[private]

[subversion]

Light is bouncing off the walls. Not literally, just in the metaphorical sense. He's been here almost three weeks; almost, and there's no sign of one of the doors becoming the front door of his house. His ipod's run out of power, and he can't walk away from the people he exploits. He's so far outside his comfort zone that he can no longer see it,

Comments

[subversion]

[And at the table sits yet another version of himself - older, mid-20s, slightly longer hair than most, and brighter, fussier clothes: today, there's something spun into the blue weave of his shirt that might be the finest silver thread, barely visible. The bowl is sitting on the table, because the noise - some of which translated and some of which, Light already knowing the languages, didn't - had been indescribable. Poised against the back of his chair, Light was rather hoping whatever it was wouldn't come in.

It turns out the semi-familiarity of the voice wasn't a lie: it's him. Or not him: younger, and less defeated, and half-asleep, and angry. At the sight of him, Light's eyes narrow by a few millimetres, visible suspicion. His hands rest on the back of the chair, beneath his chin. What are you supposed to be? After all, based on what Light's been told, all his copies are mass-murderers...

Thinking about that, he waves one hand to the teapot on the counter. The comment isn't as offhand as it sounds; it's pregnant with meaning.]

[reprism]

And no Kira either. My god, I think your normalcy is going to make me fall over. So what do you do?

[subversion]

I'm a student. [No, really, he is.] What do you do?

[reprism]

I'm the same. Well, kind of. The school is more of a side thing now. I'm a musician. What d'you study?

[subversion]

I'm - [minute pause; he's reworking his lie, since more and more people here question his cover story] - a research student. Criminology.

[He's so busy working on his front, little blocks before and behind him, that his double-take isn't as pronounced as it might be.]

You're a musician. I didn't expect to hear that.

[reprism]

People usually don't. [again, with a bright grin.] You're lying to me. [it's just a guess, but he says it confidently - sounding his double out.]

[subversion]

No, you're right. Really I kick puppies and microwave kittens.

[As he says that, he blinks, involuntary, twice. Shit!]

What sort of music is it, piano?

[reprism]

I doubt it - I've known a really fucking nasty version of us, you're not one. You're too bad at lying, for a start. Piano, no. No. I can play - I took lessons before we moved to America, but after that I took up the bass.

[subversion]

Oh, rock music.

[It's said in the same utterly indifferent tone he'd said "fishnets" earlier. A little piqued, he sticks to the subject; he's a good liar, when he's not stressed, when his world isn't crumbling around him.]

The piano lessons worked out for you, did they?

[reprism]

Jazz at first, actually. [raising an eyebrow.]

I found them pretty boring, to be honest. Didn't set much stock in music.

[subversion]

So what changed that?

[He hadn't been able to sit still for those lessons. Art had been the same - something he'd never had time for, because it hadn't given him instant results.]

[reprism]

My uncle. My uncle, and just - things - worked out so... it's a long story.

So what do you really do? You can choose not to answer if you want, I guess. But just don't lie - honestly, you're not the best at it.

[subversion]

I think I'm going to call up my right to silence for that, if you don't mind.

[He's trying not to look as shaken as he is.]

It's like being under a microscope, here. I suppose I should expect that you would see it.

[reprism]

Yeah, I would. I mean, I suppose you have more experience wi— [Pause.] How old are you?

[subversion]

Twenty-four, as I said. Is there an issue with that?

[Possibly a bit sharp; he hasn't forgotten L telling him he's outlived most of his alternates.]

[reprism]

[Brief grin.] Just wasting your time. So you've been lying for a few years longer than I have, but I still know enough to be able to see it, yeah.