Open RP: Great Hall: It's Alive!

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A's taking a break from working in his greenhouse (a bit obviously; he's dirt-smeared) with a pitcher of grape juice and is in the Great Hall to see L enter.

"Hello, oh, hello!"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"A." L smiles.

"You've been gardening, I take it."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

That prompts a wide grin.

"Oh, yes, yes. I have so many things to plant! Some of the plants I had ordered arrived."

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Maddie is slowly making her way around the school. Or not so slowly as she seems to try to be everywhere. The more she knows, the more she can avoid the obvious murderers. Maybe even find the not so obvious ones and avoid them, too.

And, one of the house elf creatures had told her she could get food in the great hall. When she asked about payment, not having brought much money with her, the creature looked at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted a head out of her forehead. Not needed, it insisted.

And, in the hall, a boy...a man? Looking much like that murderer she ran into in the bar. From across the hall, she glances at his hands. All fingers there, so he must be the detective.

"Hello," she says, walking over to the table. "Mind if I join you?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"You're keeping up with it, I trust."

He hopes, at least.

"I've been very busy, but should have a little more time the next few days, if you need assistance."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Not at all."

He settles onto a bench, in his usual crouch.

"Although I might not make the best conversation."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I always like it when you are there. And I like for you to see, see how much I have growing, now."

The greenhouse is looking far less empty.

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

One of the house elves asks what she'd like. She asks for tea and a plate of chips. "Oh, no, that's fine. I just have a couple of questions." She thanks the elf and sets to doctoring her tea, a spoon of sugar and a dollop of cream. "It seems that I've stumbled upon a chain of connected people."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I'd say we should go by now, but I'm in desperate need of some tea. Will you have a cup with me?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Yes. May I ask who in particular?"

Blandly polite.

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Blandness hardly ever put Maddie off, unless it came from Jonathan because he was usually making fun of her. That anyone else would use such a trick never occurred to her. At least not yet. Perhaps later.

"An FBI agent told me of a murderer who told me that you're a detective. I have a feeling there's more to it than just that," she says. Call it woman's intuition, or simply 'nosy reporter' as both will work.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I will."

It would please him very much, in fact.

"I have mikan now, and lemons and limes."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Which murderer? There are a few."

Sorry, Maddie, L has a complicated social circle.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"The greenhouse allows you to create an environment suitable for citrus?"

That's useful.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"That was one of the original uses of greenhouses. Oranges and pineapples." A gives him a pleased look. "I've ordered a pineapple plant as well. But they grow slowly and it takes a long time for the fruit to mature, so we will not have fresh pineapple for some time."

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Rather than put off, Maddie is now slightly excited. "There's more than one? And they're here, I'm guessing, since you asked." She shakes her head. "This place is utterly barmy, lousy with murderers, then." After a slight pause, she realizes she hasn't answered the question and may not get more information if she doesn't. "The FBI agent was a nice looking woman. The murderer looked like you, only...well, his hands..." That made her wince. She did not want to know what happened. Probably best she remain ignorant. Needed shatter all her illusions in less than a week.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I'm patient."

L's tone is quietly teasing.

"Besides, you've already got a supply of fresh fruit likely able to feed the whole castle."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"No. The fruit is for friends. But there are herbs for the kitchen that will be used for everyone, so when you eat food from the kitchen that has herbs in it you will know that I grew them."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"There is, they are, it is."

He clears his throat, and pours himself a cup of tea.

"And he's very dangerous, please be careful of him."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"That's a lovely thought."

He begins adding sugar to his cup.

"What else has arrived?"

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"You look tired."

Slipping onto the bench beside him.

"Also, totally fascinated by a pot of tea. Rough couple of days?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Interesting case." L smiles at Matt though. Not-seeing-him is irritating, as much as he likes working.

"Would you like a cup?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I am following the, the tracking information, and the maple should be here tomorrow, and the alkanet."

An odd duo to be arriving together, but A was not one to question it.

[noseymaddie.livejournal.com]

Like she really needed to be told that. "I'll bear that in mind," she deadpanned. "Dangerous covers many things, though," she points out. "And, more information, which none of you really seems forthcoming with," and Maddie will continue until she gets what she wants, come hell or high water or the police, "so, how am I supposed to know exactly how to be careful?" Let him think the information is for her 'own safety,' she didn't care. Information was information and she could put it together. She wasn't stupid, just not a lateral thinker. And, at times, even Jonathan forced that out of her.

[gamerspy.livejournal.com]

"Sure, why not." He's not a huge tea fan, but it's cold (yes, even in July) and at the very least he can hold the cup.

"Interesting enough that I can't know what it's about?" Matt grins.