Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Feb 23, 2020 21:09:53 GMT -5
Staring at the sunset from my roof Looking for some kind of proof When thereโs none is sight I guess thatโs called belief So is this belief?Orpheus can save the soon to be dead with a song. L wants to protect that power in a world that thinks it's dangerous. Nico lives his last day to the fullest. Ronan lives his last moments a criminal. Crutchie was saved by a strange man's song. Sherlock can fix it all.
Phase 1: L Needs Help, Nico at Wammy's House Phase 2: L is Going to Save The Singer, Orpheus Stops Singing Phase 3: Nico and Ronan's Last Day Phase 4: Orpheus and L and Justice Phase 5: Sherlock and Crutchie, the Last Chance
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 24, 2020 14:46:43 GMT -5
L opened his eyes. He hadnโt been asleep, just...thinking. He sat up, shook his messy black hair back from his pale face, and went to check his computer.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 24, 2020 14:55:29 GMT -5
When L arrived at Wammyโs, it was about a minute and 22 seconds past when he was supposed to.He knew only a few of the children would notice, but there were some that would. He stepped into the building and glanced around, looking for one child it particular.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 24, 2020 15:09:08 GMT -5
L glanced around, and as always, the smell of the place and the sight of so many children hard at work almost brought a smile to his face. Deep down, Wammyโs would always feel like home to him, and he thought that it was probably the same for many of these children as all. It was just how this place seemed to work. He glanced around, again, this time searching for one face in particular...and looked up. And met Nicoโs eyes instantly. He smiled and headed for the stairs, approaching cautiously and easily. โHello.โ He said politely once he got halfway up the stairs and stopped.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Feb 24, 2020 15:58:31 GMT -5
It was obvious that people had realized that L was here, but nobody seemed to approach him. It wasnโt like Lโs visits were particularly rare, but that didnโt mean that Nico was used to them. He gasped as L met his gaze and he resisted the urge to press himself against the nearest wall and try to hide. Instead he stood his ground and forced himself to take in a solid breath. โHello,โ he returned, aware how wide-eyed he probably seemed to the detective. For the world greatest detective he didnโt appear very intimidating.. though knowing the other kids at Wammyโs that wasnโt surprising. If there was one thing you learned there, it was not to underestimate people. โIโm Nico,โ he added, remembering his manners. He failed to hide the hesitation he felt at holding out his hand for a handshake, and he secretly hoped that L wouldnโt take it.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 24, 2020 22:47:38 GMT -5
L was used to people not coming near him. He knew it wasnโt because they didnโt like him or anything, it wasnโt that personal. It was just because he was L, worldโs greatest detective and probably weirdest too, and that made him someone you didnโt typically just come up to and say hi. Which meant he was usually the one to come up to anyone he wanted to talk to. He supposed not having a bunch of people vying for his attention helped and he didnโt complain about the extra space he had to do what he needed to do, any more than he would complain if someone gave him a jumbo lollipop. Nico, as about 50% of Wammyโs kids were, seemed shy and a little awkward. It didnโt give L any particular impression of him, it was just worth noting. He eyed the hand, considered Jicoโs face...and bowed his head in an apology. โYouโll forgive me for not shaking your hand? Iโm afraid I dislike touching other people.โ There. He hoped he was right about Nico disliking touch. Otherwise he probably just offended him or something...well, too late to worry about that now. Instead, he inclined his head towards a room off to the side, raising an eyebrow. โWould you come with me please? I have something to discuss with you.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Feb 25, 2020 0:19:18 GMT -5
Relief flooded Nicoโs features and he let his hand drop down to his side. โMe too,โ he admitted, hanging his head a little. Maybe it wasnโt that weird if L felt similarly about touch. He knew there were other kids who felt that way, butโฆ he still thought it was odd how easily some of the other kids seemed to give each other hugs or high fives or shake hands with important people. He looked up at L, almost as if trying to decide if he had heard him right. โWhaddya want with me?โ he asked after a moment, confused. Nico was easily the dumbest kid at Wammyโs and, L was the greatest detective in the world. He pushed some of his dark hair out of his face, trying to read Lโs expression. Not that he was very good at that. Suddenly, realization dawned on him. โAm I in trouble?โ That was the only thing that made sense. Or his father had come for himโฆ but if that were the case, it wouldnโt be L talking to him. L wouldnโt know or care. But if they had realized that Nico wasnโt smart enough to be hereโฆ suddenly he wished he had finished his work for the day. Maybe they thought that if L talked to him he would admit that to himself and leave of his own volition. There were any number of awful possibilities, and Nicoโฆ didnโt know how to handle them. He knew he didnโt belong here, but that didnโt mean he had anywhere else to go until he figured out where his dad was. Or if his dad would take him.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 28, 2020 21:36:35 GMT -5
L nodded, noting that he had been correct; Nico disliked physical contact. It wasnโt surprising or weird at all in his mind - of course it wasnโt, he also disliked touching people when he could help it, he hadnโt been lying about it - nor did he think it necessarily pointed to anything in Nicoโs past. It might, or course, but it didnโt have to. Some people were just like that. โYouโre not in any trouble.โ He answered, though how fast Nico had jumped to that conclusion made him wonder a little. Maybe he was used to being blamed..or maybe he was just a nervous kid. L remembered being a kid, and it made him a little sad that Nico thought interaction with adults meant heโd done something wrong. Heโd have to look into that, because Wammyโs wasnโt supposed to be a place that let kids fly under the radar like that. He had often felt that way as a child, and it wasnโt something he would wish on anyone else. โYouโre really not.โ He added, concerned that Nico wouldnโt believe him. โYou have my word. I just want to talk to you about something very important, if you donโt mind. Would you come with me? The matter I wish to discuss is somewhat sensitive and there are a lot of open ears around here.โ He gestured outside, where Watari stood by a car with the front door open. โLetโs take a drive.โ He didnโt mean to sound threatening, he really didnโt. It just tended to come out that way sometimes. He inclined his head, waiting for Nicoโs answer, and hoping it would be yes. Heโd respect Nicoโs decision if he said no, but really, Nico was the best one for the job and he would rather not have to find someone else.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Feb 29, 2020 3:13:47 GMT -5
Nicoโs eyes narrowed in suspicion. He hadnโt been at Wammyโs long, but he could tell he didnโt belong there, not really. Surely if L wanted to talk to him it meant that they had discovered he was a fraud. Nico already knew that, so it was only a matter of time before the really smart people found out. There was also the fact that usually if his father had wanted to talk to him before heโd been sent here, then he was in trouble. Old habits like that died hard, though he still found he wanted to go home to his father. No matter how much he insisted Hades would come for him, it seemed like nobody was willing to believe him. If you found yourself at Wammyโs, it wasnโt the sort of place you were picked up from. โI believe you,โ Nico replied, though he didnโt. He didnโt know how willing L would be to lie. He didnโt think that the worldโs greatest detective would really have any need to, given he could probably get the world to bend to his whim if he wanted. Then againโฆ it wasnโt as though adults had proven themselves to be the most truthful people. In an abundance of precaution, Nico decided it would be best not to believe L now than to be disappointed later when he found out that he actually was in trouble and L had just been kind about that. At the sight of Watari standing by the car, Nicoโs eyes widened and he nodded once. It really must have been important if L wanted to take him somewhere else, and though it likely wasnโt anything as fun as going to get ice cream, anything was better than avoiding getting anything done at Wammyโs for the rest of the afternoon. Still, he waited for L to make the first move. If the other kids saw Nico heading for the car at full sprint like he wanted toโฆ well, that would make the kind of impression that Nico didnโt want. Really, he figured it would be better to just fly under the radar until his father came to admit that this was all some kind of giant mistake.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Feb 29, 2020 9:43:16 GMT -5
L watched the boyโs expression like a someone else might watch an intense sort of a TV show: without blinking. He saw the way his eyes narrowed slightly and the tension in his small body, and noted that Nico didnโt trust anyone but probably least of all important adults. Well, that said a lot about Mr. Hades, didnโt it? Not that this was news for L. Heโs already finished reading Nicoโs file and everything he could get his hands on about the boy, which under the wrong circumstances might be creepy but for him was simply thorough. And now he was meeting the face all those reports belonged to, and he wasnโt making any judgments until he talked to him personally. He couldnโt stand it when people decided they knew everything about a person from a piece of paper. For one thing, you didnโt. You just didnโt. And for another thing, where was the fun in that? โYou donโt believe e, but youโre right, we can pretend you do for the sake of speeding things up.โ L answered easily, his posture hunched but otherwise relaxed. His long fingers played with the keychain in his pocket, and his bare feet prodded the floor restlessly, though he didnโt seem to be in a hurry to leave just yet. He knew Nico didnโt believe him because everything about the boy screamed that he wouldnโt be โbelievingโ anyone about anything anytime soon, and it wasnโt a leap that L was the sort of person he was likely to mistrust the most. The detective nodded back, then turned and headed for the car, his bare feet light on the hard floor. He wasnโt totally sure Nico would follow, but he was reasonably confident the boy wouldnโt run, because he wasnโt used to that working and he rarely tried in the past anyway. So he simply acted like it was a given that Nico would follow and waited to see what would happen. Of course, Nico has no idea where they were actually going. That might have changed his mind about following, the odd detective mused as he reached the car and looked expectantly over his shoulder,
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 1, 2020 22:15:05 GMT -5
Nico was hesitant about following, if he gave it a little more thought. If L was lying and he was in trouble, thenโฆ well, wherever they were going could be very, very unpleasant. Even if L was telling the truth, he was used to being safe at Wammyโs, even if he tended not to attract much notice. Depending on where they were going, he might not be that safe. For a brief moment he considered asking, but he didnโt want to be annoying, and he figured if this was a test of some sort then it would reflect better on him if he were able to figure out their destination himself. There were no clues to go off of yet, but Nico has a few theories. None of them were good for Nico, so he stopped thinking about it. This would go a lot less quickly if he was suspicious or afraid. In truth, he didnโt think L was going to hurt him. L was one of the good guys. Then again, this could have been a lesson in not trusting anyone, in which case Nico would fail if he went with L. โIs this a test?โ Nico called after L, watching him closely. He wasnโt going to run, he justโฆ wanted to know what he was facing. If he wasnโt in trouble and this wasnโt a test, then Nico couldnโt figure out for the life of him why L had approached him in particular. It wasnโt like the greatest detective in the world to choose someone so wrong for whatever he had come for. Nico was not anywhere close to the smartest person at Wammyโsโฆ so it went to follow that L would not choose him for something, even if it wasnโt important. If L needed help, he would choose someone smarter. If L wanted to reward someone at Wammyโs he would still choose the smartest. Therefore, this could only be a bad sign. However, Nico found himself taking a few steps forward after L even before he heard the detectiveโs answer. There was something about L that made Nico want to follow. Perhaps it was the way he was basically a celebrity at Wammyโs. The star detective. And, as most of the other kids seemed to have, Nico had been pulled right into Lโs orbit.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Mar 3, 2020 22:27:40 GMT -5
When L looked back, Nico wasnโt following. This wasnโt really surprising, though he did silently hope that Nico wouldnโt flatly refuse him, as that would be annoying to deal with. Nico looked more wary than anything else though, so L wasnโt too worried about it just yet. What Nico didnโt know was that if L had decided anything unpleasant had to happen, he wouldnโt have lied and said it wouldnโt. While he didnโt necessarily always give completely whole truths, he didnโt tend to lie outright, he just...sometimes excluded things that other people wouldnโt. That was all. So if he said Nico wasnโt in trouble, then Nico wasnโt in trouble in any way that was meant to fall under that category. He was curious how much Nico would ask, and how much he would try to figure out. That was the problem with Wammyโs he figured. The competition made it hard to tell what a kid would do under different circumstances, like the way Nico would probably have just asked if he hadnโt been worried about proving himself. He inclined his head slightly, considering the question. โYes.โ He answered after a moment, his dark eyes fixed eerily on Nicoโs. โI suppose it is. But not the test youโre assuming it is.โ He didnโt offer an explanation, or even explain what test Nico was apparently expecting. Instead he watched as Nico approached the car, his hunched body as relaxed as it ever got. โThink about it.โ He offered after another few seconds. He had, of course expected this, but there was no harm in trying to make it easier, right? โI have no reason to personally single you out, thst you know of. But Iโm here. That means thereโs something you donโt know, which means it isnโt something youโve intentionally done wrong, which means you arenโt in trouble. If you were in trouble, I could have just had someone else go talk to you. There was no need to get personally involved, as Iโm sure you know I rarely do. So why did I decide this was my best option?โ He was really asking. He was actually curious how Nico would respond.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 4, 2020 4:55:02 GMT -5
Nicoโs eyes narrowed as Lโs answer opened up as many questions as it resolved. A test of sorts, but not one that Nico was expecting, which was an odd response given that Nico wasnโt even sure what sort of test he was expecting. If it was the kind that was supposed to teach him not to get into cars with people who probably had a few too many vendettas declared on him by disgruntled criminalsโฆ then Nico was going to fail. His curiosity was getting the better of him. The thing was, he didnโt find L particularly off-putting, not in the way that a lot of people probably would. Perhaps it was just his reputation at Wammyโs or maybe it was the way L had helped him avoid contact when heโd offered a handshakeโฆ Nico couldnโt find it in him to be weirded out by L. Perhaps that was a bad sign. He was really, really overthinking this. Nico reached into his pocket, lightly fiddling with the small object inside โ a toy, it seemed, one that Bianca had given him as a surprise before she died. He pushed the thought away. It wasnโt helpful now, dealing with L and a world that was so much smarter than he was. Lโs words ran through his mind, trying to make connections there that would help them make sense. There were thousands of reasons L could be there, and most of them were not great options. Some of the cockier kids might believe that they were hand chosen to help L with his work, but Nico had enough common sense and awareness to know that this had to be about something different. โIโd like to point out that itโs just as easy to get in trouble for things you did wrong without knowing it as it is to get in trouble for things you did intentionally.โ Maybe telling L flat out that he was wrong wasnโt the best way to make a good impression, but it was true. If he only got in trouble when heโd intentionally done something wrongโฆ well, heโd still get in trouble, but a lot less than he had. Nico fell silent for a few moments, giving the question some thought. He wanted to answer correctly, but he didnโt want to be rude. And he really didnโt want L to laugh at him or something if he said the wrong thing. In his pocket, his fist clenched around the tiny figurine. โThereโs always a possibility you do this with everyone at some point, but people arenโt good enough at keeping secrets for that to be a complete surprise. So probably not. But, if you have to kick kids out of Wammyโs, then sending you might be a softer way of doing it because everyone idolizes you.โ The last comment wasnโt exactly fair. He knew it wasnโt exactly idolatry, it was more just respect, and, for the people that had actually met L, genuine affection. โBut if itโs not that, then chances are I have some sort of information you canโt get elsewhere.โ He took a few more steps towards the car, unsure whether it would be impolite to justโฆ get in. He lifted his dark gaze to meet Lโs, if only for a moment. โIf I have information nobody else would, then chances are itโs something about my father.โ Deep in the back of his mind, a question tried to unbury itself: has he finally come back for me?. What was more important, though, was the fact that L probably knew who his father was and where he was now. That was the only thing that set Nico apart from the other kids at Wammyโs. His parents werenโt dead, not both of them, not really. Even if people didnโt believe Nicoโs father would ever come back for him.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Mar 5, 2020 15:44:38 GMT -5
It really was a test, of a sort. It wasnโt testing Nico on whether he would get in the car, and it wasnโt testing Nico to see if he was smart enough to be there at all, both of which seemed like the obvious choice if there was going to be a test. L sensed Watari in the driverโs seat, quiet and still, watching him. Watari would know what this was about, he mused, if only because Watari knew him better than probably anyone else ever would. This wasnโt about kicking Nico out, or forcing him to prove his worth at all. It just came down to Lโs motivation for being there. Some people thought him cold and uncaring, but that wasnโt it. He cared deeply for everyone, but especially he cared for the orphaned children of Wammyโs house, the place he had called home for so long himself, the place that still, really was home to him. He didnโt know how Nico felt about the place, especially since he wasnโt technically an orphan, but...he found he hoed the boy didnโt hate it too much. He didnโt like the thought that some of the children would rather be anywhere else, even though he knew it was probably true. And of course, L had no idea how Nico felt about him personally. Plenty of people disliked him, he was used to that, but the kids at Wammyโs especially had extremely polarized views about his existence and what he chose to do with it. Watatri and Roger always told him those views were almost completely positive, but he knew that there were kids who hated him, thought he was a monster worse than the ones he hunted, even wished he were dead. He knew that, and here he was, offering the chance to go out with the worldโs best detective to a kid that he didnโt even know. Maybe that was a stupid plan, but if he were completely honest, well...he was running out of ideas. He needed to crack this. He did notice when Nico started playing with the toy in his pocket. A soothing technique. L knew from experience. He wondered briefly about trying to sooth Nico somehow, but anything he did right now would make things worse, and there would be plenty of time for that later. Assuming Nico went ahead and got in the car, of course. โYouโre correct, of course.โ He agreed, pleased that Nico had called him out on that little error. โBut I think there shouldnโt be the same punishment for both crimes. If the reaction fits the action, then intentional wrongdoing should have a different reaction than unintentional, and I wonโt treat them the same. I am telling you, though that thatโs irrelevance because youโre not in trouble either way.โ He tilted his head at that, hearing Nicoโs reasoning out. He was right, sending L personally might soften the blow - if it was a blow - of getting thrown out, but the part Nico had gotten wrong was his assumption that L would come. It sounded selfish, but he didnโt really want his visits to start meaning someone was about to get tossed. He didnโt want to be the bearer of bad news to children he cared about so deeply, so he rotated that job among people who didnโt feel as strongly about it, as well as people who werenโt well known enough to have their arrival mean something monumental. โPeople donโt idolize me.โ He went ahead and said what they were both thinking. โI think the word youโre looking for is โtolerateโ.โ Then Nico looked at him and he fell silent, dark eyes regarding dark eyes, until a tiny curve at the edges of his lips shifted his expression. It was almost a smile, but far more subtle and almost impossible to detect. โWell done.โ He murmured after a moment. โNot only have you chosen to come with me, youโve figured out why Iโm here in a matter of minutes. Iโm impressed. If you donโt want to come, knowing what you do, then I wonโt force you. Youโre free to turn around right now and go back inside, and I wonโt bother you again unless there are extenuating circumstances. I must ask, however, that you choose now. If you get in this car, please donโt change your mind halfway there and say you want to go back. That would just be a waste of time and gas.โ He waited. Nico could make whatever decision he decided to. L wasnโt going to push him one way or the other.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 7, 2020 3:02:01 GMT -5
Nico watched L carefully, waiting for him to say something that either gave Nico the encouragement he needed to go back inside and forget L had ever approached him, or the motivation to get in the car and complete whatever test L was asking of him. He knew already which he would choose, but he wasnโt prepared to fully commit to that decision until he saw Lโs reactions. Even if there was something important there, chances were he wouldnโt be able to read it, but that didnโt mean he couldnโt try. As for Nicoโs opinion of Lโฆ around the other kids at Wammyโs it was hard not to at least look up to him. Even if he knew they were all in some elaborate system to figure out who could best replace L when the time eventually came. Even if he resented L just a little bit for setting an impossible standard. Logically he knew it wasnโt really Lโs fault, he couldnโt control the fact that he was possibly the smartest person in the world, but still. It made it hard knowing that everything he did at Wammyโs was probably being measured up against what L had accomplished much earlier, the kind of things he could do that nobody else in the world could. Maybe L needed his help now, for whatever reason, but maybe heโd come to regret it when he realized how stupid Nico was in comparison to the people he probably worked with on a daily basis. With every moment that Nico spent with L, though, he found the respect the other kids had for the detective creeping just a little bit higher, and his resentment dropping. Not all the way, but a noticeable amount. The thing was, adults lied. L had certainly lied at some point in his life, and even if Nico chose to believe the detective didnโt like to do it, there was still the fact that his very existence was sort of a lie. If an omission was considered as such. Only the kids at Wammyโs knew enough about him to be able to recognize him at all. It struck Nico that such an existence was a little bit sad. Then again, itโs not like Nico himself had many people who would recognize his face. And L had an international reputation. โI think youโve never been a fly on the wall at Wammyโs,โ Nico retorted, though there was no malice in it. Toleration was hardly what filled the words of the kids who talked about L, and the only way he could receive that information would be secondhand. Itโs not like anyone would say half of the things they said about L to his face, even the good things. It would only reflect poorly on them. Or maybe they just wouldnโt be able to say it out loud. You never knew with Wammyโs kids. โOr if you have, itโs not since youโฆโ he frowned, not wanting to say the wrong thing. โBecame successfulโ implied something that Nico didnโt like the sound of. โMade itโ made L sound like a movie star, and he certainly wasnโt that. L's praise caught him by surprise, jarring him away from his thoughts. It wasnโt condescending or patronizing, and it almost feltโฆ casual. Like L didnโt feel like it would be a big deal to tell Nico โwell done.โ Nico shifted uncomfortably, uncertain how to take that. โIโm coming,โ he decided, voice firm. It was easier to be certain on that front than to admit he was still reeling over how casually L had essentially complimented him on something most kids could probably do. โAnd you donโt have to worry about me wanting to turn back around. I donโt like going back on my decisions.โ He looked up at L once more before taking one more step towards the car, close enough to open the door. He didnโt know if there was some sort of protocol he should follow โ if he was sitting on Lโs side or if L liked the passenger seat or if there was somewhere else he should be sittingโฆ he took a deep breath, hand clenching around the toy in his pocket. If he committed a social faux pas, L would tell him, and the punishment wouldnโt be too severe. That was more or less what L had just told him. Maybe it was about time he start at least trying to believe him. Logically, he told himself, it made no sense for the worldโs greatest detective to lie to a kid heโd probably never see again. Therefore, Nico wouldnโt get in serious trouble unless he did something intentionally. There was no use worrying about every move he made in case of doing something wrong. โGood afternoon, Watari,โ he murmured after a moment, pulling the seatbelt across his lap.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Mar 10, 2020 20:48:06 GMT -5
It was likely that Nico was watching him for some sign that would give away the correct choice here. L knew that, but he genuinely wasnโt certain what kind of thing could convince the boy, besides him just being himself. He was being honest, he was trying not to omit anything too crucial, he was generally doing his best to not be annoying. He thought he was doing a decent job, too, though he couldnโt be completely sure of that. Unless he asked Watari, and he decided he didnโt want to do that when Nico was right there, because it seemed a bit awkward. Not only was he in the dark about what Nico thought of him, he was also unsure of whether Nico had any interest in being at Wammyโs in the first place. If all he wanted was to go back to his father, that might make things a little bit harder. L didnโt think that was the case, though, for the simple reason that if Nico wanted that to happen, it probably would have already. It wouldnโt be easy, sure, but it wouldnโt be impossible to swing that if Nico was really invested in it. Which left them where exactly? Nico wasnโt trying to make this difficult, of course, but the facts were that L didnโt have as much information as he should have gotten, because he was distracted. He could tell Nico didnโt hate him, but he couldnโt tell whether Nico liked him. He could tell that Nico was considering getting in the car, he didnโt know whether he would do it. Yes yes, it was all very frustrating, he was too busy to pay much attention to his feelings at the moment, and instead he concentrated on the case. Hades. L needed information about him and fast. He couldnโt simply set a tail on him and rig cameras in his house like he normally would, either, both because Mr. Hades was likely to notice and because there just wasnโt time for that. He was here with Nico because he was, in short, desperate. Otherwise he wouldnโt even think of involving the poor kid in all this, not when he had plenty of his own problems to keep him busy. What he had noticed was that Nico seemed to have a bit of a low opinion of himself. That wasnโt good or bad, by itself, but it could sometimes hamper your ability to function at your best, because if you believed you were unable to accomplish something you were likely to not try as hard. That was what L had discovered (through personal experience) anyway. He hoped Nicoโs opinion of himself wasnโt so low as to cause him to think he didnโt belong thereat any rate, because that just wasnโt true. Nico belonged at Wammyโs House as much as anyone else did, and the more L talked to him, the more he thought so. It didnโt occur to him to say it out loud, though, so he didnโt. He stared, not answering for a moment as Nico spoke. Fly on the wall? He supposed the term was apt, though he wouldnโt have thought of it himself. Although, of course, Nico didnโt really know him or what he was to Wammyโs, or anything about his experience with the place. Did Nico even know L himself had been brought there as an orphaned child? L realized with a bit of surprise that he had no idea how common that knowledge was. He hadnโt intentionally hidden it of course, he just...well. He didnโt talk about himself that much. He was too busy interfering in everyone elseโs business to really spread his own life around that much. โNot since Iโฆโ L trailed off too, and rubbed his neck awkwardly as he realized he, too, didnโt really know how to put it. Became the worldโs greatest detective, he supposed, would do. Or became the one people went to when they had no idea what was going on. Or even just left Wammyโs would suffice, since that was really when things had started to happen. โ...since I left?โ He offered, raising his eyebrows in a silent question mark. He hoped that would capture what Nico was trying to say. โExcellent.โ He continued cheerfully as Nico made his decision. It wasnโt surprising, but he was relieved anyway, as he hadnโt been completely sure what choice the boy would make. That made this all so much easier, in the end. As it happened, Nico did just fine. L slid into the seat beside him, closed the door with barely enough force to latch it, and turned to look at his new companion. Nico looked worried, much too worried for someone who was just taking a small trip. About the right amount of worried for someone taking a small trip with someone who was known as the smartest person in the world, though. Not that L believed that for a moment; he knew he was smart, but it was impossible to measure intelligence because it never looked the same in different people. For him, it looked like never sleeping, candy cane in one hand and a computer mouse in the other, ready to take down anyone he chose to chase. For others it could look like a painting that came out just so, a loaf of bread, a new mixture of chemicals, the final boss of a computer game...the possibilities were endless. That was why L Lawliet didnโt believe for a second that he could be the smartest person in the world. And neither could anyone else. Watari dipped his head in acknowledgment of Nicoโs greeting, an amiable smile on his wrinkled features. L glanced at Nico, surprised from his reverie. โNormally, only I think to speak to Watari.โ He said slowly, and his expression betrayed how impressed he was. Watari wasnโt wallpaper, but people tended to treat him that way when he and L were out together, something that bugged L to no end, yet Watari seemed to be fine with.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 10, 2020 23:53:11 GMT -5
Nico was going to have to accept that he couldnโt read L. He was one of just a handful of people who would ever have the opportunity to try, but that didnโt mean he was any good at it. At least now he knew that the reason L hid his face wasnโt because he was too easily readable. Not that Nico thought that was a likely option anyway โ he had a feeling that it was because people didnโt tend to take anyone as young as L seriously, especially if they had years of experience on him. People tended to think age concurred with skill, but that wasnโt the case. The kids at Wammyโs alone proved that, though Nico knew there were plenty of other kids and young adults who were a lot more capable than the people who were currently in charge of big things. Not just the ones at Wammyโs. โYes, since you left,โ Nico agreed, grateful to have a way to finish his thought that wasnโt too uncomfortable for either of them. It said a lot about L, he figured, that he hadnโt chosen the most impressive end to the sentence he could think of. In fact, he had chosen the most understated, as though he didnโt really see that much of a difference between himself and the kids still at Wammyโs. Or maybe he had just chosen that because it was what was likely to put Nico most at ease. Either way, Nico felt his respect for L grow. Nico hesitated once L was in the car, not wanting to make a fool of himself. There was the fact that he was still very impressed by L, and in a way it was like getting in the car with a celebrity. There was also the fact that L could very easily outmatch him in every conceivable way, and getting into a car with him sort of felt like getting in the car with a bomb that could go off at any moment. Not that L was that unpredictable, it was just that as little as L knew what to expect from Nico, Nico knew less. L had a reputation, and everyone at Wammyโs knew who he was, but that didnโt mean Nico had any idea how the detective would react to anything he said, or what L would do in a car with such little space between him and a kid who only mattered to him because he might be useful in solving a case. โHuh?โ Nico asked, surprised by Lโs words. โButโฆ but heโs right there. Heโs drivingโฆโ he trailed off, still confused. He knew people could be rude, knew that they didnโt respect a lot of people as much as they should have, but the fact that nobody else ever said anything to Watariโฆ Nico didnโt know why, but that made him angry. Well.. anger may have been too strong a word, but frustrated wasnโt strong enough. Somewhere in between. Because even if Watari wasnโt a genius โ and he was, even Nico knew that โ he at least deserved for other people to acknowledge him. Nico crossed his arms, stewing on that thought for a bit in silence. He looked out the window, not quite intentionally ignoring L, but at least giving his thoughts some time to sit and coalesce. Wherever they were going, they were going to talk about Hades, and Nico doubted he was going to be as helpful as he wanted to be. He hadnโt seen his father since heโd been dropped at Wammyโs and most of the other kids didnโt even believe his father was still alive. It wasnโt like Hades had sent letters or anything or told him he was coming back. Whatever he had gotten himself involved with, though, it couldnโt be good if it required Lโs involvement. Nico shifted so he could see L a little bit better. The man in front of him had dealt with terrible, terrible cases. Things that made Nicoโs stomach turn to think about, and still he seemedโฆ nice. Nico wasnโt sure that was the right word, merely because he had never heard it used in the context of L before, but based on this brief interaction it was one of the first words that came to mind. That was huge for Nico, given that he generally didnโt believe adults capable of being nice. He wasnโt sure kids were truly capable of it either. Would it be alright to ask about the case now that they were alone in the car? Was it possible the car would be bugged? Probably not, given that nobody really knew who L was other than a select few. Nico wondered if, when he eventually got kicked out of Wammyโs, his knowledge of Lโs face would put the detective in danger. He hoped not. Despite the urge to dislike L, Nico couldnโt help but look up to him and find him incredibly likeable. Mainly because he seemed to care about Nicoโs feelings, or at least the way he was reacting to things, when Nico was very unused to others doing that for him. โIs my father in trouble?โ Nico asked after a few moments, being sure to keep his voice even. Given that he wasnโt even sure how he felt about that possibility, he didnโt want to project any feelings into the words that L could pick up on. If he was in trouble, Nico wouldnโt have been terribly surprised. The way Hades tended to run things wasโฆ often pretty questionable, based on the limited amount of information Nico had. Heโd risk a lot to make a profit, and that included sending Nico away. He looked up at L, waiting for the answer. At least he was fairly confident that L wouldnโt sugarcoat things hereโฆ if Hades had gotten himself into trouble and thatโs why L was involvedโฆ then Nico was pretty sure L wouldnโt keep that from him. Unless, of course, Nico was supposed to figure out on his own what kind of trouble to expect from his father.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Mar 15, 2020 15:30:23 GMT -5
L wasnโt unreadable on purpose, really. If he was, he could have turned it off, making people feel more at ease around him. It would have been a lot easier to get people on his side then, instead of having to go around the hard way and create a bunch of different identities just to make people let him help them. The three greatest detectives in the world, for example, were all just him trying to get people to cooperate. It was so much more complicated than it needed to be, and yet here they were. Well, that wasnโt totally true. Nico was being very cooperative so far. L wasnโt sure that had much to do with how likable he as a person was, because more likely it was because of his reputation at Wammyโs than anything else, but then again Nico could have said no and that would have been that. Whether Nico was aware that L wouldnโt force him or not, was a different question. L didnโt need to sound impressive. He didnโt need to puff himself up, because he was right where he was supposed to be. Nico wouldnโt appreciate his ego anyway, and there really wasnโt much of a difference between him and the Wammyโs kids. Age was really the only difference he considered real. And someday, when he was dead and they were older, he wouldnโt even have that. He hoped Nico wasnโt too intimidated by him. He realized that he was something of a celebrity, which was weird incidentally, but that didnโt mean he thought he was better than everyone else. He was perfectly aware of his capabilities, as well as the fact that someone someday was quite likely to surpass them. Maybe, it would even be Nico. Not that he was going to say that when things were fragile enough as it was. Nico didnโt really trust him, and he had no real reason to. Also, L didnโt know enough about Nico to trust him either, so they were both going to need some more time before he went dropping any comments like that. There was a big difference between knowing someoneโs reputation and knowing the person themselves. L was known for solving cases, being cold and calculating, only taking on cases that were worth enough. In reality, he played with his food and made dumb jokes no one understood and went on voice calls with the kids from his old orphanage. In the end, he was utterly and completely human, and humans were far more complicated than they were often given credit for. He knew that from long and hard experience. L nodded simply. Watari was indeed right there, and it was the polite thing to do to acknowledge his existence, but it so rarely actually happened. Watari himself said it was fine, he would rather be ignored than under as much pressure as L was daily, but L could tell from the smal smile he wore now that secretly he wished he wasnโt always invisible. He didnโt want constant attention, but there was a difference between that and never even being glanced at by anyone but a single intelligent weirdo. Watari deserves so much more than that, and L found himself warming immediately to Nico, for his decision to acknowledge the older man, as well as his clear indignation that no one else had done the same. He smiled a little to himself as the boy looked out the window, a private, secretive smile, and it would be gone the moment Nico turned back. The question was, what would Nico be able to tell him? Would he actually be able to help? This was a bit of a gamble on Lโs part, if he were honest with himself, and he could only hope it would pay off. Not that he didnโt have several backup plans, of course, but this was by far the simplest and best option available and the others were long and tedious and had a high chance of failure. None of which made him want to use them. This case was far from the worst L had decided to tackle, but it was the best either, and he wanted to solve it quickly and move on. Hades was not a man he found either interesting nor good, and he didnโt really want to spend that much rime thinking about him, if he was honest. Why has he taken this case? There was a reason, and it wasnโt Hades. This case had more to do with the numerical worth than anything else, actually, which meant it wasnโt that personal, not even now when he was talking to Hadesโ son. Who, incidentally, seemed nothing at all like his father so far. If heโd known that Nico thought he was nice, he would have been rather shocked, because heโd never thought of himself that way before. He was smart, he was terrifying to go up against, he was a force to be reckoned with, but he wasnโt nice. Nice was for people who didnโt have to take down multiple hardened criminals a day. Who didnโt work murder cases in place of sleep. Who had friends. He was what he needed to be, that was all. And he didnโt need to be nice. Except he was being careful of Nicoโs feelings in this case. He didnโt like making kids upset, and he liked Nico, so he didnโt want to make him mad. It would also be counterproductive to annoy the boy, but he ahead to admit that wasnโt the main reason he was being nice at the moment. Maybe it was because he was about to be forced not to. Talking about Hades wasnโt going to be fun for either of them. โYes.โ He answered the question simply, his tone neutral as though it didnโt matter much to him one way or the other. โIt would be understandable for you to want to protect him.โ He added after a moment, a little softer this time. โBut I have to urge you to tell me everything you know. Whether heโs guilty or not is still uncertain, however if he is and you didnโt tell me everything, the case will be much more difficult to solve. Also, it would be very bad for you if it comes out that you obstructed justice. Thatโs not a threat, itโs just a fact.โ He was looking out the window now, waiting for them to arrive. โI wish I didnโt have to involve you at all,โ he admitted unexpectedly. โBut I fear you may be the only one who can help me now.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 16, 2020 12:21:11 GMT -5
Nico had his back turned to L, seemingly just taking in the sights through the window. Despite the fact that he couldnโt see L, he was still trying to keep tabs on him, still trying to make sure that nothing about this situation was going to go wrong. He kept telling himself that L really had no reason to lie to him about not being in trouble, but that didnโt mean Nico believed his own logic. People didnโt need to have a reason to be cruel or mean, and they certainly didnโt need a reason to lie. Surely L of all people knew that, which meant โ Nico hoped โ that he wouldnโt take Nicoโs distrust too personally. That it wouldnโt impact whatever happened wherever they were going. Nico figured he could ask about that, but not knowing didnโt bother him as much as the fact that he was literally sitting in a car with L, the greatest detective in the world, and he had no idea what to say. What could he say that wouldnโt seem inane? So far, he hadnโt messed anything up, but he hadnโt been with L for that long yet. There was still plenty of time to say exactly the wrong thing. L wasnโt doing a lot of talking, and Nico couldnโt help but wonder if that was because he didnโt want to talk, or because he expected Nico to fill the silence. Nico supposed heโd find out soon enough if L got upset with him for not saying much. What was he doing here? Any other kid at Wammyโs wouldโve leapt at this opportunity and would probably have been bombarding L with questions about cases for the past however many minutes. It wasnโt that Nico wasnโt interested, it was justโฆ well, L was a genius and heโd solved so many cases, and Nico didnโt want to ask the wrong kind of question and upset L because he shouldโve asked something different about them. While Nico knew plenty of kids at Wammyโs struggled with self-doubt, at least the rest of them actually belonged there. โRight,โ Nico murmured, grateful that L had answered honestly about his father. The truth was, he wasnโt surprised. If Hades was in trouble, that was certainly one reason that he hadnโt come to pick him up from Wammyโs. Nico knew deep down it wasnโt the only reason, but it sure was a convenient excuse. One that Nico could cling onto until he was ready to face the other, harder, possibilities. Deep down, he crushed a petty thought that tried to surface: If he wanted me to protect him, the least he couldโve done was not send me away. The situation was more complicated than that and Nico knew it. He just didnโt like it. โI think you made a bad call.โ The statement may have been blunt, but Nico believed it. โIf I knew anything about my father, anything of use, donโt you think Iโd be with him instead of at Wammyโs?โ There was an edge to his voice, a sort of resentment. In truth, the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. โI just meanโฆ not if heโs guilty, I guess, butโฆโ he shook his head, face burning as he stared at the ground. โWammyโs is great and all for the people that belong there.โ He didnโt mean to have an outburst in front of L, but L had to understand what sort of mistake had been made when Nico was brought to Wammyโs. โIโm not an orphan, and even if I was, Iโm not a genius. I canโt focus on things that are important, and I canโt even read right most of the time.โ He crossed his arms, trying to maintain any amount of dignity. Of all of the things he expected to do once he got in a car with L โ not that he had expected that to ever happen in the first place, admitting all of that at once wasโฆ not high on the to-do list. Somehow, though, he felt safe admitting that here. L wouldnโt make fun of him for it, he decided. The worst L could do was send him away, and that was something Nico expected at the end of every day anyway. Might as well get it over with now, if it was going to happen. He took a deep breath, attempting to salvage the situation as best he could. โIโm gonna try to help, though,โ he added, after a moment. โI donโt think I know anything useful, but if I do, and if my fatherโs done something wrong, I want him to face justice just like anyone else.โ Hades had always crossed the line between what was right and what was wrong, it was just that most of the time, the law was on his side. If Hades had done something bad enough to warrant L being on the caseโฆ then Nico would do everything he could to offer information without a bias and make sure the criminal โ even if it was his father โ went behind bars. Knowing that his father could be in trouble just gave Nico thousands more questions โ questions that he wasnโt willing to ask right now, questions that he was afraid of the answers to. He hadnโt known his father as well as he should have, probably, but was that his fault? Was he a bad son for thinking his father capable of doing something bad enough to warrant L coming onto the case? Those thoughts werenโt helpful for the case, though deep inside Nico found he wanted to be a good son. He wanted to make his father proud, and that was what forced him to keep trying to do what he was supposed to at Wammyโs. The knowledge that being stupid at Wammyโs still probably meant he was โsmartโ was little consolation, because that wouldnโt be enough for Hades. But if his father was a criminal now, why would his opinion matter? Okay, so maybe Nicoโs thoughts on his father werenโt as clear cut as he wanted him to be in the moment. It didnโt change that Nico wasnโt going to try to protect him or impede the case at all. โAnd Iโm not just saying that โcause I donโt want to get in trouble,โ Nico added, his face settling into something like determination. โWhatever he did โ if he did it โ mustโve been bad, otherwise you wouldnโt be here. And if it was bad, I donโt want him able to do anything like it again.โ
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Mar 29, 2020 17:12:39 GMT -5
L could tell without a shadow of a doubt that Nico didnโt trust him. He didnโt take this personally in the slightest. Nico had every reason to mistrust adults, and especially ones with power, which L definitely had more than his share of that. Being not only the greatest detective in the world, but the three greatest detectives in the world at the same time, well...L wouldnโt trust L, either. Not until he knew what his own motives were, anyway. Maybe once Nico understood that this had nothing to do with him being in trouble, he would feel calmer and theyโd be able to talk without this looming monster over both their heads. As far as he was concerned, Nico didnโt have to prove himself. Not that the detective wouldnโt be testing him at every turn, but that was more for his own benefit than because he didnโt think Nico would pass. He just wanted to get to know the boy, and that was pretty much the only way he knew how. You donโt think too highly of yourself, do you? L mused, keeping an eye on the boy as they rode in almost complete silence. No questions, not showing off, not half-thought-out attempts at deductions. Not that it would have been a bad thing if Nico had done those things, it was just interesting that he didnโt, and L found he liked this boy more and more as time went on. He was quiet and thoughtful, smarter than he knew. All he needed really was a little more confidence. Which L hoped that helping him solve a case might be just the thing to give him that. Which would be a pleasant side effect of all this to say the least. He wished he had a different answer about Hades. But the truth of the matter was, the man wasnโt a good person, at least he didnโt seem to be. He was perhaps an even worse father, abandoning his son like he had, and L felt a stab of deep dislike for the man shoot through him, though he did a good job of covering it up as nothing. Nico deserved much, much better, that was all. Maybe he would find that at Wammyโs. L knew the chances of Hades not causing trouble were astronomically low. He was ignoring that fact, and didnโt want to be reminded. โYou donโt see surprised.โ L noted, tone steady and neutral as he glanced at Nico. They were both talking quietly, it seemed, as though afraid of being overheard. Or afraid of being heard at all. His eyes widened a little as Nico went on, but he wasnโt upset to be told heโd made a mistake. After all, he didnโt agree that he had, but he was willing to listen to Nicoโs argument and see. He listened quietly, eyes intense as the rested on Nico, expression so difficult to read but not unkind. โI think your father is the one who made a mistake.โ He said softly when Nico had finished, his tone unexpectedly gentle. โI know you donโt think you belong at Wammyโs. Perhaps it would surprise you, however, to know that you wouldnโt be the first child or the last whoโs come to me and told me they didnโt think they were smart enough to be there. I think the word genius is misleading, personally. It implies you have a set of skills that have nothing at all to do with intellect, leading many highly intelligent people to believe theyโre quite dense.โ His expression was serious, with no trace of laughing at Nico in his wide dark eyes. What heโd said was true. Plenty of Wammyโs kids believed they were stupid and couldnโt believe how the smartest people in the world had made such a mistake. Since the early days, L thought heโd come a long way in building systems to help children like that gain confidence in a healthy way, but he knew there was still a long way to go, and it was possible heโd never fully rid the orphanage of self-doubt. He hoped Nico still wanted to help him. He certainly still wanted Nicoโs help, and more than that, he might need it. Without the boyโs knowledge, he had the suspicion that this case might fall wide open and leave it easy for Hades to slip away unharmed. He didnโt want that to happen, he wanted to catch him and stop him before he did something even worse, but he knew this case was resting on thin ice at the moment. โThank you.โ L said simply, dipping his head to the boy in front of him respectfully. โI appreciate that. I know it isnโt easy to go against your own father, and I donโt expect you to do it without hesitation. But any help you might be able to give would be welcome.โ Nico, of course, didnโt know how fragile this case was. It wasnโt necessarily something L was purposefully hiding from him, it was more that he hadnโt yet gotten around to mentioning that. He would, soon enough, when they got where they were going. He could practically feel the waves of thought coming off the boy, and he could tell Nicoโs thoughts about his father were...well...complicated, to say the least. He didnโt blame him. The whole situation was absurdly complicated. Right when Nico finished speaking, the car came to a stop, and Watari looked back at the two of them, then silently got out of the car and came around to open it for L and Nico both. L nodded to Nico again, a small smile on his face. โI think, with your help, we have a good chance of winning this case.โ He told him, then turned and climbed out of the car, his bare feet hitting the ground with a slapping sound. They were standing in front of a cozy looking ice cream shop, complete with outdoor seating set far enough away from the building that eavesdropping wasnโt much of a concern. L glanced back at Nico and tilted his head slightly, indicating the building. โPlease, go with Watari and order whatever you like. Iโll go save our seats.โ
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Mar 31, 2020 0:58:02 GMT -5
Nico wasnโt nearly as hopeful about it as L seemed to be, at least from the way he periodically looked back at L, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Even if it hadnโt been a car ride with L, he likely wouldnโt have said much. When possible he preferred to keep his thoughts to himself, and it wasnโt like he had anything extraordinary to share now. Other kids might have tried to show off, but what could Nico brag about having that L hadnโt seen thousands of times before, but done better by other kids? It wasnโt that Nico was upset about not being special enough to demonstrate any sorts of skills to L, it was justโฆ a fact. He was here, and if anyone else were to see the way he just stared out the window they likely would have told him he was squandering his unique opportunity with L. L didnโt seem to mind that Nico was quiet though, and that was one of the things he did find he had in common with a lot of the other kids at Wammyโs. There was a whole faction of them who were quiet, for various reasons. If anyone cared to get to know Nico long enough to get him to open up they may have seen the obnoxiously curious side of him, but it wasnโt something he displayed easily. It wasnโt something that was compelled to make its way out in this situation. โIโฆโ Nico hesitated. How did he tell L that he thought his father might be capable of terrible things? How did he tell L that part of him didnโt care, that if Hades was proven innocent Nico would go back and live with him in a heartbeat even if he was capable of doing terrible things? There was no getting out of this situation โ either Nico was a bad person or he was a bad son and he wasnโt sure which he preferred L see him as. Possibly a bad son, becauseโฆ well, L was the definition of a good person, wasnโt he? He was the type of person who took down bad people with no actual recognition other than a couple of orphans who would probably grow up to be famous in their own rights. The people that L saved from bad guys, thoughโฆ those people would never thank L for it, because they didnโtโ know who he was. Yet he continued to help them, all the while knowing that he would never receive their thanks. To Nico, that was the definition of a selfless, good person. Nicoโฆ wasnโt that. He wanted his fatherโs recognition. He wanted Hades to look him in the eye and tell him he was proud. It would never happen, but Nico could hope. โIโm not surprised,โ he admitted after a moment, once his thoughts had calmed down. โI justโฆ I think, if he wanted to be, he could be capable of doing some bad things. I just donโt know โ and I guess you donโt know either, otherwise I wouldnโt be here โ if heโs ever actually gone through with anything bad.โ That was really what they were here to figure out. Nico could deal with that, it wasnโt like they were condemning Hades yet. Yet. There was something in Lโs tone that made Nico meet his gaze. He searched them for any hint of insincerity, and though he still couldnโt read L, he didnโt find any. He was inclined to believe what he saw. โThatโs easy enough for you to say,โ Nico mumbled, then seemed to realize what he had said when his eyes widened in the horror of how rude he had just been. He hadnโt meant to be, really. โI just meanโฆ youโre a genius. And youโre the best. But sometimes people arenโt actually secretly really smart. And itโs just... anyone whoโs ever told you they didnโt belong at Wammyโs before probably actually had a really good reason for being there in the first place. You wanna know something about my father? He wants to make an impression. He thrives on being seen, on having all the assets he can get. And even the smartest people in the world arenโt immune to bribery, especially not his if he thinks itโll make him look better.โ Nico wasnโt implying that L had taken a bribe from Hades to let Nico into Wammyโs, just that someone had. It really was the only thing that made sense. The worst thing was, Nico could understand why Hades had done it. He couldnโt hold it against him. Of course he had no confirmation it had actually happened, but nothing else seemed possible. Nico kept his mouth shut after that until they pulled up in front of the ice cream shop and his eyes widened. โThank you,โ he murmured automatically to Watari as the car door was opened and he stepped out. There was a lot to process. L telling him he might help them win the case โ a chance to prove himself useful, even if he was a fraud. And also the fact that they were at an ice cream place and Nico could pick anything he wanted. The boy glanced up at Watari as though expecting him to revise Lโs statement, but it seemed the detectiveโs word held true. โI didnโt bringโฆ I donโt haveโฆโ he stared at the ground, embarrassed. It was just ice cream, but he still felt bad making L pay for it for him. Or Watari or whoever was paying. It didnโt feel right. Food at Wammyโs was one thing because they were required to feed the people living there, but thisโฆ felt different. This felt like he would be taking advantage of L if he didnโt pay for his own sweets, so that just meant he wouldnโt have any and hope L wasnโt offended.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Apr 4, 2020 15:30:25 GMT -5
L himself was quiet, so he didnโt mind that Nico didnโt feel like talking. He was often told he needed to communicate a bit better, and he wondered not for the first time whether that was true. Not that he could really do anything about that. He was the way he was, and no amount of tugging on himself was going to change that. Talking was something he did when he had something to talk about, not when he wanted to fill the silence, and he got the sense that Nico might be the same way. In fact, he didnโt doubt that under the right circumstances, the boy would be as chatty as any of the more extroverted Wammyโs kids. He hoped to see that side of Nico sometime. He didnโt have any reason to think he would, but he hoped. He didnโt think about Nico not showing off, so much as he thought about what the boy was doing. He was thinking. He was trying to make the best out of a bad situation. And he was probably trying to figure out what someone like L wanted with him, which was a fair question. The greatest detective in the world, or so the title went, probably didnโt have time to talk very often. That was where he was wrong, though. Talking was a huge part of Lโs work. Talking to suspects, mostly, talking to victims when they happened to still be alive, talking to family members. People like Nico, for example. He sometimes wished he could make more calls where he wasnโt the bad guy, but that was his life. It was what heโd chosen, and he wouldnโt change it even if he could. He looked at Nico. The boy looked conflicted, as though he wasnโt sure how to answer, which was a reasonable response. For a child his age to have to deal with something like this, he was doing remarkably well, and L had no doubt that he loved his father even if he was capable of horrendous deeds. That was often the case in families, heโd noticed. Often, love had nothing to do with what the person was capable of, and everything to do with who the person was. Hades was Nicoโs father. Maybe hating him wasnโt an option. He wondered whether Nico would tell him how he really felt. It was all right either way, but he was curious. He nodded. That was probably as good as they were going to get, and he was impressed that Nico had said that much. Because it had to be hard, saying that about someone you cared for. Someone you wanted to be loved by. He didnโt blame Nico for trying not to actually say that Hades had done anything wrong yet, and really, L couldnโt say he had, either. He was a suspect, that was all. A very high suspect with chance of over 83% of being guilty...but a suspect. And he couldnโt afford to forget that. He tilted his head slightly at Nicoโs next words. Genius? Well, he knew that was what people thought of him, and he wouldnโt have said he wasnโt smart because he was, but he wouldnโt call himself a genius. He didnโt like the connotation that other people werenโt smart. Like the one Nico was making now, for example. He listened to the boy speak, not interrupting even when Nico implied that someone had taken a bribe to get him into Wammyโs, which was completely untrue. L knew enough to know that bribing your way into Wammyโs was neither possible nor wise to try, because it was a big deal and getting in wasnโt competitive in that way. You got in if you were suited to be in, no other way. Like Nico was suited to be there, whether he knew it or not. L knew that if he stayed long enough, there was a chance he would even begin to call that place home. And he wanted that for the boy, he really did. Just like heโd found a home there, once. โIโm not the best.โ He answered quietly, looking Nico in the eye. โIโm the greatest detective in the world that we know of, yes. There is a high chance that thereโs a better detective out there somewhere, however, so โmost well known detectiveโ might be a better title. But I canโt be the best, because thatโs much too wide of a description for anyone to fit. But you want to know why I donโt think anyone was bribed.โ He hesitated. They were there now, and he was out of the car before he answered, looking at the ice cream shop as he did. โI donโt think anyone was bribed because I think youโre a lot smarter than you think you are, Nico. And I thinkโฆโ he paused, looking over a hunched shoulder at the boy. โI think you have a lot to offer the world.โ He headed off then, towards the seats he was going to save for them. Far enough away from the building to be safe from curious ears, and far enough to be a bit of a pain to get there, but probably not far enough for the ice cream to melt. Probably. Watari shook his head as he gazed after L, then looked at Nico, eyes knowing. โDonโt even think about pretending you donโt want any.โ He told him, but it was gentle, like he was used to carefully convincing people they were wrong. That wasnโt what he was doing now, but he sounded like a negotiator when he spoke. โCome on. L will be able to tell of you choose something you donโt want because itโs cheaper, so I wouldnโt do that either.โ And he headed for the door, looking back to see whether Nico was following or not.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Apr 7, 2020 13:34:16 GMT -5
L was right about that. In the right circumstances, Nico was that annoying kid who would not โ and in some cases could not โ shut up when he was talking about the right thing. If the right subject came up, L would get to meet a very different part of Nico. As it was, though, he was nervous and confused and he doubted how much help he could actually be to the detective. As bad as it was to feel like he didnโt belong at Wammyโs, this uncertainty about being able to help in something this important wasโฆ well, worse. Even if part of him resented L, he didnโt want to let him down. Secretly, though, he didnโt want to let his father down either. Even if he didnโt want to admit it to himself, he still thought his father had the potential to be a good man. If he had squandered that potential by doing something bad, didnโt it fall to Nico to make sure he didnโt betray his principles even more? Of course, that was assuming Hades even had principles, whichโฆ well, he may not have. He fell silent, doubts falling down around him as L answered. This wasnโt false modesty, though coming from other people it could easily be perceived as that. L genuinely believed that he wasnโt the best. Nico watched him silently for a few moments, waiting to see if this was some elaborate joke and L was just going to smile and say โJust kidding, I am the best and you suck, so weโre going to abandon you at this ice cream place to find your own way home.โ Of course based on everything that Nico had noticed about L, he didnโt seem the type of person to do that. Honestly, Nico was still stuck on how genuine he seemed. โIf someone were as good as you, donโt you think theyโd have found their way into the spotlight by now?โ Of course, there were obstacles to that, but at the very least the world seemed to recognize and admire the type of genius that saved peoples lives. They were also afraid of it, sometimes, but in Nicoโs opinion (which was fairly limited at least by his age), it still was recognized. When Lโs words turned on him, towards his own merit, Nico opened his mouth to protest. He wasnโt able to get a word out before L had wandered towards the seats he was going to save. If he were to call out a response now, he would just cause a commotion and that was about the last thing Nico was interested in doing. Instead, he turned his thoughts inward, trying to process what L had said. Maybe, one day, he would have something to offer the world. That was a big โmaybe,โ though, and that answer seemed to be a lot more clear for other kids at Wammyโs. Nico had no idea how L knew for sure there had been no bribes. He hadnโt even known Nico for more than half an hour, tops, how could he possibly know he deserved to be at Wammyโs? Then again, he was the greatest detective the world knew of. Perhaps it was unfair to assume he couldnโt make those sorts of judgements about people. Then again, maybe he was just trying to get Nico to like him so that Nico would be more willing to trust him over his fatherโฆ now he was overthinking it and not doing L justice at the same time. Nico pushed the thoughts to the side. Instead, he focused on Watari, frowning at the way he seemed so casual about buying the ice cream. Nico had spent most of his life in a rather elaborate home, complete with all sort of sweets he couldnโt get enough of, but that was different. Even when he was younger, he didnโt often get to go out for ice cream or any other sort of treat. Only when he deserved it, and he had the distinct feeling he hadnโt done anything to deserve it this time. Besides, spending time at Wammyโs had made Nico realize that not everybody was as rich as Hades was. What was nothing for him to buy could be a lot for someone else, and there he went again with the overthinking thing. L was a bad influence, Nico decided. He was prone to overthinking things, but the knowledge that the detective was probably analyzing every one of his decisions and movements โ hell, even expressions โ made Nico hyper conscious of what he was choosing and why. After just a moments hesitation, Nico followed Watari, taking in all of the ice cream flavors laid out in front of them. Almost as though to spite the fact that Nico wished he didnโt want any, his stomach grumbled and he pressed closer to the glass, trying to read each of the flavors. He shot a glance at Watari, almost as though asking approval before he looked at the person behind the counter and made his order: a medium cup with one scoop of coffee and a scoop of cinnamon swirl, and a sugar cone stuck on top. โIt melts too fast if you just get it in a cone,โ he said quietly to Watari, as though he was about to be questioned for his choice in ice cream.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on Apr 30, 2020 17:19:43 GMT -5
Maybe someday, L would get to see that version of Nico. Maybe he would get to meet the kid with so many questions they burned him up from the inside out, because L could relate to that. He was a detective, after all. And didnโt detectives live their lives by asking questions? Wasnโt that what he did, day after day? He asked both the right and the wrong questions, he made sure to inspect every detail he could find. Wasnโt that what it was to investigate? He looked at Nico. Somehow, he just couldnโt tell what the boy thought of him. Usually he had some idea whether someone hated his guts or not. Admittedly, he was often wrong about that, but he made up for it by being wrong about nothing else. With Nico, though, he really didnโt know. Did the boy hate him? Admire him? Wish he was dead? L was completely in the dark for now. What he did know was that Nico loved his father, in spite of everything. This didnโt surprise him at all. Everyone, but especially children, were hardwired to love their parents, and often it had very little to do with who those parents were. Of course there were people who didnโt follow that rule, but they were the exception as far as L could tell. So it wasnโt at all surprising to see Nico struggling. He really didnโt think he was the best. Heโd made so many mistakes, serious ones, and heโd lost confidence in himself before. He believed he was capable of extreme feats of mental prowess, and he knew he was highly intelligent, but he wasnโt the best because that was a concept that made no sense. Everyone was different, and so comparing them was a waste of time. That was what he thought, anyway. โPerhaps.โ He mused, answering Nicoโs question thoughtfully. โBut there are plenty of reasons why someone might be as โgoodโ as me, as you say, and not be in my position. They may simply have lacked someone to recognize their abilities. Or maybe theyโre โgoodโ in a completely different field than I am, one thatโs less prone to recognition. There are too many reasons to list, but suffice to say I find it highly unlikely that Iโm the most intelligent person in the world. The chances that Iโm the best detective in the history of the world are so close to zero, thereโs no point in even paying any attention to them.โ And with that, L was gone, saving seats.
Watari shook his head slightly, watching Nico closely. The boy clearly had mixed feelings about L, which was understandable, but Watari could tell that the boy meant him no harm. Nico was curious about them, and nervous too, worried that he was in trouble he that he was about to get kicked out. That, too, was understandable, but Watari wished he could set those fears at ease. He didnโt speak, letting Nico do as he liked. The boy was clearly struggling internally at the moment, and there was no rush. Actually, L had probably chosen to go save seats himself rather than sending Watari both because he wanted to give Nico a break from his intense scrutiny, and because he thought Nico and Watari might want to talk a little, too. Not that Watari expected Nico to talk to him. Lโs handler was used to being ignored, and he didnโt take it personally. Though, Nico had spoken to him in the car. He still didnโt know why that was. L was the star of the show, there was no question about that, and that was how Watari liked it. Still, it had been nice to be spoken to like a human being. He waited patiently for Nico to go inside, smiling in a low key friendly sort of way as he did. The poor boy was having to work through so much unfamiliarity at the moment, after all, it was only fair to give him a moment to catch up. Then he headed for the ice cream shop, and after a momentโs hesitation, Nico followed him. And just like that, Nico was a kid again. Pressing his face to the glass, reading the containers, even his glance at Watari for approval was as childlike as you could get. Watari smiled to himself, remembering a certain other boy who had been hypnotized by the many flavors a single ice cream shop could contain. Nico reminded him of that boy, more than most of the other children at Wammyโs. He made his own order after Nico: a medium cone with one scoop of strawberry and one scoop of vanilla for L, and a small cup of pistachio for himself. Then he turned back to Nico, carrying the two orders one in each hand. โYes.โ He agreed, eyeing the cone for his favorite detective with a dubious expression. โI think so too. L always seems to think cones are better. I donโt have any idea why.โ And with that, he turned and headed out, somehow managing to get the door open and hold it for Nico, in spite of his double ice creams.
L was waiting at his tables, watching the people go by. They were mostly eating their own treats, and of course, they had no idea that the odd young man with the messy hair and baggy clothes was actually the famous L.
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L approached the building, not bothering to check the paper with the address written on it.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Apr 30, 2020 20:22:29 GMT -5
Nico pondered what L said, but didnโt bother trying to shout a reply. That would just cause a scene, and Nico had learned a long time ago that causing a scene was never worth it. Except maybe when you had something very, very important to say. Nico wasnโt sure he had anything to say now, let alone anything particularly important. Although L mentioning the history of the world was interesting. There was no way to prove that, and before the modern day there were surely people who were brilliant but got stuck doing what their families wanted rather than something well suited to them. Nico wondered how many detectives โ detectives that could have been better than L โ had been passed over because of any number of variables they hadnโt had any control over. Nico had met geniuses โ too many for his liking โ and he figured they got where they were because there had been no choice but to notice their skill. But perhaps they had just been loud about it. Perhaps theyโd been given microphones if they couldnโt raise their voices loud enough to be heard. And Nico has a microphone now in the form of Wammyโs House, but he didnโt feel as though he had anything worth adding to the conversation. He turned his attention back to Watari. Although you couldnโt have L without Watari and vice versa, Nico found his opinions on Watari far more decided than the ones he harbored for L. He liked Watari. Perhaps because he didnโt get as much recognition, or because he gave those friendly smiles, and was still probably analyzing Nicoโs every move but at least it felt like there was a lot less riding on it. And he was patient, even when Nico hesitated, and he was willing to buy ice cream. Though that part might have been Lโs decision as much as Watariโs. Nico round he had questions for Watari. Questions he didnโt know if he had any right to ask, but still. He had questions for L too, but Watari so far seemed the more likely of the two to answer them without attempting to psychoanalyze the reasons behind him asking. โIโve never liked pistachios,โ he admitted quietly, instead of asking any of his questions. He didnโt mean it as a judgement, justโฆ a comment. A way of making conversation. Nico wasnโt good at starting conversation and he was only good at continuing it if he had some relevant information to share. Nico was good at being useful, not so much at being conversational or interesting. โThank you, by the way,โ he added, shoving his spoon into the coffee ice cream. He was tempted to take a bite then and there, but that probably wouldnโt be polite when neither of his hosts had taken a bite of theirs yet. Besides, he still felt at least a little bit guilty about accepting the ice cream when he had no money to spare. Hades wouldโve been appalled at his manners. Then again, did manners lessons from a man who was currently suspected of a crime still count? Nico wished he knew what his father was suspected of, but he figured that conversation was coming soon enough. This wasnโt just an outing to get ice cream. โHow long have you known L?โ The question slipped out, unbidden, and Nico immediately felt like kicking himself. โNot thatโฆ you donโt have toโฆ thatโs probably classified, isnโt it?โ His cheeks reddened and he stared down at his cup. - Orpheus stared at the ceiling, watching the light from the outside windows refract. There hadnโt been any visitors since Hermes had died. Just an empty, half abandoned apartment building.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on May 1, 2020 13:46:43 GMT -5
Watari, though used to being ignored, found he quite enjoyed being more in the thick of things. For example, not many people were aware that he was an accomplished sniper, or that he could bake over a hundred cakes in one day. They knew he served ice cream and brought Lโs laptop around wherever it needed to be, and they knew he was Lโs handler, but they had no idea about all the things that entailed. And, really, he was fine with that. He needed no oneโs recognition, aside from perhaps Lโs. And that was because he knew L appreciated him, even if the young man said it rarely. Nico seemed to have questions on his mind, and Watari waited patiently for them to be asked. There was no need to pry, after all. Nico was free to ask whatever he liked, and though he clearly worried about making them angry, he didnโt need to. Watari wasnโt going to get angry over a simple question. Actually, Nico probably couldnโt have made Watari angry if heโd tried. Watari was, indeed, less likely to psychoanalyze everything Nico said, but he *would* be watching the boyโs expressions closely and getting any information he could, probably to tell L later. It wasnโt a breach in privacy. It was simply them trying to solve this case as quickly as possible. He glanced down at his ice cream and chuckled. That was one way to start the conversation. โMe neither.โ He agreed. โOutside of ice cream, anyway. I prefer walnuts.โ Did that count as sharing something personal? His preference for walnuts? Probably not. He sought about for something more interesting to mention that would put Nico at ease. He could mention some cases theyโd been on, but he didnโt want to bore the kid with details of past achievements. He smiled as Nico thanked him. โDonโt mention it.โ He said easily, heading for the seats at a pace he knew the kid would be able to easily keep up with. โThis is a good place. It makes some of the best ice cream in the city, to hear L talk about it. Not that heโs exactly choosy.โ He looked sideways at Nico, wondering whether the boy was going to ask anything after all. He didnโt have to. But it was so clear that he wanted to. And finally, Nico asked a question. Watari smiled in his slow, gentle way, showing Nico that he wasnโt angry. โThe exact time and location is classified, yes.โ He agreed. โBut I can tell you, he wasnโt any older than you are. Iโve known him since he could barely walk, and I always knew there was something very special about him. Heโs always been the way he is, and I wouldnโt have him any other way.โ L had picked seats a ways away, probably to avoid eavesdropping, but it meant Nico and Watari had a chance to talk a little before they got there. โPlease ask whatever is on your mind.โ He added. โI donโt bite.โ
L made his way up to the front door, and hesitated. This was going to be very dangerous, he knew. But there was no other choice, and the only thought in his mind as he knocked on the door was that he wasnโt going to let this be his last case,
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on May 1, 2020 20:04:37 GMT -5
Walnuts? Nico pondered that, wondering if he was supposed to respond. Then again, this was technically his conversation, seeing as heโd been the one to bring it up. Would it be impolite to let the conversation die that easily? โI like almonds,โ he added after a moment, hoping that they would just leave it there and Watari wouldnโt judge him for his poor attempt at conversation. Then again, Nico supposed that was one thing he did have in common with the genius kids. Most of them were absolutely dreadful at conversation, so hopefully Watari was used to it. Nico looked down at his ice cream again, smiling just a little bit. โThen I guess Iโm excited to try it.โ It wasnโt a lie, he really did want to dig in as soon as it was polite to do so. It was warm enough that the ice cream was already beginning to melt a little bit, despite having barely been scooped two minutes prior. Nico was grateful heโd gotten a cup to go along with his cone. He was also grateful that Watari had set a comfortable pace โ one that Nico, in spite of his short legs โ could keep up with. The answer to his question wasnโt surprising, but it was still hard to believe that the detective sitting at the table several feet away had ever been a kid. He was slightly off-putting even as an adult which, in spite of himself, Nico liked about him. Nico understood off-putting. Of course, it also made sense that he was a genius even as a little kid. A small smile came to Nicoโs lips as he tried to imagine a tinier version of L spouting theories that would eventually make him the best detective in the world. No wonder Watari had taken to him. The thing was, Nico didnโt want to ask Watari about L. Because Watari was also incredible, from the limited stories Nico had heard, and from what he had gleaned in the car, nobody ever really talked to him. Which, in Nicoโs opinion, just wasnโt fair. And here Watari was, inviting questions like he didnโt know what sort of can of worms that would open. โWhat did you do before you met him?โ he asked, hoping the question came across right. โUnless you donโt wanna talk about that. I justโฆ do people really not talk to you?โ He didnโt mean to bring up a sore spot, but he didnโt think it was fair. โI mean I donโt even like talking to people I donโt know but itโs rude. And also youโre cool.โ The truth was, as much of an imposter as he felt at Wammyโs, he did get along better with some of the adults than he did with a lot of the kids. When he could avoid it he didnโt talk to anybody, but there were a few adults that he didnโt shy away from when they sat down and talked at him. And he listened. Whereas the kids all told stories about L, the adults sometimes mentioned Watari as well. โWhy do you let people ignore you?โ - Orpheus didnโt hear the knock on the door. He couldnโt. But he had lain in place long enough, and it was time to get some work done โ there were dishes to be put away and trash to take out, and Hermes would have been ashamed of the mess Orpheus had let the apartment become. He was making quite a racket inside, completely unaware of the man standing outside his door until, a little more than five minutes later, he finally opened it, trash bags in hand. Heโd meant to go to the garbage can. He hadnโt been expecting any visitors.
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Post by ยฎHawkpathยฎ on May 5, 2020 15:04:50 GMT -5
Watari smiled, letting the conversation rest there. They were talking about their favorite nuts, after all. He genuinely didnโt mind Nicoโs attempts at small talk, and the boy was right about one thing: most Wammyโs kids were not good at conversation. Nico was, in that way, very like the other kids. He was also very like them in a lot of other ways, but he probably wouldnโt have admitted it. It seemed to be hard for him to take credit, even where credit was due. Watari had to admit that it would have been easier for everyone involved had L decided he would rather have a cup. His cone was already beginning to melt in the hot weather, and carrying both that and Watariโs own cup was something of an art. He didnโt want to have to go and order a new one, but he also didnโt want to go too fast and leave Nico behind, so he was stuck trying to appear leisurely while hurrying. At least he did a good job of not looking at all rushed or concerned. Of course, it was often hard for the kids of Wammyโs house to believe that L had ever been small and helpless himself, but Watari knew it was all too true. Heโd been there when L had had no one else. Heโd been there when L was no older than Nico was now, and completely alone in the world. And heโd been there every step of the way since. Of course, that made him the perfect candidate to be questioned about Lโs life as a child. Watari found it an enjoyable topic, if not an easy one. There was so much he wasnโt allowed to say, after all, which made it difficult to be honest. He hadnโt even considered that Nico might not want to ask about L. Everyone wanted to ask about L, a fact Watari wasnโt frustrated by, but endeared. The truth was that he loved L, and though he knew few of the people who asked about him loved him too, he also loved talking about him, even if it was only the barest minimum he could get away with in order to keep L safe. He blinked. Nico had actually managed to surprise him with that question, which was not an easy feat. He watched at the boy as he rambled, almost letting Lโs ice cream slip from its come before realizing itโs precarious position and saving it at the last moment by tilting the cone the other way. โI was - am - an inventor.โ He told the boy after a moment, letting his tone show how genuine his answer was. He didnโt have any reason to lie to this kid, and he damn well wasnโt going to if he could help it. โThatโs how I got enough money to open the Wammyโs house. Before I met L, my life was extremely different from how it is now, but I canโt say Iโd change anything even if I could. Meeting L was perhaps the best thing that ever happened to me.โ He smiled a little then. โI appreciate your support. But I let people ignore me because I donโt like attention. Iโd always rather be in the background, noticed by only a select few. L, for example, has never ignored me nor treated me as inferior than himself. Aside from him, people donโt tend to talk to me because I simply donโt make myself receptive to them. Itโs nothing I consider unfair.โ - L waited outside the door, listening to the racket inside with his eyebrows raised. If Orpheus thought he was being subtle about hiding something, he was horribly mistaken. It was actually sad. L was used to criminals being clumsy and stupid, but this...this made him want to cover his ears just to give whoever this was a fighting chance at winning the game they were about to play. He was still standing there, trying to decide whether or not to break in, when the door opened and there was the man in question, holding two trash bags and looking...surprised to see someone on his front step. As if he hadnโt heard the doorbell. L almost rolled his eyes. This was going to be a fairly quick and easy case to wrap up at this rate. โHello.โ He said politely, not smiling but not exactly frowning either. His expression was carefully neutral.
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