he puts on a sigh and raises his hands like he's surrendering to the scoldings from Dick and Babs. "Fiiiine," he drawls. "I'll let Little Timmy off the hook for wanting to be like me, I don't blame him, it's got to be hard being him." By now it's clear he's enjoying this, as he extends a fist to Tim to bump. "Put it here," he studies Tim's face as if trying to decide something. "Future Eskimo brother."
Tim Drake	Tim scowls. "I don't find this sort of thing to be something to be so cavalier about," he huffs, his eyes narrowed. "//If// we... sleep together, it won't be something I make jokes about afterwards." He crosses his arms across his chest. "She's a person, not a trophy, Todd."
Barbara Gordon	Babs looks a bit relieved then notes "Well Tim is right, women aren't trophies." then she leans back and smiles a very appologetic smile to the wait staff. Though to be fair this isn't the first argument or flare up of tensions they have witnessed from this bunch. Though god the batlings tip well. Anyhow Barbara waves them over with the next round of dumplings and rice ... maybe with mouths full it will keep it calmer.
Dick Grayson	Dick is able to avoid facepalming at this, as it nearly goes from bad to worse, but he takes a few dumplings and says, "My apologies for bringing up the topic to begin with; as I am certain there is no ill will at this point, though I concur with Babs and Tim that sex is not some sort of baseball card collecting, I do appreciate your intent to make peace, Jason. Secondly, food is here, and if we keep jawing, it will get cold."
Jason Todd	Timmy you can't give Jason openings like that. "Oh I know she's not a trophy, Timmy," he says lowering his fist and reaching into his coat for his wallet. "But I did mount her on the wall one ti-" he cuts himself off with a grinning look to the table. "Oops, wouldn't want to ruin anyone's virgin ears, or the virginal rest of you either, Timmy. That's for Rose to do." He says pulling out a hundred and tossing it on top of Damian's. That was another reason Mama Cho and her people loved them they paid big and paid in cash. He stands up then, pulling on his bike gloves, "Well, this has been fun, we should definitely make a habit of it."
Cassandra Cain	And Cassandra, sitting with Stephanie, watches the byplay with all the fascination of a fan watching live wrestling. She noms rice, her eyes wide, and watches from one person to the next, her head turning left, right, fill mouth with rice, back to the right, to Babs, to Dick... She has this fascinated look on her face, like she should be eating popcorn instead of rice. And this is the MOST AMAZING drama show she's ever seen!
Tim Drake	Tim turns bright red at that. And if that didn't confirm Jason's snarky commentary, Tim's stammered retort, "Well-- well. That's-- Not-- I-- Not the point!" he manages, looking absolutely wrecked and entirely embarrassed. "And I didn't need to //know// that! No one here-- and. I." Tim tosses a hundred of his own on the pile. "I have to go work on my bike," he snaps. "I'll just... see everyone later."
Barbara Gordon	Cass has a whole lot to learn honestly about what is drama in this family. Heck there aren't any knives or batarangs being tossed or fists right now with the male 'siblings' so this is ... well a pretty mild win right now really. "Fucks sake." Barbara mutters after Jason's verbal swing and move for an exit. It is mostly to herself or any listening really closely. She inhales and then shakes her head and just picks up a small bowl of rice, deposits four meat dumplings on it, and starts to eat. Not engaging that dumpster fire of a conversation that seems about to burn itself out anyhow any further.
Stephanie Brown	It's all a matter of timing, really. Waiting for that perfect moment when Jason's attention is down on his gloves rather than on the table, or particularly on the side of the table that he was not facing towards as directly. Because it's only with that factor of being unobserved that Stephanie is able to throw her empty soda can and bounce it off of Jason Todd's forehead without him ducking aside or blocking it. It bounces off him, and clatters to the table where she picks it up again and rights it, along with an apologetic look to the owner though a brief one so she can cast one of 'those' looks at Jason Todd. "Jason Theodore Todd, that was too much," she tells him, and totally making up a middle name for him since she realizes she doesn't know what it is, yet this is a three name moment. "Too. Much."
Cassandra Cain	The waggling finger from Cass is almost expected, waggled exactly three times and no more. She's got this TALENT for being exactly the right body language for the moment. It's just that she normally uses it for combat, not comedy. She turns away from dumpster fire convo then to Babs, then she leans over and steals a single grain of rice from Babs' bowl. She doesn't eat it, just holds it in her chopsticks and lets her sleepy kitty bat at it. Yes, he's still there. And still orange.
Jason Todd	Seeing Tim blush is all the confirmation he needs and he just about doubles over with laughter, until Steph bounces a can off his head and Babs is clearly not happy. Jason turns give Steph a scowl, but one without any real fire and then calls after Tim as he makes his own exit, "Feel free to call or text for pointers Eskibro. I can even draw diagrams!" Then with that latest outrage against good taste complete he bows to the table. "This was fun guys, talk soon." Then Jason too takes his leave.