shipmaster | (no subject)

[ 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.

Oh, don't go all considerate on me now. That's a horrible trait of yours.

[Despite that, their hand reaches out again, settling on his forehead tenderly - it's become almost a familiar gesture now.]

[ He leans into that touch gently. ]

I mean it. You didn't sign up for Barrayar. I thought I'd get my memory back and we'd be off again.

[There's a pause before the normal OF COURSE I'M WITH YOU sentiment finds voice. Warily,]

Depends, how long ARE we staying?

Hell, I don't know. But I can't very well go back into combat if I'm having seizures, right?

So. Are we going to talk seeing a doctor for real now?

[ He's silent a long moment. Because the other insurmountable problem is - ]

They'll confine me to Barrayar if they find out. Simon won't let me go out again - so any return to the Dendarii would be one way.

[Which means being on the run FROM Barrayar too.]

So... why not seek treatment off planet? Say, for instance, I feel homesick.

[ Miles blinks at Bel rather stupidly. ]

On Beta Colony?