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littleenigma's Journal

Created on 2008-02-04 20:19:29 (#14873074), last updated 2008-05-25

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Basic Info

Name:	Near

Bio

YOU ARE JUST A PUZZLE WAITING TO BE PICKED APART

WARNING: The following text is full of SPOILERS for the Death Note anime/manga, so read it at your own risk. However, seeing as Near’s sexuality isn’t mentioned anywhere in canon, as well as his history before Wammy’s house, both of those were made up by me, for the sake of having more info about Near. Thank you for your time! ♥

[IC Information]
Character Name: Near, real name Nate River
Series: Death Note
Gender: Male
Age: 22, born on August 24th, 1991 [post-series, and post-one-shot that was released recently]
Species: Human
Sexuality: The concept of sexuality is a little lost on Near. To put it simply, he doesn't feel any kind of attraction towards people sexually, although he has felt curious about the male gender once or twice in his life. I'd call him an IQ-sexual, because he may feel some sort of attraction to people he considers as intelligent. Near isn't asexual, but he isn't sexual either. But seeing as he only felt attracted to males so far, gay would be more appropriate.

Appearance: When you look at Near, the first (and sometimes only) thing you notice is the white. Near is pale, but not sickeningly so; his hair is white and his clothes are white as well. No one knows why his hair has such an unnatural color, not even Near himself. His hair had always been that colour, as long as he could remember, and he liked it so he never bothered with changing the way he looks. Near always uses the same kind of clothes: a buttoned up shirt and pants, both white and oversized. He has a childlike appearance that is only heightened by his obsession with toys: besides the "fondess" he has for playing with them, Near has the constant need of having his hands busy with something (a perfect example of that trait is the constant twirling of his hair).

The years have changed the white-haired detective, but not much; he grew taller and his features sharpened, but everything else remained the same: the white oversized clothes, the constant twirling of his hair, and the odd look in his eyes. And of course, Near was still childish. He still saw everything as a game, after all.

Personality: Many have called Near a cold, heartless bastard. And they would be right, most of the time, because Near is just that on the outside: cold and emotionless. He never freaks under any circumstances, keeping his cool no matter what happens or what situation he is in. He never cries, never screams; his emotions are tightly controlled and it would almost take a miracle to unleash them. He is logical and solves everything in his life as if it was a puzzle, every piece fitting into another and forming a final picture that makes perfect sense. That's the way he sees other people, and most situations; as a puzzle, a game that he can easily win. He is manipulative, but not evilly so; he is fair and believes in justice, but he may manipulate others to that effect. He doesn't care about anything or anyone, and acts stoically in regards to everything. His eyes are often looking blankly at something, and rarely show any emotion. He's a fast learner and a perfectionist, playing his part well and always working hard to be the best. Near is obsessive-compulsive, having some traits that show it clearly: the almost constant twirling of his hair, and the toys he always plays with. That, allied to the fact that he enjoys solving his puzzles by himself, and his belief that most people are dumb idiots who can barely follow any logic, lead him to be alone for almost all of his life. But even though he considers the majority of people to be horribly dumb, he knows he is dependent on some of them, namedly for his own safety.

As the Kira case became close to its end, Near quickly realized that he couldn't surpass L on his own, and neither could Mello: the only way to surpass L (the former L), would be to join forces and act as one. But Mello died, and there was nothing Near could do about it. And so, after becoming L, Near begun to change just slightly. While he was still as indifferent as before, there was a faint trace of aggressiveness on him, and a little bit more of initiative. He could have stopped himself from changing, but he didn't: instead, he accepted the changes, even welcomed them, because he knew it was the only way he had to surpass L, now. Mello was gone, but he could allow a small part of himself to act as Mello. It would be enough.

Abilities: Intelligence and logic. Near is somewhat of a leader, if you only look at the intellectual part of it. He knows the right orders to give to his subordinates, and the strategy to make things happen (it's just a game he plays, like everything else), but he won't stand up and run along with his comrades into danger. He will remain in his corner, safely, planning the next step.

Weaknesses: Near is physically weak. The fact that he never excercises (he almost doesn't move at all) only makes that situation worse. But he never tried to change that, in his whole life. Maybe he acts the way he does because he knows that there are people working for him, who do chores he would have to do otherwise; or that they will protect him if the need arises. Near knows that if he was ever lost somewhere, like in a jungle or a mountain, his chances of surviving would be very small. But Near also knows that in the case such a thing happened, his chances wouldn't be zero, and he would have to adapt: by planning everything strategically, and playing his part well, just like he always does. But besides his general weakness and lack of stamina, there isn't much to add to his list of weaknesses.

Manhattanite or outsider? Outsider

History: Near didn't have a happy childhood. Truthfully, he had no childhood at all. His mother was a maid of an important American family, and it was an unspoken fact that his father was the family's patriarch. The similarities were too many for it to go unnoticed. But the little boy (Nate River, he was called) had never bothered anyone; even as a baby, he had been quiet and shy, drawing away from others except his mother. The other maids cooed over him, but Little Nate never seemed neither happy nor sad about it: just indifferent.

But it was on a spring night, when he was four years old, that his life changed drastically. The mansion he and his mother lived in were attacked by a group of men, hired to kill the family and every servant they could find. Near's mother had been killed before she could keep him safe from harm, but young Nate had hid himself well, like he always did; in that small closet near the main staircase, where he could watch and hear what happened, but not be detected in return. He watched his mother and "father" die, along with the others; always playing with his hair clumsily, eyes looking blankly ahead. Near knew that he had to keep hiding if he wanted to survive: it was just a different version of hide and seek.

He doesn't remember much about it, just what his nightmares force him to watch. It's mostly blood and screams, but it doesn't affect him. Not any longer. The only thing that saddens him a little is that he can barely remember his mother's face anymore.

He was found by the police, hours later, still hiding in the same spot. The psychiatrists classified his silence and blank look as trauma, but there was nothing wrong with the strange little boy. Nate River had asked if it was possible to talk to the police, and when he did, the psychiatrists did not know what to make of him.

The boy made a description of the events as if he were talking of a bedtime story. The characters and events were described with all their little macabre details, and the police could only stare and take notes. In the following days, the killers had been arrested, as well as the one who had sent them. But Nate was at risk, considering that he was a witness in a very important case, and so the police decided the wisest idea would be to have Near be taken by someone who could help him overcome his traumatic childhood. And so, Mr Wammy proved to be the best candidate.

The name "Nate River" was deleted from any records, as soon as the white haired boy entered Wammy's House, a small orphanage in England. "Near" was younger than most children there, but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, he didn't seem to mind about anything at all: he was content in sitting in a corner, playing with his toys.

As time went by, it became obvious that the boy was special. His grades were the highest in the whole orphanage, even higher than Mello's, who had been the top student before his arrival. But Near never showed pride or joy for always making the top score, he just acted like it was something natural, or expected of him.

But it was expected of him. It was expected of him, of Mello, of Matt; it was expected of everyone in Wammy's House to succeed. After all, that was what they had been brought there for: to succeed and be the best, so they could take the spot of L, someday. L… the biggest detective in the world.

Near admired L. He didn't worship him, like some of the children did, but he still admired him as a mentor, perhaps even as an older brother figure. Yet, he never allowed himself to get too attached: he knew that L would eventually die, most likely at the hands of a killer. With a job like that, the odds were much higher, after all.

And that day eventually came. He and Mello were called to Roger's office, but there was no need for Roger to say anything. Both orphans knew what had happened, both of them had been able to put things together (wasn't that what they had been raised for, after all?) and realized L had died at the hands of Kira.

Soon after, Mello left. Near was slightly surprised to realize that he missed the other's presence. Not that he had become attached, but because Mello was the only challenge he could find in the orphanage. Matt didn't challenge him like Mello did, and the other children… Those were not even worth mentioning. Near only liked challenges, people who defied him and made him prove again and again that he was the best. And Mello had been the only child worthy of his attention.

Some time after, Near left as well. The teachers thought he was finally ready to work on difficult cases in order to gain credibility and financial support to fight Kira (Near thought he should have started before: he had been ready ever since L died), and so Near travelled to the United States of America.

It didn't take him long before the government put together the Special Provision for Kira: a team of federal agents, professional investigators, and bodyguards. But the SPK did not last long, and in the end, only three of its original members remained with Near. He did not let go of the Kira case, and neither did Mello: even after the years that had passed the orphanage, and their previous rivalry, both started working together in a partnership that never quite existed (and yet was strangely fitting, in Near's opinion. He knew that both of them could surpass L, and finally defeat Kira).

The battle was won, but not without casualties. Mello and Matt were killed, but their efforts weren't in vain: using the information they had provided or implied, Near gathered enough evidence and proof to end the case. Ironically enough, Yagami was killed by the shinigami Ryuk, who had dropped the Death Note into the human world, and caused the whole mess in the first place. Near felt an odd satisfaction at how the case ended, even though he was slightly sorry that such an intelligent person had gone to waste.

Afterwards, Near assumed his role as L: the greatest detective in the world. It was what he had been raised for at Wammy's house, and the only job he would ever know how to do. But it was a slightly hollow feeling, to become L alone: it was supposed to be himself and Mello, working as one to be even better than L. But Near knew it was impossible to have Mello back, so he allowed himself to change slightly: he became more aggressive, more active. If he couldn't work with Mello, he would have to mix Mello's traits with his own.

Five years after the end of the Kira case, strange deaths began to happen in Japan once again. But this time it was different: no criminals were being killed for a better world. Instead, people of old age started dying in bigger numbers than usual.

Soon, the rumours started spreading online. Some people saw the new kira as merciful, for ending the pain and suffering of the elderly; others saw him as an important tool for the country's economic development. But Near had no interest in this new person, only calling him kira for the sake of having something to call him (and even then, he called him C-Kira: Cheap Kira), and taking into consideration that the modus operandi was the same.

Even so, Near made a public announcement (he was L now, and people respected and looked up to his decisions, his opinion on matters), saying he had no interest in the case, and that the Japanese police should take care of it.

But mostly, he made the announcement just to say something in particular to C-Kira: to call him a murderer.

Near didn't bother about the case since. The death rate of elderly people returned to its normal values after some days, so he assumed that either the police had caught the culprit, or he had given up on killing entirely. The truth is, C-Kira ended his (or hers?) own life.

The days passed and Near continued with his life: solving the few exciting cases he could get his hands on, and building card castles over and over again. However, in one of those normal days, something quite odd happened...

Near woke up on a deserted street, alone and not quite sure how he ended up there.

[OOC Information]
Name: Devil
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