"I'd forgotten that Gotham was cold," I mumbled as I searched through my suitcase for something that wasn't a tee-shirt.
"Here. Borrow my sweater," Clarity said, tossing me a blue sweater from her room.
"Thanks," I mumbled. I wasn't much of a morning person, and sleeping on a couch hurts my back.
Glen burst out of the bathroom and hobbled around as fast as he could, trying to gather his things.
"We need to open shop soon, Clarity! Let's hurry!" he called. Clarity came out of her room, dressed in a sharp pair of black slacks and a white button up shirt.
"See ya later, Sable!" Clarity called as she closed the door. I rubbed my still bleary eyes and stumbled into the bathroom to shower.
I stepped back out into Clarity's livingroom a few minutes later, my hair dripping wet and my eyes now wide awake.
My mind wandered through the tasks of the day. Father's funeral was two days away, so I'd need a nice dress.
Most people would think that my siblings and I would mourn more for our father, but we didn't feel like we had to. He told us that dying was just going to a better place, so we saw it as a happy thing. Plus, he was with mom now.
I also had to get a job and an apartment of my own. As much as Clarity and Glen probably wanted me to stay with them, I didn't want to at all. I felt a need to spread my wings… be self-reliant.
So I bolted into the streets after a quick bagel. I had a lot to do.
I walked briskly with a little smile on my face and a bounce in my step. People kept looking at me weird, making me a little self conscious. There was no friendly exchange of 'hello!' like there was inside the little research camps across the Galapagos.
Nonetheless, I made myself march onwards to the nearest clothing store.
There was a sudden bustle directly in front of me as a man ran past, laughing.
Joker! My mind screamed. I ducked for cover, along with everyone else, trying to regulate my breathing.
Joker scared me more than any murderer here in gotham. His… disregard for human life made me sick.
After a full minute of silence, I got up off of the sidewalk, along with a few other adventurous citizens.
The Joker had undoubtedly disappeared, along with the policemen following him. The area was again, silent.
With slight hesitation, I started to walk again, peering around every corner to make sure.
This was expected in Gotham, sure. There was rarely a day without some crime or another, and most everybody had several run-ins with The Rogues throughout their lifetimes.
Still, I was scared. I always had been scared of Joker, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy... those people who seemed so... inhuman to me. To be able to kill another person was simply shocking to me.
"Did you just come from the ruckus outside?" The sales clerk in the clothing store asked. I just nodded. "It's pretty weird, Joker running around in broad daylight. Guess he's learned that Batman prefers the dark."
"Guess so," I smiled a bit, shaking my head. "It's really quite pitiful. We all cower in fear as one man runs past. We then rely on an adult man in a costume to save us."
"Some of us have fought them!" he said, grinning. "Last year I threw a punch at the Joker. Hit him too!"
"Very interesting. Are you trying to impress me?" I said, taking another black dress of the rack and checking it's size.
"Maybe I am," he laughed. I rolled my eyes, but was rather amused by the man. He was cocky, but friendly. "What's your name?" He asked.
"Sable. Yours?"
"Rick. My full name is Patrick, but no one calls me that."
"I see. Well, Rick. May I please use one of the dressing rooms?" I asked.
"Sure thing Right this way." He took me to the back of the store and opened up one of the locked rooms.
"Thanks," I called through the closed door, smirking a bit. I was pretty sure that I'd just found a friend.
The dress didn't fit great, but nothing fit well on my odd form. I was short and skinny, but with really broad shoulders, resulting in me having to buy shirts and dresses a size larger than what I really wore. Occasionally there was that one shirt that I could wear and look okay in, but they were few and far between. Most things just looked baggy.
I finally decided to take the dress and simply take my needle and thread to it. I could probably fix the worst of the bagginess and keep my comfortable arm movement.
"You all done now?" Rick asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"What do you even need a black dress for?" He asked as he rang up my price.
"My dad's funeral," I said simply. I was thinking about what I'd do next. Probably look into getting a good job.
"I am so sorry about your loss," Rick said, his usually jovial voice sounding much quieter all of a sudden.
"It's alright. He wouldn't have wanted anyone to mourn," I told him, giving him a slight smile.
"I still just... My own old man passed last year, and I remember how hard it was for me. If you ever need anything... I'm always around here, Sable," he sighed, looking at me again. I just smiled a little. Rick was a real trusting guy, and I liked to be around him.
"Thanks. See you round, Rick," I said as I left.
Next on my agenda was to look for a job. I was walking to the University first, hoping desperately that they had a good position in Earth Science. It wasn't far from downtown at all, but I kept on thinking about Rick. All of the other citizens seemed distant and cold, but Rick had opened right up.
He was probably flirting with me, but I couldn't help but like the guy. I hoped to run into him again.
There was a long line of students at the front of the line of the Gotham University Information Office.
I remembered back when I'd met Kyle here, looking for a scholarship.
"Can I help you?" An old man with thick glasses asked, giving me a big, fake smile.
"Yes… I was wondering if there were any positions open for application in the Earth Science Department."
"Let's see," The man said, turning to a computer that was at least as old as he was. I could see the flickering blue light shine off of his glasses eerily. "Professor Cook was looking for a Teaching Assistant. We'd normally have a student fill the job, but no one wanted this one. Fill out these forms, and I'll send them to Professor Cook for validation," He said boredly, handing me a manila envelope.
"Thanks, sir," I said, nodding to him as I retreated to a table by the window.
The documents they had me fill out were fairly easy to understand. Contact information, insurance, extent of knowledge over the subject, reasons for wanting the job… It was really quite mundane. Luckily, It didn't take too long to fill out completely. "Here you are sir," I said, holding out the manila envelope again. He just looked up at me and sighed."Professor Cook would like to talk with you now. I already contacted him, and he'll go over the guidelines with you."
I jumped a little at that. I wasn't expecting a job interview today! I was hardly dressed for the occasion!
"Thank you sir," I said, swallowing the lump I felt forming in my throat. My first ever job interview… and I wasn't ready!
"His office is in the Nolt Building, two doors down from here. Room number 203," The man droned, handing me a map.
"Thanks again," I said, turning away and walking out the door, my heart racing.