Robert Lutece

Break my heart for what breaks Yours. (at Holy Spirit Catholic Church)

Color-Coded Starter Call!

Bᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ Dᴀᴡɴ | Cʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇ﹣ᴀᴛ﹣Nɪɢʜᴛ

“Mugged...?!” Robert almost yelped, looking around at the people around them suspiciously. He hadn’t considered the idea. He hardly looked wealthy, dressed in a simple linen suit. Or.. did he? He had thought Rapture was meant to be somewhat better than all that. He lowered his voice, “Does that ..sort of thing happen here?” There was no use pretending he wasn’t taken aback. He tried to raise his head, noticing now that he was closer to Ronny’s height than he had thought. He chewed on his lip, still looking around them. The few people who were here didn’t seem to be suspicious. But then, the best criminals wouldn’t appear suspicious, would they? Perhaps he shouldn’t have come out after all. Still, better someone steal his pocketbook than ransack the lab, he thought, eyes casting back to the ground out of habit. “You must think I’m-- terribly jumpy.” He mumbled, wanting to apologise without having to address the issue head on. “I’m-- sorry, I’ve-- had an exciting day.” Long fingers tapped his lips as he thought about what to say next. Too excited to speak clearly, it would seem. He shook his head, clearing his throat. “Roses.” He repeated, and then the latin. “Rosa.” He may not be familiar with as many plants as he would like, but he certainly numbered roses among them. There was a comfort to sitting at his desk, lit by the glow of the city, repeating the genus, the order, the roots of the word to himself. Classification simplified things. He stepped through the door, immediately halted by the scent.  Of course he knew what flowers smelled like, and earth. He had been born on the surface, he had been outdoors before. But there was something different here, after so long in the stark sterility of Rapture’s halls. Being able to smell peat again.. it was remarkable. He turned back to Ronny, smiling genuinely. This was a good idea.

Bᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ Dᴀᴡɴ | Cʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ Rᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇ﹣ᴀᴛ﹣Nɪɢʜᴛ

Robert stiffened slightly at the touch, unused to the contact. It was ridiculous, he thought. He was as jumpy as a cat and why? Because he spent most of his days holed up in his apartment doing experiments? He flushed slightly, thinking of what he deserved for being such a miserable human being.  Noticing that Ronny had gone on, Robert hurried to catch up with him. It was strange, walking with someone. He’d so totally mastered the art of being alone that this felt..  not wrong. Like the prelude to something. A first step, perhaps. He glanced sideways at Ronny, a poor attempt at subtlety in the corner of his eyes. He walked so confidently, so casually. Robert walked with his head ducked, as though the sirens were about to sound at any second.  As they reached Arcadia, Robert found himself growing more and more nervous. What if Ronny didn’t share his clinical interest in the flowers, what if he hated him for it? He never should have agreed to come, he should have stayed at home, where he knew-- But things had changed at home, he reminded himself. Huge breakthroughs. This was-- this was a celebration. Oh, he wished he could explain it to someone. He glanced at Ronny again, trying to decide if he’d understand.  “I’ve only been here a handful of times,” he said instead, an admission by tone. “Are you better acquainted with it?” Robert wanted to know what Ronny was excited about. He wanted to share this feeling with his new friend. 

Send “Lie to me” and a question, and my muse will answer it with a complete lie.