∞ 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]

[wise_maiden]

Then I suppose I'll have to find a better time to ask you, won't I? [But she doesn't move.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

I asked you a question, Raine. It wasn't an invitation.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

To answer your question, I've had my reasons for holding back.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

None of them logical.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

... And what is it that made you come to that conclusion?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

If this were a matter of restraint, it would be logical. But you are either ignoring all the information and events that have happened, or you are refusing to process them. There is no other reason you wouldn't be asking questions.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

It sounds like you already have an idea of what I've been holding back on.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[...He will give her a look. It may be masked a bit by the darkness.]

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I can barely see you, but I know you're giving me that look.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Don't insult my intelligence, Professor.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I never confirmed that those were the reasons, or that we are in fact, thinking of something similar.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

And you are doing a terrible job digging for information.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

If I asked you something right now, would you be willing to answer?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

I question why you need to wait until I initiate the conversation before you ask.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

... I suppose I was hoping that you'd eventually come to me with it yourself, instead of my having to ask. And in the case that it didn't happen, I wanted to first feel ... confident about what I was asking.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

And what would make you feel confident? Being present when events occur?

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

... It would depend on some factors. However ... it's somewhat irrelevant now, as we're at this point.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Hardly. Since I brought it to this point, I can also end it. And now that you have been made aware that I know of your lack of confidence, I have even more reason to dismiss your questions.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I said that it would depend on some factors. I did not say which factors those were.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Considering you had no intention of bringing up anything before I mentioned it, I would say anything you have to say now is irrelevant.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

And why are you so intent on finding a way around it?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

If you are going to take such methodical steps to gather information before asking me questions, I can only conclude that you are looking for an advantage before you confront me. And I will dismiss anything you ask because of that fact alone.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

I think that if I were going to ask you something like this, I'd better have a way of backing it up.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Is it not your role as a researcher to ask a question and then hypothesize? You should be playing to your strengths.

With how you have spoken to me about honesty in the past, I find your own actions hypocritical.

[Action]

[wise_maiden]

So... what bothers you more is not the questions that I may or may not have a chance to ask, but rather, the fact that my approach isn't consistent with a role you see for me?