001 | Voice

[ivanyouidiot]

[As far as interesting occurrences go, waking up with no memory of how he got there has never, in Ivan's experience, been a good thing. He's a bit past that point -- and past spending lots of energy freaking out over the fact that there's something growing out of his back as well -- by the time he figures out to look inside the notebook he sees. Reading what he finds gives him some notion of just how deep of a hole he seems to have fallen in, but at least everyone seems to be in the same position. And this Malnasso isn't a group he's heard of before. If keeping his head down is what he needs to do, then that's what he'll do.

Of course, keeping his head down doesn't always mean literally keeping his head down. Ivan knows that there can be just as much advantage to going, "Hey, look at me, I'm not a threat at all," as there can be to going entirely unnoticed. And he happens to think he's made the former into an art. And as far as these things go, he might as well meet the other abductees.]

Well, this is...

Hello everyone. I'm Ivan. [Cue a smile, it might not be be able to seen but he's pretty sure that it'll come through in his voice.]

I'm going to think that won't mean much to you yet, since none of you seem particularly familiar to me, but from what it sounds like we might have time to get to know each other. A few facts about me: I like parties, not getting shot at, and sleeping in late. And not having my body modified without my permission, [it's a little harder to make himself sound cheerful there, but he does his best,] but given the circumstances I'll settle for three out of four.

Your turn.

Comments

[herotypical]

[ laughter. ] Oh, I don't know. There aren't many of us veterans left, these days.

[ivanyouidiot]

How long do you have to be here to be a...veteran?

[She still doesn't look like a soldier to him.]

[herotypical]

In my case? Three years and some change. But I think veteran status is handed out to those who've been here for two, as well. A slightly less exclusive club.

[ivanyouidiot]

Three years? I'm...sorry. What have you been doing here for all that time?

[herotypical]

...Gaining a reputation, apparently. Fighting their war and -- and surviving.

[ivanyouidiot]

That's important, but don't you have any fun?

[herotypical]

...I tend bar right over -- [ she points at good spirits ] -- there. So. Yeah. Occasionally. I play a mean game of darts.

[ivanyouidiot]

Bartending! Oh. Less fun than going to the bar yourself, I'd imagine, but I accept it.

[herotypical]

I dunno, Ivan. Watching the drunks? It's better than prime time TV.

[ivanyouidiot]

Perhaps drunks here and where you come from are more interesting than drunks on Barrayar. They're mostly full of boasts.

[herotypical]

Challenging them to their boasts can be kinda fun. Besides. We have some pretty colourful characters in these parts. It makes up for it.

[ivanyouidiot]

Colorful...I hope you don't mean literally? Usually I would assume that, but the wings kind of put a different spin on the idea of genetic engineering.