video.

[worthinvesting]

[The video starts off with sand. Interesting, right? There are also angry voices of men in the background to catch your attention. If that won't do it though after a moment the video moves from the ground to show a blue eyed child staring down at the dirty camera. They appear to be confused by what they are seeing before their gaze snaps up at the voices coming closer. The child must be taking off since the next thing being filmed is fabric flowing as the camera shakes.

Weird. Maybe you want to check in on that, ducks?]


[ooc; So for the next couple days Miranda is going back a bit in her history. Replies won't be coming from her usual journal though despite me using it for simplicity's sake. Feel free to make up what this journal name could be. Probably something about stabbing or escaping.]

Comments

[voice]

[desertification]

You alright, kid?

video.

[worthinvesting]

[The child brings it up to their face again and frowns.] Be quiet.

text

[desertification]

Better?

video forever

[worthinvesting]

[She doesn't answer until she's successfully evaded the men chasing her. It takes Talia a moment or so to read the message. Her mother had tried to teach her some reading and writing before her death, but it didn't lead to proficiency by any means.]

You can talk now if you're quiet.

voice forever

[desertification]

[He doesn't have the quietest voice, but he manages to keep it low.]

Some kind of trouble?

[worthinvesting]

Yes. [That much is obvious which is why she sees no reason to lie about it.] It's over now.

[gothams_reckoning]

[Wait. Wait.

No. This couldn't be possible. Yet he knows the scene all too well.


His voice is quiet when he asks:] Talia?

[worthinvesting]

[That is a voice she hadn't expected to hear. The camera is the wrong way so she can't see anything or be seen. The voice is unmistakably hers; sad and hopeful that maybe despite her last image of him was being torn down by the other prisoners that maybe he could still be around. Maybe she wasn't completely alone in the world.]

... Bane?

[gothams_reckoning]

Yes. Yes, Talia, it’s me. I’m coming to get you. Did you escape the Pit?

[Every protective instinct in him is on high alert. He can’t world-hop on his own, but someone else must give him one. Bane cannot let anything harm her – not these men, not the community, not anything.]

[worthinvesting]

[She hesitates a moment still shocked to be hearing his voice from this strange object no less. Eventually she forces out:] I did. [There's a longer pause.] How?

[gothams_reckoning]

I am glad. [His relief is palpable. She is safe, at least for the moment.]

I'll explain once I find you. Just stay where you are and I will be there soon.

[worthinvesting]

[That's enough to win her over. Talia still knows better than to let hope override her better judgment. While she'll stay in her hiding spot it doesn't mean she won't be prepared for things to go bad. It's what she is used to after all.]

I will stay, but if this a trick so you can send me back, I'll kill you where you stand when you arrive. [He should recognize this voice. It's her best imitation of him when he's threatening the other prisoners.]

[gothams_reckoning]

[It's impossible to tell, but he smiles at the threat. She is very much the demon's daughter, even when she was so young.] Fair enough. I will see you soon, little one.

[There are a few minutes' time where he haggles for a world hop. When he is finally successful, he arrives in the desert sand, only a few feet from her.

He stays apart from her for a moment, letting her adjust. For one thing, he appeared out of nowhere. And then there is the matter of the mask.]

Hello, little one.

[worthinvesting]

[It is a good thing he did since she is ready to attack at any moment before he appears out of nowhere. To no one's surprise Talia has already stolen the materials she needs to make herself a weapon. That and stealing food and water is what got her into the trouble that started all this.

What is surprising is that she can still recognize him at all given the years between them and the mask. Maybe it's a credit to the fact he has been the only constant in short life. Talia can look him in the eye and simply know this is her friend. Somehow he has survived and has come to join her.

She's still too smart to trust him immediately despite knowing it must be Bane. Talia holds her position, crude weapon in hand, and ready to take off at the first sign of trouble.]

Explain.

[gothams_reckoning]

[There is the hint of a smile in his eyes. He is proud of her, proud of how quickly she has armed herself and gathered resources. Talia was always a survivor. Even more than him. She was always meant to rise out of this place.

Staying his distance, he answers her:] Many strange things lay in your future, I'm afraid, Talia.

I know you are just a child now, but where I am from now -- when I am from -- you are a woman, grown and far away from here.

[worthinvesting]

[Even though she grew up with evil men with questionable sanity, Talia knows what Bane has said is crazy. She will concede so is finding a device in the sand that keeps talking to her and having her friend thought to be dead appear out of thin air. It certainly would explain the creases around his eyes and the mask too.]

Can you prove it?

[gothams_reckoning]

[He considers this. Bane had not brought any evidence with him, beyond his own existence, of course. Though he was not sure what he could even bring that would convince her.

He shakes his head slightly and answers:] Not here. But I can show you. If you come with me, I can show you what it will be like when you grow up, little one.

[worthinvesting]

[That's a giant leap of faith. Lucky for Bane it wouldn't be the first Talia is willing to do despite her fears. Not that she shows any fear. Talia simply nods.]

I want to meet my father afterward. [If what he says is true, she must have told him where she finds him.]

[gothams_reckoning]

[There is a slight hesitation. Talia would have no reason to know her father would be deceased, nor the circumstances that led to it. He wants her safe more than anything, but the concept of lying to her fills him with a deep shame.]

I can show you everything I can about your father. He did many great things, and he was able to help you when you found him, in my time.

[worthinvesting]

[Talia goes from happy to hear about her success to disappointed that she can't go speak to the man now. If what he is saying is true, are they really old enough now to outlive the father she has yet to meet?

Despite herself, she asks hopefully.] He'll help me save you? [If Bane is alive that is the only thing that's matters to her.]

[gothams_reckoning]

[He nods.] He does. He comes back to the Pit with many other man. They kill all of the others, and you and I go back with them.

[She does not need to know of his eventual excommunication. Let her have one bit of good news, at least.]

[worthinvesting]

[Talia genuinely smiles. It is foolish to believe things could work out so smoothly for them. She knows that, but Talia is a child. A child raised in Hell can still hope for happy endings especially when it comes to Bane. Lucky breaks seem to be directly associated with him in her young mind. She only had a mother as long as she did thanks to his help. She only lived as long as she has thanks to him.]

That can still happen if I go with you?

[gothams_reckoning]

It can. I promise. [There is a fierce pleasure in his words, a shining vow when he continues:] You have such a magnificent destiny ahead of you, little one. Nothing can tear you from it.

[worthinvesting]

[She absorbs those words thoughtfully for a long moment before acting. Those words resonate with her enough to put away the weapon. It might not have done Talia much good if she had needed it, but it was an undeniable show off faith. She doesn't need any more convincing because it's all a little too good to be true. Talia will trust him. As further proof, she reaches out to take his hand.]

Let's go.

[sandinmyboots]

Hiya, kid.

[He likes them already. A+ murderous screename right there!]

[worthinvesting]

[They try. :> The child stares down in frustration. Seriously what is the deal with all this? Don't the strange voices realize they're going to get her killed?] Who are you?

[sandinmyboots]

I'm Kefka. Do you want some help?

[He can worldhop over and kill everyone! Surely that'll be helpful.]

[worthinvesting]

[Tempting. The child knows better than to trust anyone especially a man they doesn't know.] I'm fine.

[sandinmyboots]

Talkative, aren't we?

[worthinvesting]

I have something more important to do than talk.

[sandinmyboots]

Which is?

[worthinvesting]

I am going to find the man who can help me punish the others.

[sandinmyboots]

Where?

[worthinvesting]

I don't know yet.