soul_campaign | 001 (jan. 27) / video.

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001 (jan. 27) / video.

[good afternoon Death City. hope you aren't tired of new arrivals yet because here's another one.

it's hard to tell where exactly this particular old bespectacled man is recording from because most of the screen is taken up by the biggest hat in the cosmos. don't be intimidated, though! he seems friendly enough, though his attention constantly flickers from his unseen audience to a point just beyond them -- as if he's almost more interested in the communicator itself than who's behind it. the quiet muttering doesn't help.] A mirror, eh? Curious choice...

[right, he's supposed to be talking to people. whoops! he blinks, starts, and smiles apologetically, refocusing.] Ah-- greetings. My name is Qilby, and I am an Eliatrope.

[an awkward, expectant pause as if he's hoping that by some stretch the term should be familiar to someone out there. or maybe he's just hesitant to address his next point.] ...I don't suppose I'm the only one that finds it rather tragic that by bringing us here and giving us these new abilities, they've stripped us of our powers that arguably could have been more useful to help end this conflict. And now we must figure out how to harness an entirely new set of skills... Well. They say you can't teach an old boowolf new tricks, and I doubt I'm an exception. [and his smile at his own "joke" implies that he is a very old boowolf indeed.]

That aside, I'm more than willing to try and learn. Tell me, how have people's experiences been? I'm afraid I haven't had to fight a war in a long time.

[and at that, he looks very tired.] A very, very long time.

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I'm not convinced there's rhyme or reason to how BREW chooses people. It's not random, but I wouldn't attribute prescience to it. It's a tool like any other, and not immune to design flaws.

I find it hard to believe someone capable of creating a device with powers like BREW's wouldn't consider giving it some sort of logical processes... That's not merely flawed design -- that's reckless design.

But perhaps I'm speaking from bias. My people had an artefact of similar capabilities. Later models, of my own invention, developed the ability to think for themselves. [it was really interesting, in fact, and he wished he could have studied them further...]

[Oh, hello, you have Mello's undivided attention.]

It could be that the wish itself was flawed, and BREW's doing the best it can to fulfill it anyway.

Did you design yours from the ground up, or build upon the existing one?

[the switch to a private line raises a brow, but qilby follows suit.]

Upon the original design, of course. These were given out to my people as a sort of personal device -- somewhat like these mirrors -- so I preferred to keep my inventions in the realm of the familiar. [a laugh!] Besides, I imagine my brother would have had some strong words for me if I'd mangled his original blueprints too much.

[he pauses.] And-- you're right. That is all too much a possibility, and... Frequently the result of people attempting to harness powers they can't begin to comprehend.

Believe me, I know. My world doesn't exactly have demon tools, but it might as well have. It had things humans had no right getting their hands on.

[Mello being the exception, as in so many other things he believes.]

Did yours grant wishes, too?

Perhaps not in quite as literal a way as BREW seems to, but... In a way, yes. They bent to the will of whoever held them, and had few limitations on their power. My people had the wisdom to handle this responsibly, but I hear that it wasn't the same for certain others that got their hands on our creations after our time on their world had passed.

[if he's bitter he does a good job not giving any indication of it, apart from a slight furrowing of the brow, an almost unnoticeable set in his jaw.] The problem is most humans are simply too short-sighted to hold such power. And er-- forgive me, if I'm speaking to a human here.

You are, but I've reached the same conclusion myself.

[And he owes the man some information about his own world in return by now.]

My world's closest equivalent tool could kill people, any way the one who had it chose. All he needed was a name and a face. I'm sure you can imagine what happened when it fell into the hands of someone who thought he was wise, but wasn't.

[Mello, at least, never had that delusion.]

[it's a wonder his eyebrows haven't gone right off his head and launched themselves into the stratosphere. it's not out of disbelief, though, but--] --I'm having trouble imagining what kind of person would create such a tool, and be so thoughtless with its safekeeping. Or lack thereof.

He... Attempted to use the tool for good, I suppose. [the way that sentence was phrased, it seems the case...]

Not people. Death gods.

They aren't quite the same species as the shinigami here. Some seem to be careless with their artefacts for fun.

You're right, of course. The person who got hold of one tried to create a world free from crime.

The problem is, once all the murderers are gone, who's next? And once all the petty felons are gone, why not wipe out those who are most likely to commit crimes? Or those who aren't doing all they could? The slippery slope argument taken to extremes.

Gods... Somewhat less surprising, then. But no less tragic.

Even the noblest of intentions are rarely enough to justify such extreme measures. I've seen this story countless times before, and they all end the same way. Hubris, like gravity, eventually catches up and crushes you.

[a long pause. he's still curious as to why this line had suddenly become private, but...] ... I hope it won't be the case with BREW, here. Though from what I understand, it seems to react to very little. I doubt anyone could do much, even if they managed to get their hands on it.

And even a taste of power like that is enough to make hanging onto that power more important than any ideal.

A trap Shibusen, at least, doesn't seem likely to fall into. If BREW has a reset button, or anything like one, no one knows how to press it, and the person who created it is long gone.

[He still thinks that if anyone in Death City can figure it out, it's Matt and Gemini.]

A real shame. I should have liked to meet its creator. Very much so, in fact. [they could have a little talk about creating artefacts of incredible power...

a smile.] Speaking of which, I've hardly met you. Does the voice have a name to it?

Mello.

[Qilby has earned the sort-of real one.]

I was researching its origins, but there's not a lot to go on.

A pleasure then, Mello. [gosh he's made so many friends already...]

And no, there isn't-- I've heard that's unfortunately the case. I've also heard there's a library at the school, but much of it is only available to those with special permission.

[a derisive snort; the first real negative emotion he's shown all conversation, really.] Which somewhat defeats the purpose of a repository of knowledge, if you ask me.

Mm, but there are ways around that. Or so I've heard.

[It's casual, tossed out to see if he gets a bite.]

[consider this him biting!

--or more like ravenously devouring, but he does a good job of hiding it behind an equally casual tone.] Really, now? Do they work?

Or are they only rumours for a reason?

[Perfect.]

Someone managed to flat-out brazen their way into the restricted area. I can only imagine a more considered effort would yield better results.

[hm. he's not the brazen type... or not acting the brazen type, at any rate.

speaking of acting -- a considerate silence while he frowns and bites his lip, as if he's struggling with some seriously strong morals here.] I'll...

--I'll think on it. Perhaps after I've had the chance to look at what's available to me without having to bend our hosts' rules. Should it be as insufficient as you say, I'll be sure to let you know my intent. [a keen look.] Assuming this is you offering me your assistance.

[Mello waits out the pause, resisting the urge to say any more. This one's smart, certainly, and what amounted to an outburst about the library, relative to the level of emotion he's otherwise displayed, was telling.]

It's me recognizing the reality that sharing information, and looking for it together, will get things sorted a lot faster than not.

True. Being known as a transgressor, however, may saddle us with the opposite result. [the amicable tone contrasts nicely with the somewhat ominous words.

blithely:] I'll speak with you again -- or meet you -- soon enough?

Only if we get caught.

[It's still audio, but his smirk is in his voice.]

Yes. 'til next time, then.

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001 (jan. 27) / video.

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[voice | private]

video, private.

[voice | private]

oh god i must've accidentally deleted the notif for this, i'm so sorry

It's okay!

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