chikaidestroyer | ∞ 74: A windy day [action]

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∞ 74: A windy day [action]

[Despite the mild windiness today, Albert is sitting out on the porch of his house. He has a few notes and his journal with him, but he's mostly just out there to think and drink a little. The town meeting was just yesterday, and it certainly proved a few things he had surmised about the populace. There had been a few opinions he had heard that more clearly showed others' state of mind (some for the better, most for the worse), and he had to readjust those plans accordingly.

Now to think of the next course of action.]

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[Albert does his best not to glare at nothing as he head back to the kitchen, busying himself with the hot water and tea before he has to head out to where Caesar is again. Why is Caesar doing this now? Being annoying is one thing, but not rising up to throw a tantrum over an insult is a sign that there was more to all of this.

...Wait. What day was it again?

He couldn't very well glance at his journal while it was in the other room. Damn. Albert still looks contemplative as he returns to the sitting room with the tea.]

[Something about this whole thing reminds Caesar of when he was younger and he'd get into trouble over something... well. Something stupid. He isn't sure if he should speak up or wait for his brother to say something first. Caesar knew Albert would probably take all of this the wrong way, but he couldn't really imagine what he was thinking, exactly. So confusing, Albert.]

[Albert waits until he puts down both teacups before he speaks.]

I seem to be asking this of you a lot lately: Why?

Um... But it's not really... [Oh, dammit. This was going to be harder than he thought. That nervousness he had when he first showed up here? It's back again. He sighs.] Well, your birthday is coming up, isn't it? I didn't know what to get you [or if it was even appropriate to get you anything at all], so I thought I'd do what I do best—annoy you. Uh, but I was serious about what I said earlier.

[There's a drawn-out sigh. So that was it? His birthday?

...He had forgotten all about it. Even without the other situations going on now, he paid little attention to his birthday nowadays.]

What were you serious about now? That entire display was bizarre enough not to be taken seriously.

I wasn't serious about any of that! [Especially not the part about you being comfortable, gosh.] I meant... well, it's been a long time since I've been able to spend time with you on your birthday. I was serious about that part. [He shrugs.] It was stupid, but I thought that since I had the opportunity, I might as well take advantage of it.

Living in different countries doesn't make it easy to do such a thing, even if it was something we agreed to do. [His tone is terse, and he holds his teacup to tap his finger on its surface; that's the most obvious release for his restless energy.]

...What a typical present from you.

Of course it doesn't. I don't know how many chances I'll get to do this, so I was left with no choice! [And really, there's also this slight worry at the back of Caesar's mind that maybe when he goes back, he won't want to do these things, even just to be silly.]

That's why I decided to be extra annoying. I can't believe you put up with it for that long. You really do have patience a mile wide.

["Left with no choice."] Don't be melodramatic.

[And he doesn't really want to admit that his sheer amount of patience was partly because this was Caesar he was dealing with.] Were you waiting for me to hit you upside the head?

I'm not being melodramatic! I just didn't want to miss the opportunity.

Huh. I'm not sure. I'd have kept it up, but you seemed frustrated. [And it was hilarious.]

I wasn't frustrated. I was annoyed you were acting ten years younger than you are. [Ten years? That's it?]

Was it really that bad? [Caesar decides to drink some tea when another thought occurs to him. Ten years, huh?] How old are you going to be, anyway? You should be twenty... five? To me, at least. But that's not true since you've been here, is it?

You were latching onto my arm like a little child. [He still sounds exasperated.]

I suppose I will be turning 27 this year. [Two birthdays spent in Luceti.]

Okay, okay, that was pretty bad. I didn't even think I could do that.

Twenty-seven? [...what. His next words are a bit of a mumble, but still audible.] T-ten years older than me?

[He definitely catches the mumbling.] Don't tell me you're that surprised. You knew I had been here longer than you.

Of course I knew, I just never thought of it that way. It's not really surprising, but you're... [He sighs. This place sucks.] That's not fair.

Time passing is perhaps one of the most normal things about this place, Caesar.

It's still not fair. [Sure, it makes sense, but he's having a hard time with it nonetheless.]

Anyway, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to invade your house and force you to make me tea over something like this. Um. Again.

[He waves off the apology, taking a moment to drink his tea.] You were let in, Caesar. The only thing you invaded was my personal space.

And try to think of it this way: You likely wouldn't have seen me any sooner in our world than here in Luceti.

[...he hopes that means it's okay. :|] I kind of wish you'd have agreed to the nap, at least. But I guess I'll manage without one.

I know that. That's why I thought it was important.

You're already on the couch. I'm surprised you didn't fall asleep while I fetched the tea. [He idly picks up the book he had set aside earlier, sliding into his seat.]

Hn. How important is it when time displacements mean one will likely not remember later on?

You went through the trouble of making tea, so the least I could do is have a little before I fall asleep. [A pause as he goes to take another drink.] Gimme a few minutes.

That doesn't mean I shouldn't try. Maybe we aren't likely to remember it later on, but I think now is what's really important. It might not matter to you, but it does matter to me.

[He will roll his eyes at Caesar's comments, focusing on his tea while he thinks of a response.]

I've already told you a little of your last iteration in Luceti. [So maybe it matters to him, too.]

[That wasn't... the response he'd been expecting. He's not sure he understands, but if he brought that up, it couldn't be a bad thing, right?]

Then you don't need me to tell you why it's important.

I suppose not. He tried to convince me to go back to Gregminster to visit Mother and Father.