Clue #001 :.: L (Ryuzaki) :.: [Accidental Video]

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

[The feed cuts in, and it is clearly being carried in the jeans pocket of a certain hunchy young man. The view is of the floor of the parlor. In front of him, Godiva scurries, then makes a leap off camera. A second later, she cries out, very Britishly.]

Oh, Ryuzaki, do look here! This wasn't here last time!

[The movement stops briefly, then changes position. After several more steps, it stops again and there is just silence for about a minute.]

This is it. It must be.

Quite grand-looking, isn't it?

[L grasps the Blackberry then, and the screen jostles, showing what looks like a golden compass lying in a display case in the parlor. Then the camera is on L's face, and he scowls, realizing it has been broadcasting all this time. His big black eyes narrow slightly, and then the feed cuts out.]

[Private to Mello and Matt]

Please meet me in my room. I believe I have found something important.

Comments

[Video]

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

[Mello blinks and stares]

Do you think that's it?

[Video]

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

Nothing else within the manor has been altered this week. I have been looking thoroughly. And it is certainly not a normal compass.

[Video]

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree with you there. I'll see you in a second.

[Video ---> In Person]

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[By the time Mello arrives, L is crouched in his desk chair, prodding at the golden compass with a pencil as it lies on his desk.]

[In Person]

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

[Mello enters with Bubastis, the cat slinks in tail held high. He has a chocolate bar between his teeth and presently removes it after snapping off a bite.]

Matt'll be here in a minute.

[He peers over at the Alethiometer, eyes wide as he processes it. Nope, he's got nothing.]

Made any leeway?

[He reaches out for it but his gloved hand stops short. He doesn't want to interrupt L's detective-ing]

[In Person]

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

It appears that it is set up like a compass. [He points to the different needles spinning around the symbols.] I cannot control the movement of one of the needles. There are also several symbols around the rim I've not quite deciphered yet.

[In Person] (Heh, part 1)

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

[Mello check's L's facial expression before picking up the compass. L's face was as impassive as ever but he hadn't stopped Mello so his Successor assumed he had the all clear. He examined it carefully from all angles. He twisted the three knobs, seeing that they controlled the three larger hands. His eyebrows raised and eyes widened as the third hand sped around the face, stopping every so often, but zipping from symbol to symbol almost faster than Mello's eyes could keep up. When the fourth hand finally settled Mello offered his theories]

Okay, so you use the hands to set up a situation maybe and the needle spins around to tell you what's really happening? Or maybe it's like a magic eight ball ask it a question, get the answer. Or it might have something to do with reading the holder's emotions.

[He twists one of the knobs again and watches the little needle spin.]

Matt'll have better insight into the mechanical part of it.

[Mello taps the face of it momentarily, looking distant. He's thinking. He looks very closely at the symbols around the perimeter]

Starting at the top there's an hourglass, probably a "memento mori" type thing. Weakness, death, insubstantial nature, man's mortality, absoluteness.

An owl, either wisdom or a predetor

What looks like either a goddamn demon or a fucking mental patient, evil? Insanity? Violence? Maybe minions or something like that whatever you're dealing with isn't alone.

Tree, could be strength or resoluteness. Standing firm, well rooted, all that.

Lute, music, the arts, maybe.

Compass, circular reasoning? Your only going in circles?

Baby, innocence.

Some kind of Crocodilia, violence, hunger, power? Maybe? "Crocodile tears" false sympathy or false emotions in general. Maybe rivers? Fresh water?

Elephant, hugeness? Vastness? Ingenuity? Memory?

Think that's a camel [He squints down at the figure in question] and that would be...being used? Like a pack animal? [There's something spiteful how he says this. Because that is exactly how he feels Near would treat him if he had worked with him.] Fortitude? Deserts, maybe it's that easy?

Horse. A jumping horse. So that could be speed. Or maybe travel. But it could also be a spooked horse, which could be a dangerous situation or an overreaction.

[He turns it over in his hands]

Griffin, guarding? being on guard? Hoarding? Treasure nearby? Like if what you're looking for is right near you...

Sword. War, violence, duty, vengeance. It's being held up so victory or freedom or justice.

[He turns it a little more]

Globe, that could be the world or it could be school, or politics.

[He looks at the next symbol] What the Hell is that thing supposed to be? A flower and a castle...? It could be royalty, government, or unexpected beauty, poetry. [He pretends his liberal arts side didn't show through there.]

Dolphin? Maybe? Play or the hunt. Depending on your view. Or intelligence, or familial ties. The ocean.

[fetchdixon.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what's that?
That's a strange looking watch, is it gold?

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

... [This is what he gets for broadcasting accidentally.]

It may be. It is quite heavy. [Does nothing to dispel the idea that it is not a watch at all.]

Video

[without-a-thorn.livejournal.com]

*a very interested looking Kitty appears on the screen* Ooooooh what is that? It looks pretty, is it some sort of odd clock?

Video

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Uh oh. A royal.]

No. It is not.

Re: Video

[without-a-thorn.livejournal.com]

*a royal who you're gonna have to be nicey nice to heeehee*

What is it exactly then? It looks like it's made of gold!

Video

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

[There are very few people L is nice to. And "nice" doesn't really describe it.]

I am not sure yet. It may indeed be gold.

Re: Video

[without-a-thorn.livejournal.com]

*considering she can read things that are shiny...:P THis'll be fuuun*

Ooooh, how wonderful! I'd like to see that, where are you?

Video

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

[And considering L has a hypothesis that the Author may have bestowed such ability to someone in the house... he accepts!]

Please meet me in the parlour. I will show it to you there.

Video/In person

[without-a-thorn.livejournal.com]

*hurray*

All right, I shall be there as soon as I can

*she picks up Lancelot and exits the room, walking through the halls until she makes her way to the parlour. Thankfully she remembers it from meeting Sebastien earlier. She pushed the door open and steps inside, letting Lancelot down on the ground*

Hello? Are you in here?

Private

[gamer-anon.livejournal.com]

Understood.

Private

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

I am interested to see your take on this.

Private

[gamer-anon.livejournal.com]

Yeah?

[Matt feels...like he should thank him, or tell him that he's honored. Or something dorky like that. But hey, it's really high praise considering the source.]

Almost there.

Private

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

I'm already up here, hurry up.

Private

[gamer-anon.livejournal.com]

Coming in.

Christ, I actually ran.

[Not to mention the fact that he's technically taking orders from two people now.]

In Person?

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

You are just in time, Matt. Come closer. [He gestures toward the desk he and Mello are crowded around, pouring over the alethiometer.]

In Person (Posting order Mi --> Het --> Duck)

[worldsrunnerup.livejournal.com]

Ran like the light fucking breeze. Get your ass over here.


[Jerks his head towards the desk]

In Person

[gamer-anon.livejournal.com]

[Matt takes one last drag of his cigarette before putting it out at the door. Scout, without the need for nicotine, hurries on ahead of him.]

Whoa.

[The redhead blinks at the alethiometer.]

Think that's real gold?

In Person

[hunch-ofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Everyone's concerned about the gold.]

Mello and I have reason to believe the Alethiometer will only provide accurate readings to a certain person or people. It does not appear to be either of us. Will you please give it a try?