Appointments

[chikaidestroyer]

Got a reason to get in touch with Albert? Use this post to send a voiced or written message over the journal, or as a place to set up an action thread. These short messages or action threads can lead to journal entries, longer action posts, or logs.

Use the subject line to specify the date and method of contact, such as the following examples:

[action, March 24]
[written, July 10]
[voice, December 20]

Comments

[action, January 8]

[chikaidestroyer]

[continuing from here]

[Stepping through the snow is nice after the soreness in his toes fades, and after a few strides his sense of balance has corrected itself. He glances back to see where Caesar is, loosely holding the bag of skates in one hand.]

Considering this was your idea, I'm surprised how much you decided to complain.

[mydearapple]

You're surprised? [Even Caesar knows himself better than that!] It's not like I knew what I was doing before I decided to give it a try, you know.

[chikaidestroyer]

I would have thought you would try to be courteous towards the person you had invited along. Why, if I was not such a confident person, I might have been disappointed by all of your remarks. [They pass under a street light as they continue walking, snow piled on either side of the road.]

[ written (off journal) ; christmas ]

[herotypical]

[ nestled in the heart of a well-crafted puzzle box (though not well crafted by her, by any stretch of the imagination) sits a carefully scribed letter from the slayer to the strategist: ]

"Dear Albert,

Wow. We've been here a while. You? Longer, for sure. But even still -- I'm going to be hitting the big 3 year mark in May. And May's not all that far off. I've been thinking a lot recently about when, exactly, here turned into home. When was it for you? Did it ever even...?

Look -- this isn't really one of those touchy-feely Xmas letters. Partially because I'm guessing you don't even have the holiday back in your real home. But all these thoughts about here and home and everything involved with them make me wonder what I should actually be doing...here. If here's home? Maybe I should be doing more. I can't figure out what that more should be but I know it's not just playing commando for the Malnosso.

I've sort of mentioned my half-made plans, already. My intention to get to the General. Cut out the labcoated middle men and try and deal with the Third Party directly...even if just to get some kind of intel. But he hasn't shown his face since the one draft I wasn't on and I don't know what I can do other than just wait. And I hate waiting.

That's why I need you. I trust you. Everyone else -- Jack, Giles, my friends and my family -- they're going to try and stop me. They'd be idiots not to. I'd do the same, in their shoes. But you wouldn't...would you? You know there's not a single tactical advantage to be gained by holding one very already used-up life above all the others trapped in this place. I killed him -- that's a connection -- and if that makes me the possibly best woman for the job? I'm kind of a pro at accepting duty, by now.

I once promised to be your General and it wasn't just the experiment talking. So -- can I depend on your support? Your help? Your strategies? Your discretion?

Think about it. Take your time. Oh -- and please, try and have a happy holiday.

-- BS"

[action, February 4]

[corrinesbell]

[Sheena doesn't know why she's at this house. If anyone's home, why she feels the need to say this to someone. To this someone.

Didn't stop her feet from bringing her here. Isn't stopping her from knocking, and hoping at least one lazy redhead answers the door.]

[action, February 4]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert had been in the process of making coffee when he hears the knock on the door. He pauses, then brings the mug with him when he decides to answer the door.

He blinks once when he sees who is on the other side.]

Hello Sheena.

[action, February 4]

[corrinesbell]

[The ninja on your doorstep looks...out-of-sorts.]

I'm going on a mission.

[Right to business.]

[Written, February 8, morning]

[silversnowfall]

Albert,

Raine has returned. She's...a little smaller than you may remember - eleven, to be exact - but she's fine. She stayed here last night. I don't know what her plans are regarding where to stay as of now.

- Nephry

[Written, February 8, morning]

[chikaidestroyer]

Nephry,

My thanks for letting me know. If it is not any trouble, will you please host her if she cannot decide on where she intends to go?

- Albert

[action, August 1 (or so)]

[chikaidestroyer]

[continued from here]

[Albert steps away from the tree so Frey has room to touch down, still peering around his surroundings. Things seemed normal for now...]

I take it you have been affected by the teleporting around the village as well. [He shakes his head faintly; it was a troublesome experiment, to say the least, and made sitting down for regular meals something of a challenge.]

[action, August 1 (or so)]

[falenandawn]

[He carefully steps down, shifting his feet a bit once they touch the grass and relieved to find the ground seems to be maintaining a normal temperature for now. Albert was right.]


I have. Today has been the only day since this started that a doorway or anything similar enough hasn't taken me to some strange location. Have you....?

[action, August 1 (or so)]

[chikaidestroyer]

From the first night and onward. [He shakes his head in exasperation.] I have been avoiding going through doorways whenever possible since that first set of experiences.

[He rocks back and forth a little as an sudden gust of wind pushes down on them.]

[Voice, October 12 (after Molly's announcement)]

[voidseeing]

Albert.

I have several important matters I want to discuss with you in person. Where can you meet me?

[Voice, October 12 (after Molly's announcement)]

[chikaidestroyer]

Outside the art gallery will work. We can depart from there.

[He only suggests it because it is closer to the center of the village, across from house 39, as opposed to having to meet far out in the barracks.]

[Voice/Action, October 12]

[voidseeing]

I'll see you there in ten minutes.

[And that's all he'll say before he heads out, though he'll keep his journal open just in case.]

[written, off-journal / december 18th]

[mydearapple]

"To my dear big brother Albert,

If you're reading this, I hope it's because I've gone home and not because you're rifling through my things while I'm away (although I wouldn't put it past you to do something like that). If it is indeed the former, I want to apologize—I'd always kind of hoped that this time, you'd leave before I did. I guess things don't always work out the way you want them to, though, do they?

But more importantly, I want to say thank you. This place was troublesome, but I think it's because you were there that it became just a little bit bearable. (Okay, maybe more than a little bit.) I'd like to think I grew up a little, but even if I didn't, I still think it was worth every minute I spent here. I'm not sure if I was ever able to help you like I'd wanted, but you were certainly there for me more than I ever imagined you would be. Maybe you did it just to prove me wrong, or maybe you did it because you genuinely wanted to. Who really knows? But I'm thankful nonetheless. You're a great brother, Albert, and I'm sorry I ever thought otherwise.

I've thought about it, and while I really want to remember this place, I think I won't be too upset if I don't. This place didn't change us—we were already who we are before we got here—it just gave us more time. Maybe when the war is over, we'll be able to find that time again. Well, I'll try to find it, anyway, and I'll try to share it with you. I know that the person who looked out for me here is still there somewhere. If there's one thing I won't give up on, it's my brother.

Anyway, this is pretty wordy for a "see you later," isn't it? Sorry about that. Actually, I'd be pretty impressed if you read this far. But if you did, thanks again, and take care of yourself until we see each other again, okay? I won't be there now to keep you out of trouble, but I won't forgive you if something terrible happens while I'm gone.

Take care, dear brother,
Caesar S.

P.S. Don't use the medicine unless it's an emergency. I mean it! You don't want to waste it.
P.P.S. This is going to be embarrassing if I remember this. I love you."

[ february 25th ; written & filtered ]

[herotypical]

[ buffy hates having a torn heart. time, instinct, and circumstance reassure her that one man is hers for the long-haul but -- recently -- her eyes have strayed and have stayed strayed. as every other inexplicable feeling melted away and got explained by yet another shift, one remained: perplexing and frustrating.

she'd coped the only way she knew how -- avoidance. pretending to be deeply stuck in research to help the other man, she tried to avoid him. but she found herself drinking at the tea shop more often than not. and she found herself writing letters.

letters were safe, weren't they? surely, no harm could come from them. tonight, she settled down to write yet another one. they'd become common occurrences over the past week. ]

ALBERT--

I hate patrolling in winter. My eyelashes freeze. Eyelashes are probably the last part of a person's body that should ever be allowed to freeze, medically speaking. Does your world have that thing where if you blow a lost eyelash off someone else's cheek, you get a wish? It's probably best if you don't. Wishes tend to be bad news.

Speaking of news, still don't have any on the sand-front. Maybe you were right. Maybe I should spend some points. It's not like I've ever bought anything with them before now. I once thought I'd get power set up at Cullen House, but now...

[ -- she paused in her efforts. took a moment to think about cullen house; domesticity; the fear of being engaged. ]

I don't even know if you're awake. I could be writing to ghosts. Empty spaces. Where do you think all these journal messages are actually stored? It's like that thing they say about trees falling in the woods and no one's there to hear it.

--B.S.

[ february 25th ; written & filtered ]

[chikaidestroyer]

[The way he felt following the lasting effects of the love experiment had gone unnoticed for a few days; it was not as if he inwardly denied his attraction to Buffy Summers, so such thoughts and feelings should not have been much of a surprise.

But when he found himself glancing in the direction of Good Spirits on his way to the tea shop, or walking the long way back to the house while scanning the roads for a particular night-patrolling Slayer... Well. It gave him pause. Had their time spent during the experiment really affected him? He couldn't deny the possibility.

He reads the letter by candlelight in his room; in addition to the light, the warmth was welcome during these colder nights. He writes back carefully, moving his journal away from the dripping wax.]

Buffy--

Your mind seems to be wandering a fair amount tonight. You probably know better than most that I am awake in the dead of night -- and perhaps someday you will get to see why that is the case.

[He eyes the window in front of him that faced the forest, then continues.]

If you see need to spend points for the sand, let me know; perhaps, MARS be willing, I can assist in the purchase. Unless you find yourself in surplus supply, considering it sounds as if you have not seen reason to use your points.

In any case, the weather will hopefully warm soon. It would be a shame to see you with your eyelashes frozen off.

--Albert Silverberg

[herotypical]

Someday? Albert, you make it sound like a mystery. You got to know that an inquisitive mind like mine can't cope with leaving a mystery unsolved.

[ a little flirtatious threatening never went amiss, right? and it was safe enough. ]

I have ninety-some of my own. Sand can't be that pricey. [ god, she wants so badly to comment on his comment about her eyelashes, but some flirtation is just a little too far gone. so -- remaining on topic: ] What about you -- have you bought much from MARS?

--B

[ Action, February 11 ]

[ura_no_ura]

((ooc: Continued from here ))

[ Kakashi is normally not known for being on time.

If anything, being late is an art he's mastered over the years.

But for once, he's actually on time, having headed out to meet Albert the moment he closed his journal. Wouldn't want to start off on the wrong foot, after all. ]

[ Action, February 11 ]

[chikaidestroyer]

[It's been awhile since he's met with others in this way; the season had been fairly quiet as far as things went with Luceti -- but that was for more reasons than the fairly tame experiments. So many had disappeared, seeming to widen the gap between those who had been there for a long time and those who had yet to "celebrate" a full year in the enclosure.

He stands and waits just outside of the Welcome Center, having walked down from Celsius' Tear on the second floor, tucking his gloved hands into his coat pockets.]

[Filtered, February 21]

[endgames]

So a little bird told me something interesting, some weeks ago.

[Filtered, February 21]

[chikaidestroyer]

Literal or figurative bird?

[action - May 29]

[wise_maiden]

[ The draft had ended, though after the trip back to the house and that long, desperately needed shower, the days afterward for Raine were mostly spent attempting to sleep off her exhaustion. They were also spent absorbing the full weight of the events that had transpired during the draft that were now smacking her harder than those lapses had. Taking any meals at all during that time was something she had to be reminded of, though she had very little appetite and could barely stomach even tea after a few sips.

And that's where she is on this evening, still in her bedroom after an afternoon of a long, disconcerting chain of naps, finally having moved to sit up in her chair, eyes blankly looking into an untouched cup of tea. The cat rubs against her legs, giving out a plea for attention that she barely acknowledges. ]

A BILLION YEARS LATER

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert returns to the house after a day out tending to Astrid and Biliruben, tired but otherwise fine. It was good to have largely independent animals, as they did not have to be concerned about too much, especially in the aftermath of that last draft.

That said, he makes a fair amount of noise entering the house, setting his light coat aside and glancing into the living room before heading to the kitchen. He should see to getting dinner started, even if his housemate's appetite might as well be nonexistent after what had been endured not that long ago.]