chikaidestroyer | ∞ 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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[Raine goes back to straightening up the kitchen area, and trying to make a mental list of things they might need from the store in a few days. It's probably not good to leave him to too much thought... but perhaps it could help him as well.

She just doesn't know.]

[There is actually little to no sound or movement from Albert in that time. Almost as if he is dozing in his chair.]

[Which, of course, is worrying. When she realizes how quiet it's gotten, she turns her attention back toward him.]

... Albert? [It's slightly sharper than normal.]

[He lifts his head slightly in response.] Is it done? [He blinks a few times, disoriented.]

... Almost. I'm sorry, I should be encouraging you to talk more, or have given you something to do. Even though thinking is... difficult for you, more stimulation is better than less right now. When you're not resting, that is.

I'm ... trying not to think.

You were so... zoned out. I needed to make sure you were still here.

When I don't think, I don't have to worry about here. About time. About how many times I will wait for ... tea, wait for something to happen. The passage of time seems so ... dismal.

Because it contrasts so much with the lack of that... happiness?

[His voice becomes unnecessarily sharp.] There's just too much time!

But why are you worrying about it?

Why are you asking so many questions?

Because I don't want you to lose yourself to this. The more I can find out - from you, the more we can work toward some form of resolution.

I've told you. I've told you. Do I need to repeat it? [He's tense, and it clearly shows in his voice. His previous question repeats in his head, tinged with his frustrations.]

[She sighs, and glances over to the water. It's ready. She moves to set up the tea.] No, I ... suppose not. Not yet, anyway.

[He brings his hands up to cradle his forehead on them, again shutting his eyes. He exhales slowly, squeezing his fingers while he tries to push away his anger. It's harder than it should be.]

[She watches him hesitantly for a few moments, before gently sliding the teacup over. A peace offering.] ... I apologize. This is frightening enough to see from this side, and I can't relate to how it is on your end of this.

Please. Just stop asking questions. [Albert doesn't raise his head, doesn't look at the teacup.] I ... need to calm down. And the questions don't help.

... Understood. [It's said very softly. Her eyes find her own tea cup and linger on it. They feel strained. Moist.] I'm sorry.

[He carefully takes the teacup, blowing on the steaming drink before speaking.] I shouldn't have come out of my room. You ... wouldn't aggravate a leg if someone had just broken it. [It's perhaps the most abstract thing he's said since he was cured.]

I'm just glad you didn't try to go farther than the kitchen.

The outside. [He breathes in the scent of the tea.] There's too much outside to think about. Right now.

Too much indeed. [Her voice is tight.] Don't give it another thought.

[He nods behind his cup of tea, drinking quietly. The less he had to worry about right now, the better.]

[The less he has to worry, the more she does have to worry. Raine's going to have to make an extra effort to keep from unintentionally agitating him.

She forces herself to take a sip of her own tea.]

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