Fantasiestucke VI. Fabel

[collector]

[The CAT turns on without warning as Brax is trying to open his front door. He is fine, his half-amused smile settled easily. He doesn't show a sign of having lost to any of the questions, and he's holding two coins in one of his hands.]

[Then the hologram pops up, and Braxiatel loses all expression. If there is one word to describe him now, it's cold.]

[It is asking him this: What is inside your head?]

[Very, very quietly, Braxiatel speaks.] I'll take the penalty.

[He steps into the house. There is the mechanical click of joints as his hands close into fists, then open again. He drops his coins and a silver pen on the table, then sinks into a chair.]

Comments

[fortune_sought]

[reddens because making Mr Braxiatel feel awkward just makes her even more embarrassed. she probably hasn't thought this through, as usual] Is there a certain colour or style that you like best? Or that you'd like another of? Or--even one that needs to be mended?

[collector]

I suppose . . . Hold on a moment. [He ducks into his room to pull out a grey tie. When he steps out again, he is continuing to look like a fish out of water.] I hope this will work?

[fortune_sought]

Yes, thank you. [steps forward to take it from him, forgetting some of her embarrassment as she focuses on the tie] What is it called?

[collector]

It's a necktie. An odd bit of clothing, but fashion will be what it will be.

[fortune_sought]

A necktie? A sensible name, I'd say. [accepts the tie and turns it over in her hands, studying it with a practised eye] Yes, I'm certain I've seen fabric like this in the stores. And it doesn't look as though it would be terribly difficult, really...

[collector]

[He listens with curious interest, now having a vague idea, but he's still not sure] Yes, it evolved out of the cravat.

[fortune_sought]

[glances at him, still half-lost in thought] May I borrow it?

[collector]

Certainly, if you like.

[fortune_sought]

Thank you... [sorry Brax, she's still studying it for the moment. pauses, lost in thought about exactly what she's going to do]

[collector]

You're quite welcome. [There's a pause] I can leave you two alone, if you prefer.

[fortune_sought]

What? Oh! [reddens] No, no, I really did mean to come for tea! [speaks quickly, babbling slightly. sometimes being around Brax blanks her mind out quite as badly as visiting the king did] I just wanted to see if I could even make something like this. It is a different sort of design, but it doesn't look terribly complicated.

[collector]

Oh, I see. [With his amazing understanding of human emotions, he interprets this as Sophie wanting to try it out for the challenge of it, which makes it completely understandable to him.]

Well, I've already set tea up in the sun room. Shall we?

[fortune_sought]

[that's just fine with Sophie. she's afraid her attempt at adding protective charms to clothing isn't going to work out, so she's not terribly eager to advertise that she's doing it. although she is a bit tempted to ask Brax's advice...but she's torn on that]

Yes, thank you. [smiles and starts that way, still holding the tie]

[collector]

My pleasure. [He pulls out a chair for her, something of a reflex, but a frown finds its way onto his face when he hears the clicking of his joints. He's going to have to get used to that.]

[fortune_sought]

[sits down, trying to ignore the fact that she just clumsily whacked one of her legs against the table leg and didn't feel a thing because it's fabric. but she blinks in surprise at the very neat spread that Mr Braxiatel has set up] My...I should have you over for tea one day.

[collector]

[He gives her a smile as he takes his seat] Those are my talents: running an intergalactic hub of academic progress and holding excellent tea parties.

[fortune_sought]

Very useful talents, to my mind.

[collector]

Certainly more fun than a talent for interrogation and legislation.

[fortune_sought]

Oh? Do you know someone with such talents, then?

[collector]

[with a slight smile] In a life before this one, I was in politics. There are quite a few people like that there.

[fortune_sought]

Really? But how can so many people be in politics? Isn't that a field for the few to rule over the many?

[collector]

In a medieval system, yes. But even there you've the king, his family, his advisers, his nobles, his knights . . . And by my era, you've entire assembles of people brought together to decide how everyone ought to live their lives.

[fortune_sought]

[is surprised by this] That sounds terribly unnecessary.

[collector]

Most of it is terribly unnecessary, and terribly messy. Not my favourite pastime.

Thanks for the notif, LJ

[fortune_sought]

Then I'm quite glad you've changed paths.