Brittany (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
breezeshadow) wrote2014-01-26 09:37 am
breezeshadow) wrote2014-01-26 09:37 am
Brain No Think Properly
I've managed to get myself what is either strep throat or laryngitis (or perhaps some horror mix of the two), which is pretty great since I'm supposed to go to the dentist tomorrow. I'm hoping some food and tea will at least bring my voice partially back, and I'm hoping by some magical powers that this completely clears up by tomorrow.
It probably won't since my immune system is a shit. In any case, here, have an AG excerpt.
“The court has issued an injunction against Ms. Jahia.” Duff bit into his injera-wrapped sandwich with the ferocity of a wild animal. Tomatoes, chickpeas, and greens spilled out of the bottom. “Something about illegal working papers.”
“That… Doesn’t sound correct.” Rose May spooned some wat carefully onto her injera; she had had plenty of time to get a real lunch, and while she knew that the Eramen used the injera to eat the wat, she could never quite master the technique without making a mess.
“They pulled it out of their arse. I wouldn’t have let her in if her papers weren’t complete.” Duff took a gulp of coffee. “I’m fairly certain they took one look at her name and decided that she couldn’t possibly be qualified.”
Rose May paused, staring down at her food. “Half-Eramen?”
“Msakajunia. Use Eramen around Welts, but their actual name is Msakajunia.” Her boss sounded like it had told people such far too many times; even so, Rose May had to suppress a wince. “Yes, I think they are targeting her because of that. I’m countering their injunction. I doubt it will last long, but Mr. Dagrun will still lose a translator for a few days.”
“Will he not receive another one?” Rose May took a gulp of tea before forcing her focus back to her food; she did not want to interrupt the conversation by needing to refill her mug in the middle of the meal.
“I really don’t want to give the Court ideas by replacing her. Instead, I’ve hired an instructor to begin teaching him Ubiquitous. We have a few other patients who could use the course as well. I expect he will be able to continue sessions in the interim.” Duff sighed. “But that’s why he couldn’t meet you today. He has no way to communicate, and I refuse to play the Empire’s games.”
Rose May mulled over his words as they both resumed eating in silence. She had requested the early dinner meeting, after a day of staring at paperwork and coming up with increasingly-insane theories as to why Hafstra’s appointment had been canceled. At that point, she had made the even poorer decision to read Duff’s notes about Tadhg, and that had been enough to request they discuss a few things.
The paperwork had included not just a basic information page, but also various newspaper clippings and what felt like a thesis on Tadhg’s life and behaviour. Rose May could not think of any other reason Duff would know so much about the man unless they knew each other personally, but the idea struck her as absurd. It seemed that one of them would have murdered the other before the greetings were done.
Whatever the reason, the packet was detailed, and thus unsettling. Tadhg Ahlgren was indeed a very intelligent and powerful man, coming from a long line of well-to-do businessmen in the highest mountains of Pooselridge. Even the women generally received a higher education, and the whole family dappled in every aspect of Welen life — politics, army, private business. The family had ties to the first railways in the country, and may have been essential in getting the line all the way into Pooselridge — the city, located an inconvenient distance from any gradual slopes. Tadhg was born with more than just a silver spoon.
Yet somewhere along the way, he broke off from his family’s traditionally nationalistic ways. He was a history professor at one of Pooselridge’s top institutions, and seemed respected and destined for tenure. Then he left and associated with the Piotr family — another powerful family in the western state. The Piotrs were known for being zealous, second only to the Soners (for whatever reason, Pooselridge seemed to grow militant families out of thin air). The Piotrs in the past had been pro-government, but in recent years they had begun to protest what they thought was poor treatment of demis. Combined with the public and embarrassing disowning of their eldest son, they had become rather quiet, no doubt to give the tabloids less to twist.
Tadhg had disassociated with the family well before their latest scandals; considering his opinions of demis, Rose May imagined it was a simple ideological difference. He started quietly, holding meetings while a professor preaching the poor treatment of humans in favour of “half-animals”, but it seemed it didn’t take long before he left his job and began public protests. After the first arrest, his wife apparently had enough of the mess and filed divorce. Rose May could only imagine what evidence the woman had to get it accepted first-try.
Duff spoke of a great orator, a man who could turn words to magic without a drop of telepathy. Yet all Rose May could find in the notes was a steady descent toward madness. Tadhg had no criminal background before his altercations with Hafstra. He had been a model citizen before his protests. There did not seem to be any link between his past life and what led him to their care.
“That entire family has a history of being unhinged.” Duff shrugged after Rose May expressed her thoughts, sipping his coffee; only sauce and tiny pieces of onion remained of his wrap. “Something about that area of the empire, I think. Just look at the Piotrs.”
“Could the PIotrs had instilled some of that… Dissatisfication into him?” Rose May kept forgetting that the food would not be eaten unless she actually touched it. “This predates the scandal with their son.”
“I doubt Tadhg would have been concerned with that; he’ll complain about homosexuals just as quickly as demis.” Duff brushed off the suggestion; the rumour of the son’s homosexuality was the strongest one surrounding the Piotrs, and one the papers never planned to let go. “I think they left amiably. They haven’t exchanged words since, Tadhg denied comment before he was imprisoned… It’s not like he left the Soners.”
“Would he even be alive?” The Soner family had a reputation for brutality; there was a reason they were so strongly associated with the military.
“Oh, I’m sure. Tadhg is frustratingly difficult to harm.” Distaste coloured Duff’s tone, but he did not respond to Rose May’s raised eyebrow. “It’s good that you read the whole packet. You know what to expect now. And you shouldn’t be taken in by his pretty words.” Duff met Rose May’s eyes, his gaze intense.
“He quoted scripture at me.”
At that, Duff laughed, a sudden snort followed by the faintest smile. “He probably saw your necklace and assumed he could butter you up with it. Did it work?”
“It was First Scripture. Any quote from that is likely carefully picked.” Rose May subconsciously rubbed her pedant; it was nothing more than a silver feather, decorated with fine notches. On the back, she could feel the tiny words carved into it: “In her Grace, so shall I receive Forgiveness”. She was so used to wearing it that she had not thought that Tadhg may have taken notice. “Julius was disappointed that I met him before you.”
“That was a break of standard protocol.” Duff put down his coffee mug and rose; Rose May followed suit, though some of her dinner still remained. “And with that man in particular, it was risky. It looks like you have a clearer head than many psychotherapists I’ve hired. Maybe between you and Julius, I won’t have to fire anyone.”
The statement was an unsettling one to leave her with; and yet, that was the last thing either of them said as they cleaned up the table and left for the night.
It probably won't since my immune system is a shit. In any case, here, have an AG excerpt.
“The court has issued an injunction against Ms. Jahia.” Duff bit into his injera-wrapped sandwich with the ferocity of a wild animal. Tomatoes, chickpeas, and greens spilled out of the bottom. “Something about illegal working papers.”
“That… Doesn’t sound correct.” Rose May spooned some wat carefully onto her injera; she had had plenty of time to get a real lunch, and while she knew that the Eramen used the injera to eat the wat, she could never quite master the technique without making a mess.
“They pulled it out of their arse. I wouldn’t have let her in if her papers weren’t complete.” Duff took a gulp of coffee. “I’m fairly certain they took one look at her name and decided that she couldn’t possibly be qualified.”
Rose May paused, staring down at her food. “Half-Eramen?”
“Msakajunia. Use Eramen around Welts, but their actual name is Msakajunia.” Her boss sounded like it had told people such far too many times; even so, Rose May had to suppress a wince. “Yes, I think they are targeting her because of that. I’m countering their injunction. I doubt it will last long, but Mr. Dagrun will still lose a translator for a few days.”
“Will he not receive another one?” Rose May took a gulp of tea before forcing her focus back to her food; she did not want to interrupt the conversation by needing to refill her mug in the middle of the meal.
“I really don’t want to give the Court ideas by replacing her. Instead, I’ve hired an instructor to begin teaching him Ubiquitous. We have a few other patients who could use the course as well. I expect he will be able to continue sessions in the interim.” Duff sighed. “But that’s why he couldn’t meet you today. He has no way to communicate, and I refuse to play the Empire’s games.”
Rose May mulled over his words as they both resumed eating in silence. She had requested the early dinner meeting, after a day of staring at paperwork and coming up with increasingly-insane theories as to why Hafstra’s appointment had been canceled. At that point, she had made the even poorer decision to read Duff’s notes about Tadhg, and that had been enough to request they discuss a few things.
The paperwork had included not just a basic information page, but also various newspaper clippings and what felt like a thesis on Tadhg’s life and behaviour. Rose May could not think of any other reason Duff would know so much about the man unless they knew each other personally, but the idea struck her as absurd. It seemed that one of them would have murdered the other before the greetings were done.
Whatever the reason, the packet was detailed, and thus unsettling. Tadhg Ahlgren was indeed a very intelligent and powerful man, coming from a long line of well-to-do businessmen in the highest mountains of Pooselridge. Even the women generally received a higher education, and the whole family dappled in every aspect of Welen life — politics, army, private business. The family had ties to the first railways in the country, and may have been essential in getting the line all the way into Pooselridge — the city, located an inconvenient distance from any gradual slopes. Tadhg was born with more than just a silver spoon.
Yet somewhere along the way, he broke off from his family’s traditionally nationalistic ways. He was a history professor at one of Pooselridge’s top institutions, and seemed respected and destined for tenure. Then he left and associated with the Piotr family — another powerful family in the western state. The Piotrs were known for being zealous, second only to the Soners (for whatever reason, Pooselridge seemed to grow militant families out of thin air). The Piotrs in the past had been pro-government, but in recent years they had begun to protest what they thought was poor treatment of demis. Combined with the public and embarrassing disowning of their eldest son, they had become rather quiet, no doubt to give the tabloids less to twist.
Tadhg had disassociated with the family well before their latest scandals; considering his opinions of demis, Rose May imagined it was a simple ideological difference. He started quietly, holding meetings while a professor preaching the poor treatment of humans in favour of “half-animals”, but it seemed it didn’t take long before he left his job and began public protests. After the first arrest, his wife apparently had enough of the mess and filed divorce. Rose May could only imagine what evidence the woman had to get it accepted first-try.
Duff spoke of a great orator, a man who could turn words to magic without a drop of telepathy. Yet all Rose May could find in the notes was a steady descent toward madness. Tadhg had no criminal background before his altercations with Hafstra. He had been a model citizen before his protests. There did not seem to be any link between his past life and what led him to their care.
“That entire family has a history of being unhinged.” Duff shrugged after Rose May expressed her thoughts, sipping his coffee; only sauce and tiny pieces of onion remained of his wrap. “Something about that area of the empire, I think. Just look at the Piotrs.”
“Could the PIotrs had instilled some of that… Dissatisfication into him?” Rose May kept forgetting that the food would not be eaten unless she actually touched it. “This predates the scandal with their son.”
“I doubt Tadhg would have been concerned with that; he’ll complain about homosexuals just as quickly as demis.” Duff brushed off the suggestion; the rumour of the son’s homosexuality was the strongest one surrounding the Piotrs, and one the papers never planned to let go. “I think they left amiably. They haven’t exchanged words since, Tadhg denied comment before he was imprisoned… It’s not like he left the Soners.”
“Would he even be alive?” The Soner family had a reputation for brutality; there was a reason they were so strongly associated with the military.
“Oh, I’m sure. Tadhg is frustratingly difficult to harm.” Distaste coloured Duff’s tone, but he did not respond to Rose May’s raised eyebrow. “It’s good that you read the whole packet. You know what to expect now. And you shouldn’t be taken in by his pretty words.” Duff met Rose May’s eyes, his gaze intense.
“He quoted scripture at me.”
At that, Duff laughed, a sudden snort followed by the faintest smile. “He probably saw your necklace and assumed he could butter you up with it. Did it work?”
“It was First Scripture. Any quote from that is likely carefully picked.” Rose May subconsciously rubbed her pedant; it was nothing more than a silver feather, decorated with fine notches. On the back, she could feel the tiny words carved into it: “In her Grace, so shall I receive Forgiveness”. She was so used to wearing it that she had not thought that Tadhg may have taken notice. “Julius was disappointed that I met him before you.”
“That was a break of standard protocol.” Duff put down his coffee mug and rose; Rose May followed suit, though some of her dinner still remained. “And with that man in particular, it was risky. It looks like you have a clearer head than many psychotherapists I’ve hired. Maybe between you and Julius, I won’t have to fire anyone.”
The statement was an unsettling one to leave her with; and yet, that was the last thing either of them said as they cleaned up the table and left for the night.