shipmaster | (no subject)

Well, the Vorkosigans are an unusual family. It stands to reason he'd be a bit unusual himself.

You know, you almost talk about them in third person. Removed.

[ Ah. He flinches a bit at that, not quite having noticed it himself. ]

... It's ... I meant my family. Us. We're unusual.

[ It rings entirely hollow. ]

Mm.

[They reach over the table, laying a hand on Miles' arm.]

Maybe we should change tactics. Go find places you like today, rather than people. People are complicated.

[ Miles just nods quietly. ]

The stables, maybe. I think I liked them quite a bit as a child.

Right after.

[They nod at that. The word didn't mean much to them, but Bel was sure they'd find out.

They tuck into their own breakfast, refusing to waste someone else's work... and gives Miles another side eye.]

At LEAST the eggs, those are light.

[ Miles makes a face. But he takes a few bites of his eggs just to shut Bel up. ]

You sound just like Roic.

[They smirk.]

Why, thank you.

It's not a compliment. I don't need to be nagged all the time ...

[ Miles shoves in another forkful of eggs. ]

[Bel's grin just gets wider.]

You SAY that, but there are just all of these opportunities

You're enjoying this entirely too much.

Me? I just-

[A knock interrupts, sharp, efficient, before Roic sees himself in. There's a vague nod towards Bel... and a critical look at Miles' plate from the young Armsman.

Surprised, but satisfied, he turns back to his mission.

"M'lord."]

[ Oh. Right, that's him. Miles swallows nervously and goes to the door. A quick conversation with his armsman ... and then he returns. Not panicking, at least, so nothing terrible has happened, but ... ]

Cordelia's requested that I stop in and see Aral this morning.

[They glance at Roic ... and get a slight shake of his head in return. No... Bel shouldn't be following on this one.]

I'll wait here for you, then.

[Low, for Miles alone,] You'll be fine...

[ He still wrings his hands a bit, plucking nervously at his shirt. ]

Right. I can ... get through this. He'll be relieved to see me.

[ All he has to do is fake it, right? ]

Probably be too tired to talk much. They regrew his heart recently.

[Then again, so did Miles. Bel amends it:]

Didn't have a weird alien mystery armor healing him.

[ A faint snort at that. ]

Maybe it will do someone else good once the scientists are done with it.

[ He relaxes a bit, having been sufficiently distracted. Time to follow Roic out then... ]

[Roic leads the way, up one flight, down one hall. With the Prime Minister position being gently ushered on to new hands, Simon had reluctantly given clearance for Aral to be set up in one of the upper rooms with the large bay windows. The gentle hum of the force screen outside was a constant, but the stretch of windows let in a warm wash of morning sun. One wouldn't even know how bitterly cold it was outside, just by the gentle rays across polished wood and down blankets.

Near the bed, Countess Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan looks up from where she'd settled, a heavily cushioned dark maple chair. Her hair was pinned up neatly from her neck, and the folds of the fashionable dress bore leaf patterns and a gentle rusty hue - a rememberance of autumn. She swept herself up, cutting off her low conversation with the Count to sweep up her son in a quick hug.]

I'll remind you both that you're both healing. Try not to overdo it. [She pulls back, her grey eyes warm... worried... for perhaps more than just the two Vorkosigan men's physical health.]

You've fretted enough for the whole District, dear Captain. [Came from the bed, barely a rumble. Count Vorkosigan had pulled through the surgery like a fighter, few complications. He was still thinned from the ordeal, a little grey from the recovering circulation, but the eyes here were sharp and clear... falling eagerly to the son he hadn't seen yet.] Come in, boy. Don't be a ghost at the door.

[Cordelia hesitates, squeezing Miles' hand before slipping out the door, closing it behind her.]

[ A ghost at the door. That's what Miles feels like as he stares at the great man laid low in his bed. Aral Vorkosigan. Miles' father ... His memories light up faintly in response, but - as has been the case with the rest of Barrayar so far - it all feels distant. Like peering at them through a shroud.

He squeezes his mother's hand in response and approaches the bed. It's the eagerness that makes him worry the most. He's going to disappoint this man, he's sure of it ... ]

Count Vorkosigan. [ Wait, shit. Is that the right thing to say? He amends it to a tentative: ] Father? How are you feeling?

[It wasn't. Immediately, visibly, it wasn't. The man moves to sit up to get a better look and... stops for some unseen pain and settles back. Those piercing gray eyes never leave Miles though, consternation clear, a bit wondering if this was Mark, somehow. Shed a pile of weight, perhaps, but the nerves, the address.

Damn his chest though.]

They say it was an inch and a rib, but I'd swear that surgeon did a butcher's job in there. I'm told it's fine.

[And to stop moving, stop taking lines out. For the love of all that's holy stop trying to log into the work comm. Aral is a very selective listener.

It's not the case right now, his attention is quite fully on Miles.]

And you? You've had a sight more work done.

[ Still messed it up, didn't he. Those gray eyes look as though they can see right down to the very bottom of Miles' soul. He at least scoots his chair a little closer to give the man less reason to have to sit up. It very much looks as though moving pains him. ]

I'm ... I'm fine. The Duronas did good work - clean bill of health from the medical scans. [ Except he hadn't told them about the seizures, so they hadn't performed all the tests needed. ] Better how that I'm back here.

[ He doesn't say home. He should have said home. ]

[It's a moment before the man answers. Less shows on Vorkosigan's face now, not cold.. merely inward.]

Your mother mentions that you'd probably had to deal with some cryoamnesia.

[ Miles nods slowly at that. ]

Ah, yes. I was terribly confused for a while. The Duronas didn't know who I was, and then the planet we were stranded on was completely unfamiliar.

Better than being dead, right?

[That was a pain that had nothing to do with his ribs or heart. Even as prepared Aral and Cordelia had been all of their lives, no one is quite ready to outlive their children. No one is ever ready.]

Anything is better than that.

[It was a reflex, reaching towards Miles... but it was like the edge of the bed was some force field. His hand settled back on the bedding.]

Tell me something about that. The planet. Your mother is itching. I imagine if I hadn't gotten this little setback she'd want to be right out there.

[ Miles' own hand twitches towards Aral, but he can't seem to close the gap either. It seems he can do nothing but misstep here...

The strange planet is worlds easier in comparison. Miles brightens exponentially, some of that vivid light returning to his eyes. He seems himself again. ]

It was incredible. Or it would have been if not for all of us being terribly stranded. All desert, with these amazing trilobite creatures. We fought off one of their Queens. Alas, I missed the best part of that...