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[dendarii]

"This is - Emperor Vorkosigan. Leave a message and We will return it at Our earliest convenience."

Comments

[vorrutyer]

[ By just pauses, not turning back, spitting - ]

Is that an order, sire?

[dendarii]

No. A request. I - good god, Byerly.

[ He's alarmed by the sheer volume and variety here. ]

[vorrutyer]

[ And now he does turn back, if only to find out exactly what Miles is reacting to. He presses his lips together. ]

Sufficiently shocking, I hope, to give you a nice voyeuristic thrill.

[dendarii]

[ Miles winces at that. His curiosity drove part of this, that much is for sure. ]

I wanted to know what I was dealing with. What you were dealing with.

[vorrutyer]

[ His brows draw down at the first sentence, and he affirms, rather fiercely: ]

What I am dealing with. [ Not you. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles would like to object, but - he closes his mouth after a moment, thinking better of the impulse. ]

When did this start?

[vorrutyer]

[ Unhelpfully: ]

When do you think?

[dendarii]

When you got back?

[vorrutyer]

[ A lift of his eyebrows indicates some soft of confirmation. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles glances back towards the pile. ]

This much in that amount of time?

[vorrutyer]

[ A short, sardonic laugh. ]

Sire, if it's still there, that means I haven't taken it yet.

[dendarii]

Well - yes, obviously, but you intended to make use of it.

[vorrutyer]

I also sell it.

[dendarii]

[ That. Ah. Miles pauses for a moment at that, his expression conflicted. ]

Do you intend to stop that as well?

[vorrutyer]

[ His look is rather incredulous. ]

Why would I?

[dendarii]

[ He shouldn't judge, probably; he's still going to judge a little. He takes a moment to massage at the bridge of his nose. ]

The temptation was clearly too great.

[vorrutyer]

[ With a sharp sort of irritation - ]

Barrayar is not going to be rebuilt through lofty dreams and naive hopes, sire. Many things are needed. Money among them.

[dendarii]

I am not going to argue with that.

[ He has no room to talk, given his lofty position of bringing in minimal cash himself. ]

[vorrutyer]

Then are you going to withdraw your judgment?

[dendarii]

... I can still judge you a little for it.

[vorrutyer]

Oh, can you? And how do you think ImpSec made its money?

[dendarii]

Through all kinds of unfortunate methods I'm sure.

[vorrutyer]

And I'm your ImpSec, sire. So, yes, I think fundraising through a bit of fucking and a bit of commerce isn't unreasonable.

[dendarii]

Fine, fine. Just - be careful, please.

[vorrutyer]

What, don't want me going into any dark alleys at night? Want me to beware men who look like they have a bit of malice in their eye?