[IC] [MoM] AMBASSADOR IC CONTACT

[dendarii]

"This is the office of Ambassador Miles Naismith Vorkosigan. Leave me a message and I'll get right back with you.

Or, if this is an emergency, come bang on my door until I wake up."

He has helpfully provided an address in Nonah for a cozy office downtown. Go ahead, bang on the door; he's in the apartment just upstairs.

Alas, the line produces only static now. But the office is still there, having been donated to whoever the next Ambassador of Nonah will be.

Comments

Call

[viced]

[ Ring Ring, Ambassador! ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles picks up almost immediately. ]

Ambassador Vorkosigan. To whom am I speaking?

[viced]

Ambassador? This is Senator Hundred. Do you have a moment?

[dendarii]

Of course. What can I do for you, Senator?

[viced]

Oh, nothing too much. I know we haven't spoken much before, and that's my fault.

Have you...are you going to fanport, this year?

[dendarii]

[ Well that wasn't quite what he was expecting to hear. And he's really not sure what his answer is, either. Last year it had been gleeful and entertaining scooping up anything that had paired up Gregor and himself. Now ...

Oof. Anyway, it takes a moment to respond. ]

Well, I'm always glad to speak with you, Senator. I admit to being a bit confused by democracy at times.

[ A beat. Right. Don't put this off any longer. ]

I'll likely put in an appearance but not linger too long. But if you've a request for something specific ...

[viced]

[ A half-laugh. ] I understand that one. It's... it can be uncomfortable.

But I wanted to know if you would like to join in on a panel? I ran one last year, and I feel like it's always well received. Something with myself and all the ambassadors. To promote understanding and an opportunity to get some face time with us.

[dendarii]

[ Oh. Miles brightens right up at that. ]

Of course. That sounds like an excellent idea. And it's been ages since I've had a chance to see Queen Lucy in person.

[viced]

Ah...

[ A sad pause, then. ]

Did you not see? She's --

She's been ported out.

[dendarii]

[ No, he hadn't known. There's a long pause. ]

Oh for fuck's sake.

[ He just sounds weary. Because he is by now - desperately weary of all of his friends and family leaving. ]

[viced]

Yeah, I know.

[ A sigh. ]

You... It's not much consolation, but you eventually get used to it. Being the only one left who remembers certain things.

[dendarii]

[ That's right, Mitchell's been here longer than basically anyone else. ]

How'd you deal with it, then? Because right now I'm debating the merits of throwing myself off a cliff.

[ Said lightly, not seriously. But he has considered various drastic measures. ]

[viced]

You learn to... accept that people may not always be there, and to value the time you have with them now.

[ That's...token words, really. Mitchell has lost too many people close to him, accepted loss as a fact of life, erected distance in his life long before he came here, or lost the people close to him. ]

Some people, myself included, find distance helps.

[dendarii]

[ Distance, eh. He supposes he ought to do that. Take more care in his relationships. ]

No different from normal life in that way, I suppose.

[viced]

Just like normally, anyone could die, or leave, at any time.

[ A pause. ]

Sometimes... that's the only way to keep going. At least without losing a part of yourself every time.

[dendarii]

Mm, well. Too late to undo that now.

[viced]

Maybe. But you could prevent further damage, in the future.

I know it's...hard. It gets rough, losing people you care about.

[dendarii]

... Do you have anyone left? That you do care about.

[viced]

I care about all imports.

[ Nope. ]

[dendarii]

But no one in particular, I see.

[viced]

No. Not... for quite some time.

[dendarii]

...

You should drop by my office sometime, Senator. Have a drink with me.

[viced]

Weren't we just talking about erecting distance?

[ It's said with a note of amusement, gentle teasing. ]

But, ah, I would like that. Sometime soon, I think?

[dendarii]

We both know the rules too well now, don't we? That'll be distance enough.

[ There's a quiet smile in his tone too. ]

Whenever you like, really.

[viced]

Then I'll make a point of stopping by. I'm sure I can find a reason, despite it not being a part of my usual circuit.