Fantasy for Organ, in E flat Major

[collector]

[There is cake on the kitchen table. Everything else is irrelevant, because there is a table, and it has delicious cake on it.]

[But if one must notice the peripheral details, Irving Braxiatel is leaning on the counter by the oven. A fresh sheet of croissants are on top of the stove, and Braxiatel is looking over a paper on Shakespearean performances in non-human cultures. He is also fixing an odd bit of technology that might be recognized as part of a time ship's temporal stabilizer. The devil, after all, always finds work for idle hands. He seems perfectly at ease.]

[There is also an extra cake on the table, as if to ward off vultures from the main prize.]

Comments

[everdistant_utopia]

Outwardly she smiles just slightly, but inside Braxiatel has just acquired a loyal ally.]

Then you have my gratitude, sir.

[However, she can't keep the very pleased smile off her face as she takes a criossant and eats.]

[collector]

[Braxiatel doesn't bother hiding his amusement.] Not at all. I hope you like them.

[everdistant_utopia]

[It is rather amusing, isn't it? The stoic, serious girl mooning over something as simple as food]

Yes, they are quite good.

[collector]

I'm glad you think so. And help yourself to the cake as well, if you like it.

[Braxiatel takes a slice from the second cake for himself. He cuts with his left hand, the hand with Caster's seal.]

[everdistant_utopia]

[Her eyes are drawn immediately to the seal and she's instantly wary, though not enough to drop into battle mode. Instead, she helps herself to some of the cake.]

[collector]

[Though Brax notices the shift. He takes a sip of his tea before commenting on it.] Something the matter?

[everdistant_utopia]

[She is, if nothing, a master at hiding her true emotions. Her face reverts to its default impassive expression when she relies.]

No... though I could not help but notice the unusual design on your hand.

[collector]

[Braxiatel, half-smiling, turns his hand around to show the seal in full.]

Yes. Nice, isn't it? I'm not exactly the tattoo sort, so it's been a bit difficult to explain at times, but Caster tells me that nothing can be done about it.