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

[collector]

[gives the Doctor a smile, one that is slightly less evil than that of the icon, but hey]

[bit_impossible]

[this is him rolling his eyes accompanied with a sigh because, damnit, he has to admit it's true.]

[collector]

[Good, the truth wins through on the side of Irving Braxiatel! It's a rare occurrence, but that makes it all the better. Brax sips his tea.] Of course, invading the mind of another individual without consent is so unethical. I don't suppose you've engaged in contact with any of the mayor's guests? [There's that slur of mockery at the supposed status of all the people who were abducted here.]

[bit_impossible]

[he frowns, but not because of the mockery] No, I don't do that any longer.

[collector]

[he lifts an eyebrow] I didn't know you did it before.

[bit_impossible]

[a soft sigh] Very rarely, and even then, I only did it with permission and with a specific purpose in mind. [the last time, however...]

[collector]

No recreational contact? How dull.

[He's joking, but that's because there's a proposition he doesn't really want to make.]

[bit_impossible]

[eyes him curiously] Why do you ask?

[collector]

We could try to look into the minds of the people here. To get the truth.

[bit_impossible]

I really hope you're not proposing we look into everyone's like in some telepathic version of a kissing booth.

[collector]

Certainly not. That comes with telepathic mononucleosis. And for all we know their minds will be telepath-proof.

[bit_impossible]

[cracks a smile] Oh, and we certainly wouldn't want that. Some very well could have been trained to prevent any sort of tampering, but we're not exactly without power, either. [he pauses] What about someone else then? Someone trapped here like us?

[collector]

One of the other new residents? Why?

[bit_impossible]

To see if, perhaps, they subconsciously remember anything surrounding the circumstances before their arrival here.

[collector]

Good idea. Anyone in mind?

[bit_impossible]

A couple, but like I said, I don't do that any longer. Of course, it'd be far easier to scan each other, but that isn't going to happen.

[collector]

And for that reason, it may be best if I don't do it. I haven't tried any psionics since my arrival.

[bit_impossible]

No? Frankly, I'm surprised you haven't suggested this sooner.

[collector]

One does try to avoid the morally dubious, Thete.

[bit_impossible]

[smiles faintly] Some try harder than others.

[collector]

I hope that wasn't a slur on my character. But very well. I'll try it.

[bit_impossible]

A slur? Nah, not really. Not when I've only been drinking tea.