Apping to City of Ariel; spoilers possible in the comments

[no_ordinary_citizen]

I don't have time to be sent away from Gotham. You know that. There's work to be done here. I refuse to abandon what I've worked so long for, not for some sick little game of yours.

As for a city 'built on pleasure', I have a sinking feeling your reasons for sending me there are more than a little perverse.

I am trying to bring good to the world. You're merely indulging a sick fantasy. Send someone else, instead.

Comments

[barsad]

It's not as full of strangers as you might think.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[Some of the tension ebbs at the sight of someone she knows is loyal to her cause. Still, she isn't pleased by this.]

That's not the point. The point is that I need to remain in Gotham.

[barsad]

I didn't mean me.

[ Something very unusual is up, he tells her, with the subtle emphasis of his tone. ]

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[Now that's peculiar. She frowns slightly, parsing her words before she replies:]

Friends of mine, do you mean?

[Bane? Other League members? That wouldn't be so terrible. Though she imagines not, given Barsad's tone.]

[barsad]

A man with his eyes.

It's -- uncanny.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

But not him.

[There's some disappointment in that. If she were going to this odd place, it would be reassuring to have her protector at her side.]

Who is he?

[barsad]

I don't know. His name is Eames. [ Doesn't know a damn thing about the man's heart, which is really who someone is. ] But it's not him. It shouldn't matter.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

And yet you mention him nonetheless.

[She is undecided on how to feel about a man who wears Bane's face, or at least his eyes. But Barsad is right, it should not matter. The name 'Eames' means nothing to her.]

[barsad]

He took me by surprise.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

And what did you do?

[barsad]

I told him nothing.

The only man who's come close to guessing what I am thought I was a mercenary. [ True, but also so far from the truth. ] He'll be a useful ally, as far as he can be used. His name's Sherlock Holmes. And he craves a guiding hand.

[wing_of_night]

Y'know, I never thought I'd say it, but you're more twisted than my world's version of you, Talia... and yet I kind of agree with you.

...Then again, in my world, Ra's is alive, and Bane is on our side. ..More or less.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

I am not twisted. Merely seeing things to their rightful conclusion.

[Her expression sours:] Bane would never.

[wing_of_night]

See, there's the thing. Your idea of 'rightful' is kill anyone who doesn't agree with you. My idea? Keeping whack-jobs like you from slaughtering the relatively innocent.

[His sharpens.] Your Bane? Nah. Too fanatical. My Bane? He would, and has. Heck, he's even adopted a fellow mercenary as a pseudo daughter. The Bane I know is too much of an intellectual. He thinks for himself. Yeah, he's no saint, but he's reformed, more or less. Hell, he even worked with Batman for a short period of time, and even took a bullet for him.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

Not anyone who disagrees. Anyone who deserves to be destroyed. Whose disappearance would ease the world's existence.

That man is not Bane. He sounds nothing like him.

[wing_of_night]

According to the League of Shadows, it's a pretty broad definition of 'easing the world's existence.' There was a time when Ra's tried hooking me up with my world's version of you, so trust me, I know more about the League of Shadows than I really want to know.

What, the thinking for himself part? I'll give you that. But the rest is pretty close at least. Born in the single worst prison in the world to serve a life sentence assigned to his father, not only survived but flourished in said prison, and then used his exceptional talent, strength, and cunning to fight his way to freedom? Sounds kind of familiar. Except, oh, that's right, your Bane just kind of sat in prison and was ready to rot there for the rest of his life.

[As much bad blood as there is between him and Bane, for the whole 'breaking the Bat' thing, Dick is trying REALLY hard to find the good in Bane.]

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[There is so much wrong with that first paragraph that she doesn't even want to consider it. And the second one. And everything he just said.

Her tone is disgusted when she speaks. The words about the League bother her less than his description of Bane:]

Easy words, for one who has never been in the Pit. Easy and mistaken and rash.

[wing_of_night]

[Hey, that first part was just as awkward for him. Especially considering how Bruce went on to father Damian.]

Don't pull that bull with me Talia. Yeah, it sucked for you. I get that. But that doesn't give anyone the right to take another's life. Y'know, it's scary just how close I was to really sympathizing with your cause. My parents were killed because their boss refused to pay protection money to one of Gotham's crime families.

I was so close to becoming a hate-filled, self-pitying, mindless drone like your minions. But that's when Batman found me, took me in, showed me there was still good in Gotham and the world worth protecting.

Are there people I think deserve to die? Definitely. Joker chief among them. But that's not my job. My job is to keep the common people safe, and keep people like us from growing up without parents.

[He shakes his head slightly.] What it boils down to, is that you're throwing a world-class temper tantrum. Nothing more.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

I find it interesting that you think to criticize, when your way to handle grief is to dress up in spandex outfits and capes.

[wing_of_night]

And there you go deflecting the issue when I get too close to the truth.

[Still, some of the venom drains from his face.]

What can I say? The ladies love this sort of outfit.

[occupygotham]

These mundanes are so dependent on their flights of fancy. No matter, little can stop the fire's rise.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[There's relief in her face at the sight of her protector.]

I know that it won't. You are more than capable of setting Gotham ablaze.

But I should be there for it, not sent away on some odd whim.

[occupygotham]

[ knowing that she is not under her Miranda Tate persona leads Bane to speak more candidly ]

Of course.

[ his tone becomes extremely disappointed, maybe somewhat guilty ]

As it stands, Gotham's fires will have to smolder. You are regrettably not the only one sent away on a whim.

Still. A delay will not stop what is already in motion.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[That worries her. She wears a look of concern and asks:]

You were sent away? Where?

[occupygotham]

[ a chuckle ]

They're calling it the afterlife. A strange, if somewhat naive, sentiment.

Don't worry, Talia. My circumstances will not hamper our work indefinitely.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

I hope that doesn't mean you are meant to be dead there.

[Though he seems to be fine, the thought is unnerving.]

I know. Whatever happens, we will prevail over it. But they are nuisances all the same.

[occupygotham]

[ that makes him pause. He had assumed the events of their lives (and their ends) to be common knowledge in this place. but. it seemed it was not the case with Talia. As always, Bane plays the role of protector with ease ]

It's a place between the living, dead, and dreaming from my understanding. It is entirely possible for one to coexist with the other. [dryly ] Truly eliminating limits on the imagination was a first priority.

Nuisances can be overcome. As I am sure you will discover easily for yourself.
[ a pause. He does not know much about this place, but what he does know unsettles him ]

Will you be safe there?

[no_ordinary_citizen]

I think so. It is in an irritating place, but not very dangerous. And Barsad will be there.

[occupygotham]

[ he nods. Barsad would lay down his life for her if need be ]

It is...reassuring that at least part of the League will accompany you if I can not.

[thehandofjustice]

[Under better conditions, Ra's would be more pleased to see his daughter. As it were, the subject of Talia's discussion with her mun brings a look of anger that he doesn't even bother veiling.]

And who do they think they're trifling with, this mun of yours?

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[In a way, she's glad to see him, after what happened. After Bruce Wayne killed him and nearly destroyed the League.

On the other hand, there's still unresolved anger about exiling Bane. She never did forgive him for that.

Still, he's angry on her behalf, and she's glad someone agrees with her.]

She knows all too well who she is dealing with. But that's of little concern to her. She thinks she can do what she wishes without consequence.

[broke_the_bat]

It would seem that most mundanes share these... sick fantasies. It is nothing new, so I suggest you get used to it.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

[There's a confused look, because he is Bane...and not Bane, at the same time. Her conversation with Nightwing seems more prescient now.]

Getting used to it does not mean I like it. Or that it isn't a massive delay.

[broke_the_bat]

[Bane makes no indication as to his opinion on the matter. He has issues with his counterpart, but that's not the issue.]

I never said you should like it. However, voicing your discontent only shows your hand and you forfeit the element of surprise, making any kind of escape from your mun all the less likely.

[no_ordinary_citizen]

She is a mundane. Unfortunately, she knows all too well what goes through my thoughts even without my voicing them.

And I do wonder if anyone has ever escaped a mundane. Many are forgotten by them, but I don't imagine that is quite the same.