chikaidestroyer | ∞ 83: A chronicle of life and death [action]

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∞ 83: A chronicle of life and death [action]

[What a wonderful afternoon. The sun is shining, the sky has cleared up, and the ground is drying after two days of rain. And Albert is around the village today, weaving through the streets and between houses and even to the edges of the forest.

Little do people know that Albert received a beautiful flower last night, and he happened to smell it. When he awoke up the morning, getting out of his room proved to be an ... arduous battle. And getting out the front door? Well, he had at least discovered what a doorknob was by then.

He has a vague, wondrous look on his face as he looks at swaying tree branches and flowers he would have otherwise ignored. His hair is in slight disarray, as if he had rolled out of bed and fought his way through a bedroom door. His clothes are in a similar state, and notably the same as the ones he had been wearing last night.

This isn't strange at all.

He will be wandering around for the entire afternoon. Attempts to talk to or capture the 6'1" strategist will be bizarre. ...And he won't be returned home until sunset or so.]

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He could have climbed out of an open window for all we know. [That was meant to be a joke, of course, but you know. Caesar doesn't even find it funny. He looks around the room for something he could use to block the door. He motions toward ~~what I'm assuming is~~ a cabinet.] Mind if I move that?

[Still staring out the window... The light keeps changing. Even if it's going slowly.]

None of the windows were open. [Raine's not much in the mood for jokes, as she attempts to see if she can take Albert's pulse while he's distracted.] And yes, that's fine.

You said you hadn't seen him since last night. We don't know what he's been doing since then. [He walks over to the cabinet and starts pushing it toward the door. He at least has enough strength for that. Maybe.] But it can't just be a fever.

[Albert's arm tenses as Raine takes hold of it, but he doesn't move to get away just yet. He's content to stay where he is for the moment, aiming his eyes to where some stray morning glories are visible from the window. A few are already showing signs of wilting, while the moonflowers are not as tightly closed as earlier in the day.]

Just before I went to bed. He was busy working, but he seemed fine... distracted because of it, definitely, but nothing like this. [She finds his pulse, but doesn't let go of his arm.] No. There must be something... something more. Not an illness.

You mean- [A pause as he gives the cabinet another push. There we go. That should be enough to prevent him from leaving through here, at least.] You mean, you don't know what it is, either? We can't fix something if we don't know what it is.

[Albert seems to hear the thud of the low cabinet being pushed into place, as his attention averts from the window to the cabinet. He moves to head over there to look at what had changed, but quickly finds himself unable to when Raine's grip stops him.

A myriad of different emotions play out across his face in only a few seconds -- surprise, confusion, frustration, and then the same panic that he had displayed earlier. He tugs insistently in an attempt to free himself.]

I have a suspicion, but - [Albert's sudden change in expression and actions cause her to halt her words, as she reluctantly releases his wrist.] ...? Albert?

That's why it took me a year and a half to get him here. I guess he feels trapped or something when you do that, and he doesn't like it. [Caesar shakes his head.] But, uh, what's this about a suspicion?

[When he is released, Albert takes a moment to calm down. It's shocking how quickly his expression returns to that placidly content look, and he wanders over to the cabinet.]

[Raine watches Albert wander over to the cabinet before responding to Caesar's question.] ... Yes. A man named Ginko has been making a few announcements - warnings about Mushi, which seems to be a parasite of sorts from his world, among other things, and they seem to be invisible, or take forms that may not be distinguished from something else.

I didn't want to jump to conclusions... but given this behavior, Albert may have come into contact with it somehow.

[Caesar looks at her for a moment when she mentions this Mushi business, but he turns to watch Albert again as he speaks. He didn't really care how it happened. He was more concerned with something else.] So what is it doing to him?

[If left alone for too long, Albert will probably wander off into the dining room after he loses interest in the cabinet.]

I... don't know. [She doesn't feel comfortable with leaving Albert unattended in that state, so she moves after him to keep at least one eye on him while talking to Caesar.] He seems very... childlike, right now, except he has no interest in people, only surroundings that are catching his interest.

We're going to have to get in contact with Ginko. He said there were different types of effects, but he's the one who can take care of them.

I've gathered that much. [Caesar's tone is obviously impatient, but he doesn't mean it to be rude. As long as he can see them from where he's standing, Caesar won't move, but he's having a really hard time keeping still.] Hurry up and talk to this guy, then. I... really don't like this, Miss Raine.

[While Raine goes off to retrieve her journal and contact Ginko, Albert will continue to ... wander around the house. By the time the sun has completely set, Albert has slowed down considerably and taken to sitting down in the living room.

Some coaxing would have led to him drinking and even eating a little. The distant and content look hasn't changed even as it's obvious that his actions are slowing down, like he's just a little tired.]

Edited 2010-06-17 02:22 (UTC)

[It's easier to keep an eye on him now that he's slowed down. Now it's just the waiting, waiting for a response, and hovering to check on Albert's state. There are two cups of tea sitting out, but she's hardly touched hers.

He's not the only Silverberg present. Raine's attention occasionally will flicker back to Caesar as well.]

... Did he tell you about what he was working on?

[Caesar's just sitting around. He normally wouldn't mind sitting there in silence, but he didn't feel well. The fact that Albert had calmed down now, even just a little, wasn't reassuring at all. He shakes his head slightly when Raine asks him.]

No. We haven't spoken in a while.

[Albert idly eats some crackers, staring off into space. It's almost as if he's waiting.]

[It's not reassuring, it's worrying. But if he is childlike, then perhaps it's just a sign that he's been too active and needs a nap? And there's the fever to consider as well. Her eyes move back toward him, sitting near her, even though she's speaking to Caesar.]

... He has some details about the upcoming draft.

I see. It's about time. [Caesar doesn't sound too interested, but that's nothing short of the usual. He still feels anxious.] Anything I should know about?

[He reaches over to pick up another cracker from the plate, completely oblivious to whatever it is that Raine and Caesar are talking about. Not much longer...]

Your name was on the partial list. [Still watching him. She should be able to do something, not just sit here.]

Hah. I see that I am indeed rather lucky. [But actually, he could break something. That was not what he wanted to hear right now.] Do we know when?