[ THISAVROU: INBOX ] MID messages & IC mail

[forwardmomentum]

I N B O X

IC Voice Mail "Personnel Officer Miles here. If this is a personal matter, leave a message; if it's ship business-related, may I direct you to the Personnel Office's suggestion box. Sending me a barrage of texts will not make me respond to you any faster, so don't, Ivan." Mun Contact PLURK:   runawayballista

Comments

[skelepun]

[For all Sans is standing perfectly still, hand poised over the suggestion box like a child caught sneaking from the cookie jar, Sans looks remarkably relaxed.]

Oh hey there, buddy. [Aaaand in his latest Suggestion goes, plopped right on top.] Don't worry, I'm very diligent.

[As evidenced by the recent squalor taking hold lately in various parts of the ship.]

[forwardmomentum]

[ miles' gaze follows the note as it drops into the suggestion box, a half-second delay, before it shifts back toward sans, one eyebrow raised slightly, but his expression is otherwise mild, bordering on bland. ]

So I've noticed. I admire your consistency. [ he grins then, razor-sharp. ] And how are you liking your job assignment, Sans?

[skelepun]

Can't complain. [Sans's grin is easy by comparison, like he might drop off to sleep at any moment.]

How are you liking my job assignment?

[forwardmomentum]

[ someone less sharp might take sans at face value, but miles figured out there's more to him on day one. what that is exactly he doesn't know, but if he doesn't have your number, sans, he's at least got your area code. his grin sharpens. ]

You know, I'm starting to wonder if your talents are being misplaced.

[skelepun]

That would require having a talent to begin with. [He chuckled, rocking back and forth on his heels.] You should look up my brother. He's a lot more impressive than lil' ol' me.

[forwardmomentum]

[ nice try, sans. ]

In fact I have. He seems like a good kid. [ can you call a skeleton 'kid'? miles is doing it anyway. ] Very admirable work ethic.

[ it's hardly a veiled jab. miles examines his fingernails in a look of disinterest. ]

Oh, I think you have a lot of talents, Sans. It's just a matter of supervision.

[skelepun]

[Eh, it's probably not that far off. Papyrus was an adult, but definitely a young one. Then again, that all hinged on how much condescension the comment was being delivered with.

Sans's demeanor did not change, but there was a new found sharpness in his voice. More in the vein of a butter knife than a scimitar, but hey. That's a lot, for him.]

Well, you are my supervisor. Guess you're not so super at it, heh.

[forwardmomentum]

[ no condescension there at all, when it comes to papyrus. miles actually really does like him and thinks he's a great addition to the crew. unlike someone.

miles looks up with a sharp grin -- more like a razor blade on him, edged and manic. miles isn't so much cool and collected most of the time as he is vibrating in place with sheer manic energy, just waiting for somewhere to use it -- or explode into glorious catastrophe, take your pick. granted, miles' kind of glorious catastrophe sometimes involves taking over an entire mercenary fleet through sheer force of personality. ]

Oh, not my supervision. Contrary to what you might think, that isn't my job. But it could be someone else's. [ miles tilts his head at sans, still grinning. sans is a pain in the ass, but miles actually kind of likes the guy. that doesn't mean he wouldn't like to find out what makes sans squirm. ] I'm thinking something in Navigation -- Captain Manasseh does appreciate a good day's hard work, and you'd have plenty of colleagues to work with. Or maybe the kitchen. I'm sure our Head Chef could use some extra assistance.

[ loki's just as likely to let sans goof around as his to kick him into gear, but that might not be a bad idea anyway. actually, putting loki and sans in the same room for any amount of time could have some really interesting consequences. ]

[skelepun]

[Sans couldn't really help it -- he dropped the jokey back and forth, giving Miles a much more sincere (and openly skeptical) look. Humor still writ in his features, he was nontheless baffled by Miles interest.]

Kitchen? Navigation? Heh, you sure you've got the right guy? I'm... pretty chill just being a janitor, man.

[forwardmomentum]

[ aha. now there's something. miles' grin broadens and leans forward, looming over sans a little, shoulders squared and hands clasped loosely behind his back in a parade rest. the skeleton's a few inches shorter than miles, a rare thing. being able to loom over someone is such a refreshing experience. no wonder his commanding officers do it all the time. ]

Hmm... No, you're right. [ miles gives him a considering look, eyes glinting. ] Your custodial skills are being criminally underutilized. You're way overqualified. You should be assigned to Waste Disposal.

[ miles punctuates that with an emphatic wave of his hand. this probably constitutes some form of workplace harassment, but this is the most fun miles has had all day. ]

[skelepun]

You're really enjoying that, huh? [Momentary lapse in chill gone, Sans returned to form with a quick once over in Miles direction.] Being able to loom over someone for a change?

[But moving on:] I serve at the pleasure of the personnel officer. You ask me to take out the trash, I say how high.

[forwardmomentum]

Oh, a little bit.

[ miles gives him that razor-edged grin again, totally unashamed. hey, if you grew up on barrayar looking like he does, you'd take a little pleasure in it, too. ]

Excellent. As it happens, there's a blockage in one of the pool filters in the rec area. [ he taps at his MID to pull up a map and sends a series of detailed instructions to sans' MID. ] I'm going to need you to clean the filters -- and while you're at it, check the chlorine levels. [ still grinning. ] I look forward to your report, Crewman Sans.

[skelepun]

[Oh, was this one ever a piece of shit. Sans made a mental note to empty an entire container of relish into his suggestion box tomorrow.]

Aye aye, sir. [Sans gave a bow and a wave and a salute with such overwhelming flourish, it was a miracle he didn't fall over before disappearing around the corner.

And yes. Disappearing is the only word for it, as Miles would see nothing but a long stretch of emptiness if he bothered to check.]