It's been Spring Cleaning time at the Reynolds Ranch, and Sallie's got one large box at her feet and a smaller one clutched in her arms as she walks through her pantry into the bar at the end of the 'verse
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He's been looking forward to a rare quiet evening at home (even if Regan's away at a meeting), but it doesn't take him long to realize that if he stays in the house he'll likely spend the night working on any of the number of things that still need his time and attention.
As a result, when Gabriel Tam steps through the Milliways door, he's deliberately left all his files behind, save for those contained on the datapad in his pocket.
Gesturing to the two boxes at her feet and the sign to one side, "Giveaways of the future. You should poke about in 'em, see if there's anything that might suit you."
Despite her easy tone, Sallie finds this to be highly unlikely.
"Though I can't imagine as you have very much time on your hands for picking up of trifles."
"This is a quiet evening for me, in fact," he tells her, walking over. "Although I'm inclined to say that it wouldn't be polite of me to do so, seeing that we're of the same timeframe."
A pause, and then he adds,
"However, if there's anything in particular that comes to mind--"
"Sure. Hrm -- " No specials up at the moment, so Sallie orders a glass of bourbon and swivels herself around to face the bar once Gabriel has a chance to order something for himself.
"Malcolm is most likely off...keeping himself busy, I'm sure."
Somehow, telling Senator Tam that the man principally in charge of keeping his children's shelter safe and secure is off doing Lord knows what in a different universe is not the most palatable option available, and she takes another sip of her drink.
Sallie's not wearing her wrist brace today; Simon would probably give her a look, but right now she's happy about it and giving a smile.
"Well enough -- business as usual. At least until registration comes 'round, with all the businesses on the outside of town." The smile reforms into a smirk, sharing a secret that isn't really much of one. "I think it's the first time my neighbors've been happy to fill out paperwork."
It'd been an interesting day for most of the business owners in town that were former Browncoats or families with Independent ties, when the envelopes arrived.
Thick envelopes of actual real paper (with a backup copy to sign on digital paper as well) with the heading
INCOME TAX AND IMPORT/EXPORT DUTIES REORGANIZATION, SHADOW CENTRAL PARLIAMENT Pursuant to and in compliance with Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act, etc.
"Not precisely," Gabriel tells her, "but it's still nice to hear, especially as I don't think I've ever known a large group of people to all agree completely on anything."
And given the vociferousness with which the IIGA had been greeted at the time he'd proposed it--
--well, there's no need to think about that now, as it's over and done with.
"But I wouldn't have sponsored it if I didn't think it was a good idea... and if I wasn't aware that others did, as well." He grins.
As a result, when Gabriel Tam steps through the Milliways door, he's deliberately left all his files behind, save for those contained on the datapad in his pocket.
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"Senator Tam," she calls, a bit louder than normal tone over the din that separates them, "Out for a stroll?"
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Gabriel's already smiling when he turns to face her.
"Something of the sort, yes. And what are you up to this evening?"
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Despite her easy tone, Sallie finds this to be highly unlikely.
"Though I can't imagine as you have very much time on your hands for picking up of trifles."
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A pause, and then he adds,
"However, if there's anything in particular that comes to mind--"
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"I'm at a loss. Unless you have a burning desire to take up the noble instrument that is the kazoo? I have three."
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"I haven't played one in years. For the sake of all our ears, I'd best not."
He gestures toward the bar.
"Might I get you a drink?"
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"No Mrs. Tam around this evening?"
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He takes a small sip of his whiskey and glances around the room before looking back at Sallie.
"I don't see any of our respective children this evening, either?"
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Somehow, telling Senator Tam that the man principally in charge of keeping his children's shelter safe and secure is off doing Lord knows what in a different universe is not the most palatable option available, and she takes another sip of her drink.
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In their own way, at least.
"How have you been?"
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"Well enough -- business as usual. At least until registration comes 'round, with all the businesses on the outside of town." The smile reforms into a smirk, sharing a secret that isn't really much of one. "I think it's the first time my neighbors've been happy to fill out paperwork."
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The smile that appears on his face makes him look five years younger and much less tired.
"I'm very pleased to hear that."
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Thick envelopes of actual real paper (with a backup copy to sign on digital paper as well) with the heading
INCOME TAX AND IMPORT/EXPORT DUTIES REORGANIZATION, SHADOW CENTRAL PARLIAMENT
Pursuant to and in compliance with Interplanetary Infrastructure and Guardianship Act, etc.
tends to brighten a man's day. Or a woman's.
"Were you expecting something else?"
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And given the vociferousness with which the IIGA had been greeted at the time he'd proposed it--
--well, there's no need to think about that now, as it's over and done with.
"But I wouldn't have sponsored it if I didn't think it was a good idea... and if I wasn't aware that others did, as well." He grins.
"Many others, as it turned out."
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"Dependin' on someone's geography in the quadrants."
Geography, here, meaning Core or Rim.
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