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

[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."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Just a bit, yes."

[middlingalong]

"Right then. What is to be done with your long-lost brother, presuming he's collected without incident?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"God knows. I sure don't."

[middlingalong]

"He'd be, what, Somebody Pierre? But maybe he's got a different name."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Mark Pierre," says Miles. "If he isn't something else already."

[middlingalong]

"This is weird."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes."

[middlingalong]

"Even against the backdrop of you flirting with the Empress of Cetaganda and having spellbooks in your basement that you bought with weird coins that you got from a winged tailed guy whom you have a crush on."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I don't have a crush on him! I harbour no romantic inclinations towards the winged tailed guy!"

Even though the tail-wagging is adorable. It's not that kind of adorable. Is it? It's not, right?

[middlingalong]

"I'd offer to bet you but you'd have every opportunity to rig it."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I wouldn't need to rig it. Because I don't have a crush on him."

[middlingalong]

"This is why it's so tempting to bet you! You'd give me great odds! If only you could not simply refrain from performing basement monster conjuration rituals and therefore dodge the issue forever."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I can't actually refrain from performing conjuration rituals. I'm going to need to get him to test the black hole containment device."

[middlingalong]

"What kind of basement monster tests black hole containment devices, makes coins, and has wings and a tail?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Well, in his world he's called a demon. It has different implications there, though."

[middlingalong]

"You're summoning demons to give you gold. And incidentally seduce you. That always goes well."

[thisvorlunatic]

"He is not seducing me!"

[middlingalong]

"Maybe you're developing a crush on him all by yourself. What does he look like. If you don't want him..."

[thisvorlunatic]

"He's, I don't know... entirely humanish apart from the wings and tail. A boy. Not an especially classically handsome boy, I don't think. Do you really want me to summon a demon so you can seduce him."