dye

[isthisart]

The next time Linya and Ekaterin meet up (for impromptu bonsai skellytum pruning lessons, lunch, and an attempt to teach Ekaterin the simplest version of a complicated haut card game) Linya says, while shuffling for a second example round:

"Miles and I are planning to get married again, Barrayaran ceremony groats and all, and I wondered if you'd be my Second."

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

"Me too." He kisses her cheek.

[spacetobreathe]

The next time Miles has a mission, it's Elli Quinn who picks him up, a few jumps from Komarr. "Admiral," she says, smiling.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Elli," he says, smiling back. "How do you feel about smuggling rebels?"

[spacetobreathe]

"I feel very much in favor of it today, sir."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Good! Because that's what we're - " His hand moves abortively towards his trouser pocket. He looks at the hand, looks at the pocket, sighs, and continues on a different tack. "Actually, before I get into that, there's a little errand I'd like you to run - not necessarily now or soon, but ideally before the next time I personally run a mission. I don't suppose you've heard of the new holo-pens coming out of Barrayar? They haven't come very far out of Barrayar just yet."

[spacetobreathe]

"Uh - maybe? But I might be thinking of something else. Do they have them on Escobar? Pol maybe?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"I'm not sure if they've reached that far yet. They only got to Komarr relatively recently. It's basically a full comconsole - a little cut down, but not much - in the shape of a pen about yea big." He measures the distance between his fingers. "They can't output sound without a peripheral, but they can record it, and record and display visual holos. The storage capacity is a little cramped, but they have extra data space in their charging stations. They're magnificently convenient, I have one at home, I want one out here, and they were developed by Lady Linyabel Vorkosigan, who doesn't yet have clearance to know about Admiral Naismith. I can't carry my usual model around with me in my Naismith hat because it's a custom job in the Vorkosigan colours. I can't buy an extra pen myself, directly, because I don't want her investigating and finding one or the other of me at the end of the paper trail. Therefore, I charge you with the task of subtly acquiring me a pen. Standard model, no customizations, let's go with white for the colour."

[spacetobreathe]

"Sure. They sound nifty, maybe I want one too."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Feel free. They're nifty as hell."

[spacetobreathe]

"I knew you got married but I don't think I ever congratulated you. Congratulations. I assume Admiral Naismith continues to be single?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Admiral Naismith may admit to those who know him pretty well that he has a spouse waiting for him in an undisclosed location that may or may not be Beta Colony. But to all others he prefers to keep his private life private."

[spacetobreathe]

"Right then. Let's go smuggle some rebels, and I'll have a pen for you next time we see each other."

[thisvorlunatic]

They go. They smuggle. The operation goes off without a hitch. Miles returns triumphant to Barrayar about six weeks later.

[isthisart]

And his wife, waiting for him in her undisclosed location, is very happy to have him back again.

"This was a long one," she says, not quite edging into "plaintive". "Welcome home."

[thisvorlunatic]

"God, I know," sighs Miles. "Pick me up and carry me upstairs, I don't even care right now."

[isthisart]

Linya is more than happy to oblige. Up they go, him snuggled in her arms. There is nuzzling.

[thisvorlunatic]

He snuggles up and flomps his head on her shoulder until they are back in their suite.

[isthisart]

Here is their suite. Is that a reason to put him down? Of course not. It is a reason to acquire a lap on which to snuggle him further.

[thisvorlunatic]

He hugs her and sighs deeply.

"I missed you," he mumbles.

[isthisart]

"I missed you too." Squeeze. "I don't suppose at some point they move you into something with day-job hours?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Ha," he says without humour. "Afraid not, no. Not anytime soon, that's for damn sure..."

[isthisart]

"Alas." Nuzzle.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles flomps his head on her shoulder again and stays that way.

[isthisart]

Linya is not going to kick him out of her lap anytime soon. Snuggle.

[thisvorlunatic]

Snuggle, snuggle, listless snuggle—

He lifts his head.

"It's been, God, how long since we got married? More than a year, isn't it?"