[IC] [Mask or Menace] Contact Post

[dendarii]

"This is Miles. Leave a message and I'll respond to you at my earliest convenience."

The line has gone silent; any messages sent to this name only return an error.

Comments

[overemotionally]

[Glad to be trusted finally but ????

Jim tries hard not to make a face at the "kids" discussion. He guesses it makes sense considering what kind of society they're from but...]

So...he can have kids. What would be stopping him from doing that if you guys were together?

[Different cultures, man.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles ... pauses for a moment, considering. It's true that Beta Colony has the appropriate tech - and surely with uterine replicators being so common nowadays, no one would blink at a child coming from one as long as the genetic scans showed clean. Which they would. ]

I ... er, I suppose we could. But the political ramifications. I'm barely tolerated as a Count's heir, much less - whatever my title would be. Prince-Consort?

[overemotionally]

You'd be with the Emperor. He sounds like a big deal [Sarcasm]. People would mess with you even then?

[The more he hears about Barrayar the more he dislikes it, honestly.]

[dendarii]

Oh, certainly. They'd make Gregor's life hell in any way they could, or at minimum dig in their heels politically. I'd be nothing but a lead weight around his neck.

[overemotionally]

[Jim waves all that off because he didn't really have a good answer for him.]

Okay worry about that if/when you go back. What about now? Here?

[dendarii]

[ Miles tenses instantly. ]

That's - well - obviously there'd be no political issues here, but I'd want it to continue on Barrayar. If we remember anything.

[overemotionally]

[Watching you carefully now, Miles.]

Okay, but still not answering my question. Take Barrayar out of the equation for a second. Thinking about just right now.

[dendarii]

[ Now he looks a bit terrified. Because Jim is making him hope, just a little, and that scares the shit out of him. ]

What would I do? Marry him here or something?

[overemotionally]

[Did he say something wrong? Damn he wants to reach out just to know what Miles is thinking. He spoiled himself.]

Whoa, baby steps first. How about you guys actually dating?

[dendarii]

[ Probably for the best he doesn't right now; Miles is a bit of a mess. ]

I'm not going to casually date Gregor.

[overemotionally]

[Jim gives him a Look.]

You can't date someone without marrying them?

[Dear god did he ever dodge a bullet if that's true.]

[dendarii]

I - er - well, of course I can. Just not Gregor.

[overemotionally]

So it's marry him or waste your time pining?

[dendarii]

... Yes. Yes, that's about the sum of it.

[overemotionally]

[He just. Has to rub his face with both hands at that. In utter exasperation.]

You're not making this easy for yourself, you know that?

[dendarii]

Yes, I'd noticed. But there's nothing else to do.

[overemotionally]

Jesus...

[He leans forward in his chair and looks Miles square in the eyes.]

You're telling me you're going to sit there and do nothing about it?

[dendarii]

[ He can't quite meet Jim's in return. ]

Oh, I considered drinking myself to death, but that'd be terribly unfair to everyone else who has to deal with me.

[overemotionally]

[He sucks in a breath at that.]

Miles...

[dendarii]

I'm not going to do anything. And neither are you. If you breathe so much of a word of this to Gregor...

[overemotionally]

I won't but if you think I'm going to sit back and watch you torture yourself, you don't know me very well.

[His mind is already working. Technicalities...what's the technicality in this situation...?]

[dendarii]

[ Miles lifts his chin stubbornly. ]

There's nothing you can do.

[overemotionally]

That a challenge?

[dendarii]

It's a factual statement. I'm telling you all this because I trust you, dammit. Don't betray that.

[overemotionally]

I know you do and I don't plan on it.

[He settles back in his seat, arms folded, watching Miles carefully. It was true he didn't plan on talking to Gregor about it....]

So...what? You going to be celibate the rest of your life then?