chikaidestroyer | ∞ 86: Awakening to the stars [action]

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∞ 86: Awakening to the stars [action]

[He had awoken before the sun had set, in time to see Yuber attempting to write out his boredom over the journals. Just dealing with that conversation had been exhausting, and he had rested again before finally getting out of his room. And out of the house. How long had he been out and bedridden? Long enough to miss the monsters disappearing and the village being repaired, apparently.

His flowers had been pretty ravaged by the earthquake. He nudges at the broken flowers with his shoe, then ignores them in favor of the slowly blooming moonflowers on the trellises. Something familiar and yet new, after the chaotic happenings. An earthquake, John's recovery, monsters, a stab in the chest... Too much for one month.

He flexes his right gloved hand restlessly, a slight wind picking up as he looks skyward. The clouds would move in soon, and tomorrow would be overcast.

They would block out those damn stars.]

(ooc: I'm baaaaack~ ♥ Albert's AU can be found here.)

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[Caesar raises an eyebrow.]

I don't know. You shouldn't even have it. But if I didn't know you had it, I don't think that jerk does, either.

I have had it the entire three years I've been here. [He says this emphatically, brows knitting together at Caesar's implication.]

What does it matter if he doesn't know?

[For a moment, Caesar doesn't answer. He can't figure out why his brother refuses to believe he's a part of this mess, too.]

You don't get it, do you? You haven't had it for those three years. You had this. [He takes his hand out of his pocket just enough to show what he's talking about.] This is why I replaced your gloves. And this is also why it matters that he doesn't know. He may not be able to kill you, but what if something happens again, like last week? I don't want to have to drag your bloody body back to the clinic.

Your memory has already been compromised, Caesar. I had both of them because of the way the war ended. Whatever role you think you played in the war was in fact mine.

[But part of him doubts. And hopes. Because he doesn't want the rune that inhabits his hand, or the life that he believes awaits him back home.]

[Caesar lets out a sigh. All this time, and he still didn't believe him? He didn't care that Albert didn't believe his story, but he did care that he was so convinced of his own.]

Look, it doesn't really matter, but I won't let anything else happen to you. And as long as you don't see any reason to show off that stupid thing, we should be okay.

I have no reason or desire to broadcast something like this. Just as you should have no reason to show that to anyone. [He wonders if this Caesar would even care to hide the mark if he wasn't around.]

You think I would? [Well, no, Albert's right - he normally wouldn't make any visible effort to hide it if not for him. Though, the fact that no one knew about it said a lot about his memories, too.] Why are you so sensitive about that thing, anyway? If you did have that thing last week, I don't think I'd have cared enough to hide it.

It is a dangerous variable, pure and simple. I need their trust to continue making progress.

[...] Even as you are now, you don't think of how we can understand what is going on and return to our world.

Not the True Wind Rune that you swear you've had this whole time.

[Caesar tilts his head.] What does that have to do with anything?

I was referring to the mark. [A stern look.]

You're so unmotivated to do anything. Even with your situation changed, according to your memories.

And I was talking about the rune. I get the other part.

You just woke up. Literally hours ago. I'm more concerned about you than any of that.

My current state doesn't matter much; I will recover. Maintaining appearances is important.

Of course, of course. If you insist. [He shrugs slightly.] But you were still hurt, and if there's anything I can do to help you, that's what I'd like to do.

You have done more than enough. [And he's oddly sincere about that.] Your current state isn't something that you can help me with, though.

I... have? [Caesar is surprised to hear this. This conversation wasn't even close to what he had imagined it'd be. But even the slightest bit of sincerity means a lot to him, so he won't complain.] Our current state, you mean.

Your current state. Whether I am affected or not is of little consequence; I can handle my mental state. I don't want any other assistance you think you can offer. [It's the closest to an admission of doubt that he's given.]

And I can't handle mine? [Because there's totally nothing crazy about what he thinks he did.] You're not sure about any of this, either, are you?

I am sure that my brother does not act like you. [And that's one of the bigger mental blows he can use against Caesar.]

[And it works. Hearing that from his brother - his precious brother - really hurts. He isn't even sure what to say for a moment. And then he laughs quietly. Nervously.]

Don't be ridiculous.

Am I being ridiculous? Your plans are incredibly flawed. They won't bring you any closer to your brother. He will depart in disgust.

Do you think I don't know that? [He's incredibly insulted. Their stories didn't match up, and that was fine. But being talked to as if he wasn't his brother at all? Like he was a completely different person... It hurts.] He- you may depart in disgust, but you won't forget. That's the point.

The point? You should care enough about me to not leave such a negative impression. [Perhaps he should feel guilty that he didn't give Caesar the same treatment.]

[Deep down, there is a Caesar going, "Who the hell are you to make that point?"]

And let you forget all about your dear little brother? A negative impression is better than being forgotten. [He remembered being as desperate as he sounds.]

[He raises a brow, scoffing.]

...You sincerely believe that I could forget my little brother.

It's a thought that occurs to you when your older brother disappears for who knows why. [If Caesar could hit himself for saying these things, he would. Really hard.]