Voicetesting

[withthewidow]

This is... not the best idea you have ever had.

I do not think people will be very excited to see me. And it is not as if Lady Rosewood is here. You want someone who will enjoy new people. I think it is best I am left to myself, no?

You do not even listen, do you?

[Canon is Valentin and the Widow, by Andrew Wheeler.]

Comments

[withthewidow]

[Sacha looks uncomfortable, as if he's not used to being asked even so much as this.]

I am... when I am not at sea, I usually usually drink. Or fight. Sometimes drink and then fight. It is usually better, when I go back to sea.

[His going usually makes people relieved, in his experience.]

[thisflowerimagines]

[Well, see. Obnoxious.]

I see. You find yourself at loose ends when you're not occupied with work.

[withthewidow]

I suppose you could say. I am not used to people. I deal with them badly.

[thisflowerimagines]

That I understand. I have that problem myself.

[withthewidow]

What is it that you do? For work?

[thisflowerimagines]

I'm in news, I work for the BBC.

[withthewidow]

[A small frown, then:]

That is... English radio.

[Almost a question.]

[thisflowerimagines]

Yes, it is. Though while I've been told I've a face for the radio, I'm actually in television news.

[withthewidow]

[The frown deepens.]

What is this television?

[He says it with slightly the wrong emphasis; it's clearly not a word he's heard before.]

[thisflowerimagines]

[...What.]

Spend a lot of time at sea, then, do you?

[withthewidow]

Yes. No - yes until lately. Or maybe I do not know it in English.

[The thick Russian accent may be a giveaway it's not his first language, yes.]

[thisflowerimagines]

No, the word's pretty universal. Or so I thought.

[withthewidow]

I am sorry, then, I do not know. As you say, I was long at sea.

[thisflowerimagines]

It's all right.

But you're not at sea now? What do you do when you're not at sea?

...And not drinking, and not fighting.

[withthewidow]

I work for a lady. I am... her valet.

[It must be noted that, while he doesn't seem to be lying, he also seems to be aware that he looks like the least likely valet for a well-bred lady ever. Sailor, yes. Valet, no.]

[thisflowerimagines]

[Well, no. But Freddie's hardly one to judge on appearances. Besides, when you think "crusading television reporter and presenter"... let's just say he's been repeatedly told he doesn't have the face for it.]

I see.

Do you like it?

[withthewidow]

[Sacha considers the question seriously for a moment.]

She is a good lady doing dangerous work. I am a bad valet, I think, but I am good at keeping people from hurting her.

[thisflowerimagines]

Then it's good she has you.

Why would people want to hurt her? Why is her work dangerous?

[withthewidow]

...she tries to stop powerful people. People without... who will not hesitate to kill her if she stands in their way.

[He is sure he has already said too much. But Sacha is at lying, and in his limited experience, journalists seldom give up easily.]

[thisflowerimagines]

Mm. I know the type; I've run up against some of them myself.

She must be grateful to have you, your lady.

[withthewidow]

She is very unusual.

[A small smile, though, genuine.]

She also is also hard to say "no" when she decides a thing.

[thisflowerimagines]

Ah. That's another type I know well.

[He smies, faint but fond.]

I've one of those ladies myself.

I mean, I work with one.

[withthewidow]

Not for?

[thisflowerimagines]

...Right, technically it's for, she is my producer. But I like to think of us as a team, we have been for a very long time.

[There's possibly a faint note of fondness in his voice.]

[withthewidow]

There are few good people, in the world. It is good, when you find one.

[As hopelessly awkward as he is with people, Sacha isn't slow at reading them, necessarily; he caught that fondness.]

And ladies are hard to change their minds, when they know they are right.

[thisflowerimagines]

That's true enough.

And yes, yes they are. Though I rather enjoy that about them, in the right circumstances

[withthewidow]

It is good when you find something to fight for.

[thisflowerimagines]

It is. I tend to find loads of things to fight for, but all of them mean everything to me.

[withthewidow]

You give your 'everything' easily. There must be much of you.

[thisflowerimagines]

...That's possibly the most profound thing anyone's said about me.

I do give my everything easily. But I don't give it to everything. You see?

[withthewidow]

Perhaps it is lost in... [] My English is good, but not perfect, no?

[thisflowerimagines]

It's fine. I was making a joke.

...People don't always find me amusing.

But I do give everything, when I find a worthy crusade.

Whoops, sorry for the html fail

[withthewidow]

An admirable quality, joke or no.

no worries :3

[thisflowerimagines]

Thank you.

You must possess a few yourself, for a proper lady to rely on you so.

[withthewidow]

[He shakes his head.] I am strong, that is all.

[thisflowerimagines]

Don't sell yourself short, friend. Strength is important.

Especially when one needs to be leaned on, at times.

[withthewidow]

Or when one has powerful enemies, yes.

[Sacha's better at the "beating people to a pulp" part than the "supporting someone's emotions" part.]

[thisflowerimagines]

Yes, that too. Wish I had a bit more of that.

[Freddie is... well, he's rubbish at both those things, rather good at making people want to beat him to a pulp instead.]

[withthewidow]

[Sacha considers, then offers:]

There are many ways, to be strong.

[We can't all be giant, burly Russians, Freddie!]

[thisflowerimagines]

[He seems pleased by this!]

Thank you. I've always thought so too.