Alphabet drabble, 31 days theme exchange: "On dining alone"

[tarigwaemir]

On dining alone
Also written for lawnmower_elf, on the word "zero"

The table was set, the candles were lit, the food was growing cold under covered platters. She wore the dress he had said he liked best and smiled steadily at the empty seat across from her.

"One plus one is two," she said out loud. She could hear the sound of crunching apples behind her. "Stop that, Ryuuku. Go away, I don't want you to spoil our dinner."

Ryuuku only laughed.

Her hands, folded neatly in her lap, tightened uncontrollably. She gritted her teeth. "Stop that. Or I'll never buy apples again."

The shinigami fell silent, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. "He'll be here any moment now. I told him this morning. Light doesn't forget these things. He's a genius, you know. He knows nearly everything.

"He has to remember. He...I told him this morning. I know he's busy with more important matters, but he must remember this. Even if...even if he didn't care, he would still remember. Because Light takes our public image very seriously. He told me so himself."

Ryuuku surreptitiously took another bite. She stood up suddenly and slammed her fists on the table. She clutched at the tablecloth, and for a moment it seemed that she was ready to pull and smash everything to smithereens.

Instead she sank back into her seat. "You probably don't understand it at all, Ryuuku, but when humans fall in love, it's like multiplication. One plus one equals two, and one plus zero equals one. But one times zero equals zero."

"Zero?"

"Yes, zero." She looked at the empty seat across from her and resumed her smile.

END

Comments

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

Even if...even if he didn't care, he would still remember. Because Light takes our public image very seriously. He told me so himself.

Ouch.

Love this, always had a softspot for abandoned!MisaMisa.

[troisroyaumes]

For some reason whenever I try to write her, it's always about Light cheating on her or abandoning her in some way. Poor Misa! I really should finish reading the series (I've read summaries for the later volumes but not the actual scans).

[lawnmower-elf.livejournal.com]

Ah, you and your Asian humility. This hits the spot, perfectly timed, too.

Your brilliant "one times zero" bit made me think of another really good one -

"It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one. That is why, in spite of a hundred disadvantages, the world will always return to monogamy."
--

Makes me want to research the literature on the symbolism of social mathematics, if such a field exists.

[troisroyaumes]

One of my favorite Chesterton books! (I remember particularly liking that quote. <3)

Mathematics definitely provides a wealth of metaphor/symbolism, so even if such a field doesn't exist, someone should write a book about it. ^_~

[lawnmower-elf.livejournal.com]

Aha! Found another one! :

Mathematics becomes very odd when you apply it to people. One plus one can add up to so many different sums...


Someone really does need to start this field. Like...people who will be graduating soon and moving on to greater and grander things. **hint, hint**

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I love the taut, brittle feel of this. The moment where Misa almost loses it is perfect.

[troisroyaumes]

Thank you! Misa is a really fascinating character to write: she has such carefully structured layers of self-deception when it comes to Light, and it's really interesting to see how she keeps them intact.