[Video] Open to action for those in Shepherd's Haven

[lovesickkiller]

[When the video starts Misa is leaning forward, looking at herself in a mirror (turned camera by the network). Behind her are white tiles and her hands are resting against a sink; all the trappings of a typical bathroom.]

Phew… talk about nerve wracking… But it’s going really well, I just need to keep it up.

[She seems calm enough, then suddenly her eyes widen and she brings her arms up as if to defend herself.]

AHH-

[Her scream abruptly cuts off. Staring ahead, her hands come to rest against something invisible in front of her shoulders. A minute or so passes like this with Misa utterly mute, sweating and terrified but unmoving. Finally she frantically starts patting one hand against the air and then falls to her knees, gasping for breath.]

What are you? [Breathing heavily, she uses the sink to steady herself and hoists herself back onto her feet.] I can tell you’re not a stalker, but you don’t seem human at all…

[She goes quiet for another minute or two, looking away from the mirror. The terror on her face has been replaced by confusion.]

I don’t understand… I met you before? What notebook…? [Whatever answer she receives, she appears incredulous.] That sounds interesting, but…

[Shock colors her features… then a sly smile breaks out.]

Light is Kira? That would be awesome if it was true. [Slowly the smile fades, replaced by uncertainty again.] Light is Kira… and Misa is the second Kira…?

[A short pause.]

He’s searching for Kira with Ryuzaki, one of L’s men. But wait, how can Kira be searching for Kira? … Just as planned? Ah, could it be that Light is Kira and trying to kill L? [She raises a hand to her mouth in awed surprise, seemingly thrilled.] That being on L’s side is all part of a plan?

[She tilts her head, then shakes it from side to side.] That’s impossible… That Ryuzaki guy I mentioned is attached to Light 24/7 by handcuffs.

[Several minutes tick by, and the longer she stays silent the more confused Misa seems to grow.]

You’re saying some complicated stuff that I don’t know about… What the…? Is that good or bad…? [The confusion remains evident on her face, and when she speaks it’s with a tone of seeking confirmation.] Light is Kira and he wants to catch this other Kira and kill L, right? … And Misa was the second Kira? … So then Light and Misa became Kira thanks to your powers, right? … Then use your power and turn me into Kira again. If Light is going to become Kira again, then I want to too, so I can help him.

[A few seconds pass and Misa smiles, glancing down demurely with a faint blush coloring her cheeks.] I did all that for Light…? That makes me so happy…

[She glances back up.] I see… How many notebooks are there? … But if he had the notebook before, couldn’t he have killed L really easily? … It sounds kinda complicated. Then can’t you kill L? You can, right? You are a shinigami, after all. Why not?

[Slowly, her unimpressed expression gives way to a hero-worshipping smile.]

Yeah… Kira was- I mean, Light was doing it to make the world a better place. You didn’t even know that, shinigami? But if you want to help him then shouldn’t you kill L?

[The answer does not seem to impress her.] Stingy! … Huh? Oh, yeah…

[Her eyes light up, and once again Misa is blushing with a pleased smile on her face.]

Shinigami, you are real. You know everything about me, I totally believe you. I do love Light… Yes, more than anything. If Light was Kira and Misa was Kira too and we were both Kira together… then that’s totally awesome. [There’s a pause, and she giggles happily.] Thank you, shinigami.

[Seconds pass and her smile slips, giving way to a look of unease.]

There’s no way Light would kill Misa. And why would you go so far for me? I don’t exactly want to be loved by a shinigami… And if Light died, I couldn’t live on without him.

[This whole one-sided conversation she has been looking up, as if at a creature that towers above her, but now she looks down, leaning forward a bit.] Okay, I understand. Thanks for warning me. [There’s another pause, and now she is looking straight ahead.] Okay… I understand that, but why don’t you just tell me who it is now? …

“All that trouble?” I don’t remember that… [She straightens up, bringing a hand to the back of her head.] Ugh, there’s so many rules! Don’t you get annoyed? [She sighs, nodding to herself.]

Hmm… There’s a lot of stuff I don’t get, but… seems like you’re really on my side. I can feel that you care about me, shinigami. [She raises a finger in the air as if about to give a lecture.] Sure. Basically, Light has his own plan and I should just act like I always do and let Light figure out who Kira is on his own.

[With a wink, she points two finger-guns forward.] And if I try to tell him who Kira is, he won’t believe me and Ryuzaki and L will start to become suspicious. I get it, no problem.

[There is a pause, then an enthusiastic:] Wow, Misa rocks! [She grins, flashing peace signs with both hands.] Well, I am an actress! Director Nishinaka, Light and Ryuzaki, and now even a shinigami, have asked me to act. And I’m about to land a huge commercial! I’m a star!

Comments

[jasminebloominginshadow]

[... well, that was a bit troubling. They have another one.]

Misa? Are you alright?

[Text]

[lovesickkiller]

['Alright' is not the most accurate word for her current state.]

fine

[text]

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Look. I know what you're probably feeling right now. I've had to deal with memories of my past self doing shit I don't like too. And it was to people whose current selves I care about.

I imagine that's probably only part of what you're feeling on top of that weird memory shit, but I want to help you, if I can.

[Voice]

[lovesickkiller]

[It's a very personal appeal, and though Misa is surprised it's something that she responds to. Is someone else really going through the same thing?]

[She switches to audio.]

It's bad. It's really bad, I don't think anyone can help.

[Voice] - private

[jasminebloominginshadow]

... I've felt the same way, Misa. My previous self did horrible things. She fought the person who became my sister. All the things she did, all the battles she fought, it ultimately destroyed her.

It took me a long time to come to terms with it, but... while I carry that person's memories, I'm also my own person. The same is true for you.

[scarlet_devil]

[Here is a very confused vampire.]

Uhh...

What exactly was that all about?

[text]

[lovesickkiller]

[Misa is curled up on the bathroom floor and cannot even begin to answer that question.]

don't know. felt like i was possessed.

Re: [text]

[scarlet_devil]

It sounded like you were talking to someone.

[text]

[lovesickkiller]

hallucinating

Action

[solvethepuzzle]

[There is approximately nothing about Misa's post that Nathan does not find alarming. The second Kira, repeated references to killing L and pouting about why it apparently can't be done yet, "Kira searching for Kira" . . . the last of which being what puts the Echo through him.

[But he doesn't reply, knowing from much past experience that she really doesn't like discussing Echoes with him. She is always either uncomfortable or ends up snapping at him.

[So he mostly just goes about his business. Helping run Shepherd's Haven is no small task and there is plenty of work to do. But while running it might not be a small task, it is a small place and avoiding people is difficult. And so eventually in leaving the town hall, he opens to door to go and finds her on her apparently on her way to it herself.

[And he just. Pauses.] Oh. [Right, that isn't awkward as hell at all, is it Nathan?]

Action

[lovesickkiller]

[A fair amount of time, heartfelt discussion and crying has transpired before Misa even thinks of venturing outside. But eventually her bathroom becomes claustrophobic, and then suddenly she has to get out and get some fresh air and just get away from where it all happened before she goes crazy all over again.]

[The downside to this is that there are people outside. People like Nathan. Misa stops mid-step, equally awkward for once at seeing him. One look is all it takes to know that he saw. Of course he did; it feels like everyone did. But it would have been foolish to even hope that her episode had escaped his notice.]

... Nathan.

[She ducks her head, eyes on the ground, and attempts to move around him.]

Action

[solvethepuzzle]

[Nathan makes it a point to try and keep up with the network, whether he replies to anything or not. Especially now that things are happening again. Keeping himself informed generally helps with his anxiety; not knowing things leads him to uncomfortable speculation that wears on his nerves. Once something has been publicly broadcast, chances are he's not going to miss it.

[He doesn't stop her when she tries to move past. She's obviously quite aware of how bad her episode was. She may want to be that Misa, and Nathan may not want to be Near, but these facts do not lessen the awkwardness one bit.]

... Are you alright now?

Action

[lovesickkiller]

... Not really.

[It would be just as easy to lie, even if the attempt was transparent, but she doesn't have the energy for facade right now.]

But I'm me now.

[Video]

[numberedshepherd]

[This is all kinds of terrible. It almost makes her last Light-related echo seem like it was far from a big deal. Lazarus knows that talking about it won't be easy, but he contacts her nevertheless, looking tired.]

Misa? Stay where you are, I'm coming to you.

[Audio]

[lovesickkiller]

You're coming...?

[Given everything she just experienced and everything that has been broadcast to others, that reaction makes no sense at all. Misa hasn't had time to collect herself off the bathroom floor yet, let alone entertain the thought of guests.]

[Audio]

[numberedshepherd]

Of course I'm coming. Do you think I'd ignore something like that...?

[He's already on his way over, as evidenced pretty clearly by the slight breathlessness in his voice.]

[Audio]

[lovesickkiller]

Not ignore it... If your other tortured mine and mine wanted to kill yours, does that make us even?

[That might have been a joke. It's hard to tell.]

[Video]

[callmeryuzaki]

Wow, I didn't know you could sound so appealing. Want me to read the other part of that dialogue sometime?

[Audio]

[lovesickkiller]

[Her response comes much later.]

As if you know it. You really have a death wish, huh?

[Audio]

[callmeryuzaki]

Shhh. Wrong one. I'd never hurt myself.

There are others, though. I had no idea you felt the same way until that exciting little speech.

[Audio]

[lovesickkiller]

Getting other people to hurt you is the same thing.

I'm not like her. I would never kill a human being. But you're not one, are you?

[Video]

[witnessme]

Uh, hey Misa? Let's not be killing anyone, OK? Especially not anyone you know. Especially not anyone you're, uh, you know... uh, having safe relations with.

[Video]

[lovesickkiller]

... None of that was me.

[What kind of a reaction is that even, Nux? Well, it's one Misa is so perplexed by that she actually manages to respond to it.]

It was a weird echo, of course I'm not going to kill my boyfriend. Or anyone else!

[Video]

[witnessme]

You're sure? Uh, if you need help again, I can help you out. If you're worried or anything like that.

You just sounded like you really wanted to kill "L". Lazarus went by that. Stopped, but uh, I remember.

[Video]

[lovesickkiller]

I'm not worried.

[Her voice is dead enough that it might even sound a little true.]

This has nothing to do with him, or me. It's just our others. They're already dead, what they wanted doesn't matter.