01.

[likestoys]

[Having arrived, explored the city a bit, and decided that no, it is nothing like his home, Near is now working on figuring out the way the second level works. His current opinion places it as akin to a computer system that he can access with his mind - a strange concept, but not entirely out of the question, either. He can currently be found

Comments

[final_letter]

[Matt's been looking for a way to talk to Near privately since he saw him in the church.]

Far as I can tell, it's impossible. No airport, no buses out, no info on anything like that.

But. How are you even here, man? What year is it for you?

[likestoys]

... [Okay, he'll play along] 2011. As far as my arrival ... Well, I have yet to understand that, myself.

[final_letter]

2011? It's 2010 for me. And- I'm sorry, but I'm pretty damn sure you're dead.

[likestoys]

To the best of my knowledge, I've never died - but at last count, the same was true for you.

[final_letter]

I'm not dead. So. What the fuck? This must be one of those crazy-ass timeline things that one guy was babbling about.

[likestoys]

[Ping'd by information gathering] A timeline ... thing? How did he describe it?

[final_letter]

He was kind of a conspiracy nut, it seemed like, but I got the impression he'd talked to people who came from, like, parallel worlds. He'd never heard of Kira, but he was from too early.

[likestoys]

Parallel worlds ... Hm.

[This, of course, goes against every fiber of logic in Near's being, but if he could accept shinigami, then he may as well accept this too]

I suppose that could be one explanation ...

[final_letter]

Obviously the places we come from are similar enough that we know each other, but different enough that- well. [He doesn't want to belabor the "you're dead" thing.]

What I'm wondering is: where did they, like, turn different? What did you do after L- After Roger told us about L?

[likestoys]

[Clarification to make sure he's getting the message] After Roger told us what, exactly, about L?

[final_letter]

That he died.

[likestoys]

...

[Taking a moment, reconciling your statement with his own memories of this event]

I don't recall your presence when Roger informed Mello and I of L's death.

[final_letter]

...Wait, who?

[Utterly confused.]

December 2004, Roger called us into his office. That was different for you?

[likestoys]

Evidently. Mello was with me - [COVERT GLANCE AROUND, old habits die hard] - Mihael Keehl. You don't remember him?

[final_letter]

No. I've never heard that name before.

It was the two of us, for me. They only wanted to tell the top two students.

[likestoys]

... There was no Mello in your world. In my world, Mello and I were the top two students. You were - [Stopping there, since he's not actually really sure how to describe Matt's role]