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

[oliverplus]

[makes a face] Well, whoever was controlling all that, anyway. Meredith, maybe. It wasn't just random. They made that happen to us.

[collector]

Not fond of Meredith lately, Oliver?

[oliverplus]

[darkly] Did you talk to her after the voting?

[collector]

I didn't vote. [There is a moment where he almost lets some emotion onto his face, but he brushes it away.] Too late now. I assume you did.

[oliverplus]

[sighs] I just wanted to leave the Plane.

[a bit bitterly] Meredith really just said she didn't want to tell us anything and didn't care about as people anyway.

[collector]

Did she? Well, that doesn't come as a surprise. Most people have only a limited ability for empathy, and this is hardly the context that inspires it.

[oliverplus]

[his expression says just what he thinks of that] So glad she's in charge, then.

[collector]

I hope you weren't expecting otherwise, Oliver. This is a large and dangerous experiment. Those who run such things need either lack morals entirely or be willing to discard them for the sake of some greater purpose.

[oliverplus]

[sighs] I don't know what to expect from people anymore.

[collector]

[Braxiatel considers this for a moment, sketching a Greek letter in the icing of his cake. Then he says,] Some expectations are pure prejudice. Even positive ones. An expectation is a judgement of the future, after all. Judgements can no more be based on boundless hope and love than on boundless hate and fear.

[He glances up from his cake to meet Oliver's eyes. As always, there is nothing to be read in his.] Did I disappoint you terribly?

[oliverplus]

I... [but he hesitates, looking away] I don't know.

I just...don't even want to be here anymore.

[collector]

Perhaps you should take a break.

[oliverplus]

[looks down at the cake. picks up his fork, poking at it--more for something to do with his hands than anything] You know, I thought I was getting used to it again, but maybe not. Heh...the Doctor'll accuse me of running. But at least I can do something on Gondovan.

[glances at him, nervous] But it's not that I'm running from you. It's just... [waves the hand holding the fork in a vague gesture]

[collector]

I don't blame you, Oliver. And I don't think the Doctor really has any right to accuse someone of running away. People need time. Most understand that.

[oliverplus]

[softly] Doesn't make it feel less like running away.

[collector]

Don't, Oliver. Cowardice is turning away from duty. It's your duty to take care of yourself. You won't be any good to anyone if you can't be good to yourself.

[oliverplus]

Yeah...I know. [not that he ever pays that much mind] That's just it, really--we've got a whole big group of new refugees arriving. At least on Gondovan, I can do good for someone. I'm...not sure I can on the Plane anymore. [glances at Brax] Maybe I just make it worse when I try.

[collector]

Well, well. I really should give Ms Sault my congratulations.

[oliverplus]

[is quiet for a moment. she's not the only reason for his faltering optimism] [bitterly] I didn't say I've given up. More like...like what you said; I'm just taking a break for now.

[collector]

Of course. Don't let me stop you.

[oliverplus]

[shakes his head] No. [and he means that. he can't help still being a bit angry with Brax, even knowing it wasn't really his fault] I'll...catch you later, then? [stands, leaving his cake abandoned on the table]

[collector]

Certainly. And . . . I hope it helps.

[oliverplus]

[surprised, his expression softens a bit] Yeah... Thanks, Irving. [gives him a weak smile, then turns and heads out of the kitchen]