milliways_bar | (no subject)

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He's been enjoying these few days on Osiris with Regan. They'll be leaving for the Border and Rim in just over a week, but for now, it's very nice to be home.

Still, there are a few things that need doing before their departure. On a whim, Gabriel stops by Milliways this evening, hoping to steal an extra hour or two to do just that.

Besides, the whiskey at the end of the universe is exceptional.

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Perhaps Gabriel might find the company exceptional, as well.

"Senator. I had hardly hoped to see you here in this lifetime."

The voice is sharp and urbane, if a little dry.

Familiar, too, mayhap.

Gabriel looks up immediately, with a warm smile.

"Galadan. How have you been?"

A beat, and he adds, wryly,

"You should know I'm harder to get rid of than that."

Galadan's smile is deliberate but not false.

"Time will do the work for you well enough, and I have, as it were, been away for a long time."

Such is the business of andain.

"Though I did trust that Mary, at least, would have been aware of any grand changes in your standard of living."

"Well, yes, but -- "

He pauses.

"Does time run the same in your world as it does for us?"

Gabriel laughs a little, adding,

"Mary would likely never forgive me did I not keep her informed."

Which, of course, is part of why he intends to leave a note before departing this evening.

"Worlds aside, time does not move for me in the same fashion as it does for you."

It never has and it never will -- one reason among many for why the andain fit nowhere at all.

"Nigh on one hundred years have passed since first I came here -- decades since last we met. Fortunate for us all, I have a long memory."

Laughter vanishes in the face of stunned surprise.

"... I see," he manages, after a moment. "Fortunate indeed, then."

A pause.

"I'd thought that you might be checking in with Magdalena from time to time, but perhaps I need to reassess in light of such a difference?"

"Time in the bar -- and in your world, as they seem to move primarily in synch -- passes slow but exceedingly fine."

Misquoting is a way of life for some. Galadan is just trying it on for size.

"As it were. Is there something in particular among the most recent series of reports that should draw my attention?"

Edited 2010-06-25 00:44 (UTC)

"Er..."

Gabriel looks more than a little awkward, for some reason.

He touches a few selections on his datapad, then passes it to Galadan.

The audio and video playback of the press conference is available on one side of the screen, while a full transcript is accessible via the other.

"Ah," Galadan says, voice full of polite interest.

"That."

"Ah, so you have heard, then."

Just as politely, although there's a hint of a smile quirking the unscarred corner of his mouth.

"I trust you've considered the ramifications."

His own expression remains perfectly composed.

"And that you've talked the majority of your security staff down from the ledge."

"Of course," he replies.

A beat.

"And yes, for the most part, although Magda and Bajian had a great deal to do with that." Dryly, he adds, "They're not best pleased, of course."

Galadan merely raises his eyebrows in polite inquiry.

"Why should that matter?"

"It doesn't, particularly, but I do prefer my staff to enjoy their work, not feel beleaguered by it."

"You have little hope of success on that score, I'm afraid."

His staff have, after all, met Gabriel.

"More's the pity."

"Ah, well."

He seems largely undisturbed by this fact; perhaps he's merely resigned.

"Might I ask what you believe your overarching strategy to be?"

It's not a test.

But Galadan does have a vested interest in the answer.

He raises his eyebrows.

"With respect to security, or the trip itself?"

"Considering that a full and thorough knowledge of security protocols is hardly chief amongst your repertoire, presume I am inquiring about an arena you do possess some small skill in."

His tone is still very polite.

Edited 2010-06-25 03:24 (UTC)

"It's essentially what I said in the press announcement," Gabriel returns.

"There are a great many projects going on under the auspices of the IIGA. Someone needs to make sure that local concerns are being heard."

Very, very dryly, he adds,

"I've learned not to assume."

"You are a master of grand gestures, certainly."

Galadan is equally dry.

"And in the short term there's little doubt that such a course of action should gain you -- and the IIGA -- a great deal of goodwill. Though I do hope that you also have plans in the works for addressing those troublesome local gaps in -- communication and action, as it were."

"I've roughed out a few approaches."

A beat.

"I figured it would be best to plan for the worst, and hope that it wouldn't be needed."

Galadan makes no comment on the value of hope.

Whether or not this means anything is -- up for debate.

"How rough? If I may be so bold."

"I'd be happy to provide you with the draft version, if you'd like," Gabriel tells him.

"I would hardly be likely to refuse such an opportunity."

That is not a 'no'.

He smiles.

"Somehow I thought you'd say that."

"And I do so enjoy being predictable."

So is the coffee, which is why Simon's at a table with a mug full.

He's reading, and doesn't catch sight of his father immediately.

He secures his own drink, glances at his datapad, then turns to look to see if his preferred seat by the fireplace is available.

When he spots Simon, Gabriel abandons all thoughts of the armchair and walks toward his son instead.

"Ni hao," he says, smiling crookedly. "Is this seat taken?"

He looks up, and smiles. "Ni hao, Dad. Please," and nods at the opposite seat.

He sinks into it and sets his things down with absent care.

"It's good to see you. How have you been?"

"Pretty well, and you?"

He touches the screen to mark his place, and sets his reader aside.

"Very well," he replies. "Your mother also; she'll be sorry to have missed you."

"And Kaylee?"

"She's well. I'll tell her you asked after her."

He's not sure he will, but -- maybe.

"I'm glad to hear it."

He nods toward the reader.

"Anything interesting?"

"Somewhat," he says, with slightly more interest in the tone than in the word. "It's correspondence from the home office on Osiris."

And he really shouldn't discuss the details, but his father should understand that.

"Ah." He nods. "I won't press, of course, but--"

Dry amusement is audible.

"--if you need to send a sealed reply quickly, I'd be happy to drop it by."

"Yes, I understand your tour's about to start from there."

There's a touch of a similar dry amusement in Simon's voice, but it fades quickly in the next words; what's there instead is approval, and maybe a touch of concern that he can't quite hide.

"It's been all over the feeds."

Edited 2010-06-24 02:14 (UTC)

"That is rather the point of a press conference," he observes, blandly. "But I'm glad to have it confirmed that it's been picked up widely; it gives me hope that the message is reaching where it needs to."

A pause. Gabriel's glance meets his son's, and his gaze is as steady as his words as he adds,

"I've not forgotten my promise, Simon."

"I know."

Sober, and just as steady.

But thank you for saying that, anyway.

He nods.

"It promises to be quite the interesting trip."

"Do you have your itinerary planned yet?"

They might be discussing a junket along the coast. Or even a vacation tour.

"Most of it," Gabriel tells him. "Although there's some room for flexibility."

A pause.

"We'll be stopping on Praxed..."

"Oh?"

He brightens.

"Do you have any idea when?"

His answering smile is warm and pleased.

"That's one of those things that's flexible. If, for example, there's one time that's better for you than another?"

"I don't think so," he says, "but -- this would be a few months from now at the earliest?"

"At least," he agrees.

"And how far in advance do you need to finalize your schedule?"

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