Mark Pierre Vorkosigan / "Peter Kane" (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jacksonian) wrote2016-03-05 11:05 am
jacksonian) wrote2016-03-05 11:05 am
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[ voice / video / text / in-person ]
You'll have to work with me. And you're still scared of me.
[ He chokes a little in alarmed surprise. ]
Me? I don't know how people work!
Me? I don't know how people work!
I know how to make money. In stock trades. Which is different from...Look, I can finance you if you want to buy some votes, no question about it.
Not so afraid as to not meet with you alone, am I?
[She lifts her chin a bit.]
[She lifts her chin a bit.]
[ He gives a little gesture of his hand, indicating the room around them. ]
Come on. You're not naive. I don't believe for a second that you don't have someone you can call to help you out if I try something. You're not really alone.
[ Mark is actually cynical enough to look at Lucy and assume not-naive. ]
Come on. You're not naive. I don't believe for a second that you don't have someone you can call to help you out if I try something. You're not really alone.
[ Mark is actually cynical enough to look at Lucy and assume not-naive. ]
This is a distraction.
[She is getting that look in her eye, the one that says she's really getting bored by this.]
My fear is not remotely the issue. Your capabilities, however, are.
[She is getting that look in her eye, the one that says she's really getting bored by this.]
My fear is not remotely the issue. Your capabilities, however, are.
[ He shakes his head - but not to argue. All of that - well, yeah, it was a distraction. ]
I'm not...You've just gotten the wrong impression of me, Your Majesty. I'm not...capable. [ A breath in, and less vulnerably - ] And what's more, I think that most of the stuff the government here does is just stupid. I'm not some kind of compassionate bleeding-heart who's going to look out for the downtrodden or whatever. Honestly, I think most people are really stupid. And I don't think it's our job to bail them out of their stupidity.
I'm not...You've just gotten the wrong impression of me, Your Majesty. I'm not...capable. [ A breath in, and less vulnerably - ] And what's more, I think that most of the stuff the government here does is just stupid. I'm not some kind of compassionate bleeding-heart who's going to look out for the downtrodden or whatever. Honestly, I think most people are really stupid. And I don't think it's our job to bail them out of their stupidity.
Well.
[She sighs.]
If you think so, then I am sorry I have wasted your time.
[She sighs.]
If you think so, then I am sorry I have wasted your time.
[ He looks down and away, and gives an awkward little shrug. ]
Yeah. Well. The tea was good. [ He rubs the back of his neck - ] And, uh, I appreciate that you said all those...nice things about me.
Yeah. Well. The tea was good. [ He rubs the back of his neck - ] And, uh, I appreciate that you said all those...nice things about me.
I do mean it.
You are much more than simply the Admiral's brother, and I should hope you to step out of his shadow.
You are much more than simply the Admiral's brother, and I should hope you to step out of his shadow.
[ As he does in moments when he feels particularly self-conscious, he corrects her: ]
Clone. The Admiral's clone.
[ Anyway. He runs his hand over his head, smoothing back his hair. ]
Have you asked him? He'd be good at it. He's a real lord - the title isn't just honorary for him like it is for me.
Clone. The Admiral's clone.
[ Anyway. He runs his hand over his head, smoothing back his hair. ]
Have you asked him? He'd be good at it. He's a real lord - the title isn't just honorary for him like it is for me.
And it stands, still.
[She tips her head a little.]
We have considered him. And I will discuss such things with Lord Baelish, and I am confident his name will arise.
[She tips her head a little.]
We have considered him. And I will discuss such things with Lord Baelish, and I am confident his name will arise.
[ A nod. He rubs at the back of his neck. ]
And, uh, Lord Vorkosigan, too. Miles' father. [ My father, he thinks of him, but - that's weird to say, after his insistence on clone instead of brother. ] He was Regent for the Emperor back home for years. And Prime Minister after. That's all in his future, but - even so. He's really good at all of it.
And, uh, Lord Vorkosigan, too. Miles' father. [ My father, he thinks of him, but - that's weird to say, after his insistence on clone instead of brother. ] He was Regent for the Emperor back home for years. And Prime Minister after. That's all in his future, but - even so. He's really good at all of it.
Yeah. Lord Aral. He - doesn't exactly like politics, but he'll do it.
I will discuss the matter with Lord Baelish and take your suggestion into account.
Yes, or if you'd rather there's a small coffee shop near my home.
[ She could possibly drag herself out to that coffee shop, just maybe. But she's starting to doubt if this "meeting" was really worth it. But the way she says home is like it's a joke. This wasn't home, but she wasn't sure what home really was. All she's ever known was Dyad, which she's grown to consider "home" in a way, and then there was that island, where she was more or less locked up in a couple of rooms for days on end without a way to contact the outside world. Whatever home was, it was a mystery to her. ]
[ She could possibly drag herself out to that coffee shop, just maybe. But she's starting to doubt if this "meeting" was really worth it. But the way she says home is like it's a joke. This wasn't home, but she wasn't sure what home really was. All she's ever known was Dyad, which she's grown to consider "home" in a way, and then there was that island, where she was more or less locked up in a couple of rooms for days on end without a way to contact the outside world. Whatever home was, it was a mystery to her. ]
[ Mark shakes his head to himself. What's with these people, anyway? He understands Barrayarans being squeamish about the prospect of buying votes, sure - they have a bunch of ridiculous ideas about honor and fealty and your word being your bond tied up in notions of power. But Americans are basically all buying votes anyways. They do it a little more indirectly than it's done back on Jackson's Whole, sure, but that's just because the laws dictate that it can't be done directly. And it's not like he wouldn't be smart enough not to get caught... ]
Fine. Then I can finance you if you want to buy...television ads or whatever it is you use money for. Honestly, buying votes works out to being much more cost-effective, in the end. And when you pay for ads, the only people who benefit are television stations and newspapers. When you buy votes, the voters benefit.
Fine. Then I can finance you if you want to buy...television ads or whatever it is you use money for. Honestly, buying votes works out to being much more cost-effective, in the end. And when you pay for ads, the only people who benefit are television stations and newspapers. When you buy votes, the voters benefit.
No, wherever you think is appropriate is fine. Text me the address.
[ He's just never been inside a girl's house before. Woman's. Woman's house. Anyway. He's never been in one. And the prospect is...mildly terrifying. ]
[ He's just never been inside a girl's house before. Woman's. Woman's house. Anyway. He's never been in one. And the prospect is...mildly terrifying. ]
I'm not really lookin' to finance ads either. Mostly I figured I'd make a post or two, make it clear I was interested. Let people ask questions from there. And if there's some debate or Q and A like there was for the last one, that'd be somethin' too. But I'm not interested in buttons and posters 'n such. Gonna rely on word of mouth.
[and whatever happens, happens. People could decide for themselves whether they wanted him or not; Sam would have his new business either way. But Baelish had convinced him his services could be useful to the people here, which didn't fail to strike a chord with the community-minded shifter.]
I just thought you'd help me keep track of some of it, point out areas I was lackin' in. But it's all right that you don't want the job, you've done more'n enough for me with helpin' bring Merlotte's together. [a pause.] Even with Six bein' Ported out.
[and whatever happens, happens. People could decide for themselves whether they wanted him or not; Sam would have his new business either way. But Baelish had convinced him his services could be useful to the people here, which didn't fail to strike a chord with the community-minded shifter.]
I just thought you'd help me keep track of some of it, point out areas I was lackin' in. But it's all right that you don't want the job, you've done more'n enough for me with helpin' bring Merlotte's together. [a pause.] Even with Six bein' Ported out.
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