Mask or Menance IC Contact Post

[failureisntachoice]

[ An automated voice speaks because someone hasn't bothered to set up a proper voicemail. The only part in her voice is her name. ] You have reached Agent Texas. Leave a message at the tone.

Comments

[failureisntachoice]

[ Does he know he's given sips to cool his heels?

Either way, she's going to start keeping a flask on her. ]

[use_everything]

[When I remember? Not at all. He believed he was getting one up on us most of the time. By now, yes, quite likely so.

There's a brief flash of a 5 year old child who hadn't slept in two days straight, too stubborn and clever for his own good... being told that he absolutely could NOT have anything the Armsmen were drinking. The clouded "OH YEAH????" on his small features at the phrase "It's for adults."]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Light laughter comes across the link. Yeah, that little scene hardly surprises her. He was just as energetic as a child as he was as an adult.

So he's always had trouble sleeping? ]

[use_everything]

[Just so. That is a bit more muted, a bit more narrow, but the whys of that were both hardly a pleasant conversation... and he couldn't quite fish all of those memories... were they still memories from the future? Precognition? This damn place. (An irrational sting of irritation crosses.)]

[failureisntachoice]

[ That causes a small bit of alarm. She quickens her pace.

Something happening over there? ]

[use_everything]

[There's surprise and then the link narrows, the emotional feedback vanishing. My apologies. No. It's merely late.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ It's fine. You could have texted me instead.

Especially if he's worried about unwanted feedback slipping through the link. ]

[use_everything]

[I would rather not.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Any reason? I thought you'd prefer texting to invasive mental contact. ]

[use_everything]

[Old habit, I suppose. It was not incorrect, strictly. As he was NOT going to say she'd probably reach the hospital before he was done.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ It's the same to me either way, if you're worried about that. ]

[use_everything]

[There's curiosity at that, powerful enough to cross even the narrowed link. Truly? Some manner of interface?]

[failureisntachoice]

[ The network isn't that hard to use. I'm a walking computer, remember? The question is a joke and she makes sure amusement leaks over. ]

[use_everything]

[Hm. I wish I could introduce you to Captain Illyan. You share a type of humor. Regardless, his own amusement colored the thought. I'm merely in the habit that written communication is monitored and can be intercepted as a standard of life. Though I wonder if such impartial movement of data could be possible through this.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ It's still their network. I wouldn't send anything sensitive over it that you don't want our hosts hearing about. Not sure how it works with this, but their tech is the reason you have it. A small dose of paranoia never hurts in these situations. ]

[use_everything]

[Insensitive data tells quite a bit as well. There's a more than a small dose.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ There's a reason I don't say anything important over the network. It's better done in person. Or over this link if that truly is secure. ]

[use_everything]

[We're of like mind.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Good to know. If you hear someone approaching, it's me.

Because she's about made it to the hospital room. ]

[use_everything]

[He doesn't respond directly to that, but is setting aside a simple pad and pencils as the door to the hospital room has opened. Normally, such a simple procedure would have a discharge almost immediately after, but with Miles' history of allergy, slow elimination and very fragile bones, the overnight observation was more than justified by all concerned.

Aral nods when Tex enters.]

There's a list of things to watch for.

[failureisntachoice]

On that? [ She asks as she makes for the pad to catch a peak at what's on the page. Surely there can't be that much to look out for. ]

[use_everything]

[He... moves to cover it with some older reflex, and hesitates instead, clearly undecided. The pad isn't lined, slick paper, but rough, heavy sketch paper. No complete work graced it's pages, but idle figure work amidst some rough, rectangular sketches. A few idle workings over the Vorkosigan uniform in truth, considering how to introduce them to a tailor. The more arresting image, perhaps, was tucked to the right of the page, not quite to the fore.

It had been unconscious, thoughts turned towards the newest armswoman, there was a simple sketch of Allison and Cordelia standing in the doorway, body language turned towards each other.]

No, simply time spent in idle habit. [The cover drawn on the notebook now.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ She freezes when she realizes that no, that's not some laundry list of precautions she needs to talk. There's a uniform, one she's only seen in Aral's images from home, and then a scene that looks more familiar to her.

She's unsure if it's good or bad that her sort-of girlfriend's husband is drawing her with his wife. ]

I didn't know you drew.

[use_everything]

Ill-suited to a soldier, I'm aware. [If there was any barb behind those words, it didn't find it's way into his tone. That was fairly conversational.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Good. She decides it must be good. ]

You have to do something to pass the time in foxholes. [ Her remark is equally conversational as her gaze remains on the drawing. There's a moment of hesitation before she reaches for the sketchbook, looking to him for permission. ]

Do you think I could have that drawing?