004 - Near - [Accidental Video (broadcasted on May 31 at 23:00)] - Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall ...
[Have a nice view of the ceiling for about five seconds before the camera violently rotates as something knocks the blackberry off balance. At the same time, Near's face flashes across the screen for less than a quarter of a second. His eyes are closed even as he is sailing offscreen. The boy lands first with a single, abrupt "OOF!" followed by the
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Welcome to Near's room L. It is basically scattered with all sorts of random toys, some appear store-bought while others are clearly handmade. In the absence of new toys, Near has resorted to making his own. His room has basically started to turn into something of a Santa's workshop, complete with twenty-something handmade tops, a 2 x 2 meter jigsaw puzzle (propped against the side wall so as not to take up too much space), and several origami critters along with stacks of yet-to-be-corrupted sheets of paper.]
Welcome, L.
[Strange indeed, to be calling someone L without the mockery and derision he was so used to when addressing Kira by the same title back home. Stranger even more to actually be in the same room as him, seeing him in person, confirming that the rumors of his appearance had been, for the most part, true.
Respectful of the man? Certainly. Intimidated? Perhaps. Resentful? Well, he had lost, and yet here he is. L had been the loser, and Near would be the winner, and yet still the latter is unlikely to ever surpass the former. Yes, there certainly was bitterness, but that did not eclipse the what admiration Near, who's mantra has basically evolved into "What would L do?", had for his mentor.
In the murky swirl of conflicting feelings [Yes, Near has feelings too, sort of.], the positives and negatives cancel out, so Near defaults to his usual, emotionless way. There were matters he needed to discuss now after all.
It's time to put that murder notebook to good use.]
How much do you know of the notebook? Don't worry. This area should be secure, and we need not worry about intruders so long as we keep an eye on the mirrors.
[Oh, by the way, Near also made a separate mirror system, modeled after Hiiro's version, that lets you see into the vents as well. Paranoid freak is hecka paranoid.]
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It's my pleasure.
[[He's saying it all while looking around at the island of misfit toys laying around Near's room. He needs to tidy it is what. Needs a toy box or ....twelve.
The older man isn't against the down to the point method, his eyes sliding back to the vents, then from the vents to the doorway. Mirrors. Had his successor always been so paranoid? Then again, they were safer at the orphanage. He stares down at some of the toys here or there and decides for a floor-side view. Not too close, not too far from some of the strewn toys. He knows and assumes Near still likes to occupy his mind with distraction to concentrate. It's genius really.
He pulls his knees up toward his chest, practised as always and crouches at first before finding purchase against a wall in order to relieve his feet/ankles from all the weight of his position.. ...He's eyeing his shoes too, one foot at a time he slips them off and sets them to a respective side, only looking up when Near's voice moves into the talk of Death Note.]]
I know quite a few things, Near.
[[Not going to mention the vents or the mirrors, or keeping an eye on them. That's more than obvious as to what their methodology pertains to.]]
Mmn. When someone mentions the book, I'd rather they not- how to say this clearly- Beat around the bush. Come out with it, Near, a sudden mentioning of The Notebook seems ominous enough.
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[There's just a slight hint of defensiveness in his tone.
Near takes a seat on the ground and starts poking at a paper frog, making it hop. As usual, he does not look up as he speaks, allowing his hair to hang over his face, this time hiding a pout, as if he was a little kid who had just gotten scolded by his parents for staying out past curfew.]
Knowing the extent of information you've acquired with regards to the weapon gives me an idea as to how much I myself should share. As a safety precaution, I need to make sure that we are both fully aware of the entirety of its powers before proceeding further.
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There's no reason that he can see why Near can't be out with what he wants to say to him. Address the problems first, then worry about their causes.]]
Do you see me as inferior, Near? [[It's not an angry question or directed with any ire, nothing except a simple honest to God question.]] You're giving me the feeling you do.
[[He goes on right away strictly after that, not really giving Near any time to answer too directly, he details what he found, and that they should have been in notes that he left as his last standing record of the Kira case before he died.]]
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Inferior? Why would L think so? Near certainly is aware of the fact that he comes off as arrogant to most, if not everyone he meets, except for the truly moronic, but to see L just as affected was ... unexpected, to say the least. If this was a test, it was certainly administered at a strange time considering the current topic of discussion. But this was L, and try as he might to fit into his predecessor's shoes, or lack of, he knows and accepts that he can never truly become L, never completely understand his thought process. That's one reason for adulation, and another for frustration.
Before he had a chance to respond, L had already continued speaking. Now that they have returned to discussing the Death Note, Near also readjusts his thoughts back to the original goals.]
(ooc: And here's the part where I assume things. Lemme know if I'm wrong!)
Yes, the thirteen day rule is definitely fake. It's highly likely that the last one is as well. It's unfortunate that the notes on the case had been destroyed, but luckily, Mello and I were able to piece back together the information you had once secured. We were able to pick up from where you left off, which helped greatly.
[Of course they never directly worked together, but Near will give Mello credit where credit is due.]
I am glad to hear that you are also aware of the existence of multiple notebooks. The one that the task force obtained had false rules meant to mislead the team. The one that Kira has been using [Near reaches into his pajama shirt and pulls out Mikami's Death Note (and now we know why he wears such large pajamas :D).] is this one.
[He sets it on the ground in case L would like to confirm it for himself.]
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Near, he knows, is a different, unique entity unto himself. He's not as cold and callus as outward features would perceive, none of them were. Just calculated if and when the time comes that someone has to use a subjective word to the personality type. Mello the least. Though he can tell by the way he includes Mello that it wouldn't have been if it weren't true. He, highly, doubts that it was in the same room, same desk, same ...general area- but it was a start.
Maybe they have worked together as he had given thought time and time again. Multi-tasking is easy for L, but he saw the results in the form of a suicide and a homicidal maniac when he places it onto any one person as 'just as easy'.
His finger pulled back until his lip fell back into place and he clutches the rounds of his kneecaps, his head leaning against both gathered caps by the pull of his hands. As if they weren't talking about an otherworldly book, he shifts his attention back properly. He's not sure that he even wants to see the damned thing and even less that Near's been hiding it this whole time. The surprise only registers for a moment and then he's moving over, closer. His knees drop slowly first to aid his crawl of what should have been just one or two regular footsteps, his hand supports the re-crouching while he's leaning forward to pinch the book between fingers. His eyes are wide and he slowly moves them over the book itself.
From the notebook, he moves his eyes slowly toward Near.]]
Does anyone else know you have this?
[[At that point L stands up, slouched or not to thumb the first few pages; it's a Death Note alright, so many new names. His brows (or lack thereof). He flips through the pages, he's looking for dates near the back of course. He's interested to see which of these damned items holds his and Watari's names, but at the same time he doesn't want to.]]
The 'how' of your acquiring it would be my next question.
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[Near answers without hesitation.]
An associate of mine snuck into Kira's safe when he wasn't looking.
[He might have skipped a few details there, but details weren't important. The end result, that's what's important.]
This Kira was not Yagami. Neither was he Amane. However, you weren't wrong.
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He raises his eyebrow underneath the darkness of his hair. Near must have planned long and hard to pull off something like this and he's rather impressed even if it doesn't show on his face.
Except, he won't let it go un-noticed at all- at least, he wouldn't have if Near didn't just confirm to him something very interesting. With all the things that he could be asking, all the things that he wants to be asking, the only thing that comes out of his mouth while his mind blanks on what his last memory SHOULD be is:]]
Oh?
[[Do go on.]]
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To he best of my knowledge, then, there were four Kiras total, not including Higuchi. [Near reluctantly includes Takada, though he does not believe she deserves the credit.] Your suspicions regarding the first two had been correct, in particular regarding Light Yagami, the original.
He hid his tracks by allowing others to kill for him awhile he played innocent. [Near's voice is full of condescension when talking about Yagami.] The notebook I'm holding now belonged to the one called Teru Mikami, also residing here.
[He sets the notebook down in front of him.]
The Author allowed me to bring my copy. I would not put it past her to give Yagami or Mikami the same privilege. As far as I know, neither of them have made any moves here and it's unlikely that they will or that the notebook is even functional, but we can't take our chances.
If put under pressure with no options left, Kira can always manipulate someone else into using the notebook for him. He can also use accidental deaths to hide his tracks. That's why I believe it's best to take preventative measures.
[DRAMATIC PAUSE.]
I plan to make public at the Manor the notebook's existence, but not of its functionality. No one would know about the purpose of the weapon who didn't already know, and the latter would only be that much more discouraged to use it in the future.
[What Near won't admit, however, is how agonizingly long it had took him the countless times to repeat "What would L do?" in order to finally bring himself to make this move.]
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Again he listens to the very real threat that Near is relaying and his thumb pushes at he edge of his lip while he ponders Light's old room. Even though his mind is in two directions he's still giving Near's plan the once over, his eyes belying calm while his mind finds itself impressed by Near's motivation in this.
By the plan itself is ingenious.]]
How do you plan on getting them to admit?
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