RPG Death Note [M-LVS]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][center][IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/death_note_logo.gif[/IMG]
*****[/center]

[u]Current Players:[/u]
[B]Sandy[/B] as Evan Umberwood & Cygnus, the Swan of Sorrow
[B]Kitty[/B] as Angie Ward & Song, the Voice of Terror
[B]BKStyles[/B] as Matt Rinauro & Forseti, the Wings of Justice
[B]Blayze[/B] as Alex Aaronson & Auld, the Creeping Shadow
[B]Ezekiel[/B] as Beth Watanabe & Esdras, the Skeletal Defender
[B]Doublehex[/B] as Andrew Camien & Chernobog, the Scheming Devil
[B]Ikillion[/B] as Hira Matakoto & Esther, the Seductive Death
[B]Engel[/B] as Sean Cogle & Zaijian, the Masked Warrior

Note that the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=56003][COLOR=DarkRed]recruitment thread[/COLOR][/url] is open for the whole duration of this game.

[center]*****[/center]
[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Evan Umberwood stepped into the Archives. The place always had this awe-inspiring effect on him, with all it?s towering shelves and endless rows of books and other literature. In the Digital Age the place was a rare sight, but to an aspiring journalist like Evan, it was a treasure trove.

He walked to the Information Desk, attracting the attention of the seemingly bored receptionist.

[B]?Can I help you??[/B] she asked monotonously.

[B]?Yes, please. I need to find any articles about the ?Kira?-incident in Japan from about thirty years back?[/B], Evan said. The receptionist shrugged.

[B]?I see what I can do. You do know that most of the material is highly unreliable, with so many rumors and false leads having went on that time.?[/B]

Evan nodded, but the woman just sniffed at him scornfully.

[i](Great customer service here)[/i], Evan thought.

[B]?Here you go: section B.15, shelf 237. 27. There?s all the notable incidents gathered from the newspapers and tabloids from the year 2006. Doubt you'll find anything significant there, though.?[/B]

[B]?Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help!?[/B] Evan said with a big grin. [i](Not)[/i], he added to himself.

Evan had to wander quite a while until he reached the shelf with what he had been looking for.

[i](Boy, is this an assignment for a rookie!)[/i] Evan sighed by himself. [i](I guess the Boss is just giving me a chance to show what I?m made of?)[/i]

He stopped at the shelf 237.27, and searched for the year 2006.

[B]?Here we go! Kira, I?m going to find out everything about you??[/B] Evan grinned. He picked up a stack of newspapers from the shelf, and carried them to a table. He searched the headlines one by one, but there were surprisingly few mentions of Kira and Japan in them, mostly just wild rumors and articles about rapidly decreased crime rates.

It was just like the recent week had been. A series of criminals had died under strange circumstances. Suddenly there were old people everywhere screaming ?Kira is back!?. Was history repeating itself?

As he went through the stack, his eyes caught up in a black notebook that had somehow gotten between the newspapers. He picked it up, and saw the words ?Death Note? written on the cover with white.

[B]?What?s this???[/B] he said by himself.

[color=DarkRed][B]{Just flip the thing open and you?ll find out}[/B][/color], said a quite depressed voice next to him. Evan quickly turned his face towards the speaker, just to see an almost naked youth sitting on the long table. His skin was pale blue and had two pairs of indigo wings, one sprouting from his bare ankles and the other from his head. But what captured Evan?s attention was the young man?s sad, ageless eyes that glistened with bloody tears.

Evan flinched back, gasping in terror. [B]"Who... what... why...?!"[/B]

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{Oh please... I told you to flip the notebook, not flip out yourself}[/B][/COLOR] the strange, angelic man said in despair. [COLOR=DarkRed][B]{I am Cygnus, the Swan of Sorrow. I am what you mortals know as a Death God, a Shinigami.}[/B][/COLOR]

[B]"A... Shinigami..."[/B] Evan whispered. [B]"But why are you here?"[/B]

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{I'm here because you found my Death Note. Don't worry, you're the only one here that can see me or hear me. I'd suggest we go to a place where we can discuss more privately. If you want, that is.}[/B][/COLOR]

The creature who called himself Cygnus got up the table, but his feet didn't touch the ground. He rather floated in midair. Evan got up as well, leaving the stack of newspapers to the table, taking only the black notebook with him.

[I](Am I insane, following a Death God?)[/I], he asked himself in his thoughts.

Cygnus turned his head to look at Evan, and the answer reflected in his miserable eyes from which blood streaked like a small river. Yes, you are.[/COLOR][/font]

[TheResplendent]

[FONT=Tahoma]The sun grew dimmer as Matt walked casually over to a park bench and sat down. He leaned against the back and let out a loud sigh. He seemed desolate but in actuality he was just resting himself from the game. He'd be all smiles when reading about himself in the papers tomorrow for his 3 for 4 game, complete with 2 RBIs and a double. He had pretty much put the Fireflies on the map after enrolling in the college. Before then they had quite a mediocre record. It was still the beggining of the season, but Matt was considered the big up and coming rookie clutch hitter who has already led the team to a 12-2 record.

He couldn't have considered himself more lucky for still being able to play the way he used to in back in high school, especially after almost ruining his whole life with his street thug antics. He watched a few students walk by, classes were pretty much over for the day. A dim flash of light emitted from behind him as an deep and ominous voice sounded from behind him.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"You played well today. Another victory, despite my still not comprehending it's purpose in the furthering of your human's lives. Losing is normally a punishment for those not fit to survive, yet it hardly seems the case as even the losers of this game are given endless chances to redeem themselves. Such faith you have in yourselves."[/color][/b]

[b]"Heh, come on now. It's like I explained to you before, it's only a game. You told me that you shinigami used to just gamble and sleep up where ever it is you guys hang out. It's much like gambling except theres no real money on the line. Well, that and this game involves skill. It's not necessary for furthering our lives in a sense of living...but more so making it more enjoyable."[/b]

Forseti stood there in all of his stoic glory as usual, his motions still and his wings retracted. His bandage slightly moved over his mouth as he speaked but normally it just seemed like he was a statue with a voicebox provided elsewhere. With more of a tolerance for trying to understand human nature than most death gods, Forseti would always try to apply his own logic to things concerning the human world. "Enjoyable" was hardly a word worthy of recognition for him. Even the joy that some shinigami may get from arbitrarily killing off humans began to dissipate over time.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"Very well. It is late. Perhaps it is time to retire."[/color][/b] Forseti spoke once more. Matt nodded in agreement and slowly got up and grabbed his bag.

He opened the zipper slightly and checked to make sure he had his Death Note with him. He was never too careful to let it out of his sight. It's temptation had already gotten to him once or twice...it was ultimatley the skeptical mind of a headstrong individual at first. After Forseti explained to him all he needed to know about the Death Note, Matt took the responsibility himself to keep it for safe keeping. He didn't know if he was the right person to really be using it quite yet, but he knew that it was better off in his hands. His confidence in his judgement made him sure of that.

[b]"Forseti told me I'm not the only human who has acquired a Death Note...I wonder who else has one of these. I wonder what kind of people they are to be holding on to one of these things."[/b] Matt said to himself quietly as he walked out of the park and onto the sidewalk.[/FONT]

[Blayze]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Alex kissed the host of the party on the cheek, and smiled his charming, heart-warming smile.

[b]"Thanks, Adriana," [/b]he said, [b]"Great party. Well worth the trip."

"Wouldn't have been a party without you, Alex," [/b]she replied with a slightly seductive smile, [b]"You made it so much fun."

"Oh, come on, I wasn't the genius who threw the party in the first place. I'll see you soon," [/b]he said as he walked down the drive towards the street. It was a bit of a walk back to his hotel, but he could handle it. His breath billowed out in huge, thick clouds of vapour as it hit the cold night air, and Alex wrapped his jacket a little tighter around himself. He began to walk towards the hotel, and stuck his hands into his pockets. He felt the notebook nestling in his pocket next to his wallet, and couldn't resist taking it out again and looking at it.

It was a small, nondescript black notebook, with the words "Death Note," scrawled across the front cover in sharp white lettering. He had found it in his pocket a few weeks ago after a party, and since then his life had been turning out extremely strange.

As always, the figure cloaked in darkness melted out of the shadows to stand next to him. Alex smiled, but a shiver ran down his spine.

[b]"Did you enjoy the party, Auld?" [/b]asked Alex, continuing to walk, and watching with interest as the Shinigami death god seemingly glided along beside him.

[b][i]I've never enjoyed parties, [/i][/b]replied the Death God in his normal low hiss, [b][i]Too many people.

[/i]"Why does that not surprise me?" [/b]Alex asked himself under his breath.

[i][b]Have you decided on your next victim yet? [/b][/i]asked Auld, [i][b]It's been a while since the last one.

[/b][/i][b]"You can't rush this kind of thing, Auld," [/b]replied Alex, [b]"You've got to think it through thoroughly, explore every possible option before you commit yourself to it."

[i]You could never be a Shinigami, [/i][/b]hissed Auld, [i][b]You think too much about your victims.

[/b][/i][b]"I'm just being sensible, Auld. And I don't have any wish to be a Shinigami. It seems a hollow, unfulfilling life."

[i]So does going to parties every night of the week.

[/i]"Alright, Auld, if it will stop you going on at me, I'll do it as soon as I get back to my hotel room, ok?" [/b]Alex said, rather irritably, and frightening a woman walking on the other side of the street.

[b][i]Don't force yourself.

[/i]"Alright, I preferred you when you barely spoke to me, Auld. Just stay quiet until I get back."

[i]Fine.

[/i][/b]The strange pair continued walking back to Alex's hotel, unaware of what they would discover when they did...
[/font]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Evan shut the notebook and looked at Cygnus, who was now sitting on his desk, the only tabletop on his small one-room appartment. The rules written on the first few pages of the Death Note circled in his mind.

[B]"So... This is a weapon?"[/B] Evan confirmed from the Death God.
[COLOR=DarkRed]
[B]{You could call it that}[/B][/COLOR], Cygnus sighed, gazing out of the window, huddling his legs against his body. Another tear of blood ran down his cheek, but vanished before it dropped.

[B]"This..."[/B] Evan said, lifting the Death Note up. [B]"This [I]book[/I] can be used to kill people without nobody ever knowing who did it!"[/B]

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{I wouldn't be so sure about it...}[/B][/COLOR] Cygnus said, shrugging indifferently.

[B]"Wait... This must be it! All those weird deaths that couldn't possibly be committed by anybody were done using [I]this[/I]!"[/B]

Then Evan thought about it some more. [B]"No, not this same book. Cygnus, are there other notebooks like this? Other Death Notes?"[/B]

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{All Shinigami carry at least one}[/B][/COLOR], Cygnus said with his thin voice, all the while looking out of the window, the daylight reflecting on his deep blue eyes and the red tears that sapped from them. [COLOR=DarkRed][B]{And we Shinigami... We are countless.}[/B][/COLOR]

[B]"Then I'm right!"[/B] Evan beamed victoriously. [B]"But wouldn't that also mean... [I]Kira[/I] used one too!"[/B]

In one afternoon, it all became clear to Evan Umberwood. But now that he possessed a Death Note as well, would he have the guts to use it?[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Doublehex]

[font=courier new]December 17, 2036

Thirty-six minutes after two

Andrew rubbed his hands as he fastened his Boston Red Sox baseball cap on his head. It was a few days before Christmas, and as would be expected, all of Boston was in lights. Multi-colored ornaments could be found on almost every street building, and the white snow added a sense of majesty to the season.

Andrew was in a dark brown sweatshirt, the hood pulled over his face. You could barely see his dark brown (almost black) hair. His sleeves were rolled up to cover most of his semi-pale skin. He had a raspy voice today; he did not have the best night trying to finish some assignments for Journalism at the very last minute.

He adjusted his sunglasses, and took a turn into a pawn shop. It was mostly on a whim ? after all of the Christmas shopping that he had been doing, he surprisingly enough had a few hundred dollars to spare. He never was one to save his money; the moment he?d get fifty dollars, he was quick to buy a video game, an anime, or a movie.

A bell rang as he entered the shop. The pawn shop was by no means a dusty, dark back alley home of underground dealers. It looked more like a supermarket than anything, minus the fact that it was the size of half an aisle. Pretty much everything (legal) you could think of was seated along the shelves.

?Anything I can do for you??

?Just looking.?

The man raised an eyebrow. Another one freaked out his voice. Andrew cursed in his mind before he started to browse.

It was in a few minutes that Andrew found something that interested him; a black note-book with a winged skull printed on it. The words ?Death Note? was scribbled in capital letters. Some Japanese letters were printed beneath the title.

Andrew flipped to the back cover of the notebook, given the impression that it was a novel.

Nothing.

Andrew checked the inside cover.

Nothing.

Andrew flipped through the pages. The flaps must of have been lost, he reasoned. It?s happened frequently enough.

Nothing but empty, lined pages.

?It would make a cool notebook?, Andrew decided. He brought it up to the cashier.

?That?s been here for a while. A few years, I think.?

?Why didn?t you throw it out??

The man gave him a weird look. Andrew sighed, and repeated himself, slowing down his speech.

?Oh. I really don?t know to be honest.?

?How much you want for this??

He said ten dollars. Andrew handed him the amount and walked out of the store, the ?death note? in hand.

[center]* * *[/center]

It was around ten when Chernobog decided to visit him. Now obviously, he wouldn?t allow Andrew to actually see him. It wasn?t in his nature.

But he did allow the rules to appear in the inside cover of the death note.

Andrew was scrawling some notes from the computer screen for a journalism project when he noticed something.

The notebook got heavier.

Andrew shook the notebook lightly, trying to see if something got caught in it ? a loose pen perhaps.

That was when he first saw the rules.

[center]1. The human whose name is written in this note shall die.
2. This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject's face in their mind when writing his/her name. Therefore, people sharing the same name will not be affected.
3. If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject's name, it will happen.
4. If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack.
5. After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.[/center]

?What the hell??

And then Chernabog snickered lightly.

[i]Let?s get started[/i].[/font]

[Kitty]

[size=1][indent][b]"Happy half-birthday Song!"[/b] Angie cried gleefully, snapping the elastic band of a party hat underneath the Death God's chin. The spirit turned to face the twenty-something college student, her solid black eyes giving her a quizzical stare.

[b][i]"Shinigami don't have birthdays, let alone half-birthdays,"[/i][/b] Song's 'voice' echoed in Angie's mind.

[b]"I know, I know, but it's been six months today since we met, and 'anniversary' is too big a word for a little girl like you, so I figured we could pretend it's your birthday!"[/b] Angie replied, unperturbed by Song's obviously annoyed state.

[b][i]"I'm not a little girl, Angie."[/i][/b]

[b]"Of course you aren't. Now eat your cupcake,"[/b] Angie giggled, shoving the cupcake into her company's tiny hands. Song seemed to be analyzing the strange (to her) food she had just received while removing the party hat she had unwillingly been wearing as Angie rushed out of her apartment's decent-sized kitchen and towards her bedroom. She grabbed the small black notebook hidden in her wardrobe and returned, flipping through the pages as she walked.

[b]"Care to do anything special for your half-birthday?"[/b] she asked, totally forgetting about the conversation the two of them had a minute ago.

[b][i]"The pages have more names on them since you picked up that notebook than I've put down in half a century, when it's not necessary for you but it's my job. You don't think you're using it too much? Or too carelessly?"[/i][/b] Song wondered. Angie was about to scold her for not eating her cupcake when Song pointed to the irremovable tape covering her mouth that prevented her from really eating anything. Angie rolled her eyes and took the cupcake back, taking a bite out of it.

[b]"I didn't kill [i]that[/i] many people. Honest. Besides, it's mostly just relatives of mine, anyway. Nobody knows anyone in my family,"[/b] the brunette lied, taking another bite of the sugary dessert in her hand, her eyes scanning the page that listed names she knew all too well. Song's empty eyes seemed to bore a hole in the young woman until she finally mumbled under her breath that she may have been using the Death Note a bit extensively.

[b]"But I've stretched them out! And I wasn't lazy and just used the heart attack rule. They died doing things they normally did,"[/b] Angie added, her pink cheeks hinting her slight annoyance at being called on her lie.

[b][i]"It's not my place to judge how you use the Death Note. I was just curious,"[/i][/b] Song sighed passively, waving a hand as she floated up from her seat at the counter and through the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. She landed on the couch and started using the TV remote with one of her outstretched wings.

[b]"Nobody will be suspicious. Nobody will miss them,"[/b] Angie continued mumbling to herself, shutting the notebook quickly and finishing off the cupcake. She dropped the Death Note on the coffee table in front of the couch before taking a seat next to Song. She glanced over at the shinigami and let out a sudden cry. The spirit of death looked over at Angie for a moment, wondering what she had made the noise for.

[b]"You aren't wearing your hat..."[/b]

[b][i]"... No, I'm not,"[/i][/b] Song replied nonchalantly, returning her attention to the random shows on the TV.[/indent][/size]

[Sandy]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][FONT=Courier New]In the night, Evan was surfing the [i]InterWorld[/i] with his laptop. He went to his favorite gay porn [i]Square[/i], but even pretty boys offering their virgin butts couldn't take his mind off the black notebook laying on the table, next to the Shinigami who was still sitting there.

[B]"Aw, hell!"[/B] he cussed in frustration. Without thinking further, he went to [I]GoogleField[/I] and typed in 'Death Note'.

He didn't expect to find anything, but he did.

[B]"What's this...?"[/B] he wondered out loud, and clicked the [I]LinkFlower[/I] that [I]GoogleField[/I] offered him. It lead to a full black screen with only three lines of text in white.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/SamSandy/deathnote-text.png[/IMG][/CENTER]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][FONT=Courier New]Evan just stared at the black screen for a long while. He was scared, but he knew he needed to be there at that time. At an old theater in New York at the turn of the new year.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1]She sat, her narrow eyes burning from her lack of sleep and stress, almost trying to peer beneath the layers of writing for some hidden meaning. Beth was cross-legged on her bed, the Death Note resting between her knees. The skeleton lurking in the corner was unnerving, but so far he hadn't spoken to her so she supposed that was okay. She didn't much feel like talking to a bunch of bones either.

She'd had the urge to use the book plenty of times, knowing from the few scraps of information she'd pulled together that something similar had been related to the Kira case. L had been her idol from the first time she'd head of him, and while one part of her yearned to gain recognition, for people to bow down to her and call her Kira...another part of her brilliant mind wanted to be the hero. Just once.

She scratched her hair with one end of her pen, hands shaking as they neared the deathly white pages of the book. She heard a soft laugh come from the skeleton but didn't look around, scrunching up her face in slight annoyance.

After a while the notebook was pushed under her matress again and Beth rolled into bed, her back turned to the open sockets that seemed to watch over her constantly.

****

The next morning was fresh despite the ever-present smell of petrol in the New York air. Beth walked leisurely toward 5th Avenue, intent on looking at the window displays in Saks. The giant behind her still lurked and loomed, the Death Note tucked into her backpack for reasons even the young genius couldn't entirely understand.

As she was peering through the glass, nose pressed almost to the window, a chilly voice like graveyard wind met her ears. She turned, shocked, to see the grinning skeletal face leaning down to her level.

[B]"My name is Esdras. It's about we get to know each other."[/B]

And it began. First with criminals that no one would miss...but soon, all too soon, Beth knew she'd begin to exact her revenge. And the Old Maxwell Theatre was only a few blocks away.


[B]OOC: Saks is on 5th, right? I'm pretty sure it is.[/B][/SIZE]

[Ikillion]

[color=#d2b43b][SIZE=1][FONT=Trebuchet MS]It?s not everyday that a person is given a trip to the ?New World? of America for a fee that seemed nonexistent. Although it wasn?t anything to brag about, that was exactly the case with what happened to Hira. There he was, on the Eastern Coast of New York. Why there? He really didn?t care due to the fact that he had no choice in the matter; it was already enough for him to just try to absorb the trip and get some kind of fun out of it. So instead, this boy ended up trolling along the docks of a port, showing themselves to the wide ocean before them. It wasn?t the first time he had seen the ocean though, it was just something that he wanted to see. Just what was the difference between the two major bodies of water?

After a short while of prowling around, Hira eventually plopped down on the edge of a dock. His feat swinging and swaying only inches away as if he was nothing more than a child. Be it boredom or some other kind of external force, Hira began to swing his legs back and forth over the edge of the dock while looking down at the reflection of himself in the water. It was almost as if he was trying to look down deep within his soul for something. Could it have been for some deeper meaning? Probably not as Esther was less than a couple of feet behind him, fluttering her wings looking over his shoulder. With a short sigh, Hira turned around and began to look through his bag of things.

[FONT=HGKyokashotai] [COLOR=#350655]?What are you doing???[/COLOR] [/FONT] The female Shinigami questioned looking down at the owner of the book.

[B]?Looking for the Death Note? what else??[/B] Kira responded, not even taking a moment to turn around and look at her.? [B]It?s been far too long? since I?ve made something hurt? I'm starting to feel depressed.? [/B] Hira continued to look through his bag digging through many extra things that looked odd even to the Shinigami.

[COLOR=#350655][FONT=HGKyokashotai]?I still don?t see why you wear those Hira. They look so?different when compared to what the rest of your kind wear.?[/FONT][/COLOR]

[B]?I could say the same? About what your choice in clothes? Esther? Yet don?t take that into mind? It?s just because I am special??[/B] He found the familiar looking black book and pulled it out from his bag and pulled out a pen. [B]?Now then? who should I make hurt??[/B]

Esther licked her lips knowing the kinds of deaths that Hira preferred. Bloody, closed casket, gory ones, just the way she liked it.[COLOR=#350655][FONT=HGKyokashotai] ?I?ve never seen a human with a lust to kill so much like you, maybe you really are special.? [/FONT][/COLOR]

[B]?Damn right? Now then?? [/B] Their conversation stopped for a second as Hira began to write down some more names only to add to the many more that were already there, however, in the end there were only three new names to be added. One died of a decapitation, the second died from being impaled by a steering column, and the third died from suicide by seppuku.

[COLOR=#350655][FONT=HGKyokashotai] ?Those deaths were?interesting to read, but I wonder if they actually were able to happen? You know, given the circumstances? [/FONT] [/COLOR] Esther said looking over the young man?s shoulder.

[B]?Don?t care really? I was just bored and? Decided to write something down. If it happened or not? I don?t mind if they do or don?t? Maybe they were lucky enough to? Escape death.? [/B] Hira chuckled for a bit before getting up.[B] ?Besides, they were people? who deserved to die anyways.?[/B]

And so the duo was off, with the only sound between the two of them being the cackling laughter of the Shinigami.

[COLOR=#350655][FONT=HGKyokashotai] "You sure are an interesting person Hira. I can only think of what twisted though your mind can think up next." [/FONT][/COLOR]

[B]"I know I am... Now lets find something... Fun"[/B] Hira coughed a bit as he talked as the duo went off away from the port and back towards the city.
[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Engel]

[color=darkslategray][size=1]Sean sat in a spinning leather chair, scribbling something in a notebook bearing no special marks except for the color. His pen moved erratically and stopped for a moment, tapping his lip before he started again. The white tips of his dark black hair brushed down against the paper as he finished it.

[i]Dennis Szeckilov-
Hit by a speeding mail car at 6:47pm.[/i] Sean leaned his head out of the window and something appeared beside him, putting his hand on Sean's shoulder and looking down at the street with him.

[b]"Striking again against the petty theives, my young master?"[/b] Zaijian drawled teasingly. When he said master, he ment apprentice, as in someone young. Neither would admit it, but they had a deep respect for the other.

[b]"I suppose you'd call it that, 'scept this one is a bit more serious than the others."[/b] Sean was smiling as he looked on, reaching up to grab an apple from the mini-fridge sitting on the table beside him. He handed it to Zaijian, who lifted his mask slightly and began to eat it. Shinigami seemed to love apples.

[b]"How so?"[/b] Zaijan said in between bites of his apples. Sean had never seen the face underneath that mask, as he always tipped the brim of his armored helm down. It wasn't too much of an issue, just something that intrigued him.

[b]"He date raped some girl and beat her up pretty badly. But, we get to see him splattered on the sidewalk, and that's what matters, eh?"[/b] Zaijian allowed himself a large chuckle as he finished his apple and threw the core into the trash can.

[b]"Indeed."[/b] Sean cheered as Dennis was smashed into a bag of meat and bones and flung off the front grill of the mail truck and onto the side walk.

[b]"Score! Germany wins the world cup."[/b] He laughed and looked over at Zaijian, who'd replaced his mask. Somehow, the smile seemed a little less evil and a little more enthused. His hand hadn't ever left Sean's shoulder, the large bone gauntlet resting comfortably on the white shirt.

[b]"Your customs are indeed strange, Sean. But I find them rather...enjoyable."[/b] Sean looked up and put his hand on the gauntlet, playing with it with his fingertips in a seminterested manner before nodding. He stood up slowly and moved over to his computer, closing the Death Note and bringing it with along the way. He ripped a page out and looked up at Zaijian, before putting it in the pocket.

[b]"We're going out on the town, Zai."[/b] Sean spoke with finality, rearranging his ring and his necklace before moving to the door of his room, opening it up and moving out into the hallway, the Shinigami following closely.[/color][/size]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Evan loved Christmas time. It was the only time in the year that everybody were kind and generous and forgiving. Not because they wanted to be, though, but because they were [I]expected[/I] to be. As he was walking in the shopping streets of the downtown Washington D.C., he saw fake smiles and heard overly cheery greetings everywhere.

Evan just loved it when people had to pretend to be good. It served them right.

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{Are we really going to New York?}[/B][/COLOR] Cygnus asked him, sounding more whiny than usual. The Shinigami was floating next to him, his ethereal body going through people who came from the opposite direction. Evan had just bought a ticket to a flight in New Year's Eve.

[B]"Yes, we are. I need to go check on the clue. Why is it a problem to you?"[/B] Evan asked quietly, trying not to attract people's attentions by seemingly talking to himself out loud.

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{It's the other Shinigami... If we really find other Death Note holders in that old theater, there will no doubt be other Death Gods as well. I don't get along with them very well, you see}[/B][/COLOR], Cygnus said miserably, hanging his head low. Evan sighed sympathetically.

[B]"I'll look after you, don't worry..."[/B] he whispered to the Death God. A human taking care of a god... how silly!

As they passed an alley, Evan happened to look into it and froze as he saw a familiar figure standing there.

[B]"You!"[/B] Evan shouted, glutching his hands into fists. He took a few steps into the alley.

[COLOR=DarkOliveGreen][B]"Well, if it isn't Mr. Umberwood"[/B][/COLOR], said Boyson Ivy, a sluttish black transvestite who was also a notorious drug dealer. [COLOR=DarkOliveGreen][B]"Long time no see, dear."[/B][/COLOR]

Evan felt the urge to attack the she-man, but Boyson Ivy's gleaming muscles prevented him to test his luck. Evan wouldn't stand a chance to the hulk of a transvestite.

[COLOR=DarkOliveGreen][B]"I see, you still hold a grudge"[/B][/COLOR], Boyson mused, touching his painted lips. [COLOR=DarkOliveGreen][B]"I'm truly sorry about what happened to poor Adam, but he made his choice all by himself. I just gave him the goods."[/B][/COLOR]

[I](If I only had that bastard's real name, he'd be as good as dead!)[/I] Evan though, but was immediately frightened by his thoughts. Could he really do it?[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Blayze]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Alex checked back into his hotel amidst chaos. There were mounds of yellow tape stretched across doorways, and dozens of police officers around.

[b]"What's going on here?" [/b]Alex asked the pretty receptionist, [b]"Why are all the police here?"

"They were called in to investigate a suicide that happened a few hours ago," [/b]she replied, never looking at Alex, [b]"Some high-flying businessman stepped out of his fourteenth-floor window. He didn't stand a chance."

[/b]Alex turned to look at the scene of chaos that was occuring behind him. An ambulance had turned up, and the paramedics and the cops were arguing over moving the body.

[b][i]It's a bad idea, [/i][/b]said Auld, melting out of the shadows, [b][i]Don't get involved.

[/i][/b]Alex shook his head as a sign of him ignoring the Shinigami, and stepped out of the glass double doors into the cold night air. He walked up to the nearest policeman and tapped him on the shoulder.

[b]"Step away, son," [/b]the policeman said immediately, [b]"This is no place for minors."

"I'm nineteen, actually, officer," [/b]replied Alex, [b]"And I just want to know what's going on."

"Well..." [/b]the officer began, but Alex tuned him out to instead listen to what the people crowded around the body were saying.

[b]"Twenty-three years old, name Holden Gregson."

"Wait a minute, isn't he the CEO of that massive corporation? You know, GR Services?"

"You're right. But...he's one of the four richest men in the country. Why would he have any reason to kill himself?"

"He definitely killed himself?"

"There are no signs of a struggle on his body or in the room. I guess the stress must have gotten to him."

[/b][i]Yeah, either that or someone else like me, [/i]thought Alex, [i]Auld said there were more people around with Death Notes. I'm betting one of them did this. If they knew that Gregson was staying at this hotel, they could have specified in the Death Note what time and place he should kill himself. But why Gregson? Surely there are much worthier candidates for execution.

[b]In case you were wondering, [/b][/i]hissed Auld, [i][b]It wasn't a Shinigami who planned this death.

[/b]Then that confirms it. Someone with a Death Note killed Gregson. And I need to find out who before they kill any more innocents...
[/i][/font]

[TheResplendent]

[FONT=Tahoma]Matt turned into the usual pizzeria before hitting his apartment, ordering 2 slices with extra garlic powder. It was a small shop, normally for take out but there were 8 stools set up at the counter for people who wanted to eat there. As he ate, Forseti was nowhere to be found. Two more people walked in, looking to be males in their late teens or early twenties. One of them brushed into Matt's shoulder rather roughly, albeit by accident.

[b]"Hey, you could say excuse me you know."[/b] Matt said, taking another bite. The two stopped and looked at him in a puzzled way.

[b]"What was that? Alright buddy, what are you going to do about it?"[/b] the shorter one said, walking up to get in Matt's face.

[b]"Now now, I'm not trying to pick a fight. Just saying that it was rude of you not to..."[/b]

The rest of Matt's pizza was slapped out of his hands before he could finish speaking, as the shorter man's friend starting laughing hysterically.

[b][i]'Hm, these guys are definitly doped up.'[/b][/i] Matt thought to himself as he stood up.

[b]"Oh!? What are you gonna do? You gonna beat us up? Or maybe, your gonna kill us? HAHAHAHAHA!"[/b]

Matt narrowed his eyes a bit.

[b]"Well now, I wouldn't push that if I were you."[/b] Matt said, laughing a bit to himself. The others laughed with him, as if they were all high off of that goofy gas you get at the dentist. The other two left leaving Matt standing beside his pizza on the floor.

[b]"Hey, Matt! Don't worry about it, i'll get you another slice on the house alright...they aren't usually like that..."[/b] Joe, the shop owner said. Matt started out the door, following them as closely as possible with his eyes, comitting to memory their facial features. Finally he turned around to Joe.

[b]"Joe, are they regulars here? I hardly ever see them."[/b] Matt asked, taking the slice he had put out for him.

[b]"Huh? Oh yeah, they usually come in earlier then you. Guess they were a little high or something. Those guys are into all kinds of that nasty shit."[/b]

[b]"Do you know their names?"[/b] Matt asked calmly.

[b]"Yeah, the short one is Tony Ciracco and his friend is Marcus Soto. Tony is the son of David Ciracco you know."[/b] Joe answered, whipping up some more dough for the next pie.

[b]"David Ciracco? The owner of the Chrystler Building?"[/b] Matt asked, slightly curious.

[b]"Yeah, the same. Don't ask me how he turned out like that, but I guess it's tough when your dad is a big shit in the city."[/b]

Matt put a subtle and unsettling smile on his face as he grabbed his bag and tossed it over his shoulder. He threw his empty plate out in the garbae pal nearby and started walking out.

[b]"Thanks, Joe. I'll see ya on Monday."[/b] Matt said, waving behind him.

Halfway to the subway station, Forseti appeared beside Matt. His usual posture, his usual stoic demeanor.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"The Chrystler Building, is it important?"[/color][/b]

[b]"Oh it's one of New York City's busiest metropolitan centers, along with being the world's tallest building in the early 1930s...it's safe to say if Mr. Ciracco lost his precious son, it might cause quite a commotion."[/b]

Forseti turned his head slightly toward him, still no change in facial expression...though the only part of his face that was revealed were his eyes.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"So you will use it?"[/color][/b]

[b]"Oh why not...it might even make the news. After all i was feeling a bit left out with all of these stories of people's deaths being shown on the news...and none of them because of me."[/b] Matt said with a grin on his face, as he and Forseti descended into the subway to wait for the 4 train back to Brooklyn.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"You humans are indeed odd creatures sometimes."[/color][/b]

[b]"Ha, that's a real insult coming from someone with a wrapped up face, golden eyes, and a pair of gray wings, isn't it?"[/b] Matt said laughing to himself, as Forseti just kept silent. The train arrived, as both stepped in.[/FONT]

[center]* * * * *[/center]

[size=1]OOC: Woot, living in New York gives me the advantage of detail lol. As a disclaimer, David Ciracco is not the real owner of the chrystler building, after all this is a fictitious time :P.[/size]

[Blayze]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]A few days later, Alex was sitting in a small coffee shop eating breakfast. He brushed the bagel crumbs off himself and opened up a newspaper for any more signs of unusual deaths. Anything that he could find may help in the search for this other Death Note holder. He had been cutting out clippings that had jumped out at him for being rather suspicious, and sticking them to his hotel room walls.

There had already been a number of incidents he had found in the paper that he had circled with a black marker pen, thinking they were somewhat unusual.

[b][i]You look terrible.

[/i][/b]Alex just waved Auld's comment to one side, but the Shinigami spoke the truth. Since Gregson's death, Alex had barely had two hours of sleep. He had been far too busy searching through newspapers, looking at news reports on the television and internet, and browsing through police reports on the internet. It was surprisingly easy to get into the police servers when you knew how.

[i][b]You should really give this up. There are at least a dozen other people who are holding Death Notes. It's going to take you a long time to find out who it is, and by then they'll have killed a lot more people.

[/b][/i][b]"I can't just sit by and do nothing when someone is killing innocent people, Auld," [/b]whispered Alex irritably, [b]"I have to do everything in my power to stop them, otherwise, who will?"

[i]I'm just saying, I've seen people get too wrapped up in their Death Notes before. It gets to you, all the death that they cause. It's best just to use them and not really think about the consequences.

[/i]"That's ridiculous. I can't go around using the Death Note whenever I feel like it and not care that I've killed people. I'm not a Shinigami."

[i]No, you're not. You have a lot to learn before then.

[/i]"I don't want to be a Shinigami, Auld. I'm happy as a human."

"That's a phrase I've heard myself say far too many times," [/b]said another voice, a human, from a table near him.

[b]"What?" [/b]whispered Alex.

[b]"I don't want to be a Shinigami either. I'm going to take a wild stab and see what the next two words mean to you: Death Note."

"You have one too?" [/b]asked Alex.

[b]"Hmmm. My Shinigami told me there were others. I never expected there to be another in Washington. I guess its my lucky day."

"Who are you?"

"It's best we don't talk here. Too many people around. We need to go somewhere more private. Follow me."

[/b]The shadowy figure got to its feet (Alex couldn't tell at this point if it was male or female), and walked out of the coffee shop. Alex, having already paid, got to his feet and walked out, gathering up the paper and putting it in his inside jacket pocket.

---

OOC: Anyone who is in the Washington area can be the person if they so wish
[/font]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Evan couldn't believe it: he'd run into another Death Note users in a coffee shop, of all places! He was now leading the young man to a nearby park. It was chilly and dark outside, so nobody hung around there at the time.

[B]"So, I am Evan Umberwood"[/B], Evan greeted, extending his hand for a shake. The other man shook it.

[COLOR=Black][B]"Alex. Alex Aaronson"[/B][/COLOR], the man introduced himself. Evan took a good look at him, now that he had the chance. He was clearly many years younger than Evan, and his face reflected innocence and enthusiasm. His jetblack hair had streaks of crimson, and he had a silver earring on his left earlobe.

Evan hand automatically wandered to his own golden earring on his right ear. His last gift from Adam...

[B]"You have a Death Note too"[/B], Evan began, sitting on a park bench. [B]"And apparently a Shinigami following on your heels as well."[/B]

Alex nodded, then took out his Death Note.

[COLOR=Black][B]"Auld tells me to make you touch this"[/B][/COLOR], Alex said.

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]{It will make you see the Shinigami following him}[/B][/COLOR], Cygnus instructed, sitting behind Evan on the back of the bench. [COLOR=DarkRed][B]{Auld... The Creeping Shadow...}[/B][/COLOR]

Evan touched Alex's Death Note, and suddenly saw a tall, shadowy figure hovering over the other man. This Shinigami was nothing like the sorrowful Cygnus.

[B]"I guess it's only fair that you can touch my notebook as well"[/B], Evan said shrugging.

After Alex had done so, Evan couldn't help but to chuckle at the absurd situation.

[COLOR=Black][B]"What's so funny?"[/B][/COLOR] Alex asked, confused but smiling too.

[B]"Ah, nothing... I guess we've bonded now. So tell me, Alex, would you be interested in travelling to New York for New Year's Eve with me?"[/B] Evan said with his trade-mark wide grin on his face.[/COLOR][/FONT]

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1]Beth had seen a man on the street, his head constantly turning to the blank space next to him. He seemed to be talking to himself, but a few soft words from Esdras informed her that this man was talking to another Shinigami. Another Death Note, in New York City...

She jogged after him, trying to catch up as he descended to the subway. She flashed a student card to the guard to let her through without paying and barely managed to jump onto the train as the doors were closing. She thought for a moment she had lost Esdras, but he reappeared next to her as though nothing had happened.

The carriage was surprisingly empty, though she guessed it was due to the Christmas time rush being over, and she managed to find a seat opposite the dark haired man. Beth guessed him to be Italian, and by the looks of the gold around his neck she wouldn't have been surprised if he was part of the mafia. But that didn't matter, if they both had one of the books. It mattered even less if he didn't have one.

She looked up as Esdras who, as always, was grinning his deathly serious grin, but now he wasn't looking at her. He was looking directly at someone, or something, and Beth could only assume it was the other Shinigami. She looked back at the man opposite her and saw him look up, a little confused, at the spirit next to him. Slowly, he turned around and his eyes met with Beth's. She smiled knowingly and dug in her backpack, boots tapping against the floor to a nonexistent tune.

The man's eyes went wide as Beth produced her Death Note, but she wanted to wait for him to make the next move. He obviously knew what it was, but Beth wanted to know if he had enough guts to show his own. Of course, it wouldn't matter if he didn't. Beth would just go on alone and she was confident that she had more brains than the majority of this carriage put together. She smiled a deceptively innocent smile and shrugged, [B]"Well?"[/B]


[B]OOC The student ID card thing probably isn't true, but I guess we can take some liberties with the system here.

EDIT: I just noticed that three of the four Arena mods are represented by DN characters. We all match~ <3[/B][/SIZE]

[Blayze]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Alex was slightly...shocked to say the least when the mournful creature appeared from thin air behind Evan. Blood-red tears ran down its face, and indigo-blue wings sprouted from its temples. Pale hair flowed down its back, and its skin was deep blue.

[b][i]Cygnus, the Swan of Sorrow, [/i][/b]commented Auld, [b][i]I knew him back in the Shinigami realm.

[/i][/b]Alex waved aside Auld's comment and continued listening to Evan. He began to laugh under his breath.

[b]"What's so funny?" [/b]asked Alex, slightly confused, but he couldn't help smiling. This man's attitude was infectious.

[/font][font=Lucida Sans Unicode][color=black][b]"Ah, nothing... I guess we've bonded now. So tell me, Alex, would you be interested in travelling to New York for New Year's Eve with me?"[/b] asked Evan.

Alex thought for a moment. Why was this complete stranger asking him to spend New Year's Eve with him, in a different city?

[b]"Oh, don't worry, it's nothing weird," [/b]said Evan, [b]"There was a notice posted on the internet. The title of it was "Death Note," and it said something about New Year's Eve at a theatre in New York. You never know, it might help. We could meet more people with Death Notes."

"Or it could be a total hoax. It could just as easily be a complete waste of time."

"Just think about it. Could you make something up called a "Death Note"? And why would anyone post a notice on the internet about it if they just made it up?" [/b]said Evan.

[b][i]He has a point, [/i][/b]said Auld, [i][b]You might as well go to this thing. Worst case is, its a waste of time. But if its not then you'll regret not going.

[/b][/i][b]"Alright then," [/b]Alex sighed, [b]"Here's my phone number." [/b]He handed a slip of paper over to Evan with his number written on it, and Evan did the same back to Alex.

[b]"I'm thinking I'll see you soon, Alex," [/b]said Evan, disappearing into the evening mist that had covered the park, his Shinigami following him.

[b]"So what's the deal with his Shinigami? You said you knew him in the Shinigami realm."

[i]Nothing special. Run-of-the-mill Shinigami really. Except...

[/i]"What?" [/b]asked Alex, stopping and turning to face Auld, [b]"What is it?"

[i]I can't tell you. I swore that I wouldn't.

[/i]"Fine," [/b]said Alex, and he walked off at a much faster pace than before.

[/color][/font][i][b][font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Alright. Go and sulk...
[/font][/b][/i]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Christmas went by fast, Evan visited his relatives and took a candle to Adam's grave. He couldn't get his thoughts out of the forthcoming trip to New York, though.

He had called the Alex-guy and they had agreed on flying there together. Whatever was waiting in the Old Maxwell Theater, two people could face it much more courageously than one.

Evan and Alex met again in the airport when it was time to go.

[B]"Ready?"[/B] Evan asked the young man, grinning.

[COLOR=Black]"As ever"[/COLOR], he replied. Both of their Shinigamis followed them like shadows - silently but persistently.

Evan hadn't been to New York after his childhood, so it was actually more boring than he remembered. Sure, there were awfully many people and bustling everywhere, but it certainly wasn't anything new to somebody that had lived in Washington D.C.

The two young men took a taxi to their hotel. Inside the car Evan suddenly felt his heart start to pump harder.

[I](This is it)[/I], he thought with his journalist's logic. [I](Tonight I'll see the true power of these Death Notes. This is going to be the news story of a lifetime!)[/I][/COLOR][/FONT]

[Ezekiel]

[SIZE=1]The man on the train, Beth found out that his name was Matt, had quickly produced his Death Note after Beth had shown hers. He sat next to her, trying to look nonchalant while keeping a close eye on everyone. The train wasn't crowded, so he didn't seem worried about bringing the black book out into the open, and Beth imagined her blasé attitude had helped.

Esdras had told her that touching another person's Death Note would allow her to see the other Shinigami. She grabbed Matt's hand by the wrist and placed it on the note in her lap, while reaching out to run her fingers over his. Immediately she met with the sight of a magnificent Shinigami, his impressive wings folded behind him while his bright eyes stared straight into hers. It was a little unnerving seeing those plainly inhuman eyes, and Beth realised that seeing the empty sockets of Esdras hadn't prepared her for this. Unsurprisingly, Matt didn?t look too surprised at Esdras' appearance, as anyone who'd watched an episode of CSI knew what a skeleton looked like.

Beth had accompanied Matt until he got off at his stop, and despite them not talking very much they had agreed on going to the Old Maxwell Theatre together on New Year's Eve.

Now it was December 31st, and Beth had already convinced her parents that she would be on a school trip for a couple of days. They had got to a point now where Beth's intelligence had overcome them, and the young girl found it far too easy to manipulate them.

She lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with her bobbed hair fanned out behind her head. She had already packed her school bag full of snacks and an extra pair of clothes, having a sneaking suspicion that this meeting wouldn't be a one-night thing. She was more than ready to leave home if it was required.

[B]"Esdras,"[/B] she muttered, turning her head to face the Shinigami. He inclined his head and drifted over to her, munching on a bar of chocolate. [B]"You mentioned something about Shinigami eyes a couple of days ago. Remind me about them again."[/B]

The Shinigami floated above the bed and lowered his head to come face-to-face with Beth, who didn't even flinched. He seemed to grin more than usual, and his sockets filled with a swirling grey and gold glow that the young girl found mesmerising.

[COLOR=DimGray][B]"These eyes will let you see the name and life-spans of anyone you come across, even if it's a photo. If you can see their face you will have everything you need to know about them."[/B][/COLOR]

[B]"And the price?"[/B] Beth asked, her voice sounding distant to her as she raised herself on her elbows. Esdras chuckled darkly and drew himself up to his full height, dropping the chocolate wrapper on the floor.

[COLOR=DimGray][B]"Why, I only ask for half of your remaining life-span."[/B][/COLOR]

Beth seemed to consider for a while. She smiled a little as she looked up at her Shinigami companion, cocking her head to one side and shrugging.

[B]"I don't like the idea of being an old lady anyway. [I]Give me those eyes[/I]."[/B]

Esdras nodded and stared into Beth's black orbs again, tapping her Death Note softly.

[COLOR=DimGray][B]"As you wish."[/B][/COLOR]

[B]OOC: I wanted to keep this moving, so I hope BK doesn't mind. I couldn't bear waiting anymore. I also hope it's okay for Beth to have the eyes now. If not I'll change it.[/B][/SIZE]

[Kitty]

[size=1][indent]Angie had gotten off the couch after half an hour of watching crappy cartoons that, for some reason, amused Song to no end. She used that as one of her main arguing points that Song was a little girl, despite how much the shinigami denied it. After a while, she emerged from her bedroom with a full, but unzipped suitcase, mumbling to herself. Song raised an eyebrow, but did nothing until Angie turned off the TV.

[b][i]"I was watching that,"[/i][/b] she growled.

[b]"We're going to New York City,"[/b] Angie grinned.

[b][i]"Why now? Traveling there will be inconvenient. Most humans will be headed there for the party in Times Square that they hold every year, won't they?"[/i][/b]

[b]"That's true... But we still have to go. I found something that might interest you,"[/b] Angie danced, pulling a folded up piece of paper out of her back pocket and throwing it towards Song, who caught it and opened it with little enthusiasm. Had she had eyes, Angie was positive they would've widened at the sight of the contents of the paper she had just been given.

[b][i]"Alright,"[/i][/b] Song sighed, nothing in her tone hinting the surprise or excitement Angie was somehow convinced she felt. [b][i]"But may I suggest you take a train? You don't have the money for a plane ticket, and I don't care for being cooped up in that tiny car of yours for the twelve hours it takes to get to New York from here."[/i][/b]

[b]"Sure! Now help me with this stupid zipper,"[/b] Angie asked, though Song made no movement from her spot on the couch.

[b][i]"I don't think so. Now move out of the way,"[/i][/b] Song demanded in her eerie voice. Angie frowned, but relented, moving herself and her suitcase out of the way.

[b]"You're no help at all sometimes, you know that?"[/b]

[b][i]"I'm well aware."[/i][/b]

[center]---[/center]

Angie walked through the train station casually, pulling her suitcase closely behind her, and holding on tightly to her Death Note hidden inside her jacket pocket. She paused at a café to stretch for a bit. Being cramped in a train for several hours wasn't her idea of a fun time, and she was glad it was over. Song floated invisibly next to her, but Angie couldn't help but giggle at the idea of her being seen by all of the ignorant people walking through the station. The chaos it would bring would be so amusing, she was beginning to be disappointed that it wasn't possible without sharing her precious Death Note with them, even if only a page of it.

[b]"Well!"[/b] Angie grinned, shaking the thought from her mind, [b]"Happy New Years Eve, Song. All I've gotta do is check in to that hotel and head over to that old theater."[/b]

[b][i]"Don't say my name in public, you dolt,"[/i][/b] Song sighed. [b][i]"People will realize that you're insane."[/i][/b]

[b]"Chill! People just avoid those who they think are crazy. They never do anything about the crazies themselves. They don't like dirtying their own hands,"[/b] Angie hummed, starting skip as she walked out the doors and across the sidewalk.

[b][i]"It's scary how relaxed you can say that, being slightly insane yourself..."[/i][/b]

[b]"Say somethin'?"[/b] Angie asked before opening the door of the taxi she had just waved down. Song shook her head and floated in after her. The two were silent from the car all the way to the hotel room. Angie decided to take a shower while Song flipped through the TV channels to entertain herself. When the brunette walked out of the bathroom, she sat down on the other bed and began speaking in a serious tone, which was very unusual for her.

[b]"Are there other notebooks?"[/b]

[b][i]"Why ask that now?"[/i][/b] Song retorted curiously.

[b]"I watch the news sometimes. It's really boring, most of the stuff, but sometimes they mention these people who died. Famous or powerful people who died of apparent suicide. Why would people, with everything they could possibly want, decide to kill themselves? It doesn't make any sense."[/b]

[b][i]She finally figured it out, hmm?[/i][/b] the shinigami thought to herself. Chuckling, she sat up and faced the human holder of her Death Note and spoke with the same expressionless tone she always used, hiding her emotions carefully.

[b][i]"Yes, there are others."[/i][/b]

[b]"Then that means other humans must have some, too... Are they followed, too?"[/b]

[b][i]"By a shinigami, you mean? It all depends on the God of Death himself, but generally, I'd say there is a pretty good chance that they stick to their notebooks."[/i][/b]

[b]"So... I'm not the only one, after all."[/b]

[b][i]"The only one?"[/i][/b] Song asked, slightly confused.

[b]"I'm glad!"[/b] Angie cheered, letting out a sigh of relief. [b]"I was starting to worry that I'd never be able to talk about this Death Note stuff with anyone other than you. No offense."[/b]

[b][i]"None taken."[/i][/b]

[b]"I bet a bunch of them saw that thing about the theater, too. That means I get to meet them tomorrow ? how exciting! Now I don't have to bother being paranoid! We'll all hang out and kill together. It'll be so fun, don't you think?"[/b] Angie giggled. Song suddenly felt very embarrassed to be around this young woman who was clearly unaware of how crazy she really was, but tried to push it from her mind.

[b][i]"That doesn't mean you should stop being careful,"[/i][/b] the Death God warned.

[b]"Oh, I know. But I figure one out of every five or so with a notebook must have made the deal for the eyes. Even if I didn't use my real name and acted really careful around them, one of them would still be able to kill me. A meeting of the owners of the Death Notes will be a very tension-filled one, that's the one thing I'm one hundred percent sure of. It's going to be either our paranoia of one of the others killing us, or our complete ignorance of that possibility that will leave all but one of us dead in the end. So, by not having to be paranoid myself, but being fully aware of the various elements that may cost me my life when meeting the other Death Note holders, I think I'm probably best off out of all of us."[/b]

Song stared at the smiling young woman sitting across from her in disbelief. How could she, someone she recognized as both stupid and slowly losing her sanity, have just rambled so seemingly illogically that it was logical? She felt her head hurting.

[b]"Hey!"[/b]

[b][i]"What is it now?"[/i][/b]

[b]"If you knew there were others, why didn't you tell me?"[/b]

[b][i]"Didn't feel like it,"[/i][/b] Song taunted. She had said enough for tonight, she decided.

[b]"You meanie!"[/b] Angie pouted. But she recognized Song's unwillingness to continue talking, as she had experienced it countless times before, and noticed her own tiredness, and figured she'd best go to bed. She set her alarm for six o' clock the following morning, wished Song good night, tucked herself in, and turned out the light, falling asleep minutes later. From the corner, Song's hollow eye sockets stared blankly at the bundle of blankets that was Angie. Despite her lack of eyeballs, she could still see the clock when it turned from 11:59 to 12:00, and had her mouth been visible, it would surely have formed a small smile as she wished Angie a happy new year.[/indent]

---
[b]ooc ::[/b] Well, there ya go. Angie may be slightly insane, but she sure can be perceptive sometimes, lol. Can't wait to start interacting with the rest of you guys as the next day plays out. (And can't wait to find out what the hell's gonna happen at that theater! @__@)[/size]

[TheResplendent]

[FONT=Tahoma][b]"A girl so young has somehow found herself a Death Note...I suppose that doesn't seem odd to you, right?" [/b]Matt asked as he walked down the street toward the subway station on Atlantic Avenue. Forseti shadowed Matt while he walked, keeping his focus straight ahead as he usually did.

"[color=darkslateblue][b]It is not odd. Why do you ask?[/b][/color]"

[b]"Ehhh...forget it. For being charged with the duty of watching over the human world you death gods sure know less about us then you probably should, you know that?"[/b] Matt responded with a sigh. They made their way down the stairs and turned onto the stairs leading up to the 4 & 5 line.

[b]"You saw Esdras, correct?"[/b]

[b]"Esdras? Oh, you mean her death god. Yeah...but I think Beth was a bit more effected by [i]your[/i] appearence then I was of Esdras. So...what, you guys buddies or something?"[/b]

[b][color=darkslateblue]"Buddies? I know him, that is all. I was merely unaware that he had let his Death Note slip into the hands of a human as well."[/color][/b]

[b]"Heh, I have to say it was my first time meeting someone else with one of these. But the fact that there are quite a few of us must mean you guys are pretty irresponsible."[/b]

The train pulled up, it was very crowded. But that was to be expected on Nea Years Eve. More people got on than off, Matt stood crunched between two people as Forseti casually glided and made himself parallel to the ceiling.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"Must we go through this again, did I not explain to you before that it was because another Death God and I were in the same area on business and she carelessly bumped into me."[/color][/b] Forseti reminded Matt.

[b]"Yeah yeah, you told me don't worry. What was the other Death God's name anyway? Song? Heh, that sure is a weird name. But anyway, you could try to look forward to the New Year with everyone else. Maybe i'll even bump into somebody who will piss me off enough to make my pen finger itch."[/b] Matt said aloud, not realizing he had drew the attention of a small group of people who had glanced over expecting to see him on a cell phone. Matt's eyes widened and he slowly glanced back and forth, trying to think of what to say.

[b]"Heh, I uh...sorry everyone I was just rehearsing for a play i'm in! Pretty nervous you know, so I say my lines out loud sometimes."[/b]

Matt received mixed glances as while it didn't seem like anybody really believed him, nobody also really cared. They wanted to go about their business and be off the train to avoid anymore run ins with some crazy person.

[b][color=darkslateblue]"Hm, you humans are indeed entertaining at times."[/color][/b]

[b]"Shut up and try to enjoy the ride."[/b] Matt said in a low muffled voice. He had already heard the names of exactly 3 death gods, and knows of another Death Note holder. Logic told him that there was at the very least 3 of them out there. More interestingly, Matt couldn't help but feel that there was something else convincing him to want to be at the Old Maxwell Theater. He felt almost anxious, though he couldn't explain it.[/FONT]

[center]* * * * *[/center]

[size=1]ooc: Don't mind at all =). Sorry I didn't post earlier, but in any case it seems as if most of us are already near the designated spot.[/size]

[Sandy]

[FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Their hotel room was small and modest, but Evan didn't think they would spend very many nights there. In fact, there was a chance both of their lives would end this night, as a result of a crafty trap set to all Death Note owners.

[B]"Aren't you worried we're going to die?"[/B] Evan asked Alex out of a sudden.

Alex looked at him for a while and then shook his head. [B][COLOR=Black]"We're all going to die at some point or another, there's no point in worrying it now."[/COLOR][/B]

[B]"Aw man, if only I could see the time of my death! Then my worries would be over!"[/B] Evan said, laying down on his bed with his hands under his head.

[B][COLOR=Black]"Didn't your Shinigami tell you about the eyes?"[/COLOR][/B] Alex asked confused.

[B]"The... eyes? Cygnus"[/B], Evan called his Shinigami companion, who was sitting on the small phone table. [B]"What is he talking about?"[/B]

[B][COLOR=DarkRed]{Oh well, you would've found it out sooner or later, so there's no point to hide it anymore}[/COLOR][/B], the sad Shinigami sighed. [B][COLOR=DarkRed]{As a mortal possessor of a Death Note you can exchange half of your remaining lifetime to a pair of Shinigami eyes, which will allow you to see everybody's destined time of death as well as their true given names, just like the Shinigami do. The only exceptions are yourself and other Death Note holders. It's simple as that.}[/COLOR][/B]

[B]"Huh, is that so? Alex, you don't happen to possess such eyes?"[/B] Evan asked nonchalantly.

[COLOR=Black][B]"Oh no, I haven't even used my Death Note yet"[/B][/COLOR], Alex assured.

[B]"Neither have I. But tonight, I'm sure we will encounter people who have. So we have to be extra careful."[/B][/COLOR][/FONT]

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[SIZE=1]OoC: I'm going to include all the characters to be present at the Old Maxwell Theater, so all those who have been less active can still jump in to the events that soon unfold.[/SIZE]