Oh that look. Near had seen it countless times, when Mello struggled with his inner urges. He grinned lightly, then pointed to a few spots in the tower. "Here, here. Or here." The weakest points in the structure, the sticks that if removed, would cause the most spillage. Artemis didn't seem to realize that Near simply didn't upset easily, but he likely would in time.
Or perhaps not.
"I never said I wasn't egotistical." And that was all Near offered in calms reply. At the claims of 'all Near had offered', however, he sighed softly. "And while Mello's ego is often irrational, it's not entirely unfounded. For example, thanks in part to his paranoia, but also to his wits and understanding," Near snapped a carrot stick in two. "Mello can usually tell when he is being led along."
"That is one difference between you two, it would seem."
Artemis thought too much of his own opinion, and that was keeping him from realizing that it was not the be all end all. If he had been more aware, he would have had 'Ryuuzaki' and Yagami Light analyze the transcripts already, and share their conclusions with him. Failing to recognize the skill of both men was a failing on the boy's part.
"You've noted my attention to detail, but you still think that I fell for your bluff earlier. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, considering that you assumed I fell for it when I pointed out your earlier error. Moreover, you're also assuming that what I've said is all I can say about you. Though I'd be interested in meeting the psychologists able to discern specifically that you are contesting the idea of being a fictional character without being told."
Near felt a twinge in his fingertips then, and took hold of one of the three sticks he'd pointed out earlier. "In reality, you should be thankful for my discretion. Mello is listening to everything we say, and has been from the start. If I wanted, I could give him more fuel to add to his fire by exposing more of your weaknesses." Though Mello likely wouldn't use the information given to him, if it came directly from Near, there were certain circumstances where it could be arranged. "But that wouldn't serve my purposes. Not at this point."
More importantly was the fact that it simply wasn't interesting. Certainly not enough to warrant Near doubling the amount of time he spent dealing with this particular personality type. Artemis may have been insulted that his specific personal struggles were the topic of amusement for others, but the simple truth was that the boy wasn't really complicated.
"Regardless, as of tonight I'll be able to keep track of the posts for myself. It might have been easier with the previously recorded information, but this will not be the first time I've had to start from zero on such an enterprise." The statement wasn't entirely true, of course, nor not entirely false. While the information available at the start of the Kira case was limited at best, Near had, in that situations, his reputation as L's heir, and the resources left to him by L. Here, he had much less than that, forcing him to take a hands-on approach. Something he wasn't nearly so good at as Mello, but a fact that Artemis didn't need to know.
After his words, Near released the carrot without pulling it. It wasn't worth the effort, in the end, to rebuild the tower in a different fashion, with different strengths and weaknesses. This would suffice, regardless of the result, and the teen went back to work constructing the second building.
no subject
Or perhaps not.
"I never said I wasn't egotistical." And that was all Near offered in calms reply. At the claims of 'all Near had offered', however, he sighed softly. "And while Mello's ego is often irrational, it's not entirely unfounded. For example, thanks in part to his paranoia, but also to his wits and understanding," Near snapped a carrot stick in two. "Mello can usually tell when he is being led along."
"That is one difference between you two, it would seem."
Artemis thought too much of his own opinion, and that was keeping him from realizing that it was not the be all end all. If he had been more aware, he would have had 'Ryuuzaki' and Yagami Light analyze the transcripts already, and share their conclusions with him. Failing to recognize the skill of both men was a failing on the boy's part.
"You've noted my attention to detail, but you still think that I fell for your bluff earlier. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, considering that you assumed I fell for it when I pointed out your earlier error. Moreover, you're also assuming that what I've said is all I can say about you. Though I'd be interested in meeting the psychologists able to discern specifically that you are contesting the idea of being a fictional character without being told."
Near felt a twinge in his fingertips then, and took hold of one of the three sticks he'd pointed out earlier. "In reality, you should be thankful for my discretion. Mello is listening to everything we say, and has been from the start. If I wanted, I could give him more fuel to add to his fire by exposing more of your weaknesses." Though Mello likely wouldn't use the information given to him, if it came directly from Near, there were certain circumstances where it could be arranged. "But that wouldn't serve my purposes. Not at this point."
More importantly was the fact that it simply wasn't interesting. Certainly not enough to warrant Near doubling the amount of time he spent dealing with this particular personality type. Artemis may have been insulted that his specific personal struggles were the topic of amusement for others, but the simple truth was that the boy wasn't really complicated.
"Regardless, as of tonight I'll be able to keep track of the posts for myself. It might have been easier with the previously recorded information, but this will not be the first time I've had to start from zero on such an enterprise." The statement wasn't entirely true, of course, nor not entirely false. While the information available at the start of the Kira case was limited at best, Near had, in that situations, his reputation as L's heir, and the resources left to him by L. Here, he had much less than that, forcing him to take a hands-on approach. Something he wasn't nearly so good at as Mello, but a fact that Artemis didn't need to know.
After his words, Near released the carrot without pulling it. It wasn't worth the effort, in the end, to rebuild the tower in a different fashion, with different strengths and weaknesses. This would suffice, regardless of the result, and the teen went back to work constructing the second building.