Night 57: Infirmary

[antiheroed]

[ from here]For as direct as they were being, Riku understood how much of this section of Landel's remained unexplored. They were so focused on acquiring the drug that it hadn't occurred to them to stop-or, if it had, it was a thought stopped by his frustration with his partner for the night. To think he pushed off some old man because he thought he

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[purpletaint]

Oh, this was dreadfully hilarious, in the end. It could all be well and true but this was Sora's antithesis in form, and they were closest friends, or worse enemies, but Albedo saw similarities in relations, and such an abject denial was too charming to pass up, whether it held true or not. He trailed behind Riku as if there wasn't anything better to do, smiling widely. "My, my. So against meeting with your nearest and dearest. Lovers' spat?" He peered cheerfully at the other. "One usually only throws themselves into work when there's a quarrel, after all."

As if Albedo actually cared. If he knew one of them a bit more, he'd take it a bit more to heart, but as things went, he was only passing the time. Riku was showing himself to be amusing, and what more could Albedo ask? There was little else to do in the dead of night, other than make yourself irritatingly charming and try concocted poisons. How quaint. And where was Nigredo right about now, Albedo wondered

[antiheroed]

In another time, the assumption Albedo made would have gotten to him. Part of the reason why he and Sora functioned so differently was because they approached life in such contrasted ways; Sora followed his heart and didn't live in the past or future: he just lived in the moment, while Riku did exactly the opposite. He obsessed over information and added it up in his head until it made absolute sense. That wasn't to say he was without his impulses, but even his impulses made sense in the long run. They lined up. Tonight's excursion, for example, was one such impulse.

But this wasn't another time, and so Riku was left only smirking in respond to the boy's quip. There was a strong chance Sora wouldn't be pleased with him come morning, but he would find a way to make him understand. Riku did have the underlying guilt seeping in over not trying hard enough to find him, especially if he had been right there, but getting stuff done overcame that. They didn't need to always work together. And again, it was better knowing Sora was where he

[purpletaint]

Yes, it was far more amusing to return to viewing it as a game, and he only smiled to Riku's retort, batting his eyes. "Perhaps so," he said in sing-song. "I'm sure you know much better than I do, after all. I'm glad your friend approves so much of you risking yourself." Quite opposite from how Sora presented himself, actually, but Albedo wouldn't stay here. He wasn't that much of a hypocrite if it was opposite, and Albedo had a feeling if Nigredo did know, his darling little brother would not be pleased.

That was a guarantee, actually, especially after how Nigredo had reacted this morning. And learning of Albedo's dealings might allow a loophole in their agreement, and Albedo wouldn't have Nigredo go back on his word. It was far more important that his sibling not act as he had before, and prioritize his life over anything else

[antiheroed]

This guy had a way of turning it back onto him, didn't he? Riku wondered how much of an impression he had of Sora, and how much he might end up twisting if he saw it to his benefit. At the moment, it was a rivalry, and they were brushing hardly against one another, but he wondered if it would continue. Would it become worse? Would the very instrument of his continuing forward that night cause it? Riku knew about the various special treatments. Would this cause something like that? Was he prepared

[purpletaint]

Despite the lax attitude in which Albedo stood, the boy's eyes were intent as he watched the other tip the vial and swallow, throat working as the liquid settled into his form. A moment passed, then two, and then... The other spoke and Albedo stared incredulously. Nothing?

The expression dropped to sheer childish disappointment. "If this is just a waste of time...." The boy sighed, dropping his stance to shove a hand through his hair. "I don't know why I expected otherwise, really. Nothing really fun ever happens here."

Near-pouting more than anything else, Albedo moved to the stand set up and plucked up a different colored liquid. He frowned at it, then tipped it back, swallowing it down.

[antiheroed]

"Maybe mine was a placebo," Riku offered as he watched Albedo take his dosage of it. He considered taking another if that was the case, but it seemed moot; if anything, Riku figured that there was a good chance that something might turn up later. His knowledge of experiments was largely related to working for and alongside Ansem the Wise for as long as he did, but he picked up a few things. Science itself was cold, and results didn't always come out right away. Or, if they did, it meant that the work prior to those results was lengthy

[purpletaint]

The liquid settled in his stomach without the feel of acid or abatement. He closed his eyes idly, focusing on the feel inside of him. Nothing.... But not quite. Something hard in the depths of his being for one moment, and then it was like nothing at all. He opened his eyes in thought. Something, then, perhaps. Or something only for that brief moment. He eyed the tray carefully, then without a pause for hesitation, lifted two more and took them, one after the other, with a pause for reaction inbetween. With both, there wasn't even the off feeling of before. As if drinking water, or really, nothing at all

[antiheroed]

For them to just take two like it was nothing led him to believe that there was more to this than he believed. Would this drug change them over time, or were they just unable to recognize what it managed to accomplish just yet? Riku considered both possibilities and weighed them in his mind before introducing a third: this was meant to be nothing more than a show of loyalty. Those who obtained the drug would be awarded for going along with it. They had the means to find out that they managed this trek, after all

[purpletaint]

The boy continued frowning at the chemicals for a moment, before deciding to shrug it off. Nigredo wouldn't have been pleased, if something would have happened that Albedo couldn't negate. If there was something else to be gained, he'd act on that instead. Which seemed to be the consensus Riku had arrived at, as well. Albedo looked up, bland amusement on his features. "How quaint. We want the same thing."

He stepped forward, rolling his shoulders in an idle stretch. "No one's been here before," he agreed, glancing backwards. "So it'd be interesting to see what's been left lying around."

[to here]