projectroxas | (no subject)

[ 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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[ lifts his hand to give nathan another pat to the head. but doesn't retreat his hand afterward, leaving it there. ]

I will be fine. As long as my loved ones are.

[ smiles a bit wider to show his contentment with the touch, allowing him to do as he pleases. ]

Well, this loved one is gonna get back to work. [ pats the tupperware still sitting on his desk. ] Thanks for the food.

[ inclines his head once. ]

You're welcome. [ one more brush of the hair & the hand is gone as he gets to his feet. ] And I thank you for the coffee.

[ salutes him a little with a grin. ]

The most delicious coffee you've ever had.

That may be up for debate. But it was good coffee, nonetheless.

Don't worry, you don't have to admit it out loud. I'll take a rain check.

There is always room for improvement, baby brother.

[ waves him off a little. ]

It's okay, I understand perfectly fine what you're trying to say, but you don't have to be shy.

On the contrary. I believe I am speaking nothing more than the truth.

[ in one ear, out the other. ]

I'll be sure to make some more for you since you liked it so much.

[ shakes his head fondly. ]

Then I would be in your debt. Would chocolate-chip pancakes suffice as payment?

[ smile turns a bit softer. ]

I'd like that a lot.

As you wish.

[ gives albert a small wave and a nod before turning back to his work, leafing through the folders to choose the next one in his unread pile. ]

[ & he takes that as his cue to leave despite a lingering phrase at his lips (do not overwork yourself. please.), but decides to keep those to himself in the end. stepping out of the room, he takes a moment to give the livingroom one last glance. the disarray, in contrast to nathan's usual cleanliness, is all he needs to further confirm the exhaustion borne of non-stop work he'd seen marring his baby brother's steps.

takes another moment to gaze at the scene before he turns away entirely, stepping out of the apartment, closing the door behind him with a click. he drives slower than usual on his way back, his mind wrought with thoughts (worry, new information). but everything fades away when he returns to the mansion, the entirety of his attention and affection focused on a single young lady sleeping in her room floors above. ]