raisetheearth | Entry #A-1: "A" [Video/Action] [Shepherd's Haven]

[Lazarus checks in looking thoroughly displeased. He's standing in the largest building in Shepherd's Haven, most commonly used for forums and meetings. Today, he's surrounded by fabulous, artistic and delectable patries and sweets. Some are on the tables, set out as if for a banquet, but others are on the floor or in odd, unexected places, like on chairs and sticking to the walls.]

It's the one-year anniversary of our move to Shepherd's Haven. I was going to tell you that in spite of the slime, you're all still welcome to come celebrate and eat some of the food prepared for the occasion in the town hall. You know, in a valiant effort to maintain some semblance of community and normalcy, and to reject sensationalist panic and obsession.

[A green blob drops onto his shoulder. He brushes it off with clear distaste, but from the time he touches it to the time it lands on the floor, it transforms into a platter of cream puffs that land with a resounding clatter.]

...disregard that. If you do decide to come, don't eat anything until you confirm with me that it isn't slime. Right now, that's everything over here.

[He turns the feed over so it's in view of a far less enticing display of healthier and plainer options. Much of it was probably canned or frozen previously.]

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I suppose it is possible. We do not know that the gap in their ages was the same as ours; it could have been greater. [Near could have been quite young, still, when it had happened. Unable to take on the responsibility at the time.

[But Nathan frowns thoughtfully. Because what Lazarus has pointed out is true.] It did seem that way, however, yes.

That's true... I think that at this point I'm older than my other, but... not by much, just enough that he would ultimately be in the same phase of life at least. The older a person gets, the less gaps matter, I think...

[And age means less than experience, of course. He's always been one to treat children with respect even if the number of their years is pretty green; prodigies never quite forget what it was like to be inconveniently short and cherub-featured and Nathan still hasn't grown out of that even though he's actually a literal adult now.]

You don't remember anything about other successors? I know of a few, but it seems... dubious, at best, that they would outstrip Near in the running for the title.

[But how much experience would Near have had at such a young age? Unless the children were given test cases of some sort . . .

[That is not a very comforting idea.]

The only one I remember with any specificity is Mello. [Who, from what they had gleaned before, had been behind Near in the running.] I know there had to have been other children there, but no one else comes to mind.

[The more they learn about the elusive Wammy's House and they way they raised their genius orphans, the less comforting it all seems. Lazarus is disquieted to think that his one-time goal, back before they knew more, was to work toward recreating something like it.

He had the best of intentions, but perhaps Watari did, too.]

So... that means you don't know anything about Beyond Birthday? He was Numbered once, one Ban Ueno. You probably wouldn't have met him, the timing's wrong, but... he was one of the first successors, and his legacy is that he went crazy and became a serial killer. It's probably good that he lost his echoes, and I doubt that someone like that could have been your predecessor.

[He hadn't before, but hearing the name -- such a strange name -- brings him up short for a few seconds. The telltale signs of an Echo are brief, but visible.]

... Generations. Beyond Birthday was first generation. Near and Mello were fourth.

[But what about the generations in between? What became of the children who weren't "good enough"?]

[Their world was full of strange names, it seems like, and Beyond Birthday is hardly the strangest of them. He pauses as Nathan's bearing betrays what's happening to him, waiting patiently, wondering if this is the start of another train.]

Four?

[Lazarus finds that disquieting, largely for the same reasons.]

I... wonder what, of the second and third.

[He shakes his head, more than a little uncomfortable himself.]

I don't know.

I wish I could shed some light on it. But what I know about Beyond Birthday isn't encouraging. Are you aware of anything else?