dissonance

[isthisart]

Dr. Cheung's at a funeral all day, so Linya decides to go up to London and see if Miles is out of his Mood.

Security has decided to be deeply unhelpful today. She is currently showing them various forms of ID and repeating in a slow, patient voice that she has been here before, there is not more than one of her, and she promises she is not there to assassinate her husband or whatever fool thing has them skittish today. Perhaps she shouldn't drop in while the captain's missing; it seems to make them worse. But she got in before while he was missing...

Comments

[unmarred]

"Yes. This, I can pass off as obedience. The other thing - " He shudders; shakes his head.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Fine," sighs Miles. "Fine... Look - whatever else happens - listen to Mother. She can teach you to breathe if anyone can."

[unmarred]

"Maybe so," he says, half doubt, half hope.

[thisvorlunatic]

"What... what do you have planned for our father?"

[unmarred]

"Not assassination, if that's what you mean... I've read his book. It was fascinating. I think I'd enjoy talking to him. But it's hard to tell. There aren't many people I enjoy talking to." He pauses, then adds, "Ivan's fun."

[thisvorlunatic]

...Miles can't help laughing. "Ivan?"

[unmarred]

"Yes. Ivan, and you. That's it so far. But I might like your wife better if I didn't have to pretend to be you to talk to her. Maybe I'll make the experiment."

[thisvorlunatic]

"...I feel like I should point out that 'tied to a chair' is probably not her optimal conversational circumstance."

[unmarred]

"Is it yours?" inquires Mark.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles snorts. "No."

[unmarred]

"It's hard to tell. You seem to be doing pretty well."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I pride myself on my adaptability."

[unmarred]

"Hm. Now think of something horrifying, I'm putting you back and the guards shouldn't see you looking like you had fun."

[thisvorlunatic]

...Miles blinks at him.

All right, he can see the strategic value, certainly... and he doesn't lack for horrifying things to think about. Mark's childhood, for example.

[unmarred]

"That's better."

Mark fetches the guards, and has Miles hauled back to his cell.

The guards don't bother motioning for Linya; they just stun her and haul her away.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Hey!" yelps Miles, but he restrains himself from actually trying to jump them. It wouldn't do any bloody good.

[unmarred]

So.



Linya wakes up tied to a chair, alone in the office with Mark. He is pacing. He doesn't pace very much like Miles, when he's not putting on the role.

[isthisart]

"Hello, Mark."

[unmarred]

"You know, that's just what your husband said. He also said tied to a chair is not your optimal conversational context. Care to comment?"

[isthisart]

"It really isn't. Neither is 'recently stunned'. But I'll make do, if what you want to do is talk as opposed to bringing me somewhere I can buy you a ticket to Tau Ceti and then call the police."

[unmarred]

"Yeah, sorry about that. I think the guards are more afraid of you than I am. You're engineered but you've had no combat training; I could take you. What's a ticket to Tau Ceti supposed to do for me?"

[isthisart]

"You might be able to take me; I very much doubt you could outrun me," she points out. "Neither could they. I don't know what you want to do, but Tau Ceti is less here than here. I'll send you all the way to Beta or something if you'd rather. With a pocketful of cash if you like."

[unmarred]

"And you can't outrun a stunner beam. Game to me," Mark points out. "Anyway, that's a very nice offer, but if I wanted to run I could just run. All the way to Beta Colony if I felt like it. I hear I've got a grandmother there."

[isthisart]

"You have, although I've never met her so I can't comment on her hospitality."

[unmarred]

"I haven't heard much about her, but from what I've heard, she'd take me in."

He studies Linyabel thoughtfully.

"I wonder if you'd understand better than Miles, what it means to be afraid. I suspect not."