Sacris Solemniis

[collector]

[Teapot before him, a plate of pastries beside it, Braxiatel sits at the kitchen table with Strindberg's Ett drömspel open in front of him. Braxiatel stirs sugar into his tea, and a faint smile crosses his face as his eyes flicker to something in the seat to his left.]

[He leans forwards and pours a second cup of tea, then lifts it up to hand it over, the smile widening.] I don't know what you mean by 'ulterior motives,' Comman—

[Braxiatel's fingers tighten on the cup before he can let it go. For a moment, it hangs there, hoping for a hand that cannot take it.]

Ah.

[It is a quiet realization.]

[Braxiatel sets the cup down, away from him. He leans back in his chair and picks up a scone to eat.]

Comments

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[Well you know what? Benny is going to take that seat to your left, Brax, the one your eyes were flickering at]

Talking to yourself again, Brax? You really should be careful of that. We wouldn't want people to talk. Well, talk more than they do all ready at any rate.

[And Benny takes that second cup of tea Brax poured, too, leaning back as she takes a sip, watching Brax out of the corner of her eye]

[collector]

I do so love it when people talk. It means they don't know a thing.

[Braxiatel doesn't even look at her. He knows she's watching him.]

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Is that what it means? That's fairly disappointing. I'm almost certain I've heard at least one very impressive thing about you from people.

Oh well! Best to completely disregard it now, I suppose.

[she puts the tea cup down, and leans in to grab a scone, eyes still on Brax, before leaning back in her chair again.]

[onehundredbeers]

[Nathan, still in shredded jeans, having decided to abandon his post in the bar, has retreated to the kitchen!

And he completely ADDs on his mission to get food and maybe see if there were some painkillers in a drawer or something to stare at Brax.]

So, uh, is it imaginary friend hour, Irving?

[He laughs a bit, but still gives him a bit of a look. He only talks to nobody when he's super drunk.]

[collector]

[Braxiatel conjures up one of his best detached smiles.] Yes, I think you could say it is. [glancing over Nathan] I hope you didn't decide to get attacked by an imaginary enemy; that was scheduled for last week.

[onehundredbeers]

[Nathan sits, but not in Brax's imaginary friend's seat.]

Invisible. Not imaginary.

[Without asking, Nathan totally helps himself to some tea.]

[insynch.livejournal.com]

[For the past five minutes or so Daisuke's been standing off to the side staring at Braxiatel, his expression a mix of surprise and sadness.

There's a pot of homemade chow mein and a spoon in his hands. He's forgotten to stir.]

[collector]

[Absently, turning the pages of his book] It's going to go cold.

[insynch.livejournal.com]

[He startles a bit.] That's-- that's not important!

... Are you okay?

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Sherlock reaches over and takes a scone for himself.]

Is it better or worse to imagine something pleasant?

[collector]

[Braxiatel dips a scone into the teacup meant for Skutloid] I don't suppose you're familiar with the Lotus-eaters. I can quote Homer or Tennyson, but the sentiment is quite consistent: no one cares to wake from good dreams.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Sherlock ends up taking Skutloid's seat - what? it's not like he needs it - and pauses as he brings the scone up for a bite. He turns to Braxiatel, looking over him in the same calculating way he looks at a fresh body.]

You're not emotionless. What is that? Some sort of telepathic block?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver caught the end of that. he's just entered the kitchen, carrying--of all ridiculous things--a dish with about half an apple pie in it. his voice is quiet] You too, Irving?

[collector]

Only just. [Braxiatel is more interested in the pie] Did that appear out of nowhere?

[oliverplus]

[blinks. that was oddly specific] Did you get one these, too?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

To whom do you speak?

[collector]

[He smiles at her] No one real. I'm afraid I let my mind outwit me for a moment.

[practicalrobes.livejournal.com]

[Narvin decides to take a seat across from Braxiatel, because he's presumptuous like that. He's looking pretty tired, these days -- constant paranoia gets to be exhausting after a while.]

No invisible friend to go with the invisible monster in the water, Braxiatel?

[collector]

[Hallucinating has a similar effect. Braxiatel picks up another pastry for himself and pushes the second cup to the centre of the table.]

Don't tell me you fell in yourself. They really must work on physical training in the CIA.

[bodilesswarrior.livejournal.com]

[Barbara enters the kitchen in clothing pilfered from the ballroom; she looks for all the world a Victorian gentleman out on the town, particularly with her hair gathered beneath a coachman hat

she'd intended to get a bite to eat, but she heads for Brax instead, expression solemnly sympathetic, words quiet]

You're seeing them too?

[collector]

I can't begrudge anyone for wanting to see a stunningly well-dressed lady before them. Hello again, Barbara.

[sunkenlight.livejournal.com]

[ Roxas simply has the soft pretzel he got when he heard Brax suddenly cut off. It wasn't like he was trying to eavesdrop or anything, it just kind of... happened. ]

Everything okay?

[collector]

[Brax waves it off with a scone-holding hand] Yes, of course. I was simply surprised.

[bit_impossible]

[he walks into the kitchen, slightly beat up and wet after an encounter with the water monster--really, nosing around does have it's occasional downfalls--and sits down across from Brax, immediately reaching for a pastry]

So! Found yourself an invisible friend, Brax? Or were you expecting someone? [takes a bite]

[collector]

You'll find I'm hallucinating a dead friend whose absence is symbolic of all I lost on Dellah—oh for the love of God. And I don't mean Clarence's. You answered truth, didn't you? Just once, I'd wish someone had answered that question with lies. It would be so much less of a hassle.

[Braxiatel really hates being surprised with this one. It takes a moment for him to recover from crankiness.]