Kitchen: Thursday evening

[firm_detective]

L sits at a kitchen table. A pot of Darjeeling tea is on the table in front of him, with sliced lemons and a bowl of sugar cubes; he's picking at a piece of Black Forest cake. He looks rougher than he has in a while.

Misa has been missing for almost a full day; she vanished in a way that made it obvious that either something new is happening in

Comments

[beyond_boredom]

.....

[firm_detective]

........

[beyond_boredom]

You look unhappy, L.

[firm_detective]

I do?

*He thinks his face is expressionless; his tone is weary.*

I suppose I must. Misa is missing.

[electronic_mail]

Hey.

Haven't seen an L before. *He grins, rubbing at the back of his neck.*

Everything okay?

[firm_detective]

*He has taken a sip of tea, and sets the cup down before responding, in a soft, bland voice,*

I have all of my limbs.

You are Matt?

[electronic_mail]

*Blinking lightly.*

Eh. You can call me Mencia. Professional sidekick--so trust me, I've seen people lose limbs. Yours seem to be firmly attached--always a good thing.

*He gives a perkish little smile, and lights up a cigarette.*

[firm_detective]

*He also blinks, just once.*

Yes, they are firmly attached. "Professional sidekick"?

*He picks up his fork, to take another bite of cake, but after looking at the cake, sets it down and awaits a response.*

[justiceishot]

Ryuuzaki... are you alright?

[firm_detective]

*He lifts his teacup; gazes across the surface of the cooling liquid.*

Not exactly, but I am well enough.

*He speaks more to the teacup than to anyone in the room. His voice is soft, almost toneless.*

Misa is missing.

[justiceishot]

(Pink blinks, and then sits down on one of the chairs, pulling his knees to his chest.)

Gone.

... I'm sorry.

[firm_detective]

She disappeared while she was brushing her teeth. I don't think she can be in one of the rooms in the Mansion.

*He's still holding the cup, staring into it, but he finally takes a sip.*

[curtainwizard]

[Light nods at you as he walks in, sees the starfruit, and doesn't even bother approaching the idiot fruitbowl, fetching a glass of water as if he'd meant to all along.

He's starting to look a bit like you, around the eyes.]

[firm_detective]

*On another day, seeing Light's vague, well-covered irritation at the contents of the fruit bowl would cause a little spike of warmth to penetrate his heart: L has been taking any pears he finds back to his room whenever possible. But today, he feels nothing.*

You are not sleeping well, Light. Maybe you should have some herbal tea.

[curtainwizard]

[Maybe I should pour that teapot over your head. But he feigns neutrality.]

I'm sleeping well enough.

[He gives you a - careful - look.]

How is the cake?

[firm_detective]

Is that so?

*Shrugging, he takes in Light's reactions, but doesn't respond to them in any way.*

There are a few more slices in the refrigerator, if you want to try it.

*He lifts his tea, taking a sip. There seems to be something he isn't saying.*

[firm_detective]

*He looks over and raises his eyebrows, about to let some retort out, then deliberately closes his mouth. After a moment, he opens it again to speak.*

I am not in the mood, Mihael.

*There is no venom in his voice, just quiet tiredness.*

[firm_detective]

*He sighs.*

Do you remember the night you came to my room, because Light had vanished?

*Without waiting for an answer, he takes a sip of tea.*