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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You just don't quit, do you? Well... Is there anything I can do?

I don't know. I had ... some plans. [He looks towards his desk.] Those will need to be worked on.

[Caesar walks over to the desk, then, and decides to look over this stuff properly. He'd pretty much ignored it earlier, after all. He idly studies the map as he prepares for the reaction to his next suggestion.]

Why don't we look at it together? Maybe it won't be so bad if you're not doing all the work.

[He stares at Caesar for a moment, then returns to the desk beside him. He slowly traces his the river winding down the map.] This... The river flows northwest from the source. It ends at this lake over here. [He points at the small mark on the map.]

Whatever the "source" is. [He sees no source. But that's probably not important. He reminds himself to try and take this slow.] How deep's the river?

It varies; three to twenty feet. [He scrutinizes the map, leaning over it as he points to a stretch of river where it splits into two rivers and then merges back together.] ...A good place for a trap. [He fans out his notes.]

[Caesar looks to where he points and nods.] These areas are occupied by the enemy, right? [He motions toward those nice, purple areas.] Do we know how many of them there are this time?

Areas where the enemy was seen. [He looks between the two colored areas, shutting his eyes as he tries to slow down his racing thoughts. Too many things to think of. He didn't have to think like this before... It was simpler without all of these thoughts...]

[It's the pause in conversation that causes Caesar to look up from the map and at his brother.] Hey, are you okay?

[Albert takes a deep breath, ignoring Caesar's question.] The numbers are ... still heavily in their favor. The Third Party's.

[Caesar frowns a little, but decides to continue for the time being. He knows Albert would be too restless if they stopped now.] I thought as much. Same goal as last time?

I don't know. The area ... seems to be for campers and sightseers. Tourists. [It didn't make any sense.]

They're sending us to that kind of place? [...what. Caesar shakes his head, and points to the green marks on the map.] What are these, then? Campsites?

[He stares at the spots, willing himself to think.] Rest stops made by the ... original inhabitants. There might be survivors. That's what was said.

Survivors? [Well, that was different. Albert would have mentioned something like that last time, he was sure.] I guess we'll have to keep an eye out for them.

...They aren't a priority. If they die, they will come back.

Uh... I suppose. [If you didn't just die, he'd so punch you in the face right now.] You said you had plans that needed working on. Shall we look at those? Um... if you want to, that is.

I... [He trails off, looking at the notes he had spread out. He puts a hand over it.] They are here-- written here. But I won't read now. [Reading involves a lot of thinking and translating into action. After a moment, he continues faintly.] Perhaps later.

[The room was getting dark with the sun having set.]

That's all right. I'll be here when you're ready. [He'd probably just read over them himself later, whenever he got a chance. Oh, but that was being a little presumptuous, wasn't it? Oops.] Uh... You don't mind if I stay a while longer, do you?

[Albert stares blankly at the map, and then his notes, before simply pushing away from the desk and sitting on the edge of his bed. He doesn't answer Caesar's question, instead taking a deep breath to calm himself.]

[Caesar looks at him, obviously expecting an answer. But since he doesn't get one, he just goes to sit down on the floor at the edge of Albert's bed.] ...not that I was planning to go anywhere, you understand. I've decided I'm going to try my best to make myself useful to you for a little while.

[He didn't know what he could do for him, but he wanted to be there anyway. He was still worried about him, and he wasn't going to bother trying to hide it.]

Make yourself useful. [He lets out a sound similar to a choked laugh of disbelief.] On my floor.

I think I've already done enough work for one day! I deserve a break. [He nods. Totally knows what he's talking about.] But if you need anything, I'll be here. Just say so, all right? Or I might fall asleep.

Fall asleep. [There's an unrecognizable emotion in his voice.] I should probably rest. But it's still early. [And there's probably still dinner. And feels as if he doesn't know what to expect of the evening anymore. But that conflicts with what he knows is rational, and he tries to convince himself that he's being completely irrational... He feels mentally tired.]

I know, Al, but... [Albert seems so conflicted. It's strange to him. He sighs, and decides to climb up onto the bed. Despite what he wants to say, he's not sure if his brother will sleep at all.] Shouldn't you at least try? A short nap might go a long way. I would know.