“Hello, Jroll, how does it go?”

“Well. The day is over. Did you want to join us for a few swings? I heard you were on a quest.”

“I am. I mean, I am on a quest, but I can’t stay for long. I just came to...ask you for a favor,” L said, sitting down next to him. The fallen trunk had become a used spot of the two, mainly because whenever L would sit next to Jroll, every other person would not come close. It was useful, sometimes.

Jroll pushed forward his head from his neck, turning long enough for one suspicious eye to narrow down on L’s sly face. “I share my food with you, both at lunch and evening, but that don’t mean I’ll lend you any money.”

“Ah! I would never ask of you-”

“Food costs money, too.”

“I was never rude enough to ask-”

“Your tongue didn’t, but everything else did.”

L took a deep breath, and then began to ravenously devour the bread. It was all he got, but then again, it was all most people got. “It’s not that. I recently hired Malia for the skin I got.”

“Uh-uh,” Jroll said, bitting slowly into his food. “Definitely not lending you money.”

“I don’t want any money! I just thought she would...you know? Discriminate against me? Raise the price?”

“Uh-uh,” he said again, even less enthusiastically this time.

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“She didn’t. I got to know her more, and turns out, she’s a nice person,” L said, looking at the hacked trees.

“Uh-uh,” he said, nodding this time.

“Turns out she is also in love with you,” L said.

Jroll suddenly began coughing. His body shook erratically, rattling the ground. He smashed his fists into his chest, making a peculiar sound only men of his side could. “W-What?” He croaked.

“You alright there?” L asked, placing one firm hand on his shoulders.

“Yeah,” he said with difficulty, and then swallowed. “What did you just say?”

L looked glanced around, and seeing no one, began to talk. “She’s in love with you. I won’t repeat what she said, but she made it clear enough that she has a great affection for you.” Jroll arched his face, as if he was tackling the problem. A few moments after, before he spoke, L hoped he answered the question he was going to ask. “We kinda bonded. You know, one of us looks like the devils incarnate, and the other is a woman who is running her own shop. We’re of equal moral status, according to the town at least.”

“Really? I’ve never heard anyone say that about Malia. She’s a sweetheart, most people adore her!”

“Of course they won’t say it in plain view. Malia is pretty and clever, and ain't nobody is gonna pick a fight with her in the open. But she hasn’t married, and you know the things that people say about an unwed woman.”

“Does she really, though?”

“She’s a woman. She ain’t gonna tell you, she’ll just expect you to notice, but that’s why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?”

L placed one hand above his eyes as he looked up at the sun. They burned fiercely with his lockets, turning him blind for a few moments “Well, remember the coat thing I was talking about? Well someone I know wanted a coat, and he’s the same size as you, so I thought I might as well tell a white lie and try to get you two honeys together.”

“I don’t follow,” Jroll said.

“Point is, she’s waiting for you at the Uldrain tree, thinking I ordered out a coat for you. I told her how you’ve been helping me, but anyway, it was just to get you two together, so my white lie will break if you shake it. Just meet her there and tell her if you like her or not. Then, well," L paused, turning to face him, "The rest is up to you.”

“What? Where? Wait, when? That big tree?” Jroll blubbered.

L chuckled. How could a man that big be so adorable? He coughed into his fist, clearing his throat from the giggles. “Uhm. About right now I guess?”

“Ah!” He stood up, nearly knocking the basket of bread off the trunk. “You ass! Why did you wait so long to tell me!”

L snatched the basket away before it toppled. “I’ll watch over the bread while you do your thing. Good luck!”

“I’ll...I’ll...To hell with you! If it works out I’ll stuff all the bread in the world down your throat!” he said, and then took off in a brisk walk.

L watched him go, a curious look on his stuffed mouth. “Dthwt waz a complimnt, rght?"