shipmaster | (no subject)

[ Smart horse. Beloved horse ... Miles' hands are trembling as he turns the animal back towards the stables, hoping Fat Ninny will automatically head back once directed to do so. He should probably call Bel on his wristcomm, but he'd rather not alarm the herm unnecessarily. That was basically a mini-cascade. Of course he feels strange... ]

[If there is nothing else that all of Piotr's horses were trained to do, it was to return to the stables (and food, in Fat Ninny's case). Of course, with the long downhill this way, the gelding picks up a fair trot as he goes.

Back at the stables, both Roic and Bel have braved the outdoors again, despite the chill. A certain natural worry for how much trouble a Vorkosigan can get into in this amount of time unspoken between them.]

[ He very nearly makes it, and most of that is all Fat Ninny's doing. Miles stares ahead and focuses on breathing for most of the return trip. And then, as the horse trots up within sight of the stables, the dam built up behind Miles' eyes bursts abruptly. He slides off Fat Ninny's back nervelessly, his body already starting to convulse. ]

[When Miles finally pushes back out, he'll find himself rolled on his side, the herm and armsman kneeling next to him, one set of hands supporting his airway. Just in the corner of his vision is Fat Ninny placidly chewing a bit of grass he had determinedly uncovered from beneath the snow.]

... lobyte toxin... it happened to a few people on Kharas, actually. Best I can figure it was slow metabolizing. The others were clear in a couple of weeks, but I guess there was still a bit left.

[The bald lie in Bel's voice was made a little more believable by the distracted worry in their tone.]

[ Good horse ... good herm too, though the lie makes Miles crease his forehead lightly. Why is Bel lying? It's just ... Ah. No, he doesn't want Roic to know either, does he. His armsman would tell his parents in an instant, and he'll be trapped. (It's not as horrifying a prospect to consider as it would have been an hour ago, but still unpleasant.)

He groans faintly, eyes fluttering back open. ]

Bel? ... Roic?

Miles... good to have you back. [The hand supporting his head moves, curving along to feel his forehead. Roic cleared his throat, uncomfortably.

"Should I...?"]

Yes, call the physician. Lets get a tox panel just to be sure it's gone completely.

[ Roic frowns faintly, but retreats to do just that. Not out of sight, but mostly out of earshot ...

Miles' forehead is cool and clammy to the touch. Much like the rest of his pallor, which has a familiar gray look to it. ]

Tox panel. [ He croaks out, too soft for Roic to overhear. ] You know ... you know it won't find anything.

[Bel is starting to know it especially well.]

Damn straight they wont. [Bel murmurs back.] ... Dammit I had a feeling you were close... I should have...

[ It's passed off for now, at least. Not that he feels better, but ... the hideous pressure has abated. ]

I'm all right. [ He twitches his toes slightly to confirm that. Nothing broken, though his face is surely going to bruise. ] Fat Ninny brought me most of the way back anyway. Good horse ...

Seems so. [They sigh... Bel will have to ask later what kind of... things constitute a treat for those massive beasts.

In the mean time: Sorry Miles about your dignity problem here, but Bel is scooping you up.]

[ Miles squawks in token protest. But given that his legs feel like jelly right now, maybe that's for the best. He leans against their chest lightly, his voice quiet. ]

Do I look better than the last time at least?

Nope. [Then they continue, brightly, loudly. Because why bother hiding this one. Besides Roic is starting a bit towards them, then doubles back to get the door.] You look like shit, sir.

Edited 2016-11-18 01:15 (UTC)

[ Miles snorts faintly at that. ]

Cascading doesn't help. I think a lot of things fell into place out there.

Oh? ... Well, at least there's that. I half thought you were going to try to take off your own head to shake it out.

[They step inside, buffeted by a burst of warm air from the central heating. Behind them, Roic gets the door, and snags one of the house servants to see to getting Ninny back in his pen...

The House physician is on Miles in an instant though.]

I was excruciatingly tempted --

[ But dammit, here's the physician. Who runs the appropriate tox tests (and finds nothing, of course), but also looks over Miles with a too-sharp sort of interest. Miles barely manages to keep them at bay by promising to remain horizontal for the rest of the day. ]

[It doesn't help that Bel is agreeing with the doc's assessment. But at least, as they return to Miles room, they have some modicum of privacy again.]

Well, congratulations, free of crab bug toxins, how about that.

[ Miles sighs and settles his head back against the pillows. ]

Amazing. And a brilliant bit of deflection there, at least until I have the next one ...

That's the trick. [They eye Miles.]

I'm wondering if the next bit of deflection is the lie that me needing to carry some ropes is just your kink rather than to keep you out of your own trouble.

[ A bit of a wince at that. Rather plaintively: ]

I was riding a horse. That's not trouble in the slightest. Especially Fat Ninny, who knows me.

I don't really know how you can tell that.

I just can. Horses remember people. And they can't lie about it either.

[There's a moment. Where they almost ALMOST says "Who has lied to you about it?" Being the only actual offender of that, they manage to can it.]

So.. what does this mean for you? Stay or go?

[ It's not whether anyone has lied or not, it's about whether they can, okay. Miles is quiet a moment. ]

Stay. For now.

[That is a mixed feeling. On the most important hand, some healing. On all of the other, metaphorical hands, being on Barrayar longer.]

I'll let the Ariel know.

[ Miles nods, sinking back into the pillows and looking even more gray than ever. ]

... Sorry. You can return if you like. I won't keep you.