chikaidestroyer | ∞ 69: After the first heavy snowfall [written/action]

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∞ 69: After the first heavy snowfall [written/action]

Introductions, I suppose. I haven't written one in quite awhile. My name is Albert Silverberg, and I have been a resident in Luceti for over two years now. A welcome to our New Feathers; here's hoping the welcome center and other residents make captivity as hospitable as possible.

Blue Rogues, please keep an eye out for the abducted and any stragglers from this month's New Feather cycle. The snow may make it especially difficult to traverse the forest.

I suggest everyone take heed of this amount of snowfall and prepare accordingly. Extra blankets, warmer clothing, stockpiling in case of a blizzard. The weather hasn't been this cold in the past to warrant snow this early. Long-time residents may recall that we had great amounts of rain around this time in the past two years -- enough to affect the terrain with floods and severe erosion.

I was told that there was a young lady who would customize jewelry. I would like to speak with her if possible.

[Filtered to Guy]

Perhaps we should resume our conversation in person. Will you be in the bar today?

[/filtered]

[Off-journal means of communication to Yuber]

[vaguely amused] Did I forget to mention your powers would be reduced in captivity? How careless of me.

[action]

[One may find Albert outside of house 42 if they are looking for him. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he's shoveling snow now that the snowfall has stopped.]

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[Albert stops as well, giving Caesar a side glance.] You've commented before about how I've changed. Or how I haven't. You can blame some of it on the persistence you pick up in two years. Things would be different if he hadn't been around in that first year.

Hm. Not hard to imagine, but I guess I should be glad. You aren't nearly as difficult as you used to be. [...but what a strange thought. He might have had an idea, but to hear it from him was weird.] But only some of it? And who can I blame the rest on?

[dryly now] Professor Sage could take some of the blame. I've been living with her for awhile now and her bad habits have tested my patience more so than living with an older you.

The experiments here have also played a part. What do you think I had to deal with when an experiment left the older you as a four-year-old?

That bad? Somehow, that's... oddly reassuring.

[what. You just get a look. He really has no words for that.]

Then again, I wasn't actively trying to improve upon your habits. "Teaching the teacher" can be quite frustrating.

Again, patience a mile wide. It was necessary. [But in reality, little Caesar was adorable.]

You know it would be useless anyway, but I had no idea it was like that.

I'm sure. Bet you never thought you'd have to do that again. [K-kind of like mom. 8D; That's so amazing, ffff.]

She doesn't seem to realize, either. Best to keep it that way.

No, not at all. I had forgotten just how dependent you were as a child. [His pride. :( ...And you have to wonder about their mother now.]

Don't think I could help it. I was a kid. And you were always there. At least I wasn't a bad kid. [Poor Albert. And no kidding. I don't know if it means that their mother is really pretty or... extremely intimidating. :|a]

You mean, bouncing off the walls and causing property damage? Yes, I suppose you learned discipline at some point.

The point is that being here has put me in a position where I've seen the older you vulnerable, and the older you in turn has seen me vulnerable. [He gestures at Caesar.] But there are still some things that you haven't seen. Nor should you need to see.

Things I don't need to see? But is that to my benefit, or yours?

You know as well as I just what kind of man I can be, Caesar.

Edited 2009-11-26 00:49 (UTC)

I don't get it. You do things for me that you don't need to do, but you push me away the minute I feel like speaking to you. [He shakes his head. You're confusing. :(] But... I don't think your intentions are bad. Whatever they are.

If at all possible, I don't want you to see what this-- ... [He stops. What is this sounding like? He shouldn't even be entertaining that kind of thinking.]

What? [Headtilt. He has no idea where he's going with this.]

["I'm trying to protect you, and I shouldn't. You're old enough to make your own decisions."]

......

[Come up with something else to say, damn it.]

Edited 2009-11-26 01:56 (UTC)

[You probably don't have to say it, Albert. He already guessed part of that. The silence is a little uncomfortable, if only because it's obvious that Albert's having some difficulties with this. He shakes his head.]

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

[It's probably equally obvious that hearing that is a big relief.]

...In any case, I don't want you here. You shouldn't have to be here.

Neither should you. [Pause.] But thanks for putting up with me anyway. I guess I'm luckier than I think.

Not especially, considering his arrival. But you make due with what you have. [Pause. They've been standing here in the snow, not doing anything, for awhile now. He's feeling the cold now.]

I should probably let you go now.

It took longer than usual for me to get on your nerves today. That's an accomplishment! [He's joking, of course. He doesn't prefer you to be angry with him. Really. :|] Think you can handle the rest of this by yourself?

Hmph. I'm convinced you'll never stop being an idiot. [He looks back at the work they've done together.] This was more work than I expected of you. I'm impressed.

Must be part of my charm. [Caesar looks, too. He's kind of surprised himself. He leaves the shovel sitting against the stable and puts his hands in his pockets. A little warmth is better than none at all.] I wanted to quit a long time ago, believe me. That was enough work to last me at least a month! But I knew you'd be expecting that.

Trying to keep me from thinking the worst of you, is that it? [Another "hmph" as he carries the shovel to the side of the stable.] Should I be surprised that, once again, you don't do work unless I somehow initiate things?

That certainly wasn't the plan, but every bit helps, I guess. [Wait what. Caesar kind of makes a face at his question, though. He knows very well what he's talking about, but...] Wh-what do you mean, "once again"?

[He waves a hand dismissively. He'd promised not to bring up the war, hadn't he?] It doesn't matter. Thank you for your help, Caesar.