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]
Challenging, but not impossible. That's hard to quantify, really.
Hard to quantify and hard to do. It's require me screwing with my software and I don't know how to fix anything that might break.
[He looks up from the game, frowning.]
Absolutely not, then. I would not have you harm yourself.
Absolutely not, then. I would not have you harm yourself.
Wasn't planning on it. It's not as easy as shutting down a few processes when that's how your brain functions.
That's.. good to know. I have some difficulty conceptualizing it, I confess.
[ She shrugs. ]
It's hard for me too since it's how I always think. Which means we should keep the bets low-stakes then.
It's hard for me too since it's how I always think. Which means we should keep the bets low-stakes then.
[He considers the board and the available avenues. It's bleak but possible.]
Fair, certainly. If I win, I get to make up the board rule for the next round.
Fair, certainly. If I win, I get to make up the board rule for the next round.
Are we doing custom rules now? I thought we were playing a clean game, unlike the other set-up you had with Miles.
There's no such thing as a clean game. But still, I can think of something else.
By 'clean' I meant one without any convoluted rules. I already wasted space memorizing the last set.
[He opens a hand, palm up.]
Which were you thinking to set your stakes as?
Which were you thinking to set your stakes as?
If a good massage is off the table then drinks delivered to me an entire afternoon. Wearing that apron of yours from the cafe.
A massage does tend to be particularly intimate. Hardly betting material.
... I do believe those around me have gotten more interest out of my employment than I have.
Very well, I accept, terms reversed if I win.
... I do believe those around me have gotten more interest out of my employment than I have.
Very well, I accept, terms reversed if I win.
I don't count a shoulder massage to be that intimate, but fine.
This'll do. [ Particularly since she'd like this first round to figure out his go-to strategies for winning. ]
This'll do. [ Particularly since she'd like this first round to figure out his go-to strategies for winning. ]
Ah. You hadn't specified. Cordelia prefers- [And stops, and simply lets that go with a shake of his head. That hardly matters here.
The terms set, he puts quite a bit more concentration towards the game.]
The terms set, he puts quite a bit more concentration towards the game.]
I know what she prefers. [ It's more a mutter and a light tinge of red on her cheeks as she redoubles her focus on the board. Yeah, that's the last of that conversation.
She continues playing defensively, goading him into offensive tactics where she can. It's the best way for her to build a profile of him and she can afford to lose this bet. It's the next one she'd like to win. ]
She continues playing defensively, goading him into offensive tactics where she can. It's the best way for her to build a profile of him and she can afford to lose this bet. It's the next one she'd like to win. ]
[He looks at her, mouth open as if to say something and... decides against it.
It's not many moves from here, the small game of give and take, before he suddenly moves into the offense, several pieces played from the beginning of the game to the most recent fall backs and aggressive bites at her drawing tactics... come together into something cohesive, closing the gaps around Tex's forces neatly.
A tactic he's aware she likely watched fall into place and allowed it to develop, but smoothly done, none the less.]
It's not many moves from here, the small game of give and take, before he suddenly moves into the offense, several pieces played from the beginning of the game to the most recent fall backs and aggressive bites at her drawing tactics... come together into something cohesive, closing the gaps around Tex's forces neatly.
A tactic he's aware she likely watched fall into place and allowed it to develop, but smoothly done, none the less.]
[ Hm. So that's his style.
She watches as he deals the last blow and nods to herself. That's not enough to build a detailed profile on his tactics, but it's a damn good start that should carry her through the following round. ]
Pick an afternoon and don't forget your apron.
She watches as he deals the last blow and nods to herself. That's not enough to build a detailed profile on his tactics, but it's a damn good start that should carry her through the following round. ]
Pick an afternoon and don't forget your apron.
Cordelia seems to be under the impression that I'm your type and I should ask you out on a date.
So. Yes or no?
So. Yes or no?
[The pause before the reply really isn't atypical. Texting being Tex's favored means of communication and Aral's absolute least favorite. Though usually by now, there's a knock on their shared link or a call to reject.
Today, having choked on a sip of coffee he'd accidentally inhaled while reading the text there is that lovely distraction to deal with first.
He studied it like a general would study a map. First order, he knows damn well it wasn't Cordelia. It was complete devoid of those symbols she was favoring in each communication. So compromised communication is completely out.
Next, obviously, was analyzing the opponent's intent. It could easily be read either way... and knowing his armswoman and her guarded nature about personal statements, it was likely meant to be. If it was simply whether Cordelia was right - well that was a silly question. Or if ... she should be asking him...
Was it a bet, a curiosity or an honest inquiry?
Not enough data.
Which left his move...
He stares at the text far, far too long. There are a few attempts at a guarded, eloquent answer, but between fighting autocorrect and the absolute mess of typing in general, most of that came to utter frustration.
What ends up sending after this ridiculously long period is no paragraph, no careful inquiry as to her own feelings under the guard of Cordeli'a assumptions. No. It's just:]
yes
Today, having choked on a sip of coffee he'd accidentally inhaled while reading the text there is that lovely distraction to deal with first.
He studied it like a general would study a map. First order, he knows damn well it wasn't Cordelia. It was complete devoid of those symbols she was favoring in each communication. So compromised communication is completely out.
Next, obviously, was analyzing the opponent's intent. It could easily be read either way... and knowing his armswoman and her guarded nature about personal statements, it was likely meant to be. If it was simply whether Cordelia was right - well that was a silly question. Or if ... she should be asking him...
Was it a bet, a curiosity or an honest inquiry?
Not enough data.
Which left his move...
He stares at the text far, far too long. There are a few attempts at a guarded, eloquent answer, but between fighting autocorrect and the absolute mess of typing in general, most of that came to utter frustration.
What ends up sending after this ridiculously long period is no paragraph, no careful inquiry as to her own feelings under the guard of Cordeli'a assumptions. No. It's just:]
yes
Edited 2016-05-02 05:26 (UTC)
[ That... Isn't the answer she's expecting. A good part of her had been assuming Cordelia was joking even with her prodding that Tex should ask anyway. The other part of her...
The other part of her is a whole mess of feelings she's not sure she wants to try to decode right now. But she has her answer and while it's not the one she expected, she finds it's one she wants. Which leaves her with what to do now that she has it.
There's a long pause on her end too. Not because she has any issues with texting, but because she needs to figure out how best to answer.
Instead she ends up with: ]
Time and location?
The other part of her is a whole mess of feelings she's not sure she wants to try to decode right now. But she has her answer and while it's not the one she expected, she finds it's one she wants. Which leaves her with what to do now that she has it.
There's a long pause on her end too. Not because she has any issues with texting, but because she needs to figure out how best to answer.
Instead she ends up with: ]
Time and location?
[In a weird way, he actually hadn't been expecting that answer. Or any answer really. Dear god this had a wholly Betan stamp all over it. He sets the comm down a moment to rub at his face and consider.
It certainly answered which question, and her intent. ... He... didn't find it displeasing in the slightest. More overwhelming than anything, perhaps.
For one, he'd never had to figure out a date in his whole damn life. Of course, there had been thoughts of what he should have done for Cordelia if he'd had the time, luxury and lack of pressing life and death situations at the time...]
1700 tues meet here
[There. A whole 24 hours to research and make sure it was entirely square with Cordelia.]
It certainly answered which question, and her intent. ... He... didn't find it displeasing in the slightest. More overwhelming than anything, perhaps.
For one, he'd never had to figure out a date in his whole damn life. Of course, there had been thoughts of what he should have done for Cordelia if he'd had the time, luxury and lack of pressing life and death situations at the time...]
1700 tues meet here
[There. A whole 24 hours to research and make sure it was entirely square with Cordelia.]
Edited 2016-05-02 05:54 (UTC)
[ If there was one thing she never thought she'd be doing, it would be getting involved with a married couple. At least when Cordelia had propositioned her, Tex knew exactly what she was getting into.
With Aral being thrown in, in any measure, it's a whole new situation. Deep breath. Meeting here means they're at least starting off in neutral territory. That should make whatever this is less rocky to start. Hopefully. ]
I'll be there.
With Aral being thrown in, in any measure, it's a whole new situation. Deep breath. Meeting here means they're at least starting off in neutral territory. That should make whatever this is less rocky to start. Hopefully. ]
I'll be there.
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