L's never outright rebuffed or ignored one of Light's efforts to pull him together a bit. The problem is simply the sheer volume of occasions such an effort could be applied to. Every time L dresses himself, something is amiss; it seems small wonder why back home, his uniform was so plain and simple, unadorned with stupid complicated wastes of time like buttons and ties.
The Victorian aesthetic of Aefenglom calls for a bit more attention to detail, however, and even more than when he was Bonded to the SQUIP, L is starting to pay closer attention to it, to the point where he occasionally manages to notice sloppy mishaps before Light does. It's almost becoming a game, albeit one with relatively low and innocent stakes.
"You're right; I wouldn't have chosen it, but it... actually is my taste."
He thinks. Like a lot of "normal" things, it's something L enjoys or finds pleasant by itself or for others, but doesn't immediately consider an option for himself. While Kira moved effortlessly through society in Light Yagami's skin, L's personas have always been flimsy, not made to last. Hideki Ryuuga, for instance, had vanished from Light's college without a trace after a few weeks, never to be seen again.
Linden Tailor, conversely, has had to last for months, and then more months, straining the facade until something real had to surface, some amalgam of the detective L who lived a largely solitary life behind closed doors, and a somewhat newly born individual who must exist, and interact, and make decisions about his motivations and tastes in mundane everyday ways without the safety net of being able to vanish if he needs to. Sometimes, that's overwhelming as even his toughest cases never managed to be, something as small as having an opinion about a matter as inconsequential as a preferred color or pastime.
Blue, or red? A walk by the harbor, or another hour reading? Any number of jobs to choose, things you've never done, that might be interesting or terrifying? Recenter, recalibrate, rest... and repeat. That is life, now, albeit with the undeniable boon magic provides, and Light Yagami at his side reminding him constantly of what was.
And what could be.
"That's reassuring, actually. I don't want to spend dinner thinking of how I'm going to pay a debt," he says drolly, pulling the second gift closer and peeling apart the wrapping. "As long as I'm working at the orphanage, there are only so many ways I can do that, and none of them are really very-"
Whatever he was going to say is cut off when he sees the gently worn-in leather under his hands. He stares for a few moments, before offering quietly, "Ah. I suppose you'd noticed how the pockets of my jacket have torn through."
None too gently, he's been using them to cram various supplies for teaching, from charcoal to pencils to materials for simple spells and irregularly-shaped abacuses. This is a gift as practical as it is thoughtful.
"...thank you, Light. I'll make good use of this, and often." He pauses, breaking the silence with a clearing of his throat, before gathering the new clothes into his arms. "I should...?"
Change, so they can go, and maybe so he can have a moment alone to really think about the kindness that Kira has just done him on the day he's always had to share with the ghoulish and uncanny.
no subject
The Victorian aesthetic of Aefenglom calls for a bit more attention to detail, however, and even more than when he was Bonded to the SQUIP, L is starting to pay closer attention to it, to the point where he occasionally manages to notice sloppy mishaps before Light does. It's almost becoming a game, albeit one with relatively low and innocent stakes.
"You're right; I wouldn't have chosen it, but it... actually is my taste."
He thinks. Like a lot of "normal" things, it's something L enjoys or finds pleasant by itself or for others, but doesn't immediately consider an option for himself. While Kira moved effortlessly through society in Light Yagami's skin, L's personas have always been flimsy, not made to last. Hideki Ryuuga, for instance, had vanished from Light's college without a trace after a few weeks, never to be seen again.
Linden Tailor, conversely, has had to last for months, and then more months, straining the facade until something real had to surface, some amalgam of the detective L who lived a largely solitary life behind closed doors, and a somewhat newly born individual who must exist, and interact, and make decisions about his motivations and tastes in mundane everyday ways without the safety net of being able to vanish if he needs to. Sometimes, that's overwhelming as even his toughest cases never managed to be, something as small as having an opinion about a matter as inconsequential as a preferred color or pastime.
Blue, or red? A walk by the harbor, or another hour reading? Any number of jobs to choose, things you've never done, that might be interesting or terrifying? Recenter, recalibrate, rest... and repeat. That is life, now, albeit with the undeniable boon magic provides, and Light Yagami at his side reminding him constantly of what was.
And what could be.
"That's reassuring, actually. I don't want to spend dinner thinking of how I'm going to pay a debt," he says drolly, pulling the second gift closer and peeling apart the wrapping. "As long as I'm working at the orphanage, there are only so many ways I can do that, and none of them are really very-"
Whatever he was going to say is cut off when he sees the gently worn-in leather under his hands. He stares for a few moments, before offering quietly, "Ah. I suppose you'd noticed how the pockets of my jacket have torn through."
None too gently, he's been using them to cram various supplies for teaching, from charcoal to pencils to materials for simple spells and irregularly-shaped abacuses. This is a gift as practical as it is thoughtful.
"...thank you, Light. I'll make good use of this, and often." He pauses, breaking the silence with a clearing of his throat, before gathering the new clothes into his arms. "I should...?"
Change, so they can go, and maybe so he can have a moment alone to really think about the kindness that Kira has just done him on the day he's always had to share with the ghoulish and uncanny.