chikaidestroyer | ∞ 44: Another meeting [written/action]

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∞ 44: Another meeting [written/action]

Filtered to the council and Golbez
[written]

I would like to call a meeting in the very near future. We have much to talk about -- the tunnels, the desert, the fort, the ruins. In addition, we have the matter of a destructive new resident who had to be forcefully neutralized; Sir Golbez, another newcomer, can report on the matter.

Your thoughts on meeting soon, everyone. Mark is unfortunately absent due to our captors.

/end filter

[action]

[Albert is finally heeding his body's need for nourishment, going out to shop for groceries. He has a lot on his mind -- but really, when does he not?]

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[He pulls a curled fist out of his coat pocket. It takes concentration to uncurl it and reach out and grab Caesar's shoulder.]

[Caesar makes no effort to free himself.]

And what would your next move be?

[He grabs Caesar and roughly turns him around.]

I don't know. I don't know what to do with you.

Like you ever did.

[He lowers his eyes, as he takes Albert's hand at his shoulder by the wrist. It's too thin for a man Albert's size.] ...You need to eat, Albert.

[His arm is tense, and he finds himself curling his hand into a fist anyway. This feels ... too real to just be a figment of his imagination. This is just cruel, Malnosso.] Now you're going to be some form of conscience?

Edited 2008-12-19 09:51 (UTC)

[Caesar looks up, his expression unreadable.] I feel like Caesar Silverberg, Albert.

[He stares through Caesar for a second, then pulls away from the smaller redhead's grip.]

...I'm going to get my groceries.

Good idea. Lead the way.

[His wings twitch warily as he continues walking, crossing the plaza with the sinkhole now in the center. The grocery store is unmanned and filled with various different foods, some preserved and others surprisingly fresh considering the weather.

He wonders if this ... impersonator? figment of his imagination? other Caesar? ... will try do anything. He certainly doesn't act like his brother.]

[Caesar had been wandering through the village before he spotted Albert, making observations and building up hypotheses on this controlled world, grasping for a plan and knowing he can't be anything that he just isn't. He doesn't even know where his house is.

Caesar starts filling a paper bag with fruit. Thankfully, he at least knows the kind Albert prefers.]

Are you out of eggs?

[Albert finds himself briefly staring at the fruits this strange figment-- Caesar-- is putting into a bag. How does he know my preferences? Can it-- ...No, this is an experiment. Don't start thinking that way.]

I-- ... [He had been pecked as a reminder a few days ago not to let those eggs go to waste.] Yes. Yes, I'm out.

[He tries to regain his bearings by focusing on vegetables to bring back. White onions. Garlic. Scallions. ...Potatoes? Yes, those too.]

[Caesar does a good job of both packing the eggs into a paper carton and hiding just how tense he is, until he drops an egg. Caesar stands still for a moment staring at the egg broken on the floor, clenching his hand into a fist to hide the tremor.]

...Anything else you need?

[Albert looks at the broken egg on the floor as soon as he hears the unfortunate cracking sound, then over at Caesar with a strangely surprised expression.] No. This will do for now.

[He watches Caesar for a moment longer, then looks for a rag to pick up and dispose of the egg yolk with.]

...You're anxious.

Observant, aren't you. [He remarks dryly, before giving up and letting out a sigh. He considers saying something, anything that isn't as deceiving, but ends up shoving a loaf of bread into the bag instead.]

[He locates a trashcan in the grocery store and throws away the rag, rubbing his fingers together distastefully at the idea of the nearly getting the egg on his hands. Gathering the items he had collected, Albert heads for the door and remarks from the other side of the doorway.] You don't want to be here, either.

I'm pretty used to my wants being ignored, thank you. [Caesar follows Albert, carrying his share of paper bags.]

Not everyone gets what they want, yes. [Albert leads the way across the plaza again, noticing the increased amount of activity going on and the number of unfamiliar faces milling around. Some sort of flux in the New Feather cycle? I don't even want to guess what this experiment completely entails...

His house is a one-story, four-bedroom setup on the eastern edge of town, tucked at the end of the street leading into the forest. The house is in sight when he finally breaks the silence.]

You don't seem surprised to be here, in Luceti.

[Caesar idly keeps himself distracted during the walk, coming up with a different strategy every minute, only to discard it a second later. The silence is eating his nerves away, but he isn't grateful when Albert speaks.]

Maybe they designed me that way.

[Albert pauses just outside his house, looking at Caesar over his shoulder. There's tension, anxiety, and confusion lingering in the air; he still doesn't know what to do this with this unexpected ... guest. Yes. Guest. This isn't Caesar. This isn't...]

You don't know yourself?

[He opens the door and enters the empty house.]

Edited 2008-12-20 10:34 (UTC)

[Caesar can practically hear what Albert is telling himself. He is used to this; this tension in the air, pressing and confusing this Albert to the point he himself has no idea what he is doing. He answers as he enters the house.]

I can't determine the extent to which my existence has been fabricated, no. And even if I did, there is no good reason you should believe me.

[...Treat him like a stranger. Even though you have already let him into your home. Salvage this mess.]

Indeed. In which case, I shouldn't even be communicating with such an untrustworthy existence.

[What a joke. He hadn't been able to ignore the corporeal figures of the past that had shown up in a previous experiment; how could he ignore a person he could touch?]

Like you're any different. But I'm calling you Albert anyway. [You already let me into your home. You already touched me. Caesar bites back an apology.]

Enjoy it while you can. I'm the alloy of two things you just have to deal with. Don't waste my time resisting.

The alloy of... [Albert trails off, disliking how his mind is basically being read by this Caesar. He sets his bag of groceries on his table and begins sorting through them to be put away, contemplating the next topic of conversation. I need to resist. It's an experiment.]

Do you know how to cook?

Edited 2008-12-20 12:38 (UTC)

Be grateful, the Malnosso had the decency to install mediocre cooking skills before sending me off as a present for you.

[Caesar looks around the kitchen, noticing something he hasn't been expecting.]

You've been cooking for someone.

If your skills are mediocre, I should probably handle the cooking.

[He frowns slightly at the observation, but goes about putting away everything that he doesn't intend to use right away.]

More often than not, yes.

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