hh_mirror | Open RP: Great Hall: It's Alive!

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Open RP: Great Hall: It's Alive!

The circles under his eyes are more pronounced than usual today. L slips into the Great Hall, to get himself a pot of tea. Once it arrives, he sits and pauses, to wait for it to steep. It needs to be stronger than this.

He's been pushing himself on a case the past few days. It's resolved now, but it was the first real challenge he's had since moving here, so he may have dropped off the face of the earth a little. Time to emerge and make sure everyone is still alive and well.

As soon as the tea is finished steeping, that is.

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Not my favorite thing, but, "Yeah, thanks." I frown at the table a moment. "How long? You look like you've been up a week, at least."

"A little less than that. Five and a half days." L just used to do this often enough that it's left some permanent fingerprints on him. The eyes, the complexion.

"Nothing has gone wrong while I was busy?"

I shrug. "Took A to Diagon Alley. He made the trip without freaking. Definite improvement. He's more apt to get angry when people look down on the skills he's developing than cower now." I smile a little. "That is reassuring. He also doesn't collapse on himself when corrected. Or he didn't when I did."

I look at his face a little closer. "You done, then?"

"The case? Yes, it's finished."

He presses his thumb against his bottom lip.

"He has improved, hasn't he?"

"He has. I've seen him have some type of session with Kusu where he lies on the ground and Kusu's holds his hands over him. During those, Kusu's markings...they're not make up...change. After, A seems much more relaxed." I wasn't observed watching. I was just restless and wanted something to do when I saw them in the greenhouse.

"Have you neglected Matt, too? You are planning on seeing him soon, right?" Relationships need time together, after all. "Even if you just sleep on him, he'll feel better." I look at the table. It's just weird.

"Sometimes he vanishes into his computer, sometimes I vanish into my cases. It's an understanding. I'll go to him after I drink this."

And L will no doubt sleep on him tonight.

I nod. "Good. Near and I have our own pursuits as well, but it keeps us from driving each other insane...which would probably be bad for everyone within the blast radius."

"I'm amazed- and glad- you get along as well as you do as it is."

It isn't a behaviour L would have predicted.

I shrug. "Never thought we would, but it works. We've always been defined off each other. Without the...forced competition, we get along, as long as we make allowances." I look at the table. "It's not easy, but it wouldn't be worth anything if it was."

L thinks easy is nice too (Matt is easy to be with) but he doesn't say so.

"He's well?"

"Near?" I nod. "He seemed well when I left this morning. He's working on something, though I don't think a case. He's not focused enough for a case."

"It's a very different kind of mindset."

Nothing else stops L sleeping as completely as that sort of work does.

"Yeah. We were all taught it," I grumble. "Whatever it is, he's enjoying it, and that's what matters, right?" And, he enjoys me, too, but that's an entirely different story.

"It's important."

L isn't sure hat they're going to do about filling the position bac k home, if Near stays here as long as he seems inclined to.

Roger will come up with something.

I didn't quite expect that answer from him. "Yeah." I give him a grin. "Matt's important, too. So..." I look away. "Take care of him, too, okay?" I mutter, looking at the table.

"I make sure he remembers to eat. And other things."

Mello doesn't need to worry. L is still absolutely twenty and dizzy over him.

"That's always been a low priority for him. He's been working on things and then, after several hours, even a day or two, gotten up ad realized he forgot to eat after he hit the ground." I wasn't around to force food into his limited range of movement those times. "He does single focus better than the rest of us. Probably why he got silent charms."

"I've seen him use those. It's impressive."

Unmistakeably fond.

"And useful, despite the fact that the obvious major crisis has been averted."

I scowl. "They just give me migraines. I had to quit trying once he got them down." More than I'd normally tell him, but I'm trying. I'll hurt him if he uses this against me. "They would be useful, yes, if you can master them." I lighten up. "I'm glad the crisis is averted, though. I hate the idea of my best friend being a target."

"I've been looking into potions more than I have incantations, recently. But I'll have to take some time to attempt it."

For interest's sake, if nothing else.

"And I am too, obviously. Not to mention A."

I nod. It takes a lot, but I manage to say, "Good luck with those. Both Near and I had trouble with them. Based on the instructions in the book, Matt's singlemindedness is a benefit."

"And I'm better in thinking in multiple directions at once. It may be impossible."

It's mildly ironic.

There are times that his damn equanimity pisses me off. But, I'm fucking trying. I run my hand through my hair. "I'll be heading off, then. Get some rest," I mutter, standing.

"Thank you. Take care of yourself. I hope we'll be able to practice together again some time soon."

He misses the crash-burn of fighting.

Ah, something we can agree on. "Yeah. It'd be nice to fight with someone I don't have to hold back with. Let me know when you have time and we'll set it up."

I shrug. "I tried working with A on some self-defense, but he couldn't deal with the touching aspect of it. Even with B being the way he is, I still think it would be a good thing for A to learn self-defense. Just in case." I pull a chocolate bar out. "He might be able to start with you. With me, he kept flinching."

Enough of this. "See ya," I say, waving. I walk slowly, though, just in case he has something important to say.

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