savetheearth | Entry #A-9: "Albatross" [Audio, Action for Employees or Anyone who would drop by ]

[L sounds pretty calm and detached, as per usual. Rather than sounding natural, though, there's a vaguely forced quality to that calmness.]

Unfortunately, Espresso Yourself will be closed for the next few days, to reopen on Thursday of next week. I regret the inconvenience for employees and regular customers.

[He finishes recording the message, lowering his phone and staring at what happened to his business over the course of just one night. The espresso machine is smashed to pieces, and the cash register is open with the empty drawer chucked across the room. The mural painted by Solana is tarnished with anti-numbered slurs and threatening graffiti asserting the control of "Albero's Family" within Locke City.

Glass from the broken windows and the vandalized bar crunches under the soles of his converse sneakers as he drags a chair across the floor, grappling with a pair of wire cutters. It's enough of a problem that his grip is clumsy, but his hands are also shaking; though the features of the mannequin hanging from a noose in front of the mural are blank and generic, the large letter "L" carved into its chest is a message that's difficult to miss.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Alexi is so caught up in L's fascination for his other that he doesn't really catch the offer at first. It's the first time he's ever spoken to someone who actually admired their other. Everyone else always seemed so uncomfortable when talking about them. Even he had his reservations about Setsuna, especially his aggressiveness. But hearing L, it's just really nice to hear that echoes could make someone happy for once. And L's other really does sound amazing! But with everything that L's done to make things better for the Numbered, couldn't he say that he's not that different himself?

But eventually, he catches where L's focus has shifted to and nervously covers the injury with his other hand. ]

Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it.

The guy... he sounds really cool. Maybe soon, you'll be just as good at the other stuff.

[Unfortunately for Alexi, once L's focus has shifted to something, it's nearly impossible to shake it away. He's already going to get the first aid kit, dragging it out from under the counter and tucking it under his arm as he brings it out to the dining area, setting it on a table and motioning for Alexi to place his hand alongside it.]

It looked like a splinter. It'll only take a second to at least improve the situation...

[With any luck. The state of L's hands might make it a bit more difficult and slow, but it's still a project he can tackle to completion, unlike most of the ruin that surrounds them.]

I think that merely approaching the level of his quality would be the kind of honor I was never supposed to achieve in this lifetime. I would welcome it.

[ Alexi is probably going to hold extremely still since he doesn't want to impede L's efforts in any way. He's also probably watching that hand more. The splinter is thankfully thin and not much longer than a pinkie nail. But it does bleed a fair bit when removed so that first aid kit will definitely come in handy. Alexi does his best not too wince too much throughout the procedure. It's not like injury is unknown to him, given how much he used to get into fights. But it's weird to think how he can get so antsy over such a small injury, even knowing that major injuries are barely going to faze him for long anymore. ]

What do you think you'll do with it? All those traits?

[L's efforts are usually slower to account for the deftness his hands lack, but precise enough to get the job done. He tweezes the splinter out and is prepared with several pads of gauze to accommodate the bleeding; the scrutiny with with he works and regards his subjects is definitely enough to make anyone uncomfortable, even those who are accustomed to far worse injuries.

He glances up at the question as he begins to bandage the gauze in place.]

Leave the world a better place, if I can.

[ Alexi is going to continue not to comment on any of the attention since it's unnerving enough on its own, without more notice brought to it. ]

Thanks...

That's a pretty big goal.

[ He smiles a bit more gently when he says it. It's something he wants to do too, he realizes, even though he's never thought about it until now. It probably boosts his respect for L even further, despite all the weirdness around him. ]

[L's movements are stiff and awkward, but firm, as he finishes taping the gauze down. It's thick enough that no blood seems to be seeping through, and this satisfies him enough to let go of Alexi's hand.]

It is hard, isn't it? But most things worth achieving are. I'm the type who needs to dedicate his life to something, like I suspect my other was, so... that's the best thing I can think of that would probably please both of us.

[ Alexi takes a moment to check out the bandaging, mostly testing the flexibility and wondering why much it's going to interfere with practice later. Though really, he should consider himself lucky he's not dealing with his own mafia injuries, given how frequently attacks seem to be occurring this week. ]

It looks good.

It sounds like you've found all right thing to focus on, somethin' everyone can benefit from. I wish I could find somethin' like that.

[All things considered, the bandaging is far from perfect, but it's absolutely substantial. Even if it's not great, it's definitely, as Alexi puts it, "good."

At Alexi's wish given voice, he offers a tentative, soft answer.]

We all do our best, and you'll be no different. Thank you again for helping me today.

Entry #A-9: "Albatross" [Audio, Action for Employees or Anyone who would drop by ]

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