[25 // video // 13 September]

[want_the_world]

[Mello hardly ever uses video, but he's rather proud that he came out of a battle with a Witch with only minor injuries to show for it: the bandages on both his forearms are the extent of the damage.

Near was slightly more worse for the wear, but he is the one who had to consume a Witch soul. Now he's awake and on the mend, and though Mello hasn't yet left his clinic bedside (the IV stand and bed railing, but not Near, are clearly visible behind Mello), there are public service announcements to be got out of the way.]

Yesterday, my partner and I defeated the Witch Isabella, and became the newest Death Scythe pair.

[He permits himself the closest to a real smile most people are ever likely to see from him, which skews slightly wicked before he speaks again.]

We might have broken the Grand Canyon a bit in the process. Sorry.

Comments

[video]

[heavenly_earth]

[This was the kind of good news the network sorely needed, and for the first time in several days, Neji's expression lightens to something near to a smile]

Congratulations, Mello. She was the Witch responsible for one of the invasions, as well as the mental manipulation of several guests.

[The Witch he would've liked to have taken down personally given the opportunity, but he's not terribly particular about that. Isabella is dead either way]

How is your partner?

[video | private]

[want_the_world]

[Mello's aware that a smile from Neji is possibly even more rare than from himself.]

Believe me, I know. She's the one who put me in that fucking machine.

Near's... still adjusting. [He glances out of frame, towards the bed.] Resting now. It's a hell of an influx of power to deal with.

[video | private]

[heavenly_earth]

Well in that case, I can't begrudge you that victory.

[Not that he would've anyway, given Lee was still a little ways off from Deathscythe]

I've heard about that.. I'm sure he'll recover well. Just in time, to make up for losing Cloud and Sephiroth, you could say.

[Video]

[topgun_textiles]

Congrats, man. It'll be good to have some back-up.

...Uhh, l-landmarks don't count toward that 'you break it you buy it' rule, do they?

[Video]

[want_the_world]

Heh, I'd expect Shibusen to kick in to help cover it, if so.

And thanks.

What kind of familiar did the Witch that you and Naoto took out have?

[Video]

[topgun_textiles]

Kharon had crow familiars. 'Cause of that, some of Naoto's shots turn into these weird light crows and track if somethin' gets dodgy.

What was yours?

[Text]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Congratulations, both of you.

Did you two make it through the fight and back safely?

[Text]

[want_the_world]

Thanks, Shinji.

More or less, mostly more. I've had much worse than this. Near will be fine. Adjusting to a Witch's soul is proving interesting.

[Text]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

At least it's not bad, then, that's a relief to hear.

What sorts of things come from eating the Witch's soul?

[Video]

[5thchild]

Congratulations, Mello. To you and your partner.

[video | private]

[want_the_world]

Thanks, angel.

How're you doing?

[video | private]

[5thchild]

[ Takuto and Yako died, which sent Shinji into depression, and Kaworu's Meister was returned by BREW.

He won't mention the first part because it's private to Shinji and the second part... well, Kaworu is glad Allen was returned, he did wish to return ]

I'm alright. [ it's not a lie, he is alright. The people around him, not so much. ]

How is Near handling the Witch soul?

[Voice]

[recitings]

Well, congratulations. Are you and Near all right? I should swing by to visit you both.

[voice | private]

[want_the_world]

Thanks. [Mello doubts he will ever thank people more than he's done today, but the courtesy is coming much more naturally than usual--everyone seems so genuinely pleased for them.]

Near will be in the clinic for a couple of days yet; I'm sure he'd appreciate a visit. His new powers are taking some adjusting to.

[voice | private]

[recitings]

I see. I will make the time to visit. What kind of witch was the one you defeated?

[action]

[cardfortress]

[Ever since he woke up for good, hours ago, Near has been drifting in and out of sleep quite frequently, but he's fully awake by the time his Meister posts his PSA to the network.]

Show-off, [he says when Mello turns the transmission off, amusement clear in his voice.]

[action]

[want_the_world]

Who, me?

[He turns slightly more serious after that--it would be pointless to pretend he hasn't been worried.]

How do you feel?

Video

[ritsu_kouyou]

So much occurring while Sion and I were gone. Congratulations.

[As much as Akiha had always said her and Sion were going to be Shibusen's next deathscythe pair, she wasn't upset that Mello and Near achieved that status before them. When she decided which witch soul she was going to give to Sion, she knew it was going to be a long road from 99 to deathscythe.]

Video

[want_the_world]

Thanks.

You two are getting close yourselves, aren't you?

video;

[sharingan]

So you really managed it?

video;

[want_the_world]

It took a hell of a long time. [Almost a year counts as a long time for Mello to achieve something once he put his mind to it.] But yes, we really did.

You all right? [He noted Sasuke asking Near about a service for Yako and Takuto, what feels like a long time ago.]

[Video]

[vintage_magic]

You really killed a witch?

[Lily frowns, reminded once again of the stigma against witches in this world and the thing she'd hoped to put off thinking about; her partner had absorbed his 99th soul in Matsue.]

[Video]

[want_the_world]

[Mello's not entirely sure if that's disbelief or disapproval. He suspects the latter.]

We are at war with them. And my partner and I had a score to settle with this one.

[Video | Private]

[3rdbest]

Grand Canyon.

Really?

[Video | Private]

[want_the_world]

[Mello gives a one-shouldered shrug, fighting a grin.]

When a fucking army of mutant ants is coming at you, preserving natural beauty drops pretty low on your priorities list.