Professor Irving Braxiatel

Greetings, I'm Irving Braxiatel, Professor of Theatrology, and I am open to your questions and comments. [[This is an RP blog for a previously fobwatched Irving Braxiatel, who'd happily been a professor, blissfully unaware of his origins. Now unwatched,...

[because-i-choose-to]

Narvin ate in silence for a few moments, partly enjoying the food and partly searching for a new subject.

“I’m not used to this much idleness,” she admitted.  “When’s the last time you had a real break from work?”

“I keep busy… Not entirely sure,” he shrugged. Idleness was in some ways against Time Lord ‘nature’. Even now, several work schemes were forming his mind. The difference to a position like his and the CIA, unless you’re at the top, you’re only allowed to consider the short term missions on which the CIA would send you.

[coordinatrix]

Narvin leaned back in her chair.  “Politician and CIA Agent, trapped with nothing else to do,” she sighed.  “It seems the least we could do to plot a coup, or something.  Or the takeover of a star system or so.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Hm, the star systems in the vicinity don’t seem terribly worth it, unless you have hidden gems in mind?” he teased.

[coordinatrix]

“It hardly needs proximity just to plot.”  Narvin stretched out her legs, extending her heels and wriggling her ankles.  The alcohol hadn’t been strong enough to have much effect, but she was feeling a little less tense.  “Ideally, if you could choose one world or system that would most benefit by Gallifreyan rule, which would you opt for?”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Depends on my motives,” he shrugged. “If I wanted to usher in a world into flourishing - I suppose I’d pick Selmore Constellation - they are unable to make a decision and frankly could use any kind of direction - we’d be hard pressed to do wrong by them. If I was I interested in a project or introducing some chaos into our lives? Then the Sol system, no question.”

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

“Well, the difference is that she won’t pretend otherwise,” he pointed out. “You’ll know where you stand with Romana - something which you’ll appreciate, I’m sure of it. And of course she’ll come to respect you, she has a scientific mind. The evidence will be undeniable as she grows to know you.”

Narvin tilted her head on its side, a little smile tugging her lips.  “The fact that you learned to like me doesn’t mean that people usually do,” she said, brushing a brief kiss over the corner of his mouth.

[because-i-choose-to]

He took the kiss before replying. “People don’t usually like her either,” he pointed out.

[coordinatrix]

“You’ve found your niche, then,” she said, “as the Time Lord uniquely suited to tolerate unlikable but politically useful Time Ladies.  Although I don’t know if I agree with your assessment of her.  The public seems to be taking to her well enough.“

[because-i-choose-to]

“The public want someone who’s not liked by the establishment - it echoes their dissatisfaction. The public is always dissatisfied.”

[coordinatrix]

“She’s an academic, the Heir to a Prydonian High House and a member of the High Council, if only recently on the last one.  The establishment doesn’t dislike her the way you mean–only specific politicians disliking other specific politicians on a personal level, which is hardly unusual.  There is the renegade streak, I grant you, but otherwise it would be more surprising if she never ran for President than to find that she’s doing so now.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Relatively speaking,” he replied. “No one with a shot of gaining the presidency gets further than that from the establishment - it requires resources they don’t have.”

[because-i-choose-to]

Narvin ate in silence for a few moments, partly enjoying the food and partly searching for a new subject.

“I’m not used to this much idleness,” she admitted.  “When’s the last time you had a real break from work?”

“I keep busy… Not entirely sure,” he shrugged. Idleness was in some ways against Time Lord ‘nature’. Even now, several work schemes were forming his mind. The difference to a position like his and the CIA, unless you’re at the top, you’re only allowed to consider the short term missions on which the CIA would send you.

[coordinatrix]

Narvin leaned back in her chair.  “Politician and CIA Agent, trapped with nothing else to do,” she sighed.  “It seems the least we could do to plot a coup, or something.  Or the takeover of a star system or so.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Hm, the star systems in the vicinity don’t seem terribly worth it, unless you have hidden gems in mind?” he teased.

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

“Well, the difference is that she won’t pretend otherwise,” he pointed out. “You’ll know where you stand with Romana - something which you’ll appreciate, I’m sure of it. And of course she’ll come to respect you, she has a scientific mind. The evidence will be undeniable as she grows to know you.”

Narvin tilted her head on its side, a little smile tugging her lips.  “The fact that you learned to like me doesn’t mean that people usually do,” she said, brushing a brief kiss over the corner of his mouth.

[because-i-choose-to]

He took the kiss before replying. “People don’t usually like her either,” he pointed out.

[coordinatrix]

“You’ve found your niche, then,” she said, “as the Time Lord uniquely suited to tolerate unlikable but politically useful Time Ladies.  Although I don’t know if I agree with your assessment of her.  The public seems to be taking to her well enough.“

[because-i-choose-to]

“The public want someone who’s not liked by the establishment - it echoes their dissatisfaction. The public is always dissatisfied.”

[because-i-choose-to]

Narvin ate in silence for a few moments, partly enjoying the food and partly searching for a new subject.

“I’m not used to this much idleness,” she admitted.  “When’s the last time you had a real break from work?”

“I keep busy... Not entirely sure,” he shrugged. Idleness was in some ways against Time Lord ‘nature’. Even now, several work schemes were forming his mind. The difference to a position like his and the CIA, unless you’re at the top, you’re only allowed to consider the short term missions on which the CIA would send you.

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

“Well, the difference is that she won’t pretend otherwise,” he pointed out. “You’ll know where you stand with Romana - something which you’ll appreciate, I’m sure of it. And of course she’ll come to respect you, she has a scientific mind. The evidence will be undeniable as she grows to know you.”

Narvin tilted her head on its side, a little smile tugging her lips.  “The fact that you learned to like me doesn’t mean that people usually do,” she said, brushing a brief kiss over the corner of his mouth.

[because-i-choose-to]

He took the kiss before replying. “People don’t usually like her either,” he pointed out.

[because-i-choose-to]

My dearest, Braxiatel.

“My lady?”

[romanaofheartshaven]

“— — I know that being a Cardinal is a thankless job,” Romana stated, helping herself to one of those lovely, PLUSH, armchairs situated before his desk, “but I feel as if that’s the very LEAST I can offer you.  I — I wouldn’t be here without you, Irving.  You’ve done so much… some of which, I’m sure I’d rather NOT know the details of,” her lips pressed into a thin line, “at any rate… you will always have my gratitude and respect.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Like old times,” he replied, with a quiet smile. “What I’ve done... was never with thanks in mind - not that I haven’t enjoyed gratitude when it’s shown.”

[because-i-choose-to]

My dearest, Braxiatel.

“My lady?”

[coordinatrix]

  because-i-choose-to

“Naturally,” he remarked.

“If it’s finished cooking, it shouldn’t,” he advised. “The actual soufflé should harden enough towards the end and certainly now it’s cooled.”

She nodded in cordial acknowledgment of the compliment, and tentatively cut into the souffle, cutting two of what seemed to her to be reasonable portions and taking a tentative taste.

“I don’t know what it’s supposed to taste like, but I think we did rather well,” she said, with a tentative smile.

[because-i-choose-to]

He thanked her wordlessly before taking a taste himself. “Yes, we did quite well,” he admitted, smiling back.

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

  because-i-choose-to

“We’re no mean force, Narvin,” he allowed as she moved into her new and appreciated position. While his touch with her was gentle and steadying, enjoying the textures of her outfit and skin, he refrained from kissing her during the ‘argument’. “But let’s not make the mistake of claiming the rats as ours - they’re still rats and bite whoever, even the hands that feed them. Establishments that don’t change - don’t experience upheavals…” He closed his eyes with memories, visions before opening them clear. “Experience one far worse and uncontrolled.”

Narvin sighed, unable to entirely deny the logic of that.  She was a traditionalist more from an instinct not to fix what wasn’t broken than from sentiment–though her pride in Gallifrey was certainly genuine, and her tendency to jingoism only partially performative.  She might have limited affection for the rest of the universe, but that didn’t mean she thought Gallifrey was perfect. 

“Stagnation is never healthy,” she conceded, “and I don’t have such strong feelings about Darkel that I can’t be talked around.  But whatever it is in Romana that excites you so much, I can’t say I see it.”  She made a face.  “And I don’t thin she likes me very much.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Well, the difference is that she won’t pretend otherwise,” he pointed out. “You’ll know where you stand with Romana - something which you’ll appreciate, I’m sure of it. And of course she’ll come to respect you, she has a scientific mind. The evidence will be undeniable as she grows to know you.”

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

“Surely, you weren’t expecting your rise to be instantaneous,” he replied, with some confusion. “And in the CIA, one could hardly be pushed out that fast. They have a high tolerance for… square pegs, given their general stoke.” 

“The Agency’s been good to me,” she said, as much as she intended to say on the subject, but couldn’t help adding, “and they’ve had good value for their investment, where I was concerned.”

She looked down at their culinary accomplishment.  “I’m not entirely certain where to start, on cutting into it,” she admitted.  “Surely it will collapse, when the hot air inside escapes?”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Naturally,” he remarked.

“If it’s finished cooking, it shouldn’t,” he advised. “The actual soufflé should harden enough towards the end and certainly now it’s cooled.” 

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

When he saw the rock slide that Andred had triggered had made the TARDIS covered up, he spoke lightly. “Seems either the Shobogans or nature has it in for you, Narvin,” he said, but even as it seemed that he was taking it all in his usual stride, he found an irresistible urge, born out of his seemingly permanent exhaustion, to sit on the grass and while he managed to cover with his usual grace, it felt to him that he fell to the ground with bump. It was a sitting position, so good enough.

Narvin closed her eyes.  “That idiot,” she hissed, immediately suspecting the culprit.

She pulled her communicator out of her pocket and conveyed a command by pressing her thumb to the isomorphic panel.  Her TARDISes were always top-of-the-line, a precaution too practical for her thrifty side to rebel.  It was several generations since higher-end models had added a feature for similar situations, a remote control that would summon a TARDIS to its owner within a few miles or so.  She strode a few steps away–the no-fly barrier around the safehouse was a factor–then called her TARDIS to her.

That it obeyed at all was sufficient assurance that it wasn’t too badly damaged, though the sound of materialization was a little more labored than Narvin liked to hear.  “That idiot,” she said again.  “Did he really think he could make a clean getaway from a known starting place inside of a few microspans?“

Narvin quickly assessed the damage to her TARDIS.  It wasn’t going to be traveling in time without repairs, but that was fine; all she needed it to do right now was cover ground.  Its scanner picked up a Gallifreyan life form, what must be Andred, heading in the direction of Heartshaven proper.  Narvin swore vehemently.

She almost offered Brax the option of waiting here for her, but knowing her luck and Brax’s mindset right now, he was just as likely to attempt a runner–and far more likely than Andred to actually succeed.  “More comfortable in here,” she called.

[because-i-choose-to]

“You know,” he called back. “Chasing Andred across fields was decidedly not on my schedule for today, so thank you, but the grass will be sufficient.” That and the notion of standing up seemed beyond him for the moment. He’d lost his strength. 

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

He cupped her cheek in his hand after her kiss, a soft smile on his face. He nodded slightly. “I want her in before she starts to be come part of the establishment,” he explained. “There’s a buzz about her now, a mystique. A lot of the public are responding to her.

“And we won’t be the only ones who’d find her difficult to manage. Nothing will bring the rats out of their nests than a good shake up.”

“We are the establishment,” Narvin said, more genuinely disapproving now.  “We’re the last people who’d benefit by encouraging the anti-intellectual notion that experience somehow makes people bad at their jobs.  Never mind that she’s hardly the choice for a populist candidate, as an academic Heartshaven who, at this point, would be elected for her name instead of her record.”

That last part bothered her more than she wanted to admit.  Bad enough that Romana was likely to be elected without having to put in the work of rising through the ranks; it was worse to hear Brax say specifically that he wanted her to be given that shortcut.  Narvin would never be comfortable with the notion that she’d married into Heartshaven, had in fact taken steps to limit legal ties between herself and that House as far as she could under the circumstances.  Her natural anti-aristocratic sentiments had only got stronger now she felt the need to prove she hadn’t become an aristocrat herself.

“What was wrong with the way things were?” she asked.  She turned in his arms to kneel over him, knees to either side of his hips, arms draped over his shoulders, one finger toying with the little lock of hair at the very back of his head.  “We knew those rats.  They were our rats.”

[because-i-choose-to]

"We’re no mean force, Narvin,” he allowed as she moved into her new and appreciated position. While his touch with her was gentle and steadying, enjoying the textures of her outfit and skin, he refrained from kissing her during the ‘argument’. “But let’s not make the mistake of claiming the rats as ours - they’re still rats and bite whoever, even the hands that feed them. Establishments that don’t change - don’t experience upheavals...” He closed his eyes with memories, visions before opening them clear. “Experience one far worse and uncontrolled.”

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

“So is that the reason you decided to join the field?” he asked. Narvin would have been well able to rise through the more difficult route of analysis - she was incredibly intelligent and efficient and that venue did seem to suit the Time Lady’s temperament.

“…No.”  She stood by way of hiding her face, and went looking for an implement to cut into their souffle.  “I… wasn’t exactly offered the plum assignments, at least when I first started off, so I’ve tried to lean into that.  Being the person who’ll do the jobs nobody else wants, and do them well, isn’t exactly glamorous, but it’s better than being pushed out entirely.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“Surely, you weren’t expecting your rise to be instantaneous,” he replied, with some confusion. “And in the CIA, one could hardly be pushed out that fast. They have a high tolerance for... square pegs, given their general stoke.”

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to

He had an internal moment of hesitation, but he seemed to nod pretty quickly. “Lay on,” he said, unable to resist the reference even in the midst of his depressed apathy. He lifted up what was certainly a modest bag considering that he was Braxiatel and hefted it onto his shoulder.

The fact that he had at least the one bag was a comfort–a small one, but she could always imagine that it was dimensionally transcendent.

She didn’t want him to feel pressured to go, but didn’t know how to say so without pressuring him to stay, and the weight of last night’s words blocked her throat.  She didn’t know how much of what he’d said had been honest, but if he’d meant it–if he really did feel she’d used him, on a personal level–then she had no right to ask anything of him, even and perhaps especially reassurance. She tried to make herself angry, to wear it as her armor, but that could never work as well as usual with someone she’d felt so close to.  Even though he had threatened to kill her for the crime of suppressing her emotions, on a world where they’d both been taught to do just that.

She led the way silently out of the safehouse, through the red hills towards her TARDIS.

[because-i-choose-to]

When he saw the rock slide that Andred had triggered had made the TARDIS covered up, he spoke lightly. “Seems either the Shobogans or nature has it in for you, Narvin,” he said, but even as it seemed that he was taking it all in his usual stride, he found an irresistible urge, born out of his seemingly permanent exhaustion, to sit on the grass and while he managed to cover with his usual grace, it felt to him that he fell to the ground with bump. It was a sitting position, so good enough.

[coordinatrix]

Organized Marriage AU Revisited

[coordinatrix]

  because-i-choose-to

“We’re humble functionaries, Narvin,” he pointed out. “It’s not unusual for us to be involved in the heavy lifting. And we need the youthful energy - Gallifrey needs to do more than trundle along being good enough. There are too many new Time Powers entering the field. Darkel is too conservative and Romana has plenty of experience.”

“We want to seem like humble functionaries,” she countered, “while in fact making most of the foreign policy decisions ourselves.  And Romana may have experience with the universe, but not with Gallifreyan politics.  I don’t deny she’s able, but surely there’s no need to rush her into the office when she’s only been back on the planet a few years–after a decidedly unsanctioned mission, I might add, which hasn’t been legitimized in any but the flimsiest way.  I don’t doubt she will be President someday, she’s a Heartshaven and she wants it enough, but won’t she do a better job given a century or three of experience first?”

She turned to look at Brax.  “Of course, if it’s a matter of personal advantage, that’s different,” she said.  “I have no desire to be promoted out of the Agency, all I need is a President who will leave me be, but if you think Romana gaining the office will benefit your career more than Darkel ever has, I’ll support you.”  She kissed him softly on the lips.  “I hope you know that.”

[because-i-choose-to]

He cupped her cheek in his hand after her kiss, a soft smile on his face. He nodded slightly. “I want her in before she starts to be come part of the establishment,” he explained. “There’s a buzz about her now, a mystique. A lot of the public are responding to her. 

“And we won’t be the only ones who’d find her difficult to manage. Nothing will bring the rats out of their nests than a good shake up.”

[coordinatrix]

because-i-choose-to‌:

“I do love a bit of risk,” he replied glibly. “I feel the best way to gain a global view is to have global knowledge - there’s only so much to be gleamed from screens.”

She didn’t believe that for a nanospan.  She’d seen his schedules as Ambassador, the attention to detail that went into his planning.  Which meant he’d thought this post wasn’t a risk after all.  That was interesting.  She filed it away.

“I’ll admit, it is difficult to get a sense for how the rest of the universe lives until you’ve seen it firsthand.”

[because-i-choose-to]

“So is that the reason you decided to join the field?” he asked. Narvin would have been well able to rise through the more difficult route of analysis - she was incredibly intelligent and efficient and that venue did seem to suit the Time Lady’s temperament.