realityshifted | ✘ calix meus inebrians

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brideshead revisited (d1) sebastian

✘ calix meus inebrians

[At the Astral Bar, Sebastian has lined up a number of alcoholic drinks in glasses. He is currently straightening them out so they are in a proper line.]

[It is an absurd act of orderliness in the face of future drunkenness. His teddy bear sits on the bar beside the last glass.]

And I don't even know what you are... Oh, Aloysius, if only Charles were here, I would not get into such trouble as taking advantage of this bar shall lead me to do.

[nudging a glass into place]

Or at least he would share half the drinks with me so I would only get half as inebriated. I think that counts for something. But there are drinks to test and and tastes to discover! Science, poetry, and cartography must go on, even in the absence of dear friends.

[and so Sebastian drinks from his first glass]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wonder if, with looks as repeated as they are, as with fruits copied as you say they are, it wouldn't be so difficult to travel through space after all. Not the science of it, I mean, as all of that is beyond me and I don't really read much Wells, but of course the real trouble in travelling always seems to come from getting along with the natives. Not that I usually have a problem with that. I imagine it would be different on Earth, and I will have to remember this drink as I like it quite a lot.

Well, that depends on where you go. You may find that some planets and species simply cannot stand humans and will make your visit an absolute hell.

Why?

Because, my dear Sebastian, humans have a tendency to be terribly annoying in their own primitive way, and have no sense of their place in the universe when compared to the far more advanced species.

Sounds a bit like Americans. Oh, what a dreadful thought! We're the colonials to the rest of the universe. But I suppose they have their own charm, or at least they must, else Julia never would spend so much time becoming acquainted with them.

...Is there really that much of a difference? [a human's a human in his book.]

Aren't there differences among your species?

There are slight differences, yes. There are the Outsiders, who choose to live outside the traditional Time Lord life, the Shobogans and several others we do not speak of [mainly because he couldn't give two shakes of pig-rat's tail about them], and the Renegades, whom we also do not speak of normally except a couple in particular come up every so often in conversation.

Renegades? Golly, that sounds exciting.

...Not as exciting as one might think.

Really? How cruelly misleading of them. Only it sounds like rebellion, and that's always exciting, isn't it?

To some or a few of them, I'm sure. But you must understand that when one becomes a renegade--[and of course, he's glossing over a couple details here; his expression deadly serious]--you become an exile from Gallifrey and most never return.

Oh. [Sebastian pauses for a moment] Sounds a bit like poor papa.

Your father is an exile?

In a sense. It's all right; he likes it much better away from home, and so I'm not at all like Bridey, which is a blessing. It's lovely to visit him in Venice. May I have more of that drink that's like blackberries?

[he retrieves the proper bottle and pours some more of it into Sebastian's glass] Who or what is Bridey?

[Sebastian gives a smile of thanks] Oh, Bridey is my older brother. Would you tell me more about where you're from?

About Gallifrey? [he pauses, considering that, then shrugs as he sets the bottle down] I don't see why not. I doubt you'll ever be able to see it in person.

Gallifrey is one of the oldest and greatest civilisations in this universe, despite its faults. It's also one of the most beautiful. If you were to stand on one of its many mountains, you could see two suns high in the orange sky, their rays of light reflecting off the silver-leaved cadenwood trees. There might even be a breeze that day that rustles the red grasses. Or you might be near one of the many crystal-blue lakes and get to hear the songs of the singing fish.

Or you might even see the mighty and majestic Citadel of the Time Lords, its grand dome safe-housing countless Time Lords within...

[it's obvious from his words that despite his current frame of mind, he still loves his planet very much]

[as he listens to Straxus talk, he smiles]

It sounds like magic.

[he smiles back. it's so rare he gets such a polite, attentive audience] I suppose you could see it like that...

I do. Could I ever travel there? Only I would love to see it.

No.

[then he adds:] It's simply impossible because we're from two different realities, Sebastian. If ours were to merge, perhaps you might be able to see some of Gallifrey. But I must tell you that les--[stops himself]--that humans aren't normally allowed on Gallifrey.

Oh. How odd. [he has no idea what Straxus just stopped himself from saying] How would anyone tell? You look just like a human, though you do hold yourself a bit peculiarly, but it's not very much different from the posture of most Oxford dons. [a pause, and a look of horror flashes over his face] How frightening! A planet of Oxford dons. Thank God you're not like them in substance.

[he makes a face when Sebastian says he looks like a Time Lord.] There are several differences between Time Lords and humans--and I suspect between us and Oxford dons as well.

How knowledgeable are you in the field of human anatomy?

Not very, I'm afraid. Ought I be?

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