elnysa | video; un: eproghuefgdzptrrw

[ Byerly Vorrutyer is sitting in front of a piano, fingers on the keys. Byerly Vorrutyer is also, apparently, drunk. There's a bottle of brandy in front of him balanced beside the music rack that's two-thirds drained, and there's a tiny sway in his posture, and he looks sloppy - suit coat opened, shirt-collar loosened. When he speaks, his voice slurs. But as he talks, he plays Chopin beautifully, expressively. He only misses the very occasional note. ]

God help me, but this place is dull. And I know from dull. I spent an entire season - an entire season! - on the Vorinnis estate on the South Continent. If Lady Vorinnis hadn't been there to distract me with all her deliciousness, I'd have actually, literally, died of boredom. I nearly set fire to the whole taiga. Roasted all the little birdies and rabbits and peasants. Pheasants. Peasants. Whichever.

[ He sighs mournfully, casting a sorrowful glance at the camera. ]

Say, fellows, how does a man have fun around here? It's clear no one knows how to play whist, so that's out, and dueling for laughs seems tacky. I've already watched a few of you brutes bash one another's faces in, which had its charms and no doubt, but the time for that is over. I can't play bed, wed, behead with you, because you're all proles of no account and no education who wouldn't know the high-society names I mention to you. Oh!

[ He sits up a bit, stopping his playing mid-note, right before the end of the first section of the piece. What a musical anticlimax. ]

I've got one. I'll write limericks about you. Tell me a bit about yourself, and I'll write limericks. Go on, do. They'll be funny, I promise - this is one of my favorite games. Absolutely kills at parties.

[ And then, with a small bow - ]

Byerly Vorrutyer, Emperor of Barrayar, at your lyrical service.

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Ah, but isn't this just good practice? For when you're dealing with infuriating witnesses? Really, I'm doing you a favor here.

The difference is that this isn't a courtroom... I'm more than willing to give you a smack right now.

[ ah. ]

[ He winks at her. ]

You'll have to find me first.

You better not try and run.

[ Though to be honest, by the time she does find him she'll probably have ran off her frustration as well... Dummy.

Her screen goes off, and that marks the start of her leaving her house to try and see if she can find him based on what was in the background of the picture: a piano. ]

[ Byerly might not appear on the screen, but his voice teases her from the audio function as she goes off: ]

Oooh, so what's your plan for finding me?

[ He'll hear a groan of frustration, annoyance come back as she switches to audio as well. ]

Well you already gave me a clue, the piano. Not many places have a piano here.

Ah, but there's a problem...I'm in a private home.

[ She already has a foot out the door when he says that, and she stops suddenly. ]

Huh? So you're... visiting someone?

[ Who'd want him for company? ]

That I am, dear mademoiselle.

[ She's silent for a minute, her frustration seeping away now. ]

You already made friends with someone who is well off?

[ Why didn't she think of that tbh. ]

In a manner of speaking.

[ Despite her bringing up the question to begin with, she's shocked. ]

¡Que no! [ Her hand leaves the door, clutching her face. ] You've got to be kidding me!

[ Well, if he ever wondered how low her opinion was of him... ]

[ Jeez. ]

I'm capable of getting along with people, Athena.

[ O o p s. ]

Did I... say that out loud?

[ An awkward laugh follows, but she's quick to carry on. ]

But it isn't as though I can run into someone's private property. Hmm...

Yes. If you tried, I'd have you arrested.

There's... no need to go that far.

[ She isn't doing it now, after all! Though it had been pretty close. ]

Of course...You could always try to lure me out.

[ Speaking of hearing emotions - he's barely able to contain the laughter in his voice right now. He's really enjoying tormenting poor Athena. ]

[ The quick response to that is her slamming the front door shut again, her stepping back into her house again. She's too easy to rile up, stop this!!! ]

I don't want to see your face right now!

Ah, probably just as well. I wouldn't want to abandon my charming, rich friend.

Well I hope you trap your fingers under the piano cover!

[ Harsh. ]

Really? Did you find my playing so unpleasant?

I find you unpleasant.

[ His piano playing is fine... She has nothing against that. ]

Because I tease you?

That's one of the reasons.

[ It comes out as a grumble, though it's partly because trying to give as much as she gets doesn't work. ]

Ah. And what are the other reasons?

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