Video

[idontwanttoknow]

[A new world, a whole new populace to meet. As long as they don't expect him to do anything other than woo them, Ivan thinks he'll get on with these people quite well.

Time to introduce himself, then. He takes as much time as necessary to figure out the (frankly archaic) video capture equipment. His first call needs to show his good side, after all.]

Hello, De Chima. I've recently been ImPorted to your beautiful city, and I'm looking for an equally beautiful guide to introduce me to my new home. Would any of you ladies out there care to oblige me?

I also thought I would introduce myself for those of you who aren't sure whether or not to help me: My name is Ivan Vorpatril, and I am your galactic dream come true. Respond to me on this channel, and I can happily repay you with a night that is truly out of this world.

Comments

[idontwanttoknow]

Twenty-two.

Which is why I find the nagging to be far from endearing.

[rathercommon]

Oh. Yeah. That does seem awfully young. I mean - where I'm from, people younger than me have typically settled down and married, but, like, here...Here, it seems like it's not even weird if you're not married by the time you're nearly thirty.

[idontwanttoknow]

Is it really? People marry at all sorts of ages on Barrayar. My mother just doesn't have a husband to boss around, so she pushes me instead.

[rathercommon]

Well. Good for you for living the life you want to live.

[idontwanttoknow]

I'm trying, at any rate.

So, uh, how did you and Gregor meet?

[rathercommon]

Miles introduced us, actually. Back when Gregor was still pretending to be Greg Vorthys, Vor Runaway.

[idontwanttoknow]

He... he pretended what? Why would he do that?

[rathercommon]

Oh, for his safety, partially. Just so no one got it into their heads to kidnap His Majesty The Emperor. And partially just 'cause he wanted a bit of a break from being emperor. God, ruling Barrayar sounds like a dreadful job. No offense.

[idontwanttoknow]

None taken. I certainly don't want it. Even being a Vor lord is tiresome; I'm glad I don't stand much of a chance of ending up on the Council.

[rathercommon]

Oh, so - you're just - You're not part of the government? You've just got that title?

[idontwanttoknow]

Just the title. A whole lot of guys have to die before I'd have to do actual government work. I like it that way.

[rathercommon]

Huh. I can't blame you. I just recently escaped from being on the ruling council of my own country.

[idontwanttoknow]

You did? What country is that?

[rathercommon]

Oh - Great Britain. We've got a version of it here, though it's a bit different in form.

[idontwanttoknow]

I don't know a lot about either Great Britain. What's it like?

[rathercommon]

Oh.

[ What a complicated question. ]

Well, here...It's sort of an empire. Or a former empire, really. A country centered on a small island off the coast of Europe. Erm - have you ever heard of the city of London?

[idontwanttoknow]

I think so. It's one of the planet's major cities, right?

[rathercommon]

Yeah, I thought so. Even in the future, people won't have forgotten about London.

[ That's said with a healthy mixture of fondness and disgust. ]

Anyway, that's where I'm from. The south part of London. Balham, to be completely specific.

[idontwanttoknow]

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[rathercommon]

That I'm from Balham? Oh, it's all right. It's not exactly the best part of the city - it's where the Czechs live, and my government hates them - but it's not bad, either. I'm poor, but not poor as dirt.

[idontwanttoknow]

Oh, I meant people forgetting about London. It's...good that you like home, though? How big of a city is it?

[rathercommon]

About six million, I think? Thereabouts.

What about you? Where are you from?

[idontwanttoknow]

Oh, so still big.

I'm from Volbarr Sultana, like Gregor and Miles. They've probably told you all about it.

[rathercommon]

Actually, no, not really. I know a bit about Barrayar, but not the actual cities and the like.

[idontwanttoknow]

Wait, really? That seems awfully negligent of them. What do you talk about, anyway?

[You'd think she would find Vorbarr Sultana cool.]