"So, this is what we're going to be living with?" Bernice flinched as the paparazzo's camera drone flashed in her face and growled at it, picking up the pace of her stride to get it out of her hair.

Braxiatel rolled his eyes and followed suit through the avenue of fountains, shooing the drone and shooting a glare at the photographer. "Appears so." Taking her hand once he caught up, he squeezed and rubbed his thumb across the back of it soothingly, eyes blinking slowly when he looked into hers.

"Great," she murmured. That seemed to have some effect though, and Benny subtly cheered up a bit, standing up straight again and getting as close to Brax as she could without leaning in or stepping on his toes. "Any sort of rule you could make against this?"

He sighed, just appreciating the view as they finished their journey and went through a fork in the path, trying not to give himself too much undue stress with the complicated planning and general situation at hand. "We use camera drones for publicity and vidcasts. Unfortunately, without being far too specific to enforce, that wouldn't work at all," Braxiatel explained.

"Very nice... The thrill of no privacy at any time in public is just so much fun. Almost better than finding a long-lost one-of-a-kind artefact! Almost." Her bitter sarcasm was really coming out today, now even in these quiet moments. Possibly still from being woken up at a reasonable hour on a Saturday, and being bothered so early too. But he gently squeezed her hand again, and Benny immediately softened in his grip.

Brax shook his head, saying something under his breath in an unknown alien language that vaguely sounded like a sneeze, but gave her the impression that it was probably actually some sort of bitter swearing if he wasn't being loud about it. "I'll still see what I can do. We're not a pair of characters to speculate on and this won't be treated as such, regardless of our status as known figures. I simply won't allow either of us to be exploited by it."

She huffed flippantly, "You know damn well that you're not one of my weaknesses to exploit, Brax. Very much to the contrary, really. I just- hope I'm not too much of one for you." Bernice frowned and wrapped one arm around him, to keep him as close as possible during the remaining duration of their stroll.

He held his tongue at that, subtly swallowing, but appreciating her gesture and doing the same as the wind blew her short hair close to his face. "I- I couldn't say. It's a complex answer that would take a while to explain. Somewhere perhaps, but not here, at any rate."

"I know. Peeping toms, all of them." She stared at the reporter who was now luckily for them, much farther away, and wondered exactly what that meant. Bernice suspected he'd discreetly drop the subject in private anyway and never actually tell her anything in detail, but she'd grown to accept that. His silence really spoke for him nowadays, and while Benny was never quite on his wavelength, she'd drifted closer to his than most people's.

He stopped her train of thought. "Their opinions don't sway how I feel about you anyway. No matter what, Benny. And I'd do everything in my power so you don't feel forced by them to make choices you don't want."

"Thanks. Love you too, Brax."

"You're welcome, Bernice." There was a long, drawn-out pause as the cogs in his head spun around to consider a few things. He froze for a second and she stopped along with him. "I may have a solution to this. In fact, I'm quite sure I do, now."

"Yeah? What's that then?" She raised a curious, somewhat suspicious eyebrow.

Braxiatel's expression shifted from a frown to a thin, knowing smirk. "It'll be a surprise." He briefly leaned in and touched his forehead to hers, ending with a short, casual kiss before they started walking again.

As they reached the biology department, Benny split from him after he planted a tender kiss on her knuckles and waved goodbye, and he turned towards the Rabbit. There were errands for both of them to run, people to talk to. But they still spent the time enjoying each other's company, the most that they could. Aside from the interruptions, it felt even better to be like this with every passing day. Worry and paranoia about things was gone almost completely, and they'd finally reached a belated honeymoon phase. Their entanglement now was getting back the sort of casual confidence and companionship that existed back when they were simply friends- or as simple as how things between them ever were, anyway. The balance between that and their seriousness was making things work.

Bernice sighed and took in the huge glass structure that stood in front of her by the biology building, making sure who she was looking for was actually inside. When she was sure, she stepped through the threshold of the massive greenhouse, her thicker jacket and scarf to keep out the chill winds of autumn instantly becoming sweltering with the sun burning through the glass. She took the scarf off and held it in one hand, then approached the Yesodi making his weekend rounds.

"Morning!" she waved.

"Good morning, Bernice," Hass replied.

"What're you up to?"

"Just enjoying tending to my gardens. I won't have very long to spend as much time in them as I do now. With the term, it'll need to be handed off to the porters and my assistants."

That hit her. She just kept forgetting. "Right, students. New year. I've done that work, by the way. Got my main picks all sorted. And one of them wants to minor in biology. But they're a bit... well- sheltered. Very sheltered. And have no actual prior credentials or experience. Care to help out a little extra?"

"If they do extra work to catch up and help out a little more for extracurriculars, then I suppose so." But he gathered why she was really here, something not hard to do. "You could've done this over a text message or holomeet. Do you need to vent your frustrations at me today as well, or do you just want to talk?"

"Bit of both- and ask some questions. Have you seen Jason?" She looked genuinely inquisitive, interested in what he could possibly be doing.

Hass barely hesitated, digging up the memory quickly. "He was engaged in aiding a small project with one of the librarians if I recall correctly. And possibly engaging with them sexually as well."

Benny curled back in disgust. "Uh, no. Didn't need to know that. But that's the wrong one. There's umm... two. Like with me. Except here at the same time. Again. The Jason I'm looking for looks a bit... younger," she clarified, forgetting that it was not particularly easy for a species without faces to notice enough nuanced details in a face to recognize the small difference of the same person being a different age.

The goo shifted in its confinement. "Is this another part of your and Mr. Braxiatel's scheme?" he asked, mild concern evident even in his monotone.

She cringed in annoyed contrariety at the idea. "Goddess, no- well, we don't think so. We don't hope so. Fifteen years is a bit late to start adding to that though, isn't it?" She still wasn't sure whether she wanted them to be to blame. Because one meant at least there was agency in the matter. If they didn't affect it at all, his entire life was just an afterthought to the universe.

But Hass pointed out the logical train of thought for an outsider. "You do have time travel. That could be an important element."

She raised a protesting finger up, before putting it back down again. "...Good point. But this Jason was from the original Collection. My ex-husband. We loved each other there, were together at the end, but he's... supposed to be, well- dead." Bernice didn't cry, but every time she said Jason's name her breath hitched and she shuddered.

He reached an arm of his suit up and placed it gently on her shoulder, in sympathy or something else, she couldn't quite parse. "I wasn't aware. I'm sorry, Bernice. If I see anything, I will inform you or Mr Braxiatel."

"Thanks. That's it-" She pulled his heavy mechanical hand away and turned to leave, but got interrupted.

"-You mentioned venting frustration?"

Her face scrunched up and then turned back in somewhat frustrated realization. "Ah, right, I almost forgot about that. It's about everybody's... reaction. To me and Brax. We thought it would be small, even negative. But it's neither of those things. It's just crukking invasive. Can't go on one walk holding hands without camera drones and holocorders following us everywhere. The one time we kiss in public it's front-page news! And Irverfield! Don't these people have anything better to do?!" She gesticulated wildly, stomping around and swearing more under her breath.

Hass nodded along, in his strange, slimy way, explaining their side of events, "Aside from your return, during the holiday it has been rather uneventful here. And all eyes are on Mr Braxiatel with the term about to start already. You're a famous professor and adventurer always rumoured to be with the owner and authority over the entire planetoid, actually with him now after a long, mysterious absence. Surely the attention will fade with all the other events on the horizon," he reassured. Hearing the words of someone not involved in the disaster still being sympathetic and supportive did actually help, if only a little.

"Goddess I hope so..." Benny bit her lip.

"It will pass. It always does."

She tapped her foot on the floor impatiently, nodding in agreement with the sentiment. "You're right. It was nice talking, but I gotta go... shopping. Can't be late for the transit shuttle. See you soon!"

"Goodbye, Bernice."

She sighed and pulled the scarf back around her neck, finally leaving the greenhouse. September was only two weeks away, and it was already cold sometimes. Exactly even distribution of the seasons in a temperate climate did that. Friendlier to some of the life forms in the Collection, but not to her. Benny was used to at least some heat, but the air was uncharacteristically frigid this morning.

At least she'd be going somewhere warmer.


The glass doors of the White Rabbit swung open as Irving Braxiatel stepped through, seemingly on their own, as most doors around here did with his arrival. There was moderate foot traffic now, but it couldn't be called too busy since it was still before noon. All that and some of the neon signs being on gave a jolly atmosphere.

Ignoring the customers, but glad of the pub being appreciated and generally far better shape save for the scuffed wooden floor and old bar, Brax strode over and took a seat on one of the stools, ringing a bell on the counter nonchalantly. Jack was facing away, humming a lovely tune and slightly flushed from still having his earlier flirtations on the mind, checking over the shelves, but at the sudden noise he shot up in surprise, narrowly avoiding bumping his head on the ceiling or one of the rafters.

"Kadept- ugh. Sorry, what was that? What can I do-" but he stopped.

"Jack."

Seeing who it was, and who he doubted to be happy with him, Jack plastered on one of his worst examples of a fake nervous grin. Usually, his poker face was alright. Save for when The Boss came in. He stammered his words out a bit. "Irving! What a surprise! How's the girlfriend doing, had a nice night?"

Braxiatel sneered and rolled his eyes, straightening his cuffs. "No thanks to you."

Jack held his hands up innocently. "I tried my best. I had no idea you were such a celebrity!"

"You did see that the name on the brochure is the Braxiatel Collection, didn't you?" he remarked.

He snapped his fingers in a surrendering gesture, but his voice was condescending and sarcastic. "Oh, that's why! Right, you own the place. Never would've guessed."

"Jack." His tone was pointed and harsh.

But the Kadeptian waved him off. "Oh, honestly Irving. This will all cool down soon. It's just a bit of a curiosity. That's all. Bernice finally gets a new man, and when she does, it's Irving of all people. The man just so bad with that sort of thing, he accidentally brought a woman to the Ikerian compound and missed what that implied. Just so very hard to believe without seeing it with your own eyes! Would you?" He asked dramatically.

Braxiatel pinched his nose, he was resigned to that fact. And equally regretting that stay. "No, I definitely wouldn't have predicted this. That is true enough. But still, personal business nonetheless. Could you pour me a small glass of the good scotch and get off the clock for a talk?" That tone was never good, regardless of whoever was using it.

"Oh, Kadept..."

He knew he was in for a scolding from the boss, both anxious about it and generally bothered by him having to be here. But Jack complied, getting Brax something to drink and sliding into a booth. Resting his chin in folded hands conspiratorially, he let out an awkward laugh when Irving sat down with him. Suddenly, it seemed just slightly quieter, like Brax's strong presence simply muffled out the background noise.

"Now, Irving-"

Braxiatel took a drink, sighed, and interrupted to chastise him. "-Your behaviour was inappropriate, you know. For the Collection, at least. We're making an effort to avoid a spectacle. Or at least until a major social event has to occur, and- well. I haven't convinced Bernice of that yet, either."

"Given how things have apparently turned out so far, 'Haven't convinced Benny' sounds more like 'Haven't told Benny.'" He rolled his eyes, already managing to direct the conversation given a little latent charm.

He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck, leaning back in the booth. "No. You're right. I haven't told Benny. She's not a particular fan of those if they're full of stuck-up types unless there's a rather lot of alcohol involved. Which is an embarrassment to said stuck-up types. And that's what most in the near future consist of." Knocking back the scotch, it wasn't as good as his personal stash, but after the new shipments, the Rabbit certainly had a decent selection.

"So your girlfr-"

Brax shushed him. "Please, don't use the term 'girlfriend.' Or 'Irverfield,'" he ordered sternly. A stormy look was in his eyes. While it wasn't a look Jack usually got, he held his employees to a higher standard here, regardless of if they were friends.

Jack rolled his eyes and gave up. "Fine, alright. Shame about the new sign though..."

Braxiatel raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Oh, didn't you see?" Jack pointed behind them. Irving turned around to have a look, and just as he said, there was a neon sign in bright green and pink reading 'Irverfield' with a caricature of the old ship silhouette in the background... And a heart. Brax's face fell into his hands.

"When did you have the time to get that?" he interrogated, still embarrassed, but secretly a little intrigued.

"Ordered it from your porter. Terribly useful little fellow. Think he infected my hand with something though," he commented, not planning to elaborate how he could've gotten a computer virus from contact with the drone.

Evidently, his ability to resist being charmed needed some practice, because Irving was giving in to Jack far too easily. "Alright, that one sign can stay. But that's it. And as dramatic as you can be... don't advertise us."

Jack shrugged. "Fair enough. Especially since I expect you both to be repeat customers?"

"Actually, I'm staging a staff meeting in the Rabbit on Tuesday, so even sooner than you might think. You'll have to close for a bit in the afternoon," Braxiatel informed him.

"Expected Benny to be here as soon as we were open for the day, actually," he snarked. But the sort of snark given to loved ones, usually a tone that came with sympathetic but condescending advice.

Irving's lip curled up ever so slightly. "Touché- but.. no. She has some business to attend to. As do I." He downed the rest of his glass, gave it back to Jack, and got up from the booth. "I'll see you later." As soon as he got up, it was as if he vanished completely, somehow managing to disappear into the crowd.

The White Rabbit seemed louder again now.

Interesting.