PC - Alhaitham

[maladied]

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Week 1, sunday

[conchy]

[Lobelia is held up in his study more often than not. Frequently, he'll vacate when others enter to scan through the books and various baubles in this room— give them a Lobelia-free experience for the sake of their nerves.

He knows people fear him. He hardly takes offense. Alhaitham, however, is different.

When he enters the study with his eyes making a beeline right for the shelves, Lobelia chuckles. To someone like Alhaitham, slaking his curiosity is more important than whatever would-be threat is lingering nearby.

Perches on the edge of his desk, Lobelia regards him with a wave.]

Salut, Monsieur Alhaitham. Curiosity never rests, mm? Feel free to browse or borrow at your leisure.

[justscribing]

[Loeblia is something of a wildcard among the puppets. The only one to show his face, the one with an ostensibly different goal from the rest that aligns more with Alhaitham's, which also makes him the most interesting one in terms of identifying the differences between their groups and why they're so different within this space.

And yet it's still a bit of a surprise to actually run into him in the place he presumably haunts. The moment passes quickly, and Alhaitham offers Lobelia a nod before looking at the shelves.]

I was just looking for something relaxing. [Because this is his idea of relaxing: reading physics instead of trying to pick apart and escape the domain. He slips one of the books off the shelf that he remembers having been knocked down before and checks it over.] How lucky that the damaged caused the other night doesn't linger. This place was a mess.

[conchy]

[Lobelia's definition of a relaxing read varies somewhat from Alhaitham's. Many of his books focus on sound, naturally, but also extend into topics like biology, criminality, and philosophy. He'll find books on acoustics that fit the bill, but not much more in the realm of physics.

Lobelia smiles, remembering the wreckage. He doesn't look particularly fussed.]

Oui. There are strange forces at work in this place, but nothing is without explanation. What remains is to gather enough evidence to make a guess at the cause, hm? Or more specifically... the source.

Alas, it seems we've made little headway.

Week 2, Saturday

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham pretty much storms out of the trial as it ends without a consensus. A formal vote probably would have been equally messy but he's mostly upset at wasting so much time.

By the time it's over being able to retreat into books and company that doesn't make him want to scream is a respite. But he's still a bit sullen where he's taken over the desk chair, having grabbed one of Lobelia's books at random and completely failing to actually read it.

Essentially what greets Lobelia is hissy, ruffled cat.]

[conchy]

[Ah, but Lobelia expected Alhaitham might be furious after a trial. Why wouldn't he be? Justice was not served tonight, nor were the pressing questions answered. Lobelia had watched the storm clouds forming over his head as he left the trial... so naturally, he wandered to the one place Alhaitham would retreat to: his study.

As a courtesy, Lobelia raps his knuckles against the door before stepping inside.]

Oh dear... You look quite upset. I understand why, of course. Want to talk about it?

[justscribing]

[Lobelia asked, so he came. And conveniently the study is slightly less preferable than the sitting room or library.]

What's there to talk about? We wasted time talking in circles, couldn't even come to half an agreement, and now someone who deliberately killed Amaya is going to walk around while other people's negligence undermines our progress.

[But he's fine. Fine!!]

Handwave Plot Sharing

[justscribing]

[Commentary open below each.]

Alhaitham's Notepad

[justscribing]

Pretend this is up to date

001

[justscribing]

- Investigated the frestaurant menus with Thancred on Tuesday: can't be taken out of the restaurant, will dissolve into that same shimmery dust if so. Alhaitham is pointedly ignoring the resulting nightmares

- Areas of interest: The well (try to get past the barrier and get deeper inside, possibly goes under central field), room 305, museum

- Possibly using the conch shells or Y'shtola's earrings to communication between groups while investigating. Possibility if they get sucked into another pocket of reality they still reach?

002

[justscribing]

- Beach conches teamed transmitted sounds from the supposed dead trying to contact them: Amaya, Yukinosuke, Ramuda

- bottle sent through wishing well said they were in the museum, said best to use wishing well for contact

- Alhaitham plans to take a conch from the beach and try to use it closer to the museum

week 3, wednesday

[avocations]

[ He'll find her somewhere in the sitting room or in the relaxation nook! Y'shtola is relatively easy to find these days, and the moment he tells her what he's thinking, she tilts her head. ]

You'd like to use my aethersight for that? Very well. Have you any need for pen and paper?

[justscribing]

[Like many of the nerds here, there's a pretty good chance of finding Y'shtola if you just check the book places first.]

No need. I already have some I've drawn a general outside of the museum from each angle.

[Because of course he's prepared before actually doing anything. He just needs some compliance.]

[avocations]

[ Nerds in very likely places... ]

Very well. Shall we set out towards the museum, then? Drawing a direct comparison rather than from my memory would be more beneficial for you, I believe.

[ Which she's sure he'll agree with. ]

Week 3, Saturday post-trial

[justscribing]

[After dropping the beads back with the evidence and everyone starts filtering out after agreeing not to condemn Nala, Alhaitham makes it way right to the study. He peeks in to see if Lobelia is already there, but if not he'll spend the waiting time browsing the philosophy books.]

[conchy]

[Lobelia is present, but he doesn't make himself known until Alhaitham starts pawing through philosophy books. He seems to glide out of the long shadows cast across the floor, and he approaches just as silently.

His hand falls on Alhaitham's shoulder. No warning.]

Ah, there you are. Never a dull moment upon Death's stage. Are you keeping your wits about you?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham jerks and turns around, surprised just long enough for Lobelia to get to soak in having gotten the upper hand.]

Despite this place's best effort. [He huffs and gives Lobelia a retaliatory jab.] How are you holding up?

week 4, tuesday

[avocations]

[ Alhaitham will find her in the relaxation nook, sitting on one of the couches. When he comes in, she'll turn to him. ]

You had an inquiry?

[justscribing]

A couple actually. [He approaches, but does not sit in case bringing this up is going to mean them needing to walk outside the relaxation nook quickly.] First, Lobelia told me about the status of his infection. He told me you believe he may be necessary for the cure you're working on and to discuss it with you.

[Straight to the point. He's had a couple days to compartmentalize.] Second, I'd like to borrow a pair of those earrings for a while. I can return them when we find ourselves needing to investigate another murder.

[avocations]

I am of the belief that any sample from an infected person we may grasp is of import, simply out of thoroughness. I intend to take the sample from him this evening.

[ She appreciates that he's right to the point, honestly. ]

What do you need them for? I'm not opposed to lending them to you, I'm simply curious.

WK4 Wednesday

[justscribing]

[It's very, very late when Alhaitham finds Lobelia and drags him out of his halfway hiding spot. Late because that means most of them will have retreated to warmer, drier places to rest and relax for another day of look, always looking.

That means it's an opportunity Alhaitham can talk with Lobelia more than briefly, and even that has been difficult to achieve. He's ever thankful to Hansa helping him look out with the oscillating failure of his senses, but the reticence makes the pace of his deterioration harder to determine.

Lobelia even on a good day wouldn't be personally affronted by the restaurant, but everyone else will be with two murders in a row there. Which means it's an ideal place to escape from the attention. The rain is light but Alhaitham has an umbrella in preparation regardless that he leaves by the door.] When did you last eat?

[conchy]

[Time is moving all wrong. Lobelia blinks and day turns to night... or so it feels. Realistically, logically, that isn't what is happening, but to Lobelia? He lives only within those fragments of time. Everything else is an indistinguishable blur.

Even so, he tries his best to be present. He shuffles out to greet Alhaitham, though it took him a moment to place the voice. He's not quite as put together as he should be, as he normally would be... but he's trying. He's trying very, very hard to keep himself glued together.]

Hm! I don't recall. This morning, perhaps?

w4, sunday

[vivisexual]

[Alhaitham will find Yugamu in the bio lab! He looks tired but also extremely focused on the task at hand, though he'll perk up at the visitor.]

Mr Alhaitham! What can I help you with?

[justscribing]

[The weariness is noted, but it's something that all of them are going through isn't it? Alhaitham is tired. But there are things he can still put his energy into.]

You have the best anatomical knowledge of anyone here. I was hoping to pick your brain for designing a low-tech prosthetic leg for Childermass.

[He doesn't know how much Yugamu heard at town hall, but figures it doesn't matter either way.

Maybe this can also ease some of Yugamu's misplaced guilt too.]

week 5, wednesday

[conchy]

[Something hits the door to Alhaitham's room with a solid thump. A moment later, whether invited or not, Lobelia breaks his way into the space, eyes restlessly seeking something. Someone. And when he finds him...]

...There you are.

[Like a predatory animal cornering prey, Lobelia is a particular kind of happy to see Alhaitham.]

I was waiting for you. Slept in late, hm?

[justscribing]

[At first Alhaitham assumes Sorawo just pushed over one of his stacks of books. He intends to roll over and ignore it, bury his face into his pillow and forget the world, but then the door opens.

Alhaitham lifts his head, eyes narrowed in offense, then confusion as he realizes who it is.]

... Aren't you just up too early? [And even if he's not... what's wrong with sleeping in? He hasn't felt the urge to get up since he awoke.]