Night 46: Staff-Only Outdoor Patio Lounging/Eating Area

[quarter_english]

[From here.]Cautious, L pushed open the door, peeking around it, scanning the patio and sweeping the beam of his flashlight across it, even glancing above his head

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[slipperymagic]

"Hm?" Howl voiced in response, and then gave a noncommittal shrug as he surveyed the area. There was a brief feeling of relief to be outside, in the open air beneath the stars. However, it was quickly lost. The lightness crumbled under the persistent eerie atmosphere that seemed to be following them like a predator, and his own memories weren't helping much. The stars only served to remind him of a lost friend.

Howl didn't look at Ryuuzaki as he recalled the details that Daniel had shared with him. There honestly weren't many. Daniel had said that as him, presumably as Ryuuzaki, he believed that he was a detective of some skill. That, at least, seemed to fit Ryuuzaki well enough, though it was so plain and unimpressive. Daniel cited parental disappointment as the reasoning for his commitment to Landel's, which was nothing compared to the severity of believing you were a world-hopping wizard who had given their heart to a demon.

Daniel had been skittish, though, and sidestepped any of Howl's attempts to fish for more information. Honestly, Daniel's behavior was more informative than anything he had actually said, and the only thing Howl was truly sure of was that Daniel had felt he had something to hide. After that, it had turned into an argument of sorts, which Howl had not enjoyed at all.

"It hardly matters," he said dismissively, but there was an interested light in his eyes as he added, "It was all false, was it not?"

[quarter_english]

L moved from one door to the other as quickly as he could, keeping his back to the wall. As he closed in on the next door, Howell's question brought him to a point of minor intellectual crisis.

It didn't seem like Howell necessarily believed that what Laurier had told him was false. He looked just intrigued enough to give the lie to that idea, and L suspected that what he was being offered was a kind of social out, an opportunity to respect his privacy. His profession and position were facts which he did not want to be widely known in the Institute and which he planned to reveal only as it became convenient to him to do so. In essence, he wanted it to be a useful tool that didn't hamstring his activities.

However, he suspected that his primary foe knew exactly who he was. It made more sense, and various references to "training" in some of the intercom announcements suggested some greater plan or purpose. Landel seemed to want or expect to challenge or be challenged by talented investigators; there were enough of them around, and enough other kinds of people, too.

Therefore, Howell was not the threat, and he had been cooperative, even helpful, so far. Their objectives were similar. He seemed glib, and L was unsure of how reliable he might be, but he had also tried to aid and protect his friends to the extent that he was able. Also, L didn't have the sense that Howell would try to hold the information over his head, once he understood that it was privileged. Prevailing on him to keep it to himself might be a better course.

Apart from that, the suggestion that Laurier's story was a lie could be a test.

L paused to look over his right shoulder before opening the next door. He shot a direct, deadpan look at Howl, one that said, Are you serious? But when he spoke, his tone was mild. "Please watch the patio, while I check the room with my flashlight."

[To here.]