Conversation Space IV.

[powersthatbe]

The small room is painted a dark beige, with stained wood paneling on the lower half, and lush burgundy carpeting. The ceiling, however, is cracked and bowed, sagging alarmingly, occasionally shedding chips of plaster. Wrought-iron lamp-posts in the corners suspend pale, wan globes of light, and between them along the walls run rows of painted sunflowers, all turned towards the center of the room as if listening attentively. A jutting spire of granite rises from the floor on a diagonal, its flattened top sporting a cracked wineglass from which the wine (a white) slowly spatters teardrops across the plinth. And there is no chair, but a therapist’s couch, blue with gold trim, and ornate scrollwork on the legs, beside which the fluted horn of a phonograph player pipes music into the room, quiet enough to just be background ambience.

Comments

[callmemeibe]

They fall silent for a moment, reflecting. "There are several I consider wicked, whom I shall punish accordingly. The Antisticides will be dealt with according to their mores. The Exploiters will be banned from the next cycle of Synodiporia."

[ayiyiyi]

"That's quite a lot of punishing you have planned," Xena observes.

[callmemeibe]

"There are several of our number whom I believe should be punished for their crimes," they answer simply, shrugging their shoulders a little. It is clear they are uncomfortable with being casual, but attempting on Xena's behalf.