((Not at all. *g* And now it's time for things to start getting even weirder. XD Sorry about length again =/ .))
"Not at all- but I do think 'assistant' sounds rather mundane for one like yourself. Advisor, perhaps, would be closer, if still imperfect. I can't say that there would be a lot of actual work, which I hope wouldn't disappoint. You've already been more helpful than you realize, I think." He wasn't sure why he was being less guarded, and almost admitting that 'assistant' meant 'a good excuse to see you more frequently'. But it didn't seem like the wrong choice. The fact that Jasper seemed to be acting according to his own will pleased him- it was partly this that made him so magical. Even exiled tyrants liked to feel wanted. And Jasper almost made him feel wanted in the way he'd most prefer.
If he'd been modern, he should have felt fear, but, Vladimir was the product of thousands of years of a complicated breeding program which discouraged an inclination towards the emotion. He already kept a deadly creature around at home, Piter. He also knew if he kept Piter around a day longer than he was necessary, he'd regret it, and didn't plan to. And so he managed him very carefully- and without fear. Fear would have given the advantage to the twisted mentat.
Vladimir was convinced fear wasn't the right approach here, either. There was something odd about Jasper- the fresh spice in his blood added an edge to his already perceptive observation, and insisted on it. Observing people to a point where he could almost play mind reader was a specialty, but all he could discern was a vague sense of an unknown. But not necessary a malevolent unknown. Jasper's curious return of the question, asking him if something was wrong, was interesting. Was it directed at him, or, was Jasper actually asking it in regards to himself? It seemed almost as if he expected disappointment or anger to be directed at him, and was not looking forward to it.
So, he wasn't unprepared for the unexpected- he was just rather surprised when it turned out to be what seemed like absurd strength from the slender young man. In fact, it was downright painful when he turned him- which was a very revealing thing. He shouldn't have been able to do that, as, Vladimir's suspensors were on a very low setting. Vladimir, however, was of a rather unique mentality- the Harkonnen line was known for a few very strange traits.
Jasper had discovered one- although he had to forcibly strangle several gasps, and did think that Jasper could probably break his spine if he got too enthusiastic, each shot of pain only left greater pleasure in its wake. He didn't say a word at first, immersed in sensation, but a detail was growing clear despite his overwhelmed senses. Jasper had the coldest hands he'd ever felt, almost like metal. What was he? Amazing, but he couldn't be human. He didseem to be using care, which kept Vladimir calm despite the force which probably would have seriously injured anyone who wasn't as heavily padded, and still might have had Jasper been careless.
He did let out a gasp after the crack, although a curiously mixed one. The aftermath of the initial stab was intoxicating, in fact arousing due to his crossed wires. He decided he should say something. He was rather sure that Jasper did not want to injure him. But he had to know one thing. "Just one moment, if you would, Jasper- but I don't mean stop if you're not tired of it. You're. . .remarkable. Just a pause. That one I do need to recover from a moment." He found that he was actually feeling less stiff as he turned towards Jasper, although it might have been the endorphin high. Before this went any further, he needed to know if his building suspicions were true.
"Jasper, are you a thinking machine?" The first trace of fear that Vladimir had felt came with this question. Not with the thoughts leading up to it. It was the answer that worried him, given the history behind the Butlerian Jihad. It was not a fear of Jasper precisely, more the fear that he wouldn't be turned off despite the knowledge of an impending apocalypse.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2009-05-23 11:08 am (UTC)"Not at all- but I do think 'assistant' sounds rather mundane for one like yourself. Advisor, perhaps, would be closer, if still imperfect. I can't say that there would be a lot of actual work, which I hope wouldn't disappoint. You've already been more helpful than you realize, I think." He wasn't sure why he was being less guarded, and almost admitting that 'assistant' meant 'a good excuse to see you more frequently'. But it didn't seem like the wrong choice. The fact that Jasper seemed to be acting according to his own will pleased him- it was partly this that made him so magical. Even exiled tyrants liked to feel wanted. And Jasper almost made him feel wanted in the way he'd most prefer.
If he'd been modern, he should have felt fear, but, Vladimir was the product of thousands of years of a complicated breeding program which discouraged an inclination towards the emotion. He already kept a deadly creature around at home, Piter. He also knew if he kept Piter around a day longer than he was necessary, he'd regret it, and didn't plan to. And so he managed him very carefully- and without fear. Fear would have given the advantage to the twisted mentat.
Vladimir was convinced fear wasn't the right approach here, either. There was something odd about Jasper- the fresh spice in his blood added an edge to his already perceptive observation, and insisted on it. Observing people to a point where he could almost play mind reader was a specialty, but all he could discern was a vague sense of an unknown. But not necessary a malevolent unknown. Jasper's curious return of the question, asking him if something was wrong, was interesting. Was it directed at him, or, was Jasper actually asking it in regards to himself? It seemed almost as if he expected disappointment or anger to be directed at him, and was not looking forward to it.
So, he wasn't unprepared for the unexpected- he was just rather surprised when it turned out to be what seemed like absurd strength from the slender young man. In fact, it was downright painful when he turned him- which was a very revealing thing. He shouldn't have been able to do that, as, Vladimir's suspensors were on a very low setting. Vladimir, however, was of a rather unique mentality- the Harkonnen line was known for a few very strange traits.
Jasper had discovered one- although he had to forcibly strangle several gasps, and did think that Jasper could probably break his spine if he got too enthusiastic, each shot of pain only left greater pleasure in its wake. He didn't say a word at first, immersed in sensation, but a detail was growing clear despite his overwhelmed senses. Jasper had the coldest hands he'd ever felt, almost like metal. What was he? Amazing, but he couldn't be human. He didseem to be using care, which kept Vladimir calm despite the force which probably would have seriously injured anyone who wasn't as heavily padded, and still might have had Jasper been careless.
He did let out a gasp after the crack, although a curiously mixed one. The aftermath of the initial stab was intoxicating, in fact arousing due to his crossed wires. He decided he should say something. He was rather sure that Jasper did not want to injure him. But he had to know one thing. "Just one moment, if you would, Jasper- but I don't mean stop if you're not tired of it. You're. . .remarkable. Just a pause. That one I do need to recover from a moment." He found that he was actually feeling less stiff as he turned towards Jasper, although it might have been the endorphin high. Before this went any further, he needed to know if his building suspicions were true.
"Jasper, are you a thinking machine?" The first trace of fear that Vladimir had felt came with this question. Not with the thoughts leading up to it. It was the answer that worried him, given the history behind the Butlerian Jihad. It was not a fear of Jasper precisely, more the fear that he wouldn't be turned off despite the knowledge of an impending apocalypse.