∞ 15: Feathered guest

[chikaidestroyer]

There's an owl in my room. How did that happen?

...I can't exactly ask it, since it's sleeping at the moment.

Comments

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Look, Albert, what the hell do you want me to do about it? It's a frustrating situation, yes, but from the look of it there aren't a whole lot of people willing to do more than state their unhappiness about it and offer shelter, either.

...maybe it's already too late for me, then.

[chikaidestroyer]

I don't expect you to do anything. I'm just saying that the wildlife may wish for an apology, considering many of them probably don't consider the forests safe anymore. Similar to us, really.

Perhaps so. But you do seem so much happier here, the Malnosso problem aside.

[ooc: XDD This is Albert we're talking about. The day he starts sharing his feelings is the day he goes through another near-death experience. 8D]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

...I'll pass the sentiment along. Of course, they may be pretty scared of anyone out in the forest at this point. If they've any great measure of self-preservation, they'll have found safe places by now.

I think you may be correct.

[chikaidestroyer]

Oh yes, I have to agree with that particular statement. This owlet that has invaded my room refuses to leave.

A pity. I don't think there's ever been a Silverberg to entertain the thought of preferring a different world over our own.

[ooc: XDD I wouldn't be surprised if these two don't resort to low-blows at some point. That would definitely be a painful point to hit at.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Could be worse, I suppose. You could be like the healer and his house full of birds and squirrels.

I don't think there's ever been a Silverberg before us to have ever had the reason to. And honestly, I don't recall ever mentioning I preferred Luceti to our own home. There is plenty to be missed about the world we were torn from.

[chikaidestroyer]

I'd rather not imagine. It's bad enough the thing leaves bones on my windowsill.

Is there? You've said you spent the last two years searching for yourself. And before that, you preferred aimlessly traveling under the guise of accompanying Apple as she researched for Mathiu's biography. What would you miss? The school you dropped out of, the friends you departed from to find yourself, the family you live contrarily to?

[ooc: Dammit, Albert, stop being an ass. DX]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Is it so difficult for you to imagine missing things even if they don't fit your ideal of what they should be?

I miss Gregminster in winter. I miss the Grassland Festivals. I miss our parents, and even grandfather. I miss the smell of the Great Forest just after the rain, and the way I knew where I was even in the middle of nowhere. I miss Karayan cooking and poorly-told Lizard jokes and the way that creepy little guy in Rockaxe with the cups would run whenever I came to town. I miss Apple and Hugo and Thomas and Salome and every single one of Nadir's ridiculous plays.

I could go on for hours, but I imagine you get the picture.

[chikaidestroyer]

The longer we stay here, the less impressionable those memories will be. You have your friends here who you will soon enough have known as long as those from the Grasslands war. You will try different foods and forget those tastes, those clumsy jokes. Memory and desire are such a fickle thing, even here. Especially here. The Malnosso see to that.

As you said, some already favor this place. It wouldn't take much to change your opinion.

[ooc: I think he's just fucking with Caesar to deal with his frustration. D:]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Who are you trying to convince of that, Albert?

I wouldn't ever forget home, even if I was made to live here for the rest of my days. It's ingrained in my blood, as deeply as the name I wear. It is not so easy to give up the things you love. At least ... it shouldn't be, nor is it for me.

This place is a prison -- an occasionally beautiful prison, but a prison nonetheless, and that is something else I can't forget.

[chikaidestroyer]

...

If you wake up one day and find that this is all you know, would you still want to "go home"?

[completely scrawled out] I'm crashing, Caesar. That event has me thinking the worst again and I underestimated it badly.

[ooc: Indeed. u_u]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

...I wouldn't forget. I won't, the same way you wouldn't, no matter what these bastards do.

[chikaidestroyer]

...I think too much. That's all. I apologize; I'm getting worked up over nothing.

[ooc: He likes to present himself with this big sign that says "Do bad things to me." And then he's terrible when something happens.]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

No need to apologize, Albert; I understand completely.

If you ever need to vent those thoughts, I'm always available. I know you're not really the type, but sometimes everyone needs to do it.

[chikaidestroyer]

To be honest, I think this was my venting right here.

[ooc: More than likely. Poor boys. XD;]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

I hope you feel better, then.

[chikaidestroyer]

...Thank you, Caesar.

[ooc: If there was a way to be less repentant than not at all, I think that'd be me. 8D I enjoy watching these two in difficult situations.]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Anytime, Albert.

[chikaidestroyer]

If you shut up, I don't think there would be any need to seek your company.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Haha, you know me better than that, Albert -- I said I know when to shut up; I didn't mean the act itself (or lack thereof) was easy.

[chikaidestroyer]

And I never entertained the thought of you shutting up being easy. But there would be little point in being around you if you didn't talk; I don't appreciate talking at people who have no intention to reply.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Ah, you only stand me for my mouth! I see how it is.

I'm wounded inside. Really.

[chikaidestroyer]

I'm sure you are. Need I remind you that your neighbors can hear you quite well when you do run that mouth of yours?

[ooc: I love how they don't wallow for very long. They don't sing songs of misery and then weep for days on end. ...Of course, that just means there's fine opportunity for lengthy sorrow in the future. ♥]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Okay, okay, I surrender already. There is officially no response to that which will allow me to retain any shred of dignity whatsoever.

[chikaidestroyer]

I thought as much. It's all right -- I'm almost certain Albel didn't hear anything, and you didn't have an upstairs neighbor until recently. So your dignity is only tarnished in my eyes, and that doesn't say much.

[ooc: Jesus-powers. XDD What's that about?]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Oh awkward.

...what's that supposed to mean?