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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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?]

[Since Caesar only has to go to the kitchen this time, he isn't gone for very long. He fills up a glass with water (and some ice, since it's so warm outside), and makes his way back outside. He makes sure he shuts the door behind him before walking back over to the table, setting the glass down in front of his brother.]

There. Anything else?

[Albert sits there, musing over whether to make Caesar go find himself another soda. He seemed especially giving tonight, so he probably could get away with it if he really wanted to.

But he'll be nice.]

An explanation, if you will.

[That is... a little discouraging. He can't tell if his brother doesn't remember or if he's just dense. ...it could go either way. Still, Caesar doesn't sit down just yet. He puts his hands in his pockets and tries to think of some kind of explanation.]

For your birthday. I know it's a little late, but... [You had celebrated his birthday with him last year even though you weren't at your best, and it meant a lot to him.] I thought we should do something anyway.

[He wasn't surprised by the explanation about this fanfare being for his birthday. He should probably clarify.]

Isn't this your little tradition for your birthdays, Caesar?

Of course it is. So what? [He tilts his head. He thought this was pretty self-explanatory as well.] Can I not share this silly tradition with my brother, too? It's boring if I keep it all to myself.

[Albert's expression is unreadable as Caesar explains, and he sits there looking at the cheesecake quietly.]

Is the point of these traditions to make you dislike your birthday? [He reaches for his water, taking a quick drink.]

Why would I dislike it? [He frowns a bit, but he understands why he'd ask. Stupid cheesecake.] All right, so the cake doesn't even taste that great. But that's not the point. The real point is that we're doing something special to celebrate. It can be our tradition now, don't you think?

[Maybe it was kind of silly, and definitely a little embarrassing, but that was what he wanted—to have a kind of tradition to share with his brother.]

I suppose it can be. [He's somewhat agreeable with this logic, finally picking up one of the forks. His voice is wry as he continues.] Happy early birthday, Caesar.

Shut up. [That's so not funny. He takes a hand out of his pocket and sticks a small candle in the center of the cheesecake. He reaches back into the same pocket and pulls out a match.] I'm not the one blowing out the candle.

[Albert raises a brow at the little display, somewhat ... speechless that Caesar had taken something he had done on a whim (while not in exactly the right set of mind, for that matter) and replicated it.]

...Really.

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