[img]https://i.imgur.com/893RI79_d.webp?maxwidth=760&fidelity=grand[/img]

Settled in the same room as the others, Kassandra stayed silent as the next mission was discussed. Being that the last one had been a hair short of full blown disaster, “anxiety” didn’t come close to what she was feeling.

It was simultaneously like she’d never done this before, yet was weighted with the knowledge of exactly what could happen if things went wrong. She wouldn’t let it happen again – she’d put her own self on the hook before that. How to prepare? There were so many things that could go wrong on just a regular mission, but this one was even more vital. Before she could untwist the tangle of questions in her mind, Pei caught her attention.

To her own surprise, she felt a grin flit across her face. Something about Pei’s goofiness shot through her confusion like a knife. When the little display was done, she actually did write something down – though it doubtless was not whatever she was meant to learn.

[i]Being still in fear will not protect them. Relax.[/i]

Kassandra waited for the others before speaking up in turn. [color=orange]“What are this girl’s skills? Does she have powers? If she’s our age but working for the other side, she must have something that makes her useful, correct? I don’t want to get into another situation that could have been avoided with prior knowledge.” [/color]

Unlike the last time she’d mentioned this failing to Batman, she spoke with a calm that stated the point without the anger attached. Under Martian Manhunter’s guidance, she’d gone back to her usual meditation, but deeper. Her past was like a venomous barb trapped under her skin, leaking anger and poisoning her heart. One day, she knew she’d have to speak in full about her past, to dig through the pain and excise it. She wouldn’t heal with the poison still in her. One day.

[color=orange]“We need to know that. And maybe what her personality is like also. That way, maybe we can watch for signs that she’s decided to stop helping. Also... I have never been wealthy. Even when I was working in Atlantis in the palace, I was seen more or less as a student. No one of import.”[/color] She managed a soft chuckle.[color=orange]"I know how to present to the wealthy and self important though. A lot of obvious sychophancy, bowing and scraping. But spit in their wake when they leave."[/color]