(no subject)

[hisrighthand]

--ready by tomorrow, sir. If you give me the notes on the Sarker file-- yes, sir, that's exactl-- No, sir. On schedule for eleven hundr--

[Enter: one young man in a crisp suit which does little to disguise his scrawniness, though that's more likely the fault of his own frame than that of the designer. He's been speaking into an earpiece in soft, clipped tones, but the moment there's the unmistakeable click of the door latching behind him, he stops abruptly. His right hand freezes over the tablet cradled in his left arm, and he goes utterly silent.

Five seconds. Ten seconds. He zips up the tablet's carrying case and tucks it primly under his arm. And for the moment, he just stands very, very still as he takes stock of the room.]

Comments

[pridegoesbefore]

[He's attracted her attention by virtue of his sudden silence; used to the comings and goings of people here, his abrupt cessation of speech was noticeable.

Blue eyes glance at him from over her book, then return to the pages.]

Try the handle. It may not have latched all the way.

[hisrighthand]

[He reaches behind him to do so, but it's firmly locked, as he confirms with a few more rattles.]

If only I were so lucky, miss.

[pridegoesbefore]

Luck is a coin, you ought to consider both sides.

[hisrighthand]

I'll give it due consideration, miss. [And he will, although maybe not in the way she intended; he's formulating theories and filling out paperwork in his head already.]

I gather new visitors to this location aren't uncommon, then?

[pridegoesbefore]

Not uncommon in the least. You've stumbled upon a pocket between dimensions, and you'll get out again in due course.

[hisrighthand]

[He mutters to himself:] Of course. Of course it'd be something like that.

Er-- Thank you, and what can I call you, miss?

[pridegoesbefore]

You may call me Narcissa-- though if you prefer to be formal, then Miss Black will suffice. And you are..?

[hisrighthand]

Miss Black, then. I'm Balfour-- just Balfour.

[pridegoesbefore]

How do you do, just Balfour-- other than your current predicament?

[hisrighthand]

Quite alright, thank you. Life was going on at its familiar, predictable pace before this happened. How do you do, Miss Black?

[pridegoesbefore]

Well enough, thank you.

You ought to take advantage of the break this room affords you, since you're here.

[hisrighthand]

I'm afraid the concept may be lost on me. Extended breaks are unfamiliar territory, to say nothing of the... completeness of it.

[pridegoesbefore]

You have issue with doing something for yourself?

[hisrighthand]

I don't take breaks. [And that would be a flash of childish petulance rearing its head, which he's quick to amend.] Well-- rarely. I'm paid to work, not to loiter.

[pridegoesbefore]

I doubt your employer will be able to upbraid you for loitering in a place such as this.

[hisrighthand]

No, I suppose not, though it's not a habit I should let myself form. [Still, he removes the earpiece from his ear and tucks it into his pocket.] It's... unsettling, being off the clock so completely, so suddenly.

[pridegoesbefore]

[...whatdidhejustpullfromhisearthatisdisturbing.]

...yes, well. You might as well embrace it, or it will eat away at you.

[hisrighthand]

[thefutureoftechnology?]

Spoken from experience?

[pridegoesbefore]

[Inhisearthat'sdisgusting.]

Do I look the sort who lets things eat away at her?

[hisrighthand]

[cleaningproductsmayhaveabrightfuturetoo]

Certainly not, Miss Black. But I have been taught not to judge a book by its cover, as they say.

[pridegoesbefore]

[UGHtheyhadbetter.]

An excellent response. You may stay.

[hisrighthand]

Er. [His eyebrows draw ever so slightly together in confusion.] I may stay, as in...?

[pridegoesbefore]

--good grief, do you not socialise at all?

[hisrighthand]

[He doesn't.] It's not high on my list of priorities.

[pridegoesbefore]

So banter escapes you. Marvellous.

[hisrighthand]

Sorry. [He nearly says that he'll work on it, but that probably wouldn't help his case.] I suppose I could look at my time in here as a chance to practice.

[pridegoesbefore]

[Oh, dear.]

You could look at your time here as an opportunity to relax and not take everything quite so literally-- or at the very least, with a little less seriousness.

[hisrighthand]

[He opens his mouth and very nearly says that it's not a habit he should let himself form. Them again, he doesn't want to argue with her, so he concedes-- in a sort of unconvinced tone of voice.] It may be worth a try.

[pridegoesbefore]

It's not going to kill you.

[hisrighthand]

That doesn't mean it's going to be comfortable.

[pridegoesbefore]

Are you always so opposed to taking personal time?

[hisrighthand]

[He shrugs.] I don't usually have the option.

[pridegoesbefore]

Yet here you are, with unlimited time at your disposal. Whatever shall you do.

[hisrighthand]

Well, given that there's no immediately apparent way to use it to boost my efficiency, I suppose the only choice is to learn to embrace it before it devours me completely. [Look, he's learning, sort of.]

What... does one do with so much free time?

[pridegoesbefore]

[Would he like a sweetie?]

Anything you like. Hobbies, conversation, exploration-- they all come down to indulging in one's personal vices to whatever degree is satisfactory.

[hisrighthand]

[But that's so childish. ... yes but he'll never admit it.]

I'm surprised this place isn't in ruins already.

[pridegoesbefore]

[Then she won't offer. And shall crunch quite happily on a Sugar Quill. There's always one or twelve on her at any given time.]

It has marvellous regenerative properties.