Day 34: Lunch

[thatdamnedninja.livejournal.com]

Yuffie bounced all the way through collecting her lunch, all the way to a good seat- one with a nice view of the whole cafeteria, which was something she'd been missing out on during the past day or so that she'd been stuck in the Institute- and hell, she even bounced into her seat.

A good mood? No, really?

Despite the occasional blip, talking to Sagara had been awesome. He was a fun guy; he wasn't a prude, didn't have a stick shoved so far up his ass it was poking out his eyeballs, and he'd actually had a conversation with her. One that hadn't revolved around doom, gloom or how much life sucked. If she could find other people like that and keep in touch with Sagara, maybe there was a little hope for this place.

After a quick gulp of pink lemonade, Yuffie settled to munching through her food and keeping an eye on the door.

[Waiting for Dean, I think? :x]

Comments

[atoyboxworld.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Artemis didn't press for a last name, nor for the reason Near wouldn't give his last name, and Near wasn't going to point out the error. In some ways, it worked to his advantage; N and Near were both names he'd gone by in his own world, but Nate was virtually unknown as his true name. And in the end, Near had lost attachment to it the day he entered Wammy's House. From that moment, he was Near, and shortly after, the number one contender to be the heir to L. So it was a good name, for the time being.

Near took the papers Artemis offered, reading over them quickly, though unlike most people, he held them high, not bending his head to look at them, and from the top of the pages. Since Artemis had said nothing about needing them back, he assumed they were his own to keep. In reality, however, Near would only need them for this initial reading, as after this point, he would have them memorized.

Hard copies were still good things, however. They made wonderful evidence. For example, they proved beyond doubt that Near and Artemis had reached an agreement. Even if Mello could deny Near giving a name having that effect, he couldn't deny what his own eyes saw. Nor could the elder hide his eventual curiosity, based not on the information, but simply that Near had it and he didn't. Unfortunately for Mello, the angle would prevent him from seeing what was written on the sheets.

Such a little thing as that much consent, and Near noted the drastic improvement in Artemis's mood. Regardless, Near simply nodded, confirming his choice of toys. "Block men will do nicely. A marker would also be good, but you shouldn't press too hard. A fourteen-year-old asking for them probably isn't much better than an eighteen-year-old."

[byname-bynature.livejournal.com]

"It won't be a problem," Artemis said, waving the concern away, and strangely not showing any surprise at Near's age. How could he, after all? Given who he was? "My nurse, while she says I am fourteen, treats me as though I am a toddler. She'll be thrilled if I ask for something 'pertaining to my own age group'." The boy rolled his eyes. Really, if he managed to pull this off without any further convincing, he would have to write a letter to Martin Landel about the competency of his staff.

"So, as you needed to use a code name when we first began speaking, am I to assume that 'Nate' is not safe to use on the bulletin board? Or may I contact you that way?" Seeing as Near hadn't given his name from the get-go, Artemis knew that getting anything past what Near was willing to give first would prove problematic. Besides, the fact that Near was eighteen and yet gave a fourteen year old his first name allowed Artemis to refer to Near as an equal. After all, 'Mr. Nate' sounded so primary school.

"I sign all of my messages with my initials, so you'll know if it's me or not. Unless someone cares to copy my handwriting."

[atoyboxworld.livejournal.com]

Matt's joining of a group was somewhat predictable. Mello had done the same with the mafia in their own world, and perhaps he was trying again. Then was it a matter of getting power? To have sway over the patients, and no doubt at an opportune time, since it seemed from their postings that leadership was changing hands. It would make sense, simply because Mello was the type of person who saw no one better suited for any role of ultimate leadership than himself. It fit the elder to attempt something of this nature, and Near would no doubt have to keep an eye on the other's progress.

The question of names was a concerning one, but Near only needed a moment to answer. "Nate would be best. Of course Mello will now know that this is how we will contact each other, so we should both be wary of forgeries. He is quite likely to interfere in such a way." Except now that Near had said it, the chances dramatically decreased, and for the better. It would be the simplest means of communication, and the less interference, the better.

Moreover, it solved the problem of hiding his real name from X-Kira. Since he couldn't hide his face, he would simply have to hide for as long as possible that he was Near. At least until he could confirm that they did not have possession of the Death Note in this facility, and also that Kira and X-Kira would retain none of their memories if and when they returned to their own world. To lose in such a fashion would be disgraceful, and unacceptable, especially when Near considered all who had already died.