hell of a party

[middlingalong]

Ivan must be drunker than he thought he was. He could have sworn he knew his way around Vivienne's parents' house, since she wanted to introduce him last week and showed him the place, but maybe they have a... secret... upstairs... bar? where Vivienne's room is supposed to be? And most certainly was last time he checked? He's never going to find the sweater she sent him up looking for here, anyway. Why is there a secret upstairs bar in Vivienne's parents' house?

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

"Now, are we all done yelling about the weird things?"

"Are there any left?"

"Can't think of any," says Miles honestly. He feels that the exact occupation of Stalas, Mark, and Lalita upstairs is something his five-year-old self still wouldn't want to know even adjusting for his demand to be told all the things he won't like hearing. (And last Miles saw them, they appeared to be having a ticklefight anyway.)

"Then I guess I'm done yelling about them," says Little Miles. "Even though I didn't hardly."

"And now," says Grownup Miles, "you can go back to yelling at me about Strat-O." He makes a move.

Little Miles giggles. "Deal!"

[isthisart]

Nika puzzles something out. "This means both of you are married to my brothers."

"Well, yes, sort of," acknowledges Linya. "But -"

"I know, I know, I'm adopted. But who'm I going to marry?"

"You could skip it if you wanted, I imagine. Or find somebody else and then have to explain to a three-year-old you that it's okay."

Nika snorts.

[middlingalong]

"Play a card," Tiny Ivan prompts Big Ivan.

Big Ivan plays a card.

[thisvorlunatic]

...Grownup Miles peers at Grownup Ivan.

"Hey, we're playing a game here!" says Little Miles. Grownup Miles returns his attention to said game.

[middlingalong]

And so Big Ivan escapes having to prognosticate. He is probably wrong anyway!

[thisvorlunatic]

Nope. Big Ivan gets a pen message, sent from under the table: What?

[middlingalong]

I accidentally thought about something.

[thisvorlunatic]

Oh no. Did it hurt? Your poor brain.

A scant second later: No but really though, what?

[middlingalong]

Nika's question.

[thisvorlunatic]

Yes, and what did you think about Nika's question that was sufficient to distract you from your riveting game of Whirligig?

[middlingalong]

Who's in our age range, not closely related, and an eerily plausible personality fit if you're ruled out, coz?

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles drops his pen and has to scramble for it under the table.

[middlingalong]

I could easily be wrong! says a followup message on his pen by the time he's got it showing messages again. I just accidentally thought of it.

[thisvorlunatic]

Well, stop thinking of things.

[middlingalong]

It was an accident! And then you asked! Repeatedly!

[thisvorlunatic]

I'm blaming you anyway, because it makes me feel better.

[middlingalong]

Finest Vorkosigan tradition.

[thisvorlunatic]

Yep.

[middlingalong]

Ivan returns his attention to whirligig with Tiny Ivan.

[isthisart]

Nika's grownups, meanwhile, are explaining the fine art of notebooking to her.

"Miles, do you think Simon will let Nika keep a pen if I give her one?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Maybe. He'd definitely take it apart. The likelihood of there being some left over that still work afterward increases the more you send along."

"A pen? Like that thing you're writing notes under the table with?" says Little Miles.

"...Yes," says Grownup Miles.

"I want one too!"

[isthisart]

"Then you can have one too. I'll get an assortment and send the plans for more, may as well. Bar, can I get a copy of my catalog?"

Bar supplies a copy of the catalog. Nika wants her pen to be pale blue. She gives the catalog to her brother after placing her order.

[thisvorlunatic]

Little Miles goes for the fountain option, wood finish.

Grownup Miles grins.

[middlingalong]

"Do I want one of those?" asks Tiny Ivan.

"I dunno if you'll get much out of it now, but I like mine. 'S got games on it," says Big Ivan.

"Okay. I want a red one."

[isthisart]

"Noted."