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.]

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And you did not try to initiate conversation with him?

On the occasions that there was conversation, he didn't attack me. It was very strange. But for the attacks, he simply came at me without warning.

[He just shakes his head, falling silent as he looks upward. He wonders how long this will all continue.]

Besides... we both know I can defend myself when it comes to him. [Barely.]

... In any case, that reminded me of something. The rune you had... during that week. Does Yuber have one similar to it?

Edited 2010-09-11 02:30 (UTC)

[What kind of question was that?] I somehow doubt it. He does not seem to be particularly burdened, does he?

You would have more knowledge than I about it. I didn't mean in the sense of a burden, but that there was something more that provided great power to him.

... I suppose I didn't even ask what properties yours had, either. Some researcher I'm turning out to be, today. [She shakes her head a little.]

If he does in fact have a rune, it would be difficult to tell where its power ends and his own power begins. Demons are not well researched in my world.

... They were on his hands. I can't remember what they looked like exactly, but ... hm.

That isn't very helpful then. There are a great number of runes in my world, with different properties. Some study their entire lives trying to understand them.

I'll have to see if it comes back to me. If anything, it would probably be easier for me to draw them than to describe them.

Very well. But realize that I may not be of any help either way; I am no rune scholar.

... I understand that. [She's thinking mostly - mentally reviewing the conversation. Something that couldn't be talked about. So his answers ...] Still, you would know more than I would.

Hn. [He just shakes his head, faintly disdainful.]

[She's quiet, looking out at the landscape. Such a quiet night. ... And as usual, wasn't he right, about everything?]

... I am sorry, Albert. [And she sounds it, even if it feels like such a useless thing to say. If he thought less of her now, why should that even have been so important? It was foolish - but it was true, for quite a while now.]

I use defined roles to hold people accountable for what they should know and what they should be able to provide, Raine. Beyond those roles, there are doubts, and there are risks that need to be calculated.

When I stepped outside of my defined role, it had consequences. I am fully aware of that. And you--of all the people here in Luceti--must realize that I do not take personal risk lightly.

... yes. I know.

[She feels... uneasy. In the end, he had spoken to her--which had to mean something. But to what end? ... She can only wait--and listen.]

[Nothing else is said. There are many things he could say, varying from lies to truths to other topics entirely. But he would leave it the ideas he had planted alone now.]

[And then there's... nothing. Food for thought, perhaps? But that was typical.

She's not certain of which point she sat down, but after the silence goes on, she makes her way to her feet. She looks toward the skylight, and back towards him.]

Where... do we stand right now?

[There is a brief silence before Albert responds.]

I wasn't aware we "stood" anywhere else.

[She doesn't say anything for a moment either. That doesn't exactly tell her anything.

... She'll just have to consider his previous words carefully, then.] ... I see.

[He doesn't look like he has any intention of going anywhere anymore. Which may be a good or bad thing, depending on how one interprets it. And he doesn't make any effort to continue the conversation.]

[... Raine doesn't want to leave, but she's unsure of whether he minds her staying. What more could be said now? There's silence, as she looks elsewhere.

Roles and doubts. Risks. Was that his admission, in a roundabout way, that he did trust her, after all? ... it did explain her guilt.

... But there was no point dwelling on foolish actions. Learning from them was the point. Perhaps ... it would all get better another day. If she didn't somehow manage to get him to disapprove of her again, and ... why did that mean so much, again? Ridiculous. She steps back toward the ladder.]

... Good night, Albert. Please get some rest soon.

Goodnight, Raine.

[He doesn't answer beyond that, or even look back. There might be faint shake of the head, but it could be dismissed as shadows in the night.

After Raine leaves, Albert sits down on the roof again, his expression as dark and pensive as it could ever be. He had gone that far towards telling her the truth, and yet continued to twist the facts along the way.

He wonders what will happen when she understands what he really is.]

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∞ 87: Rooftops [action]

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