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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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voice : un: priorly

[priorly]

[Wherever Prior is, it sounds loud.]

What kind of a message is that? Miles, no one uses the royal We on their answering service. Are you home?

[dendarii]

[ Yeah. Um. Miles is more concerned about the noise. ]

You never know who's calling me. [ A beat. ] I'm holed up inside my room, yes. Where are you?

[priorly]

Then get an official line for dignitaries and sound like a human on the personal one. Is Byerly there?

[Question cunningly deflected. He's somewhat out of breath.]

[dendarii]

Probably. I would have to go and see. Why?

[priorly]

Oh - doesn't matter, just curious. If you see him, tell him I'll be late back tonight.

[dendarii]

[ Oh, that doesn't fly with Miles. ]

And where are you, then? Why tell me and not him directly?

[priorly]

Oh, just taking the air. It's a little smoky but otherwise a lovely day for it.

[dendarii]

Horseshit. What are you doing, Prior?

[priorly]

I'm fine. [Is not an answer.] I was calling to check on you. People... go crazy here, every now and then. This is one of those thens.

[dendarii]

And you're out in the thick of it, aren't you.

[priorly]

I'm out. I'm not marching down the mall waving banners and chanting Simwe Out if that's what you mean by the thick of it - they don't seem to be fans of empire here anymore, by the way. Another reason to change your answering message.

[A pause and then, with less showy drama in his tone (thus, probably, the truth)]

There's rioting between Shades and the refugee units. It's spilled out of the commercial district into residential and they're not looking too kindly on foreigners of all persuasions. So, stay inside.

[dendarii]

[ Huh. That's - not quite what he was expecting. Simwe seemed reasonably popular, perhaps? Anyway. ]

When you and Byerly are both out and about? I think not. Why not come back yourself?

[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.