[ Terror lances through him. All of it, held at bay while they settled into a relatively harmonious conversation, flooding back hard and bitter and cold. Shit - why would he ask that? What does he know? What has he figured out?
[There is a pause here, a brief wonder, taken, considered and decided he didn't have enough specific background on it to put a thumb on... and just continues, mildly.]
I ask because it's a common complaint in the lower ranks or from those who watch from the outside. There's more work to it, and some dash of art, than it appears.
[ Right. Right. That's it. He just thinks like a military man. Sure. So the question is pretty natural, pretty understandable...Sure. He swallows. ]
Uh. Yeah. I expect that, uh, business isn't that different from the military in that regard. The people who tell you what to do always make things a bit harder.
[There's another pause... longer before there's a bark of an actual laugh.]
Good god, boy. Do you think because your orders are coming from someone further away they're less someone telling you what to do? I'll admit, they get a bit more flexible the more wormhole jumps you are between them and you.
[ Did he just - call him - boy? That - what? Why? That's not how you...address professional associates. Right? It - Is it meant as an insult? No, he doesn't think so - Vorkosigan's voice is gruff, but not angry or sarcastic or demeaning. And he laughed. Laughed for real. Is he...confused, maybe? Has he forgotten that he's not talking to his son? No, his accent is all wrong...
Hurghhh. ]
But - it's just the Emperor telling you what to do, isn't it?
It's the most important voice, certainly. But there's Ministries with agendas, restrictions on supplies and manpower. Policial parties, who will have pressure and stakes in the outcome. Individual Counts pushing for family achievements... it's a layer of strategy on top of the battles assigned.
[The voice remains curt and gruff, but the cadence is measured and patient, rightfully as one explaining to an outworlder, and simplified as such. There's a bite of exasperation but it's aimed for the necessity than the listener.
There was an age when he didn't give two damns about the political side of strategy. Those were long gone, the scars and old rivalries permanent from them.]
[He knows this part of the conversation. He knows this part of the conversation very well. As his father had gotten older, he had gleefully handed off dealing with the House finances to Aral.
This is the part that veers sharply into investments, options, bonds and futures. He had studied it all. It was a part of his education as well as something one simply needed for making sure the military and ministers weren't hiding peculation in the middle of terms and liquid fund shuffling.
It didn't mean he liked it.]
Ah. No. I believe Gregor has that aspect. [The perks of no longer being at the top. Thank god.]
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timeasmymeasure
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-27 02:39 pm (UTC)It was intensely familiar. His tone is far drier this time.]
Hm. Mr. Kane, have you ever had a commanding officer?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-27 05:12 pm (UTC)[ Terror lances through him. All of it, held at bay while they settled into a relatively harmonious conversation, flooding back hard and bitter and cold. Shit - why would he ask that? What does he know? What has he figured out?
He forces himself to speak. ]
Uh, no...No. I'm, uh, not military.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-27 05:37 pm (UTC)I ask because it's a common complaint in the lower ranks or from those who watch from the outside. There's more work to it, and some dash of art, than it appears.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-27 06:00 pm (UTC)[ Right. Right. That's it. He just thinks like a military man. Sure. So the question is pretty natural, pretty understandable...Sure. He swallows. ]
Uh. Yeah. I expect that, uh, business isn't that different from the military in that regard. The people who tell you what to do always make things a bit harder.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 12:25 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 02:37 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 02:10 pm (UTC)Though, in finding one devoid of people telling you what to do as well.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 02:20 pm (UTC)[ Right. ]
Well, uh...You found that, didn't you?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 02:30 pm (UTC)How so?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 02:31 pm (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 03:42 pm (UTC)Good god, boy. Do you think because your orders are coming from someone further away they're less someone telling you what to do? I'll admit, they get a bit more flexible the more wormhole jumps you are between them and you.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-28 03:51 pm (UTC)Hurghhh. ]
But - it's just the Emperor telling you what to do, isn't it?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 12:21 am (UTC)[The voice remains curt and gruff, but the cadence is measured and patient, rightfully as one explaining to an outworlder, and simplified as such. There's a bite of exasperation but it's aimed for the necessity than the listener.
There was an age when he didn't give two damns about the political side of strategy. Those were long gone, the scars and old rivalries permanent from them.]
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 12:26 am (UTC)You, uh...I'm sure you have ways of getting around the restrictions on supplies, at least. Right?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 12:45 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 12:55 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:04 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:10 am (UTC)Sometimes.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 02:35 am (UTC)[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 12:52 pm (UTC)Uh - experience?
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:07 pm (UTC)Business. You've no military, as you say. Gregor hadn't mentioned your history.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:22 pm (UTC)Uh, yeah. I was a student back home. Business. That's about it. But I traded stocks on the side, too...
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:46 pm (UTC)Successfully, I imagine. I look forward to seeing what you can do.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-29 01:53 pm (UTC)[ There's a suspicious little hesitation, because - could that really be it? It was really an inquiry, and not an inquisition? ]
Yeah. Uh - have you taken a look at your portfolio yet? You're all doing really well now.
[Voice]
Date: 2016-04-30 01:49 am (UTC)This is the part that veers sharply into investments, options, bonds and futures. He had studied it all. It was a part of his education as well as something one simply needed for making sure the military and ministers weren't hiding peculation in the middle of terms and liquid fund shuffling.
It didn't mean he liked it.]
Ah. No. I believe Gregor has that aspect. [The perks of no longer being at the top. Thank god.]
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