ix. [text]

[non_veritas]

By processing the available crime statistics for the city, I have discovered an interesting anomaly

Comments

[[text | screened | unhackable]]

[misdirector]

Some cultural prohibition or shared psychosis, or common-sense - the Undercity is an enclosed space, after all.

[[text | screened | unhackable]]

[non_veritas]

Yes, I considered that. What do we know about the way in which it is ventilated? Not much, I suspect.

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[misdirector]

Ventilation on that scale should be obvious. On the other hand, the technology required to construct a cavern like that is as remarkable as that required to put us here. For all we know, the city's ceiling performs ion-exchange - but that's pure speculation. The point is that we're unlikely to be able to detect it.

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[non_veritas]

There is often a psychopathological component to arson. If there were enough people there compelled to set fires as a matter of habit, it would happen regardless of the potential negative consequences of such an act -- that is, of overwhelming the Undercity with smoke.

Why doesn't it seem to happen at all? The fires are unnoticed, maybe? It has a breatheable atmosphere, so it wouldn't be that they lack oxygen.

[audio || screened, unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello's all but dead on his feet, and sounds it.]

I'll kill that little bastard if I see him. He knows it, too.

[audio || screened, unhackable]

[non_veritas]

Ah, yes?

How have you made him aware of it, Mello?

-- You sound terrible.

[audio || screened, unhackable]

[down_to_nowhere]

I told him.

Things have... rapidly failed to improve, with Matt.

[audio || screened, unhackable]

[non_veritas]

Please be more specific.

Your double is alive -- hospitalized, I think.

[text]

[axel_was_here]

Arson?

[text]

[non_veritas]

Yes. People in the Undercity seem less likely to set fires than it seems that they should be.

[text]

[axel_was_here]

Have you recently witnessed a building on fire?

[text]

[non_veritas]

Should I have done?

[text - screened - unhackable]

[fortheoldworld]

yeah yeah i'm alive, you guys didn't honestly think he'd take me out, i hope. i'm not telling you where i am and i don't want this spread around to anyone but my other self.

i'm injured as shit though hence the crappy typing - don't have the patience for shift to be honest - but i'll be fine. i haven't been in touch before because they pulled me into surgery and then i was pretty drugged up.

[voice - screened - unhackable]

[non_veritas]

You are injured?

[There is very little concern in his tone; he sounds annoyed, if anything.]

I cannot say that I know what to think, Mello.

What is the nature of the surgery?

[voice - screened - unhackable]

[fortheoldworld]

[Mello's voice is thick when he speaks.]

Abdominal patchwork. I took a knife to the stomach, that was the worst of it. Among other places, though.

[voice - screened - unhackable]

[non_veritas]

What was the cause of this particular accident?

[audio]

[solaeuftderhase]

... Eh, that's why Azula was so worried about me!

[audio]

[non_veritas]

She was? How so?

[There's nothing but idle curiosity in his tone.]

[audio]

[solaeuftderhase]

Mmmhm! We were making cupcakes, and she kept saying stuff like, "Accidents can happen", and I just thought she was joking! Eh, she must have been thinking about that kind of stuff the entire time! Mmmhm, I didn't realize it was such a problem... I'd better go tell her that I'm really careful!

[audio]

[non_veritas]

[He seems more perplexed.]

I don't quite follow you, Momiji -- are you saying she was worried that you would set your apartment on fire while making cupcakes?