} spyjinks prep

[vorbarra]

WHO: Gregor and Kitty & Miles, Nicolas, Cordelia & Aral. Separately.
WHERE: The park in Heropa, then De Chima #007.
WHEN: The night the coup began (February 16th?).
WHAT: Gregor decides to go undercover with Kitty. Well, more undercover. Some other people have some things to say about that. Also, they rope Nicolas into going along.
WARNINGS: None so far.

Comments

KITTY & MILES

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor isn't sure what Kitty intends, but he's sure she has some kind of plan, so he dutifully goes to meet her in the park in Heropa and asks Miles to come along with him.

He's grave and solemn, much moreso than has become his norm here. ] I did hope that would be the end of things for a while, [ he says quietly to Miles as they walk. ] I didn't expect, but I hoped.

NICOLAS

[vorbarra]

[ After the conversation with Kitty, during which Gregor had cleared this train of thought with her, he contacts Nicolas and requests a meeting.

Probably also in the park in Heropa, where he's waiting patiently on a bunch, bundled in his coat, looking pensive in the extreme. He'd asked to take point on this, as he'll have to be revealing his secret here. ]

CORDELIA & ARAL

[vorbarra]

[ It's relatively late that night by the time Gregor finally gets back from talking with Nicolas, probably ten or eleven o'clock, and he'd insisted to Miles earlier that he let him be the one to inform his parents of his plan. (Miles being probably off somewhere sulking about being shot down on coming with them.)

As he gets back in, he sends a sort of mental knock along his links to both Aral and Cordelia. There's an absolute seriousness to him that they haven't felt from him at this level before.

Would you both join me downstairs, please? ]

[keep_nothing]

[ She's still awake at this hour, and Gregor would be able to feel her surprise cutting through the book she was reading, the graveness of his mental tone enough to make her even straighten up in bed.

It'll take just a second, love. I'll have to poke Aral awake. A faint, bemused flash of a discussion they had a few days ago accompanies her reply, showing Aral protesting her teasing and going on about certain luxuries he couldn't have as Regent. ]

[use_everything]

[It is, as such, a little bit before they're both downstairs. Aral looking a bit rumpled besides the hadn't-slept-yet Cordelia, but sharp and alert nonetheless. She'd been clear about the tone.]

What's happened?

[dendarii]

[ As always, Miles follows along at Gregor's heels. His new bracers have put a spring in his step; he doesn't have to work quite so hard to keep up with Gregor's strides. ]

At least there's no risk of this place getting dull?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor occupies himself while waiting by putting some tea to steep, really just to have something to do with his hands. He's holding a mug in both hands, water steaming, when they come down, leaning back against the kitchen counter rather than sitting. ]

I trust you saw the announcement today about the Soviet occupation.

[use_everything]

[The last dregs of sleep burn off at that. The first thing he does is a quick check along the connection on Miles... After the last attack, it was no small comfort to find it there and without the thrum of adrenaline or panic.]

Of course. So, you've decided on your course of action.

[There was no point in it being a question.]

[vorbarra]

[ It's so nice working with someone on the same wavelength as him. ]

Yes, I have. Before I tell you-- and I apologize, truly, for how ominous this will sound; I don't believe it will come to this-- but I need to make sure you're both aware that death is impermanent here. The nanites placed in us by the Porter will resurrect us. So if anything were to happen to me, no one's to make any sacrifices for my sake.

Is that understood?

[ Gregor absolutely can't do this if he thinks someone's going to get themselves hurt or otherwise compromised for his sake, when finally, at long last, it's his right to take risks. There's so few people it affects here. He's been itching to be directly involved all his life. ]

[vorbarra]

Dull? [ he echoes dryly. ] That's more your fear than mine.

[dendarii]

Admit it, you would hate it eventually too. I liven up your life considerably.

[vorbarra]

I like you livening up my life, [ he corrects, with a little sarcastic twist to show he's aware of how much like a romantic holonovel that sounds. ] Not large scale, dirtbound war.

[dendarii]

[ Ha. A little tendril of pleased smugness floats across at that. ]

Perhaps we'll get something more entertaining next time.

[use_everything]

[Aral straightens up, his expression darkening.]

I'm following.

[keep_nothing]

[ Cordelia, for her part, crosses her arms and frowns at the news. But she doesn't protest it. ]

Go on.

[vorbarra]

I'm going to be infiltrating the Soviet forces as a willing defector. With the intent of passing inside information back to you and Miles to use for the resistance.

Kitty and one other, Nicolas, will be going with me. More accurately, we'll be going with her.

[unwiseheart]

[ Talk about a strange request to get in the middle of a Soviet takeover, but he didn't decline. He'll be there, although Gregor may not hear him approach. ]

Greg?

[ His voice comes from behind, which is where the man had approached from, eerily quiet just before speaking. He may as well have appeared out of nowhere. Though, appearance-wise, he's certainly looking less put together than usual (and even the usual wasn't that great to begin with), but that's what happens when you skip a few days of visiting the gym's showers. ]

[use_everything]

[His jaw sets and he lets out a deep breath.]

Deep cover agents, to my knowledge, tend to be both disposable - no family, few friends - and regard themselves as such as well. They also tend to already be engaged in the behavior that makes them suitable for placement.

I don't see how you fit either.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor raises a mild eyebrow, recognizing how much is suppressed beneath that set jaw.

He lays out his reasoning patiently but mercilessly. ] I'm not disposable, no, but I'm not well-suited to be of any use to the resistance efforts either. That is quite obviously your experienced purview, and Miles has some of his own experience leading assaults as well. There's nothing I could add except for being a protected mouthpiece well back from the front lines--

[ A wisp of a smile, not pleasant. ] Which I have done many times.

As for being convincing, I've already declared to the United Nations on a diplomatic mission last month that I feel some sympathy for the Soviet Union by dint of our heritage. I meant it at the time as a way to get the elephant out of the room about my accent, but I've made no secret either that I don't feel we owe any particular allegiance to America, and that attempting neutrality is a weak-hearted cowardice doomed to fail... if in softer words.

I'd be convincing enough, I think.

[vorbarra]

[ Goodness, Nicolas. Gregor starts and twists in his seat to face him, then waves him forward. ]

You're silent as a cat, you know that? ... Also, I'm sorry if this is rude, but did something happen? You look harried.

[use_everything]

[Aral's expression slams closed at the derision of being regulated to diplomacy "many times." His lip curls and his tone is baldly sardonic.]

Nothing you can add but that...

Do you really believe that? That what you may do - have done, in waiting, has been so much less in value than immediate action?

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor actually doesn't dislike diplomacy now. He's good at it, and it's effective, which serves as a ringing endorsement, really. But he has no one to be diplomatic to in this scenario which in his eyes levers his usefulness down to zero.

He's not surprised to have resistance on his plan, though he is a little surprised at the form it takes. This is the point he thinks Gregor can be persuaded on? ]

In this specific instance, I don't see what other use I could serve aside from assuaging everyone else's fears about my safety, no.

[use_everything]

Work to unify imPort action and create a centralized resistance. Prepare for the likely-to-be enormous backlash that will be centered on the Russian operatives and the United States government. One for any cruelty laid on us in the name of control and the other for any persevered inaction real or imagined. Rallying the locals to defend their own homes, as they have also been isolated and subjugated.

Your vision is narrow.

You don't have to be Emperor. You just have to be convincing.

[vorbarra]

You've done such a spectacular job laying out what needs to be done already, and Miles is likely not far behind you. There's no need for me to be third to your team. My weight means nothing here.

[unwiseheart]

I am? [ It's feigned ignorance, which is something he's typically good at, but the day has been an ordeal. There isn't quite as much honest surprise behind it as there usually might be. Even so, he offers a shrug, offering a: ] Sorry...

[ Mumbled as it is. To the rest, he shifts his weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, but waves the question off. ]

No, no, nothing. It's fine. [ At least he doesn't have any errant foliage in his hair, right? ] What did you want?