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[ Hello, have your new 010 » 111 pop up on the network. The video turns on to show someone obviously in their room. He's sitting on the bed and he has the comm resting in his hands on his lap, it's facing him -- even if it's a little off center. His fingers run over the buttons on the device and he clears his throat, ready to speak at the indication that the video is recording.

And yet, the video is upside down. ]

Just a friendly reminder to whoever is in charge that, if you are in fact going to abduct someone from their work and home into outer space -- you might want to reconsider picking a blind man. For one, stars? Completely wasted on me.

[ A slight quirk of his lips up at that. ]

And to... any friendly listeners out there, a brief rundown of this place from someone who isn't a native would be exceptional. I'm sure there's a welcome sign around here but, well, [ He tilts his head just a bit and shrugs lightly. ]

I think that covers it. Nice to meet you, I'm sure you're all very pretty.

[ And then he grins and hangs up. ]

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[ well you're not wrong, auggie. you're definitely not wrong. ]

You're welcome. I would have let you go on that way, but that's just rude of me. Besides, no one wants to tilt their head that much to see your face right side up. [ a beat and then: ] Skilled fingers make you nearly indispensable on this ship. Any particular skill that they're fond of? Or a jack of all trades?

You are absolutely correct, it's almost rude to talk to someone like that in the first place!

[ Heh. ]

I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades but I guess I have a certain... penchant for computers. They're just so easy to work with, you know?

Isn't it though? I imagine some of them thought it would be even more rude to point it out. Either way, it was a lose/lose situation for them.

You should tell that to a few of our fellow passengers, I'm afraid some of them are rather illiterate when it comes to technology like computers. [ A beat. ] Hacking?

Oh, the banalities of propriety. How we suffer from them.

[ His lips quirk slightly at the question. He leans back at that, waving a hand dismissively. ]

If you can prove it.

It's why it's always better to have your own definition of it. Makes it so no one can tell you that you're doing something wrong.

[ Oh, Auggie, you remind her of Neal saying it like that. If you can prove it. Who even really wants to? ]

Do I sound like someone who wants to prove it? That's typically reserved for law enforcement officers, if I remember right. Or lawyers. I don't happen to be either.

Ah, always nice to find someone cut from the same cloth. I agree wholeheartedly with that.

[ Hey, man, it's called plausible deniability! ]

Well, that's a relief. Got enough of those in the army. What are you then?

That just means you're intelligent, you know.

[ Uh-huh, right, totally plausible deniability. ]

There isn't exactly a word for what I do. Not officially. Besides, I do like having my hands in a bit of everything, so to speak.

[ ...Okay well that's not a lie, it's just a bending of the truth because she has her hands in everything because of other people, but details. Let's see if you can guess though. ]

It has to do with people. Requires dealing with people.

I like to think I am.

[ ... Oh, are we going to play a guessing game now? He enjoys these. A lot. ]

So an unofficial job for dealing with people, hm? Guess that rules out publicist and considering the way you carry yourself, that doesn't really seem like your type of shtick either.

[ He might not be able to see but he can sure as hell hear and your voice says a lot about you, Irene. ]

Sometimes when people think they are, they're actually idiots. It's rare that you actually are intelligent and you think you are.

[ Aren't you lucky that she likes playing them, then. ]

Doesn't necessarily rule out publicist. I have been known to put the best of them to shame. [ ...Again, not strictly a lie, but putting them to shame is actually just making it so they can't clean up their clients' messes. ] Do I sound like I enjoy what I do?

[ Oh, she knows Auggie. She most definitely know. ]

Edited (html my mortal enemy) 2012-10-02 23:27 (UTC)

I feel there's a certain level of self-awareness you have to have to be competent with your intelligence too. That kind of feeds into the whole thinking it while actually being it. [ A beat. ] Not to say I don't make my own mistakes though.

[ Oh oh oh you. You, Miss Adler, are his favorite. ]

You do sound like you enjoy what you do, and if it was making people look good -- which it must not be considering you used the word "shame" instead -- then you probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. Publicists clean up messes, you sounds like a person who makes them.

If I didn't know any better I'd say you're trying to put a bit of a philosophical spin on it. Tell me, do you make mistakes often?

[ You're nearly as much fun as Neal. Do feel proud of yourself. ]

I'm perfectly fine with making people look good. But you do get a few points for catching the word shame. And making an interesting jump to me making messes. It's almost sounds like I have a behavioral issue when you say it that way. [ A beat. ] Can you guess how I might make messes? Think.

Sometimes. Comes in my line of work.

[ Oh yay. That is a very high compliment. There's a moment of him thinking, replaying the conversation in his head, going through her tone and speech patterns matched up to what he knows from his training and personal experience. Hm. ]

If you're going to put it like that, I think you... encourage behavioral issues in other people. Not your own, if you have any. Perhaps you do, I'm no judge and it's not my problem! I just like puzzles. So, if it's shame based behavioral issues that you emphasize and at the same time, get people into trouble over -- publicly. Well, then it's high profile in the bad way. [ A beat. ] Sexual, perhaps?

How depressing, I was going to start calling you invincible in my head.

[ And here's when he gets the smallest of laughs. She sounds faintly amused, like he's getting close, but he's still slightly off. ]

I wouldn't say I encourage them. The people I work with are very well-behaved. At least around me, I can't really control what they do when they're not. [ She lets out a little hum. ] Not strictly. It can be and arguably is with a definite number of them, but it doesn't strictly have to do with sex. In fact, I work with someone who definitely doesn't have a sexual aspect to go with what I do. [ For now. Or perhaps forever. Either/or. ]

Remember what I said.

Edited (because i can thank you very much. i don't need a reason.) 2012-10-04 05:58 (UTC)

Ah, missed chances. They'll come again, I'm sure.

[ Hmm. But she did leave the option for sex so that narrows it down a bit. If it's about control and may or may not include sex, yet has some similarities with publicist, in that it can be used to shame someone publicly (be it the client -- that must be the word she uses for them -- or someone who is not the client but has connections with said client...) She is also very confident over her job and that is a hint of pride so she's not ashamed while her clients might be which in turn, works with the shaming people publicly thing. It has control. It has shame. It may or may not have sex. There's one idea he has for this but he's never met one in person or aside from... some... private things, he's never seen them function so... well. But the level of control she has in her voice and how she's so obviously dominating this conversation (he noticed, yes) so... Maybe it wouldn't be so far off. And hey, if it's wrong -- she'd probably be flattered he suggested it. So then, it must be-- ]

... A Dominatrix, maybe?

Only if I'm feeling generous.

[ So, really perhaps he might get another chance. There's one person who she's played this game with before, and she had taken a significantly longer time to guess it. In some respects, Auggie is reminding Irene of Sherlock with how he's taking these clues and adding them while the charm is taking a nice little stroll on the side of acting like Neal. If she didn't know any better she'd say that he's their bastard son. She does know better, but credit is due where credit is due. ]

Professional dominatrix. I could have told you I run my own business, but I have a sneaking suspicion you would have jumped to escort. Not that they're bad, but we have different skill sets. [ A beat. ] You're good at this.

I'm not afraid of bribery either.

[ He does this for a living! Spy, intelligence, etc etc. He was a very good field officer before he went blind and he still is a damn good one after it, even if Joan is a poopy pants who won't let him out on the field god. He's learned how to piece together things because sometimes people don't just say stuff for you cause you're blind and you can't see which gives them the ability to "hide" from you. He doesn't like that, he doesn't trust that. So, if his paranoia and his attention for detail can be used for amusement in space hell, then he damn well will use it in space hell. ]

And you're too classy to be an escort which means you'd be running it from the background and... I can't see you doing that either. Control means you're hands on too. [ literal chinhands.gif in his mind. The cheshire cat grin on his face kind of shows it though. ] I've had experience. People don't like to tell the blind guy all the facts, so the blind guy has to look for them himself.

Bribery is so uncouth.

[ Says the woman who kept a phone full of secrets for protection, pot, kettle, Irene. The thing is, in Irene's profession, and indeed, her life, she finds that she has to rely on vocal patterns as well as body language. People never say everything to one another even when both parties in a conversation can see. To find the hidden things, you have to dig a little and pay close attention. Which, admittedly, Irene is doing right now. Sorry Auggie, you're being filed away under VERY INTERESTING. ]

Considering my talent, I wouldn't dream of running it just from the background. The terms, regrettably overlap a bit when you're talking to people, so it's best to just attach the professional part and make sure it's clear that I don't have sex unless it's needed in the situation. [ It's the best sort of grin she's seen lately. Four for you Auggie Coco, four for you. ] Interesting word choice. Purposeful, I take it, to be amusing. Not bad.

And from experience, the ones who don't get told all the facts know the most. And the added bonus of being able to claim that you knew nothing because no one even thought to tell you anything.

Oh, I don't know. I've find it interesting sometimes. Especially when the other party isn't aware -- not to say you wouldn't. Just in a general sense.

[ they think you're giving them something and you're actually not. it's all very fun. REGARDLESS though not the point at hand here. ]

You just make me admire you more by the minute, Miss... ah-- I've just realized I don't know your name. [ huh. he wonders if that was intentional on her part. he's still smiling though. ] Everything is purposeful, ma'am. If I can amuse, I've done my days work.

... Hah, exactly. My boss seems to be inclined this way a lot towards me. She seems surprised each time I do actually know something though I'm doubting the surprise is for me anymore. [ a shrug. bureaucracy. ]

But bribery implies that you can't manage to convince a person to go the way you want them to without monetary or material gain. That you lack the charm to do it and with you, I like to think that's just simply not the case.

[ oh sorry, there's another chuckle here. because right, her name. she does suppose it's best she tells you that, really. ] Miss Adler. The one that isn't Victorian. If you have the pleasure of meeting her as well. [ it was, but oh she's rather free with her name when she wants to be. ] A comedian as well. Is there no end to the things you can do well?

And who is the surprise for? If not for you, of course.

Well, that's assuming I'm dealing with people of class like yourself, Miss Adler.

[ and one of those charming smiles right at her. ] I can't say I've met that one though. My name is August, but most tend to call me Auggie. [ heh ] I also enjoy humor, it tends to brighten up a rather dark world. [ gettit, 'cause he's blind? hehehe oh auggie ]

For the powers that be, of course. Bureaucracy at it's finest. [ which is interesting to note because he has mentioned he does computer work. freelance to others too. and the army note above-- he wonders if she'll notice his hints. ]

Government officials are far easier to charm than I am.

[ and a laugh. ] You will eventually. I might put in a good word for you. You'd like her if you like me. Do you mind if I prefer calling you August at least in private. And you're a master at the humor, aren't you. Dark world.

[ oh she might be noticing. just a bit. ] The powers that be are rather possessive of people with your skills. Do you want me to guess your powers that be that might keep you on a medium leash?

More boring too.

[ a tilt of his head in amusement but he nods ] August is fine with me. I just like to keep the option for more open, after all. [ he just grins at the humor comment though. ]

You're welcome to try. [ it feels a bit like a fair exchange after all. he did it to her so, it's a swap. ]

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