great minds against themselves conspire

[collector]

[Sometimes, it won't all stay locked away. Sometimes the seal can't take the pressure. Sometimes the maze won't keep the monster in. Sometimes the jar cracks apart and all the evils come pouring out into the universe.

Sometimes, you just can't hide the pain you're in.

And Irving Braxiatel can't, though he tries to make it to the forest before he cracks, because that pain is written all over him. Oh, his clothing is as immaculate as ever, his skin is unblemished, not a single hair is out of place. But his bones are all jagged angles, his muscles constricted, and his mouth is sealed tight to try to contain any expression suffering.

Braxiatel covers his face with his hands, presses at his head with his fingertips. He staggers in his walk—sinks to his knees, shaking. His mouth opens—not to scream, but to soundlessly recite ancient equations, one last incantation against something terrible and old. Because if he holds on just a little longer, he can overcome this, he can take back control, he can draw it all in. If he holds it together just a little longer, he can win.]

[And then Braxiatel goes perfectly still. He closes his mouth and, slowly, draws his hands away from his face. He gets one foot out from under him, pulls himself up, stands for a moment in silence. Then he straightens out his suit and looks himself over without a reflection. Braxiatel sighs a breath of relief, for victory and for hard-won control. Slow, steady, his eyes rake over the Plane. No monsters drawn by his faltering. Good.]

Well. That was more trouble than it ought to have been, wasn't it? I'll have to get something for these migraines.

Comments

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[Quietly] And you can't go back. [her grip tightens on Brax's arm and she pulls herself closer as she looks up at him curiously] You were exiled. That's what was said when we met Romana in the theater at least.

[collector]

Yes, I was. Shortly after being appointed High Chancellor, which was rather embarrassing both for the Madame President and myself.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

What happened?

[collector]

[slightly amused] Are you sure? The politics are a bit ugly.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know.

[collector]

If you insist. [He pushes aside a branch so that he can step under it more easily] In an incident whose particulars I won't deign to bore you with, I was forced to confide in Coordinator Narvin a certain detail about my life that I'd rather he not know about. I'd just saved his life, and I believed he was grateful enough to keep silence about it. And he did, for a while. Until after I became Chancellor. Not a day later, Narvin revealed my crimes to the High Council, and I was stripped of my title and sent into exile. It got me out of the way and discredited Romana's closest supporter, seriously weakening her political position. A neat little move indeed for all of her political opponents, among whom I believe we can still count the Coordinator, even if he is her ally in the war.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

What crime could you have committed that was that horrible?

[collector]

[Braxiatel is quiet for a moment, and then he decides he may as well. Having this many Gallifreyans around is like waiting for it to come out, anyway.] I have broken one of the Laws of Time. The one about not being in regular contact with yourself.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

How do you mean you're in contact with yourself?

[collector]

[He clearly doesn't want to say it outright, despite everything.] I mean there are certain things we aren't meant to use time travel for.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Like how you changed things on the Collection so the Occupation didn't happen.

[collector]

No, that was a valid use of time travel. 'To set right what once went wrong,' putting it in rather pompous terms. 'Protecting the Web of Time' would be an equally pompous description for it. Either way, it is more than valid: it's a responsibility. Any of my people would be obliged to do the same.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[Quietly] Yet none of them did.

[sighs, sounding annoyed] Are we just going to walk forever, or have you lured me far enough back all ready?

[collector]

My people have a habit of leaving me to fend for myself.

[It is a dark note, followed by a more lightly amused smile] I have a particular destination in mind, actually. But we're close.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

I'd think the integrity of the timeline would be more important than any grudge they might have against you.

[and her mood seems to be following his, as she follows that dark note with a lifting of her eyebrows.] I'm still not entirely convinced you haven't got those furry ears very well concealed.

[she leans back to look at Brax's tail-end~]

Or that you're not hiding a tail somewhere in there. If anyone could conceal it, it would be you.

[collector]

Oh, you've caught me. It's curled around my leg.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[she nudges his leg with her foot, and then draws it back quickly]

Oh, I think I felt it move.

[collector]

Probably trying to avoid you.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

It takes after its owner.

[collector]

There is a symbiosis.

[Braxiatel pulls Benny along until they're in a clearing. Here, lain out on a slab of stone is Romana. There's that faint shine to the air that indicates a forcefield. Braxiatel walks up to Romana, still and, for a moment, silent. When he speaks, it is in another language. He does so enjoy his French culture.]

La Belle au bois dormant.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[she stares in shock, approaching Romana, a hand going out towards her and being stopped by the forcefield]

No wonder you were so keen on fairy tales.

[she looks back at Brax]

Did you put it there?

[collector]

[He lets his hand rest on the forcefield, like a glass surface.] I couldn't leave her undefended. Without a way to wake her, this seemed the ideal way to keep her safe.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

For someone so enamored of fairy tales, you do seem to be missing the obvious solution. Or at least not attempting it.

[collector]

I realize it was considered not unethical by historical standards, but I'd prefer not to impregnate her while she's sleeping and wait for her children to suck the flax out of her fingertips. It seems rather dubious.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

You didn't have to take it that far. Maybe just start with a kiss? The worst that can happen is we are where we are now.

[she leans against the forcefield, looking down at Romana like a kid looking at fish through a fish tank] If you're shy, I can have a go at it first.