o25 video | 4-14, early morning

[recitings]

[The video is focused not on the speaker, but on a set of figures: specifically a nearly complete set of the Chara Misfortune - Leaders of the Watch from the Hikan Cafe. Small, adorable figures modeled after the Leaders of the Watch during the days when it was more prominent.

The collection is complete, including Roy, and has a number of duplicates-- specifically a lot of Gai.]

Temeraire has left me with these figures of the Watch's leaders from a time not too long ago. A number of them are not with us anymore. As one formerly with this team, I must admit that I miss them sorely.

[He pauses, silent for a moment.]

There was a time that my life revolved around a poem that dealt with friends who were cut adrift by a war. Sometimes, I look back to it for guidance-- inspiration-- direction. Consider it a faith, perhaps. I still cling to those words more strongly than anything else. Especially in the times when those I have known and cared for have disappeared.

The war goes on, however.

[A fuzzy snout suddenly invades the video!]

Mei! Stop that!

[And then there's a bark, the snout turns away from the camera and a thud is heard offscreen. After a moment, a red-gloved hand reaches over to shut off the feed.]

[Private to Neji, Lee, and Obito]

[After Genesis has settled Mei, he makes a private feed to Neji, Lee, and Obito.]

Temeraire has told me to leave his extra figures of Gai with you three.

Comments

Video

[ninjainviolet]

[A serious-looking Sheena appears on screen. What better way than to mask unhappiness?]

Do you mind if I ask what that poem is?

Video

[recitings]

It's called LOVELESS. It's an epic from my world.

Video

[ninjainviolet]

Loveless? [Sounds a little depressing.]

An epic? You mean a story?

[ ᴛᴇxᴛ ]

[sayatakagi]

What's the poem?

[ ᴛᴇxᴛ ]

[recitings]

LOVELESS. It's a classic from where I am from. And it also talks greatly about a goddess and her gift to the poem's protagonist.

[ ᴛᴇxᴛ ]

[sayatakagi]

Do you remember it by heart?

[Voice]

[pure_lineage]

It appears that the BREW is returning many as of late.

[Voice]

[recitings]

It has. Did any of the people you know go home recently?

Re: [Voice]

[pure_lineage]

[He's silent for a short while, which is more than answer enough, even as he distantly murmured.]

Perhaps, but it is of little consequence.

[Liar, but he's never been one to state his emotions clearly.]

Video

[nofarplaneyet]

Was it a real story or a legend? Your poem, I mean.

Video

[recitings]

It is but a legend. An epic tale.

Video -- Suddenly everyone becomes Loveless fans

[nofarplaneyet]

What's it about?

[action]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth places a firm hand on Mei's back when the dog is back on the floor, making sure she's well-behaved and does not interrupt any more of his partner's transmissions.

From where he's half-kneeling, he speaks up:]

What makes you place so much faith in a poem?

[action]

[recitings]

It's the hope behind it. And the mystery of the Goddess' Gift.

[Genesis creates a sweeping gesture towards the window where sunlight was filtering in, lighting up his fiery red hair.]

That, and I have met her myself. At the very brink of my demise, I saw the Goddess with my own two eyes.

[He pauses, as if reliving that moment.]

And she brought me here.

[action]

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth stands up quietly. Ah - Genesis was dead in his world. But he wouldn't be the first "dead" person the prosecutor knew.

And he was not one to believe in gods or any supernatural beings or the idea of anyone except BREW bringing them all here. What he believed in was evidence, evidence that complied with human logic.]

You believe she brought you here, instead of BREW?

[ video; ]

[blue_wayfinder]

[Seeing those figures lined up like that really hits home for her how many people have been sent back.]

You're talking about LOVELESS, right? [The description seemed to match what she read in the book he lent her last time.]

[ video; ]

[recitings]

Yes, I am. [He smiles sadly at her.]

[ video; ]

[blue_wayfinder]

I didn't realize it was that important to you...

[Even if he'd said it was dear to him, she hadn't known it was this important and the new knowledge made the fact that he'd been willing to lend it to her that much more touching.]

[text]

[anpan_tan]

Yamazaki. Bus boy here at Hikan. Boss-san kills me if I skipped work again. Don't look. Could you quote from the poem?

[text]

[recitings]

Why are you telling me that you skipped work?

Very well, here is a quote for you:
"When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end
The goddess descends from the sky
Wings of light and dark spread afar
She guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting"

[text]

[anpan_tan]

This is a very nice poem.
Are the beasts the Kishin Eggs?

[video]

[malandragem]

The war goes on, and each day it seems we lose more and more...

[Fabiola is a very solemn young lady sometimes.]

Strangely enough, not even to the Witches.

[video]

[recitings]

That, I suppose, is what saddens me-- that even in times of deepest peace, many still disappear. It feels like salt to the fresh wound left by the number of casualties from the recent attacks.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[Egads. L is so glad that his work with the Watch is commanding enough to get things done, but discreet enough not to warrant something like an action figure. Not that his spindly frame is really well-suited to one that doesn't just look sad.]

You spoke at great length about a poem, but you didn't even mention its name.

[Audio]

[recitings]

It would be a let down if people tried to find the poem only to discover that there are no copies of it in this world.