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
[IC Inbox]
"Messages will be returned in order of priority."
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[Text] [Audio] [Video]
[ Oh. She perks up. ]
Well, spirit and demon are both terms for the same race of creatures, with the latter being derogatory, obviously. But there are actually lots of divisions amongst the spirits. There are differences in terms of their level of power - like, imps are made of the least amount of magic, so they're the least intelligent and powerful, while djinni are in the middle and marids are at the top. And there are differences within those classes, too - like, each spirit has a difference balance of the elements in it. So one of my absolute favorites was a djinn of fire and air. Which made sense with his personality, since he was truly full of hot air.
Well, spirit and demon are both terms for the same race of creatures, with the latter being derogatory, obviously. But there are actually lots of divisions amongst the spirits. There are differences in terms of their level of power - like, imps are made of the least amount of magic, so they're the least intelligent and powerful, while djinni are in the middle and marids are at the top. And there are differences within those classes, too - like, each spirit has a difference balance of the elements in it. So one of my absolute favorites was a djinn of fire and air. Which made sense with his personality, since he was truly full of hot air.
[That finally gets a laugh out of Aral. It's short lived but rich.]
Ah. I believe I know the type.
Ah. I believe I know the type.
Those are considered personal? They sound more professional.
You asked the prerequisite. If they form, it is from such relationships, in truth.
Who the fuck—
[The voice, a little uncertain beneath the layers of annoyance coating it, grows muffled for a moment, speaking to someone further from the phone's microphone. When it returns there's a distinct air of arrogant confidence and even more exasperated annoyance to it.]
Aral? I heard you had a talk with Mustang, but I want to hear what you've got to say for myself. What's your aim? Just how many of you Vor-guys are there? And why the hell are you all interested in us?
[The voice, a little uncertain beneath the layers of annoyance coating it, grows muffled for a moment, speaking to someone further from the phone's microphone. When it returns there's a distinct air of arrogant confidence and even more exasperated annoyance to it.]
Aral? I heard you had a talk with Mustang, but I want to hear what you've got to say for myself. What's your aim? Just how many of you Vor-guys are there? And why the hell are you all interested in us?
Edited 2016-04-09 16:03 (UTC)
[ Fondly: ]
Yeah. Completely incapable of shutting up. Which would be annoying in some circumstances, but when he's a literal slave...It's more of an act of courage, really.
Yeah. Completely incapable of shutting up. Which would be annoying in some circumstances, but when he's a literal slave...It's more of an act of courage, really.
[The bemusement, honestly, starts at the name 'Aral' and only increases as the young man continues. The man's voice on the other end of the line is deep, raspy and lightly accented with something approximating Russian. It's also very dry.]
Mr. Elric, I assume. Would you care to meet to continue your interrogation or do you prefer remote communication?
Mr. Elric, I assume. Would you care to meet to continue your interrogation or do you prefer remote communication?
[Two sentences in and already this guy annoys Ed. Something about the way he speaks reminds him of Bradley—formal and somehow agreeable at the same time.
It really did nothing to help his impression.]
Haah? Who the hell calls it "remote communication"? Are you gonna answer my questions or not?
It really did nothing to help his impression.]
Haah? Who the hell calls it "remote communication"? Are you gonna answer my questions or not?
[Abrasive, indeed. Certainly not, in this case, a detriment. In some odd way it seemed familiar.]
My aim was simple. He struck me as an officer with integrity. My interest is habitual, but my offer genuine. Though I admit curiosity, who have you met?
My aim was simple. He struck me as an officer with integrity. My interest is habitual, but my offer genuine. Though I admit curiosity, who have you met?
Greg and Miles. But that's not really what I meant by aim. Any idiot would be smart to try to get us on their side, but that doesn't tell me shit about what your goals are. What do you want to use us for? What's your endgame?
And don't try to sell me some bullshit about how you just want to work with good people. That's just empty talk that doesn't mean anything. You work with people to get something done, so what the hell is it?
And don't try to sell me some bullshit about how you just want to work with good people. That's just empty talk that doesn't mean anything. You work with people to get something done, so what the hell is it?
The endgame hasn't been entirely decided. [That was honest. The Emperor was still enthralled with his vacation, even with forceful intrusions of reality, such as Lucifer.] For now, readiness and a concentration on protection is not remiss. I can think of any number of names I would not like to see from my world.
[The scritches pause for a moment, as Vorkosigan frowns. Slavery was, frankly, one of the few atrocities Barrayar DIDN'T get up to on a regular basis. That was in the purview of Jackson's Whole.]
It would be, indeed. [And a wonder if it was him that she got that particular trait from or merely the admiration from a kindred spirit.] Was he one of those who changed your views?
It would be, indeed. [And a wonder if it was him that she got that particular trait from or merely the admiration from a kindred spirit.] Was he one of those who changed your views?
Yeah. He was one of the first spirits I talked to. Instead of - erm. [ With a bit of reluctance: ] Killing outright.
[There's a light snort on Ed's end of the call; not quite derisive, but not very impressed either.]
Tell me about them. I want to know what you'd expect us to go up against if these names from your world show their faces.
Tell me about them. I want to know what you'd expect us to go up against if these names from your world show their faces.
It's the hardest illusion to shatter, isn't it? [The petting resumes, attention to the soft fur at the ruff.] Realizing that every enemy you've killed is someone else's child, as full and complicated a life as your own.
[ A little quietly: ]
Yeah. Before then, I didn't even realize that they could think. That they had personalities. Let alone that they were doing what they were doing because they were enslaved to the wills of wicked men.
Yeah. Before then, I didn't even realize that they could think. That they had personalities. Let alone that they were doing what they were doing because they were enslaved to the wills of wicked men.
You seem to have made the presumption that I'm negotiating from the position of weakness.
Or undermining your superior's authority by negotiating at all.
If you wish to exchange information, that is acceptable.
Or undermining your superior's authority by negotiating at all.
If you wish to exchange information, that is acceptable.
[... Ah. He had been mistaken earlier. Fullmetal hand't matured at all. Blunt as ever.]
Equivalent exchange, huh? Well, our biggest enemy wants to devour the souls of every living person in our country to gain immortality. It wouldn't even be the first country he's destroyed that way.
[There may be some yelling in the background, but it's fine. That can be ignored.]
[There may be some yelling in the background, but it's fine. That can be ignored.]
[... But incisive and to the point. Roy has to admit, he knows how to get things done, in his own way.]
[Is Vorkosigan really worried about trouble from home...? Roy's far more concerned over the people here. Nearly anyone from home can be handled.]
[OH MY GOD ED YOU CAN'T JUST TELL PEOPLE THINGS LIKE THAT.]
FULLMETAL!
FULLMETAL!
[That does, in fact, answer that question of where his superior is. "Fullmetal?" The answer takes a moment, as Aral gives it due consideration, turning it over. He has to take it out of the context of the supernatural and into the motives of men... and then, then it's not so hard at all.]
... There are those that simply transplant their brain for the same hideous task. The evils of my world are little more than acutely brilliant men with morals that may be soothed by their own arguments of 'necessity.'
Here we have found ourselves in a quarrel with theist's deity representing sin and evil. With your experience, you may find that tactical evaluation of more use to you than my personal demons.
... There are those that simply transplant their brain for the same hideous task. The evils of my world are little more than acutely brilliant men with morals that may be soothed by their own arguments of 'necessity.'
Here we have found ourselves in a quarrel with theist's deity representing sin and evil. With your experience, you may find that tactical evaluation of more use to you than my personal demons.
Just hum . . . ans . . . [It takes a moment for Ed's brain to catch up to the conversation now—the idea of actual deities is just too repellent to him. The pause drags out while he processes that and changes gears to focus on something he can actually address.]
. . . What powers has this deity got?
. . . What powers has this deity got?
Just humans. [It's dry, incredibly so. But he doesn't push the point or justify it.]
The extent is largely unknown at this point. We do know he is invulnerable to all injuries except what is delivered from one weapon. He may teleport and is both superhumanly fast and strong. The rest is conjecture.
I take it your enemies typically are of the inhuman variety?
The extent is largely unknown at this point. We do know he is invulnerable to all injuries except what is delivered from one weapon. He may teleport and is both superhumanly fast and strong. The rest is conjecture.
I take it your enemies typically are of the inhuman variety?
Edited 2016-04-10 19:15 (UTC)
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