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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Really. I'm hurt.

Worrying too much. Neglecting yourself. Things in general that Caesar Silverberg wouldn't approve.

It isn't about you.

[Putting on airs around this visitor that resembles Caesar is much easier than Albert would have liked to admit.] And you assume that I am acting ridiculous.

Are you sure?

It's working in my favor, I'm not going to complain. But it's good to know there's someone else you have to take care of when I'm not here.

[His voice is firm.] You aren't my brother. I'm sure.

Because sharing a house with someone automatically means that I am taking care of them. [...He might be getting argumentative here.]

Way to deny someone's identity.

[And informative as well. Caesar hasn't guessed they were sharing the house.] Why else would you invite someone to live with you? You've been cooking, Albert.

You would try to convince me you are?

Trading information and researching is much safer in-person than over the journals. And I cook whenever I need to; you needn't act so surprised.

Do you want me to try?

[Journals.] Because she is the only person you trade information and research with. And you don't cook for yourself, Albert. You just have a piece of bread when you realize you haven't been eating for 12 hours, and call it good. Needed, yeah. You felt the need to take care of her.

The fact that you would try speaks of another agenda.

So presumptive of you. Do you really think I would neglect myself so much? I rather fancy living a bit more than by the skin of my teeth. [He refuses to respond to the matter of taking care of Raine.]

It's tempting.

[So it's a she. Caesar wonders briefly if he'd get to see this woman while he is here.] You would. You'd persuade yourself to eat because it's needed, but end up forgetting anyway. And you'd look forward to the day your brother returns and scolds you.

Foolish.

And you continue to prattle about how I take care of myself. Stop assuming you can read my mind, or see yourself to the door.

I'd get to tell you he's okay and you have somewhere to return.

Ignore me. You're good at that, and I'm used to it. Good thing she's here, you wouldn't be able to not eat when you have to feed her.

I have no good reason to believe you. [The fact that you look like Caesar just makes this more suspicious.]

She isn't here. If she was, your baseless assumptions would have brought her forth. [He turns his attention back to putting around the last few grocery items.]

Exactly. Don't. For all I know, it's possible I am your brother's recycled version. Far from him being okay.

And after hearing my accusations about your tendency to neglect yourself, she'd at least take a good look at you as it wouldn't hurt to try, and proceed to notice how thin you are. What a relief she isn't here now.

How comforting. [He shuts the cupboard with a little more force than necessary.]

You should realize that I've always been thin.

[Suddenly feeling restless, Albert moves to stand by the window, staring outside.]

[But you'd have thought about it.] But then, this is experiment, which means I probably wouldn't last more than a week. I doubt they would have completely removed your brother's data from this body if that were the case.

Maybe I always didn't like it and wanted to tell you to eat more. I'm supposed to be your brother, you know.

[Caesar remains in his spot, only his eyes following Albert.]

[Albert continues to stare outside at the wintry surroundings, his expression blank. He leans on the windowsill.]

Are you going to continue nagging me until this experiment is over?

[Caesar's expression mirrors Albert's.]

If I shut up, I don't even have to try.

Then shut up.

...

Fine.

[Albert remains at the window, trying to decide if he should eat or not. This entire situation has ruined his appetite, and the nagging has started to affect him, too. He finally decides he might as well attempt to cook, since that was why he bothered going shopping at all.]

[Caesar is silent, occasionally chewing his lip to keep himself from blurting out something aggressive. He considers helping, but decides against it because this Albert mentioned once his Caesar can't cook.]

[And so Caesar can watch Albert work his way around his kitchen. The coat comes off as Albert preps and begins. Soup is far from anything particularly gourmet, but it allows Albert to busy himself cleaning and chopping vegetables and not pay attention to the experiment-born Caesar that he is keeping his back to.]

[Caesar takes a seat at a table, having nothing else to do. This is where his Caesar would have sat and watched. Caesar ruminates, not really able to ease his anxiety, but pretending he can anyway. This is where he would have dozed off while waiting for his meal to be cooked.]

[Eventually, there comes a point in the cooking where the cook must simply stand back and watch -- or wait, for that matter. Again restless, Albert turns to find Caesar sitting at the table.]

Are you hungry? [Again, he finds himself inviting conversation.]

[Caesar hesitates for a second before responding. It really might be for the best if he just kept silent during his whole stay in Luceti.]

...Kind of. [Another pause.] Are you?

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