chikaidestroyer | ∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

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∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

[He didn't send out an announcement of any kind when they returned home. Others had already announced their dead and offered any words of encouragement or frustration.

Instead, Albert spent the days following the draft ... working on his flower beds. March had brought with it a warm spell, meaning that his seeds would be germinating and eventually sprouting. This is also the time for pulling down the dried vines from his trellises.

It's a lot of work (and a lot of garden), so he'll be out and around the house until late in the day. It's as dusk approaches that he can be found sitting on the porch, watching three tiny owls perched on the porch fencing.]

...Welcome back.

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[Rune will just sit on Caesar's hand, almost grumpily ruffling his feathers before tucking his head under his wing. Meanwhile, Albert manages to get the stable door open, heading into Kogoro's glorified doghouse to put the tools away.

He has a feeling Kogoro is following, but what's he going to do? He's nothing to worry about.]

[Caesar is completely okay with this. He rests his hand on the railing and watches the tiny owl while he waits. ...it's kind of fun.

Kogoro follows Albert right inside the stable. Surprisingly, his intentions are innocent. He walks over to a little area where there are blankets and food set out for him and lays down. He's actually tired.]

[...Okay, Albert is a bit surprised by how calmly Kogoro heads over and lies down, and he even goes over to pat the dog on the head once he's finished putting the tools away.

He heads out of the stable, carefully shutting the door behind him but leaving the top door slightly open so air and light can come in once the sunrises.]

Are you still entertaining the birds, Caesar?

What do you mean, 'still'? [Except that is exactly what he's doing. If they were inside and sitting down, he'd totally let Rune sleep in his lap again.] What are you going to do now?

[Albert folds his arms over his chest, approaching the porch to see what Caesar might be doing.] I had nothing else pressing in mind.

Good. I have something for you.

[...but there is still a bird sitting on his hand, and he's not really sure how to go about getting it off his hand. He looks down at the bird and kind of... well, just stares at it.]

[Since Rune has his head tucked under his wing, he's totally oblivious to Caesar's stare (or at least acting like it). Albert steps back up onto the porch, raising a brow at the sight.]

I do hope you are not talking about the owl.

Uh... No, I'm not. [Hmm. He knows he could just shake him off or something, but that felt... mean.] A little help?

[Albert raises a brow at Caesar's ... well, kindness towards the little bird, then reaches over and nudges Rune's feet with a finger. The owl yawns and climbs up onto Albert's finger, beginning to ruffle his feathers and wake up. ...Albert will handle this with as much dignity as he can.]

You were saying?

Like I said. I have something for you. [Of course, he's not just going to say what it is. He looks around for a moment, thoughtfully. It was getting late, but...] I guess I could bring it out here, if you want.

[Normally, he'd just bother Albert to go inside, but the owls were here, and he didn't want to pull his brother away from them.]

If that's what you want to do, Caesar. [Albert's going to be noncommittal, since he's standing there holding a tiny owl aloft.] Just make up your mind quickly.

I already have! [He shakes his head, and gestures toward the table.] Sit down. I'll be right back.

[Before he can say anything else, Caesar starts heading into the house.]

[Albert sighs to himself as Caesar leaves, heading over to the chairs on the porch and sitting down again. Rune flutters up onto his head, perching there proudly as Albert slumps slightly in his chair.

He'll deal with the bird whenever Caesar came back.]

[Caesar goes right to his room once he's inside the house, grabbing a bag of things he picked up a little earlier in the day with Kogoro. As he's heading back outside, he can already imagine how unimpressed his brother will be. ...that should be fun.

Once he's back outside, he's ready to set the bag and start digging through it.

...until he notices something sitting in Albert's hair.]

[While Albert is not really tired, he's relaxed (and possibly bored) enough to shut his eyes and lounge in the chair while he waits. So his chin is propped up in one hand, and Rune nests in the man's hair like it's a home away from home. ...Fortunately, the two other birds are not following their father's lead.]

[Caesar slowly sets the bag down in a chair for now, keeping an eye on his brother and Rune while he reaches into the bag for something. He's sure Albert's aware of what's currently nesting in his hair, but he remembers the last time when Rune did that, and it was a beautiful sight. He doesn't want to miss anything.]

Don't let your guard down, Albert. The others will notice!

[Albert sighs deeply, swatting at his head with his free hand. Rune twitters noisily from his perch, flapping his wings and digging his talons into the man's hair.

...And then that's not so much a sigh as a hiss of pain.]

[...

He stops. That didn't sound very nice.]

That guy's a real jerk, huh...?

[He doesn't really hear Caesar's comment, as he's too busy swatting at the owl in his hair. The twittering increases in volume until Rune finally flies off, escaping to the far corner of the porch.

Albert grumbles and holds his head, looking testily at Caesar.]

...You had something to show me?

Um... Yeah. [Rune, if you have ruined his chances of... not-failure-but-not-quite-success with this, you will no longer be his favorite. He pulls out a small box, the kind for desserts, and places it on the table.] Humor me a little, okay?

[By which he actually means that you have no choice in anything that's about to happen.]

Humor you.

[Albert frowns at the box as Caesar sets it on the table, still holding his head. He doesn't make any move towards the box, as if expecting Caesar to do something more.]

[Caesar sets a few other things out first—a couple of forks, a bottle of soda for himself—before moving the bag from the seat and placing it on the floor. He then pays attention to the box, opening it to reveal a piece of strawberry cheesecake.]

Do you want anything to drink? I'll go get it.

[He's surprisingly casual about all of this, or so he seems. He's actually kind of nervous ~~that he'll be stuck eating that cake by himself~~.]

[Albert continues frowning as Caesar pulls out the other items, slowly piecing together what Caesar is doing -- and his frown slips from aggravated to mildly confused. But he manages to respond to the question.]

Water. ...I don't believe wine went well with this last time.

[His eyes focus on the cheesecake. This was Caesar's tradition, wasn't it?]

Heh. I guess not. But okay. [He nods and turns to go back inside, but then he stops, and adds—] I can tell that you're eager, but don't do anything until I get back, all right?

[Ohoho, he was so funny sometimes. With that, he disappears into the house again.]

[He doesn't really react as Caesar slips away, save for a slight shake of the head. He finally lowers his hand, looking at the cheesecake. Was the cheesecake last year also strawberry?

He settled back, arranging the forks and Caesar's soda -- after giving the drink a look over. What was his brother's fascination with this stuff?]

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