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]

[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.

[oliverplus]

The loto...oh. The Lotus-Eaters. [frowns, making the connection] It is a bit like that, isn't it? [glances again, a bit longingly, at that hallucinated person next to Brax, but he quickly pulls his gaze away] So you think this is a good way to distract us from working out what's going on here.

[collector]

[Braxiatel holds his tea carefully, breathing in the steam.] There is no better trap than your heart's desire. There's an artefact in my Collection. Touch it, and the world becomes perfect. You're happy and at peace with a beautiful universe. Dorpfield's Prism. Its name was a misunderstanding, of course.

[oliverplus]

[frowns] A prison.

I could see that happening, but...I think the Matrix was right, too.

[collector]

[quietly] Then why are you so drawn to the lie?

[oliverplus]

Because... [but he lets himself trail off, closing his eyes]

I...I see your point. But I won't let myself fall into this one. I know it's not real. If I don't believe it, it can't trap me.

[collector]

Unless you want to be trapped.

[oliverplus]

No. [opens his eyes again, resolute] I don't want it if it's not the real thing.

[collector]

[Braxiatel smiles.] Then I'm sure you'll be fine.

[His body language isn't as open as usual; though he is sitting normally, his shoulders are shifted subtly to put a wall between himself and Oliver. He is centred on Ett drömspel.]

Now, why don't you review for me what facts we presently have. Nothing about the monsters, they seem more like thematically appropriate decorations, but about the choices. I'd like to hear everything you've learned.