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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I don't... [Albert trails off, taking another deep breath. Too many questions. It was ... better than earlier in the day, when he had spoken to Raine, but the trying to answer so many questions distressed him.] No. I'm fine.

[He moves further back on the bed, gingerly lying down and staring at the ceiling.]

All right, all right, I won't bother you anymore. [Caesar shrugs. He looks over to Albert.] But I'll be right here. You know, in case you decide otherwise.

[Albert nods, though it may not look like much while he is lying down.] Thank you, Caesar.

Don't mention it. [And it's hard, but Caesar tries his best to offer him some kind of smile.] You're my brother, so I know you'll be okay. But there's still nowhere else I'd rather be.

The vote of confidence is appreciated.

[It's a wry comment as Albert brings a hand over his eyes. He's already flexing a hand restlessly.]

Yeah? [He smirks a little. This was his brother.] I thought you might like that.

[He shuts his eyes, silent for a few moments. He hasn't yet relaxed.]

When I was first ... affected, I was aware that something was happening to me. The flower I had was wilting. I could feel my body changing.

And then it didn't matter anymore. Because I knew that, if I just shut my eyes, it would go away.

[It almost surprises Caesar that he decided to tell him this. He didn't want to make him talk about it, especially since it'd just happened, but since he brought it up...]

I guess that explains why you were so... [Happy? He wasn't sure how to put it.

And part of Caesar wonders if Albert had been scared when he felt that things were changing. But he didn't want to ask, because honestly? He wasn't sure if he wanted to know.]

In that state, there was this feeling of ... intrigue. Everything was vivid and new, and it needed to be seen. And when I shut my eyes at the end of ... the day, I was content. Because every moment had something new to it.

It was simpler. So much simpler.

Life would be boring if it was really that simple.

[He remembered what Ginko said about people willingly returning to that lifestyle. He didn't want to know how his brother felt about that, either.]

Yes. [He finds himself nodding.] There is a rational part of me that rejects what happened. But it is ... vivid and fulfilling, and still too recent.

That's why it's been so difficult to sleep today.

I... guess I understand that. You just need more time. You can't avoid sleeping forever, though. [He tilts his head.] You'll surely pass out sooner or later. But maybe that's not a bad thing.

[He murmurs, face partly covered by his hand.] I would be too tired to think. It sounds nice.

It sounds a little impractical to keep you up until you pass out, though, don't you think?

[He's quiet as he processes Caesar's comment.]

Just a little, yes. But I need to not think ... so I can sleep.

It might help if I shut up for a little while.

[Albert snorts, but falls silent. He shuts his eyes and tries to relax. It's difficult.]

[Caesar's just going to stay where he is for the moment. He's tired, but he's not going to bother trying to sleep now. He has to make sure Albert's okay - that's more important to him than sleep, or anything else, even.

He wonders if he should move. Or if his presence would be a distraction. Or if his brother will actually fall asleep so he can look at his notes. Or...]

[Albert's shoulder twitches, and the hand covering his face slips down into a more comfortable position. Perhaps he had been more tired than he had thought, because his breathing had already deepened into one of rhythmic slumber.]

[After a while, Caesar will look to Albert again, and seeing him in a more relaxed position puts Caesar at ease as well. Maybe... he could lay down for a little bit, too. A short nap couldn't hurt, right? So Caesar will go ahead and pull his legs up onto the bed, making himself comfortable right here. If Albert really was sleeping, maybe he wouldn't notice that Caesar decided to share his bed with him. And if he did? Well, uh... Oops.]

[There is no reactive movement from Albert. One hand remains at his side, while the one that had slipped down his face now rested against his collarbone. For the first time in the entire day, he looks truly at rest.]