Unpopcorning of L

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

Pop!
There is nothing so disorienting as one moment, knowing where you are, and the next, not.

That’s not to say L has an idea where he just was. But wherever it was, he was content there. He may not have had all the answers to his questions, or perhaps he doesn’t just remember them, but it was a comfortable state to be in.

Whereas now, he doesn’t.

It’s not very often that L is completely confused. Whether or not he has all the answers to the problem, he can usually formulate some sort of guess. The universe tends to conform to certain rational standards; if an unseen figure sets tea down at his elbow, it is usually Watari. If a woman is missing and her husband is on the television pleading for her safe return, he is usually responsible. They are simple formulas that, while not always universal, get him comfortably through the day.

There is nothing comfortable, universal, or logical about this. He takes a step, slips, and finds himself sprawled on the floor and coated in what smells like butter. He discerns that he’s surrounded by popcorn.

Ahead of him is a door. In that list of rational standards, there’s another rule. Doors lead somewhere. So L makes his way towards it, gingerly. The slightly scrawny, extremely pale, twenty year old detective (who already has deep dark circles etched underneath his eyes) pokes his head out uncertainly.

“Excuse me?”

[ooc: this L is pre-canon, and will remember nothing of past interactions here. Under new management.]

Comments

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

So Matt had found a room full of video games. It had been in the middle of the night during aimless wandering; he'd scooped up an armful, taken them back to his room, and promptly fallen asleep. Now he's trying to retrace his steps, because he doesn't have nearly enough first-person shooters. (It is impossible to have enough first-person shooters.)

The prospect of limitless pixellated goodness is distracting enough that he almost doesn't hear the uncertain voice to his side. Luckily...

"Hey." Matt has never met L; he has no idea that this guy - skinny, slouching, around his own age - is the man he'd been trained from childhood to imitate, perhaps even succeed. "What's up?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Where am I?"

His voice is bland as ever, but if you look at his hands, the tension in his fingers betrays a certain nervousness. Also, they're covered in butter, which might also be a hint as to what's going on here.

L's hair is, if possible, more of a mess than usual, but he seems relatively composed.

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

Matt is too new to Hogwarts to really know about the popcorning system. He'd noticed the plaque with the lists of names, the glass cabinets full of carefully-labeled kernels of popcorn, and concluded that he was not at fucking Wammy's any more so he didn't need to be constantly trying to solve puzzles.

He's never going to be able to stop noticing things (the butter, the tension), but after a couple of years' practice, he's getting okay at not-solving-stuff.

"This is Hogwarts," he says. "It's a magic school in the middle of the Scottish wilderness, or something. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you appeared here with no explanation or warning." He grins. "I'm Matt."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

This surprises him even more. He thought something about the face seemed familiar... but that's impossible, isn't it? Matt should not be nearly this old.

Then, the words catch up to him. He 'appeared here,' (he can't argue with that,) it's a 'magic school' and he is no longer in England, he's in Scotland. It might very well be the Matt he knows after all. It may be time to go out on a limb.

"I am L."

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

". . ."

Matt blinks.

Reasons why this is not impossible:

1. L is dead. So were he and Mello.
2. L was (as far as Matt had been able to figure out, back when figuring-out was the second most important thing and L was the first) not as young as this. Near is three years older than he should have been.
3. L wouldn't declare himself like that... fuck, Matt has no idea what L would do. He's L. There's nothing to say he wouldn't give out this information to see how someone would react to it.

And despite all his doubts and disillusionment and disappointments, Matt can't suppress a grin. "Oh, man. Mello and Near are going to freak."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"It is you." He sounds quietly pleased. There is at least something somewhat familiar in a very unfamiliar situation. "You are much older, Matt."

Mello and Near are here too, in a magic castle in Scotland. He doubts Matt would lie about such a thing. Or if he had, would not quickly offer a better explanation.

"How did I get here?"

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

Matt laughs, a little disbelievingly, a little delighted, a little embarrassed that he can't stop grinning. "Older, yeah - um. It's good to meet you. You're not - you look younger than I would have thought. Unless you've been taken from a different point in time than Mello and I, which would make sense."

He rummages through his pockets for his cigarettes, more to do something with his hands than out of a real desire to smoke. "We're not sure how people get here. Mello and I turned up immediately after dying. Near just sort of... showed up, but he doesn't recall how. Can I ask what year it was, before you got here?"

[papayagami.livejournal.com]

Soichiro thought nothing could surprise him anymore.

Hogwarts has a way of changing his mind.

"Ryuzaki?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

The look L gives him in return is, surprise surprise, blank. Although it normally would be, this one particularly lacks recognition.

"...hello."

[papayagami.livejournal.com]

Soichiro blinked. That's it? Hello? Why didn't he...

Hmmm....

What kind of name is L Lawliet? I mean....

Why does Ryuzaki have a lifespan under his name?

Unless....

"What, what year was it when you came here?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"It's 1999."

This man is perhaps even more perturbing. L does not like feeling as though there's something he's missing, and he's getting that sense very strongly. This stranger thinks he knows him. Isn't sure what year it is. Calls him Ryuuzaki.

[papayagami.livejournal.com]

Okay! Baffling. And awkward.

"Eh...well, this may sound strange to you, but...I know you in the future. I'll meet you in about five years."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

As strange as appearing randomly in a room full of popcorn?

"Who are you? How will we know each other?"

He finds himself a little more inclined to believe the impossible.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Wishbone had done a good job guarding Near's card tower! And he was going back to Ravenclaw to hide his bone to gnaw on later.

But look! A new person!

You look funny!

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

The situation becomes immediately clear to him.

This is an elaborate hallucination. He has been drugged and kidnapped and is now in a hallucinogenic haze. It amazes him how clearly he can come to this conclusion given the massive amount of drugs he must have been forced to ingest.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

Wishbone wagged his tail. I'm Wishbone! What's your name?

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Ryuzaki."

It's as good as any, right? Wait. He's answering the talking dog.

[woocha.livejournal.com]

That's a nice name. You smell sweet. Do you have cake?

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I wish I had cake."

He wishes very much that he had cake.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

So much to think about... Mostly pleasant, if confusing, but it was still more than a little overwhelming. Thus Near was taking a walk. Not anywhere in particular, not really watching where he's going, until...

Is that B?

But, no. B's still being sorted.

But if that's L... L's dead.

So was Matt. So was Mello. So was Soichiro Yagami... hell, so was B, for that matter.

But he's my age. Maybe even younger.

And if death could be overcome, what was age?

Near approached quietly, and half-bowed. "Hello, L."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

He draws himself up straight, a habit he'll break soon, a rather good tell for when he's alarmed or disturbed. He does not recogn...

"Near?"

He's very obviously not an eight year old any more. L shakes his head slightly, and returns to the comfortable slouch.

"What has happened?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

That confused Near for a moment, then he remembers; his face is still bruised, his throat still chafed. On his skin it will show up clearly for a while yet.

"Near. Yes." He smiles, nodding. "And it's nothing. A minor altercation. Matt and Mello can both be short-tempered."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I meant, where am I? A moment ago... and you must be twenty, when last you were eight."

What is happening would have been better.

"Mello and Matt are here?" Wherever this is.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"Twenty-two," he agreed mildly. "And yes, I would have been eight, wouldn't I, when you were so young..." Not that L had gotten so very much older. "You're at a place called Hogwarts. It's a school of sorts, for teaching magic. As bizarre as it sounds, it's true. I've acquired a wand and have been learning some charms myself."

Mello and Matt. Oh yes, they were here all right. "They're both here, yes. They arrived shortly after I did. None of us has been here very long."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I appear to be covered in butter."

And younger than his pupil, which is a little bit shocking in and of itself. But then, he has always been younger than people, there is no reason that Near should be any different.