(no subject)

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden is about to move. She's got her backpack full of stuff - including fresh fruit and a bottle of water she liberated from Lucy's kitchen - and wears her traveling outfit of slim jeans and a fitted T-shirt.

She waits on a lawn chair in front of the Cooper house, reading a book, looking around every few minutes for people she needs to talk to.

Comments

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Hey," says Dreamer softly from a few feet off; in bare feet and bruised hands she looks like nothing more than somebody's abused girlfriend. (Too young for wife.)

"What're you reading?"

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

"Nightmares and Dreamscapes," Eden says without looking - the name Stephen King is prominently displayed on the cover.

She puts the book down and smiles at Dreamer - then immediately frowns at the bruises.

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Huh."

Dreamer grins shyly.

"Can't remember the last time I had a-- what, these?" Her hands are held up and she grins disarmingly. "C'mon, not you too. I'm just a little careless, is all."

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

"You have to admit, it's...noticeable," Eden comments.

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Well, yeah. Whatever."

Mildly uncomfortable shrug.

"I'm not used to taking care of myself."

(At this point she's not used to going much longer than a day without renewal.)

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

"Seems to me you should start." She smiles a bit, hoping that'll take out whatever sting her words might provoke.

"Isn't that even sort of uncomfortable?"

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

She flexes her hand absently.

"Yeah, it hurts."

Shrug.

"So?"

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden takes a moment to absorb that.

"I'm really not getting past 'pain is bad'. That's the extent of my thought process, here."

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

Dreamer shakes her head and grins fondly, leaning over to give Eden a kiss on the cheek.

"Livelings are so cute. I'm a contractor, honey. I'm trained to ignore this shit." One greenish-purpled hand is waved for emphasis. "It's nothing. Honest."

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

There's a little bit of hair ruffling before Anna pulls away from the kiss.

"Looks pretty gross," Eden can't help but add, gaze darting to the hand then away again. She's very proud of herself for not saying 'fucking'.

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"True."

Anna smiles brightly.

"In that case, cherie, I'll be sure to guard myself more carefully in future."

She feels like Ensorra, all dramatic gallantry hiding genuine affection.

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

"What were you doing, anyway?"

Some part of Eden is telling her to drop the subject. But Eden gets curious about strange things sometime, damnit.

[downsidedarling.livejournal.com]

"Honestly I don't know."

Rueful smile.

"I just... livelings notice when they hurt themselves. I don't. Not anymore, anyways."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph's probably not one of those, but that's okay. She's seen Eden here and there around the house, they've probably, oh, nodded vaguely at each other, but she's right, it is getting crowded. Steph hasn't wanted to bug anyone more than she has to.

Plus, there's so much outside to play in.

She's coming back from a jog now, all sweaty and flush-faced and bubbling with good cheer, and when she spots Eden on the lawn she changes direction to come to a halt near her. "Hey, hi!"

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden closes the book and smiles back - always happy to greet a new person who could spy on Gabriel for her potential friend.

"Hey! I'm Eden McCain. You're pretty new, right?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph nods, bracing her hands on her knees to catch her breath. "Yup. Just landed, a couple days ago. Are you really called Eden?"

In her brain that sentence was laid out as 'I'm Steph, it's nice to meet you!' -- really.

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

There's a tinge of confusion to Eden's otherwise friendly smile. "Yep. Mom was a bit of a Bible nut."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph grins, shaking her head. "I just came from a world called Eden. It was kind of a hellhole, actually, but some bright spark painted EDEN on the wall and it stuck." She helps herself to a seat on the grass. "I'm Steph, Stephanie Brown, from Gotham originally. I'm still not sure if it's this Gotham or not, I gotta go see as soon as I find a car."

That thing how Eden never used to speak? Steph never suffered from that.

"This place is amazing, right? I mean, with all the space. I've never been somewhere so big. I totally love it."

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden is, it must be said, a very good listener. She nods and looks very interested in everything that's said.

"A world called Eden that's a hellhole - I'm sure a brighter mind than me could take that in a theological direction," she says, her mind already toying with that.

"Can't say I've heard of Gotham. I'm from one that doesn't have a Gotham. Or a Metropolis.

"Gotham doesn't have a lot of space? ...Or, Eden doesn't?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Gotham's a huge city, big as Metropolis, only much darker and more crowded. You know how Metropolis is all, like, sunshine and bright light? Gotham's all filth and crime." Steph sounds very proud of her city, and a little bit worried. "There isn't space like there is here there, though. ... Well, I guess there might be now. Clark says it's mostly destroyed. That's why I've gotta go there."

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden nods, frowning sympathetically. "Totally. I would've been to New York first thing I could if it hadn't been demolished." There's a faint hesitation while Eden banishes doubt from her tone and figures out just what to say. "I hope things are better in Gotham."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"They'll be what they'll be," Steph says, placid. "A -- um, a boy I used to know taught me not to worry about stuff I can't change. I'll worry when I get there, but Gotham's survived earthquakes, I think my mom can dodge a few monsters." She grins at Eden, trying to reassure her that it'd be hard to say the wrong thing.

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

Eden nods approvingly. "That's a very good attitude to have." There's a hint of wistfulness, as Eden wishes she could share it.

On to brighter, more hero-ey subjects! "If you think you can coax Clark into coming with you, I'd say go for it. That guy's good to have at your side."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"He already offered," Steph says, wrinkling her nose -- not with distaste for Clark, but for the idea of anyone else coming with her. "He's really sweet, isn't he? In that sort of old-fashioned way. Guys in Gotham aren't like that.

"I said no, though. Cos if I find my family there, I'll probably stay, you know? And it's not like my people mean anything to anyone else or anything. I don't want anyone here getting monster-ed 'cos of me."

[carefulwishes.livejournal.com]

"He's totally sweet," the woman agrees brightly. "Like a teddy-bear. In flannel."

Eden listens to Steph's explanation, looking thoughtful by its end. "Seems to me there are people here who don't get monster-ed easily. I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping you out."

Eden discovers she has maternal instincts at the oddest times.