video; un: eproghuefgdzptrrw

[vorrutyer]

[ 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.

Comments

[cykedelic]

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

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

[vorrutyer]

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. ]

[cykedelic]

[ 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!

[vorrutyer]

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

[cykedelic]

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

[ Harsh. ]

[vorrutyer]

Really? Did you find my playing so unpleasant?

[cykedelic]

I find you unpleasant.

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

[vorrutyer]

Because I tease you?

[cykedelic]

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. ]

[vorrutyer]

Ah. And what are the other reasons?

[cykedelic]

That annoying smug look you keep wearing, your lack of appreciation for the colour yellow and-- [ Now, her voice quietens. ] --the rest is classified.

[vorrutyer]

[ A slight hesitation - not quite faltering, just...a moment. ]

Classified. And do you think it's right to hold those classified things against me?

[cykedelic]

[ It's eerily quiet on her end for a moment, longer than he takes. A minute ticks by, then another. ]

For now. Until I understand it better.

[vorrutyer]

Guilty until proven innocent yet again, is it, Mademoiselle Cykes?

[cykedelic]

Not quite. [ There's a softer sound as she flops back onto her couch, though her own voice is a little more reserved now as well. ]

But it isn't something I'm comfortable discussing on here.

[vorrutyer]

No? Then buy me a drink.

[cykedelic]

[ It does, at least, get her to crack a smile but-- ]

Have you forgotten already? I'm broke.

[vorrutyer]

It can be a cheap drink.

[cykedelic]

I suppose I do owe you for that juice before, huh? ...I'll see what I can gather up. Where?

[ aka find in the house that probably belongs to one of the three men she lives with. This is what happens when you keep collecting adoptive dads. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ With a laugh - ]

Gather up? You make it sound like you'll be raiding your parents' liquor cabinet. I'll tell you what - Why don't I come to yours?

[cykedelic]

I was talking about silvers. [ He can probably hear the exasperation in her voice. ] I don't even know what the drinking age is here, but I lived in Europe. I didn't have to raid my parents' liquor cabinet there.

[ Not to mention... what parents........ ]