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[use_everything]

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[overemotionally]

Well back then, they could use the promise of money to earn their "trust" so I'm not sure if that counts for too much. Not to mention it didn't sound like this much thought or...I guess, emotion went into it. Like a business transaction.

[Spoken like someone that has no idea about the concept of money other than what he's experienced here. He takes another sip of coffee. You may have yourself a new regular, Aral.]

What kind of circumstances would warrant that? I can't imagine people just wake up one day and decide that.

[Angling towards who he's really asking about...]

[use_everything]

[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.

[overemotionally]

...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?

[use_everything]

[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.

[overemotionally]

[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?

[use_everything]

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.

[overemotionally]

Those are considered personal? They sound more professional.

[use_everything]

You asked the prerequisite. If they form, it is from such relationships, in truth.

[overemotionally]

[Another sip of coffee as he contemplates.]

...I think you answered just about all of the questions I had.

[use_everything]

[He nods, amiably at that, and then fixes Kirk with a particularly shrewd look, as if considering him on multiple levels.]

Then I've one: The reason for you interest in this particular aspect?

[overemotionally]

[Jim quirks an eyebrow.]

Cultural research. Might as well learn a thing or two about different civilizations while I'm here, right?

[use_everything]

[The answer is the intensely eloquent and verbose:] Horseshit.

[overemotionally]

[Yeah he figured he'd get called out on that one. He drains the rest of his coffee.]

I was curious after seeing the way Greg and Miles interacted.

[use_everything]

[He nods at that. He'd assumed, but it was hardly any great leap of logic to reach. This however, sparks a bit of curiosity, how it appears from a nearly outside view.]

Does it satisfy?

[overemotionally]

Your explanation in general or your explanation as applied to observation?

[use_everything]

The latter, actually. The former is inadequate, I'm aware.

[overemotionally]

[He looks at Aral for a few seconds before answering.]

To be honest, no. Not quite.

[use_everything]

Hm.

[He nods at that, and gathers both cups before standing.]

Please feel welcome to return. It was a good conversation.

[overemotionally]

I'll be in for more of that. [A nod of his head towards the cups in Aral's hands.] And the conversation. [A small smirk here.]

Appreciate your time.