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[worldcleansing]

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[hearthebell]

I expected him to bless me and become my patron when I arrived, based on what I'd heard about the various Pthumerians. By all accounts, Never Mind and I weren't so different from one another, and perhaps I was insulted when I received my blessing from a different patron.

Either I'm vindicated that I'm one of those he asked for help, or things with The Tower have concerned him too deeply enough to care, so long that they're fixed.

Either way, my housemates are trustworthy and, just as importantly, wouldn't turn two featherweights away.

[worldcleansing]

[ As someone just now learning blood magic and with no additional powers from home, Light is annoyingly aware that, physically, he's probably on the weaker side. He's also confident enough in his mental abilities not to stew too much, but the fact nags at the back of his mind. ]

I've agreed to work with them, but if you're more familiar, is there anything I should know? You said you weren't so different from Never Mind, but that's not something you'd say about many people.

Is that his real name?

[hearthebell]

That's what he's called, and how he's referred to.

Would it bother you if it wasn't his real name?

[Harder to write down, perhaps?]

[worldcleansing]

It would be weird to be bothered by someone's name. It just sounds like a name given when someone is tired of giving an answer. If that's what he wants to be called, it's what I'll call him.

[hearthebell]

It's possible their real names bind them deeply with magic, are inconvenient, or even that they're unpronounceable.

I do wonder what someone with Shinigami eyes would see, as much as I wonder whether Kira ever did gain them.

[worldcleansing]

[ My life was too precious to trade for the eyes, L. ]

I don't plan to ask. It was a curiosity between friends. People use nicknames for a lot of reasons. You used an alias long before it seemed so dangerous to have your name known to the public.

[hearthebell]

I've used hundreds of aliases, because my job was always dangerous.

With your established history, however, it would be difficult to just become a John Doe. Your Gentle results are very pretty detailed and comprehensive, compared to the average person's, and that goes back to your first high test scores in childhood.

[worldcleansing]

I chose a different route. I’ve joined the NPA. My goals wouldn’t have worked if I had stayed hidden. It worked for you, and it proved useful, but I don’t regret not being able to remain anonymous.

[hearthebell]

Sometimes, that's true.

It's true here. It's more of a benefit if people know who you are, at least generally.

[worldcleansing]

It's probably true in most places. Your circumstances were very unique and difficult to recreate. I'm sure you already knew that. The life you live here has been so different that I feel like I have a lot to learn all over again.

[hearthebell]

We both do. It makes things interesting again, at least.

[worldcleansing]

Do you feel like you're still learning? You seem to have made a place for yourself here. In some ways, moreso than you had back home.

[hearthebell]

I feel like someone who has stopped learning is dead. That's not true, here.

[worldcleansing]

It's true that I don't expect you to stagnate, but at this point, I'd expect you to be beyond what I can learn in books. If there's someone who would've found something outside of the boundaries, it's you.

[hearthebell]

Are you anxious to find a way home, Light?

[worldcleansing]

Not as much as I should be.

[ It's something he's noticed and found odd: mentally, he has every reason to need to rush back home. His role is too important for him to simply accept life here.

Emotionally, it's not there. ]

I noticed it once I had my body again. I feel oddly fine with being here. I assume it's a side effect of being here, but I haven't looked into it yet.

[hearthebell]

This is a widespread phenomenon. Not a stretch to consider its effect on motivation to unravel all of Trench's secrets.

Some of us are also dead, where we're from. What do you suppose that does for motivation?

[worldcleansing]

[ 'You would know better than me.' ]

I wouldn't hurry back to my own death, but that isn't the case for me. I'd understand your desire to stay here, but I think we'd both agree it's odd that I'm not motivated to quickly find a way home.

[hearthebell]

There might be some circumstances in which I would think that.

Then again, perhaps you've had time to miss some relics of your youth.