001 🔥 Video

[insinerate]

What is justice?

[From behind an unblemished wooden desk in his home office Yuri addresses the network for the first time since his return to this world seven months ago. Behind him, the shades hanging in the window have been drawn and little of the day's late afternoon light seeps through. Before him, his hands are folded neatly together and a mask with wide, lidless white eyes sits front and center gazing at the camera.

It is silent confirmation for those of you who did not already know or perhaps did not wish to accept the truth: he is Lunatic.]

Legally defined, justice is the moral administration of the law and the fair and impartial treatment of all individuals who fall under it.

It is a concept in which one man's understanding of what is right and wrong has no place and must instead remain separate from human will. It is a concept which I have disregarded for some time in favor of pursuing my own idea of justice or, more accurately termed, vigilantism.

[His pause there is subtle, a nearly nonexistent hesitation to proceed that only those more familiar with him might perceive.]

You may be wondering why I've thought to mention any of this. Allow me to explain.

On the night of April twenty-third, acting on my own and entirely separate from the knowledge of my imPort peers and from RISE, I took the law into my own hands and pursued with the intent of executing one Ken Kaneki for the crime of obstructing justice. I failed to subdue him and, as a result... [The admission is bitter and heartfelt at the same time, ridden with the guilt he feels at having inadvertently caused so many to be put in harm's way, as well as a modicum of fear for what may follow in the wake of his confession.] ...as a result of my carelessness and personal quarrel with immorality, many innocent bystanders' lives were changed forever—some nearly lost—when my actions pushed a young man over the brink.

[Even his own life had hung in the balance that night. All the lives that shouldn't have been in peril had been jeopardized because of him...]

I wish to accept full responsibility for what happened.

[Because Haise Sasaki has given him no other choice. But also because his conscience has been like a noose about his neck ever since.]

Whatever consequences the law sees fit to levy...this time, I will not run.

Comments

video;

[leaflets]

[ nope, screw it, hinami isn't sitting out of this one because fuck this guy!!! ]

You wouldn't have needed to subdue him if you hadn't attacked him in the first place! Onii-chan doesn't hurt people on purpose. You had no right! That's not justice!

video;

[insinerate]

[Onii-chan?

...of course.

Even abominations have families.]

Accidents happen and we mustn't blame ourselves, is that what you're saying? How naive.

[He shakes his head.]

But of course that wasn't justice.

audio; wild tiger

[earnedmystripes]

[...That just figures, doesn't it. Kotetsu almost wishes he were surprised.

He's briefly torn on who to address him as, or if he should just say to hell with it and yell at him in private, but ultimately he settles on an audio feed.]

"Obstructing justice", huh. That a fancy way of saying "he tried to stop you from murdering someone else"? 'Cause I've sure heard that one before.

audio; wild tiger

[insinerate]

I'm not surprised you would make him out to be a hero, but no...

What happened that night, my reason for pursuing him, that was because his actions had imperiled an ongoing police investigation.

Obstructing justice is a rather polite way of saying he had been devouring evidence.

video;

[alcheregis]

[ Haen has been back for about a hot minute and this is what she sees: someone messing with people she cares about. ]

And who gave you the right to go after Kaneki, you malignant ass?

video;

[insinerate]

[Does no one listen to him when he's not imploring them to hear the voice of Thanatos?]

The right was not given to me by anyone.

Video

[excessivehubris]

[ Go away for a decade or so and this is what you come back too.

It's a little foggy but he remembers speaking with this man, at a pool in Nonah. More clearly, he can remember the night he faced Kaneki and he remembers conversations with Sasaki. ]

Were you the one ... who 'burn Thanatos?'

Video

[insinerate]

Close enough.

[Yuri nods solemnly.]

Hello again, Charles.

video;

[oceanthief]

[...it had to be someone, didn't it?

the thought hadn't really crossed Lapis' mind at the time of Sasaki's own confession. she'd always had the unfortunate tendency to display narrow vision, and in this instance it had been all too easy to disregard - 'a person' had triggered the rampage, and Sasaki himself would be dealing with it. there had been no reason to even think further on the matter.

and this was her reward for that blind acceptance, bitter as it always was. she wants to be surprised but even Lapis isn't naive enough to feel more than a twinge of regret at the whole thing. in retrospect it was her own fault for letting herself get attached to anyone.]

Was it worth it?

[there's nothing accusatory in her tone - in fact, there's nothing at all in it. right now Lapis is as stony as her namesake, shoulders held rigidly enough their sharp angles could probably cut glass.

she's not angry at anyone, not even herself. Lapis is angry at the world for putting her in a situation where she may be forced to take sides again. why did this keep happening? hadn't the first time been enough?]

video;

[insinerate]

No.

[Yuri doesn't even need to think about his answer.]

Of course not.

[The only thing that might have made it worth his while had been an impossibility from the start. He'd lost the moment he'd decided to target Ken, and he'd not only doomed himself but everyone else unfortunate enough to cross the rampant ghoul's path that night.

No...it wasn't worth it. Having the blood of innocents on his hands again wasn't worth it.]

Was he a friend of yours, Ms. Lazuli?

voice; private.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A long beat.]

Who will be your legal defense?

voice; private.

[insinerate]

I've not yet asked anyone.

[Perhaps ironically, he's better acquainted with those who practice prosecution.]

Video

[dun_moch]

[This is better than Dooku could ever have anticipated when he urged Sasaki to pressure Kaneki's enemy. Thank you, Swirling Clusterfuck That is Kaneki's Life, thank you for this early Life Day gift.

Aloud, Dooku's face is stern and his deep voice booms with condemnation.]

So you are the one who sought to harm Kaneki. What do you have to say for yourself? What justification can you possibly offer for your actions?

Video

[insinerate]

[How familiar this hatred feels, even from a stranger.]

Justification?

[Yuri's own voice is firm, his expression calm, but there is a brilliance behind his eyes, a blue so electric it nearly lights up the dim room he's sitting, waiting so patiently within.]

I offer none. How could I possibly justify what devastated so many?

[ video ]

[dualismum]

[ he isn't surprised Yuri is not blaming Kaneki even once and taking aaaall the responsibility.

Singing a different song, are we? ]

You are part of RISE. [ oh WOW. ] Then it's very good you did this. [ totally out of your own decision, clearly. Nothing to do with ultimatums. ]

[ video ]

[insinerate]

[You...]

Past tense might be more accurate in this instance, Mr. Sasaki.

[Yuri imagines that Olivier will either null his enrollment herself or be forced to do so by powers above her. And if neither is true, it might be best for everyone involved if Yuri cuts those ties himself...]

I was a member of RISE, and very briefly at that. Doubtless that the need for my services have come to an abrupt end today.

[No thanks to you.]

Voice; private

[takethestairs]

Are you satisfied, Petrov? Did your justice succeed that day?

[His voice is not strong. It's not passionate. It's cold, quiet, and oh so bitter.]

Voice; private

[insinerate]

Edgeworth.

[Yuri is familiar with the tone. He would almost prefer the more caustic remarks he's received from others. Almost, but there is a something welcome about Miles' dispassion now, if only because it serves not to fan the fire, but to let it die.

How strange that should come from him of all people, however.]

You ask questions to which you already know the answers. No, I am far from satisfied. There was no justice that day.

video; private

[brushoff]

[ There's just an exceedingly tired ] Oh for fuck's sake, Yuri.

video; private

[insinerate]

You of all people shouldn't be surprised, Dorian.

voice;

[hisheartsdesire]

So, what you're saying is that in addition to accepting the consequences for your actions, you're finished acting as Lunatic?

[The question actually sounds more like a statement, but Toby's asking namely because he's always been both afraid of and fascinated by Yuri's double life.]

voice;

[insinerate]

[That Toby should be the first to draw on his own the line that connects the dots and reaches that conclusion is...not unsurprising.]

That is correct.

[Yuri can only hope that his reservations about that are not apparent...but vampires have keen eyes, don't they? The often see that which human eyes might never observe.]

voice

[rathercommon]

[ Unhappily: ]

Oh, Mr Petrov. I wish you hadn't.

voice

[insinerate]

[...still think he's a victim, Kitty?

Well stop.]

You wish I hadn't committed the act in question or taken responsibility?

[He knows the answer, but he can't help being difficult to get along with. There's just something about certain people that bring that side out in him.]

Voice

[bindsthedead]

Well, to begin with, you'll be charged with assault and recklessly endangering the public.

And I will strongly recommend to Armstrong that your employment with RISE be terminated. You betrayed our trust.

Voice

[insinerate]

All acceptable punishments to start with.

[Not to mention expected.]

You will receive no contest from me, Sabriel.

Video

[darwinatrix]

You're a fool. [Oh look. Is that barely restrained fury in Olivier Armstrong's voice? It is.] I should've kept a muzzle on you, not just a leash.

You'll be judged same as the other criminals.

Video

[insinerate]

[Briefly, Yuri watches Olivier with an unreadable expression before...offering her an empty smile.]

This was always a possibility.

[But she knew that. Why act surprised now? Unless it was to save face.]

But of course...my judgment. Will you come for me, then? Or shall I come to you?