chikaidestroyer | ∞ 87: Rooftops [action]

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∞ 87: Rooftops [action]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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?

You would have arrived at a conclusive action far sooner if you had in fact played to your strengths. Instead, you decided to gather "evidence" without even considering what I can or cannot say.

... It's easy for you to say that now. We can't say for certain how things might have gone otherwise. What matters is... where they go from here.

And why should I answer anything you say now?

... I didn't say anything about that. I said what matters is how things go from here. If I offended you with my actions, then I apologize. I was too occupied with... knowing that we'd get into some discussion about it and just the feeling that it would get brushed off if I didn't wait for a time to ... approach it appropriately. I wanted to be objective and ... certain ... that it wouldn't affect things. Even if you didn't trust me enough to come to me yourself. ... I suppose I'm no better, really.

Have you even considered the thought that it is not my information to divulge? Or that I may not have the answers you seek? And yet you continue on with some notion that there is in fact an appropriate time for such things.

Shall I admit something? Yes, I know it was idiotic of me to go out when there were monsters around.

Completely alone, unable to defend yourself? It just doesn't make sense to me.

You are perhaps not aware of it, but other residents had managed to bring some of the monsters under their control -- despite not being "summoners" in their own worlds. I had to try something.

If other residents were able to calm the monsters, for you to put yourself out there, facing such a risk, seems ...

What were you... trying to do?

[He frowns wryly. His answer is simple, and yet cryptic.] The demon, Yuber.

Did any of it... succeed?

[His voice has a noticeably caustic undertone.] You saw the outcome, did you not? I was left bedridden.

... There's more to it than that.

Unfortunately when I saw you it was days later. Caesar had some ridiculous story about how he had charmed a monster to help him. If you going out into danger seemed strange enough - Caesar involving himself in that way seems even more off. He wasn't with you at the time, was he? ... When you went to confront Yuber.

He was not. The monster with him was one I had managed to "charm." He didn't see what had happened, though I can only imagine he put the pieces together himself.

But you can imagine how it would come across if it was known that the demon attacked me.

You didn't tell him of your plan then, I take it.

You are hardly the first whom that demon has attacked. Not many would think much of it. ... Save those who may have thought you could do something about him, just by seeming to know so much.

Of course I didn't tell him. He would consider it foolish. The village at large would consider it foolish. Do you understand what I am saying?

You don't want to look foolish in front of the town. I understand that.

But you did it anyway. Because you felt you had to. Because you felt - responsible for him.

I already told you we are past associates. No one else from my world has even a passing relationship by comparison.

... You've turned into him. He's been dropped off in our house.

Correct. [His voice is a bit sharper at the reminder of having turned into the demon.] Even the Organization is aware, since they decided to-- deposit him in our house.

... It's the Organization. Of course they would be aware of something like that.

How likely is it, that Yuber will come after you again?

Since he has not tried anything else yet... I do wonder. But I do not doubt that I provoked him by trying to control him.

I've not heard much of him being about lately. But that could mean anything. He knows where you live. If something were to happen...

We don't know of any instances where he has deliberately hunted down someone in the village.

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