∞ 97: Peace and routine [action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Things have been fairly quiet in the village with the draftees away on their escort mission. House 42 is especially quiet, with its lone remaining resident spending each day feeding his housemates' pets and then taking care of the horses in the nearby stable. It keeps him busy enough.

He gets around to opening Sheena's tea house around noon today -- later than the last two days he has gone in. He never spends a whole afternoon in the shop; perhaps a few hours a day, just in case anyone is curious enough to look inside. Kogoro stays with him in the tea house, usually content with chewing on a milkbone toy he found in the item shop. Albert himself taps away at his laptop at one of the tables with a cup of jasmine tea nearby.

If anyone looks for him on this somewhat cold day, he can be found at the stables in the late morning or the tea shop for the early afternoon. He is also available by journal.]

Comments

[written | filtered]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

[It isn't until sometime in the evening that Caesar finally has a chance to sit down and take a real break. Of course, when he does, he can't resist the opportunity to scribble a little message to his brother. He hasn't done this in ages.]

Keeping yourself busy, big brother?

[filtered]

[chikaidestroyer]

[The book may be sitting open, but there isn't an immediate reply. Looks like Caesar might need to "ring" the journal to get Albert's attention.

...Or maybe not. The camera switches on, and there's the sound of a dog snuffling at the journal curiously.]

[filtered]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

[...well, that's weird. The last time he checked, his brother didn't make snuffling sounds into the journals. He was sure that Albert would still be awake, but he didn't want to leave a voice message in case he was sleeping.

But then again, he can see something. So he must have answered, right? Maybe it was an accident. Either way, he'll speak up this time. Just to be sure.]

Albert?

[filtered]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert must be off checking on the water for tea, as the only response is a happy yip, following by the camera swinging and getting a nice view of paws and unfamiliar floor as Kogoro carries the journal away.]

[filtered]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

[That explains it. That cheerful response, those tiny paws, and that snuffling sound all pointed in the same direction. His dog must have gotten a hold of Albert's journal. He smiles to himself.]

Good dog.

[...hopefully. Assuming that the journal was actually being carried to his brother like he thought.]

[filtered]

[chikaidestroyer]

[The dog carries the journal as far as the kitchen doorway, dropping it there before scampering off to collect his bone. The journal is left alone for almost a full minute before shoes appear on the camera, and the book is picked up to reveal Albert's face.]

Caesar?

[filtered]

[mydearapple.livejournal.com]

[Caesar is patient, watching the little images that appear through the journal. When he hears his brother's voice, he sounds quite pleased. Kogoro knew what to do after all.]

Hey, Albert. Miss me? Of course you have.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick.livejournal.com]

[Bruce Banner is going to be wandering into Sheena's house of tea sometime in late noon. He was never a big fan of tea, but this was one of the few places he had yet to visit in this village so he decided to check it out. Imagine his surprise when he sees Albert. On a laptop.]

Good afternoon-- is that a laptop? [Wtf why do you get one.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert blinks at the strange greeting, turning in his chair to acknowledge the person who had entered.]

Good afternoon. Yes, this is a laptop.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick.livejournal.com]

I've actually been searching for the one I had back home for a while.

Is it okay if I ask where you got it?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Certainly. I had to ask Sir Catherine for it. [Well, it had been more of a side effect of asking about computer books, but it all led to the same result.] He has answered requests in the past, but I believe it has been more difficult for him as of late.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick.livejournal.com]

[Ahhh, he was told he might have to. But it didn't hurt to ask at least.]

And I supposed usually him answering these requests comes at a price right?

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He shakes his head.] As far as I know, no. It simply took him quite awhile to fulfill the request -- nearly a month, for this laptop.

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

[Regal is indeed curious enough to look inside and see just who is looking after the tea house while Sheena is away on the draft. He's not entirely surprised to find Albert there; when he spots the other man, he'll take a seat at a nearby table (not the same one, out of respect for the privacy of whatever he's doing on that laptop) and lean down to give Kogoro a scratch behind the ears.

He won't interrupt Albert-- instead, he'll wait for the other to finish whatever it is he's doing.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert stops with his typing shortly after Regal enters and seats himself, looking over at the other man.]

Is there something I can do for you, Regal?

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

[That prompts a smile from Regal as he sits back up to look at Albert.]

I was mostly interested in seeing just who it was who was taking care of the tea house in Sheena's absence, but since I am here, I'll take a cup of whatever it is that you recommend.

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

A temporary employee is all. Things have been quiet with the size of this draft. [But that was not proper conversation when Regal had asked.] I would recommend a black tea called Darljeeling, if you have heard of it.

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

I have indeed. While I admit to being more fond of Earl Grey myself, the floral notes of Darjeeling go quite well with a number of different sweets and pastries.

[Yes, he may be just a bit of a tea fan. Blame his upbringing for that.]

[Action]

[chikaidestroyer]

I do prefer the blended teas if I intend to drink them alone. [As was often the case, since he didn't like sweets.] Did you come across those teas here in Luceti, or back in your world? [He certainly couldn't claim familiarity with Earl Grey or Darjeeling teas before Luceti.]

[ ring ]

[wise_maiden]

[Sometime later in the evening, there will be a ring on the journal, since the first few days of craziness for Raine during the draft has had some time to subside, and there's relative peace for the moment.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert is in the process of checking on Raine's octopus when he hears the journal ring, so it takes a moment to respond.]

Raine. Good evening.

[wise_maiden]

Good evening.

[He might not see much from her backdrop, with the dim lighting, but she's sitting on an empty cot in a secluded area in the makeshift medical center.]

How are things at home?

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert glances around Raine's room, with the octopus somewhat content and the kitten pawing and playing with the chair legs since someone was around.]

...Quiet. You are no longer at sea?

[wise_maiden]

We arrived at our destination yesterday. [Morning, afternoon--she had been too groggy to be exact on those details.] Now we're mostly back to fighting normally until we're recalled, though some are still using the boats. It's quieter at night, which is a help.

[chikaidestroyer]

I see. [He nods, but does not press for more details.] Anything particularly unusual that you observed?