audio/accidental video meant to be audio; 014 - JAN 06/'10 - early evening

[2ollux]

[ He thinks he knows his own handset well enough to work it on his own, and he does. To an extent. As accustomed as Sollux is to the text function of the SCs, he hasn't really used the other two broadcast options as much as most

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[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[Even though L has been living with Mello and Near for the last week (and therefore in pretty close proximity to Sollux and Matt), he hasn't actually seen the troll since the Christmas party. This would be his first time getting a glimpse of him without his eyes.]

...

Sollux? It's Ryuzaki. What happened to your eyes while you were absent?

[video] 1/2

[2ollux]

Nothing much, just--

[ Wait, why is he asking about eyes? Not like he's made it public knowledge yet, and he's pretty sure he would've remembered flaunting his newfound fashion statement to their building-mates----

oh.

shit. ]

Shit!

[Audio]

[2ollux]

[ The image flicks off only seconds later, after a good deal of fumbling about, and there's a rather alarming clatter as of something dropped, but conversation resumes a minute later. A little strained, a little sheepish, but determined to carry on regardless. ]

Fate. Just fate. It's a bitch by the way, did you know that?

[ god he was so smooth. ]

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[L startles just slightly at the realization that Sollux has accidentally revealed something he would have preferred not to. He's embarrassed for the troll, or would be if empathy was really his thing. He can only watch awkwardly as he swears and quickly turns off the communicator. And then L startles in earnest as there's the sound of something clattering loudly to the floor.

He's relieved to hear Sollux's voice again moments later.]

I didn't used to believe in fate, but... you know, I'll agree with you. Yes, it is a bitch.

But it doesn't really answer my question...

[Audio]

[2ollux]

[ He's sure it would have been worse had it been with anyone else. This guy, though. He was trusted. A figure prominent in the regards of his own Meister and those few humans he just happened to look up to admire have some regard for. Judgment wouldn't be too quick, hopefully. Maybe. ]

You could say it was a fight, and I wasn't on the winning side.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[Though L could come across as aloof, cold, and judgmental (among many, many other things), the fact is that after solving 1,000 difficult cases, he fully expects people to screw up. Maybe it is because of how close Sollux already is to his successors, or because L's been forced to face his own considerable frailties since arriving in Death City, but he is unable to view Sollux's nerves or the unintentional video broadcast with any amount of chagrin.]

Worse things than eyes have been lost in fights. While your loss is considerable, I don't think that it will destroy you.

Was Feferi a friend of yours? It must be difficult...

[Trying again with the empathy thing.]

[Audio]

[2ollux]

[ He detects no such judgment in L's voice, and for now, that's all Sollux needs.

He thinks he can get to understanding this guy, after Mello and Near and Matt. ]

I can still think, and that's about the most important bit. What is sight but a bunch of firing synapses and light patterns?

She was. Is. A very close one. But knowing her, I think she would want me to be okay with it.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

I don't suppose there's anything I can do. But if there is, I will seriously consider doing it?

Have you secured a cane, for instance?

[Audio]

[2ollux]

Thank you. It's the thought that matters, and all that shit.

... No actually. I never thought to.

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

Only if you're a telepath, really, but I understand the sentiment.

In my world, they're helpful to the blind. You might consider it...