15 . JOHNUARY

[necrolord]

Who: John Gaius and company.
What: All around him, John's friends and loved ones begin to shed their skins. Also: Riteoir.
When: January
Where: Gaze and the new city.

Content Warnings: Tagged in headers as needed. Note all the usual warnings of this character.

Comments

[worldcleansing]

[ It would be easy to remind L that death is something to be avoided, not a goal to achieve.

Isn't twice enough?

Instead, Light knows that picking this battle here will prove to be fruitless. With John standing there, he's as likely to back down as he is to swear allegiance to Kira. While it's very likely true that he'll follow through with the cryptic promises he utters today, L also will want to make those promises.

So, at what point can John be useful? As friendly as they play, as openly as they challenge one another, Light knows L isn't going to pretend like he hadn't died at his hands, no matter if Kira also believes L doesn't remember the moment itself. When L bites, Light will need to find a defense. To do that with someone who considers the two of them as friends, he'll need an explanation, but that doesn't mean the seed can't be planted in advance.

It can't start here. It'll need careful steps, and L's watchful eye doesn't allow for too many things to stay hidden. ]

[hearthebell]

[It says something, truly, that one of L's greatest historical nemeses is fairly invested in helping to keep him alive.

They help each other, this way. Because L, also, wants to live as much as he wants to see his version of Justice prevail.

He has no problem setting the tone. Taking charge. Lighting a fire that sizzles his own belly and keeps the others on their toes. In fact, isn't this the very definition of being in his element?]

There are so many unguarded places to stumble. It'll be a pleasure in service of the truth, won't it, Light?

[He makes a point of grasping Light by the arm, to demonstrate that nothing he does will be accomplished alone, anytime soon.

Forced-teaming is such a unique joy.]

[necrolord]

[ Heard loud and clear. John looks back at L with the same sense of exhausted acknowledgment, enemies eye-to-eye. They see each other clearly, and there's a certain gravity to that. He can think only of the dead woman he had tied to a chair, six months or a lifetime ago: some revenants are built different.

Still: he has a bit to play. John splays his hands wearily and looks to Light, as though to say: are you seeing this? And people call him the aggressor. As though he's not regularly forced to pry this guy out of his brain with a crowbar; as though anyone in his position wouldn't make it hurt. ]

And here I thought I might get to stop setting wards.

[ Lazarus will make him snap back every time, and take the flack that comes with it. He knows it. It's a maddeningly effective strategy if the goal is to wheedle John into cruelty, counting all his weak spots along the way. ]

[worldcleansing]

[ L doesn't mind setting the tone; Light doesn't mind trying to take control over it. ]

Lazarus.

[ He won't necessarily allow it to be forced though he isn't going to completely 'betray' L, either. ]

The truth does cover both sides. You know I'll protect you if you're his target, but you should also know I'm not going to help you become his target.

[ Light's gaze returns to John, but his words are still to L. ]

You're right: I do want the truth. I can figure out my actions from there.

[hearthebell]

[Honor, betrayal, and competence all dance a fine line, as far as L and Light alike are concerned. At least, regarding one another; all bets are off, for everyone else, but Light is probably more concerned about where appearances and respectfulness feature, there.]

What a world it would be, with nothing to hide.

[It's a veiled concession. He's accepting, bit by bit, that he won't have a chance to steal what he wants anytime soon. By the time he does, it will likely be too late. John will have read what he has secured, and utilized the knowledge for better or, far more certainly, worse.

L's eyes burn, for a moment, the way he wants to set fire to John's campsite. With Light here, he won't try. Without Light, who could say what he's capable of?]