Baïlèro (Chants d'Auvergne)

[collector]

[What do you do after you're dragged through a strange experience involving dangerous powers, universal black-outs, and changes in a mysterious power structure that controls your life?

You make sure your brochures are up-to-date. May the callous bastard who doesn't care for accuracy rot in the same hell as that for plagiarists and people who mix red wine with white wine and call it 'pink.']

[At any rate, Braxiatel finishes the recalibration that offer information on the new management. He dusts off his suit, straightens his tie, and then drinks his tea.]

[Mission accomplished.]

Assuming it doesn't all break down, of course.

Comments

[onehundredbeers]

[Yoink. Nathan must examine.]

Updating stuff, huh, Irving?

[collector]

[Go for it, Nathan.] It wouldn't do to be out of date.

[onehundredbeers]

I've been thinking about updating mine too.

[He glances over the brochure before folding it into a paper airplane and throwing it at Brax's head.]

[collector]

[Catches the aeroplane before it can hit.] Perhaps you ought to. Or you could work on your next album?

[onehundredbeers]

[Nathan points at Brax.]

Don't you start. Charles gives me shit enough already, okay?

[collector]

Oh, certainly. Shame on me.

So you'll work on your brochures, then?

[onehundredbeers]

Probably. Like, in a bit, but not now.

[He grabs another brochure to make another paper airplane...

to throw at Brax. Because he's there.]

I know what I have to change anyway. That counts as work, right?

[collector]

[He catches it again.] Thank you for contributing to my paper aeroplane collection. And also to the Dictionary of Liberal Definitions.

[onehundredbeers]

[He grins.]

I'm pretty fucking good with the liberal definition thing.

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

[she picks up a brochure and flips through it]

You know, I'm starting to figure out why we see so little of Broderick around.

[collector]

I don't know why you keep saying that. I was talking to him just the other day.

[collector]

I've noticed. Dangerous powers all gone?

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you were.

[collector]

The week before that, he was visiting several universities across the galactic arm to recruit more students. He is a very busy man. And he always seems to miss parties... [This makes him so sad. ):]

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

Yet he always finds the time to rewrite brochures. You should give him a holiday, or an assistant, or both.

[collector]

Oh, he manages. As we all do. [KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. Braxiatel is very cheery about him being busy all the time and Benny running off on adventures all the time. Emotional disconnect, how are you today?]

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Assuming what doesn't break down? [The answer might be obvious, but it never does to assume, even when it looks like you are.]

[collector]

The entire place. This runs on the Plane's own energy fields, so it's completely useless when those shut down.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Ah. How often does that happen?

[collector]

There were the two occurrences of the last week, and I hear rumour that it broke down one a couple years ago. So not infrequently enough, I'd measure.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Was that due to neglect, did the rumour say?

[collector]

I'd assume not neglect so much as 'bad handling.' It doesn't seem to me that our hosts understand what they are working with.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

No, that was my impression also.

[collector]

So we needs must endeavour to know for them. I'd also like to see a bit more organisational structure around here, but... [Something of a sigh and a wave of the hand.] It is a challenge. I can see why there's been nothing yet.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Seems like everyone's too busy trying to be mysterious that they've forgotten that they need to roll up their sleeves and actually get things done.

[collector]

Perhaps the experiment is actually how long something like this can function under poor supervision. [Contempt: he does it so well.]

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. [Bob does it better. There is absolutely no sign of any contempt anywhere, even in recognising it from Brax.]

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

Yes, I suppose he would.

You're getting to be more and more like Broderick. I think the only time I ever get to see you these days is when I accidentally bump into you here.

[her tone is just as cheery, because, clearly this doesn't bother her and it's just a casual observation.]

[collector]

You know you're always welcome in my office. And I do try to make it to all of our parties.

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

[she laughs, amused]

Brax, it's all right. We're all busy. You don't have to explain yourself.

[she pats him on the shoulder. She ain't bovvered at all. It's not like she thinks you're avoiding her or anything.]

I mean someone has to help design brochures for this place, right?

[collector]

[If Benny didn't think it was all about her, she would probably cope with things like this better.] Yes, that is what Nathan is for.

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

[If Brax weren't a jerk, this wouldn't be an issue in the first place]

Right. [she exhales, looking around herself. This is awkward, and, well, it shouldn't be awkward. It's only Brax.] I - [but she can't think how to finish that sentence, looking around herself again, before smiling at Brax] I should probably get going. You have welcoming committee duties and I have other things in other places, I'm sure.

[she awkwardly stays where she is though, hoping Brax might object or think of something to make this any less awkward]

[collector]

[The signals she is sending slip right past him, but he does say,] I'm not welcoming anybody currently. Besides, I'm sure you would be far more welcoming than I. Your natural charm.

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

[that actually does make her laugh]

[rolling her eyes, using her Brax voice] Very droll.

[collector]

I was being entirely serious. You are a delight, when you haven't had a little too much to drink.

[He might be teasing her now.]

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

When have I ever?

[collector]

Never in your memory, I'm sure.

[archaeologist.livejournal.com]

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[she had a good idea]

[collector]

Nothing, I'm sure.