(no subject)

[evowhisperer]

  

-----

"Stand aside, please, I'm a doctor!"

 

Chaos. Pure, grainy, cheaply recorded chaos. The cellphone trembles violently with its owner's hands, and frightened shouting in Spanish from all around threatens to drown out the wails of a child. The dirty sidewalk is no place to treat the wounded.

 

The seven people bleeding out on the ground may not be alive to care, soon. The child screaming at a young couple's side is unhurt, but rightfully frightened.

 

Several someones pass in front of the camera. The owner moves to the side, and a loud male voice blares out, 'Are they alright? Are they alright?' when no one answers. The owner continues to move, and a frilly sleeve is pushed out of the way.

 

There's a man in a white labcoat kneeling over one of the bodies, pressing a cloth flat against a puddle of red.

 

'Hey, are they going to survive?'  the phone owner repeats. The doctor snags the cuff of someone standing too close, and orders them to keep pressing down. They step forward with shaking hands and kneel also, and soon the doctor stands and moves on.

 

Someone's voice is rising and falling hysterically. There's shouting about police, and an ambulance. The camera turns to look, but it doesn't seem that either have arrived, and when it looks back several people have begun to grab shirts from the store's open sidewalk display, following the doctor's example. 

 

The doctor is wearing a large woman's hat with a tag sticking out of it, now, conspicuously snatched from a knocked-over shelf. He's facing a direction that would normally let the camera see his profile, but the hat is big enough to hide all but his neck. He slows as he reaches a body that stares vacantly away--it's not the first he would've reached, but it is the first the camera has seen--and moves on.

 

Finally, there's the body that no one seems ready to approach, curled up and with its back to the crowd. Broken glass litters the ground around it, and when the doctor pushes it onto its back, he kicks a gun further out of reach.

 

Someone passes in front of the camera. "Hey..." The owner complains. No response, and the owner moves around. "Hey, why's he helping that fucker when there's people here who need help?"

 

The doctor's back is to the camera. It's impossible to see what he's doing until he glances towards the crowd, loops the hat's strap tightly around his jaw, and starts CPR.

 

No one stops or helps him. The camera continues to watch, eventually panning over the wounded, and the unhurt victims still milling around. Someone shouts about the police again, and more people are kneeling over the wounded victim's bodies, pressing down more cloth. The child has climbed into a sitting woman's lap, face buried in her hair.

One of makeshift medics calls out to the doctor tearfully, but they are ignored.

 

There's an outcry. The camera snaps back to the doctor, who's lifting his head from the shooter's chest, pushing down arms that have begun to move sluggishly. More shouting, with more than a couple of screams. The crowd is starting to shuffle back, and the doctor throws up a blood-soaked hand, shouting urgent assurances. The camera glimpses part of his face, and he's young, and very clearly aware of the new dangers--both from revived shooter, and the crowd.

 

"He's not armed!" Triple checking. The doctor kneels on his wrist, shifting the man to check underneath. Quadruple checking. "He has no more weapons! He's unconscious!"

 

The shooter's eyes are glazed but open, and the confusion in the crowd eddies and swirls. Before anyone can do anything, there's armed men in uniforms of the law shoving through the crowd, taking control of the situation. The crowd's din reaches a new high, and the man with the camera is forced back. It becomes impossible to see anything else, as people move back and shake the camera every which way.

 

There's only a glimpse left of the doctor left in the clip, and it's from one last ditch effort. The phone gets held high in the air, and it shows a white coat turned to one of the uniforms, hands forward, bloody, and earnestly reassuring.

 

The clip cuts out.

 

Comments

[dead_black_eyes]

If L had any context, along with a way to know who Cesar was comparing him to, he would have to agree that there were similarities, even very chilling ones.

L considers Cesar's answer, but his shoulder is being touched by Soichiro. "Ryuzaki..." the older detective says gravely. "Even if you believe him, what is your endgame?"

"I do believe him," L confesses. "He could be very useful in the right hands, and very dangerous in the wrong ones. If Kira had found him first, it could have gone badly for us, so... lucky us."

"Ryuzaki, you're not suggesting...!"

"Well, we can't let him go," L reasons, flicking on his microphone again and addressing Cesar.

"If that's truly your goal, Cesar, we have no real argument or difference. I've already seen firsthand that you're willing to do anything, to the point of abject recklessness, to achieve your goals, so... what if you were allowed to continue your work more effectively than you ever could alone? I think we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement here."

[evowhisperer]

"I would say that yes, I'm very interested." He was right. "I wasn't working alone earlier out of any aversion to working in groups; I just hadn't found anyone to work with yet."

Thank goodness. Does this mean he'll be let out of this cell soon? It's still cold, and the constant threat of torture has made it extremely hard to get comfortable.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Correct me if I'm under the wrong impression, but my feeling is that you have figured out that I'm working toward asking you to join me in working against Kira. I think you'll say yes, and that would benefit this cause greatly. That being said... are you expressing openness because you truly feel a desire to stop Kira, or because you recognize it might be the fastest way out of your situation? I only want to recruit people who are committed, 100%, to stopping this mass-murderer, even at the potential cost of your own life. I need strong wills and conviction."

[evowhisperer]

Laughter bubbles up somewhere in his chest, fighting towards his throat. Will you work with us? Why yes, of course. You aren't just trying to get out of being tortured, are you? Caesar swallows it back down before it can take voice, but the smile creases his face.

"Sorry. How else do you want me to prove my commitment? I've already flown to Japan and broken into morgues. I've proven my work is a step in the right direction, and I've been honest about everything you've asked."

[dead_black_eyes]

He's trying not to laugh, and not even trying to keep from smiling.

"Well, you have to admit, Ryuzaki... you're not actually giving him a choice," Matsuda points out quietly.

"I'm not intending to give him a choice," L replies levelly. "I intend to find out the truth about how he actually feels."

"Would you pledge your allegiance to a group who is holding you captive, who have not revealed their identities to you? It's fine if you would, I just need to know."

[evowhisperer]

He thinks about it.

"I can promise confidentiality, and full commitment towards upholding my end of a deal, if that's what you're asking."

It's a slippery answer, and Caesar's hoping he won't be pushed farther. He's in no position to say no, after all, but 'allegiance' rings ominously in his mind. What would it mean? Loyalty to the group beyond their immediate task? The fact that he's being asked at all means that there's probably something in all of this that's about to sign his soul away. How long can he put it off?

It smells of danger--again, the sort that Black Knight would leave waiting. He's been burned before; first they were little promotions he couldn't afford to refuse. Then there were more and more projects that nibbled away at the remains of his soul... He was good at whatever they gave him, but the part of him he'd hoped his parents would be proud of is misshapen from damage.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Ryuzaki, I still can't believe you're..."

"You're not seriously...?"

L waves his hand impatiently at his task force. "Quiet, please. No decisions are being made quite yet."

He turns on his microphone again.

"The men I work with have all devoted their lives to stopping Kira. It is more than our mission, it is our calling, and we are all prepared to die for it, if that's what it comes to. What I'm asking for is a type of commitment, and it's called 'conviction.' So I suppose my next question would have to be... is the outrage you feel toward Kira greater than your fear?"

Investigation team: "Shit now there's two assholes"

[evowhisperer]

Oh. It's as though pieces of a greater machine just clicked into place behind his eyes, and now things make more sense. His eyebrows twist thoughtfully, and he thinks his answer over just a milisecond longer than he wanted to, but there's no doubt in his tone.

"Outrage? I'm afraid I'm not law enforcement. I'm a scientist. I do know with absolute certainty that whatever it is that Kira's doing can be stopped by means within our control, and that my desire to see this mystery solved is more than enough to see this through to the end. I have conviction in that."

"What Kira is doing is wrong. If you let me help you, and help me to do this, we can see him stopped that much faster."

XD

[dead_black_eyes]

"He didn't answer your question," Aizawa points out. "Ide already died for this case, don't you think you should demand the exact same willingness of him before you ask him to join the catch-Kira club?"

"Mm. I will say that curiosity and the genuine pursuit of knowledge are very powerful motivators. An emotional need to see Kira brought to justice is important, but... you saw what happened to Ide when he rushed to the station. Maybe the investigation needs cooler heads."

"Ide gave his life! Are you seriously insulting his memory?" Aizawa demands.

"No... that's not my intention. I will always remember his sacrifice," L replies softly. "That being said... we're detectives, and a scientist would be a boon. I do want to recruit him, barring any serious objections."

There's a long silence.

"I object," Aizawa says immediately. "It cheapens the things we've said and done in the name of catching Kira, and besides, I don't want to have a criminal working with us."

"I am with Ryuaki," Watari says.

"I have my misgivings, but I will not fight your decision," Soichiro says softly.

"Uh... I'm..." Matsuda appears torn for a second. "I'm with L. I mean, Ryuzaki. Of course."

All eyes are on Aizawa. "Fine!" he spits out. "I'm clearly outvoted. I really hope my gut is wrong and the great L really is that much smarter than me."

L switches on the microphone.

"We are almost finished; thank you for your continued patience. For the next few steps in this process, I must ask for your complete cooperation; I personally believe you won't try to escape, but the fact is, you haven't proven otherwise, and until then, precautions must be taken. You'll be wearing an ankle bracelet, similar to those used for individuals under house arrest, while you work for us."

[evowhisperer]

An ankle bracelet? Unless it's wired to blow his leg off or neurologically sedate him through his nanites, he really has nothing to worry about. If anything, it's nothing more than a low dose of fair turnaround...

"It seems like a reasonable precaution. What else?" That can't be all. Actual house arrest? Continued surveillance, tracking devices, more interrogation?

Paperwork?

[dead_black_eyes]

"Well, you will essentially be under house arrest," L confesses. "You work for me now, so you'll always be nearby. Coming and going will be coordinated to suit this arrangement, but usually, others will be doing that for us. A list of anything you need, essential or nonessential, for your work or otherwise, will be supplied by you twice a week, barring extreme emergencies. You will of course be compensated for your work, but the money will be set aside in a trust fund for you to be accessed upon the completion of this case. Do you have any questions, so far?"

[evowhisperer]

"Only one that's immediate." Tracking down his personal belongings could wait, as would discovering the actual details of his new day-to-day life. All of this is hardly ideal, but he's dealt with less than optimal circumstances before, hasn't he?

"You already know who I am, but I don't know the same about you or your organization. Who are you? Where am I, and what team will I be working with?"

Maybe the restrictions will let up over time. Either way, this isn't the time to push.

[dead_black_eyes]

Just one immediate question? Manageable. Reasonable. L cants his head sideways as he listens.

"All of the details will be on a need-to-know basis, but you, like me, will be working under the detective who is heading the Kira investigation. If you have been watching the news at all, you know who that is, and why information pertaining to him must be treated delicately."

[evowhisperer]

"You mean I'll be working under L," Caesar says, and this information is the second half to the picture he was already forming in his mind: this is the investigation crew's headquarters. More than that, the voice from the camera transitioned seamlessly from an interrogation to a recruitment; either this entire conversation is a farce, or someone with administrative authority is in the room with the voice. Perhaps it's L himself calling the shots. Maybe he's watching the feed right now.

It's hardly the best first impression to make, but he's not in any position to complain.

"Will I be working with you, then?" He'd asked about a team, and if they're both working on similar tiers of hierarchy... Not that he'd object to working alone, but part of him can't really imagine that they don't already have their own men working on the 'how', rather than the 'who'.

[dead_black_eyes]

Good; Cesar, for all that he's proven himself to be so far, is at least quick on the uptake. Whether he can outfox L remains to be seen, but the detective isn't keen on giving away more than he absolutely wants to before he is sure he needs Cesar to know.

"Are you going to reveal your identity?" Soichiro asks. "We all know that you're L, but we can maintain the illusion that you are one of us, if you think it would keep you safer."

"Thank you for anticipating my needs," L murmurs, keeping the microphone off momentarily. "One of many reasons you are indispensable to this investigation, Mr. Yagami."

"Uh... Ryuzaki, do you need anything?" Matsuda asks timidly.

"Yeah, more coffee," L replies briskly, and the youngest non-lettered member of the task force slinks off to doggedly fetch it. "Regarding my identity... it's not practical to keep it from him for very long, but we can behave as though I'm L's proxy until we're absolutely positive we want to keep him."

He turns on his mic again.

"Yes, that's precisely what I mean. You will be working under the detective known as L, and alongside me and the rest of his task force. I hope that's acceptable to you."

"I hope so too, considering he'll recognize you from the circumstances you met under," snorts Aizawa.

"Yes, that will be interesting."

[evowhisperer]

"That is acceptable," Cesar says, and again, it's not like he has much choice. He spares a thought to wonder how much the rest of the task force will be told about his recruitment, before dismissing it as out of his control. It's not like he didn't have an unorthodox recruitment into Providence, after all; he doesn't need to make close friendships with his coworkers, he just needs to be able to work with them.

"Is there any information that you think I should know before we continue?" This is an interview. In for a penny...

[dead_black_eyes]

"There's nothing that can't wait, but I suppose you should know that we have met before. Sit tight; someone will be down to collect you and transport you to the hotel room we are currently operating from. Your things are already being brought here."

Around a half hour later, the door opens to Cesar's small, sterile room, and a strongly built Japanese man with short, bristly hair and soft brown eyes enters. "Hello, Cesar. My name is Mogi; on behalf of L, I want to thank you for your patience and cooperation."

He crouches, briskly working to begin freeing the younger man.

[evowhisperer]

"Thank you..."

'They've met before'? When? Had they been watching him before he was captured? Cesar scrolls through his mental list of faces from the last week, grasping at blanks he never bothered to fill and second guessing any appearance he can think of. Maybe they'd only asked him his hotel room for show, and they'd known all along. He wouldn't put it past them, at this point.

Half an hour of quiet worrying and constant strain later, the door opens, snapping Cesar out of his circling thoughts. He straightens as much as he can in his current position, studying the newcomer.

An introduction--all in Japanese. If Cesar takes a gamble, he'd read this man as friendly, and he's perhaps a little more relieved than he'd like to be. Is it so wrong to welcome a non-hostile face when the threat of torture was so recently real? Cesar smiles, making no sudden moves.

"Thank you, but it's partially to be expected." Mogi is working at his restraints. Remember his lack of sudden moves? Even when his hands are freed, he'll only rub his wrists once Mogi is far enough out of his immediate space. Cesar has no clear idea of precisely how jumpy these men are, and he's seen Providence soldiers at their worst.

His feet are free. "Thank you." Does he have enough room to stand? He does, and he's stiff from the cold, and the prolonged forced stillness from before.

[dead_black_eyes]

"No problem," Mogi replies; Cesar's read is right on the mark. Of everyone on the task force, Mogi's the gentlest, the most dialed-back and soothing. He offers Cesar a smile as he works the bonds free, and though he's watching for escape attempts, nothing is immediately alarming or gives him reason for concern.

"We're all looking forward to working with you. Sorry it had to go the way it did, but this investigation is something else. All of our lives are in danger for opposing Kira, but everyone on the task force considers that a worthwhile risk. It's why we all respect each other. We're very glad to have you on board," he adds, straightening when Cesar is wholly freed.

[evowhisperer]

More relief. Maybe this hasn't been a completely negative first impression, and Cesar is tempted to take Mogi's words at face value. He tucks an arm around his front to keep his hospital gown from opening in front, before shuffling back a a step while he talks.

"You too. Or in other words, thank you for accepting me onto your team. I'm looking forward to working with you all very much." He's giving an awkward little bow, the kind that he knows is culturally appropriate, even as it's unfamiliar. When it's over he straightens, arm still tucked in place.

"I hope I didn't cause too much trouble with my current circumstances." He's still grinning slightly, scoring somewhere between 'self deprecating' and 'amused'.

[dead_black_eyes]

Mogi grins, quickly returning the bow, maybe exaggerating it a little bit to encourage and commend a foreigner's cultural consideration. There are other foreigners in the task force who do not take such considerations... but that's for Cesar to find out, and not for Mogi to tell him.

"Well... I won't lie to you, you caused some trouble. Not as much as you might have, because we were well-prepared, but my suggestion is to make up for it by being fantastically diligent and polite. From what I've seen since what happened at the morgue, you shouldn't have a problem with that."

He hands Cesar a small plastic bag. "I'm the guy who searched your hotel room, and I took the liberty of bringing you an outfit. I hope all this is OK." The clothes look to be some of the nicer ones Cesar has in his possession, folded neatly on top of the closest thing Mogi could find to dress shoes, which are wrapped in their own plastic bag to separate them from. "I'm guessing you don't want to meet your new colleagues in that hospital gown," he jokes.

[evowhisperer]

Fantastically diligent and polite? That was already the plan, but it's good to know that he's not obviously supposed to do something more than that.

He takes the bag, looking inside. The closest thing to dress shoes were a newer, significantly less battered pair of jungle boots that he knows look more formal when covered by pants instead of tucked in. He can tell from a glance at the rest of the clothes that this is probably what's expected, and he lifts his head again, giving him a grateful chuckle.

"This is more than fine. And, ah, yes, that would be preferable. Where should I change?" Aaand he's not looking at the camera right now.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Great! I'm glad," Mogi says, nodding, pleased that Cesar is satisfied. "And you can change in here... I'll turn away if it would make you more comfortable, but... well..."

He lowers his voice slightly.

"One thing is that you should probably get used to the fact that working under L means you don't get very much privacy. He watches basically everything and insists that any detail could turn out to be important, so..."

He glances at the camera, sighing, looking like he wishes he could throw something over its cold, soulless staring lens.

[evowhisperer]

"Really?"

Now Caesar does look at the lens, giving it a look that's a little more evaluating than before. There's nothing he can do about this, is there? It's uncomfortable, but not completely intolerable. Security cameras had never exactly been hidden in his lab at Providence, and all the scientists that worked with him would quietly mutter about possible surveillance of their personal lives. The only difference this makes now is that Cesar knows for certain that he has an audience.

... Well, alright, that's actually quite a difference. He holds back a sigh, but nods, trying to hide his discomfort.

"If you could turn around, that would help a lot.

[dead_black_eyes]

"Yeah..."

Mogi isn't in a position to say anything negative about his boss to the new hire, but there's definite discomfort there, and it's shared by the entire task force. L and Watari operate as a unit with impossible synchronization and though the old man seems to control most aspects of L's life, he also defers to L's judgment and wishes in all but the most extreme of circumstances. Everyone had learned quickly just what counted as "extreme" in L's worldview: frighteningly little, and working with him has meant getting used to that. For a group of conservative and socially aware Japanese police detectives, it's not exactly been smooth sailing to get used to L's irreverent and shocking manner and methods. Mogi wishes he could voice all this, and at least give Cesar some kind of warning for what he's getting into, but professionalism and respect for his leader wins out and he keeps his gently smiling mouth closed.

He seems conflicted about whether or not he should turn, but he would rather apologize later than ask permission for affording Cesar a little bit of comfort and dignity. He stares meaningfully into the camera for a second before nodding. "No problem. Just don't take too long."

He turns around, knowing that L will be watching. It means that he doesn't have to, right?