Another of Nigredo's personality might have found fault in the breakdown. To be handed an answer so graciously might have registered as an offense. The youngest, however, found only gratitude, and he paid utmost attention to the details given--for Nigredo understood Albedo would not leave out the necessities. Strangely enough, the reason had less to do with fondness and more with practicality; they discovered survival proved much easier when they complemented each other's strengths.

This came as no exception. Lost Jerusalem set the scene; Norse mythology gave the origin. Asgard and Vahalla were placed in their appropriate spaces, painted cleanly against the canvas of Nigredo's mind. An obscure reference, indeed, and one that happened to fit quite well in context. One that turned bitter in the knowledge. When the explanations slid into opinions, the boy paled considerably and dropped his eyes.

"Then what," he began, "exactly were you saying, Rubedo?" About Loki's House. The insinuation should be obvious. Nigredo could disregard the parallels strung between them, but that particular bit of information had to be clarified.

As for the name, he gave no apparent reaction. There was no real need, for it bothered him on mere principle. Nigredo raised his head and looked at Rubedo, his green eyes clear. "Maybe," was the response. "You... The other you... You wouldn't tell me." Hid the facts from me, went unsaid. As if Nigredo, trusted Nigredo, could not be informed of something so straightforward, and that it took outright contradictions for him to obtain any semblance to the truth.

Then again, perhaps that Rubedo had a very good reason for doing so. A reason this one was purportedly denying. Nigredo flinched at the comment regarding care, as well as the admission afterward, and he wondered what had changed here. "That's--" A lie. Wasn't it? After everything that had happened, it could only be--

He shut his mouth and stared elsewhere, vaguely aware of his own slip.