❧ 015 ❧ Video, laptop webcam

[dominateartimus]

[The video starts with a shot of an apartment kitchen, with its counters filled with several containers of sweet and savory baked goods. Someone had gone on another baking spree after recent events, but chose to remain out of the picture. A black tail is seen at the bottom of the frame, swishing slightly as it brushes up against a lower cupboard before a meow is heard and the cat walks away.]

If you were around the last time I made a post like this, then you know what I'm about to offer. For those who don't, I've made a bit too much and I'm willing to share this to the network. I already gave a large portion of what I made to the people working on rebuilding Las Vegas a few days ago. But, I'm unable to leave Locke for the time being since the 'teleporter' is presently inaccessible. Sorry.

Comments

[dead_black_eyes]

[L stops his watch. Not a couple minutes, but he's not one to scoff; he couldn't accomplish that in 10 minutes, after all.]

Thank you.

[He accepts it; the soft material and the comfort it represents give him goosebumps. His poor, sleep-deprived body.]

Where did you get it? Do I owe you money for it?

[He kneels for his sweater so he can access his wallet.]

[dominateartimus]

You're welcome. [He steps over and hands off the sleeping bag. Upon hearing the questions, he does list off which store he went to.] ...In the camping section of it.

[He looks hesitant about taking money back for the sleeping bag.] You don't have to. I know these renovations will be costly for you. Just... consider it a bit of a contribution to the cause.

[dead_black_eyes]

...did you have time to pay for it?

[For some reason, this concerns him, even though he's certainly been willing to break the law to achieve his own ends.]

Regardless... thank you. It's a valuable one... and it's nice to know every now and then that people actually care. I like to think I'm pretty capable but my perception of reality isn't on record as being particularly stable.

[dominateartimus]

I did through an express lane.

[He almost looks insulted at the idea of him stealing from a store. Even though it would be possible to do with his shadow mimicry.]

You're welcome. [He gives a nod regarding the comment that people do care.] ...I agree about being capable enough, but there's someone who is there to remind us of our faults.

[dead_black_eyes]

[No offense is meant; the time is all L meant to comment on, but it's clear how it would seem like an insult or a presumption. Sometimes L speaks before realizing how certain things can come across.

He unwraps the sleeping back, spreading it out on the floor. The moment he kneels, it seems clear that he won't be rising again for quite some time.]

Well... we all need that, don't we? Without that person, any one of us could end the world on a bad day.

[dominateartimus]

As reluctant as I am to agree, you are right.

[He watches the other man unroll the sleeping bag and takes a few steps back to give him some more space.] ...I take it you'll be going to sleep soon?

[dead_black_eyes]

We'll see. I have a hard time falling asleep, even when I'm extremely tired. Not because I don't have to sleep, like some lucky people... for other reasons.

[Reasons that are, incidentally, far less easy to explain.]

[dominateartimus]

[He could tell that comment about not needing to sleep was a jab at him and his new ability. L was envious of it.]

In other words, you would prefer that I stick around until you do?

[dead_black_eyes]

[He sighs, because yes, it's very obvious that he's jealous and he'd prefer some things weren't.]

I guess I wouldn't mind the company or the conversation, as long as you wouldn't mind me falling asleep at some point.

[dominateartimus]

Of course. I understand your situation and wouldn't be offended if you fell asleep mid-conversation.

[Although he wasn't exactly the greatest for conversations. Sure, he did echo back being more social, but he hasn't been doing much aside from his regular day to day routine.]

[dead_black_eyes]

Then it sounds like it's all settled.

[He folds his sweater under his head to use as a makeshift pillow, tucking himself into the sleeping back and immediately feeling sweet relief melt through his aching muscles like butter.]

I don't know how much of this I can do alone. I don't know when I'll be finished, or even if I can finish, but trying feels like the most important thing right now.

[dominateartimus]

[He gives the man another nod, before thinking over L's words about accomplishing a task on his own.]

I could possibly pitch in during the night, even though I don't have much experience with construction. [But there was a possibility he could echo back something.] ...Maybe someone on the network knows how too.

[dead_black_eyes]

If you don't have much experience, that makes two of us. Some of it's not so hard, just... tedious, at worst, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out how to nail up drywall.

[His words are less precise than they are when he's alert.]

[dominateartimus]

Of course. Some people think that baking would be rather tedious by making the same recipes day after day.

[As he says that, he moves to look at the tools and the dry wall. He wouldn't be able to work in the same room as L when he's resting.]

...Is there a place I can work that won't disturb you from your rest, L?

[dead_black_eyes]

Isn't it tedious?

[He sounds like he's just one of these people, and is genuinely curious about whether or not it's as boring as he feels it must be.]

Anywhere's fine. My uncle always slept with the TV on and I got used to it. Once I'm out, I do sleep like the dead.

[dominateartimus]

Sometimes.

[It really depended on how his day was going. Since he no longer needed to sleep, some things felt repetitive, but somehow he never got tired doing them.]

Good to know. I'll start in another room and check on you in a few minutes.

[dead_black_eyes]

[He nods in half-aware agreement at Xander's assessment.]

That sounds fine. Whatever you find the easiest.

[If Xander does indeed start working in another room, if he returns in more than just several minutes, he'll find L fast asleep, resting like it's an Olympic sport for the first time in what must be a horrendous amount of time.]

[dominateartimus]

I'll be back in a bit.

[With that, he heads off in to another room and gets some work done. He tries his best to keep the noise down while L rests.

About 45 minutes later, he returns to check on the other man and sees that he's asleep. That was good and he smiles a little to himself before turning back to the other room to work again.]

[dead_black_eyes]

[L remains asleep for the next 6 hours. Whether Xander continues to occupy himself during that time is entirely reliant on the other man, but when L rouses himself, he'll want to see if that's the case. He runs a hand through his impressive bedhead, pulls his sweater back on, and pokes around listening for sounds indicating construction, or even just the presence of another person, now that he's relatively well-rested and more capable of dealing with it.]

[dominateartimus]

[He does. Although ever so often, he gives himself a break to dust himself off or tend to a bodily need.

By the time L awakens, Xander was coming in to return some tools he borrowed.]

...Hey. Rest well?

[dead_black_eyes]

[If Xander is giving himself occasional breaks, he is, at least, doing better than L has been in that regard. He bites his lip, tugging self-consciously on the hair at the back of his neck.]

Yeah... longer than I intended to, but I probably needed it. You really didn't have to stay so long...

[He sounds guilty more than annoyed.]

[dominateartimus]

You did and please, don't worry about it. I had nothing better to do.

[Which was true. Plus, he was a little worried that L would be upset if he woke up alone.]

[dead_black_eyes]

[What a kind concern to have, when L is in fact depressingly used to waking up alone.]

Nothing better to do than help an ambitious nut with a huge, intimidating project, huh?

[Though the words sound derisive, they're softened by a quiet addendum.]

...Thank you. I hope you know I do appreciate it. Even if you don't sleep... I imagine you get physically tired? Sore?

[dominateartimus]

[Well, he also felt that it would be rather rude to leave without a word too.]

As long as it'll give him a break to look after himself. [He nods.] You're welcome, L.

[But he pauses at the question about feeling sore or physically tired.] ...Sometimes. It depends on how much I do.

[dead_black_eyes]

[Rude maybe, but to be fair such things seem to affect L less than they do most people.]

In those cases, I suppose resting is enough to restore you? I hope you're not feeling utterly depleted as a result of working while I lazed about.