soul_campaign | 002 (feb. 3) / video.

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002 (feb. 3) / video.

[qilby looks no more old or haggard than usual, which is a little weird considering the events of the past few days. if anything, he looks... energetic. tired about the eyes -- like he hasn't slept -- but he's got a bright, attentive look in them.

the possible reason for both his lack of sleep and strange vigilance is readily apparent. the table he's recording from is covered in papers -- any paper he could get his hand on -- and the papers are covered in messy, foreign letters and drawings. the one he's writing on now is visible from the camera...]

Before I forget -- and yesterday's a day I'd certainly like to forget -- I feel I owe some individuals my gratitude for their assistance. [a pointed look. white-haired broody guy, demona, natsu, hades... you know who you are.] It's thanks only to them and the rest of the city's defenders that neither I nor many others ended up a statistic in the Death City Times.

[now that that's over with, qilby taps his pencil idly on the paper before him.] I need to know something, though. Do we know what a soul is? I mean, I've read as much as I can on the subject, but... [his ever-present smile falters, for once.] Forgive me for the morbidity, but if ours are destroyed, what happens to us? I'd heard of guests who've died in this world only to return later with no memories of what happened. And I've heard of guests who've been sent back to their world, souls intact, to show up again recalling everything they'd previously experienced.

As far as us other-worlders are concerned, it seems like our souls in particular are... Almost a repository for all our accumulated knowledge and power gained since coming here. But the same can't be said of people originally from this world, it seems.

[a pause, a pained look.] I saw... Many humans have their souls removed, yesterday. I don't suppose there's the possibility of a return for them -- not like we've the privilege of having.

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I'm not sure that is has happened to the guests here before. I mean, from what I understand, people brought in by BREW have died here. But I'm not entirely certain their souls were taken -- or consumed I should say.

Of course, I could be wrong. I am relatively new to this world.

Aah-- I'd merely assumed that most guest deaths were related to kishin attacks. And further assumed that that would have resulted in the... Consumption of their souls.

But considering I'm relatively new as well, perhaps I'm not in a position to be making assumptions of any kind. [a pleasant, if somewhat-abashed smile.] I'm Qilby. I don't think we've met, young man.

They very well could have been. It hasn't been documented through the network, at least.

[ And he's gone and stalked quite a bit of information off the network already! Including your post here, Qilby! ]

But close to my arrival -- or should I say our arrival as you must have arrived at the same time -- there was a death. The body was in tact for the funeral, which means the soul must have been safely contained. I don't know what becomes of them when one passes on in this world, but I believe the bodies would disappear were the soul taken.

Ah -- and no. We haven't met. My name is Light Asahi. It's nice to meet you, Qilby.

[his eyes widen slightly at that.]

Is that so? I... Had no idea. [smile gone. frown, now.] The things I complained about seem so petty in comparison now, knowing those were the circumstances I came into.

[and he does manage to look very sorry over the death of a complete stranger...] Well. In any case, that's an interesting point about the bodies left behind. Unless the soul disseminates along with the corporeal form following a "natural" death, then I suppose it stands to reason that it'd be something in the act of soul severance that causes the body to disappear so quickly. Some separation of primal energies... A shock to the system, if you will. As if here, all that's holding us together is our souls.

[a beat. he clears his throat, not a little embarrassed.] And-- er-- it's nice to meet you, Light. I'm sorry, I have a hard time stopping once I get going.

Haha it's not a problem. I don't mind listening. [ All the better to figure you out, old man. ]

The thought of us only being held together by our souls isn't a very comforting one, however, I don't believe you should feel guilt over the death of this individual. I hope this doesn't make me seem heartless, but I don't believe there is any real permanence with death in this world.

Something I've noticed, and something I've even experienced myself, is people can live their existence out in this world, return home, and come back without memories from their previous stay. There have also been a few cases of individuals coming in from different points in time -- someone from a future for one person that does not yet exist for another. However, no one even noticed the individual's absence at the time BREW supposedly brought them to this world. Additionally, some who are deceased back in their home worlds have been granted a new life in this one.

It's just a theory, but I believe death is inconsequential in this world and the worst that will happen is we will return to our homes and continue our lives without knowledge from this one. After all, if something happened to us here and we never made it back, wouldn't someone from our own future be able to tell us this? And if by chance we happen to return here by some fluke or mistake, the biggest consequence will be the forfeit of our memories as well. Does this make sense to you?

[ In essence, it's equivalent to giving up the Death Note. ]

Yes. Yes, most everything you said has. [he'd been stroking his beard thoughtfully through that entire explanation; it's the most obvious indication that he's got some cogs turning...]

I've extensive experience with other dimensions, and in many of them, time passes far differently than it would in one's home plane. It seems that in this one, time holds no meaning beyond its bounds. It's not an uncommon phenomenon.

[qilby's brow furrows.] This impermanence of death, however -- that must be related to BREW's magic. Generally, the makers of artefacts with as much power as BREW's have an understanding of the harmony of energies... Preserving a cosmic balance, if you will. [cough.] At least, I hope they do.

If there existed a device that would pull people from outside universes and put them at the risk of a real death -- altering countless timelines in the process -- it would tear apart all worlds at the seams. Making sure that its magic doesn't affect reality on such a scale is surely BREW's way of safeguarding its user's well-being.

It makes sense -- confusingly enough. And I suppose we should be grateful for BREW's generosity. Perhaps in some way it houses our souls? I suppose to validate this theory, we would need to find out for certain if those guests who died lost theirs in battle and received the same one upon return.

Haha, I don't suppose you are one of the lucky few with the soul perception ability?

Unfortunately not. [and boy, does he look sad about it.] I got to look at those machines, and they do the job well enough, but I imagine it's far different when you can just see them yourself at will. It must be fascinating...

[pardon him while he thinks of all the nice, helpful things he'd do if he could peer directly into someone's soul. after a moment he starts, suddenly self-aware, and pretends like he was just thinking of what else to scribble down on his notes...] --Er, yes, anyway. I wonder if it'd be a worthwhile project, categorising people's souls. As far as I know, there's no record of all guests -- there's no precedence for this study. But until I have some definitive data on the subject, I'm going to have to get used to my budding hypotheses failing left and right.

You're something of a scientist, then? [ The clothing suggests from a past time, but that held little bearing on the man's knowledge. After all, who knows what sort of technology his world possessed. ]

I was, once, quite a long time ago. But I eventually had to take on duties that limited the time I had to pursue personal studies, somewhat.

[a bit of a sheepish smile.] It's nice-- a little exciting, having the opportunity to get back into it after so long.

I can imagine. Did you have a certain area of expertise or did you dabble in pretty much anything you could?

Oh, mostly anything. I've lived, and will live, far too long to limit myself to one field of study.

My interests over the millennia have ranged from engineering and invention, to the study of the flora and fauna of my world, to those of other other worlds, to exploration of unknown star systems... [a vague gesture.] Never the study of souls, though.

[ Just what is this guy? ]

That's an impressive range of studies. If you're given a long life, the best way to spend it is enriching your mind. And within this world, you have several more opportunities to learn -- not just the mechanics of Death City or Shibusen but the various universes from which several guests have come.

Will you be focusing predominantly on soul research for the time being?

Probably. I'd like to refrain from stretching myself too thin.

Because you're completely right -- never before have I had so much completely new information to take in. For the longest time, there was nothing; I'd fully plumbed the depths of all that my people's own little corner of the universe had to offer. [he laughs lightly.] The real challenge will be getting to see it all before I'm sent back or... Otherwise interrupted.

You're a bright young man from the sounds of it, Light. [oh gosh he just made a pun didn't he-- STRUGGLING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE...] Are... Are you a scientist, yourself?

[ .......awful. But Light takes it like a champ, choosing to pretend the pun didn't happen! ]

No, no. Nothing like that. I did what was required of me in school, but I never really put much focus into science outside of it. I'm more of a detective, whether it's investigating the situation we're in and surrounding theories, or crimes and criminals themselves.

And if nothing else -- though I doubt it's very comforting -- I have a feeling we'll be here for quite some time unless, like you mentioned, otherwise interrupted. This is one conclusion I would even bank money on considering how long the war has lasted prior to our arrival, and how long some of the guests have already been within Death City. You should have plenty of time to at least meet all of the guests.

[HE REGRETS NOTHING but yes, that'd probably be best for everyone involved.

he nods. no, the thought isn't particularly comforting -- considering he wasn't a fan of being without his powers for very long -- but he won't intimate that thought. le change of subject.] A detective, eh? The city seems to have quite a few of those.

[a keen look.] You've heard about those recent murders then, I take it? Nasty business, that...

Yes, I have. It was admittedly one of the reasons I wished to join the Agency right away. I may not have the power to stop kishin eggs or the witches, but if I can guarantee the safety of the people in this city by helping to stop what may just be a serial killer, I feel I will have done my part.

We all do have a part to play.

I understand that many criminals end up becoming kishin eggs in their own right -- I hope this isn't what we're seeing take root here.

I hope so as well. I don't believe the perpetrator has consumed any souls just yet as the bodies have been found and identified. There appears to be a motive other than a desire for power.

Sometimes, individuals are just inherently destructive. Simply following their nature. This was very much the case in my world-- or take the witches, here, for example.

[from the look on his face, it's apparent he doesn't think this is the nicest possible explanation.]

It could be. But on the other hand, what if this criminal believes what he's doing is justified?

I don't want to jump to too many conclusions and theories without further investigation, but judging by the articles in the newspaper alone, one man had a criminal record and the other had an episode of drunken criminal activity. What if our suspect believes he's doing good for this world?

Another possibility is this is all related to the black blood incident in the water supply. Whether our killer was a victim of the poison or whether he was the one who poisoned the supply in the first place remains to be seen. But the first murder puts him near the main water supply and shortly thereafter the announcement about the black blood was made. It certainly is suspicious.

[huh. good eye...]

I suppose we won't know for sure if it was the black blood until either the culprit is found and explains himself or... Until he kills again. Hopefully it won't come to that -- the Agency seems like a capable bunch and you especially so, for your age.

But if it wasn't because of the witches, then it seems we simply have an arrogant madman loose in the city. [le sigh. neither situation is particularly heartening.] I do hope it's not one of the guests.

[ Light laughs modestly at the compliment. ]

My father was a detective so I've been exposed to it for most of my life.

[ The smile drains and he nods in agreement. ]

I, too, hope it isn't one of the guests. There hasn't been any evidence to lean one way or the other. The only thing I have is a hunch -- the murderer must have access to the Watch's shifts and locations to have killed so cleanly without being caught or even seen. And if this is the case, our killer may very well be not just a guest but a member of the guest-run police force.

[ Light intentionally leaves this feed public in case he's correct and the killer just so happens to overhear. After all, he could stand to have an ally of justice on his side, and this would certainly lead the killer in his direction if he was trying to cover his tracks. ]

Edited 2012-04-03 00:46 (UTC)

Well now, that makes... All kinds of unfortunate implications, doesn't it?

I believe this is one of those moments where one would rather be incorrect. That's quite a betrayal of trust.

It would be. But with so many different guests from so many different worlds -- to expect full loyalty or even sanity would be pushing it. As unfortunate as it is, BREW is not infallible.

002 (feb. 3) / video.

video;

video.

video.

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tl;dr buddies? :'[

i'd fistbump, but i got a few more paragraphs to write :(

lol!

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