Day 48: Lunch

[zack_fair]

Even with the nasty weather, Zack still felt refreshed after going outside. Humidity would have reminded him of Gongaga, but he wasn't sure he needed that. Not now, not when he wasn't even sure if he'd be able to get back home and see his parents again. Not that he should have the chance at all, but it was hard to think about nonetheless. Seeing

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[falseblack]

Dr. Landel sounded as debilitated as Nigredo felt. This relatively unknown strain of virus must be making rounds. Thankfully, the variant's symptoms hadn't extended beyond head fog and a painful throat. It was rather undignified to sniffle in public, especially over an intercom.

He was one of a few to first reach the cafeteria, a fact Nigredo appreciated. Choosing a seat had the tendency to develop into a painful process while he always found less constricted personal spaces to be quite pleasant. As soon as the child had his tray, he settled into one corner, spacing out the areas between other people and himself evenly. Rather than eating, however, Nigredo curled into his chair, leaned into the table, and fell asleep.

A nearby nurse stared at him but made no move to interrupt this impromptu nap.

[Rika. I guess we could take one more if necessary.]

[repeatingfate]

Rika's nurse had let her take a short nap in her room once she was out of the shower, a privilege she happily took. She didn't particularly want to be in the same room with her doppleganger more than she had to be. It made her...uncomfortable seemed an understatement, but it was the best word that the girl could think of.

At least she was relatively early getting to lunch after her nap, early enough that she didn't see -- no. There was someone she recognized, and someone she wanted to talk to, after the events of last night. She took her food over, gently set the tray down, and asked, "Nigredo-kun? Are you all right? I was - am - worried..."

[falseblack]

Regardless of length or time, the effects within sleep came pleasantly. A threshold for tension was in short supply, even for one of his patience. Being unconscious proved to be more or less a release while the lack of occasional breaks served to deteriorate functionality and emotional calm. Nigredo required sleep, or he risked becoming a wreck. The past few days had demonstrated this all too perfectly.

Therefore, when he lifted a head to regard the voice, the movement appeared to flow. Like a slow, trickling river. Unfortunately, his voice killed the effect. "Ri--" Nigredo croaked out, before coughing uncontrollably into his sleeve. He had wanted to say how her sentiment over him reflected his, but it seemed the child would have to take a more roundabout approach.

Once his lungs calmed, he resorted to whispers, "I'm fine. Just have a cold. Are you okay? I'm sorry about--" To his dismay, Nigredo heaved another coughing fit. Perhaps keeping it short would do him well.

[repeatingfate]

"Don't worry about me." Her words were gentle, softer, more childlike than they had been the previous night. "I've been through worse and come out the other side." Rika half-smiled, but her expression was more worried than anything else.

"I'm more worried about you. Between last night and you feeling sick..." She reached out and touched his hand, noting how warm it felt. Feverish. I don't want to call a nurse, though.

"And don't apologize. What happened was my fault. I..."

A pause, as she considered her words.

"I'm used to needing to step in."

[falseblack]

The words that arose were mistakenly thought as his own, until Nigredo recalled he would never consider turning someone away. Not without specific reasons, of course. And Rika happened to be a far cry from a reject.

Nigredo knew, however. Albedo would make this interaction difficult if either of them stepped out of bounds. And why? He suddenly couldn't remember the details. {She didn't do anything. I can't just say that.}

A touch on his hand called Nigredo to attention, and the boy had to keep himself from flinching outright. Plethora of reasons existed for this, not one of them known. "I-It wasn't your fault," he muttered. Because the entire thing had been a misunderstanding. Only the source required an apology.

[repeatingfate]

She was quiet for a few moments, picking at her food as if it were the cause of all of those problems. "You're running a fever," she said, before anything else. "If this were home, I'd get some water on for tea, but..."

Rika paused. Was she that used to needing to take responsibility for everyone that she couldn't simply let something go, let someone else be the one taking that on?

She noted his own pause, and that reminded her of her own connection to Hanyuu, one she needed to remember. I'm sorry I neglected you. I'll make it up to you.

"No," she said, going back to the subject. "It was my fault. I intervened when I shouldn't have. There are some connections that shouldn't be stepped on. I did that, and for it, I apologize."

[falseblack]

Nigredo could continue to retort, to question and prod her choice in wording, but speech was proving to be an increasing chore. Though he felt the nerves in his spine twitch at the touch and the hint of a connection, he opted to press forward. The heart of the issue was what was important; the child could save all others for another day.

"Don't apologize." He lowered his gaze. "Last night was a misunderstanding." It was no one's fault, technically.

[repeatingfate]

"It was," she said, her violet eyes meeting green as she agreed to that point. "Still, though. I don't want to be the cause of any misunderstandings, or any fights."

Rika swallowed hard, taking a sip of her cranberry juice (why only juice, this should be -- no. Those days are over.) and swallowing it around the lump in her throat.

"I've seen too many among friends, among relatives, among brothers. I've died as a result and come back only to relive the same thing..."

Her words were spilling out unbidden, and she seemed unable to stop them. A sick child shouldn't become her confessional, and yet, she couldn't stop herself.

"It was a sequence I had finally broken, and then I was brought here. I..."

[falseblack]

Done enough? Perhaps. Not in the sense that dwelt in Albedo's mind, but rather, Nigredo could see how every action from the night before was quickly coming to a head. He might have known what existed behind the harsh remarks, known how others tended to complicate familial relations. There also lurked a foreign element in the fringe, and although he could ignore (had ignored) its presence like a good little brother, he couldn't be stupid

[repeatingfate]

Rika took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes. When I say I've died and been revived, just to go through the same thing over again, I mean it quite literally. It...was all a horrible game involving a woman who wanted to become a god and myself." She paused - to mention the witch supporting the woman, or not? She decided to hold off for now

[falseblack]

Albedo's statements were ultimately acknowledged for their content but ignored in agreement. Nigredo had no time to process, at any rate, for Rika had continued, continued introducing concepts the child had never quite known. Until now, that is.

To come back to a reset world meant a metaphysical power and thus, an improbability. Much like his existence, if Nigredo thought deeply into it. If the U.R.T.V. were capable of multitude of impossibilities, what is to say another could not control time? Ah, no. That was incorrect. The way Rika reiterated her situation sounded like a prison to Nigredo. A complete lack of control.

Again, a lot like his.

Nigredo watched her as her gaze wandered, as his locked onto her person. When he spoke, the boy wasn't sure how much time had passed. "This isn't your world," he muttered, voice hoarse. "You don't have to bear that responsibility anymore. Especially over us." Over weapons. Whose claim lay within themselves and their users. "But I accept your apology."