I don't know.
"Why are you letting me read this?" The android asked, pacing casually around the small room holding the small journal precariously with two fingers, as if afraid to break it. His metallic fingers stopped moving as the words trailed off on the page, faded green sharpie bleeding through the pages as he skimmed through the journal. Light sighed and looked up from his hands, trying to act sincere.
"Well, I thought we should start with some trust, no mystery, I want to connect with you and I thought letting you know about my time here so far would be a good start." An air of silence let in, worrying Light, until the computer spoke.
"That is a lie." Light looked up in shock, glaring at the android in disbelief. Emotionless eyes stared back, the robot's limbs slouched and relaxed, as was his form as he stood in the middle of the small inclosure.
How could he possibly know that?
Artificial muscles moved under their soft chainmail-like coverings as the android moved slowly towards the glass wall dividing them. Light flinched as he got closer, his nose touching the glass and leaving a small imprint on the surface. Pale skin almost translucent as the light from above reflected off of it.
"And what am I lying about exactly?" Light asked with a breath of confidence, staring down the android. His large eyes were convincingly real, they could pass for human if it wasn't for the pale blue light that illuminated the sclera causing the eyes to reflect everything he gazed upon. As Light stared back, he could see his reflection clearly against the dark eyes staring back at him.
"You did not share this with me to bring forth trust, you shared it with me to bring my guard down." Light couldn't help it, he started to laugh, smiling at the android.
"Why would I do that? If I wanted you to let your guard down I could have just acted like a meandering fool, why would I give you personal information about myself?" He asked, the air shifting as the andriod considered this, leaning back on his leg, shifting his weight to a more comfortable position. After considering Light's words it spoke.
"No, you believe that you can build trust through this, a sort of friendship, so that I will be more open to your questions."
Light sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "If that's really what you think then I guess I won't waste my breath. What's so bad about wanting to be friends anyway?" He pushed before standing, reaching for the notebook that had been placed gently in the retrieval slot with the precision only robot joints could deliver.
"It is not genuine." The low voice answered, sounding both sure and focused.
Light laughed again, holding the notebook in his palm and waving it at the andriod. The small notebook was no larger than that of a composition notebook, stained with sharpie and pencil marks. It made a dull thud as Light dropped it onto the side table next to him, looking back up at the robot once again. If this was what he had to deal with for the next week of interviewing, Light was better off leaving. He didn't like to be psycho-analyzed by a toaster.
Light shifted in his chair and tried to think of something to say. He didn't want this thing to have the upper hand, but he wanted to get into the questions as soon as possible.
"Well, whatever you think my motives are, I think we should move onto my questions, okay?" He started, not happy with the irritation that bled into into his tone. He steadied himself and took a sip of water. Crossing his legs and looking through the glass at the robot before him. He wanted to make progress today, no matter what he had to at least have some notes to report back. He grabbed the notebook again and opened it, poising his pen and reading out the first question.
"What is your name?"
"L." Came an immediate answer.
"Okay, L, how are you today?" Light smiled, and waved a little with his free hand. L mimicked the action, waving slightly, although his expression stayed the same. Light finally started to feel like he was making some leeway. Throughout the conversation, L's expression was a steady calm that hadn't changed and Light was more than pleased to see the light in his eyes glow a bit brighter with what Light assumed was interest. The expression stuck as he answered in that same mechanical drone. "I am amused."
Light grinned back, feeling as if he may have made some leeway. He retrieved his notebook and a pen, jotting down a few notes before continuing. Reading over the page and readying the next question.
"What do you like?" This seemed to stall the android, L gazed at the man with suspicion and then mild confusion, his hand raising to his mouth, running his fingers over his lips. The monotone expression was gone, replaced with an expression Light could only describe as lost.
"My likes?" Light nodded and gave a small grin, encouraging the robot to share with him. "Yes, what do you enjoy?" He asked, hoping the robot would understand, if it's previous feats were to be trusted, he should at least have some idea of what he liked. Breaking into security systems could be a possible answer.
L seemed to think about it for a while, his eyes rolling up to stare at the ceiling, the blue hue seeming to shine a bit with thought. After some time, the metallic tenor spoke. "I enjoy humans, then." Light raised an eyebrow at that, leaning in closer.
"Really, well that's good, because I enjoy AIs." L smiled at this, mimicking Light and leaning in, his back bent slightly, exposing the wires visible under the androids breast plate. Wide eyes blinked, the pupils dilating as the light hit them creating a perfect human mask. The crystal clear glass separating the two reflected the light that gleamed from the android's eyes, distorting his image slightly as the pair stared at each other.
"Why?" L asked, leaning in again, his back bent completely so that he was eye level with Light. Light shifted in his chair, not breaking eye contact. He thought of how to answer, thinking of a response that wouldn't offend the android or make him seem unrelatable to the AI.
Once he had decided he spoke, purposely hesitant as he answered.
"Because, code has always interested me and to find life created using code is fascinating. A unique individual made with intricate lines of code and hardware is above anything else I've heard. It's mesmerizing." The android beamed, a small smile that had appeared halfway through his answer widening and lighting up his face. L stood tall now, looking down at Light with unbridled joy. Laughter erupted from the small computer, startling Light a bit, it was a pleasant sound, electronic but with a distinct human tone to it. "I feel the same way!" He giggled, shifting his weight from leg to leg, the smile calming, but remaining in place.
Light smiled back, content that he had found common ground, if not a bit unnerved by the androids reaction. He jotted down another note, commenting on L's reaction with a bit of pride.
"What about humans interests you, L?" Light replied, smiling warmly at the android. Another odd giggle and he got his answer.
"The emotion you display, such a wide range of emotions and feelings and thoughts. All ingrained into your biology, controlling your actions and motives! It's so...amazing!" Another small laugh and the android stilled, smiling at Light. "Especially love, the ability to devote yourselves to groups of humans in familial settings and to another human in a lifelong devotion. It's all so amazing, and I can't help but take note." Light laughed at this, taking in what he was being told. L really was like a child learning about the world around him.
"Trust me, emotions and love specifically are not what they're cut out to be." L frowned at this, but then quickly regained his monotone expression from before.
"How so?"
Light sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling.
"How do I word this? I guess it becomes overwhelming, not having complete control over yourself because emotions can override all other thought. Love is one of those emotions that knock over every fail safe someone can have, dictating your actions for you. I mean, most human murders can be attributed to love turning to anger. Crimes of passions are what they're called, it's scary, you know?" Oh shit, now he starting to sound like Aiber.
"I understand, it must not be a good feeling to be constantly aware of those emotions?" Light nodded with confidence.
"Yeah, sometimes you just want to turn them off, get rid of them." L nodded back, eyes roaming around the room.
"Have you ever been in love, Light?" Light laughed at this too, a strong hearty laugh that took the air from his lungs and made his stomach hurt. He shook his head as he tried to regain composure, smiling at L, showing his bleach white smile.
"No, I can't say I have been. I'm not one for romance." He said, watching the disappointed look of the android's face, a childish pout that was unfitting for him.
"Oh, I was hoping you could give me a first hand account." He let out, the blue light in his eyes dimming. Light waved his hand at him, grinning at him.
"If I do happen to find love, I'll call you up and tell you all about it, how about that?"
L smiled again and shook his head earnestly. "Sounds like a deal."
"You are not very proficient in writing." L drawled, looking over the notebook again rereading both Light's notes and his diary entries. "It's all...broken...and choppy?" Light smiled as the computer searched for the right words, mechanical fingers flipping through the notebook at an impressive speed.
"I was never a good writer, so there's that." L looked up in confusion, balancing the journal on his palm.
"Then how did you get this job? I was told you were an interviewer." Light laughed at that, so Aiber was feeding this thing lies about him. Light shook his head and gestured his hand towards the robot.
"I'm actually a programmer." Light said and L looked at him with amusement. "So Aiber has sent a programmer to interview me?"
Light nodded and took the notebook back as L slipped it through the retrieval slot, feeling mechanical fingertips slid against his for a split second. As he held the notebook in his hands, he wondered if he was supposed to go along with this reporter story or not, either way it was too late but he hoped Aiber didn't mind. You would think he would mention something like that if it was so important.
"I guess so, I mean it sort of makes sense." He shrugged, sitting down once again, this time perching on the arm of the chair. He wasn't sure how to proceed with this line of conversation. It felt off talking to a robot about programming, felt sort of like having a conversation with a serial killer about their victims. He wondered what L thought about this topic, would it be appropriate to ask?
"Does it make you uncomfortable? Talking to a programmer?" He asked tentatively, looking up with genuine interest. L balanced himself on one foot, blank eyes reading Light's expression without reaction.
"No, not really." He let out, mimicking let out a chest full of air, relaxing himself as he balanced. "I would probably liken it so a human speaking with a doctor, does that align?"
Light thought for a moment and then nodded, thinking it was a better comparison than he himself had made.