[And far away in a strange London where there are still airships in the sky, Una Persson switches on her computer and stares.]

...

[No words. Just her mouth hanging slightly open in shock.]

[And Rhade practically trips all over himself getting the communicator up to where he can be holding it, instead of it just seated in front of him.

And this would be a good point to say hello.

It would be a spectacular point to say hello.]

Really?

[That is not hello.]

[Somehow that jogs loose her speech centres. For two people as worldly as herself and Gaheris Rhade, the ease with which they turn into idiots around each other is truly impressive.]

Gaheris. It's me.

[Yes. Smooth as ever.]

Where—you're still on the Barge?

I don't know how time relates where you are. But I am at the moment. [He makes a motion with his hands, indicating somewhere between "this long" and "that long". It's difficult to tell when Una might be.]

It's been about three years. I've been in London. Doing theatre and, well, failing to stay out of trouble, really. [Pause.] How are you doing?

[Really? Is that really the best thing you can think of to say?]

Much better, actually. Much more than when you last saw me.

[He prims up a bit, because it's Una, and it's required.]

Did you get my letter?

[She smiles then, real and unforced.]

Yes, I did. Right in my face in a high wind, in fact. Thank you.

[His eyebrows pop right up.]

...Well...

At least postage wasn't due?

[Rhade is the most smooth.]

I know a bit more than I'd like to, really. [Angua looks a bit surprised, and mostly very sheepish. She's back in her old armor, sitting at a desk.]

It's been a while. [He never really wondered what made her leave, though, because it should be obvious even without knowing specifics...]

How are you?

Um... pretty well, actually. [Very sheepish.] How is it up there?

Hello, you pretty beast! How the hell have you been?

Here. Unfortunately.

[But he grabs the picture off his desk of Brax and Anisette and holds it up where Stildyne can see. The pretty beast wants to show off his little! Look how proud he is! And even cropped, the man in the picture holding the baby is obviously Brax.]

Nicely done, sir. [Stildyne gives him a well-formed salute.] It's got a name-?

[Don't call the baby 'it' just because it's too little to tell, Stildyne. You are bad at child.]

Anisette. [He doesn't mind so much because she is kind of wee.] Braxiatel chose the name. [Thus she is a booze baby.]

Edited 2013-06-08 05:19 am (UTC)

A pretty one, I think?

[Maybe? How do baby name.]

Have you plans for another? Or. I suppose. The ability. Since I'm not sure exactly how you managed the first one-- looming, or-?

Nietzscheans typically breed to continue on their genes and ideals. I am aware that I already have succeeded in that, so Anisette is the sole recipient of my efforts for now. I don't really have any other plans or prospects at the moment, and for once I'm actually content with that. I'm exceptionally proud of her.

How old, now? Only so small as in the picture?

Wow, this again? How crappy is your network security, Kitten?

It's not my network, or I assure you it would be secure. Though I can't fault it the acquaintances I earn.

[He's fancy when he flirts.]

So we do remember each other.

There's some kinda movie script in this whole thing. We could score some serious cash.

It's not exactly a forgettable face.

[And it's always a little strange to be flirted with by it, but he's in a good mood over it.] Your brother is doing much better, by the way. He's a fast learner.

He's not my brother.

[If it were anyone but Alec, that would put a damper on his mood; it does, but he doesn't let it show, cheerful but firm. And still smiling.]

Twin, yes. Related, no.

We all are. Some of us just burn out faster than others.

In any case, he is doing much better. In a relatively short time, too. Faster than me. [But maybe it was because on some level he knew what he didn't want to do.]

Well good for him.

[It's flippant, and there's still no love lost between X5-493 and X5-494, but he does mean it. In his way.

However, Ben isn't really what he's interested in right now.]

What's that mean? Faster than you?