❡002 voice

[pvtparts]

Out of curiosity, how many of you have a training or a specialty? It doesn't have to be necessarily related to combat or weapons, of course, but being able to drink everyone on the Barge under the table - though commendable - doesn't count.

[She imagines combat/weapon-related ones will be the most popular, but she'd still like to know how much of a diversity (or lack thereof) there is.]

Out of further curiosity, what is it?

[There are enough smart-asses on board she thinks would just say they have training and leave it at that.]

And for those that don't have any, why not?

Comments

[intelligently]

I was still in school. [ So there's your 'why not' ] But I'm going to win a Fields Medal.

[pvtparts]

I can't say I'm familiar with that particular medal.

[intelligently]

It's for mathematics.

[pvtparts]

[Oh well, that's much more specific. There are just a lot of fields. Of course, that leads one to wonder why they don't just call it a Mathematics Medal. That would make more sense.]

[But sense is in such short supply these days.]

I take it that it's for more than just remember to carry a digit over when you're doing multiplication?

[intelligently]

It's for outstanding discoveries. No woman has won it yet.

[pvtparts]

All the more reason to win it for yourself.

I hope you're still studying while you're here.

[intelligently]

I wouldn't be able to win it if I wasn't.

Do you have a specialty?

[pvtparts]

Diplomacy.

[It's a euphemism, but it's accurate.]

[intelligently]

There's a few of those.

[ Although she's taking it more literally because, you know, diplomats and the Embassy people ]

[pvtparts]

Too few, if you ask me.

[intelligently]

I wouldn't argue with that. Maybe you could show them how it's done.

[pvtparts]

If they're willing to learn, maybe.

[intelligently]

Well it definitely couldn't hurt them.

[pvtparts]

No, but certain lessons could certainly hurt others.

[intelligently]

Isn't that why you learn diplomacy? It's not usually harmful.

[pvtparts]

Some forms aren't.