person man, person man, hit on the head with a frying pan

[jacksonian]

WHO: Mark and whoever
WHERE: Everywhere!! But mostly De Chima and Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Throughout November
WHAT: Catch-all for November with stuff. Hit me up!! Please!!! Open prompts below; PM me if you want something that isn't these things.
WARNINGS: Mark's life sucks; I'll edit this header if any particular suckiness comes up.


1. dog dog dog dog dog dog dog; De Chima/Maurtia Falls
[ In De Chima or in Maurtia Falls, you might find a rather strange sight: a small stocky man walking an enormous stocky dog. This is Mark walking his dog Captain, a scarred and warlike pit bull that pulls at the leash and constantly wags his tail. Mark's expression is still a forbidding glower, but Captain's doggy face is open and bright-eyed and happy; there's no one he doesn't want to make friends with.

And Mark, unfortunately, doesn't know good leash technique, and also (in spite of his own roundness) doesn't outweigh his dog by that much. And so when Captain wants to make friends, Mark is dragged along behind him. And that is why, if you're walking around, you might be approached by a dog trailing a very sour-looking little man who's hissing - ]

No, don't - stop - heel -

2. come make $$$$; Maurtia Falls
[ PKE, LLC, up in Maurtia Falls, is beyond luxurious. The office is appointed with a sort of brushed-steel-and-pine classiness, like it's furnished from the expensive part of Ikea; the receptionist out front is attractive and aloof, and people who are waiting get offered mineral water from glass bottles.

There are any number of reasons that you might have ended up here: you might have received an advertisement in the mail, or a random notification on your phone, or you might have seen the advertising that targets imPorts. All of this advertising will have offered help in investing, getting rich, or opening a new business - generous funding to get everyone a little bit wealthier.

Mark, sitting at his desk, smiles a smile that can generously be described as oily when you're shown in. And he purrs - ]

Please, sit down. Tell me about how you'd like to make money.

3. kicking some grass; De Chima
[ Mark doesn't like to practice where he can be seen. Definitely not. So when he's worked up and anxious, he goes out far away from his family, far away from the people who know him, out into the forests of De Chima. On the unlikely off-chance that your character happens to wander by, they'll be treated to a very strange sight: a small fat man vigorously practicing a judo kata, face miserable, before punching a tree. He turns as soon as he hears them, though, eyes flashing with anger as he snarls - ]

What the hell are you doing here? Go away.

4. fuck it; anywhere
[ Mark's eating ice cream. Come have ice cream. ]

Comments

[jacksonian]

[ Mark twists slightly to avoid a lick to his chin from the German Shepherd, suffering one to the neck instead. (Could be worse.) In the pit of his stomach, there's a war between pleasure at being praised and frustration at what's being praised. In the end, he succumbs to both feelings: ]

Thank you, sir.

[ And: ]

But I don't like...knowing all of it.

[use_everything]

Neither do I. [There's a wry smile at that.] What's that old line? I must be a soldier so that my son may be a shopkeeper, and his an artist. [Mangled and shortened by time, the source long forgotten; ironic, considering where they are now.]

[jacksonian]

Oh.

[ He ducks his head slightly. ]

I've...never heard that one.

[ No surprise, of course. Ser Galen had always been more intent on traveling the opposite direction, making all of his children into soldiers. Still, he's a little cheered by the sentiment, sticking his hands into his pockets and saying: ]

I'm working on the part where I turn into a shopkeeper, at least.

[use_everything]

I know. [It was a simple phrase, but it rumbled with a sort of pride in Aral's eyes.]

How is the business doing? [He spies an old stump, long worn and ties the leash near it before settling.]

[jacksonian]

[ A wash of pride comes into Mark's own face - because of the question, and because of the expression he can see (if not fully understand) in Lord Vorkosigan's face.

He doesn't sit; rather, he relishes the rare opportunity to be the taller party in a conversation. ]

Excellently. It's growing all the time. I might find someone else to manage it for me soon and turn my attention to other business interests.

[use_everything]

Ah, forming your own admiralty, then. [It IS how he sees business, anyway.] What is next on the plate?

[jacksonian]

Uh.

[ He clears his throat and kicks at the grass. ]

Something I'd want to clear with you first, sir. And...the Emperor. It's a little...reckless.

[use_everything]

[Aral's eyebrows raise, but his expression is still open enough. He makes a go ahead gesture.]

[jacksonian]

[ He swallows, and nods, a little bit of steel coming into his expression. ]

I've mentioned this before. Briefly. To a few people. But I - want to go ahead with taking down the people who really deserve it. The people who exploit and abuse other people.

[use_everything]

[Ah. He rubs his chin, considering.]

Destroy them through the wallet? You'll make enemies. [Not a dissuasion, just a point raised.]

[jacksonian]

[ A small nod. ]

Yeah. Which is why I'm asking permission.

[ A hesitation - ]

I'm going to do it incognito. No names.

[use_everything]

[He'd easily let Miles take risk of that size and further. And.. occasionally not so easily. It takes very little thought on the matter.]

I'd like to know who and when, as you see fit. [Aral's face flits with a certain black humor as he scratches the dog's ruff.] Not overly much, but please be a little better at reporting than Miles is. [That is to say, reporting where trouble is coming from AT ALL EVER.]

[jacksonian]

Oh. Yeah.

[ He allows a small smile to flit across his features - quick, slightly shy. ]

I think I'm a bit less intent on avoiding anyone giving me advice than he is.

[use_everything]

[There are moments when people look at the tools they have, that they've forged, sharpened or been given and decides either to be comfortable or to really use them.

There's a deep pride in watching that choice. (as much as there's relief in finding ONE of his sons is going to communicate, dammit)]

Give em hell, then.

[jacksonian]

[ And there's an answering happiness in Mark's face. It's not often that he knows - really knows - that he's making the right choice, but looking at Lord Vorkosigan now, there's no doubt of it. His eyes light up, and he looks on his father with a bright hunger, a hopeful sort of need, as he sees: yes. Yes, I did well, I did right... ]

Yes, sir.

[ He breathes that. Then, after a fine moment savoring with a gourmet's delight this exquisite and unexpected morsel, he sets it aside. Other matters. ]

Aside from the business, I also have ImpSec duties, of course.

[use_everything]

Ah. Yes, I haven't gotten to ask how you are finding those.

[jacksonian]

Well. I think I'm fairly good at them. [ Looking up for another longed-for look of approval: ] I helped Illyan out.

[use_everything]

[Aral had settled back into the attentive-neutral he usually does for reports.]

Instrumental, in that particular case. I don't have to tell you to be careful with that particular hive, I'm sure.

[jacksonian]

[ He shakes his head, then hesitates. ]

I don't think they're our enemies, though. Chilton and all of them.

[use_everything]

Hm. Your reasoning?

[jacksonian]

[ Mark hesitates. Gut instinct probably won't suffice. Nor, Chilton was nice when I was talking about the clone business, and that won me over. Something real, something actual... ]

Because...I think they're too tied up in all of their own issues. Internal politics don't make for a very formidable foe.

[use_everything]

Don't underestimate that. You've inherited aa culture that will put aside the most bitter feud to dismantle an outsider. [Then go right back to trying to murder each other before the victory cup was drained.]

[jacksonian]

[ ...True. Barrayarans. ]

But they're not particularly united amongst themselves.

[use_everything]

Perhaps not, but I can't really put aside the possibility yet. [As he is Barrayaran as well.] But I'm also not keen on a conflict we don't need to have, either.

Have you dealt with then long enough to furnish details?

[jacksonian]

[ A short nod. ]

I see Chilton. He's my therapist. [ And isn't it a sign that Cordelia got to Mark before any of the Barrayarans did, that he doesn't even blush or flinch admitting that. ] It's allowed me to get some intel on him.