While everyone's lost, the battle is won

[The feed clicks on, and there's nothing but soft breathing for a long moment, before John speaks slowly, painfully.]

...the blame for this event falls solely upon my shoulders. Miss Rei, for all of her involvement, was only following my instruction.

I- I'm sorry. I know that my words don't mean much now, but I'm sorry.

[His voice breaks. He tries to take a deep breath.]

I really thought... I was just trying to help. I thought that if I could... calm the Animus from their frenzy, help them remember themselves, then they'd be less inclined to torment us. Aelia- told me that they would work with us, if Ekpyrosis was calmed. And I was wrong- I know that now, and I'm sorry.

[A soft, shuddering breath. When he speaks again, his voice is more resolute, hard.]

I have no choice but to resign from any position that I had which was affiliated with the Protection Squad, and I fully offer myself up to be imprisoned for however long the authorities see fit. My actions were independent of my positions, and blame for this should fall upon my shoulders, and not on the integrity of the protection squad, whose admirable actions saved many people during this past weekend.

...thank you.

[The feed shuts off.]


[[ooc: as the event is now over, Nat makes his apologies from his room. He's not leaving his house for awhile. ;w; Also I am now off my hiatus!]]

[The video flicks on again, showing Nathaniel in profile- his head is tipped down, as he mulls over a cup of tea.]

I've been watching the network lately, and it seems that there is a certain amount of mistrust aimed toward the people trying to organize this whole- police force idea. And why wouldn't there be? I, for example, have only been in this city for a few weeks. There's no reason for anyone to believe anything I say, or to trust me with any sort of power.

So I thought I would- tell you about me. I know this may not help all of you, but for some... perhaps this can help you to see that I'm trying to approach this with only thoughts of the people.

[He takes a deep breath. This story isn't exactly an easy one for him to tell- it's one that he'd only just realized the ending of shortly before his untimely arrival into Adstringendum.]

I entered in my service the government in my home world when I was thirteen. This government, it was... twisted. [He stirs his tea with a sigh.] -and I came to realize that. And I thought, if I rose enough, I could change it from the inside. What I didn't see was how the people around me were changing me.

[Another long pause.] Power corrupts. Ambition, greed- these things lead to the kind of police force that you all are wary of. I, myself, have battled all three of these in my four years serving the British government. I know how easily they can twist a well-meaning person into a self-serving dictator- I witnessed this very transition within people who I thought were my allies. I found myself in the prime minister's cabinet, only to watch the entire thing topple like a deck of cards, as the magicians succumbed to their greed. To their own ambition. [His hands tighten on the cup now.] The reign turned hostile and demanding toward the commoners, and a small group of them revolted against us. The magicians, struggling for power amongst themselves, were in no position to lead a unified front. Though their lust for power, a potent demon was summoned, and the entire governing force fell in a single day.

[He sets the cup down then, facing the camera, but looking off toward the distance. When Nathaniel said the entire governing force, he meant all of them. Every member of the cabinet, including himself, had died that day.]

In the end, I fought against them- the people who I had served, I could serve no longer. I saw the truth, in that day- and I vowed to spend every breath I had, making my world one where the government was fair and just. I believe that vow also extends to you. This place is my home now, you are my people. It is my only wish to help and protect this city, to allow it to grow to its full potential in a way that is befitting to every single person here, not just a select few.

[Finally, Nathaniel's eyes meet the screen.]

I believe that my experience with the tainted government can help to prevent the same thing from happening here. It is my fullest intent to protect you- all of you. Not only from the monsters that lie in wait, or the criminals who can hurt and kill... but from those charged with your protection as well.

[He nods his head once.] Thank you.

[If only Kitty were here, she'd be able to say this better. With heart and passion, rather than calm, pained words. Nathaniel takes a deep breath and tries to think of something else- anything else he could say. But before he can speak again, the feed times out.]