Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Miles immediately reaches out a finger to caress her iridescent little feathers. And grins at the thwarted count like he's the crazy one here. ]

Well, well. [ He murmurs quietly. Even now, showing any hint of extraordinary powers would be suicide. So he leans forward like he's muttering to himself instead and not totally talking to a bird. ] You're late, Ms. Jones.

[rathercommon]

Late?

[ She tries to sound affronted, but there's a laugh in her voice. ]

I've been here three days. No more than that. Late. I'm perfectly on time. Oh, whoops -

[ She takes to the air again as someone charges at them with an anguished cry - Lord Vorkosigan! Apparently, someone's decided that she is a little assassin-bird. Which...rude. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles laughs right up until the over-enthusiastic savior barrels into him, and then he's gone and bruised something in his wrist. Well, dammit. At least it gives him an excuse to get out of here. Not without a quick barb aimed at the idiot who knocked him over though: ]

Excuse me. I was perfectly fine just now. You're not going to get your quorum on the next vote without me.

[ Not that it matters. It's pandemonium now anyway, and with his father having ripped up most of the proposal there's no point in staying. He hauls himself back up to his feet. ]

Come on. Let's get out of here.

[rathercommon]

[ The would-be-savior looks up at Miles, asking who, me? Kitty ignores him and flutters down to land atop Miles' head. ]

Is it all right to abandon your father?

[ She looks around and amends, with a laugh - ]

Or maybe I should ask whether it's all right to abandon them to your father.

[dendarii]

Don't worry. They'll both survive well enough.

[ Mostly. Miles is too eager to let this go any longer, though, so even if things weren't relatively safe he'd be getting the hell out of there. He waves cheerfully to anyone staring at him and beelines for the door. From here, he knows of a couple relatively private rooms he can disappear into. He picks the first one and locks the door behind them.

It's a pleasant little receiving room, with wood paneling on the walls and rich upholstery on the furniture. All black and silver. He flops into one of those too-large chairs, mindful of his bruise and her tiny body. ]

[rathercommon]

[ And she slips into the form of a cat, gracefully stepping down to puddle herself in his lap. ]

Good choice.

[ And she lifts her head to butt it against him. ]

It took me a while to find you.

[dendarii]

[ Miles can do better than that. He throws both arms around her, cuddling her bodily. God, he missed Kitty too. Even if it hadn't technically been that long .. The thought he'd never see her again had been difficult to bear. Obviously he should have just had more faith in her. ]

On Barrayar? Being Prime Minister and Lord Vorkosigan and Emperor Vorbarra aren't enough for you?

[rathercommon]

[ She rubs her face against his cheek and replies, laughing - ]

Well - yeah. I spent so much time learning all about Barrayar, but I never even thought to ask about its geography.

[dendarii]

... Oh no. That must have been a mess.

[rathercommon]

Well, given the fact that I didn't have a bit of money? I'd say so! I've had to travel around as a vulture. And it's been bloody hard finding something to eat. I tried some of the plants around here - the alien-looking ones - and I had the violent shits afterwards. Wretched.

[dendarii]

[ That sobers him for a moment, despite how disgustingly happy he is to see her. If she'd come all this way only to get poisoned or hurt ... dear god. ]

Ah. Yes. They're mostly poisonous. A good rule of thumb is to never eat anything red.

[rathercommon]

Oh, now I figure that out.

Anyway, that was like a day ago. I've not died yet. So I'll be all right, so stop looking so pained.

[dendarii]

It's worrying, all right. I'm allergic to half of them myself.

[ But he forces himself to relax. ]

We'll just have to find you some real food. Maybe even in a restaurant, if they let me out after this.

[rathercommon]

If they let you out? What, are you being held hostage by the Cadre Of Repressed-Looking Old Men in there?

[dendarii]

[ Miles snorts at that. ]

Of course not. But I'm trying to be very good here. Gregor and I just got back from remembering everything. I'm supposed to be careful.

[ He says, cuddling a talking cat in a public waiting room. ]

[rathercommon]

Hm?

[ Her voice turns sly. ]

How unlike you.

[dendarii]

Is it. Maybe you're remembering someone different.

[ His eyes are alight with amusement. ]

[rathercommon]

Oh, yeah? So are you timid, then?

[dendarii]

Paranoia and timidity are two entirely different things.

[ He continues to pet her gently. ]

Now, I could hardly be faulted if I were never seen leaving this room ...

[rathercommon]

What if a bird were seen leaving instead?

[dendarii]

Much safer that way.

[rathercommon]

What if a bird went and shat on the crustiest conservative in that room?

[dendarii]

[ Miles chokes back another laugh. ]

Less safe, but infinitely more satisfying.

[rathercommon]

So which one are you for? Safety, or satisfaction?

[dendarii]

[ Is it possible that Miles Vorkosigan is even considering the safe option? He might just be. ]

Safety, just this once. But only because it's a special occasion.