∞ 87: Rooftops [action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Around mid-morning, Albert can be seen picking up small things in the plaza -- nails, pens, groceries. He doesn't often do this, but it's been a week since he gave Caesar the task of repairing the stable, so he finds himself inspecting and repairing the amateurish work. That requires a few extra building supplies. Might as well take advantage of how calm everything is with the New Feathers coming in, right?

Albert spends the afternoon pulling out half-bent nails and readjusting crooked wooden slats. He can't say that he's disappointed, since Caesar actually tried to rebuild the stable's roof, but he can have the opinion that did a really shabby job. Silverbergs were apparently not very good roof-builders.

In the evening, after dinner, he'll be found up on house 42's roof, having climbed up through the skylight. It's something he's never really taken advantage of, and yet there's something familiar about it. He remains out there for a good while, almost meditating.]

Comments

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Someone's hugging him at random. What is--

...Oh. It's Razette.

... ...]

Hello. It's been awhile.

[Not hugging back. Nope. How does Castor not look awkward with a tiny mermaid hugging him?]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She hums cheerfully, smiling brightly at him. Hi there, Albert! How are you this good day?]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[The familiarity immediately strikes him as evidence that Razette remembers Luceti. He continues looking down at her, taking a moment to discern what her expression is saying to him.]

I'm doing well. And you look to be in good spirits, too. [He wonders if she is happy to be back in Luceti.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She nods happily, then pauses, looking at Albert thoughtfully for a moment.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[When he doesn't hear a vocal response from the mermaid girl, Albert raises a brow. It didn't seem like something was wrong, but...]

Do you have something on your mind?

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She nods, then quickly changes her face to Albert's and smiles. You need to smile more~]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[... ...Okay, that was something he wasn't expecting. And he can't say that the sight of his own face smiling at him isn't at least somewhat disturbing.

He manages not to make sounds to fill the stunned silence. He just kinda stares.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[Not to mention that smiling face is attached to a short, tiny mermaid body in a frilly dress. Still smiling~]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He finds his voice after a stunned moment or two or five.]

You want me to smile, I take it.

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She nods cheerfully at that. Yes please!]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

I'm afraid I can't do that. [Smiling for absolutely no reason was an alien idea to him.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She tilts her head, this time curious, and still sporting his face. Why not?]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[...He almost wants to request that she stop using his face, but it's becoming just as bizarrely fascinating as it is disturbing.] You need a reason to smile, don't you, Razette?

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She thinks about it for a moment then shakes her head. She smiles because she wants to, and she never really needed a reason to do it.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[How to say this... Hmm...] You smile when you are happy. And cry when you are sad.

[This would probably be easier if he wasn't staring at his copied face.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She pauses, then points to him, then copies his exact expression. So that means you're not happy?]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He can tell she's confused. Maybe trying to explain wasn't helpful.]

I'm not a very happy person. Not everyone is.

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[She looks at him a little oddly at that, reminded for a moment of Xing Lu, before she reaches her hand up this time. Unfortunately she's rather short, so she can't even reach his shoulder at this point.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert tilts his head back as he sees Razette reaching up, and he arches a brow at her. After a brief pause, he relaxes again, tilting his head slightly forward.]

Yes?

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[Still. can't. reaaaaaach.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[...What is she doing? This is happening in the plaza, too.

Sighing, Albert bends down. Just a little.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[Yay! Good enough. She tiptoes this time, ruffling Albert's hair, trying to tell him it's fine if he doesn't smile.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[My-- my hair.

Albert blinks at the hair ruffle, his expression somewhere between guarded, confused, and amused. There was something endearing about Razette's simplicity. Especially when she wasn't shucking off Caesar's shirt like it was going out of style.]

[Action]

[mermaidofnoel.livejournal.com]

[That wasn't so bad, was it? She pulls away, smiling brightly, before finally returning to her own face.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[And Albert runs a hand through his hair, "fixing" it. He relaxes as Razette changes her face back to normal, sighing a little.]

It's nice to see you again.

[Gasp. He makes an effort to smile. Just a little. ...It doesn't look too forced.]