010 ✞ [AUDIO] - ANONYMOUS NETWORK CAFE CONSOLE

[unetrustworthy]

[Those familiar with the 12-year-old may or may not have noticed her absence over the last several days.  Not just on the Network, but in general.]

[She'd been hiding.]

[Technically, she was still hiding, but she was no longer as terrified as she had been when she'd first found out.  It had been a shock, to say the least.  How long had it been since she'd come face to face with the pain of betrayal?  Of being lied to.  Shared conversations face to face based on false premises and empty smiles.]

[What had bothered her so much was how easy it had been to fool her.  Which was one of the reasons she was still hiding, even now.  Precaution.  Old instincts kicking in once more...especially if what her mind had been theorizing in the meantime turned out to be true.  That was why she chose to go anonymous.  Hiding her location, but not her voice.  She wanted people to recognize it was her.  Just not where she was.]

A little more than a month ago, I was attacked.  They didn't hurt me, but I was put into a coma for more than a day.  Then...while most everyone else went inside the bottle world...I was attacked again.  This time, they did try to hurt me.  They almost succeeded.  I got lucky.  Whatever creature it was, it was fast and bit me before I was able to stop it.  Then a figure appeared from the shadows and taunted me.  Tried to convince me I was a horrible person for the way I fought back.

[It was something she hadn't told many people until now.]

I think...  [She hesitated.  Not out of fear, but because this was a huge accusation she was making, and she knew it.  Especially since she had no proof other than gut instinct--something she hated relying on alone.  But it had been screaming out to her ever since Bianca's announcement, and at worst, if she was wrong, this would ease her fears once and for all.] ...I think it was Bakura.  I think he's after me.

And I want to know why.

Comments

audio;

[akito]

[ he... doesn't know anything about... anything, really. and hearing this sort of thing makes his paranoia flare right back up. but he ignores it for the time being to focus on what's more important. ]

Are you okay now? Ah.. Aside from what's going on, I mean.

[ he doesn't think that she's hurt, otherwise she would likely have postponed her message. but still. ]

I just got here recently, so I don't have any information for you.

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

Then why are you responding?

[...no, wait. That was rude. He'd started by asking about her well-being, hadn't he? Even if she had no idea who this person was. And, judging by the fact that they'd openly announced they were knew, they most likely didn't know her, either.]

I'm sorry.

[The apology came out sincere, if soft-spoken. She was stressed and upset, and sometimes, these things tended to come out in her attitude.]

I'm not hurt.

audio;

[akito]

It's okay! I guess it's kind of weird to comment if I don't have anything useful to tell you, ne? You sounded [ not scared, but... ] ...a little bit nervous.

[ understandably so, since he imagines it would be hard to accuse someone on the network like that. ]

I'm glad you're not hurt! You're really brave, to say all of that.

[ it's clear from his tone that he means it, too. ]

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

I don't like not knowing things. And I don't like being tricked.

[It was less a hypocrisy and moreso experience talking.]

audio;

[akito]

[ he hums a note of agreement. ] Not knowing the important things and being tricked both suck.

[iwannabeadragon]

[He doesn't recognize the voice but he can tell that it belongs to a child. More importantly, it sounds like she's in trouble.]

Who's Bakura?

[Because he still doesn't know the real name of his newest, best buddy. This attack sounds familiar though. Better make sure there's not another lunatic running around.]

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

[Trouble was...a relative statement at this point.]

Do you remember when that lady made a post some time back about the boy who was deceiving people?

audio;

[iwannabeadragon]

[That confirms it.]

Oh wonderful, him again. Should have known that name was fake.

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

You don't think Bakura's his real name, either?

[Honestly, it wouldn't surprise her to learn that was true.]

video; encrypted 97%

[lostundercover]

What reasons do you have to believe it's him and why do you think he's still after you?

If you need protection or a place to stay, we have a couple rooms at the Rehab Center. I have a guest room too, if that's better.

video; encrypted 97%

[unetrustworthy]

I know how to stay hidden. But...I'll remember that, if I really need help.

[She was stubborn and independent, but not stupid.]

It was a lot of things. Little things. The conversations we had. He's Damian's next door neighbor, so he would have seen me leave the room shortly before I was attacked. There was nobody else in the area at the time. Then, there's the fact that he's the only person who's recently been outed as a liar and deceived others too.

And besides that, Riva was practically terrified of him the one time they met.

video; encrypted 97%

[lostundercover]

Do.

[He's not exactly a guardian, but he's not about to leave some threatened kid without a place to go.]

The proximity makes sense. I know more liars than him, so I don't know if that counts. Anything else you can think of or remember?

Who's Riva? Is she here? Can I talk to her?

video; encrypted 97%

[unetrustworthy]

[She won't even protest the command, since it was a genuine concern.]

Riva's my baby turtle. She can't talk, but you can see her if you don't mind communicating through telepathy.

text; not anonymous, but 100% encrypted

[demon_brat]

[ Damian puts in the address of a nondescript house in Earth sector. ]

Ten o'clock tomorrow morning, if it is convenient to you.

- Damian Wayne

P.S. You are not a horrible person.

text; not anonymous, but 100% encrypted

[unetrustworthy]

[She was grateful for the text. For multiple reasons, not the least of which included him recognizing that she was avoiding his suite. Not him.]

I'll be there.

[And then, after a moment, she added:]

P.S. Not this time, no. I know that much.

text; not anonymous, but 100% encrypted -> action

[demon_brat]

[ That might be just a little more than he actually permitted himself to hope for ( everybody leaves... me ), but the audio message gave an explanation that permitted other options than that he'd done something wrong. Other than fail to protect her. ]

Thank you.

[ And he would be there, too, a little earlier than the appointed hour, to make sure the place is still acceptable and prepare tea. ]

action

[unetrustworthy]

[There was a strong possibility he wouldn't notice her enter. Not at first.]

[Her skills were slightly rusty from lack of use, but Midii had a week's time to remember how to use her small size to her advantage. Blending in with crowds. Treading lightly on her feet so that they barely made a sound. Slipping in and out of small spaces so as not to draw additional attention.]

[By the time she made it to the designated location, she didn't even need to think about it to maintain stealth. Waiting until she caught sight of him, specifically, before daring to make a sound.]

...you brought tea.

[She sounded...surprised. It seemed almost too normal a thing to do, considering.]

audio;

[watcheslanterns]

Oh... [Her voice is frightened, full of concern.]

Are you alright? I didn't know something like that had happened! Can I help at all?

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

[She wishes she could ease your worries, Rapunzel, but the truth of the matter was, she didn't know what she was at the moment.]

I'm not hurt.

[It was the closest she could come to the Truth right then.]

I wouldn't want to put you on his radar, either, if you've never met. It's safer for you that way.

audio;

[watcheslanterns]

It's Ryou, right? I mean, that's what he was calling himself anyway. If it's the same person I'm thinking of?

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

Ryou Bakura. That's him.

You've met?

Video

[fearlessherosheart]

If you require assistance, I would be willing to provide. I am a sorceress of no little skill, and I cannot say I like this individual.

{Which was Tazendra's version of 'being nice': normally, she'd assume Midii was weak enough to require her protection, but she decided it was better to ask.]

audio

[unetrustworthy]

[She wasn't wrong in her assumption.]

What did he do to you?

Re: audio

[fearlessherosheart]

Nothing myself, but I do not like people who attack strangers from the shadows.

audio

[unetrustworthy]

Neither do I.

The only people who would are those who do it, too. It's a coward's way to fight. But effective.