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

[collector]

[with a straight face] I read your mind.

[oliverplus]

[...what] About the pie?

[collector]

It would be rude to look into other things, wouldn't it?

[oliverplus]

Since when can you just read minds?

...you didn't get one of those choices, did you?

[collector]

[Braxiatel's hand hovers over the plate for a moment as he considers what to eat. Then he picks up Antep Baklava.] I was joking, Oliver. The Doctor had one as well.

[oliverplus]

You...hey!

Really? Did he get a note with his, too? Or hers. Which Doctor?

[collector]

I didn't ask him. The cricketer.

[oliverplus]

[frowns] You know, I don't think I've met him.

[but he has a feeling Brax will want to see the note, so he starts fishing in his pocket] It's from that kid--Ezra. Oh, here it is. [pulls out the card that he found on the table, which reads: I'm really sorry. Good luck! This tastes really good, I promise - Ezra.]

I haven't died yet, so I think he was telling the truth.

[collector]

[Braxiatel scrutinizes the note for a moment.] Unless he's the best actor I've ever met, I think he's genuinely displeased at these events. Both Ezra and Nicolai know Shay Elonen, by the way.

[oliverplus]

What, really? How'd you find that out?

[collector]

[Braxiatel pulls out from his jacket pockets the letters he got back from Shay.] I asked him.

[oliverplus]

Oh, fantastic!

[but he frowns as he reads through them] You think he's got something to do with what's going on?

[collector]

His responses never indicated as much.

[oliverplus]

No, he sounds like he doesn't know, but... How could he not know anything about it?

[collector]

How could the Twins not know a thing about those fights to the death? People are busy, Oliver. They often don't know what their own closest friends are getting up to.

[oliverplus]

I guess so... [sighs, rubbing a hand across his eyes] I think this place is making me suspicious.

[collector]

Perhaps for good reason. I certainly don't trust Mr Elonen.

[oliverplus]

No... But at least he seemed upset about the dea--[his words hitch, his tone turning more automatic]--death matches. [Oliver shifts his gaze slightly, to something beside Brax. his expression hardens]

[collector]

[Braxiatel notices. Under his breath:] This will be fun.

Irving Braxiatel to Oliver Day, come in, won't you? Ground Control is out of coffee.

[oliverplus]

I don't want any--wait. What!? [turns to Brax, giving him a look like he thinks he's just gone mental]

[collector]

[lifting his hands and giving a wave with his fingers] Your mind seemed to be going elsewhere.

[oliverplus]

Y-yeah. [glances at that spot next to Brax again] Seems like this place is set on that, lately.

[collector]

[sighing and leaning back in his chair] Have you read much Homer, Oliver?

[oliverplus]

Huh? [he was getting distracted again. he does wish the hallucination would leave him alone, particularly now that he knows it is one] Homer? Oh, yeah. Quite a bit. Classical studies and all that. Why?

[collector]

I'd like to take this moment to remind you of Book IX. And the lotophagi.