002. [video]

[rodeforthefall]

[The video feed flickers on. Ikutsuki's sitting at what appears to be his kitchen table, left sleeve of his turtleneck rolled up to display some mild scrapes; it looks as though somebody's had a bit of a tumble!]

It's still absolute chaos out there, even during the daytime. [He shakes his head.] Why, just coming home from work ... well, it wasn't

Comments

voice;

[fireintwilight]

Collectively, I'd say the "newcomers" have enough power to take it for ourselves, if we wanted to. Maybe that's why they're so afraid of us.

voice;

[rodeforthefall]

I can't say I have much faith in the newcomers' collective ability to unite for a common goal -- even if we were able to retrieve it by force, I doubt we would be able to come to an agreement on what to do with it.

voice;

[fireintwilight]

At least it would be ours. Besides, you don't think most of us would want to use it to go home? [Wherever home happens to be--he doesn't even have one.]

voice;

[rodeforthefall]

If there's a home to return to. Even so, if even only a handful dissent, if powerful enough, they could cause enough problems for everyone else.

[voice]

[implausibility]

Probably...into hiding? Or something like that. Outta sight, outta mind, that kinda thing.

[voice]

[rodeforthefall]

Yes, but to where? They're hardly like normal animals, which have to seek shelter to escape -- these monsters, well, what they do is more similar to simply disappearing!

[implausibility]

Huh! Beats me - can't find a hair of evidence during the day, past the damage they leave. Maybe they run off somewhere completely unexpected, like a portal into another world, or...or through a closet into a magical kingdom, or into a television screen into your late-night programming!

[rodeforthefall]

[Into a television screen, really. He almost scoffs. ... Except, not.]

Yes, but is it the Core that causes the monsters' disappearances, or is it the natures of the creatures themselves?

[madeinoblivion]

Don't worry. Most places close down with plenty of time to give people commute space. Because of...um....lawsuits or something, and unions, I've heard.

Unless you work off the books, like some of us newcomers do

Anyway. I know some things about the darkness, and the monsters. What do you want to know about?

[rodeforthefall]

Well, I just thought that in a population where a majority of the population have special powers, it would be assumed that they have a way of managing traveling through the Darkness -- but I suppose not even the natives want to have to deal with it when it's truly unnecessary; that, or some people will initiate a lawsuit for almost anything!

Actually, for now -- I'm most interested in where they disappear to during the daytime hours, and what is it, specifically, that enables them to stay there.

[madeinoblivion]

Well- Well sure. I mean. I'm out there almost every night, at some point. But some people are afraid of the darkness. Or have powers that aren't useful for fighting monsters.

The Core, everyone says. I think in the day they just- Well it's not just the monsters, either! Everything changes outside at night. It's like the city's dead. And the water's rusty, everywhere but downtown.

[rodeforthefall]

I have observed what happens to the water, and honestly, I find that rather intriguing as well. What is it, exactly, that causes the degradation of the outside world during nightfall, and how is it so easily reversed by morning?

[cadaverdaddy]

I would be more than interested in investigating such things~ I'm hoping to collect moooore samples soon, perhaps even 'living' ones~

Of coooourse, if you're interested~

[rodeforthefall]

I was rather hoping for the opportunity to observe them in their natural environment.

[voice];

[cadaverdaddy]

What fun is thaaaat~~? Tiiihihihihi~

You do realize that in their natural environment, they would murder you, yes? Though, that could be an interesting sight as well~

[voice];

[rodeforthefall]

I wasn't planning on going alone.

[voice;]

[weaktobullets]

I've just been trying to avoid the damn thing. People're getting way too upset 'bout it, considering we don't know how the thing even works.

[A pause as he considers the question of the monsters.] No clue. Same place the Shadows back home went, I figure. Wherever the hell that is. Might just be another time we ain't able to access.

[voice;]

[rodeforthefall]

[Some silent, thoughtful moments.]

How many people here know about the Shadows, Shinjiro?

[voice;]

[weaktobullets]

[Man, that question requires thinking.] Us, Hanamura, and Edgeworth, I think. There may've been another kid from Inaba, but I don't remember his name.

Some kid knew About something else called Shadows, but they definitely ain't the same thing.

[voice;]

[rodeforthefall]

[Well, they haven't spoken, but he's seen that Edgeworth fellow around; he seems to be the upstanding, responsible sort.]

Then what were the Shadows that this kid referred to?