Third floor common room, Sunday evening

[future_sandworm]

While he had enjoyed the cruise more than he had expected, and eventually got used to being on a ship, Leto was happy to be back. He had considered writing one of those letters he could never send to his sister at home, but decided against it - they always made him melancholy and that wasn't what he wanted.

Instead, he brought the baliset to the common room, and after tuning the instrument he began to play a slow Caladan song, one that Gurney Hallek had once taught his father.

[Open, of course!]

Comments

[future_sandworm]

He gave a small nod. "And how does this work? Have you been given a set of rules? Are orders issued continuously? Have they taught you a way of thinking that leads to the conclusions they want?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"A bit of each." Triela considered. "It's mostly skills training combined with direct objectives. I'm free to act within personal judgment within my orders. And Hilshire's smart enough to keep things general."

[future_sandworm]

"Hiltshire? And yet they can't make you enjoy or seek the human interaction you came here to learn." Leto thought this a little amusing.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"My handler."

Triela's eyes darkened. "Even the Agency doesn't give orders about emotions. And imprinting on a handler is still a complicated process. You don't do it more than once."

[future_sandworm]

"So he controls you?" That was interesting.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"He gives the orders," she responded. It was only a minor correction, but the difference was important.

To Triela, anyway.

[future_sandworm]

"Did you choose this?" Leto was curious enough to ask.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"No." Triela didn't sound bothered by the fact. It was just the way things were.

[future_sandworm]

Leto wasn't surprised or upset by this. "And, to return to where we started, because of all this, you find the company of others mostly useless?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"There aren't many people who can offer me anything but someone to have to watch out for." Her voice was sour.

[future_sandworm]

"And what would you like them to offer you?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

Triela considered the question.

"Well, while I've never run into a situation where I needed backup, someone who could actually provide it might be useful."

Yeah. 'Useful'.

[future_sandworm]

"There seem to be quite a few skilled fighters at the school," Leto noted.

[Bedtime!]

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"None at my level that I've met yet." Which was true as long as you were narrow-minded enough in your criteria.

[future_sandworm]

"You must be exceptionally good, then," Leto observed. "How do you fight?"

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Guns, mostly. They're extremely efficient."

[future_sandworm]

"Mostly obsolete in my time." Leto grinned. "Our shields make them... impractical."

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Interesting," Triela mused. "The only thing we have that really reduces the effectiveness of guns is body armor, and it's not all that impressive."

[future_sandworm]

"When a lasgun hit the energy field of the shield it causes an explosion, killing both shooter and target, and usually quite a few others," Leto clarified. "They are used in wars, but then shields are not used, obviously."

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"Sounds complicated," Triela shook her head in disapproval. Combat was supposed to be simple.

[future_sandworm]

"Merely different technology," Leto replied. "Humanity is very adaptable."

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"That's true," Triela snorted. She waved a hand at herself in silence. Because, really, what did she need to say?

[future_sandworm]

"So, no hand-to-hand combat?" Leto couldn't resist asking.

[sorella-vecchia.livejournal.com]

"If I have to, but it's slower." Triela shrugged. "I did the entirety of my last mission with a garrote."

[future_sandworm]

"Was it successful?" Leto asked.