Voice; UN: Deneuve

[onamissile]

Name: M; UN: Deneuve
Date: 3/1/21
Format: [Voice]

[There's a short blip of silence; Mello knows that even his voice can be identified if needed and traced. But he remembers the pain in his chest. The swirling of the delivery truck's mirror, and everything after that, well — ]

[A sharp clearing of his throat. It's so dry.]

I know what I've been told.

[Everything is bullshit until proven otherwise.]

And I know what I'm expected to believe.

[Definitely lies. And for one: he knows he's died. It doesn't take a previous heart attack in his situation to recognize one when it tears at your chest and throat and breath like a visceral assault. Besides, he was always due for one: wasn't he?]

I don't expect honesty from anyone. [And yet here he is: reaching out. Because what else can he do?] But a Witch?

[Or so he's been told. How appropriate. Another pause; another breath.]

Is this Hell?

[He's seen nothing that leads him to believe otherwise. The mirror with the objects and reflections from home. The things that just don't make sense. Maybe someone will honestly reveal that yes, he's earned this. Maybe not.]

Comments

[Audio] un: Linden Tailor

[hearthebell]

That's reasonable. I would trust him more, as well, in your situation.

[His tone doesn't change. With some time and distance from this conversation's beginning, everything he says is both calmer and more intentional.]

Quite simply, I made a mistake.

[Something that's happened before, and will, again.]

[Audio] un: Deneuve

[onamissile]

[It's true that Mello and Near have both worked with and against each other. But it that was all part of the game, wasn't it? N had openly voiced his willingness to work with Mello, but M is convinced to this day that it would have never gone well. His own need for competition runs too deep. So things went the way they did — but now?]

[The game has changed.]

I don't know you.

[Not really.]

Regardless of our alleged past in this place: that's the truth, and I would prefer to keep it that way.

[Idols fall; children dream.]

[Audio] un: Linden Tailor

[hearthebell]

[It sounds strange, to hear those words in Mello's voice. Strange, when they knew each other before at least as well as any Bonded pair.

Now, they actually are strangers. There's years of distance between both of them, in multiple ways.]

I believe that you're telling the truth about not remembering your time here... and I couldn't place the blame for what happened on you fully, even if you did.

[Mello might have demanded the gun and pulled the proverbial trigger, but L provided and loaded it.]

I don't want us to make trouble for each other.

[He's thinking less of the potential for Mello's obsession to repeat itself, and more, of the potential for his Bond with Light Yagami to fast become an issue, if not an outright betrayal.]

[Audio] un: Deneuve

[onamissile]

Linden.

[Grave. It comes through in his tone like a bolt of lightning. For someone who wants him to stay away: L is drawing him in. Curiosity is a motherfucker, and L, of all people, should know that.]

You contacted me.

[Fact.]

I refuse to accept responsibility for something I didn't do, especially since I don't know what that thing is.

[Fact.]

Either tell me or leave me be. [As much as it pulls at Mello to demand.] I'm going to find out from N. Or elsewhere. Are you testing me to see if I can come upon the conclusion, myself?

[Audio] un: Linden Tailor

[hearthebell]

No.

[Adamant, and unconcerned about Mello's prying. Near hasn't actually been told, nor has he gone out of his way to unearth that unpleasant knowledge for himself.]

Let it go, and I will endeavor to do the same.

[There's an operative word, there, but it would be an earnest endeavor.]

[Audio] un: Deneuve

[onamissile]

[Oh L, if you know Mello: you know he isn't going to leave it alone.]

[He'll pretend to, however. For both of their sakes.]

So this is the last time we'll be in contact, I assume.

[Bullshit. But L comes and goes like the wind; always has. Mello knows enough to know that to be an absolute truth.]

[Audio] un: Linden Tailor

[hearthebell]

[Most likely, not.]

That would probably be for the best, for both of us. You thrived here before, and I have no doubt that you will, again.