controlledvariable | exsilium; ic inbox

Thank you.

( For what, she's not certain. )

Do what's necessary. ( A beat, because Dinah doesn't worry about the blur, and she and Stephanie seem so similar sometimes. ) I don't know if I can be Huntress so publicly.

[Her first thought is to tell Helena that thanks is necessary, but sometimes that can come across as dismissive, and she doesn't want to do that.]

You're welcome, and I will.

[As for the Huntress, Steph lets out a slow breath, considering that.]

It's why I decided to keep Batgirl off the network, at first. [Well, she kept Steph off the network a fair bit, too, but she thinks Helena will understand.] Dick seems to do the opposite. I guess you've gotta work out what's gonna work best, but I can keep my distance from either Huntress or Helena, to save anyone drawing conclusions.

[Since Steph doesn't have her ID; someone from Gotham associating with another, known vigilante could lead to the same conclusions Saul drew.]

I'd rather not compromise our solidarity in the name of my identity. You've been to my house, we train together. We worked together, albeit remotely, during the bombings.

( And that solidarity is, ultimately, more important than her identity in this place. It'd be more important in Gotham and Metropolis, too, at the end of the day. It would make life more difficult, but she'd do it.

She'd failed children she meant to protect before. Too slow, too late, not pushing herself hard enough before things went wrong. Stephanie had been let down before, by every adult vigilante in Gotham. Helena's frowning as she picks over it with her mind, but ultimately, it's true. It's what matters.

Slowly: ) Our continuing to work together takes priority.

( She isn't going to go public (yet?) and not unless she has to, but being reliably there for Stephanie and Batgirl takes priority. The same way for Robin, for Blue Beetle. They're kids. She's going to look after them. )

[Oh.

That's-- She's not sure what to do with that, and there's something a little too pleased in the way she smiles, before it turns sheepish and she rubs at the back of her neck. She can't remember another vigilante ever saying something like that to her, that working with her is more important than secret identities (or anything, really), because most of the time she isn't more important than most things. Bruce would drop her instantly, she knows, if he thought she'd compromise his identity, and while she wouldn't blame him, it's still nice, to hear Helena say it.

But there's a tiny part of her that is embarrassed by how nice it is, when she doesn't need anyone's approval.

It's tricky to remind herself that needing and wanting things aren't the same thing.]

Thanks.

[Smooth, Brown.]

I'll try not to befriend any more nosy lawyers.

[jokes!!!!]

( A quiet, amused huff. )

Yeah, well. I'm friends with Barbara.

( They're in the same boat, here. She sounds pretty resigned to it. )

I'm not allowed to complain about Babs being a lawyer.

[As if somehow this is a important rule that's been laid down.]

Did she say that?

( Please. ) You're always allowed to complain about that.

( If they complain about Spoiler and Huntress being crimebabies, after all. )

As if I'd listen to Babs if she told me to stop complaining.

[Gosh Helena it's like you don't know her at all!]

It was my mom.

( A SNORT. Congratulations, Stephanie Brown, you made the Huntress snort. )

That's the spirit.

( Oh. Well. ) I won't tell her if you don't.

[Does she get a prize tho?]

Scout's honor?

[Steph neither of you are scouts.]

Purple honor.

( Superior, surely? At least that's something they both have. )

[brb Steph's just going to cackle for a little while.]

Purple honor, sure.

[pls]

( this is serious, Stephanie )

You have to respect the color.

I try not to take anything too seriously.

[For all that she sounds a bit flippant to match the comment, she... does actually mean that.

Taking things too seriously gives them too much power.]

It's a tightrope, isn't it?

( Their lives, their ideals. Helena can't stand how self-righteous Batman is, but at the same time, that power is a little intoxicating. )