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[ Gregor certainly understands that jibe about homesickness, and sends a quiet little note of dark amusement at him in understanding. His first real tentative use of the link with Aral for anything more than checking on his existence.

Out loud, he says, ] None for me. Kitty is my closest friend here apart from Miles. [ Which Gregor sounds entirely matter of fact about. A glance at Miles himself-- ] Though you might want to tell Tex he's uninvolved.

[ Oh, that's right . Tex might react rather badly too ... ]

Ah, yes. Tex for sure. I don't think she would shoot at you but ... [ Then again he'd have said the same thing about Kitty. ] She is my bodyguard currently. An excellent one.

[ On a couple different levels of meaning. He flushes a bit, the prickle of warmth obvious over the link. ]

[ Kitty pulls a face. ]

Don't say that like I did shoot at him. The gun wasn't loaded.

[ And then she sighs. ]

So that means, what, you're going to keep going on about Evil Vorkosigans to people not in the know? [ And, half muttered to herself: ] God, this is making me worry about your self-esteem.

[There was a moment of curious regard at Miles. He would have sworn there was something for the young queen when he saw it. Both? Or just supremely 20 years old right now.

Kitty's interjection got Aral's attention back with a snap. Both brows lifted, and his head cocked.]

It wasn't?

[There was something in the tone that clearly asked Why not?]

[ Ask Gregor about Miles's romantic exploits here sometime, Aral. That'll be a fun conversation.

Gregor can well assume Kitty's reasoning, or at least guess at it enough to say factually, ] You may not have run into this yet, but we don't stay dead here. Our nanites would bring us back. Killing you would be a short-term solution-- threatening you into compliance, the long-term.

[ A lift of her eyebrows confirms this. ]

[ Aral pls. Miles can't help a faint thread of exasperation at his father - he gets it, really he does, but he's so glad Kitty didn't bring it loaded. With the way that gun has been thrown around this evening ... He shivers a bit to contemplate it accidentally going off.

But he has a more specific comment to focus on in this conversation. ]

My self esteem is fine, Kitty. It's a necessary fiction. [ A bluff further belied by his quick addition: ] And it is very important we not tar either of my parents with this. The only villain in this piece is me.

[ A fierce spark of protectiveness, equally as obvious as his fondness for Tex. ]

Necessary. Miles, I can think of a dozen cover stories that don't involve you describing yourself daily as both a mad murderer and his victim.

[ Gregor doesn't so directly express his displeasure at this terminology, though he agrees with Kitty. It comes too close to a hundred real slanderous mutters about Miles at home. It's the story they have and the one Miles had picked and he's not going to criticize him on the content of it.

He cuts in with only, ] It doesn't matter. That's the one we have. And anyway, it's not you that's the villain in it, Miles, it's a Lord Vorkosigan that doesn't exist. You're Admiral Naismith, and the only people you're a villain to deserve it.

[ The proximity to that slander is what makes it work, okay. Miles finds it much easier to summon up real emotion when he can tap into that dark thread of self-hatred. Even his own father had been provoked into a more direct attack than necessary because of it ... That's a testament to its efficacy. ]

Yes, yes, that as well. Admiral Naismith gets to have all the fun in this story.

[ His accent is flattening back towards Betan even as they discuss the topic. ]

It is public record. [He allows. He'd been able to find it, starting off the whole bloody chapter of this Milesian mess.

There's a stillness to how he watches Miles, both in the fluidity of the change, or the source of that obvious self hate. Nothing enough to pass to the other two, he was still forming his thoughts, there.]

I would not weep if that particular fiction was not actively repeated. With any luck its repetition would be vanishing on its own.

[ A grunt of frustration. ]

Yeah. I don't like it, either. I mean - I spent the last, what, month calling curses down on the heads of the Vorkosigans, and oh, look, here they are standing in front of me. Perfectly sweet. Not murderous at all.

[ Well...Maybe a little murderous. She's under no illusions regarding what Aral would be capable of - she fought against him, after all. He's...purposeful.

She crosses her arms. ]

We've got monsters enough in this world and in our own. Why pretend that there are more?

Because heroes are more convincing with heroes to fight. Didn't it work? You liked us better when we were a runaway and a clone railing against an unfair system, I'm sure.

[Before this can launch a debate, Aral lifts a hand.]

As there seems to be much to discuss, and there's one uninvolved soul on this floor [Who was undoubtedly trying to sleep through all of this drama.] perhaps we should move downstairs.

[Where there are chairs. And less of a standing battlefield and more like a reception.]

[ Kitty grunts and nods in confirmation. ]

Yeah. We ought to be talking about this over tea, I think.

[ Though she points thereafter at Miles. ]

And that is a vile thing to say. It's one thing to lie to protect yourself. It's another altogether to lie to make people like you more. The one isn't real dishonesty, because you're not really deceiving anyone. But appropriating that horrid story - appropriating the suffering of others - to make yourself sympathetic is simply horrid.

[ He grimaces a bit, not about to argue with her assessment. Or the suggestion of tea. Except to say... ]

Tactics take precedence in the end.

I don't think, at this point, we can say the story has been without a price or a payment.

[He casts a look at Gregor and Miles.] You'll have to point me to the tea.

... I'll do it. Come on.

[ Just going to lead Aral out and down the stairs and toward the kitchen, leaving the argument behind, if possible. ]

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