chikaidestroyer | ∞ 78: One bed, two brothers [accidental voice / action]

[Albert's room is a neat and quiet place, and has been that way since he departed with the other draftees last week. One would expect it to stay that way.

Unfortunately, one Caesar Silverberg decided to take his decision of waiting for Albert in his home one step further, invading said bedroom. He's lazily curled up on his brother's bed. It's a much more comfortable bed after all, complete with nicer beddings than the spare sheets he would have used in the spare room. Plus it's out of the way and perfect for napping, and he'd only get woken up for meals...

He could get used to this.

The relative silence of the bedroom is broken by a clatter and thump as something falls to the floor. Caesar doesn't stir. If he did, he would have realized that it's a journal that isn't his own. It's fallen open and is recording the ensuing silence.

A moment passes.

Then there's a solid thump as something heavy falls on top of the bed. And Caesar.]

AHHHHH- What the hell—!? GET OFF OF ME!

Wh— Caesar?!

OFF. You've got bony elbo— OW!

Get your hand out of th—

[The voices are cut off by the sound of feet kicking against the wall, and then another loud thump as something lands on the floor—and the journal. The recording shuts off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The body goes out of control, and would essentially be warped physically and mentally due to the imbalance... while the soul is essentially absorbed into the sphere.

Interesting. It sounds like some of the more horrific tales told of the Runes.

Does it? ... I truly would like to hear more about the Runes, sometime. [She doesn't think this is quite the right time to tangent about them, as much as she would like to.] In the rare times that they've appeared in public, people refer to them as monsters, since they would have no idea of the cause.

[He shakes his head.] Rumors mostly. I'm sure you know how rumors can get.

But you clearly know what the public at large does not know. So you have had personal experience. [A pause, as he considers what Raine had been doing prior to Luceti.] The entire group you were with must know about this, then.

Edited 2010-03-31 21:04 (UTC)

[She gives a small nod.] Most people wouldn't have reason to even come into contact with an exsphere, and fewer would know about their properties without significant connections. Lloyd was in possession of one for as long as I knew him... but even then, it wasn't something that was remarked upon. [She pauses, there, since she's not certain of what he knows of that particular backstory.] But it isn't until you come into possession of one yourself that you become aware of others. Or begin suspecting others.

While it wasn't the original focus of our group... learning the truth about them set the stage for most of our later endeavors.

[He listens to Raine's entire explanation before speaking again.]

Which leads us back to the reluctance. The absorption of the host's soul is quite controversial, I take it.

The facilities had been set up in the declining world, where those who lived in certain towns and cities were usually kept in check by a larger organization known as the Desians, who ran the facilities. They were referred to as ranches, but people likely only thought of them as torture facilities and nothing more.

[There is a pause before she speaks again.] After all, no one who got sent there ever returned to their families. Until... well, after our intervention.

Edited 2010-03-31 22:04 (UTC)

No wonder you don't show quite the level of indignation as others about the existence of a prison like this. [And he won't comment on the clear beating around the bush that Raine is doing.]

Edited 2010-03-31 22:17 (UTC)

I sometimes wonder if I see too many similarities.

In any case... we managed to succeed in shutting down all of the operating human ranches.

But these exspheres still exist long after the means to create them disappear.

Yes. Lloyd's eventual plan was to collect them all, once we had finished the other tasks in front of us. It was all connected.

Edited 2010-03-31 23:07 (UTC)

[He's quiet for a few moments longer than perhaps necessary.]

...Why?

Why... what exactly?

After all is said and done, what would be the point of collecting these exspheres?

To prevent them from being used by others. Lloyd has always been an idealist... but whenever he went for a goal, he meant to back up his words with actions.

His own exsphere... bears the soul of his mother.

[He doesn't say anything, leaning back against the bed.]

[... She's quiet for a few moments herself. This aspect of the story really wasn't hers to tell, but it's really one of the key links in how it comes together.]

That revelation... was at the height of us learning the truth. That particular exsphere, as well, was connected to many other things.

Edited 2010-04-01 00:05 (UTC)

...Very idealistic. [It's a muttered comment as Albert settles back down on his bed.]

[It's very strange, coming down memory lane like this. Her gaze is faraway.] ... yes.

[He turns his head slightly to look at Raine as he lies on his bed.] Thank you for explaining. I suppose I can understand the hesitance.

You're welcome. Although, I'm certain it makes for a strange bedtime story.

It's certainly something one doesn't think about before going to sleep. [A breathless little laugh.] But I need to rest as it is.

Yes, that you do. [But she's comfortable here. Don't mind her, really.]

[He shuts his eyes, propping his pillow under his head properly. What else is there left to say?]

[Nothing at all, save for maybe, and very softly:] Sleep well, Albert.

∞ 78: One bed, two brothers [accidental voice / action]

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