Serenade for String Orchestra in E Major

[collector]

[Braxiatel walks through the rain with an umbrella in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. He is taking more care in keeping the rain out of his tea than he is in keeping it away from his clothes, and for a moment he even sticks his head out from under his umbrella to look up at the clouds. When he speaks, he is speaking to himself, his voice like smoothed glass.]

That's an awful lot of oil going to waste. And in such a way. [His smile is made of irony, and he looks down at the stars still under their feet despite the rain.] How the old symbols are reformed.

[With the skill of the absurdly well-balanced, he switches his cup to the hand holding the umbrella, opens the library door, and steps inside.]

[After a moment, he pops his head back out again.]

Oh, one thing: have there been any odd deaths lately? I'd be interested to know.

[Then it's back in out of the rain.]

Comments

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Is that what they're calling it these days?

[collector]

It is a Machine. [He shakes out his umbrella at the door, walking over to one of the nicer sofas and setting his cup down on a coffee table.]

[oliverplus]

[is just making a dash for the library, a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head but otherwise getting soaked] Irving! Hey, Irving! [hurries in after him, wiping rain out of his face] Why would there've been?

[collector]

[Brax smiles at Oliver] History major, wasn't it? Not literature. Or you'd pay more mind to the meaning of this downpour.

[oliverplus]

[frowns] I...think I know what the rain is, if that's what you mean. [hesitantly] Do you think it's like at the bathhouse again?

[collector]

Oh, I doubt it. It doesn't strike me as the same artist's signature, so to speak.

[oliverplus]

[shakes the black rain off his hands, but he's looking at Brax worriedly] Then what do you think it is? It's a reference to a book?

[collector]

More a general body of fictions. You've seen The Lion King, I hope?

[oliverplus]

Well, yeah, 'course. [frowns thoughtfully] You just mean, rain symbolically representing death? You think that's what they're going for?

[heartscastaside.livejournal.com]

{Not long after he goes in the library, Caster shows up}

Are you well, Braxiatel?

[collector]

Death and rebirth, yes. And the nature of the rain does well in adding to that idea.

[collector]

[Braxiatel smiles at her] Of course. I hope my absence didn't cost you too much in magic.

[heartscastaside.livejournal.com]

It is hardly a concern. What happened? I have never seen a... death such as that.

[bonnypiperlad]

Hey? [Jamie darts towards the entrance to the library after Braxiatel, partially pulling his shirt over his head to try and keep the worst of the rain off of it.]

What do ye mean, odd?

[collector]

I have some idea, but I can't really say much until I know more. Judging by the rain, I'd hazard a guess that the Plane caused it.

[collector]

Random, to all appearances? Sudden, unexpected? Incongruous.

[heartscastaside.livejournal.com]

I would imagine so.

{She looks down thoughtfully} It seems to be too much. Those matches had only just passed, and now more death? {Scoffs} Someone is enjoying playing God, it seems.

[collector]

I don't see why not. Playing God is the most fun you can have.

[It's a joke, but he's really feeling very relaxed right now, so he doesn't see why he can't make bad jokes. Besides, he can avoid explaining his theories on how the Coliseum fights and the rain are connected.]

[heartscastaside.livejournal.com]

Oh? Have you played it it yourself?

[bonnypiperlad]

No, I've not seen anything like that. [relieved] Och, ye had me worried for a moment, there. I thought ye were thinking there had been some.

[collector]

[with a wave of his hand] In my experience, most decisions that people leave to their Gods are much safer in my hands.

[collector]

Here, it is always a possibility. But one would hope there haven't been.

[heartscastaside.livejournal.com]

Your lack of faith in people is surprising, Braxiatel. {Except not at all} I don't know if I would enjoy the responsibility, personally.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, but...oh! Ye think it's something to do with the rain, then?

[oliverplus]

[makes a face] I noticed that. [it's hard not to when it's your own blood that's just the same]

But...hopefully nobody's seen any odd deaths. Maybe someone just wants to psych us out? This seems like the sort of rain Pestilence would enjoy...