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Who: Barbara and Quentin
What: Discussing their pairing! Or possibly just reading shit.
Where: The library.
When: January 3rd.

Barbara waits a few days, after the announcement. Quentin has kept himself scarce, presumably because of whatever got him demoted. She doesn't want to crowd him.

But she's pretty sure she knows where to find him.

She takes a few books of her own, when she heads to the library. She's checked out over a dozen since she's been back; it was nice seeing Gotham City Public Library again, but to say it's smaller would be a cosmic-level understatement. The ones on her lap aren't quite finished; if he wants, they could just read in silence for a while.

However it ends up, her smile is genuine when she waves at him. She likes Quentin, and she's refusing to make any assumptions about his demotion.

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He looks up at her, and does the shoulder glance, checking to see if she means him. He actually can't quite place her- thinks she's Jean, specifically, but decides she's clearly waving at him. So, he comes to pad over, books tucked under his elbow.

"Hey." Her tone is casual, though her gaze is appraising. "You're stuck with me for a month, I figured we should at least mingle a bit."

"Oh."

He says, as the penny drops.

"Right. Well. Nice to meet you."

Her brow furrows, a little. "We've spoken before. Of course, it's been - " Ages, even here. Her lips quirk in a faint, wry smile. "Perfect memories distort time, a bit."

(And sometimes she forgets that watching people really isn't the same as interacting with them, but there's no way to say that without sounding creepy.)

"Right."

Says Quentin, nodding- he doesn't disbelieve this, it happens to him often. But;

"I guess this is the part where we go over your expectations for the coming month."

"Actually, I was thinking more about yours. What you need right now and what you don't." With a gesture towards herself, "I don't really matter as much, in this equation."

"I'd like my powers restored."

He says, taking Francesco's advice, albeit rather hesitantly. He doesn't know how she'll take this.

Her expression turns pensive, as her hands fall to fold in her lap. "It's definitely not off the table. But I'm only with you for a month, and there's no telling when you'll get paired again." From what she's gleaned, that's a lot of power to give back, and she doesn't know why he lost it in the first place.

"...Was your magic involved in your demotion?"

"Yeah." Says Quentin, and;

"Never mind. I'd like not to get into it, to be perfectly honest."

After a moment, she nods. "We've got time, if you change your mind."

"That's pretty much it, for me. I don't want to talk. I'd like to be allowed to continue to use the library?"

He can't think of anything else to add, at this point.

"Attempting to stop you would be cruel and unusual punishment, in my book." Yes, the taps the books in her lap. "Would you mind if I finished these?"

"-oh."

He says, and steps back, nodding.

"Of course. I keep this room back here if you need me." Nodding at the tiny study room he's all but commandeered. "I don't carry my communicator, so this is fastest."

She smiles, nodding back. "Noted. Thanks for telling me."

"-I'll let you read."

He finishes, and steps back again, heading for his doorway.

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