(Untitled)

[milkbonesoldier]

[OOM: Even when Annie Wells is doing the cooking, there are some things food can't fix. Millitimed to the evening of March 15th, after this.]The Council wants more girls in the field quickly, so Wells is going to be testing the top four girls by the end of the week. Might as well get this dealt with before the moon gets too close to full. At least

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[i_spoiled_it]

"Hey."

Steph is tired, but at least she's stopped with the thumping piano.

"Any news?"

Sure she talks to him sometimes when it's not about Zuko. It's just that that's the first thing on her mind.

[milkbonesoldier]

Wells glances up. "Oh- hallo, Stephanie. Yeah, you could say that." He indicates the other seat at his table. "Sit if you like."

[i_spoiled_it]

"Oh, that doesn't sound good." She drops into the seat and draws her knees up to her chest anxiously. "Bad?"

[milkbonesoldier]

Wells gives a tired smile. "Zuko's out and about again, which is something, but he's still in a shitload of pain. The last I heard, he had a fifty-fifty chance of getting it cured without fucking him up worse than before."

[i_spoiled_it]

"He's such an idiot." Steph scowls at the table. "At least it didn't get worse."

Nynaeve will fix it. Anyone who yells at Zuko and makes him stay somewhere is someone Steph can put faith in. Besides, Lan reminds her of Batman, and Batman can fix anything. Almost.

"Did they let him out, or did he just get sick of it and break out?"

[milkbonesoldier]

"D'you honestly think someone like Nynaeve would've let him out before putting him right if she had anything at all to say about it?" says Wells. Hence, part of the overall tired.

[i_spoiled_it]

"Yeah, but I could hope," Steph says wryly. "I guess he's been giving you a hard time about it?"

This is a very polite way to say "you look like crap, what's up?"

[milkbonesoldier]

"Nah, not more than I expected," says Wells. "The real problem's coming from a different quarter. Turns out one of my lads is still alive after all." He rubs at his nose. "And it turns out the bastards who ordered a werewolf captured for scientific study were the ones who've had hold of him the past three years."

[i_spoiled_it]

"The - same ones with the - the silver room?" Steph's eyes are WIDE.

[milkbonesoldier]

"That'd be where they kept him, most of that time," Wells confirms.

[i_spoiled_it]

"God. Is he -"

Well, nobody's okay after that. For years? Steph doesn't even remember most of the time she spent in Black Mask's hand, but she knows it felt like years, and it was only days - she can hardly even imagine three years of that sort of treatment.

"- is he safe now? You've got him?"

[milkbonesoldier]

Wells nods. "The Ministry of Defence called Annie and had her come pick him up. We've had Spoon in our keeping since then- about a month now. He's getting better, I think, but we're not exactly therapists or the like." He reaches for his tea. "Good and safe now, and I intend to see to it that he stays that way, same as the rest of my family."

[i_spoiled_it]

There's a sentiment Steph can really get behind. She nods, reassured.

"I guess you can always ask around here for therapists and stuff, if you want them." She's not a big believer in therapy herself - mostly because she's never tried it. (Bats don't.) But - maybe.

[milkbonesoldier]

"Yeah, if there's anywhere to find 'em it'd be here," Wells says. "As it stands he's at least found a good teacher. They fucked up his head so badly he's got to learn proper reading all over again. Still makes out the letters and such, but the words' meanings get away from him sometimes."

[i_spoiled_it]

Steph bites her lip, still wincing in sympathy. "If you need help, or if he needs help, I could. If - I can't really leave here for long, I fade, but does he come here?"

She tried to teach Batgirl to read. That didn't go very well, but they did make some headway, at least.

[milkbonesoldier]

"The Bar keeps grabbing him when he tries to get to the khazi," Wells says ruefully. "I don't believe he's ever meant to come here, but he's in and out damn near as often as I am. His name's Spoon, he's about this tall-" He gives a general indication. "Short dark hair, clean-shaven, brown eyes. His left arm's more scars than not, from where the werewolves damn near tore it apart before they started fighting over him. He'll likely call you ma'am if you meet him. Don't give him too much shit for that. I'm tryin' to get him to break the habit, but it's bloody hard for him."