[open] Fourth Wall 1

[theearth]

Who: EVERYONE including visitors
What: This is the first general post for the fourth wall. This post is for network posts/conversations, logs and every other possible interaction, and visitors can top-level.
When: 2nd of January
Where: Everywhere inside the five echo boundaries.
Warnings: Please warn in the subject line of your threads if anything comes up!

Fourth Wall OOC information! As a reminder: Visitors may tag all posts tagged "-fourth wall" that are posted on savetheearth.

Special things happening today: A sudden surge in Vermini and Vermedi activity! Some of them are aggressive towards the numbered and will attack, but some seem rather interested in herding or baiting people with numbers towards other people with numbers... They clearly want as many numbered as possible to be together or at least not be alone today.

Comments

[misa_amane]

[Misa tilts her head, confused both by the mysterious memory and L's words.]

Numbered? No, no, I'm not one of you. I just...

[She shakes her head, as if trying to clear it.]

I don't remember when it happened, but an L showed up on TV once, and this weird voice talked about justice. Was that really you?

[dead_black_eyes]

[His dark eyes go wide at what she's said.]

Not me, no. But I know what you're talking about, because I got that back, too. It has to do with my Other; the guy I'm getting all of these new pieces of myself from. We... might have something in common, more than most Numbered have.

[misa_amane]

[While uncertain how to feel about having something in common with this strange, lanky man, Misa decides to see if Lazarus thinking so will make him divulge information more easily.]

Like what? What exactly is an 'other'?

[dead_black_eyes]

Just now, you remembered something, right? But it never actually happened to you. Your "Other" is the person who did experience it, somewhere and at some time. It happens that your memory is mine, too; our Others saw the same thing, ergo... they're probably from the same place. If we talked more we could probably find out a lot more about them.

[misa_amane]

Then it's like our past-selves knew each other...? So let's talk more!! What sorts of things should we say to get more memories?

[dead_black_eyes]

I haven't really been in a situation like this before. So... I'm really not sure. We could start with some "normal" things and then work from there, perhaps.

Where did you grow up, and what brought you to Locke City?

[misa_amane]

Really, I'm the first?? That's even more exciting! Okay, let's see, I was born in Kyoto and that's where I grew up. I lived in Tokyo while I was at Toyo University, but then I switched and wound up back in Kyoto! I came here because of all the crazy things that have been in the news lately, I want to learn more about what's going on.

[dead_black_eyes]

Sort of. There was someone else a long time ago, but... I'm not sure if he counts.

[He listens as she relates her condensed history.]

Well, if you want to learn about what's going on... there's no better place to be than Locke, and there's no better way to be than Numbered. How long is your projected stay? I'll warn you that what you've "gotten back" only remains fully with you as long as you remain fully in the boundaries of a part of the world this is occurring in.

[misa_amane]

What? No fair! I have a job, but this seems important... maybe I can try to stay longer.

[She pouts at the thought of having to choose between exploring this further and quitting. But that just means that for now she should try to get all the information she can.]

What about you, maybe-L? What's your story?

[dead_black_eyes]

If you need someplace to stay, we can work something out. I have a couple of buildings available for Numbered to stay in rent-free, the only thing I ask is that you keep your space relatively tidy and aren't too loud.

[He pauses, seeming unsure of how much to tell her about who he is.]

My name is Lazarus Lawliet. I was born here in Locke City. I got my bachelor's in Criminal Justice at Locke City University but dropped out a semester shy of earning my Master's. Now, I run a coffee shop, and do some... just general outreach stuff. I try to help people who are like us have a better life.

[misa_amane]

Aw, that's sweet! You really are a good person, saving me and now this.

[It makes her a little less suspicious of the rent-free offer. Knowing that he's so interested in justice doesn't hurt either.]

Did you want to be a policeman?

[dead_black_eyes]

I don't know about that... it needs to be done, you know?

[Some of his crisp demeanor turns bashful at her compliment. He ducks his head, tugging at the hairs on the back of his neck.]

...actually, I did. It didn't really work out, but... that's life sometimes.

[misa_amane]

But it's only good people who want to do what needs to be done, to keep people safe! Even if you're not a policeman, you're still doing that.

[Misa beams, leaning in as if to whisper a secret.]

Since you told me, I guess I can tell you... but don't let anyone else know, okay? It's embarrassing... I usually just say that I transferred schools, but really I dropped out for a while. It wound up being for the best, though! I studied really hard and got into a better one later! So you'll probably find something better too.

[dead_black_eyes]

Yeah, I'm definitely seeing the advantage now of not being connected to law enforcement. It provides a lot of freedom to do the right thing, which... unfortunately, police officers don't always have.

[It's a nice ego boost, to have a pretty girl telling him that he's good. In a way, that's all he's ever wanted, that acknowledgment that finally he's doing something right.]

Who else would I tell? Besides, it's not embarrassing. Things happen, it just means that school wasn't a good fit.

[He pauses. For him, it had pretty much meant a volcanic nervous breakdown.]

Is that what it meant?

[misa_amane]

Yeah! I'm sure something better will come along for you.

[She sighs, leaning back.]

The police are okay, but the justice system stinks. Maybe it's different here, but back in Japan it's really awful. You can definitely do more good on your own.

[dead_black_eyes]

You're a really kind person. Thank you for saying that.

[He sounds genuinely grateful for the sentiment, even if he's not thrilled to dwell on the failure that literally almost killed him. A lot's changed in the last year, and he's made his peace with things he thought he never would.]

The justice system is really flawed here, too. You're not wrong. Sometimes the law actually gets in the way of what's right, even if what's right is obvious and staring everyone in the faces with no room for ambiguity.

[misa_amane]

I'm just saying the truth!

[But it makes her smile anyway. Flattery will get you everywhere.]

Definitely! Even if someone's totally guilty, stupid lawyers are too worried about their reputation to prosecute unless they have a confession on a silver platter! I'm surprised anyone stays in jail at all.

[dead_black_eyes]

[Flattery has a way of softening people, some more than others. Admittedly, the bristly and often misunderstood Lazarus isn't the subject of it very frequently.]

The truth isn't easy for a lot of people to hear. I know that the Numbered have been under a lot of heat for "vigilantism," and maybe I've contributed to some of that. Regardless, I can assure you that my intentions have always been pure. I protect the people who rely on me, and there isn't much I'm not willing to do to achieve that end.

[misa_amane]

That doesn't sound bad to me. Maybe something like that could be corrupted, but if it's good people just trying to protect each other then... someone has to, right?