02 [voice]

[jamordeath]

In sharp contrast to the general attitude of the natives, it astounds me how generous most of the like-minded "outsiders" have been. I have barely spent seventy-two hours in this city and already I have been given the necessary funds to provide me with food, clothing, and the commodities needed to survive within these slum apartments until my

Comments

Video // Private

[killswithapen]

It would be a pleasure to work with you. I'll send along the papers and get you a date to perform the test -- there are a few laws here that are different to what I've seen before, so you'll need to look over the legislation, but if there are specific books you want for the library I can fetch them for you, or have my companion deliver them.

voice // Private

[jamordeath]

That would work well to my advantage. See if you can dig up any documents pertaining to the town's history; newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, local history, anything that would give me an idea of what the city was founded upon. I wish to be well informed of the culture here in addition to the laws.

I would also appreciate it if you could send me over whatever case file you're currently in the process of compiling for Kira. I've been looking through this network's archived posts; his public entries have been nothing short of intriguing. A criminal profiler would have a field day with him, I'm sure.

voice // Private

[killswithapen]

I will send you the file I compiled for Near and Mello, though it has not been updated to include my own investigation beside L. It may be best if I fill in the rest with you in person.

And I would be very interested to hear what you've learned about him from those posts, certainly.

As for the town, I'll see what I can find. It's a little outside my field of study, but it seems like an interesting direction to investigate from.

voice // Private

[jamordeath]

That would be perfectly acceptable. I've spoken to Mello very briefly on the merits of good chocolate, but I'm not sure I'm familiar with Near. Friends of yours?

I'm no psychologist, but I should think it's easy to recognize a messiah complex when you see one. It goes hand in hand with the grandiose sense of self-worth, the impersonal way of which he refers to the criminals he's murdered as if they were pawns on a chessboard -- all common traits of a cunning sociopath. Of course you would have to be to pull off such crimes.

It's mainly for my reference, really. I find it more stimulating to focus on multiple puzzles lest the current one become stale, and the mystery of the town is one I'm very much itching to solve.

[video]

[heartdissonance]

You're quite eager, mellow as your tone might be, aren't you?

voice

[jamordeath]

Eager? I suppose. You could compare it to a particularly colorful jigsaw puzzle -- alluring with its vivid imagery, but completely jarring. It would be nothing short of a fabulous game to rearrange the pieces and see the bigger picture.

video

[heartdissonance]

I didn't come here seeking prose.

voice

[jamordeath]

I've been told that I don't match the expectations of others very easily. But if you wanted a more concise response, then yes -- I am very, very eager to get down to business.

[Audio]

[snakeinpants]

People fear what they do not understand. Hatred springs forth from that fear, and leads to violence. It is only natural the natives would feel this way about those that are foreign to this place.

[Audio]

[jamordeath]

Yes, exactly! Some classify wolves as inherently dangerous creatures, but no beast is as inherently mistrustful, paranoid or destructive as man is. We have intruded upon their home; retaliation is only reasonable.

[Audio]

[snakeinpants]

It has been proven time and time again. This is no different.

[text // private // difficult to hack]

[neargenius]

If you have investigated at any length, you will find that there is a certain level of corruption to the police force here. It is interesting that someone who adheres to justice would choose to align with such a force. Do you hope to inspire some change?

[text // private // difficult to hack]

[jamordeath]

I am not that arrogant. Are you familiar with the phrase "He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster"?

[text // private // difficult to hack]

[neargenius]

And yet, while dwelling so closely among monsters, it can be difficult for one to remain separate.

How do you define a "monster"?

[text // private // difficult to hack]

[jamordeath]

Just as well, the best intentions can become warped. I do not intend to fight crime from within, nor do I want to resort to the same ill practices your officers exercise to apprehend a criminal. I have always worked for justice and myself, in that order.

It's a relative term, isn't it? Everyone has their own definition. My own is a simple one -- anyone who resorts to brutal, selfish instinct--self-preservation over selflessness--is a monster. I suppose you could make a fine argument that Man itself is a breed of monsters.

video

[torporheart]

[Small boy. Quiet voice.]

People shouldn't die needlessly. If I lived here - or anywhere, that this could happen [people suddenly being pulled in, he means, of course] - I would think it was really strange.

[Tiny pause.] Ah, I guess, that's not really different from the way it is now. It's strange to abruptly appear here. Umm, but it would be stupid to be angry at people. It's not as though they can help it very much, can they?

There isn't any excuse. [Mostly, anyway.]

voice

[jamordeath]

There isn't. I honestly do not know who would willingly put themselves up to something like this; the transition from warping from one reality to the next is...uncomfortable. I'm sure if I were to do it a second time, I would find it exhilarating, but only because of how utterly fascinating it has become to me.

But I did not ask for it, nor has anyone else. It would be foolish to fault someone for circumstances that were entirely out of their control, but the residents here do not see that. They see invaders, foreign entities in their home in the way you or I might view an ant's nest. We are different from them, out of their control.

I do not blame them for reacting to our presence with hostility because that is human behavior, but violence does not correct violence.

video

[torporheart]

If they would listen to children, I might tell them to go somewhere quiet and close their eyes for a little while.

It's- Even if they're scared, they could provoke things into becoming a lot worse.

voice

[jamordeath]

You remind me that I would very much enjoy a nap right now too. If only all adults were as open to simple leisures.

How worse do you see things getting?