For his part, L looks, in many ways, startlingly L-like. The hair is a little longer but otherwise much the same. The skin is just as pale, the bags under the eyes just as striking.

But there's no slouch, and no faked expression of innocence: The eyes, while undeniably huge, are no wider than necessary, and his only expression at the moment is mild amusement at the echo of his own words. His clothes even fit better, although not by much, and this makes it possible to discern that he's somehow both skinner and healthier-looking than most Ls.

Most notable, though, is the long, pale scar down his neck, from his ear down and across to his collarbone, as though at one time, he very nearly had his throat slit.

In the time it takes to notice half these things, L's given Light Yagami a quick once-over and drawn his conclusions. East Asian. Scruffy. Damaged. With a sword, too. Symbolic, maybe? L finds himself hoping it's utilitarian. He can fight barehanded against blades, but he'd rather not deal with an organized lunatic hierarchy.

"I'm not going to shoot you if I can help it," he says, when he's done with his assessment. "But the gun is staying out. I'm sure you'd do the same in my place. But there's no reason we can't talk. Of course," he adds, "if you'd take off your sweater and your backpack, I'd probably holster it."

Utterly lacking in any sort of thug demeanor, as well, which is interesting. Maybe he was telling the truth about the abduction business.