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death note: l lawliet

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Who: Alex Benedetto and Others
When: Later half of Noveur
Where: Places and things
What: Closed starters
Warnings: None!

Returning was a surreal feeling, a sensation similar to waking from a dream. Once again, she found herself going through the mirror, not quite sure how she arrived at the other side. All she knew was one moment she was back in Ergastulum, returning to the point before she had been taken a year ago, and the next she was back in the room of mirrors. She’s not quite sure how long she’s been gone, and she returns with a few injuries, but she brings no attention to it. All Alex does is try to go back to her usual routines. Brief as her stay was in her world, there were quite a few things that weighed on her mind.

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[ Returning to her routine meant returning to the orphanage, helping out in little ways here and there, whether it be through minor repairs, preparing meals, or just to watching the children. One other way was cleaning up while they were in class. With the children in the room, it was a lot easier to tidy up. Sometimes though, while passing by, Alex would overhear the teacher’s voice—a familiar one in fact. It was curiosity at first, with Alex being surprised to find L up front and center, comfortable in his role as instructor. After that, it was interest. Having missed out on most of her education and still wanting to learn, she found L’s lessons to be both easy and intriguing as she stole peeks and glances and eavesdropped every now and then. When he starts to close up the lesson, Alex slips away and returns to her tasks until it’s time for her to leave.

She bumps into L then, just as she’s about to head out. ]

Hey, great job today.

[As recently as a year ago, L would have considered this sort of work beneath him. He taught geniuses, when he deigned to teach at all, and in those cases they were expected to keep up or drop off. He was adored more for this attitude, if anything; it made him more inaccessible, more mysterious and exalted by people like Mello, and... well. L had been rather indifferent to it, then, and he recognizes now, more than ever, what can happen when children are trained to feel that a human is both a father and a god to them.

It's kind of nice for them all to see his face, know him by his safe, fake name, and only think of him as the guy teaching them their letters and numbers. These are basic truths, absolutely... but they are also completely novel to these kids. They're hungry for the tools to understand their world better, and for once, the detective is equipped to actually nourish young intellects.

Class is over, and the youngsters are scampering off to play, when he bumps into a presence he hadn't seen for quite awhile, until recently.]

...Alex.

[Perhaps it's the association with Mello holding over, but he hasn't actually welcomed her back yet. There's a brief silence as he grapples with whether he should, before he simply says]

Thank you. The material is fairly basic, so... it would be really embarrassing, if I did a poor job presenting it.

[It's his idea of being modest; he doesn't realize that Alex is as educated as some of the much younger children.]

[ Alex takes no offense to it. Having observed his interactions with M, there was no doubt that these two were highly educated, probably moreso than others their age. ]

No matter how basic, I think being a teacher in any form is a challenge. Not to mention keeping their attention. I think I just got lucky with my brother since he was so behaved back then.

[ She was teaching him way more basic things, but at her age, it wasn’t a cake walk. Standing in front of him now, the marrow can’t help but look him over, noting that he doesn’t look as dejected as he had before. Was it wrong to assume he was doing somewhat better, perhaps? ]

Are you headed back home??

[A thin hand goes to tug at the hair on the back of his neck. Alex might notice that around each finger is the mottled line of a scar, as though each one was removed and reattached, new since the last time they spoke proper.]

I never thought of myself as a teacher, but... need brings it out in some people. It sounds like you know that, just as well.

[Still pale, thin and solemn, L does seem more substantial, tethered by more purpose, more intention, warmed perhaps by some inner flame.]

Well, yes, eventually, but... I'd meant to stop for coffee on the way back to the Haven. It's on me, if you'd like to join?

[Now that he has a paycheck again, he's proud that he can offer.]

[ Watching people, their actions, their tone, it was a habit Alex couldn’t shake off. The scars do not go unnoticed, having observed those same fingered as they would gingerly pick at his food not too long ago. But she doesn’t ask, not right away. The offer surprises her, what with how he tended to keep to himself. Still, it brings a smile to her face. ]

I would like that a lot, actually.

[ There was something wonderfully normal about it, which has felt like such a novel thing as of late. ]

[A lot has happened. A lot has changed. Bonds leave their mark on people, every one, every time, and L is no exception. Myr, ever earnest, has lived in his heart for a year. Light Yagami has brought the connection L has missed; both of them are more socially able than the detective, but more likely, his work at the orphanage has made his fake identity feel like he finally has a stake in something real, that matters.]

Ah... good.

[He wasn't expecting her to say no, but it still feels good for her to accept. Outside of his Bonded, L does rather keep to himself; he wouldn't ask if he and Alex didn't already have rapport. Perhaps he still feels guilty about Mello, the association exists, and it's some form of closure and repentance, through her.

Even normal has layers. In fact, when it comes to L, the more normal something seems, the stranger it actually is when cut to the core.]

Is there anything else you need to get before we go?

[There's a leather doctors' bag at his side, slightly worn, a birthday gift from Light. It's so much neater and smarter than just stuffing his pockets with chalk and abacuses.]

[ Alex shakes her head in response. ]

Lead the way.

[ Maybe normal wasn’t something Alex was used to after all. Simply walking down the streets with Linden, as if the last few weeks hadn’t happened. ]

Other than teaching here, what else have you been up to? You look well—at least, better than when I last saw you.

[He nods, turning to make sure she's following to start off on their way.]

Life's been kinder, lately, I suppose. I find that so long as I can keep busy, anything the world throws at me tends not to end badly.

[That's part of it. The fact that Light has made it here, at last, is probably most of it. Their souls slot so easily together, as much as a body in a coffin. That's probably not a coincidence.]

I'm glad you're back... but maybe it's better that you were gone. You missed a lot of unpleasantness.

[ Alex slows, looking up at him in surprise. Catching herself, she quickens her pace to walk by his side again. ]

Th-thank you.

[ She didn’t think he would have noticed she was gone. She didn’t really think anyone would. ]

So something happened...but you’re alright?

[ She glances back at his fingers again, wondering if it might be connected. ]

[Though L has a tendency toward self-absorption, and biting off more than most people would be able to chew in the name of stimulation, he doesn't associate regularly with that many people. The ones who have made impressions are worth keeping tabs on, and he does typically notice when they disappear, if not the precise moment they do.]

Yes; whole, I think.

[It could be a reference to his fingers, but again, as he often is, he's thinking of the sense of completion that comes from being Bonded to Light, the way so much makes sense that was hellish frustration and noise, before. Whether it's medicine or poison hardly matters; it's doing something good, and it makes him better. He smiles, neither overbright and manic, or bittersweet. It's reflexive, uncomplicated.]

I've seen you around, but when did you come back?

[ With how observant L is, maybe it shouldn’t have surprised her, but it was strange to be noticed. No matter what happened or what was to happen to her, no one was supposed to care. That’s what she was told, anyway. ]

Not...too long ago. Though it seems more time passed here than where I was. It still doesn’t make sense to me, really.

You'd be hard-pressed to claim that much about the Mirrorbound, or their connection to this place, makes sense.

[It's exhausted his own intellect. He faults no one for finding it incomprehensible.]

Since you've been back, life has been kind, to you?

[ This was not something she had expected Linden to ask her. Had he changed so much since they last met? ]

It would be greedy for me to ask for anything more.

[ Everything she had now was a far cry from the life she had before, if she could even call it a life. ]

You seem...different. It suits you.

Nonsense. It's only greedy if it's what no one would be entitled to, and... a better life is something everyone should get to want, isn't it?

[He's not sure of that, himself. But he's trying.]

I suppose that if the times and circumstances change, and an individual has not... something is wrong. Wouldn't you agree?

[ Linden had a more positive outlook than Alex had originally thought. Or was that just part of the change he was going through? ]

...Yes, you’re right.

[ That had been her problem for a while, not changing, thinking she couldn’t change. ]

You know, you really are a good teacher.

You think so?

[It seems to surprise him. He's always heard that the best teachers are the ones who are deeply empathetic, who have experienced difficulty in a subject themselves and remember what it's like to struggle. On the other hand, good teachers are patient, and so is L.]

That's kind to say. I don't suppose you've had many, to form that kind of of impression...

[Presumptuous, or modest? It's hard to tell what he's trying for, here.]

[ Granted, the bar is low. BUT, she sees that the kids are interested and she found it easy to understand. ]

I guess I can’t really compare...but I like your classes.

[ For whatever that’s worth. ]

[His brow knits as he considers something... because although L doesn't talk down to children as a rule, the classes are geared toward the very young.]

If it makes you uncomfortable, please don't feel like you have to say yes, but I wouldn't mind going over the things you'd like to know more about on an individual level.

[He actually prefers tutoring to a classroom situation.]

[ Alex turns to him, not quite sure she heard right. Did he really offer to teach her...? ]

N-no! I’m not uncomfortable! I’m just..surprised. Thank you, Linden...

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[Closed]

For L

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Feel no pressure to continue this, but I found the notif super late!! o///o

We can wrap it up soon if you’d like!

<3

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