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[dendarii]

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

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[priorly]

[A pause, and he repeats himself.]

They're rioting between Shades and the refugee units.

[And Prior hasn't been home for two days, but tonight that's the reason. Every goddamn corner he takes is somehow blocked.]

You can't get into or out of town without running into various shouty, burny kinds of trouble.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. That was the part he'd missed; he's not very good at the map of the area yet. He immediately picks up on that subtext, though. ]

And they've rioted for two days and nights? I didn't think it was quite that bad.

[priorly]

No, I don't know what's tipped the scale tonight. Somebody looked at somebody the wrong way, I imagine, that's currently all it seems to take.

[dendarii]

Then why weren't you back here earlier?

[priorly]

[Oh. Lightly-]

Well if I'd known you were missing me -

[dendarii]

The light of my life, truly.

[priorly]

Well, aren't I everyone's.

[And that's quieter than is usual, when he's playing.] I should go. Let me know when he's back, please?

[dendarii]

You've still not answered my questions, Prior.

[priorly]

Well, this is certainly nostalgic. I can't remember the last time mother demanded to know why I'd been out all night. Perhaps because it was usually me asking the question.

[You're not his emperor. Still, after a moment.]

I've been staying a few other places. With friends. Giving you and Byerly some space to be all vorry together.

[dendarii]

[ Look, he's concerned. Especially since Byerly and Prior seem to be fond of each other. ]

I can't possibly be the reason for you being out.

[priorly]

Maybe I was giving myself some space, too.

[dendarii]

[ Miles pauses a moment at that. ]

From Byerly?

[priorly]

This isn't really the time for this conversation. You know, riots and all. Why don't we reschedule? I think I may be free on the second of never.

[dendarii]

[ Miles presses on stubbornly. ]

So it is Byerly. Have you had a fight?

[priorly]

No.

[Ish.]

[dendarii]

Then why avoid him?

[priorly]

[There's no reply for some time. The seconds drag out to a minute, maybe two. Sound in the background gets more muffled.

Finally, Prior speaks with the tone of someone advising that ripping off a bandaid is for the best.]

I had my feelings hurt - my own fault but it made me feel... pathetic. And small. And that's not how I like to feel around my friends, so I've taken some time to get over it.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. That's - admittedly not quite what he expected. He's sort of here to defend Byerly, but. Well. Maybe Byerly isn't the one who deserves defending here. ]

What did he say?

[priorly]

Miles, I'm sorry, but it isn't your business, and we don't know each other well enough yet for gossip. [And it's nothing Byerly said.] And baby, if you go running to him with this I will string you up by your pretty imperial collar. Maybe I need to spread my wings a little wider, that's all.

[dendarii]

I'll not tell him anything. I'm just - concerned. About both of you.

[priorly]

Well that's fair enough. There are riots out here.