Admiral Lord Aral Vorkosigan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
use_everything) wrote2016-02-02 11:06 am
use_everything) wrote2016-02-02 11:06 am
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"Messages will be returned in order of priority."
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The era where I spoke in his place ended the moment I arrived here. I don't fancy returning to it even for however long this mischief lasts.
[ She nods. ] I was hoping more for advisement, Lord. But I'll try to get a straight answer out of him next time we speak.
[That gets a sharp smile, acknowledging the teeth in that title.]
Ah, advisement, I can offer. You've deduced that a lack of answer is an answer, or at least a rather complicated statement. If he speaks less, you are pushing too hard. A frank question, space and patience may have a more honest reward.
Ah, advisement, I can offer. You've deduced that a lack of answer is an answer, or at least a rather complicated statement. If he speaks less, you are pushing too hard. A frank question, space and patience may have a more honest reward.
[ She sighs. Not the answer she wanted, but she did ask. ]
If only I knew how much time we had. I'll give him some, but I'd like to make sure he's not going to be bothered by the link if it becomes permanent.
If only I knew how much time we had. I'll give him some, but I'd like to make sure he's not going to be bothered by the link if it becomes permanent.
I can't guarantee you will get an altogether helpful answer. But it will do him good, at this age, to be asked.
I tried before and I'll try again. And hopefully Miles won't come to regret this when he returns to normal.
Hm. [He opens a hand, letting both sentiments pass without comment.]
[It's a strange concept to Aral, but then, no one has ever served a Vorkosigan hoping for wealth.]
For something like that, you'd have to seek Jackson's Whole.
[The real question though... Vorkosigan gathers something of an abstracted look, considering that.] To swear outside or on top of duty usually is upon the heels of some large event or series of events, often life changing in some way.
For something like that, you'd have to seek Jackson's Whole.
[The real question though... Vorkosigan gathers something of an abstracted look, considering that.] To swear outside or on top of duty usually is upon the heels of some large event or series of events, often life changing in some way.
Have you? Gotten outside of your own biases, that is? I'll agree it is not a bad thing, but I've never quite stepped out of my own viewpoint.
I've tried to. I think I've done all right.
[ She ponders it a moment. ]
I've taken people I thought were enemies, and I've accepted them as friends. That's a start.
[ She ponders it a moment. ]
I've taken people I thought were enemies, and I've accepted them as friends. That's a start.
[Aral seems to sharpen a bit at that, looking at the family friend turned feline with a specific interest.]
Ah. Cultural or personal enemies?
Ah. Cultural or personal enemies?
Both.
[ The cat rubs her face up against his hand. ]
In one case, I really do mean both - someone who was both cultural and personal. Became one of my best friends, actually.
[ The cat rubs her face up against his hand. ]
In one case, I really do mean both - someone who was both cultural and personal. Became one of my best friends, actually.
[Reminded, he resumes the attention, this time utilizing both hands to the task.]
That is impressive, actually. How did you break past it?
That is impressive, actually. How did you break past it?
[ A little huff of resigned amusement. With dryness and wryness both, Kitty responds: ]
Had my every illusion shattered, one after another. Sometimes gently, and sometimes quite violently. Definitely a necessary process, but not one I'd recommend.
[ Then, a little more helpfully: ]
The most important thing I did was sitting down and talking to the people I thought were my enemies. I'd grown up being told that demons were wicked and dangerous, but I had a long talk with one in the process of him kidnapping me and discovered just how intelligent and compassionate and wise they can be. And that sort of inspired me to save the life of another enemy - which I guess really stuck with him, because it was still haunting him when we met up again three years later and sort of shattered his illusions, too. And then we ended up saving my city together, which I guess goes to show you that sometimes goodness can reap rewards, no matter what the cynics say.
Had my every illusion shattered, one after another. Sometimes gently, and sometimes quite violently. Definitely a necessary process, but not one I'd recommend.
[ Then, a little more helpfully: ]
The most important thing I did was sitting down and talking to the people I thought were my enemies. I'd grown up being told that demons were wicked and dangerous, but I had a long talk with one in the process of him kidnapping me and discovered just how intelligent and compassionate and wise they can be. And that sort of inspired me to save the life of another enemy - which I guess really stuck with him, because it was still haunting him when we met up again three years later and sort of shattered his illusions, too. And then we ended up saving my city together, which I guess goes to show you that sometimes goodness can reap rewards, no matter what the cynics say.
...Do I even wanna know?
[He knows there's some pretty jacked up stuff in your universe, Aral. He's playing around with the rim of the cup.]
Now is that done without an already established personal relationship?
[He knows there's some pretty jacked up stuff in your universe, Aral. He's playing around with the rim of the cup.]
Now is that done without an already established personal relationship?
[The smile he gives Kirk is a bit of a black twist.] Depends on your stomach for dystopia, I imagine.
[He takes another sip of his own coffee, draining it.] It has been known to happen. A life saved, revenge offered, those sort of concepts. But it would be termed rarer these days, I imagine.
[He takes another sip of his own coffee, draining it.] It has been known to happen. A life saved, revenge offered, those sort of concepts. But it would be termed rarer these days, I imagine.
[He listens intently, still except for a thoughtless, habitual brush over the feline's fur. It isn't so hard to picture, though the scope, as with the small patches and threads she's offered of her life before, was deeply supernatural.]
Trust beyond reason... Your story reminds me of someone, I wonder if she felt the same.
Trust beyond reason... Your story reminds me of someone, I wonder if she felt the same.
My wife.
... Actually, I believe you'd get along terrifyingly well.
... Actually, I believe you'd get along terrifyingly well.
Oh - Cordelia?
[ Kitty sounds very pleased. She doesn't know Cordelia so well yet, but she likes her. ]
I could imagine her being the sort of person to show trust to others, yeah.
[ Kitty sounds very pleased. She doesn't know Cordelia so well yet, but she likes her. ]
I could imagine her being the sort of person to show trust to others, yeah.
I would not be so complete a person could she not. [He gives a bit of a white smile.] I may have been the demon of her story.
[He makes a bit of a face at that.]
Yeah we actually try to avoid those where I'm from.
[He's enjoying the taste of the coffee and isn't drinking it so much for the caffeine hit, so he still has some left. He takes another sip.]
Okay...what kinds of personal relationships are usually prerequisite to this?
Yeah we actually try to avoid those where I'm from.
[He's enjoying the taste of the coffee and isn't drinking it so much for the caffeine hit, so he still has some left. He takes another sip.]
Okay...what kinds of personal relationships are usually prerequisite to this?
An armsman to a lord, or a lord to an emperor. There is rarely cause for a relationship to exist, much less opportunity for that kind of trust and devotion to be built without it.
[ Her ears flick back; a little warm purr rises from her. She's clearly charmed by that comment. ]
Spirit. Demon's actually a very derogatory name. I assume she'd call you by the correct name.
Spirit. Demon's actually a very derogatory name. I assume she'd call you by the correct name.
Indeed. And make the proper name sound like an old wives curse when truly frustrated.
Spirits though... are there a variety or is it merely a name given to another race in whole?
Spirits though... are there a variety or is it merely a name given to another race in whole?
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