the only part that makes sense

[middlingalong]

Aunt Cordelia is going to be away for a while rescuing Miles's long-lost brother. She is concerned that in that time Miles will become so absorbed in his magic netsite that he will forget to eat, or something, which seems entirely plausible, insofar as anything about this situation seems plausible. She would like Ivan to come visit and make sure Miles is looked after. Ivan can do that. Mercifully no one is trying to get him to do any of the things involving this madness that he could not do. Also, conveniently, he doesn't want to be in his apartment for a while because a guy he hooked up with is deeply confused about how interested Ivan is in a long-term arrangement that involves flowers and cute little notes and is having trouble picking up on standard communication about that as anything other than Ivan being a closet case or something. So it's just as well.

Ivan drives up to Vorkosigan House with a suitcase and goes to check on Miles.

Comments

[middlingalong]

"Maybe you plan on giving us magical flame-retardant talismans later, how should I know. Something happened."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Nothing happened! I obtained the gold coins from a perfectly non-flammable supernatural being. Who was male. And at no point did I entertain the thought of flirting with him."

[middlingalong]

Ivan inspects Miles.

And then he coughs, "Consciously." Cough cough.

[thisvorlunatic]

"...What!"

[middlingalong]

Cough cough innocentface.

[thisvorlunatic]

Glare.

[middlingalong]

Look how innocent Ivan's face is.

[thisvorlunatic]

Insufficiently innocent.

[middlingalong]

But so innocent!

[thisvorlunatic]

The face is innocent, but the soul is guilty.

[middlingalong]

Well, yes.

[thisvorlunatic]

Grump grump.

[middlingalong]

"So what's his name, Miles?"

[thisvorlunatic]

Sigh.

"His name is Cam. And he has wings and a tail. And I don't want to flirt with him!"

[middlingalong]

"Wings and a tail. Well, at least he's not the Empress of Cetaganda."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes. The Empress of Cetaganda being an example of someone I do want to flirt with, somewhat against my better judgment."

[middlingalong]

"Your better judgment is wise, Miles. Consider listening to it."

[thisvorlunatic]

"But Ivan, she's so pretty."

[middlingalong]

Snort.

[thisvorlunatic]

Giggle.

[middlingalong]

"What is the deal with your mother going to rescue your long-lost brother, by the by?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"We decided we didn't have anything left to wait for. I can't go because the likeliest reason for me to have a brother I don't know about being held in captivity by my enemies is clone substitution plot. Mother volunteered."

[middlingalong]

"Does she have, say, a plan?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"She has a magical device to find him with. I assume she'll improvise from there."

[middlingalong]

"Suppose it's a little late to have opinions about that."