Perspective is kind of a big deal for every character in terms of CR, and while L is drawn to characters who have a lot of confidence (especially if it's in areas he's not particularly proficient in), he's also drawn to personalities who are the flipside of that. Anthony strikes him as being withdrawn, shy, isolated, and self-deprecating, all emotions that L can relate to... but unlike most people, Anthony actually makes L feel a little bit ashamed of feeling those things, because for all L's problems, at least he isn't decomposing and deteriorating with every echo he gets back. Some days it seems like most numbers are getting back really cool echoes, and L is in the minority for being still within the range of what's considered generally human. No matter how many languages and computer skills he echoes back, he still passes as mundane if he wants to, and he knows that someone like Anthony has been shafted in both regards; not only can is he not a superhero or a demigod, he's basically falling apart at the seams. As someone who has fallen apart and given up on everything at least once, L knows that Anthony is also one of the only people who makes him feel guilty enough about taking his life for granted to nudge him into helpfulness. Part of it's guilt, and part of it's just inspiration because Anthony really is surprisingly optimistic. Anthony makes L uncomfortable, and it has everything to do with L and nothing to do with Anthony.
L dreads the day his guilt and conflict will make him look like a hypocrite. There's a lot that could cause problems if they get closer; he believes that no one should judge Anthony for the way he looks or smells, but L himself is germaphobic to the point where even coming in contact with rotten eggs or spoiled milk is enough to ruin his day. He is establishing his coffee shop specifically to hire people who are numbered and would have trouble finding employment elsewhere, but he dreads the possibility that Anthony might apply, understanding that he'll have to figure out a way to get past health codes and how people might react to being served by a dead person. Last, but definitely not least, L has a complicated relationship with death and dying and has treated his own life extremely recklessly in the past.
This is all stuff I'd be totally interested in exploring. Things that are difficult for my character are the only things that have any chance at improving him, and Anthony is absolutely the sort of person L needs to know to become an all around better individual.
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Perspective is kind of a big deal for every character in terms of CR, and while L is drawn to characters who have a lot of confidence (especially if it's in areas he's not particularly proficient in), he's also drawn to personalities who are the flipside of that. Anthony strikes him as being withdrawn, shy, isolated, and self-deprecating, all emotions that L can relate to... but unlike most people, Anthony actually makes L feel a little bit ashamed of feeling those things, because for all L's problems, at least he isn't decomposing and deteriorating with every echo he gets back. Some days it seems like most numbers are getting back really cool echoes, and L is in the minority for being still within the range of what's considered generally human. No matter how many languages and computer skills he echoes back, he still passes as mundane if he wants to, and he knows that someone like Anthony has been shafted in both regards; not only can is he not a superhero or a demigod, he's basically falling apart at the seams. As someone who has fallen apart and given up on everything at least once, L knows that Anthony is also one of the only people who makes him feel guilty enough about taking his life for granted to nudge him into helpfulness. Part of it's guilt, and part of it's just inspiration because Anthony really is surprisingly optimistic. Anthony makes L uncomfortable, and it has everything to do with L and nothing to do with Anthony.
L dreads the day his guilt and conflict will make him look like a hypocrite. There's a lot that could cause problems if they get closer; he believes that no one should judge Anthony for the way he looks or smells, but L himself is germaphobic to the point where even coming in contact with rotten eggs or spoiled milk is enough to ruin his day. He is establishing his coffee shop specifically to hire people who are numbered and would have trouble finding employment elsewhere, but he dreads the possibility that Anthony might apply, understanding that he'll have to figure out a way to get past health codes and how people might react to being served by a dead person. Last, but definitely not least, L has a complicated relationship with death and dying and has treated his own life extremely recklessly in the past.
This is all stuff I'd be totally interested in exploring. Things that are difficult for my character are the only things that have any chance at improving him, and Anthony is absolutely the sort of person L needs to know to become an all around better individual.