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

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"The village isn't far. I'll draw you a map." Moving the wand, he makes the books follow it in a lazy circle. "I read up on the theory beforehand, of course. I've finished some of these books," he points to a large stack, "if you'd like to start reading them."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I would."

He will get as much a grounding in the topics and subjects as possible. Yes, that really would be best. Then, hopefully, he will speak to someone on the staff, clarify his picture of what's going on further, and find out if he's really stuck here. If walking out the door leads him to Near's time, then he's sort of in some trouble.

Hopefully, there will be knowledge gained in the process.

"It would be best to know what a magical creature was before being required to care for it. Mello and Matt, where are they now?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Near began stacking the books he'd already read into a neat pile for L.

"I'm not sure just where they are right now. Studying, perhaps, or exploring. As far as magical creatures go, I know unicorns are counted as such."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I would like to meet with both of them as soon as possible."

Again, to discuss the question of his identity. But also just to see how they turned out. He kept watch, while they were young. Distantly, but he did.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"That shouldn't be difficult to arrange." Indeed, both Matt and Mello would probably be delighted.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"What shouldn't be difficult to arrange?" I ask coming in the room. I'd tried finding Matt to no avail. I stop just inside the door. "You?" I gasp, hardly daring to actually say the word. I know it's not B...I've studied them enough to know that. This is the real deal, the one Near sought to replace as I sought to challenge him. I manage to cover my surprise. "It's been a long time."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"For you, Mello, and a time yet until for me. I have never met you in person, but I am glad to. Even if you are not the nine year old I might expect."

Although, he's amused by how unchanged they are as well. He would have recognized the hair, the eyes, the black clothing.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Nine? That's even before... "So it would seem." I frown, remembering. "For you, how long as it been since you talked to us, the kids from Whammy's house?" The time Near and I didn't say anything, just watched the other kids. "And, what are we to call you here?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Ryuzaki will do, thank you Mello. I am not surprised that you remember that particular test. It was quite recently, from my point of view."

Now he gets to see, first hand, how it all paid off. What kind of people they have become.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I raise an eyebrow...so even before...

I nod. "Ryuzaki, then. It would be...difficult to forget that test. It is what determined the path both Near and I would take." Though, even at the time, I was determined to be better than Near, to be better than L.

I wonder if I succeeded or if I succumbed to the fate they planned out for me?

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Paths which have converged, here."

In a way he didn't see coming in the slightest, but then, they were eight and nine at the time, so that's understandable. Also, magical castles from Scotland are difficult to predict.

He pulls the towel off his head and begins to dry the ends of his hair.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

And what paths they've been. But then, they could never have been simple. He couldn't help watching thoughtfully. This was who he'd been raised to idealize, to emulate, after all. But right now he hardly seemed the superhuman being they'd all thought of him as, when they were children.

"And your path has lead you here as well, for now. Perhaps there's a purpose, perhaps not. But it is interesting to meet you like this, whatever the reason."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

But L has a purpose. A very complete one, that he had been fulfilling up until finding himself in a room full of popcorn. Privately, he doubts any 'purpose' in his being here, and if someone tells him one he will question it thoroughly.

However, now is obviously not the time. He just caught something.

"How did you recognize me, if we had not met?"

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"I've seen the files, what remains of them. There are no photographs, but a few likenesses, enough to make an educated guess." An almost imperceptible pause. "And a correct one."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"If you have my files, then in your time, I am no longer L."

Dead, or incapacitated to the point of no longer being able to fill the position, (which is worse, because it means comatose, a hostage, or brain damaged,) or some third alternative which he has not considered. He can think of nothing that would make him voluntarily retire, but there might conceivably be something.

No, he's probably dead.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Well, it's an inevitable conclusion, isn't it? And at one point Near would have backed down, contented or even relieved to be nothing beyond a potential successor, but that time was passed. He was L now, however conflicted he might be about it at times. If he wasn't, everything about his life had been wasted.

"That is correct."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations," he says, sounding kind, placid, and completely ruthless all at once.

The important thing is that there is a successor. The rest becomes immaterial. Part of him wonders, and wants to ask, how young was he? Was it for an important cause? Will it hurt?

But he is L. He knows better.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"And now that that's established," I break in. "It seems, though, that here, we can pursue our own course, our own identities. And, I suggest," I add, flopping down on the bed and grabbing a chocolate bar, "that if this is going to continue, you both go somewhere else. I need a nap."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I will leave you, if one of you could point me in the right direction."

He still has absolutely no idea of what he's supposed to be doing here.

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

"Would you like help finding a room? Or there is a bar downstairs," Near cringed internally at the thought of liquor, and thought it unlikely that L would choose to drink, "If you would rather just relax."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

He lets out a breath- it might be a laugh- because little Near is now older than him and asking him downstairs for a drink.

"I think a room would be best."

[cardarchitect.livejournal.com]

Nodding, he leads L out into the hall. Most of the rooms here are empty; apart from Matt's room and the room he shares with Mello, this section of hallway is vacant. "The rooms on this side seem to be a little larger," Near says. "But the rooms on this side have a view."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"How high up is this floor?"

Casually, as though he isn't completely paranoid. It might be nice to see out, but nor does he want anyone seeing- or climbing- in.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Good idea. I don't think we should let Near drink anymore. At least not what they serve here. It's potent."

I stretch on the bed, noting Near's blush. If it weren't for the way he was looking at me, I'd almost think he was mad at me.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

L's eyebrows go up.