(Untitled)

[bass_line_blues]

Preston ambles into the Wasteland and slings his backpack onto his seat

Comments

[undermyheel]

"The prodigal judge returns," Claire says, dryly.

She raises an eyebrow at him.

[bass_line_blues]

Preston turns, with half a shrug and half a grin.

"I never officially sat as a judge. Biased in the courts, wouldn't be fair."

[undermyheel]

Amused, Claire says, "I was there, sweetheart. Unless we've all forgotten the bruises and reign of terror."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston snorts. "Which one?"

[undermyheel]

"All of them. I don't forget attempts on my life," Claire says. She taps a nail on her glass. "Your unique brand of morality could have been helpful recently."

[bass_line_blues]

"I hope it's not all that unique," Preston says, more quietly, and then rests a hand on a chair, leaning some of his weight on it.

"With what?"

[undermyheel]

"The rumblings of society," Claire says, waving a hand.

"We're all itching to find someone with a moral high ground that's above our own."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston looks . . . vaguely alarmed, at this.

"It's not really a matter of different moral heights, I mean, so much as perspectives. Height is really a kind of relativistic way to view it - fuck, don't look at me."

Preston is just a guy with a bass!

[undermyheel]

"Oh, darling," Claire shakes her head. "Don't drown in the metaphor. The point is that you start something. You see it through."

Reason!

[bass_line_blues]

. . . so that's what they're talking about. Okay.

Preston looks a little rueful, but doesn't slump. "Everything seemed okay when I left. I wouldn't have if it didn't."

[undermyheel]

A slightly more malicious smile.

"Well. That seems reasonable."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston hesitates for a moment, and then drops into the seat across from Claire, folding his hands in front of him.

"Can you lay it out for me? What's been going wrong - from your point of view?"

Claire's point of view is not necessarily anyone else's, but it's best to get the whole picture as many times over as possible.

[undermyheel]

"Oh, but sweetheart, you said that everything seemed fine, and since it's your ball that's rolling down the hill I must just be missing something."

Tight amusement. Claire rests her chin in her hand.

"Was backpacking fun?"

[bass_line_blues]

Preston looks at her. "It wasn't supposed to be just my ball."

He looks down, and then shrugs, resigned. ""It's a good thing playing fetch is kind of in the job description these days, then, isn't it?"

[undermyheel]

Claire pauses to take a long drink.

"The problem with having courts is that people remember how to abuse them. They forget that things are not as... egalitarian as they were."

Callously, she glances at him. "Continuing with the clunkly metaphor, it never would have begun rolling without lots of help."

Herself included.

[bass_line_blues]

"I know. I didn't think that - well, you know. I still think it's a good idea."

He holds his head up straighter, trying not to look defiant. "I still think people think it's a good idea, even if they're screwing around with it. System's no good unless it's tested, right?"