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tampered2007-06-22 04:06 am
evilsincebirth.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-06-22 04:06 am
Log, complete
When; Backdated. Saturday morning.
Rating; PG. Srsly.
Characters; Light Yagami (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
onetruejustice) & Dietrich von Lohengrin (evilsincebirth).
Summary; Kira and Marionettenspieler have breakfast under their guises of Light and Dietrich.
Log;
Having managed to find a pleasant change of clothes and a good bath, Yagami Light gave the street signs a passing glance before following the directions that a passerby had given him. Well, at least that was simple enough. Cafe Juliet - even the name itself was completely alien to him.
He was on edge, there was no doubt about it; being plunged into something vastly unfamiliar and finding out that he was dead...it was aggravating, and completely humiliating. At that particular thought, the young man felt his jaw clench, the flare of righteous anger rising within him for a moment before he tamped it down.
It was useless getting angry now; there were more important things to be accomplished; things like finding out who the powerful creatures in this City were, and if he could find a use for their abilities. Adjusting the cuff of the black dress-shirt he wore, Light stepped towards the cafe, giving a waitress a brief nod. Well now, where was the stranger he'd spoken to last night on the journals?
As usual, Dietrich dressed in black, a long-sleeved shirt with open collar and a pair of pants without a trace of dirt on them. He wanted to give a good impression of someone fashion conscious who cared for his good looks to this newcomer. Oh, he was sneaky by lying about his name. He didn’t know his reasons, perhaps was to avoid any familiar face if he had something to hide.
Dietrich smiled inwardly. He wouldn’t hide secrets for too long, no one would if he played his cards right. How intriguing “Rei” had summoned him amongst everyone. He wondered his reasons, because he looked harmless and not quite like a child to provide a welcome.
Well, we’ll have to see.
The Puppetmaster entered into Cafe Juliet, giving quiet greetings and nods to the familiar faces who worked there and smiling rather charmingly to several of the waitresses - enough to earn discount in his order – before spotting the sought man. He approached him, offering his hand.
“I’m sorry, Rei. I hope I didn’t make you wait for too long.”
Manners were everything; it was something Light had learned long ago; something he'd always used to his own advantage. A brief moment was all it took to size up the other young man - younger than he was, probably? - even as Light took his hand in a firm shake, pleasant smile already in place.
One had to keep up appearances, after all.
"Hardly, I just arrived. " he responded smoothly, noting that Dietrich was a snappy dresser indeed. Light of course hadn't missed the charming smiles the other man had given to the employees in the establishment, and he supposed that that particular trait was worth noting. Like Light, Dietrich seemed to know how to put his looks to good use. Through their interactions in the journals, Light had the niggling little feeling that there was more to the other than he had let on, and curiosity, of course, had led to this encounter.
Gesturing to a nearby table, Light inclined his head slightly, giving a charming smile of his own. "Well, shall we, then?"
Dietrich grasped Light’s hand and gave it a gentle shake before releasing with a nod. His mannerisms were so far soft, as he sometimes pretended to be when he didn’t played the hot-blooded in love youth routine in a revenge quest. Ah, was it real or an act, the Puppet Master wondered.
The game got interesting already.
“Of course,” Dietrich affirmed with a sweet smile, nodding and motioning Light to lead the way. He would follow and take the free seat. Even sitting habits were telling quirks of people and Isaak had taught him how to exploit all the little giving details the mind and habits unconsciously signalized to others. “The coffee here is excellent, I greatly recommend it over the tea variety.”
Light's every movement was measured, calculated, his quick mind already taking note of the fact that Dietrich was either effeminate, or he was as consummate an actor as Light was. Taking note of the circumstances, the brunet was quite ready to believe the latter.
It made things all the more amusing, and Light knew that Dietrich would probably see through his pretty little charade by now.
Automatically, Light took the lead - he was too used to it - and headed towards one of the chairs that faced the window (all the better to observe the rest of the city, really). With an inherent, understated elegance, Light simply took a seat in the comfortable chair and gestured for the other man to take a seat as well.
"I see," Light responded warmly as he plucked a menu from the center of their table, caramel brown eyes scanning through it. "I'm quite partial to coffee, myself. The aroma's significantly more striking."
Dietrich’s motions were performed as taken out of a script and a performance would have won Academy awards if such thing would have survived the Apocalypse. In true, his real nature was of an impulsive youth but only displayed those true colors to Isaak and at times Mein Herr.
He took note how relaxed Light looked in taking the lead and, judging for his posture and his way to carry himself with, the Puppetmaster guessed he was used to be the one with power.
No wonder he was so unsettled yesterday.
Dead and lost in a City like this.
He sat down in the remaining chair with his focus completely in the other man. The City was just a scenario, a stage of the game, but he was far more interested in amusing puppets to toy with. Ones with names, dreams and ambitions to use and shatter in the cruelest way possible.
“Those who are from Germanicus usually prefer coffee, you can say is like a national biases,” he said, unfolding the menu and scanning the options.
Light definitely did not miss the way the other man was focused on him, but he decided that it would be pointless to call attention to that little fact. The rules of their little game were beginning to be set, and despite the uncertainty of his place in this City, of the pawns and roles that were played in this city, he found a strange sort of...comfort in engaging in something like this once again.
It was almost as if his defeat had been nothing more than a minor setback (In all truths, Light was beginning to think that it is.), and if he had been brought back, the play was not over. There was a way out for Kira, somehow, and all that was left was to make further preparations, to rise above what he had been before.
To become a true god.
Of course, he had to take things a step at a time, and the first step would be to evaluate Dietrich's usefulness to him. It was beginning to be a real challenge, to try and see through to what the other man really is, but Light had patience. He would bide his time and play his game, for as long as it suited him.
He supposed that it helped that Dietrich was proving to be rather easy on the eyes as well. Not that he paid any real attention to things like these.
"Germanicus," He gave a dry, faintly sheepish smile - it was all an act, of course. It had never been anything but. "Forgive my ignorance, I never knew Germany had been called that before."
His seat and his partly attention in the City beyond, Dietrich mused at himself, he was either looking for interesting people or wanted to know possible peril. He rather doubted dearest Rei was one of those persons who just enjoyed the view.
Taking his gaze out the menu, the Puppetmaster gave a resigned shake. His features saddened for a good minute and a sigh escaped his pursed lips. Speaking about history again? He better give the role of a person from a gloomy future to someone who was potentially of the past.
“Most forget it was called Germany in my time,” he commented. “I forget sometimes. Even if my education included some subjects of the world before the Armageddon.” He recovered his humor, offering a half smile at Light. “That is a gloomy topic to speak so early. The destruction of most civilization in Earth. Possible isn’t even your world to care… Licht.” He let the “petname” rolled over his tongue with natural, innocent charm when he pronounced it.
At his last words, Light's full attention snapped back to him. Light himself didn't speak a word of German, but he had a strange, nagging sensation that Dietrich was mocking him. And it really didn't help that he was wearing that innocent mask.
Dietrich, he realized, is a damned good actor. His expression placid, the split second's worth of surprise already long gone, Light simply gestured for the waitress. All in all, the other man was right, the talk of Armageddons really wasn't prime breakfast material, and that particular event was not what Light had planned to focus on primarily.
Making a mental note to find out what exactly that name meant as soon as he had the chance, Light remarked easily, a faint smile tugging on the side of his lips in return for Dietrich's. "Do you always give pet names to the people you meet for the first time?"
He got his attention now and it was evident he didn’t know German. That gave Dietrich and the Orden names that were scattered around by Radu a good chance to be overlooked. His smile turned more broad and honest like a child caught in an innocuous mischief. Dietrich shrugged lightly and replied. “Sometimes. It’s a bad habit, but I consider petnames as more real than the names our parents give us. When you sat there, the sun shone for a moment on your hair and looked as if your head was engulfed by a beacon of light. Do you… mind?”
Dietrich paused to lean forward, torso over the table, he pretended to reach out Light’s body when he was only motioning the waitress back to their table to take their orders.
“I want apple pie,” he ordered, giving back the menu and settling down. “What about you, Litch?”
Light. So that was what it meant. Looking back at the innocent young man sharply - did he know that it was his name? It damn well looked like he did, but there was no point in giving the game away so soon - Light schooled his features into one of calm neutrality, hiding a brief flare of annoyance. Dietrich had his attention all right; reallly, did he think that such a line would work on him? Did he mind? Of course he damn well did, but to say so to something as innocuously-sounding as that would indicate that the petname disturbed him.
"As long as you don't decide to call me 'Angel'," Light lied easily, giving him a feigned, easy smile that reached his eyes.
An instant after that, Light's eyes widened oh-so-slightly when the other man reached over towards him- with no heed for personal space, obviously - only to make his order. Which, for some reason, rankled a little on Light's nerves. He kept that well-hidden, of course, chalking it up to the whole theory that Europeans were a little less aware of personal space areas than other people in general.
Looking up at the waitress, he shut his menu neatly and handed it to her before saying, "Black coffee and buttered toast."
Light favored his personal space, the invasion had surprised him. He was good to hide his reaction too. He probably knew he knew and that made the comedy they were performing plenty fun for Dietrich. He was reading a bit of social norms for Japanese after dealing with Ranmaru and the Puppetmaster was fully aware they weren’t one of those countries who found comfort with touch.
In the future, he would make sure to use that against Light to see if he could get another reaction from him.
“Cappuccino for me,” Dietrich added with his full attention to the waitress. He sighed after, reclining on his seat with a sluggish gesture of informality and crossed arms in a natural waiting posture while their meals were delivered. He could pretend to be ordinary, not just charming. A good mix of both was the winning recipe, he had learned in social situations.
“So Litch… tell me have you found a place to settle in yet?” he asked. “What do you think of the city as of yet?”
Light barely been here for half an hour, and already Dietrich was beginning to wear on his nerves. Then again, anyone who didn't wear on his nerves had not been worthy of his attention in the first place, and Light wondered if it was just that little bit messed up.
A person's unpredictability was an annoying but challenging thing, and Dietrich's shift into informality had not gone unnoticed by him. In fact, that had piqued Light's interest quite significantly, if only for the fact that he was beginning to want to tear off that mask just to see what lay beneath. (That, a forgotten part of his mind decided, was really messed up.)
Leaning back in his own seat, Light casually crossed his ankles and smiled, long fingers plucking the sugar sachet from the container and idly toying with it, his movements relaxed. "Yes, actually. The Raven's quite a lovely place to stay in. As for the city..." Brown eyes flicked up to Dietrich's before he continued. "I was wondering if you could show me around."
Spending a little more time with this man probably wouldn't hurt. More importantly, it would give him more time to find out just what made this one tick.
“The raven? Wasn’t that a vampire bar?” Dietrich asked with widen eyes. “Radu used to go there.”
The Raven was an underground bar and probably a good place to pick up gossip. That was a good choice of start to live in an unfamiliar territory. No helpless youth would agree to remain in such sinister environment unless they sought something.
A tour, eh? Dietrich didn’t like the idea and didn’t have to pretend he did. He was far too comfortable with only sit down and let the play unfolded. His placid features were darkened in a frown. “I’m not the best person to ask that,” he replied with a calculated unwilling voice. “I’m not someone who enjoys showing places around. There are hyperactive children who would love to. My health isn’t as good. I’m sorry, Litch.”
“Besides…” He straightened his posture, looking down in concern. “I need to look for my lost friend. Radu’s stupid and overdramatic, but I can’t leave him alone.” He threw his head back. “He’s so troublesome, but I have to help him.”
Help him to be attached again. After he was done with Radu, the idiotic vampire wouldn’t dream in defy the Orden again.
“Are you alone in the city? No one from your world is here? You must be lonely.”
"What a pity," Light said pleasantly, making sure to add just that little bit of disappointment in his expression. "And here I was hoping that my first friend in this City could do the honors."
Setting the sugar pack down neatly on the table, Light didn't miss the way Dietrich's expressions flitted across his features. It was amusing, really, the way this little act unfolded, and Light had a little suspicion that Dietrich knew exactly what was going on, but was willing to let it continue. Light, in turn, was just as willing to play; he just hoped that what this man hid beneath all those layers would be worth the effort. There had hardly been anyone worthy of his time and attentions since L, and Light supposed, deep down in his dead, unbeating heart, that he was beginning to miss the thrill of it.
Putting on a concerned, almost earnest expression, he asked. "You still haven't found him yet? Perhaps I can help you with that; it's not like I have anything important lined up for the day." Well, at least the latter sentence had some semblance of truth in it - Light's general agenda for the day had been to properly explore the City, to make acquaintances that would be of use to him down the line.
“Oh well. Look at the bright side, Litch,” Dietrich pointed out with cheerful eagerness. “If I don’t do it, that’s a good chance to make another friend who will do it.” He wasn’t going to play tour guide for this man. Sure, he was interesting in a way, but didn’t amuse him as much to lower himself into cater his interest.
Learn your place, puppet.
“No,” he sighed, expression grimacing, voice filled with distaste. “We are co-workers and he had a little fight with our boss and now takes it all against me even if I was sick when that happened. He’s a stupid fool, but he’s in trouble.” He looked up, earnest smile curling on his lips. “You could join the quest, if you want. Perhaps this is a chance to introduce yourself to other citizens.”
How distracted he was by the so called search quest! Absently, the Puppetmaster picked up a sachet of sugar when the steamy cups were set down by the waitress, sliding half of the content in his cappuccino and swirling the coffee with teaspoon.
So this man doesn't fall for the old flattery routine. Interesting. Sharp eyes looked him over, the cheerful eagerness looked almost...odd on this man. With a soft laugh, Light simply nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't dream of forcing you into anything you don't wish to do."
Yeah, right.
Judging from the way he spoke, if one ruled out rhe whole eanest smile, it almost seemed like Dietrich was hunting him down for revenge. Considering the almost flamboyant way Dietrich displayed himself, Light really was inclined to believe that. Truth be told, looking for the other man's little friend was extremely low on his list of priorities (Yagami Light never did anything that didn't ultimately turn out to be in his interests.)
With a soft nod of thanks, Light set aside the sugar pack when his coffee and toast was placed in front of him. Stirring the black liquid absently, the brunet decided to make his move, to test the waters, so to speak. It was a bold step, but Light got bored rather easily. "Of course. Though..." a falsely sincere chuckle was thrown in for good measure. Wild shot, but to the best of his knowledge, co-workers didn't normally go to such lengths to hide from each other unless something was very wrong, and Light - if he had been a betting man in the first place - was willing to wager that there was a lot more to this than met the eye. "It almost sounds like you're hunting him."
“Of course! That would be rude if you did!” Dietrich laughed softly, knowing how much he loved to force people move against their wills. Ah, the delight of being a puppeteer.
He sipped his cappuccino and listened patiently to his assumption, wondering what took him so long to notice the true in his intentions towards Radu. He was a newcomer, he reminded himself, and likely never caught Radu’s transmission yet. Poor vampire was too pathetic to worth anyone’s attention but those who knew him. Ah, Radu, soon he would strangle himself with the threads around his body.
“Actually, now you bring it up, I am hunting him,” Dietrich commented with a soft voice and honest smile before piecing his apple pie to sample. “Orders from our mutual boss, but I took a sabbatical that was rather unfortunate timed it seems. Ah well… he can survive without my immediate help.” He shrugged and munched the pie in resignation.
Paying no heed to the apple pie - Dietrich most likely wouldn't know about Light's newfound aversion of sorts to things that were related to that particular fruit - Light simply buttered his toast. Neat, polished strokes, and he secretly wondered if dead people really needed food in the first place.
Maybe it was more for aesthetic purposes, because he hadn't been very hungry. Taking a bite of the toast, Light's eyes flicked over to him absently, making sure he swallowed the bite of toast before he commented, not taken in by the pretty facade of honesty and sensitivity (because really, he'd done this all before). "You're hunting him down and helping him at the same time? I find that hard to believe."
Dietrich nearly finished his pie as Light buttered his toast and asked his question, not saying a word or even looking at Light while he ate. He listened and focused his gaze on the table, it reflected what the other man was doing allowing him to spy without indiscretion. Brown eyes flickered at the disbelief of his honesty, lifting his head to face him.
“But I do,” Dietrich said simply with frank openness. “I like Radu as a friend. My punishment will be more merciful than the brand any of my superiors had ready for him. However, someone else is trying to pry in my task. I don’t like it.” He flexed his fingers, reaching for the last portion of the pie, offering it to Light. “Do you want a bite?”
Never forgetting manners - or rather, the fact that he was in the presence of a predator (gut feelings deserved to be heeded sometimes) - Light simply offered him a smile. "No, thank you. I don't have much of an appetite for pie at this time of day."
On hindsight, Light supposed that punishment from friends would definitely be a lot more merciful than punishment from someone else, but then again, perhaps such a thing would be the cruelest punishment of all.
("Light-kun is my first friend.")
His eyes flickering to his own wrist, he wondered for a moment if he remembered the feel of cold metal locked around it - it had been so long since he'd found a worthy opponent - the brunet pushed that memory away (it was useless, and most of all, both of them has been living a lie. Ryuuzaki was Light's friend, and vice versa, but when it came right down to it, their entire friendship was a lie. They were not Ryuuzaki and Light. They were L and Kira. L, like Kira, had no use for friends, and would never have). With yet another pleasant smile, he leaned forward, just a little, and responded casually. "Someone else? I assume that the person would be quite unfortunate to have crossed you."
Predator was a right way to describe Dietrich. He was a snake, hypnotizing and ready to strike down with fangs as poisonous as his every word weaved in deception.
“Alright,” Dietrich said after eating the pie himself in disappointment. His face brightened as if crossed by a brilliant idea. “What about a fruit?” he proposed while his eyes scanned the Cafe for a free waitress. “I’m rather fond of bright, red apples. The way the texture feels in the morning and the crunching noise is as pleasant as the flavor.” He snapped his fingers when one passed by and motioned her to lean forward, ear positioned close to his mouth. He whispered something to the woman, pretty as a doll, built as one. She smiled obediently and bowed, bringing his secret order: a plate filled with red apples and a single green one standing out in the middle.
Dietrich was taken aback at the final statement made by Light, as if slapped and hurt. “Why? Do you take me for someone cruel, Litch?” he questioned. “I am angry but I don’t know what I could do against a madman. Probably try to scare him or her to let Radu be.” The Puppetmaster picked one of the many red apples and gave it a soundly bite. “You are awfully curious. Did you work for the army or any security agency in life?”
"No, thank you." Light responded with a smile. secretly irritated by the fact that the other man was parading the apples in front of him. It was an unpleasant reminder of the shinigami who had eventually taken his life, but Light was professional enough to keep that little fact away from Dietrich.
Setting aside his plate of toast, Light settled for taking a sip of his coffee - black, no sugar - and regarded him mildly from the rim of his cup. Was every word Dietrich spoke a lie? It would be much wiser to think of it that way; there really was nothing more dangerous in believing that a person can be trustworthy. He'd learnt that the hard way, of course.
"Of course not, Dietrich. I was merely speculating." he responded smoothly, a hint of silk in his voice as he set the cup down very neatly on the saucer. Leaning back in his seat, Light conveniently glossed over the question before a small smile tugged at the side of his lips. "Let's just say that curiosity is merely one of my quirks."
Dietrich continued eating his apple, bite by bite. Each motion and chewing was calculated to be… rather ordinary. He was delighting himself without need of refined manners and style about enjoying a fruit. That would be too artificial and silly ploy to try.
Besides, Light wasn’t a woman to faint for someone playing with an edible symbol of the original sin.
“Ah I see. Mmm. I suppose you are forgiven.” Bite. Swallow. A cyclic routine. “But you did work before, didn’t you?” Bite. Swallow again. “What did you do for living? Indulge my curiosity, please.”
Killing.
Once again, Light was reminded of the shinigami, with shark-like teeth sinking into the red flesh of the fruit - though he supposed Dietrich's teeth didn't even remotely resemble Ryuk's in any way.
"Of course I did," Light responded easily with a small laugh. To tell him the truth, or to indulge in more lies? Dietrich was definitely a lot sharper than he looked, and treading around him with care was an absolute necessity. Then again, nothing very incriminating would be gleaned from a considerable truthful response, although the whole Kira matter would be excluded from it, for now.
I was L. "I was an investigator on the police force, actually." The best there is, Light thought simply, wondering when he'd started thinking of his profession in the past tense.
“So I was right, after all! You are used to interrogate!” Dietrich declared in childish triumph at his ‘deduction.’ He didn’t really care what Light used to do, frankly, but what he would do. Future was more important to the Puppetmaster than the past. Certainly, using the background against puppets was useful but not really that interesting.
He finished his apple, leaving the core in the empty pie container and leaned on his seat. “The way you carried on was similar to people who are used to work in that area. Espionage and intelligence. I can’t say it’s my area, I’m not very good at that.”
He preferred his machines and computers, his puppets and sets than truly the intelligence work. Other people like Radu had that role. Even if he was decent at researching, it wasn’t his favorite function. High ranked members had to posses the most diverse talents to belong to the Orden.
Bemused at his exclamation, Light simply took another sip of his coffee, savouring the strong bitterness that filled his mouth before he swallowed. There probably was no way that Dietrich would use that against him - because what he'd revealed hadn't been very impressive in the first place. With a faint smile, the brunet simply responded, sparing a nonchalant glance at the apple core before looking back at the other man. "Well, enough about me. What do you do?"
“What about me?” Dietrich asked, tugging his lips in a sweet smile. The taste of the apple lingered in his mouth. He wanted another and thus picked up a new fruit from the offered. “What do I do? Oh you can say I can be considered…” He paused, biting down the apple, greedily munching for a handful seconds. “-A dangerous member of a terrorist group in my world by the system standards, of course.” He continued eating after revealing that with all the natural innocence belonged to man.
Light blinked, taken by surprise. What? This time, he took a few moments to register that particular discovery. Terrorist? It seemed impossible on the surface, with his innocence and relaxed mannerisms. He didn't have the poise of a killer, or a person who induced terror on a regular basis, but if one thought deeper, looked at the other side of the coin and believed that everyone was not who they seemed on the outside, perhaps... Giving Dietrich an even look, wondering if it was yet another of his lies - Light had been so used to dealing in lies and deception that everything was abjectly second-guessed now - the older man simply shook his head and smiled. "Really, now? You don't seem like the type."
Dietrich set the apple down and frowned at the voice Light was putting. “You don’t believe me?” he asked, “hurt” by being called a liar. Imagine that! He a liar! Usually he was, but it was good to tell the truth sometimes when it suited his games. The frown waned into a smile of childish mischief. “That’s what the governments say. It doesn’t mean I’m a fearsome person, but I’m dangerous to their corrupted and decaying system.” He shrugged and took another bite of his apple. “It doesn’t matter here, so you won’t have to worry. This City is like a vacation spot.”
Catching his frown, then the subsequent smile that had graced boyish features, Light simply smiled in response. He supposed he could relate to that second last statement, really. Corrupted and decaying systems were only good for one thing: complete eradication. Such things did not deserve mercy.
As for the last statement...Light would beg to differ. The City was a prime place to make preparations, but then again, to each their own. What's more, Dietrich was still a complete enigma to him, and Light found that he couldn't even accurately profile the other man despite the fact that they had been chatting for a long while now.
It was both frustrating and annoying, and Light was beginning to find this challenge a rather welcome change, indeed. At least Dietrich was not a vacuous individual with all the depth of a mud puddle. "I don't worry, Dietrich," he said casually. "I apologize if my reaction has offended you; it was definitely not my intention."
Manners, manners.
Then, a soft smile tugged at Light's lips before he continued pleasantly. "Well now, how is your vacation coming along, then?"
It was ironic that Dietrich was both a heartless sadist who held no regard for love and life and an idealist who truly wanted a better world and believed blindly that their fire would truly renew it. It was hard to classify what sort of person he was, the Puppetmaster himself knew it and took it as advantage to confuse people.
He shook his head, inclining further into his seat. “Don’t worry, you didn’t. I’m aware I don’t look as someone like that. But we don’t choose the face we were born with, do we?” he asked, searching for his gaze for a fleeting second. Appearances deceive - Light’s and his own. Dietrich was used to see through curtains of lies.
“Is there anything else you want to ask, Litch?”
Meeting his searching gaze squarely, Light was almost startled by the look in the other's eyes. In that split second, he understood. In some strange way that Light himself couldn't explain - perhaps it was just his nerves - Light saw him as kindred. He'd seen Dietrich's comments on his home world and the Vatican; he knew why Dietrich became a terrorist, although he didn't know what, exactly, the other man did.
Then again, if one was big enough to be considered a threat, and trusted enough to hunt down a friend, Dietrich was no slouch. That pretty, charming outer-mask had confirmed it.
This time, Light was the one to lean forward ever so slightly, his voice low. "We don't. But we choose the masks we wear over the face we'll eventually lose." He was born as Yagami Light, with Yagami Light's face, but now...the name was nothing more than a mask, a convenient second skin that hid just who he truly was.
"One day, perhaps, you'll tell me what you really do in your organisation."
The flash of understanding and the confidential tone Light was giving, made Dietrich realize this man could be of use for the Orden. But not yet, he needed to be test and see if he was worthy to join it, albeit fleetingly. They did not just let anyone be part of their rank, only the best who embrace their ideals would be worthy enough to serve their purpose.
Igne Natura Renovatur Integra.
“Indeed, the same can be said about names, Rei,” Dietrich commented idle, finishing the apple and discarding it next to the core of the other one. “What do parents know of how to name their future children.” He closed his eyes, recalling his dead family. While he didn’t care about that anymore, but it was good to show a weaker, human side to strangers.
“Ah! Maybe I will speak to my superiors so you could meet them,” Dietrich chirped happily.
Really, the man switched moods like quicksilver.
Observing Dietrich casually, Light simply shrugged, noting his expression when he closed his eyes, and wondering what he was thinking about. Something about his parents, definitely, but what? Light did not know him well enough to make assumptions about his family background.
With a long finger tracing the rim of his cup with a rare laziness, Light remarked calmly. "My parents named me Light. Yagami Light." Chances were that Dietrich had already known his real name, and it would be foolish to keep up this lie any longer. That nickname he gave him was proof enough. "But you already know that." A pause, then. "Was yours Dietrich, then? Or Dean?"
Now that was an interesting thought. "Hm, that would be intriguing."
He laughed at being discovered. “You caught me. I did and would be anyone who scrolled down and read your unprotected entries,” Dietrich confessed with a casual wink. “Interesting conversation to have with a vampire. But restoring life in the City is more complicated than in other places, there are a lot of limitations and the options available are the four administrators.” He lowered his eyelids, tugging his warm smile into a teasing grin.
“My name? I don’t think it matters how I was baptized, but either works. Dietrich was the name my family gave me while my mentor sometimes uses Dean when we are in a mission. I don’t care for either too much.”
Ah, he would have to tell Mein Herr to drop his own façade when meeting Light if he was seriously a prospect for the Orden.
"That's true," he laughed softly and shook his head. He'd made a mistake in failing to understand the contraption well enough to lock his entries earlier, but he would not make that error again. Such a thing could be costly in the future, after all.
Looking back at the other man, he took that in and filed it away. He knew that the gods required a sacrifice, and if he wanted his life back, he knew that he had better had something damn good in exchange. Right now, as much as he loathed to admit it, he had close to nothing, and Light would be damned if he would give up his memories or his intellect.
"It's every human's dream, isn't it? To be immortal. That's why painters strive to be the best, the most prominent." He drained his coffee cup, the liquid feeling strangely odd in his stomach. "Quite an interesting name you have, though, Dietrich."
“Immortality? Perhaps, but if such thing is possible to achieve I would rather do that by my own means than depending on fickle creatures like vampires. My associate Radu is one of them and his mood swings are a marvel to behold,” Dietrich mused aloud. He leaned forward, tracing the edge of the empty coffee cup in front of him. “But I’m uninterested, the failing of the youth. The day I awake with a silver hair among my brown ones, I will be more aware of my own age.”
He sighed and tilted his chin. “Is it? I found out it means the king of nations, first among people or something as pretentious as that. My father should have baptized me. Yours…” he paused, casually waving a hand at his direction. “It’s by far more interesting, Light.”
Looking him over, Light listening to his musing and smiled faintly, watching Dietrich trace the edge of the empty coffee cup. The other man's words were mildly surprising, but Light decided that perhaps he had other reasons to bother about than the pursuit of immortality.
Quite willing to leave that for the moment - since his next words were most intriguing, indeed - Light's gaze flicked back to the other's. "King of nations? He must have had grand dreams for you, then." At the pause and his last words, Light remarked, raising an eyebrow slightly. "My name?"
If Dietrich were to become immortal in his reasoning would be fruit of the research he sometimes indulged himself in. Prolong a couple of years, perhaps decades shouldn’t be too hard for someone who was able to transcend life and death with his pet experiments with vampire corpses.
“Light, Litch, very nice and simple,” Dietrich remarked earnestly. He made no comment about his family, brushing the mention of his father completely. “It should belong to someone just and fair who aims for the best for the people.”
Light, of course, didn't miss the way Dietrich glossed over the subject of his family, and Light did not press; he would find out eventually. Keeping his expression carefully neutral at his next words, the brunet simply commented, "Then perhaps my father made a good choice on the name. Light would be one synonym for justice, wouldn't it?"
Dietrich didn’t care for letting a few facts slip, it wasn’t as if anyone would find out his private life if he didn’t reveal it. “He had a good insight, if you ended working as an investigator,” he complimented, brushing a rebel brown strand behind his ear. “Do you need to know anything else? I must return soon to see how Esther is fairing. She lives with me.”
Hm, it was probably safest to leave his occupation at that for now.
"Ah, by all means, don't let me keep you." Light replied pleasantly as he let a particularly waifish waitress refill his cup of coffee. "I don't think I have any questions as yet."
Lifting an eyebrow, he smiled sweetly at Light and waved at the waitress. “Oh very well,” he rose from his chair, inclining his head. He made sure the woman would listen as she refilled his companion’s coffee. “I will keep in contact with you. Thank you for inviting me breakfast, Light. Have a good day.” He turned around and walked away, tugging his lips in a wicked smirk when his face was no longer spotted by anyone.
So he wasn't going to pay, after all. Little freeloader. Well, it was not like Light minded very much, since he'd looked up the information entry that had been provided to him by Elena. Apparently, currency counted for very little in this city.
Giving him a lazy half-wave, Light carefully kept his mild annoyance under wraps before he settled into his seat and took another sip of his coffee, giving the waitress a charming smile. "I'll settle the bill later."
Rating; PG. Srsly.
Characters; Light Yagami (
onetruejustice) & Dietrich von Lohengrin (evilsincebirth).Summary; Kira and Marionettenspieler have breakfast under their guises of Light and Dietrich.
Log;
Having managed to find a pleasant change of clothes and a good bath, Yagami Light gave the street signs a passing glance before following the directions that a passerby had given him. Well, at least that was simple enough. Cafe Juliet - even the name itself was completely alien to him.
He was on edge, there was no doubt about it; being plunged into something vastly unfamiliar and finding out that he was dead...it was aggravating, and completely humiliating. At that particular thought, the young man felt his jaw clench, the flare of righteous anger rising within him for a moment before he tamped it down.
It was useless getting angry now; there were more important things to be accomplished; things like finding out who the powerful creatures in this City were, and if he could find a use for their abilities. Adjusting the cuff of the black dress-shirt he wore, Light stepped towards the cafe, giving a waitress a brief nod. Well now, where was the stranger he'd spoken to last night on the journals?
As usual, Dietrich dressed in black, a long-sleeved shirt with open collar and a pair of pants without a trace of dirt on them. He wanted to give a good impression of someone fashion conscious who cared for his good looks to this newcomer. Oh, he was sneaky by lying about his name. He didn’t know his reasons, perhaps was to avoid any familiar face if he had something to hide.
Dietrich smiled inwardly. He wouldn’t hide secrets for too long, no one would if he played his cards right. How intriguing “Rei” had summoned him amongst everyone. He wondered his reasons, because he looked harmless and not quite like a child to provide a welcome.
Well, we’ll have to see.
The Puppetmaster entered into Cafe Juliet, giving quiet greetings and nods to the familiar faces who worked there and smiling rather charmingly to several of the waitresses - enough to earn discount in his order – before spotting the sought man. He approached him, offering his hand.
“I’m sorry, Rei. I hope I didn’t make you wait for too long.”
Manners were everything; it was something Light had learned long ago; something he'd always used to his own advantage. A brief moment was all it took to size up the other young man - younger than he was, probably? - even as Light took his hand in a firm shake, pleasant smile already in place.
One had to keep up appearances, after all.
"Hardly, I just arrived. " he responded smoothly, noting that Dietrich was a snappy dresser indeed. Light of course hadn't missed the charming smiles the other man had given to the employees in the establishment, and he supposed that that particular trait was worth noting. Like Light, Dietrich seemed to know how to put his looks to good use. Through their interactions in the journals, Light had the niggling little feeling that there was more to the other than he had let on, and curiosity, of course, had led to this encounter.
Gesturing to a nearby table, Light inclined his head slightly, giving a charming smile of his own. "Well, shall we, then?"
Dietrich grasped Light’s hand and gave it a gentle shake before releasing with a nod. His mannerisms were so far soft, as he sometimes pretended to be when he didn’t played the hot-blooded in love youth routine in a revenge quest. Ah, was it real or an act, the Puppet Master wondered.
The game got interesting already.
“Of course,” Dietrich affirmed with a sweet smile, nodding and motioning Light to lead the way. He would follow and take the free seat. Even sitting habits were telling quirks of people and Isaak had taught him how to exploit all the little giving details the mind and habits unconsciously signalized to others. “The coffee here is excellent, I greatly recommend it over the tea variety.”
Light's every movement was measured, calculated, his quick mind already taking note of the fact that Dietrich was either effeminate, or he was as consummate an actor as Light was. Taking note of the circumstances, the brunet was quite ready to believe the latter.
It made things all the more amusing, and Light knew that Dietrich would probably see through his pretty little charade by now.
Automatically, Light took the lead - he was too used to it - and headed towards one of the chairs that faced the window (all the better to observe the rest of the city, really). With an inherent, understated elegance, Light simply took a seat in the comfortable chair and gestured for the other man to take a seat as well.
"I see," Light responded warmly as he plucked a menu from the center of their table, caramel brown eyes scanning through it. "I'm quite partial to coffee, myself. The aroma's significantly more striking."
Dietrich’s motions were performed as taken out of a script and a performance would have won Academy awards if such thing would have survived the Apocalypse. In true, his real nature was of an impulsive youth but only displayed those true colors to Isaak and at times Mein Herr.
He took note how relaxed Light looked in taking the lead and, judging for his posture and his way to carry himself with, the Puppetmaster guessed he was used to be the one with power.
No wonder he was so unsettled yesterday.
Dead and lost in a City like this.
He sat down in the remaining chair with his focus completely in the other man. The City was just a scenario, a stage of the game, but he was far more interested in amusing puppets to toy with. Ones with names, dreams and ambitions to use and shatter in the cruelest way possible.
“Those who are from Germanicus usually prefer coffee, you can say is like a national biases,” he said, unfolding the menu and scanning the options.
Light definitely did not miss the way the other man was focused on him, but he decided that it would be pointless to call attention to that little fact. The rules of their little game were beginning to be set, and despite the uncertainty of his place in this City, of the pawns and roles that were played in this city, he found a strange sort of...comfort in engaging in something like this once again.
It was almost as if his defeat had been nothing more than a minor setback (In all truths, Light was beginning to think that it is.), and if he had been brought back, the play was not over. There was a way out for Kira, somehow, and all that was left was to make further preparations, to rise above what he had been before.
To become a true god.
Of course, he had to take things a step at a time, and the first step would be to evaluate Dietrich's usefulness to him. It was beginning to be a real challenge, to try and see through to what the other man really is, but Light had patience. He would bide his time and play his game, for as long as it suited him.
He supposed that it helped that Dietrich was proving to be rather easy on the eyes as well. Not that he paid any real attention to things like these.
"Germanicus," He gave a dry, faintly sheepish smile - it was all an act, of course. It had never been anything but. "Forgive my ignorance, I never knew Germany had been called that before."
His seat and his partly attention in the City beyond, Dietrich mused at himself, he was either looking for interesting people or wanted to know possible peril. He rather doubted dearest Rei was one of those persons who just enjoyed the view.
Taking his gaze out the menu, the Puppetmaster gave a resigned shake. His features saddened for a good minute and a sigh escaped his pursed lips. Speaking about history again? He better give the role of a person from a gloomy future to someone who was potentially of the past.
“Most forget it was called Germany in my time,” he commented. “I forget sometimes. Even if my education included some subjects of the world before the Armageddon.” He recovered his humor, offering a half smile at Light. “That is a gloomy topic to speak so early. The destruction of most civilization in Earth. Possible isn’t even your world to care… Licht.” He let the “petname” rolled over his tongue with natural, innocent charm when he pronounced it.
At his last words, Light's full attention snapped back to him. Light himself didn't speak a word of German, but he had a strange, nagging sensation that Dietrich was mocking him. And it really didn't help that he was wearing that innocent mask.
Dietrich, he realized, is a damned good actor. His expression placid, the split second's worth of surprise already long gone, Light simply gestured for the waitress. All in all, the other man was right, the talk of Armageddons really wasn't prime breakfast material, and that particular event was not what Light had planned to focus on primarily.
Making a mental note to find out what exactly that name meant as soon as he had the chance, Light remarked easily, a faint smile tugging on the side of his lips in return for Dietrich's. "Do you always give pet names to the people you meet for the first time?"
He got his attention now and it was evident he didn’t know German. That gave Dietrich and the Orden names that were scattered around by Radu a good chance to be overlooked. His smile turned more broad and honest like a child caught in an innocuous mischief. Dietrich shrugged lightly and replied. “Sometimes. It’s a bad habit, but I consider petnames as more real than the names our parents give us. When you sat there, the sun shone for a moment on your hair and looked as if your head was engulfed by a beacon of light. Do you… mind?”
Dietrich paused to lean forward, torso over the table, he pretended to reach out Light’s body when he was only motioning the waitress back to their table to take their orders.
“I want apple pie,” he ordered, giving back the menu and settling down. “What about you, Litch?”
Light. So that was what it meant. Looking back at the innocent young man sharply - did he know that it was his name? It damn well looked like he did, but there was no point in giving the game away so soon - Light schooled his features into one of calm neutrality, hiding a brief flare of annoyance. Dietrich had his attention all right; reallly, did he think that such a line would work on him? Did he mind? Of course he damn well did, but to say so to something as innocuously-sounding as that would indicate that the petname disturbed him.
"As long as you don't decide to call me 'Angel'," Light lied easily, giving him a feigned, easy smile that reached his eyes.
An instant after that, Light's eyes widened oh-so-slightly when the other man reached over towards him- with no heed for personal space, obviously - only to make his order. Which, for some reason, rankled a little on Light's nerves. He kept that well-hidden, of course, chalking it up to the whole theory that Europeans were a little less aware of personal space areas than other people in general.
Looking up at the waitress, he shut his menu neatly and handed it to her before saying, "Black coffee and buttered toast."
Light favored his personal space, the invasion had surprised him. He was good to hide his reaction too. He probably knew he knew and that made the comedy they were performing plenty fun for Dietrich. He was reading a bit of social norms for Japanese after dealing with Ranmaru and the Puppetmaster was fully aware they weren’t one of those countries who found comfort with touch.
In the future, he would make sure to use that against Light to see if he could get another reaction from him.
“Cappuccino for me,” Dietrich added with his full attention to the waitress. He sighed after, reclining on his seat with a sluggish gesture of informality and crossed arms in a natural waiting posture while their meals were delivered. He could pretend to be ordinary, not just charming. A good mix of both was the winning recipe, he had learned in social situations.
“So Litch… tell me have you found a place to settle in yet?” he asked. “What do you think of the city as of yet?”
Light barely been here for half an hour, and already Dietrich was beginning to wear on his nerves. Then again, anyone who didn't wear on his nerves had not been worthy of his attention in the first place, and Light wondered if it was just that little bit messed up.
A person's unpredictability was an annoying but challenging thing, and Dietrich's shift into informality had not gone unnoticed by him. In fact, that had piqued Light's interest quite significantly, if only for the fact that he was beginning to want to tear off that mask just to see what lay beneath. (That, a forgotten part of his mind decided, was really messed up.)
Leaning back in his own seat, Light casually crossed his ankles and smiled, long fingers plucking the sugar sachet from the container and idly toying with it, his movements relaxed. "Yes, actually. The Raven's quite a lovely place to stay in. As for the city..." Brown eyes flicked up to Dietrich's before he continued. "I was wondering if you could show me around."
Spending a little more time with this man probably wouldn't hurt. More importantly, it would give him more time to find out just what made this one tick.
“The raven? Wasn’t that a vampire bar?” Dietrich asked with widen eyes. “Radu used to go there.”
The Raven was an underground bar and probably a good place to pick up gossip. That was a good choice of start to live in an unfamiliar territory. No helpless youth would agree to remain in such sinister environment unless they sought something.
A tour, eh? Dietrich didn’t like the idea and didn’t have to pretend he did. He was far too comfortable with only sit down and let the play unfolded. His placid features were darkened in a frown. “I’m not the best person to ask that,” he replied with a calculated unwilling voice. “I’m not someone who enjoys showing places around. There are hyperactive children who would love to. My health isn’t as good. I’m sorry, Litch.”
“Besides…” He straightened his posture, looking down in concern. “I need to look for my lost friend. Radu’s stupid and overdramatic, but I can’t leave him alone.” He threw his head back. “He’s so troublesome, but I have to help him.”
Help him to be attached again. After he was done with Radu, the idiotic vampire wouldn’t dream in defy the Orden again.
“Are you alone in the city? No one from your world is here? You must be lonely.”
"What a pity," Light said pleasantly, making sure to add just that little bit of disappointment in his expression. "And here I was hoping that my first friend in this City could do the honors."
Setting the sugar pack down neatly on the table, Light didn't miss the way Dietrich's expressions flitted across his features. It was amusing, really, the way this little act unfolded, and Light had a little suspicion that Dietrich knew exactly what was going on, but was willing to let it continue. Light, in turn, was just as willing to play; he just hoped that what this man hid beneath all those layers would be worth the effort. There had hardly been anyone worthy of his time and attentions since L, and Light supposed, deep down in his dead, unbeating heart, that he was beginning to miss the thrill of it.
Putting on a concerned, almost earnest expression, he asked. "You still haven't found him yet? Perhaps I can help you with that; it's not like I have anything important lined up for the day." Well, at least the latter sentence had some semblance of truth in it - Light's general agenda for the day had been to properly explore the City, to make acquaintances that would be of use to him down the line.
“Oh well. Look at the bright side, Litch,” Dietrich pointed out with cheerful eagerness. “If I don’t do it, that’s a good chance to make another friend who will do it.” He wasn’t going to play tour guide for this man. Sure, he was interesting in a way, but didn’t amuse him as much to lower himself into cater his interest.
Learn your place, puppet.
“No,” he sighed, expression grimacing, voice filled with distaste. “We are co-workers and he had a little fight with our boss and now takes it all against me even if I was sick when that happened. He’s a stupid fool, but he’s in trouble.” He looked up, earnest smile curling on his lips. “You could join the quest, if you want. Perhaps this is a chance to introduce yourself to other citizens.”
How distracted he was by the so called search quest! Absently, the Puppetmaster picked up a sachet of sugar when the steamy cups were set down by the waitress, sliding half of the content in his cappuccino and swirling the coffee with teaspoon.
So this man doesn't fall for the old flattery routine. Interesting. Sharp eyes looked him over, the cheerful eagerness looked almost...odd on this man. With a soft laugh, Light simply nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't dream of forcing you into anything you don't wish to do."
Yeah, right.
Judging from the way he spoke, if one ruled out rhe whole eanest smile, it almost seemed like Dietrich was hunting him down for revenge. Considering the almost flamboyant way Dietrich displayed himself, Light really was inclined to believe that. Truth be told, looking for the other man's little friend was extremely low on his list of priorities (Yagami Light never did anything that didn't ultimately turn out to be in his interests.)
With a soft nod of thanks, Light set aside the sugar pack when his coffee and toast was placed in front of him. Stirring the black liquid absently, the brunet decided to make his move, to test the waters, so to speak. It was a bold step, but Light got bored rather easily. "Of course. Though..." a falsely sincere chuckle was thrown in for good measure. Wild shot, but to the best of his knowledge, co-workers didn't normally go to such lengths to hide from each other unless something was very wrong, and Light - if he had been a betting man in the first place - was willing to wager that there was a lot more to this than met the eye. "It almost sounds like you're hunting him."
“Of course! That would be rude if you did!” Dietrich laughed softly, knowing how much he loved to force people move against their wills. Ah, the delight of being a puppeteer.
He sipped his cappuccino and listened patiently to his assumption, wondering what took him so long to notice the true in his intentions towards Radu. He was a newcomer, he reminded himself, and likely never caught Radu’s transmission yet. Poor vampire was too pathetic to worth anyone’s attention but those who knew him. Ah, Radu, soon he would strangle himself with the threads around his body.
“Actually, now you bring it up, I am hunting him,” Dietrich commented with a soft voice and honest smile before piecing his apple pie to sample. “Orders from our mutual boss, but I took a sabbatical that was rather unfortunate timed it seems. Ah well… he can survive without my immediate help.” He shrugged and munched the pie in resignation.
Paying no heed to the apple pie - Dietrich most likely wouldn't know about Light's newfound aversion of sorts to things that were related to that particular fruit - Light simply buttered his toast. Neat, polished strokes, and he secretly wondered if dead people really needed food in the first place.
Maybe it was more for aesthetic purposes, because he hadn't been very hungry. Taking a bite of the toast, Light's eyes flicked over to him absently, making sure he swallowed the bite of toast before he commented, not taken in by the pretty facade of honesty and sensitivity (because really, he'd done this all before). "You're hunting him down and helping him at the same time? I find that hard to believe."
Dietrich nearly finished his pie as Light buttered his toast and asked his question, not saying a word or even looking at Light while he ate. He listened and focused his gaze on the table, it reflected what the other man was doing allowing him to spy without indiscretion. Brown eyes flickered at the disbelief of his honesty, lifting his head to face him.
“But I do,” Dietrich said simply with frank openness. “I like Radu as a friend. My punishment will be more merciful than the brand any of my superiors had ready for him. However, someone else is trying to pry in my task. I don’t like it.” He flexed his fingers, reaching for the last portion of the pie, offering it to Light. “Do you want a bite?”
Never forgetting manners - or rather, the fact that he was in the presence of a predator (gut feelings deserved to be heeded sometimes) - Light simply offered him a smile. "No, thank you. I don't have much of an appetite for pie at this time of day."
On hindsight, Light supposed that punishment from friends would definitely be a lot more merciful than punishment from someone else, but then again, perhaps such a thing would be the cruelest punishment of all.
("Light-kun is my first friend.")
His eyes flickering to his own wrist, he wondered for a moment if he remembered the feel of cold metal locked around it - it had been so long since he'd found a worthy opponent - the brunet pushed that memory away (it was useless, and most of all, both of them has been living a lie. Ryuuzaki was Light's friend, and vice versa, but when it came right down to it, their entire friendship was a lie. They were not Ryuuzaki and Light. They were L and Kira. L, like Kira, had no use for friends, and would never have). With yet another pleasant smile, he leaned forward, just a little, and responded casually. "Someone else? I assume that the person would be quite unfortunate to have crossed you."
Predator was a right way to describe Dietrich. He was a snake, hypnotizing and ready to strike down with fangs as poisonous as his every word weaved in deception.
“Alright,” Dietrich said after eating the pie himself in disappointment. His face brightened as if crossed by a brilliant idea. “What about a fruit?” he proposed while his eyes scanned the Cafe for a free waitress. “I’m rather fond of bright, red apples. The way the texture feels in the morning and the crunching noise is as pleasant as the flavor.” He snapped his fingers when one passed by and motioned her to lean forward, ear positioned close to his mouth. He whispered something to the woman, pretty as a doll, built as one. She smiled obediently and bowed, bringing his secret order: a plate filled with red apples and a single green one standing out in the middle.
Dietrich was taken aback at the final statement made by Light, as if slapped and hurt. “Why? Do you take me for someone cruel, Litch?” he questioned. “I am angry but I don’t know what I could do against a madman. Probably try to scare him or her to let Radu be.” The Puppetmaster picked one of the many red apples and gave it a soundly bite. “You are awfully curious. Did you work for the army or any security agency in life?”
"No, thank you." Light responded with a smile. secretly irritated by the fact that the other man was parading the apples in front of him. It was an unpleasant reminder of the shinigami who had eventually taken his life, but Light was professional enough to keep that little fact away from Dietrich.
Setting aside his plate of toast, Light settled for taking a sip of his coffee - black, no sugar - and regarded him mildly from the rim of his cup. Was every word Dietrich spoke a lie? It would be much wiser to think of it that way; there really was nothing more dangerous in believing that a person can be trustworthy. He'd learnt that the hard way, of course.
"Of course not, Dietrich. I was merely speculating." he responded smoothly, a hint of silk in his voice as he set the cup down very neatly on the saucer. Leaning back in his seat, Light conveniently glossed over the question before a small smile tugged at the side of his lips. "Let's just say that curiosity is merely one of my quirks."
Dietrich continued eating his apple, bite by bite. Each motion and chewing was calculated to be… rather ordinary. He was delighting himself without need of refined manners and style about enjoying a fruit. That would be too artificial and silly ploy to try.
Besides, Light wasn’t a woman to faint for someone playing with an edible symbol of the original sin.
“Ah I see. Mmm. I suppose you are forgiven.” Bite. Swallow. A cyclic routine. “But you did work before, didn’t you?” Bite. Swallow again. “What did you do for living? Indulge my curiosity, please.”
Killing.
Once again, Light was reminded of the shinigami, with shark-like teeth sinking into the red flesh of the fruit - though he supposed Dietrich's teeth didn't even remotely resemble Ryuk's in any way.
"Of course I did," Light responded easily with a small laugh. To tell him the truth, or to indulge in more lies? Dietrich was definitely a lot sharper than he looked, and treading around him with care was an absolute necessity. Then again, nothing very incriminating would be gleaned from a considerable truthful response, although the whole Kira matter would be excluded from it, for now.
I was L. "I was an investigator on the police force, actually." The best there is, Light thought simply, wondering when he'd started thinking of his profession in the past tense.
“So I was right, after all! You are used to interrogate!” Dietrich declared in childish triumph at his ‘deduction.’ He didn’t really care what Light used to do, frankly, but what he would do. Future was more important to the Puppetmaster than the past. Certainly, using the background against puppets was useful but not really that interesting.
He finished his apple, leaving the core in the empty pie container and leaned on his seat. “The way you carried on was similar to people who are used to work in that area. Espionage and intelligence. I can’t say it’s my area, I’m not very good at that.”
He preferred his machines and computers, his puppets and sets than truly the intelligence work. Other people like Radu had that role. Even if he was decent at researching, it wasn’t his favorite function. High ranked members had to posses the most diverse talents to belong to the Orden.
Bemused at his exclamation, Light simply took another sip of his coffee, savouring the strong bitterness that filled his mouth before he swallowed. There probably was no way that Dietrich would use that against him - because what he'd revealed hadn't been very impressive in the first place. With a faint smile, the brunet simply responded, sparing a nonchalant glance at the apple core before looking back at the other man. "Well, enough about me. What do you do?"
“What about me?” Dietrich asked, tugging his lips in a sweet smile. The taste of the apple lingered in his mouth. He wanted another and thus picked up a new fruit from the offered. “What do I do? Oh you can say I can be considered…” He paused, biting down the apple, greedily munching for a handful seconds. “-A dangerous member of a terrorist group in my world by the system standards, of course.” He continued eating after revealing that with all the natural innocence belonged to man.
Light blinked, taken by surprise. What? This time, he took a few moments to register that particular discovery. Terrorist? It seemed impossible on the surface, with his innocence and relaxed mannerisms. He didn't have the poise of a killer, or a person who induced terror on a regular basis, but if one thought deeper, looked at the other side of the coin and believed that everyone was not who they seemed on the outside, perhaps... Giving Dietrich an even look, wondering if it was yet another of his lies - Light had been so used to dealing in lies and deception that everything was abjectly second-guessed now - the older man simply shook his head and smiled. "Really, now? You don't seem like the type."
Dietrich set the apple down and frowned at the voice Light was putting. “You don’t believe me?” he asked, “hurt” by being called a liar. Imagine that! He a liar! Usually he was, but it was good to tell the truth sometimes when it suited his games. The frown waned into a smile of childish mischief. “That’s what the governments say. It doesn’t mean I’m a fearsome person, but I’m dangerous to their corrupted and decaying system.” He shrugged and took another bite of his apple. “It doesn’t matter here, so you won’t have to worry. This City is like a vacation spot.”
Catching his frown, then the subsequent smile that had graced boyish features, Light simply smiled in response. He supposed he could relate to that second last statement, really. Corrupted and decaying systems were only good for one thing: complete eradication. Such things did not deserve mercy.
As for the last statement...Light would beg to differ. The City was a prime place to make preparations, but then again, to each their own. What's more, Dietrich was still a complete enigma to him, and Light found that he couldn't even accurately profile the other man despite the fact that they had been chatting for a long while now.
It was both frustrating and annoying, and Light was beginning to find this challenge a rather welcome change, indeed. At least Dietrich was not a vacuous individual with all the depth of a mud puddle. "I don't worry, Dietrich," he said casually. "I apologize if my reaction has offended you; it was definitely not my intention."
Manners, manners.
Then, a soft smile tugged at Light's lips before he continued pleasantly. "Well now, how is your vacation coming along, then?"
It was ironic that Dietrich was both a heartless sadist who held no regard for love and life and an idealist who truly wanted a better world and believed blindly that their fire would truly renew it. It was hard to classify what sort of person he was, the Puppetmaster himself knew it and took it as advantage to confuse people.
He shook his head, inclining further into his seat. “Don’t worry, you didn’t. I’m aware I don’t look as someone like that. But we don’t choose the face we were born with, do we?” he asked, searching for his gaze for a fleeting second. Appearances deceive - Light’s and his own. Dietrich was used to see through curtains of lies.
“Is there anything else you want to ask, Litch?”
Meeting his searching gaze squarely, Light was almost startled by the look in the other's eyes. In that split second, he understood. In some strange way that Light himself couldn't explain - perhaps it was just his nerves - Light saw him as kindred. He'd seen Dietrich's comments on his home world and the Vatican; he knew why Dietrich became a terrorist, although he didn't know what, exactly, the other man did.
Then again, if one was big enough to be considered a threat, and trusted enough to hunt down a friend, Dietrich was no slouch. That pretty, charming outer-mask had confirmed it.
This time, Light was the one to lean forward ever so slightly, his voice low. "We don't. But we choose the masks we wear over the face we'll eventually lose." He was born as Yagami Light, with Yagami Light's face, but now...the name was nothing more than a mask, a convenient second skin that hid just who he truly was.
"One day, perhaps, you'll tell me what you really do in your organisation."
The flash of understanding and the confidential tone Light was giving, made Dietrich realize this man could be of use for the Orden. But not yet, he needed to be test and see if he was worthy to join it, albeit fleetingly. They did not just let anyone be part of their rank, only the best who embrace their ideals would be worthy enough to serve their purpose.
Igne Natura Renovatur Integra.
“Indeed, the same can be said about names, Rei,” Dietrich commented idle, finishing the apple and discarding it next to the core of the other one. “What do parents know of how to name their future children.” He closed his eyes, recalling his dead family. While he didn’t care about that anymore, but it was good to show a weaker, human side to strangers.
“Ah! Maybe I will speak to my superiors so you could meet them,” Dietrich chirped happily.
Really, the man switched moods like quicksilver.
Observing Dietrich casually, Light simply shrugged, noting his expression when he closed his eyes, and wondering what he was thinking about. Something about his parents, definitely, but what? Light did not know him well enough to make assumptions about his family background.
With a long finger tracing the rim of his cup with a rare laziness, Light remarked calmly. "My parents named me Light. Yagami Light." Chances were that Dietrich had already known his real name, and it would be foolish to keep up this lie any longer. That nickname he gave him was proof enough. "But you already know that." A pause, then. "Was yours Dietrich, then? Or Dean?"
Now that was an interesting thought. "Hm, that would be intriguing."
He laughed at being discovered. “You caught me. I did and would be anyone who scrolled down and read your unprotected entries,” Dietrich confessed with a casual wink. “Interesting conversation to have with a vampire. But restoring life in the City is more complicated than in other places, there are a lot of limitations and the options available are the four administrators.” He lowered his eyelids, tugging his warm smile into a teasing grin.
“My name? I don’t think it matters how I was baptized, but either works. Dietrich was the name my family gave me while my mentor sometimes uses Dean when we are in a mission. I don’t care for either too much.”
Ah, he would have to tell Mein Herr to drop his own façade when meeting Light if he was seriously a prospect for the Orden.
"That's true," he laughed softly and shook his head. He'd made a mistake in failing to understand the contraption well enough to lock his entries earlier, but he would not make that error again. Such a thing could be costly in the future, after all.
Looking back at the other man, he took that in and filed it away. He knew that the gods required a sacrifice, and if he wanted his life back, he knew that he had better had something damn good in exchange. Right now, as much as he loathed to admit it, he had close to nothing, and Light would be damned if he would give up his memories or his intellect.
"It's every human's dream, isn't it? To be immortal. That's why painters strive to be the best, the most prominent." He drained his coffee cup, the liquid feeling strangely odd in his stomach. "Quite an interesting name you have, though, Dietrich."
“Immortality? Perhaps, but if such thing is possible to achieve I would rather do that by my own means than depending on fickle creatures like vampires. My associate Radu is one of them and his mood swings are a marvel to behold,” Dietrich mused aloud. He leaned forward, tracing the edge of the empty coffee cup in front of him. “But I’m uninterested, the failing of the youth. The day I awake with a silver hair among my brown ones, I will be more aware of my own age.”
He sighed and tilted his chin. “Is it? I found out it means the king of nations, first among people or something as pretentious as that. My father should have baptized me. Yours…” he paused, casually waving a hand at his direction. “It’s by far more interesting, Light.”
Looking him over, Light listening to his musing and smiled faintly, watching Dietrich trace the edge of the empty coffee cup. The other man's words were mildly surprising, but Light decided that perhaps he had other reasons to bother about than the pursuit of immortality.
Quite willing to leave that for the moment - since his next words were most intriguing, indeed - Light's gaze flicked back to the other's. "King of nations? He must have had grand dreams for you, then." At the pause and his last words, Light remarked, raising an eyebrow slightly. "My name?"
If Dietrich were to become immortal in his reasoning would be fruit of the research he sometimes indulged himself in. Prolong a couple of years, perhaps decades shouldn’t be too hard for someone who was able to transcend life and death with his pet experiments with vampire corpses.
“Light, Litch, very nice and simple,” Dietrich remarked earnestly. He made no comment about his family, brushing the mention of his father completely. “It should belong to someone just and fair who aims for the best for the people.”
Light, of course, didn't miss the way Dietrich glossed over the subject of his family, and Light did not press; he would find out eventually. Keeping his expression carefully neutral at his next words, the brunet simply commented, "Then perhaps my father made a good choice on the name. Light would be one synonym for justice, wouldn't it?"
Dietrich didn’t care for letting a few facts slip, it wasn’t as if anyone would find out his private life if he didn’t reveal it. “He had a good insight, if you ended working as an investigator,” he complimented, brushing a rebel brown strand behind his ear. “Do you need to know anything else? I must return soon to see how Esther is fairing. She lives with me.”
Hm, it was probably safest to leave his occupation at that for now.
"Ah, by all means, don't let me keep you." Light replied pleasantly as he let a particularly waifish waitress refill his cup of coffee. "I don't think I have any questions as yet."
Lifting an eyebrow, he smiled sweetly at Light and waved at the waitress. “Oh very well,” he rose from his chair, inclining his head. He made sure the woman would listen as she refilled his companion’s coffee. “I will keep in contact with you. Thank you for inviting me breakfast, Light. Have a good day.” He turned around and walked away, tugging his lips in a wicked smirk when his face was no longer spotted by anyone.
So he wasn't going to pay, after all. Little freeloader. Well, it was not like Light minded very much, since he'd looked up the information entry that had been provided to him by Elena. Apparently, currency counted for very little in this city.
Giving him a lazy half-wave, Light carefully kept his mild annoyance under wraps before he settled into his seat and took another sip of his coffee, giving the waitress a charming smile. "I'll settle the bill later."