damned_institute | Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

Klavier was not a man with a reputation for losing his cool. Quite the opposite, actually. He tended to contain any foul emotions behind a strict lock and key, visible only to those who knew him best. However, there was also a list of things that would easily set him off before he could so much as consider holding his tongue. This would be one of them.

His facial expression dropped to an uninhibited shock, and he almost looked like he'd just been slapped. What was... wrong with this kid?! Was he insane?! Anger toward a sibling was possibly expected, so claiming he 'hated' them might have been expected but, this? That expression and the way he had said it, that he would kill them... It dripped with absolute sincerity. The eyes pinned to Klavier gave a look that truly seemed intent on murder. This child with eyes like that...

And at the same time, Albedo had simply let loose with a series of statements that all seemed to contradict each other. How could something like that be the truth? Unless he was implying that he was conflicted in his standpoint by blurting out everything he thought. He hated them and would kill them. They were everything and he'd never hurt them. They didn't need him and he was abandoned. Those were the three 'truths' running through the boy's mind, or so he claimed.

Maybe if he had kept his emotions bottled up, he'd have been able to make sense of that. But at that moment, there was both outrage and dismay flooding his face and system. When Albedo urged him to simply continue the game, Klavier grit his teeth and truly looked like he wanted to discard the game in favor of speaking his mind.

Not even attempting to mask his disapproval, he answered with a snippy, "N." As in 'No, are you out of your blasted mind?!'

The reaction was altogether far too pleasing. Albedo smiled, then, like a child who had won a game. This man who for some reason now knew all three of them had a distaste--a strong distaste--for something he had voiced. The abandonment? No, there was no righteous anger towards his siblings. This anger was towards him. The violence, then. How precocious. Someone not used to threats of physical harm and mayhem? It must be nice. But even normal siblings used that threat in easy terms.

The easy chuckle that escaped Albedo was arrogant and slightly mocking. The man needed more world experience. He wasn't about to escape the fact that violence coated human nature, soaked it in its sweat, and absorbed any goodness remaining. It created monsters. It had created them. Weapons of war. Another chuckle, and Albedo filled in the letters, two Ns and two words. A smile, an invitation. Albedo waited.

_ _ n _ / n _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ e _

And just what did this kid think was so funny? Sadly, such a smarmy reaction wasn't new to him. It was just that Klavier usually saw it with criminals convinced there wasn't enough evidence to pin them down, not with children. In fact, it might have been the fact that this was a child that held the man's tongue in place.

Was this kid really being serious about this? Normally the words 'I'm going to kill them' in this kind of context wouldn't be taken seriously, but the body language Klavier was reading pointed entirely otherwise. Maybe he really did mean it but... he wasn't resolved? Humans weren't born killers. It took an incredible amount of pushing and a certain mental standpoint to decide to take a life, and a fantastic resolve to actually go through with it. Considering how these children were raised, maybe mental instability was understandable, though still surprising for something of this level. He was thoroughly convinced Albedo was in desperate need of some psychological counseling. Even if he wasn't to that point yet, even if he maybe wasn't being really serious, a kid like this could easily grow up to be a killer.

It didn't take long to decide on a question. Klavier could theorize all he wanted, but he wanted assurance. He really didn't want to think that those two boys might really be in danger due to their own kin. That was too upsetting a situation.

He pursed his lips and tried to regain his previous composure. Though he hardly looked happy. "You said you wouldn't harm them. You're only mad at them. You wouldn't actually kill them, would you?"

Edited 2009-08-16 21:15 (UTC)

Klavier seemed as single-minded as Albedo himself was. No problems there. As long as Klavier didn't delve deeper down this route, Albedo could play the game. As long as it remained a game. The smile remained, and Albedo held up a finger. "Now, now. You've got it wrong. What I said was, I wouldn't harm him. There was no 'them' in that sentence. And it would have already been a lie. I tried to kill Nigredo yesterday. To bash his head in with a rock. Instead he stabbed me through the temple. And then the nurses intervened."

Nothing like a dose of reality to shake one up. The boy's expression was pointedly calm and casual. This was everyday occurrences to him, and he wanted Klavier to understand that. He wanted him to understand. And perhaps to shift or crack from it, something fun just like that. If not, there were other games. Albedo tilted his head at Klavier, almost pleasant. "We're made for it," was the smug last line. "Now. What's your next letter?"

Edited 2009-08-17 04:40 (UTC)

"What?!" Forget holding back his comments! If Albedo had been hoping to break Klavier's facade again, he did a spectacular job of it. Again, the man looked like he'd been hit, a cold squeezing feeling in his chest accompanying it this time. He'd actually tried to kill Nigredo?! His own brother... And he'd tried to kill him with a rock?!

"You couldn't have really...! Why would you do something like that?!" He was beyond outraged at this point. Of course some part of him realized he was asking a question out of turn, so Albedo would probably refuse to answer. But he didn't much feel like messing around at this point. Especially since he was very sure Albedo had just broken the no lie rule. "...That can't be the truth. If he stabbed you through the temple, you'd be dead. What really happened?"

If Albedo was just going to screw around and say things for the sake of it, Klavier wasn't going to continue this game.

Albedo only smiled, close-lipped, and shook his head. He waved his hand to the side, knowing full-well he could prove his claim. "No. I don't believe you get another turn for free. Ask if you win. And I'll tell you no lies."

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. Wasn't that how the saying went? For the man across from him, the phrase should shift--Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you nothing to break your pretty little, glass-bubble world. But since you insist.... A sigh, like an adult dealing with an unruly child, then, "Letter. Or you can go without knowing."

He clicked his tongue in a rather unbecoming sign of annoyance. This was ridiculous. Wasn't this subject a little too serious to be restricted to a game like this? Now the boy was being stubborn and refusing to share details unless through this penalty system. So in essence, he was being forced to play along or else remain in the dark. Just great.

There was a multitude of things Albedo had said that were all nagging at him. But if he sat here and thought about it all, he wouldn't get anywhere. And they only had a limited amount of time in which they could stay in this room before being carted off. He needed answers now. "T!"

The thin smile broke into a grin; the boy was entirely too pleased. He took his time drawing the line of the arm, adding the letter to the crossed off list. "No," he almost purred. "No T."

Now then.... Albedo slid a hand up to his face, tapping a finger against his cheek. "Hmm," he mused, considering the options. The added bonus of stretching the man's patience was beautiful, and this was turning into his most favorite game. He'd have to manipulate Klavier into playing again. But, for now, a question. Going back to his previous queries were rejected. It would shift his mood, and slip him out of the position of power by giving himself away. No, Albedo wasn't willing to do that. And getting information on Rubedo by a stranger. No. That wasn't acceptable. So something else. Preferably something that would push Klavier a little more over the edge.

"You seem to see clearly, in black and white. I'm afraid I've never had the luxury. Tell me, Klavier." This was all said properly, an adult undercurrent beneath the amusement. A wolf in sheep's clothing, indeed. "What's the worst you've ever done?"

It was coming to the point where Klavier didn't know if he should be dreading asking the questions or being asked. As soon as the question was out of Albedo's mouth, several different memories flashed through his mind. Which was... surprising, even to him. Did he really consider those bad deeds? That was ridiculous, wasn't it?

No, everything he had done was right. Or rather, it was the correct standpoint objectively speaking. Regardless of what happened or who was involved, he always did the right thing. Even if it meant a friend or family member... But that didn't mean he felt no guilt for his actions. So how to answer? The 'worst' thing he'd actually done or the thing he was most guilty of, even if it had been correct? If it was the latter...

He turned his eyes down in thought, staring at the half complete figure hanging itself on the page, and tried to compose himself a little before answering. When he did, he turned his gaze back up at the boy. "...I've... I've abandoned my brother. In a way." It was said levelly, calmly, but it was extremely painful to voice out loud. "I'm unable to help him, but even if I could, I probably wouldn't. I'm never there when he needs me to be. And when I am, I'm... useless." That last word seemed especially painful to say. "...O."

Any set-up Albedo had dropped, plans and games falling out of his mind. Eyes widened to spheres, fear lacing his expression momentarily. He had said that he himself had been abandoned by his own siblings minutes ago, and here Klavier was, now saying he had done the same?! How could someone...?

He rubbed at his eyes in disbelief, something like a drug lacing his system. His position was the one Klavier had occupied the prior round--It was now Albedo that needed more answers, Albedo that needed the information. The why's. Anger pushed up in a rush, and the boy moved to stand, to attack, but two thoughts pushed through. The nurse, carefully watching, seen out of the corner of his eye. And the notebook, almost forgotten. If you broke the rules, you couldn't win.

Albedo made the adjustment necessary, then placed the pen on top. Both hands clenched into fists at his sides, nails making tiny incisions in his flesh. Eyes burned and seethed with something close to hatred, something too deep to be pain, as he glared at Klavier. The man had one question. Which would he pick from his multitude?

_ o n _ / n o _ _ _ / _ _ _ e _

Edited 2009-08-17 09:37 (UTC)

It was ironic. A minute or so ago, he had been desperate to ask a question. But his anger had somewhat been defused by that question and the mixed feelings it brought. Of course, that didn't mean he would so much as hesitate at pursuing the case at hand. His 'sins' or whatever someone might want to call them were nothing compared to what Albedo had tried to do. It only meant his words held a little less force than they had only a short while ago.

He matched Albedo's look with one of his own, though his looked more stern and less hostile. "Why would you possibly try to kill Nigredo?"

This answer was simple and required no further thought on his part. His eyes remained narrowed as he spoke, voice textbook calm. "There were three clear reasons. He was taking something away from me. He already killed me once. And he could kill Rubedo."

The boy said nothing more, just waited. The game wasn't done.

Why was it every time this boy answered a question, Klavier seemed even more confused than before he asked? It seemed like he was complicating the answers for the sake of muddling the situation. He couldn't say he liked that much. He would simply have to see if he could sort through the boy's answers and prevent that from happening.

Taking something away from him? How could something like that possibly count as a motive for murder? He had to be kidding. What thing was possibly worth a human life; his kin, at that? Nigredo... killed him and could possibly kill Rubedo? Aside from the obvious problem with that statement, Nigredo didn't strike Klavier as a killer at all. In fact, hadn't Nigredo been the one concerned about Albedo killing him? He seemed more a victim than an assailant. So what was this? ...As unstable as the boy came off, he didn't seem delusional. Paranoia, perhaps?

He looked down at the words and frowned slightly at the vague clues. "S."

Nothing changed in Albedo's countenance. He stared at Klavier for a moment longer than necessary, abstractly analyzing the man's visual reactions to process for later. An exhale almost like a sigh, and then Albedo adjusted the game again. He resteadied his gaze on the other, then rolled his hand. Your turn. Let's see how clever you can be.

_ o n _ / n o _ _ s / _ _ _ e _

Klavier had almost filled the board halfway, and yet he still couldn't make out exactly what that was supposed to say. Normally by this point, he should have some clue. But his normal guesses were canceled out by the letters he had already tried. If Kristoph were watching this, he probably would have thought it ridiculous he couldn't even wager a guess this late in the game.

He then stared at Albedo, at that expectant expression of his. The obvious question would have been a clarification about this death issue. But... They had gotten pretty far off topic, hadn't they? It suddenly focused on this attack on Nigredo. He was starting to wonder if he was intentionally being led into asking certain questions. Albedo had been answering things in such a manner that you basically had to ask for clarification. And that led to only more questions. Even if he cleared up every detail of that attack, what would he have figured out? Nothing. Nothing but that one moment of rage or retribution or whatever it was Albedo had felt that drove him to attack.

We're made for it. That's what he had said. Nigredo had said something similar. That's what they had been taught while growing up: That they were only weapons. What did that mean exactly? They were tools? Soldiers? Assassins? Were they taught nothing but how to fight and simply knew nothing else? Neither Rubedo or Nigredo seemed that way, so it as impossible to feel that was true. Why was it Albedo thought and acted so much differently? Hadn't they grown up in the same environment?

"This philosophy of being 'made' for fighting is just ridiculous. I know you're all better than that. Can't you think of some other way to solve this problem that doesn't involve any of you hurting each other?"

"It's no philosophy," Albedo said calmly, almost emotionless in this at least. This was something simple. That Klavier had said, you are all better meant one of his siblings had already touched on this subject, and decided to share what wasn't meant to be shared. Probably Nigredo. Albedo didn't care. Those things were not something that touched him any longer. "We were created as such. It's a genetic manipulation, a engineered certainty. War, and the aspects of it, are in our blood, in the chemicals of our mind. They swirl around us, something simple when all else fails to be so. We are weapons. We are not humans." A pause, and fact faded from his voice, and something too much like actual pain slid under his next words. "And I don't know... if it can be solved."

The moment passed, emotions faded. Albedo looked at Klavier again, something in him too much annoyed. "That question was too opinion based, and other than my clearing up your misconceptions beforehand, gave no actual facts. Ask something different."

But that was what Klavier had wanted. He wanted the boy's opinion, his thoughts on the matter. Maybe forcing Albedo to try and think of alternate solutions might drive him to pursue those options instead. If what the boy was saying was true, it was a bit difficult to tell if Albedo was crazy or just following his 'design.' If they were chemically modified to think in such ways... Was such a thing really possible? It was difficult to imagine what kind of sick person would do anything like that.

...No. Klavier wouldn't believe that was the case. He wouldn't accept that. Maybe Albedo himself truly thought that, but that couldn't be the truth. If that were really the case, Rubedo and Nigredo would just be killing machines. He didn't want to think of any of them like that. Even Albedo himself contradicted that reasoning. If they weren't people, then there was no need to feel things like filial loyalty or betrayal or abandonment. He wouldn't be angry to the point of killing.

"...You might believe that, but I don't." It was said bluntly, leaving no room for argument. It was to make clear that nothing he said on that point would shake his belief that it was false. He considered a moment. He needed so much information, but they had bounced from one subject to another so many times, he wasn't sure where he should be focusing most. "...Fine. No opinion questions then. What do you mean by Nigredo killed you once? Clarify that point."

Between the three choices of Nigredo taking something away and the paranoid idea of Nigredo possibly killing Rubedo, this one point seemed to be the most viable motive. It was also the point that made the least sense.

Edited 2009-08-18 04:50 (UTC)

A rolling of eyes. "Alright," the boy said noncommitally, leaning slightly back into the couch. Klavier continued to be cute, with such devoted faith in keeping his naivety. Despite Albedo's contradictions (the contradictions that would always occur), it still remained true. They were weapons. They were the byproducts of war.

Klavier's question was by far the one with the most possibility of fun. Albedo smiled almost gently at him, eyes wide and innocent. "Well, he tried to, hmm?~ I'm still here. Even after being blown up and reduced to mere particles."

Even after what? Maybe this kid was delusional, after all. Did he realize how ridiculous he sounded? There was no doubt about it at this point: Albedo was purposely giving ridiculous answers to obscure the real truth. Maybe they weren't lies, or maybe they were truths only by his perception, but it wasn't the real truth. Obnoxious.

Klavier frowned at that look but said nothing. It was pointless to voice his opinion. Albedo wouldn't answer any questions unless pressed properly. They just had to barrel forward in this game-turned-interrogation. He glanced at the blank spaces still completely at a loss regarding the phrase before him. "L."

"No," he said before anything, making it clear that the man wasn't going to have such a decisive victory. The second arm was added carefully, line straight and concise. It was a given that Klavier didn't believe him, and Albedo didn't care. The actual question was, would it be amusing to prove it? Decisions, decisions.

"You're so upset," Albedo went on, dripping with false concern. "And you were in such fine spirits, too, when you first sat down." He feigned shock. "Don't tell me I ruined your mood?" He dropped the act easily, smiling like the devil with a new-found soul. "Ever so sorry, I'm sure." The boy laughed, a noise that touched more on a disquieting giggle than anything else. And how fun was this? The man had met all of them, and now Albedo got to play as well. A planning look in his eye, Albedo asked easily, "Of the three of us, which do you prefer and why?"

The question slid off his tongue and Albedo waited for the answer, trailing Klavier's pen along his arm as he nonchalantly scanned the room. Nurse, nurse, orderly, nurse, hello watchful frowning nurse. Albedo smiled his best-behaved innocent grin, and the woman narrowed her eyes. He kept up the expression, and allowed his eyes to move again, keeping her in his peripheral gaze. After a moment, she turned. He spared no moment for a gloating expression, merely lifted his hand to drive down the pen with force into his arm. With an adult's strength behind it, the pen sunk in an inch, then cracked near the tip. Without pause, Albedo picked the pieces out and slid them under the notebook. No need for obvious visual evidence.

He finally looked again towards Klavier, ignoring the blood and ink welling in the wound. As if nothing had happened, the boy just reminded, "Your next letter?" Behind his staring sight, a soft glow had started, pulsing over the hole in his arm. Magic, really. Let me break your world open, please. I'd like to see the terror in your soul.

The funny thing was, gloating actually didn't tick Klavier off too much. At least, in most cases. It was a waste of energy on the other's part and a sign of overconfidence. It was something he'd seen in the courtroom far too often, and it usually meant the person's guard was down. Those were usually the best times to strike back in his experience. And it was for that reason Klavier simply watched Albedo, almost analytically, as he rambled on a bit.

That was why his eyes had almost immediately been drawn to the pen. As soon as he saw the tip slowly edging down the boy's arm, everything he was saying and had said vanished. Everyone and everything in that room went black and all he was focusing on was that pen scraping down Albedo's bare arm. Without him even having done anything yet, the threat was apparent.

Klavier sat up straight at full attention, a dark look crossing his face. He wasn't... he wasn't going to cut himself was he?! Just the thought sent a cold feeling running up Klavier's back. He held up both of his hands carefully, as though preparing to jump forward and grab him. His eyes were looking nervously between Albedo's face and the pen in his hand. "Wh-?"

Too late. Before anything could be said or done, the child lifted up the pen and STABBED it into his own arm at full force. Immediate panic shot through Klavier's chest, like he was the one who'd been stabbed, and he yelled in both horror and outrage.

Moving on pure instinct, Klavier immediately grabbed Albedo's wrist with one hand, yanking him closer, and clamped his other hand down on the injured spot in an attempt to prevent blood from gushing out everywhere. Considering this action, one might think the man would look concerned for the boy's safety. But he didn't.

In fact, he wasn't even looking at the wound he was squeezing. He'd practically shoved his face in Albedo's with a grit-tooth expression that could only be absolute fury, something no human being in LA had ever seen on the man's face before. And yet his eyes were utterly panicked.

"What are you doing?!!"

Physical confrontations were fairly frequent in an institute, but it was a rather rarer occurrence when the nurse encountered an older patient picking on someone so obviously younger. Really now.

She hurried over as soon as she heard the yelling, stepping between the pair and deftly separating them with the practiced ease of someone who'd done this for years.

"Excuse me!" She rounded on the older patient. "I trusted you had better problem-solving skills, Mr. Gilmour. Exactly what is the trouble here?"

He had barely begun to feel a dizzy feeling overtaking him, making his eyes lose focus. He must have... did something earlier. Maybe. Albedo couldn't think for a moment, and went to put his hand to his head.

The scream was satisfying, a kind of peaceful end to a strange situation, but the hands on him were not. They grasped firmly and tightly, squeezing the skin across flesh, making the small bones of his wrist grate together annoyingly. Albedo's eyes narrowed, but that was all that was allowed, before the man screamed into his face. Had he gone mad? Albedo lunged his body forward, teeth opening in a snarl to clash shut on the thin skin of the man's face, but instead closed on air. He hadn't even seen the nurse arrive.

Anger sizzling under the surface, Albedo froze, not wanting to be sedated for the third time in less than twenty-four hours. The nurse wasn't his watchful dog, so perhaps a different path would work, and allow him some retribution as well. The remains of the pen was brushed inbetween the cushions while the nurse dealt with Klavier. With an effort, his eyes rounded, anger fading as it was replaced by a practiced fear. Instead of his wrists, Albedo grabbed the arm with the bandage on it cradling it to his chest. He let out a plaintive whimper, watching Klavier with wet eyes. It seemed obvious to a random passerbyer that the elder had been abusing and bullying the younger, and who would believe really that it had been the other way around? No hard evidence to prove the fact, a game lying unfinished between them, and should Klavier explain the situation? Unblemished skin would greet his claims.

Klavier barely registered the snarl and a flash of bared teeth before the nurse stepped in. In some way, perhaps Klavier should have been thankful for the interruption seeing as he narrowly escaped getting a chunk of flesh bitten off. He wasn't really sure if the kid was actually going to do it or not, but it certainly looked like he was for a second there.

He'd swallowed back his emotions as soon as the woman stood between them and faced him. Even if she wasn't aware of the situation, even if this whole institution was nothing but a farce, her words stung him. Because she was right. He knew better than to act in such a shameful way... But his heart was still in his throat from what had just happened, and he was far from being capable of putting up a pleasant pretense.

"What's the trouble?!" he repeated, suddenly sounding far more like a child than an adult at the moment. He pointed an accusatory finger at the kid trying to hide the injury by cradling it near his chest. "He just punctured his arm open! Get him out of here! Now!"

His attention was pulled from the woman down to Albedo... who was apparently trying to puppy-eye his way out of this situation. What was he doing?! He wasn't going to sneak away and try to hide a wound like that was he?!

The nurse frowned, hands still on her hips, but at least neither of the patients were continuing to go at each other now that she'd stepped in, unlike some of the others.

She turned to the young boy at the accusation. He certainly looked frightened, poor thing, but she couldn't see any blood if he had indeed punctured his arm.

"Is that true?" she asked him carefully. "Did you hurt yourself?"

Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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