a posse ad esse

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian has been playing croquet, but now he looks almost thoughtful as he sits down on a desk on the Plane and swings his feet back and forth]

I don't like to ask questions without a specific audience, as soliloquies seem so lonely and monologues are simply a bore, but I was wondering if singing fish can live in lakes or if they must have fountains as their habitats? I have never had a singing fish before, so I do not know myself, except that honey helps them when they get sick. They sing very prettily.

[he twines a thread from Aloysius's scarf around his finger]

Aloysius might try to eat them, so it's important they move somewhere safer.

Comments

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[a frown comes across his face] No, that doesn't matter. Can they safely be moved from the fountain to a lake? That's all that I care about.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

My dear boy, it does matter. But yes, they can be moved. Transplant them like you would any other fish, minding they have time for the water they were in to get acclimated to the temperature of the lake before releasing them.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your assistance, Straxus. [it's formalize---almost cold] I'll be sure to tell Wilcox that. Good day.

[with teddy bear still in hand, the boy slips to his feet and walks away]

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[...oh no he didn't. not to be shut down by young human like that, he follows after Sebastian] Say it doesn't matter then. To hell with it.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[without turning around] Really, Straxus, you needn't chase after me. I'm sure your universe is just fine. The worst I could give it would be, oh, a church or a stately home or Magdalen College, and you should be bloody grateful for that. It is the loveliest college on campus.

[unsurprisingly, he is heading towards the bar]

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

Grateful? For another school? I finished all of my schooling centuries ago. Didn't it ever occur to you there might be other things my world might have received? A fish for a fish, perhaps? An equal exchange seems fair. And it's not like I'm to blame for this sort of thing happening anyway. It's this place.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

Why are you following me, Straxus?

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

I did something to offend you. [what exactly? hell if he knows.] I...[gently] I wanted to apologise.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian finally turns around - this at the entrance to the bar, so that's one step short of a bad road for Sebastian] I didn't think you were the sort to bother.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[months ago, he wouldn't have.] I'm not...whatever 'that sort' may be. I am me.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian looks down at his teddy bear] I'm unaccountably thirsty. There are probably some strawberry wines still.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

Have you ever had a strawberry daiquiri? I've recently learnt how to make them, but I could use the practice.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I've heard of them. I've never tried one.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

Would you care to?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[he hesitates, then nods] If you like.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[he motions to the door to the bar] Then after you. [tries on a smile to encourage the young man.]

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian looks at him curiously as he walks in, but he steps inside regardless, surveying the bar in detail in a rare bout of quietude.]

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[he sets about preparing the daiquiri!] Would...[thinks about the bear's name, but lord he feels silly even saying it]...Aloysius care for anything?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

It's kind of you, but no. [he almost says something else, but he holds the bear to him instead]

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[shrugs and sets about making that daiquiri! it takes him a couple minutes, but soon enough, he's poured it out into two glasses and sets on down in front of Sebastian] Let me know how you like it. I can always add a bit more rum if you'd like.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

I could always do with more rum. [Sebastian throws back the drink without hesitation, nodding to himself as he sets it down] Not half bad, Straxus. You should become a bartender.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

Not in this life. Perhaps I'll keep that in mind for the next. [sets the bottle of rum down on the counter, taking Sebastian's words literally] Would you care for a bit more then?

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian is hardly going to protest this; he smiles] I should hardly protest if you were to.

[damn-time-ring.livejournal.com]

[and he starts pouring some more in!] Tell me when.

[fruitbrandy.livejournal.com]

[Sebastian allows Straxus to pour for some time] I suppose that's enough.