Owner	Pose
Stephanie Brown	Since the graduation party, everyone would have learned that Stephanie would be attending Gotham University. The cost was going to definitely be a stretch but for a scholarship and some financial aid that came through unexpectedly. Stephanie might suspect the source to be other than claimed, but after just a small amount of investigation she decided to just accept them for what they are. The full tuition scholarship also meant rather than living at home with her mother up in Bristol, she could afford a small place near campus. Even one without a roommate who might require explanations about nocturnal comings and goings. Stephanie had sent Tim a text and a picture of the apartment building and invited him over to see it. Now's the aforementioned time. Stephanie is at work putting down some liners in the cabinets, the door to the hallway left open while she's in there. There are cleaning supplies in the kitchen, and the whole place looks freshly scrubbed and has that distinct lemon cleaner scent. The carpets look freshly steam cleaned. However, there's no furniture or wall hangings in the place at the moment. None at all.
Tim Drake	Tim knocks on the open door before stepping in, peering around the apartment and frowning a bit at the emptiness of it. "Hey Steph!" He's carrying a small brightly colored envelope in one hand, and a twelve-pack of root beers in the other. "Uh... did I get the time wrong?" He grins a bit at her. He looks more like a normal late teen today than the scion of a rich Gotham family, though close attention tells more tales than a glance: the dark jeans are a designer brand, the red-and-black Converse are customs, the opened button-front silvery short sleeve shirt cost more than most people's car payments, and the white t-shirt underneath is actually tailored to better fit his frame. "Fridge?" he asks, holding up the root beer.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie sets down the scissors she was using to cut the lining to fit the bottom of the cabinet with, and flashes Tim a bright smile. She's wearing shorts and a Gotham U t-shirt. The ceiling fan in the living area is turning lazily to contend with some of the warmth of the late summer Gotham day. "Fridge," she says with a grin, motioning to it, but heading over to Tim to offer him a quick hug of greeting. "Nope, you got the right time," she says. "Just finishing up the last of the cleaning and prep," she says. She turns and motions with both hands towards the empty space. "Isn't it beautiful. I mean, it's small and a bit run down and all. But it's mine," she says of her first place of her own. She turns back to Tim, grinning at him. "And it has a number of amenities already installed, or planned, that the other units don't," she tells him.
Tim Drake	Tim returns the hug and grins, slipping over to the fridge and sliding the case of sodas inside. "I'm glad for you, Steph. Pretty sure you're glad to be out from under your mom's eye all the time, and it's not like she's far if you want to see her." He gives the apartment a cautious once-over observantly. "Here," he hands her the card. When she opens it, she'll find a card with a cartoonish set of keys that says 'Congrats on your new place!' on the front, and inside a 'may you enjoy many years in your new home' message printed, but in Tim's scrawl below 'first places are the best, so I hear. Enjoy it, neighbor!' After all, Tim's own place was only a couple blocks away. There's also a giftcard inside (though a general Visa cash one, not for any specific place), because new dorms or apartments always need something that's missing. "What sort of amenities?" he asks, leaning against the counter. "Oh yeah, maybe doing a movie night at my place in a week or so, if you and your guy want to come there's plenty of room."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown opens up the card, which brings a smile to her face. "Thanks, that's sweet," she says before setting it over on the counter standing up, her first bit of decoration. "I'll let him know. Showed it to him earlier today but he's off seeing his mother. She's a professor in the archeology apartment," she tells Tim. "I'd love to have him get a chance to get to know you guys better," she says. The blond gives a little come with me motion with her hand, and leads him over to the balcony with the sliding glass door. There's a light switch beside it. "Light switch here for the balcony light, and I wired one that I hid up on the roof. So I can turn it off from up there to avoid being seen going in and out," she says. Stephanie slides open the glass door and goes out, pointing to a nearby taller office building. "And a perfect building next door for getting back and forth to the roof without climbing one full of college students who are up at all hours," she says. The young woman motions towards the inside. "And I already put a fake wall in the closet to have a storage area for my equipment," she says.
Tim Drake	Tim inspects the additions, looking amused. He can't say much, its not like he hasn't done the same. Well, except hiding anything in his closet. His stuff in the closet is all out in the open. "You need anything else, upgrade wise? Comms or anything, tech wiring?" He does look over the balcony with a slight frown. "Maybe reinforcement on this if you'll be using it a lot." Wheels already turning. Or course they are. "So..." once the balcony's shut again, Tim glances towards the open door. "Uh... your guy, does he know?"
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie looks up at the ceiling above the balcony. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll need some paint to match," she says as she seems to be working out in her head how to make it work. "Oh, and one of my walls is adjacent to the elevator. I haven't cut into it yet but I'm hopeful there's enough space there I can make an exit through a vent that's over there," she tells Tim. She waves her hand for him to come back inside out of the afternoon heat, sliding the glass door closed after them once inside. "Oh no," she says with a shake of her head at the question about Roberto. "Nah, I mean, I trust him but... you know, it isn't a matter of trusting him. If he knows about me, maybe he pieces things together about those I associate with. Maybe someday, well down the road, if it ends up serious," she says. Stephanie looks away for a moment, digging her toe in the ground. "Or, you know, if it lasts. I don't have a very good track record of not driving the good ones away," she says. Without naming her present visitor in that company. There were a few accusations of infidelity on her part that she was wrong on. "I like him a lot though," she says with a smile, then looks back to Tim. "Speaking of! How's it going with Rose?"
Tim Drake	Nodding, Tim says, "Cool. Just... checking. Wouldn't want to slip. Movie nights obviously mask free but there will be a few folks there," like Conner, "who are a bit exuberant." Though Conner's been good about the ID thing. Tim flips out his phone, opening the connecting program to his domino mask-- which he has in his pocket, of course. Boy scout that he is. Be prepared and all. He does actually pop the door to the hall closed first just in case someone walks by, and pops the mask on his face, pulling up the scanners on his phone. It's not as robust as using his gauntlet computer, but what is? "Yeah, actually..." he says, looking at the area she had said she was looking at cutting into. His scanners couldn't go too deeply or through thick materials, but drywall is thin and easy. "There's some extra space in there, I think as access for the elevators. Shouldn't be a huge problem, but you'll probably need some good handholds. Maybe we'll get Jay or someone to come help with the decontruction. Smashing things sounds right up his alley. Even without him, maybe an afternoon for the two of us to set it up." He grins, popping the mask off and turning off the program on his phone. "I mean, if you want the help." Her toescuffing and self-depreciation garners a barely supressed wince from Tim. "If it happens, it happens, Steph. And I'm sure we're all growing up a lot from who were were years ago." Then she asks about Rose. "Ah," Tim flushes lightly, but grins. A lot. "It's... great, actually." He rubs the back of his neck ruefully. "Like... maybe too good. But I'm not complaining." It's perhaps a bit awkward, considering he's trying not to explode with a torrent of evrything he's been thinking and feeling on the subject. Bits and pieces have slipped more than he should, lately, and after Cassie called him on it, he's been being far more circumspect. But his eyes are alight with an extreme happiness that the batling isn't often seen with. Even the cheeriest of them, like Dick, had a tendency towards broodiness.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown leans against the wall as Tim studies it with his awesome technology. "Great, and I won't turn down some help on it, sure," she says. "Less chance something goes wrong and I end up explaining to the super why I'm cutting holes in the wall," she says with a wry smile. Her smile just grows slowly bit by bit as she observes Tim's reaction to the question about Rose. "That's really great. I am so happy for you," she tells him. "I hope it works out well. So, worth asking the same question, does she know about you and your handy man extraordinaire mask there?" she asks. Her gaze drifts away for a moment. "I think Roberto could handle it. Henry McCoy is one of his teachers, you know, so he's used to being around an Avenger. We were actually chatting about superheroes today. I think he would probably be proud of me if he did know about it," she says. As she talks, her hand strays to a necklace. Gold, with a gold charm of a compass on it, the directions each marked with a small diamond. Not something Stephanie would have been able to afford for herself. "He wanted to be a fireman, Roberto did. He's going into business. Family corporation and all. But, he's got the mindset, I think."
Tim Drake	Tim runs his hand though his hair idly, wincing again. "Ah. Yeah, she... does." He frowns a bit. "She's been patrolling with me, actually. Bats has decreed no more solo patrols until this Court of Owls mess is over, after they nearly killed me //and// Jaybird. If Rose hadn't been there, Jason would have..." he trailed off, shaking his head and scowling darkly. Jason's death had nearly destroyed the family, after all. Having him back now was a miracle, but he didn't know what might happen if he... or anyone else, for that matter... were lost in their eternal war for Gotham's soul. "Look, uh, don't freak out. But she's... Ravager." You know, young Deathstroke, only female, but was almost as dark of a reputation.
Stephanie Brown	The news takes Stephanie's breath in one big exhalation. "Ok. Wow," Stephanie says, nodding her head slowly as she seems to be trying to absorb and make sense of that one. "I mean... ah... I didn't think she had a... different... vibe to her at the graduation party. Glad those ol' intuitions are still, well, not really all that finally calibrated are they?" The blue eyes study Tim for a few seconds. "Was that something you knew up front or just sort of happened and found out?" she asks. Though he knows her enough to know she probably is already guessing the answer to the question. "So, I don't really need to ask whether you trust her, I guess," she says slowly. "Just, you know. If you need anything, you know I'm here for you, ok?"
Tim Drake	"When I met her, we were both masked." Tim shrugs. "That was... awhile ago." He considers carefully. "Before I met you, actually. About a year before..." he trails off. It's kind of a touchy subject all around, to be honest. "She was the second person outside the family to know who I was under the mask," he admits carefully. Conner being the first-- but that's a whole other story. "I could say it was a long time coming, actually breaking down and being willing to try to work something out with her but..." he shrugs. "I kept my mouth shut for three years and before your grad party I figured it would be another decade before I'd have said anything. If then."
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie Brown seems to consider something for a few moments and then says, "Well, I just want it to work out for you. And hey, now, if it doesn't? And she hurts you? I don't need to feel so bad about breaking her legs. Right?" Stephanie bats her eyes as if in innocence at Tim. She pushes off the wall she's been leaning against. "You deserve someone good, Mr. Draper," Stephanie says, referring to Tim by the alias he first used with her. "Just keep your eyes open. But I know you will. You're like, the only kid of Bruce's who does," she says with a grin. Stephanie glances around the bare bedroom. "Roberto's going to spring for a mattress as a present," she comments. "Other than that... ah... I was wondering if I could borrow you and Carrie, and maybe a pickup truck from someone this weekend. And just kind of drive around on big item trash day and see if we can't find some furniture that's not beyond redemption. If you aren't busy that is?"
Tim Drake	Tim laughs lightly, then looks serious. "Even if she kills me, Steph, don't try breaking her legs. Seriously. She's..." he lets out a long puff of air. "She's dangerous." It's the easiest and quickest explanation, even if it's an understatement. "She's been to the 'cave. Masked, and precautions on the way-- she doesn't have privileges. Supervised only. I have faith she can be brought back fully." He gives Steph a grin. Redemption, rehabilitation-- he's always been clear how much he believes in it. "I mean, if you'd like, I'm game." He grins. "And nah, I'm going up to New York tonight," the Jersey boy rolls his eyes, "some bullshit at the Hellfire I have to play nice with; and beyond that just patrolling. Classes haven't started yet so I have some time." Or at least, he'll //make// it.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie nods. "That's a pretty swank place. Have been there twice with Roberto. He's got the family in, too," she says with a little whistle. "Ok, just hoping I can come up with a few things for now. I don't know how far my money is going to go so I kind of want to be pretty frugal starting out. Last thing I want is to have to show up at Mom's to get food. Or, you know... begging meals from Alfred," she says. Stephanie stretches her arms and lets out a sigh. "Well, I won't let anything on about anyone. To her or anyone else. Mask-wise that is. So no worries there. I'd love to bring Roberto by for the movies. Just try to remind Conner not to float," she says with a small grin.
Tim Drake	"Conner is Conner. He may get the mask for the rest of us, but I don't know if he'll ever understand it for himself," Tim laughs. "So if he floats, we'll just tell Roberto isn't it awesome we know a Kryptonian." He opens the fridge and pulls out two of the sodas, handing her one after opening it, and then opening his own. "Alfred never considers it begging, and half the time I'm there for ten minutes to get something I swear he's hurt if I //don't// eat something." He grins. "You know where my place is, right? You're always welcome to come down and hang out, movie or no. I'm not that great of a cook, but that's what delivery is for." He grins a bit, taking a drink. "But yeah. We'll find you some cool stuff."
Stephanie Brown	"I haven't seen it yet!" Stephanie says of Tim's place. "Another reason I would love to bring Roberto by. But yes, I need to make it over, especially now I'm so close instead of up in Bristol." Her mother's townhouse is in the same area roughly as Wayne Manor. Just, the other side of the tracks without a doubt. "I can at least foist some of that weirdness off on you guys being Waynes and having all sort of connections," she says with a tiny smile and shake of her head. "Yeah, Alfred... ah I have to admit there are a time or two now that I've stopped by just hoping to eat there. I mean, it's recent though of course." Because Bruce had told her to hang up her cape which had ended her time with the family for a year until Barbara took her in to mentor and train. "I'm just worried about keeping my grades up, what with patrolling and training. I was never the greatest of students before, and that was just high school."
Tim Drake	"Sleep is for the weak," Tim replies jokingly. "I know what you mean though. School, work, patrolling, everything else... it's hard. You'll find the balance." Or you'll be like Tim, and just occasionally crash for a day or two after running yourself ragged. Not that he admits that. "But yeah. I'll get some spare tech and a few things for your escape route there together, and this weekend we'll have a party: me, you, Carrie, maybe Jay for muscle," not that Tim's not fairly strong himself, but he is the lithest of the fam, especially compared to Jason, "and we'll find some new-to-you furniture, knock down a wall, and eat so-bad-its-good takeout." He grins.
Stephanie Brown	Stephanie's face lights up. "I feel so collegiate," she says with a grin, moving over to put an arm about Tim's shoulder and give him a smooch on the cheek if he allows her. "Thanks Tim. For this and, well, for everything. During the time Bruce kicked me out, you were there for me still. And that meant a lot." She lets him go and motions back towards the living room and kitchen. "Come on, let's grab two of those root beers and people watch from the balcony for a bit," she says with a grin. It's good to be home.