Lavi and his Innocence have so much in common. Lavi was chosen because of all that they have in common. That Lavi is not happy about the reasons does not change the fact that his past and his name make him compatible.


The Title That Is Your Name

There is a reason that you, who have never had a side, were chosen, Bookman Jr. Your name is a great deal of the reason. Your snarky reply of 'which name?' is not well received. Don't be flippant, boy. I have no patience for your poor attempts at redirection and humor. You know very well which name I'm referring to, Bookman Jr. The title that has become your name, or rather, lack thereof, is what I mean.

Generally, we Innocence choose a host that is an equal, if not one that may be able to go above and beyond what is asked and can bring out even more than their potential. These individuals are most often those that become your Exorcist generals. In a roundabout sort of way, I did the same when I chose you.

I chose you because you are weak. I chose you because the name that is your title has made you weak and has greatly shaped you. You are lacking in what most other Innocence require in their host. You are weak in an area that should, logically, keep me from choosing you. Yes, mentally and physically you are strong. It is strength of emotion and strength of resolve that you lack- the greatest side effect of your title. There is no strength of spirit within you. You are naught but the shadow of a human being compared to one like Allen Walker or Miranda Lotte. This critique is not meant to be injurious, but to be to the point and truthful.

Truthfully, I am not strong either. I cannot even say that, as Innocence, I am unique. After all, all Innocence are unique. On a grand scale Innocence and Bookmen both may be unique, but when set one next to the other… what is there to be said? But I digress.

You were chosen, weakling that you are, because it was decided that you needed to be around, to be on this side of the war. I'm not sure if this was the 'Heart's' idea or my own. Regardless, you have been deemed necessary. God only knows why.

Stop laughing, boy. Bite your tongue on that snide comment about the omniscience of God that I know you're dying to share.

I don't mind being partnered with you, to be honest. In fact your knowledge and intelligence have been greatly appreciated, and not just by me. It is this nonchalant, joking, almost carefree attitude that you adopted with the persona of 'Lavi' that irks me. Some of my favorite moments are those in which you are in pain because Lavi very nearly disappears and Bookman Jr. is almost forgotten. It is also in these moments that you are strongest. And just as these rare instances pass, I feel regret.

In those brief flashes of pain and strength you show such potential and I regret that you were chosen as the partner of such a weak weapon as I am… But then I remember that you were chosen for me, in part, because it was already understood that you were going to squander your strength and potential as an Exorcist. With that, the regret is gone and replaced by the vague annoyance that is ever present when you are 'Lavi.'

It's not so bad, really. I am a weapon meant for support just as you were born to be a supporter. We were made and paired to make sure that 'the White Knight' makes it to the scene in the story where he battles 'the Dragon,' and hopefully moves on to the tallest tower to rescue 'the Princess.' Granted, I'm not sure how a Princess fits into any of this or who the Princess is. It's almost assuredly Lenalee, which makes me wonder how that girl gets herself into these situations. Don't give me that look. It's a bloody decent analogy. Do I have to spell it out for?

Allen Walker is, of course, the White Knight, Kanda and Crowley are the Weapon, Lenalee and Miranda are the Armor, and we are one amongst the many who make up the Horse. For a Bookman apprentice you can be awfully stupid… You seem displeased at being placed in the role of the Horse. I can assure you that it is, in fact, a prestigious and vital role.

Don't whine, boy. Is it really so awful being a support piece, a follower? Not one of your personae has ever been that of a leader. This fact doesn't even take into account that as a Bookman one is meant to stay on the sidelines and well out of the spotlight. It is in your nature to be a supporter, as it is in mine. Don't even try to give me more of your flippant crap. You know I don't mean Bookman Jr., or Lavi, or any of the other personae you've donned. You bloody well know that I'm referring to the identity you were born into. Even if you had been born with the traits of a leader, they have been stripped from you. A leader needs a cause, an opinion, a belief to follow and rally the troops around. If you had them before, you have lost your opinions and beliefs because conjecture, and judgment, and opinion are not part of a Bookman. Don't use that vaguely hurt and offended look on me. Why even bother when we both know you don't mean it?

You may not be too happy about why you were chosen, but you should at least be pleased by which Innocence chose you or, perhaps, which you were chosen for. I can't be sure which situation is true as the Heart is a conniving, incomprehensible thing. Either way, you should be very glad to have been paired with me, weak as I may be. With me you will be spared a great deal of pain because, in the grand scheme of things, nothing is expected of you. With me you do not have to suffer the trials and agony that a fair number of your comrades have gone through. As your Innocence I see no need to test and torture you as Allen, Kanda, Crowley, and Lenalee have been. Neither the Heart, nor I have any expectations of you, or any standard that we need you to live up to. Well, I don't have any expectations of you, at least. I'm sure you don't mind that so little will be asked of you.

Because we are and always will be followers, because of the title that is your name and our natures, because we are both weak, and because we so uncaringly waste our potential there is only one thing that will ever be asked of us. It is a simple enough task. All we must do is continue on as the Horse and help ensure that the Knight makes it to the final encounter with the Dragon. Simple as a child's fairytale.

Don't give me that dumb look of incomprehension. You should understand the metaphor by now, even without explanation. We both know- even without the cryptic hints from Bookman we have known from the start that Allen Walker will always be the White Knight, regardless of whether or not he possesses the Heart. He cannot help his nature any more than we can. And don't bother to ask because only the Heart knows where it is or with whom it is. It's a justifiably secretive, paranoid thing you understand. But as I said, this doesn't matter so long as Allen makes it to his epic battle with the Dragon- the Earl, obviously. It would be preferable if some of the Knight's metaphorical tools made it to that particular act in the fairytale, but that's not our job so we really needn't worry about it.

The Heart and Crown Clown expect so much from Allen, poor boy. And what pressure has been placed on Lenalee and Miranda! So you see how fortunate you are to be with me, Bookman Jr.? Aren't you glad that all that is required of you is that you continue on in your role as wing-man, as the follower? Aren't you pleased that all you ever need be is a supporting piece?

Why the long face? Don't look so down, Bookman Jr. You'll fall into the role easily enough! After all, you always do. This time though… this time you will not have the strength, the heart, to ever cast it away… and you will be glad of it.

Not all those that know their minds know their hearts as well. ~Francois de la Rochefaucauld.


Tell me what you think of snarky Lavi and his odd Innocence.