projectroxas | (no subject)

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[ day five without sleep had been kind on him for the most part. research was finally going smoothly after two weeks of being locked indoors, barely allowing himself to get up for breaks that did not include making a new pot of coffee or a quick trip to the restroom. sure, the first week he went outside for said coffee--which could explain why there were so many Starbucks cups stacked on every table around the place--but now he couldn't be damned to step outside, too engrossed in his work to do much else but read and pick up his coffee mug every now and then when the compulsion hit him.

thus his surroundings are a mess, his (& caleb's) apartment littered with books ranging from medical to spiritual to supernatural-- anything and everything to cover all his bases in hopes that he'll find something that would answer all the questions their family had been asking ever since alyssa fell into a state that they could not quite discern, even with the help of their go-to doctors. this is why he's been hunched over his desk for as long as he could remember, though at current he's occupied with a bunch of files he had "borrowed" from someone he had yet to meet, but feels like he should know very well.

at this moment he's completely immersed in this new found fascinating material, finding himself both relieved yet feeling something pinch the pit of his stomach when he flips to another page of one of the hundred-something folders that is stacked on his desk. when his eyes start to blur and go unfocused he sits back in his seat, slapping his cheeks a few times to wake himself up. realizing that he's going to get nowhere without taking a break he eventually pushes himself away from the desk, moving to go to bathroom to splash some water on his face before wandering to the kitchen to grab another cup of coffee.

with the fresh cup in hand he heads back to his workspace to reposition himself in his seat, staring down at the material as his shoulders droop a little in exhaustion. nonetheless he's back to work after a split second, completely and utterly focused on that and nothing more. ]

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[ lowers the file onto his lap & folds his hands over them. ]

These files are old. [ spoken hopefully. as hopefully as a taut line. ] If this. . . is what is ailing her, is there a way to a cure?

[ lips form into a thin line, averting his eyes over at the books stacked near his desk. ]

No. Not that I've found. I've looked everywhere for any record of that illness, but nothing's come up. It's almost like nobody else knows that it even existed.

[ closes his eyes again for a moment. then opens them, breathes out. ]

I see. But many of these symptoms are specific. I will. . . keep watch for them.

[ gives a tiny nod to that, closing his own eyes for a brief second. then quirks a small (sad) smile, giving a tiny shrug after looking at albert again. ]

It doesn't mean that this is the cause. Like you said, it's pretty old, but I'd rather be cautious and let you know everything instead of springing it on you at the last moment. [ gestures to the boxes on the ground. ] I'll read the rest of these tonight and call you if I find anything else.

[ eyes the boxes & extends a hand for another report. ]

There is much here, baby brother. May I be of any assistance?

[ blinks, handing him the next one despite what he says next. ]

I've probably got another twenty-four hours before I feel like I have to sleep for a little bit. It's no problem.

[ doesn't take the file. instead, reaches forward to grasp lightly at the underside of nathan's wrist. ]

It will do her no service if you fall ill.

[ sits up a bit straighter in his chair, almost proudly. ]

I never get sick. I'm built tough.

Ah. Is that right?

[ grips the wrist a bit more firmly & turns it. ] Yet you have lost weight, it seems.

[ grumbles a little. ]

That's nothing new.

Your physique is fine, baby brother. A few extra pounds will not harm you.

[ says a bit jokingly: ]

But I wanna be pretty and skinny forever.

Then I'm afraid that you were born into the wrong gender.

... I always had a hunch that there was something wrong with me.

[ lets go of nathan's wrist to finally accept the next file & places on his lap. ]

Shall I book an appointment with Sheryl for you?

No need, I can do it myself. [ jabs a thumb towards himself. ] I'm a big kid now.

Yes, but still a child. By your own words.

But I live all by myself and everything...

[ his expression starts to slowly loosen again, back into something more relaxed. ]

It's a step.

[ leans forward a bit, but not enough to invade personal space; just a gesture of great anticipation. ]

What else do I have to do to become an adult, then?

[ reaches forward with a free hand to brush aside some bangs carefully. ]

When you cease to worry those who care on a daily basis.

[ snorts a little. ]

That means you're not an adult either.

[ blinks once. ]

Ah?

[ lifts a hand to pat one of albert's cheeks. ]

I'll tell you when you're older.

[ smile deepens. ]

I await the day with bated breath.