(no subject)

[gabriel_tam]

It's been seven years since the passage of the IIGA. Seven years since the assassination attempt. Seven years since Vincent Navarro had given Gabriel Tam his professional medical opinion and warned him in no uncertain terms what the results of his remaining in office would likely be.

He doesn't regret his choice.

Still, things are becoming more difficult, these days. He does his best to cooperate with Navarro's continued recommendations, working with his ever-efficient assistant Mark Jiang to make time for the additional treatments and the now-compulsory pulmonary rehab sessions (which take place in his office, in secret, as much as possible), to listen to Regan and reassure her as much as he can. Even so, it's difficult sometimes. Today was one of the harder days - and there's still a dinner party to endure tonight.

Gabriel makes his way slowly into the bar and to an armchair seat by the fireplace. He'll just rest a bit here, before he goes. Just for a while.

Comments

[thefirststark]

Not far off, Howard sits at the bar, absorbed in the business section of the afternoon papers, occasionally making some notes. He nods at the man by the fireplace.

[gabriel_tam]

He nods cordially back.

"Nĭ hăo."

[thefirststark]

"Er, hello." Odd that the bar didn't translate that from...Chinese?

He really should make an effort to learn some foreign languages, given LA's ever more diverse population.

[gabriel_tam]

"A pleasure to meet you," he adds. "I don't believe I've seen you here before, Mr...?"

[thefirststark]

"Howard Stark, Los Angeles, California. And you are...?" He almost adds the year, but that always feels just a bit strange.

[simon_doctor]

Simon almost doesn't see the man by the fireplace as he passes -- and then he does, and brightens visibly as he veers in his direction.

"Ba?"

[gabriel_tam]

"Simon."

Gabriel sounds truly delighted.

"I wasn't expecting to see you."

[simon_doctor]

"Likewise --" He's close enough now to offer his hand. "How have you been?"

[gabriel_tam]

His grip is firm, even as he gives silent thanks that he's seated.

"Pretty good," Gabriel says. It's not even a lie, not really; pretty good is all he can ask for, these days, and he's grateful to have it.

"And you and Kaylee? And Jessamine?"

[simon_doctor]

"We're all doing well," he says, a touch more brightness coming into his face at the mention of Jessie.

(That's the reaction he doesn't mind being visible. There's the other one that he's trying to stifle, as always; it has to do with how much weight his father has lost, how pale he is, how the faint grayish-blue tint of cyanosis is visible under his fingernails.)

"I'm afraid I'm turning into the kind of father who carries vidcaptures around. If you'd like to see one."

[wolflord_andain]

"Gabriel."

Galadan settles himself in the armchair catty-corner to Gabriel's, shifting the tails of his duster out of the way as he does so.

When in Rome, after all.

(Or rather, when out in the Rim . . . )

"Dare I hope medical science is proving capable of assisting you?"

[gabriel_tam]

"It has so far," he replies, wryly, and fights back a cough.

"Vincent's very determined. Ni hao, Galadan."

[wolflord_andain]

"As he should be."

Galadan's observation is dry.

He leaves out what he thinks of the evidence of success.

So far.

[gabriel_tam]

"You'd understand that sort of thing."

Equally dry.

"How are you?"

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan's smile is very slight.

"I require no medical miracles to continue to exist. Much to the disappointment of others, I'm sure."

[not_his_pa]

William's enjoying a rest in Milliways with a new dime novel, some hot cocoa and cookies.

As he sits near the fireplace, he sees Gabriel, nods and frowns, he knows that look of sickness. The man's a stranger, a rich one but he calls up memories of Mark on his bad nights. It takes him longer than it should to properly sit down, he doesn't want to stare but he's comparing how this man looks to how Mark did when his consumption was bad.

[gabriel_tam]

He nods back, but his brow creases on seeing the young man's frown.

"Is there something wrong?"

[not_his_pa]

"No, sir, but are you well?"

He knows asking a stranger something that like isn't polite but he notices and he worries. This man probably has lots of fine doctors taking care of him.

[gabriel_tam]

"It's nothing to worry about," Gabriel reassures him. "An old illness, nothing more."

[not_his_pa]

"Oh good, sir. Are you readin' something interesting?" Maybe that's a politer question.

[starrydome]

There is someone else seated by the fireplace.

Elrond, dressed in robes of lilac and burgundy, a thin circlet adorning his brow, sits with his hands curled around a mug of fragrant herbal tea.

He nods in greeting. Happy to sit in silence, happy to talk.

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel nods back, and offers a pleasant smile.

"Nĭ hăo," he greets the stranger. Based on the man's attire and the persons he's met here in at the end of the universe, Gabriel figures he's likely to be either affected or some sort of nobility.

[starrydome]

Elrond replies with a "May the stars shine upon the hour of our meeting here."
His voice is rich and warm. And his eyes are bright, clear, and ancient.

The Man looks worn. And he carries himself as someone who cannot let his own tiredness and ill health show. It would not be fitting to address it. So instead, Elrond introduces himself.

"I do not believe we have met her before," he says. He is sure of it.
"My name is Elrond Half-Elven."

[gabriel_tam]

"I'm very pleased to meet you," he replies. "I'm Gabriel Tam."

There's a presence about the other man - and something unusual about the name, almost like a title.

"Are you new here, or have we just not crossed paths before?"

[starrydome]

"The latter I should think, although it is always hard to tell here, where time moves as it will," Elrond replies. "In my own land, only a season or two have passed, but it seems as if time has moved faster for many others here."

He has the schooled speaking voice of one used to make public speeches. Or commanding an army.
"You?"