No use changing 'cause that's just what you are

[onlydisappear]

[The first thing Matt notices when he steps into the room is that nothing's yellow-tinted anymore: his goggles have gone. That turns out to be a minor indignity compared to his new outfit: a bowling shirt. With flames on it. That clashes horribly with the green cords, which in turn clash horribly with the orange high-top sneakers. He starts to

Comments

[having_lost]

GET OVER IT.

Near... pauses, to wonder about what he should be getting over, and twirls a finger through his hair. That's odd, his hair is more tangled than he usually wears it, and... something feels off.

[onlydisappear]

Hey. [More casually than usual, looking at some undefined point in the distance.]

How you settling in?

[having_lost]

"Fine, thank you."

Conversational, rational, articulate.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

[onlydisappear]

The room did it. [He shows Near his card.]

[ciggy_plz]

[Matt's not so confused by his; more amused than anything because wow, that's not going to happen. He tosses his card over his shoulder, ignoring the boldfaced PROFANITY IS IMPOLITE in favor of greeting this other Matt.]

... Dude, nice goatee.

[onlydisappear]

If you say so. [He hates it, but finds he's somehow stuck with this disinterested attitude.]

You a new one?

[ciggy_plz]

Uhh, shoot, I dunno. I've been around for a while.

[... Shoot? Really? Matt stops, and makes a face, then tries again.]

Shiii-- shot. Shaaalala. What the fudge?
[He looks frustrated.]

[onlydisappear]

[He laughs; he can't help it.]

Wow, that's gonna crimp your style.

[curtainwizard]

[Light is himself again - almost. Same height as ever, same build as before - a little wasted, beneath concealing clothes, but nothing he can't handle - a new-looking sketchbook tucked under his arm. This room - though he recognises it - is not what he was expecting, and the sour grimace is unusual - he doesn't make the faintest effort to hide it.

The card in his hand reads:

TRY THINKING OF OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF.
FOR A CHANGE.

As he glances down at it, the scowl falls from his face, and the comment he'd prepared comes out a lot more mildly than he'd intended.]

Wonderful.

[onlydisappear]

Yo. [Nodding. Casually, of course.]

What did it do to you?

[curtainwizard]

[Looking you over: the missing goggles - that alone is enough to make him look twice - the dead moth on your chin, the clashing clothes, which look roughly like an exploding rainbow. Light's own clothes tend more and more towards a dark monochrome: it's almost blinding. The smile's vaguely friendly, but not too friendly - that would be suspicious. Alarming.]

Nothing too dreadful.

This is a new look for you, isn't it?

[onlydisappear]

Meh, I guess.

[He shrugs, though he's inwardly wincing at the mansion's idea of "less dorky." Then he nods, expending minimal effort, at the sktechbook.]

Whatcha got there?

[chilichoc]

*Mel's been in this room before, and swears under her breath when she recognizes it, and again when she realizes she's wearing a dress. It's the shifting dark grey-blue-green of her eyes, silky and flowing and not her at all. Her legs are cold, and she might have to invent new swear words to properly express her indignation, because the card she has reads: GET OVER YOURSELF. P.S. PINK HAIR IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL.*

Fuck.

[ciggy_plz]

Holy fudge.

[Hooboy, this is so not helping the whole 'Do I have the hots for Mellos' thing poor Matty's got going. Especially with legs like that. He stares for a second, and then snorts.]

Oi, least you can cuss, Mel.

[chilichoc]

You can't?

I've been in this one before. Forced self-improvement, for fuck's sake.

*She manages a smile for him, though. The whole lost-memories thing is still giving her a sort of free-floating affection for Matts.*

[ciggy_plz]

Nope. All I can do is the wussy versions.

... Self improvement? How the helmet is not cussing an improvement? God. I can't even say anything without embarrassing the crayola out of myself.

[He rolls his eyes, but grins back at her.]

But yeah, 'least I'm not in a dress. Or. Y'know, in possession of pink hair. [Teasing~]

[firm_detective]

*The change that comes over L when he walks into the room is not as violent and all-encompassing as the last one, but it would still be difficult for him to miss. His customary garb, loose and comfortable, is gone; in its place is a dandyish suit around two hundred years out of style. It is tailored and constrictive.*

*The stiff letterpress card that has appeared in his hand reads,

PAY MORE ATTENTION TO FASHION.
(STOP WEARING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY!)*

*He looks annoyed, but when he turns to leave, the door of the room is gone.*

[onlydisappear]

That's... novel.

[Lounging against a convenient wall by now, and still smoking.]

[firm_detective]

Yes. My card said that I should be more Napoleonic.

*His tone makes it obvious that this isn't the case.*

Where is your dog?

[onlydisappear]

[Normally he'd crack a joke that would probably involve imitating the hand-in-coat pose, but at the moment he just blinks at L as if he's nuts.]

What?