bildungsromans | for watcheslanterns

I have an entire criminal database at my disposal, pooled from every law enforcement organization on the globe.

[ Dick could very easily just walk around the large computer chair to take a seat, but he opts to vault over the top instead - like some kind of acrobat, as Rapunzel might gather. He only showed off his martial arts prowess back at the League's headquarters, after all.

The Batcomputer instantly boots up, and Dick opens a highly advanced search program. The Batcomputer itself is a colossal operating system, comprised of dozens of screens. ]

Gothel, right? That's how it's spelled?

[ He had just finished inputting the keyword before awaiting results. ]

Unless she's been living off the grid this whole time, there must be some record of her. Some history.

[ Never mind the possibility that Gothel, like Ra's, has been alive for centuries. ]

I think there's more you can tell me about her. Did the reason for her kidnapping you have something to do with your hair?

[ Dick can't keep pretending to ignore Rapunzel's absurdly long hair, after all. ]

[ Saying very little, Rapunzel nods, first at the spelling, and then at the more difficult inquiry about her hair. Her eyes remain focused on the computer screen as it runs through the database, searching for a name that may or may not even be there. Given her hair, and the story of the flower before her, Rapunzel doesn't actually know how old Gothel is.

Still not looking at Dick, she speaks. ]

My hair...is magic. I can use it to heal. To restore youth. She took me so that she could stay young and strong.

[ Though it's happened before, the Batcomputer's results are astounding:

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing on Gothel.

In a way, that makes her all too similar to Ra's Al Ghul, the way he was once so mystifying at the beginning of his rivalry with Bruce. Dick isn't exactly frustrated, though, despite the visible disappointment on his face.

He foregoes the defeated frown once he turns to Rapunzel. ]

Looks like Gothel's gonna remain a mystery. At least, anything about Gothel's life that goes beyond the scope of your experience.

[ Dick wonders if the occasional patches of brown on Rapunzel's otherwise blonde hair are anything significant. Hopefully Rapunzel's had enough time without extreme stress that another question can't hurt. ]

Your hair, though. A lot of it's long, and golden... but I'm guessing the brown isn't supposed to be a fashion statement.

Is it okay if I ask what happened? Gothel wasn't hurting you, was she?

[ Through his many years of crimefighting, Dick's had to comfort plenty of kidnapping and abuse victims after rescuing them. Besides the hair, Rapunzel doesn't seem to have anything else to show for it, so... he has to ask. ]

[ Rapunzel is happy to share what little she knows about Gothel, but it really is that; little. The woman had never been very open about her past, for reasons now obvious. And everything with the League of Assassins and Ra's Al Ghul was equally mysterious. All she had been told was that Gothel was bringing her to an old associate.

She turns to look at Dick, her expression mostly one of helplessness. For so long she's been focused on just getting free. Now that she is, she isn't sure what else to do. All of the fear and adrenaline from before is gone from her system, and honestly she just feels exhausted. At the same time though, she doesn't want to go to sleep. ]

Not physically. [ She sighs, recalling all the little ways in which Gothel had hurt her over the years. With the clarity of truth, she could see the emotional abuse that had always been there. ]

Something...well, something happened and I found out the truth. I was using my hair to threaten her. If it's cut, the hair looses it's magic and turns brown.

[ Well. That sounds a bit morbid. ]

Again... I'm sorry.

[ At this hour, Rapunzel must indeed be quite exhausted. Alfred is probably asleep because it's literally that late, 3 AM. Nonetheless, Dick turns to her in concern. ]

If you want any food or drinks, we've got plenty in the manor upstairs.

There's also more bedrooms than anyone in this household will ever need, so feel free to take your pick.

[ Dick puts the Batcomputer on sleep mode and stands up. ]

...Did you want to keep your magic hair?

If you want it gone, there should be a pair of scissors in each bathroom.

[ It was the only leverage she had against Gothel, but now that she's free... does she really want that burden, still?

Dick admits that the healing could be useful if Rapunzel stuck around, but he's just getting a little too hopeful, then. As far as he's concerned, as far as he should be concerned, the two of them are like ships in the night - merely passing each other in the journeys of their lives.

Like so many he'd helped before. ]

C'mon. I'll show you to your quarters.

I'm not sure, really.

[ Rapunzel twists a piece of the golden hair around her hand and studies it. Healing would be helpful now that she's out in the world, but it could still attract danger as well. Thinking on it though, her heart clenches. There's visible sadness on her face that she can't conceal. Some small part of her wants to believe that her hair could still do something about Eugene. Her hair is a miracle. Couldn't it do something miraculous for her? ]

But...I think I want to keep it. For now.

[ She follows Dick as he leads the way. She doesn't know what she's going to do tomorrow, let alone the rest of her life, but she's going to take up his offer for the time being. ]

[ Eventually, Dick's gonna want to know about Eugene. If Rapunzel suspects there's even a chance of her saving Eugene's life, Dick would want her to take it. ]

Gotcha. Might be for the best if you can still do some good with your gift.

[ Dick leads Rapunzel up a winding staircase that seems to lead to a dead end, only for a door-like shape to emerge and slide open from the cave wall. On the other side, Rapunzel will find that she's just come from hidden passage behind a large grandfather clock. As soon as Rapunzel stands a safe distance from the grandfather clock, it slides back in place to conceal the Batcave entrance. ]

Before you ask? We've got a lot of secret passages like that.

Now, c'mon. This way to one of the guest rooms.

[ Rapunzel will find the guest room Dick's picked out for her to be very spacious, though maybe not as spacious as her room back in the tower. It's not small enough to make her feel constricted, and it's not big enough to make her feel too alone - and maybe this happy medium this room occupies will help a bit. ]

I can leave you to it, then. I've gotta go change, and if I look hard enough... I think I can find you some spare clothes.

[ Rapunzel takes in every nook and cranny for the building as Dick leads her to the guest rooms. She's curious, of course, but mostly she looks out of habit. Whenever Gothel had brought her to a new location, Rapunzel had made sure to memorize everything so that she could have the advantage in her escape attempts. She may be welcomed her, but it's difficult to curb that instinct.

The room is, unsurprisingly, bigger than anything she's ever stayed in, but not intimidatingly so. It's difficult to feel one way or another about the accommodations. Part of her still feels numb from everything that has happened. Still, she is grateful to have a place to figure things out.

She manages the tiniest of smiles when she looks at Dick. ]

Thank you. For everything. Is there anything I should know about staying here?

Nearly every amenity you can think of is at your disposal here.

I wouldn't suggest searching every corner of the manor for secret passages, though.

[ He's only saying that because that might have been one of the first things he did here as a kid. ]

Be right back.

[ And indeed, moments later, Dick returns clad in a dark v-neck shirt and some pajama bottoms - a very stark departure from that Batsuit - while holding a stack of folded clothing: stuff for the day tomorrow, as well as women's pajamas Rapunzel will obviously need. ]

I hope these satisfy.

[ He leaves them on the corner of Rapunzel's bed. ]

Need anything else?

[ Otherwise, he has no plans on sleeping. He intends to perform a more thorough search on Gothel, more than simply entering her name as a search term. ]

[ Rapunzel had taken a seat on the edge of the bed when Dick had departed for clothes. She isn't sure why, but it startles her when he returns in casual clothes instead of the intimidating suit. Her escape/rescue feels like a strange dream with everything that happened. A superhero savior hadn't exactly been a part of her plan, and it all seems like something impossible. Seeing him now, looking like any other person, well, an extremely cut person, is a bit jarring.

There's a millisecond of a pause between Dick's offer of the clothes and her reaction. Blushing, she takes the pajamas and holds them close to her chest. ]

Um...thank you. Again. [ She nervously tucks some of her hair behind her ear. ] I don't think there's anything...but if I have questions, is there a good place to find you?

Hm. Good question.

Remember that grandfather clock entrance? Just knock. I'll be able to hear you, then I'll open it remotely.

[ With that, he steps back, poised to make his leave. ]

And with that, I'm off.

Take care, Rapunzel. And get some rest.

I'll get Alfred to prepare you a mean breakfast tomorrow.

for watcheslanterns

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject