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

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[she inhales sharply] Well, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, but I don't think it will be giving too much away to say it's black and lacy. Very tasteful, of course. Although, to be fair, tasteful is very relative, particularly when one is dealing with Jason Kane. Still, it's the thought that matters, isn't it?

[collector]

Don't be silly, Benny; I'll love it. Mr Kane is something of an expert, after all.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

That's a relief. I don't think I could stand him sulking about if you didn't.

[collector]

[the adverb most appropriate here is 'mischeviously'] I think I'll be able to keep you suitably distracted from whatever Mr Kane's mood happens to be.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Someone is feeling especially confident. I think you might be underestimating how imposing of a presence Jason can prove to be.

[collector]

I never underestimate. [he lifts his teacup.] A toast to Christmas surprises.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[she narrows her eyes as if to if to scrutinize Brax before smiling and lifting her teacup to meet his] To Christmas surprises.

[collector]

[He grins at her.] I hope it's something good, Professor Summerfield. I hate to be disappointed.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Do I ever disappoint, Irving?

[collector]

Safest not to answer that, I think.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

I beg your bloody pardon! What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[collector]

[with a dangerous grin] Nothing at all, Professor Summerfield.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Jason could very well give his fantastic gift for you to someone else, you know. Someone far more bloody deserving. [and she takes another bite out of the cake, one with far more annoyance]

[collector]

[Snakes change moods quickly. Braxiatel's expression turns placating - and patronizingly so. It's more fun this way, after all.] Now, Bernice. I'm sure I'll love it.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Of course you'll love it. It's a matter if you deserve it or not. Boys on the naughty list aren't meant to get nice presents, and it's very hard to tell which list you're on at any given moment, Braxiatel.

[collector]

Ahh, you've figured me out. All my enigma is just so that Santa never knows what to bring me.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

I knew there had to be a good explanation for it. Glad to have that out in the open now.

Since you have such a fabulous gift with domestics, will you be baking any cookies for the poor man? Jason is under the impression that a traditional Christmas would be good for Peter, whatever that might be. Beyond the fact that he shouldn't be planning how my son spends his holidays, I tried explaining to him that the celebration of the holiday has morphed and evolved over centuries, so a traditional Christmas is extremely difficult to pin down. Apparently his definition of traditional relates to late twentieth century. It would be a hell of a lot more laughable if he wasn't taking it all so bloody seriously.

[collector]

[Braxiatel smiles] What an excellent idea. Why don't we make a date of it? I'll need help with the cutters. You can have the stars and Jason can have the trees. I think I'll take the bells.

[It would not be erroneous to suggest that Brax loves the idea of a Christmas cookie-making party.]

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

[she sighs, exasperated and fond] You really do have a habit of getting carried away with things. [she tilts her head towards the first cake] And what of your little protégé, if he's still on the little side come Christmas?

[collector]

Please don't call him out. It makes me feel a bit ill. Well, we can hardly cook with Jason while on the Plane, so Narvin'll have to be left out regardless.

It's disappointing, though. I can't get him the usual sort of gift if he's still a child.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

And what exactly is the [insert Brax voice] usual sort of gift?

[collector]

Oh, something for his cultural education. I got him 1984 for one Otherstide.

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

Is that so? Well, I think it's very sweet to see you put so much thought into his gifts.

[collector]

One tries to build amiable relationships with one's colleagues.

[Braxiatel really does enjoy picking out lovely ironic un-gifts for Narvin. It's fun.]

[brandyhabit.livejournal.com]

And what about your Lady President?