Costuming post

[curtainwizard]

[The moment Light left the ghost room, he was a child again: it's probably for the best. But some things never change, and he isn't sure what the date is, apart from "probably close to Christmas

Comments

[socklessleuth]

Oh.

*L is still all of three years old, and wandering around, because the mansion is the perfect environment for tiny children to explore. Only now he seems to be stuck inside a Christmas stocking. He tries to shuffle forward, but loses his balance and trips.

He hasn't started crying yet, but there's some definite lip-wobbling.*

[socklessleuth]

*Unfortunately, even at this age L was a little odd about personal contact; there are very few people he allows to handle him this closely. He begins wriggling in Light's arms, trying to get down.*

[socklessleuth]

*He nods vigorously, still kicking his legs inside the stocking.*

Down!

[socklessleuth]

*Instant change. L nods again, reaching out eagerly for the treat. He could get used to this.*

[curtainwizard]

[Light looks around hopefully - perhaps someone else will help out? Except there's no sign of anything, very much. He picks up a cookie from a plate on the counter - it's triangular, iced in green like a Christmas tree - walks over to you, drops into a crouch and shoves it in your mouth.]

No need to cry. There's plenty more pebbles on the beach, and fish in the sea.

[What he says isn't the point: it's more the ripple of friendly chatter.]

[socklessleuth]

Mmmph-

*L manages to wriggle his arms loose, though he's apparently unable to free himself from the stocking entirely. The candy is more than enough to stop him from crying; his parents never let him have this much sugar.*

Fish?

[curtainwizard]

That's what I said. Do you like fish?

[socklessleuth]

*He's never really thought about his attitude towards fish. He's seen them in shops before, though, and in cartoons, so he nods.*

Do you?

[curtainwizard]

I like fish.

[He does: they're attractive and inoffensive, and they make no distracting noise.]

I used to keep them. They died. Do you have any pets, besides cookies?

[socklessleuth]

Just cookies.

*His face is pretty impassive, but yes: it's a joke, an intentional one. He wonders if Light will notice. Most grown-ups tend not to.*

[curtainwizard]

[The look across is assessing, solemn, careful. He's remembering the certainty of being that small - of knowing how the world worked, and the people, while everyone around him insisted he didn't. Cookies aren't pets: they aren't alive.]

You're smarter than you pretend, aren't you.

Can you read yet?

[socklessleuth]

*He nods, pleased.*

Lots of things.

[curtainwizard]

What books do you like?