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[vorrutyer]

[ Unlike any of Byerly’s previous posts, which consisted of him monologuing interminably, this post looks to be a dialogue. There are actually two people on screen - Byerly’s lanky, elegant, sloe-eyed self, and next to him a small odd-looking fellow with intense features and a too-large head set on a hunched spine. For all the differences between them, though, the two look like they could be brothers, or at least cousins - similar noses, similar bone structure, similar skin tone, similar hair color. Ah, the products of Barrayaran inbreeding.

You can tell who set up the camera by the framing. Byerly is centered, and sitting at an angle that best shows off his fine features. Miles Vorkosigan, the small fellow, is squished off into a corner of the frame. By is the first to speak, too. ]

Bonsoir, lovely fellows and ladies. Your bosom friend and brother Byerly here with an important announcement. Though you have known me as His Imperial Majesty Byerly II of Barrayar, now I’m just plain By, because my position has been usurped. [ A fake mournful sigh. ] Brutal civil war. Deadly. Horrible. I’ve been dealt a monstrous blow.

[ Miles, meanwhile, just kind of rolls his eyes skyward. Spare him from his cousin’s melodrama. ] If by “usurped” you mean “assumed rightful authority,” then yes. I usurped you. With little resistance, I might add. [ A pause; he straightens his small frame as best he can - not that it’s especially effective given the camera angle. ] Did you really go around calling yourself His Imperial Majesty Byerly II?

But of course. [ Byerly blinks in mock-innocence. ] Sire, don’t tell me that you don’t see the Imperial office as worthy of respect. I was simply demanding the dignity due to the camp stool.

Is it more dignified to lose it to a civil war too? [ Miles arches a brow in turn. ] I could fight you, I suppose.

Oh, please don’t do that, sire. [ By’s expression is a reasonable approximation of pained. ] I don’t want to hurt you. He’s very fragile, you see. [ The last is said conspiratorially to the audience, as though Miles couldn’t hear. And, swiftly, before he can be executed for treason - ] So I wished to introduce my dear sometime-cousin and current-overlord to the network, as a grand announcement of an enormous life change, and an announcement that I will of course be hosting a coronation party for him.

-- What?

[ There’s not even the slightest twinkle of amusement in Byerly’s face; he looks perfectly solemn as he explains - ]

It is, of course, customary for those invited to a coronation to bring gifts of tribute. I would not presume to speak for my lord Emperor, but I might suggest gifts of alcohol. Or something a little harder than alcohol? A fellow does grow tired of only being drunk, and the Emperor is quite a fan of stimulants, which is why you’ll hear him babble endlessly, all the time. Would that suit you, sire?

[ Miles has been working his mouth like a frog in the background this whole time; he still sputters a moment, staring at Byerly in disbelief. ] I never agreed to a party, By -- [ He interrupts himself with a beautiful stream of cursing in Greek. ] For god’s sake, that won’t be necessary.

[ Loudly, speaking over his Emperor - ] That sounds like a yes to me! I’ll see you all tomorrow night. [ And with a wink, he cuts the feed. ]


[ ooc: blue is Byerly, red is Miles ]

Comments

[vorrutyer]

His Imperial Majesty is quite proud of his condition. He'll remind you of what a survivor he is roughly once every three minutes.

[ Byerly: human pillar of salt. Or maybe it's just sharpness engendered by the uncomfortable thought that - years. He'd...rather thought that the Orbiters would have...prevented the possibility of dying from the disease altogether. He'd never even thought to ask if the disease could still...kill Prior. ]

[priorly]

[It's a complicated set up. On its own, it shouldn't be the end of him. It won't progress. But the disease is in his system, and if something else comes for him, there's nothing to prevent AIDS from letting down the drawbridge for it to come on in. So, years. Or months, or until they come up with the cure they've sworn to work on, the one that already works for other people with his condition, just not him.

Prior, for the record, is desperately sensitive, but selective about showing it. Though the smile he puts on is quite clearly affected, it's also deliberately thus. It's so much harder to work out what someone's really feeling when they're admitting to wearing masks.

Again, not entirely for his own benefit. He glances round to find Byerly and tips a shoulder to nudge against his.]

Well then, aren't we just a pair of lucky charms. Come, hold hands with us and we can skip through the giant spider forest without a care.

[dendarii]

[ Thanks, Byerly. Miles huffs a bit at his comment. ]

I only say it because people often ask. Or give me grief for it.

[ What with how squashed and ugly he is. But. Anyway. Prior is moving on, so that means it's time for Miles to move on too. He wouldn't have gone into such detail if Prior had shown obvious discomfort on the subject. He knows that, for himself, a frank discussion is preferable to awkwardly talking around such a thing. ]

... A literal giant spider forest?

[vorrutyer]

[ One last glance at Prior, and then Byerly fixes his own mask into place - a theatrically dismayed, annoyed expression. ]

Dear heavens, please don't give him any ideas, Prior. He'll try to catch one and ride it.

[priorly]

[People can be sensitive and made of steel all in the one frame, and Prior often switches between the two. Frank is appreciated, it certainly doesn't make him think less of someone, not to be pitied, though it's interesting that Byerly should have been the more delicate on first meeting.]

That I might like to see.

[He takes a sip of his water, somehow the only one with actual sustenance after the promise of breakfast.]

When the first settlers were moved here, the teleporter malfunctioned in bringing them down. [He doesn't believe this, less and less so recently. It's underlined with a look to Byerly.] They were dropped in the middle of a nest of the things and had to fight their way to the city, largely weaponless and without most supplies.

[dendarii]

I'm not quite that foolish, thank you.

[ Giant spiders. Yikes. Miles has no particular fear of them, but that seems unwise even to him. ]

Were you one of them? You sound as if you have first hand experience.

[vorrutyer]

Prior and I woke up in the same wave.

[ Byerly looks over at Prior and tries to sound ironic, even though this is genuine, when he says: ]

Part of the reason we're such bosom friends.

[priorly]

I rescued him from the ignominy of drinking alone on the ship. He rescued me from my bathroom floor. Thus most of the best fairytales begin.

[He neatly clips out the part where powers of prophecy gave him the name of Byerly's best guarded secret on their second meeting. As he's learned, that doesn't go down well too early on.]

But people talk, and back then they were still pretty pissed off.

[dendarii]

[ Miles opens his mouth to ask what on earth pissed other people off about that - but he pauses. Looks between them a moment. And then just sort of leans forward on one arm, grinning at the both of them. Barrayaran biases or not, the thought that Byerly might actually be showing feelings for someone is delightful. ]

Oh? What could they possibly have to talk about?

[vorrutyer]

[ That is far, far too fraught a subject for Miles to stick his nose into. So, both swiftly and sharply, Byerly answers: ]

The spiders, sire.

[priorly]

[Prior blinks - and then laughs, because, yes, the spiders, but it's almost impressive how quickly Miles thinks they could have had the city up in arms. Maybe Byerly hasn't overplayed his reputation.]

Apologies, I was coming back from the detour - you asked how I knew. They were the wave before us.

[dendarii]

I see. Fortunate that you didn't have to deal with spiders, then. I was picturing some sort of daring rescue.

[ He is not letting this die, Byerly. He can tell you have something adorable going on here. ]

[priorly]

Oh, he's not that incapable. I'm sure he'd have been fine.

[Setting down the glass, he clasps his hands together.]

But tell me about you. I must say you seem like you're handling this well. Have I missed the maudlin, drunken stage or has it yet to sink in?

[vorrutyer]

You missed it.

[ By goes back into the kitchen to check on the groats, fiddling with them, debating whether they're done. Eh, good enough. He starts spooning them into a pair of bowls. ]

[dendarii]

[ Thanks Byerly. Miles sighs a bit, reluctantly sobering again. ]

Yes, I’ve already had the wailing and crying on the station already. Nothing to be done for it now.

[priorly]

I cycle through it now and then. Hearing a street hawker abuse a stranger for no reason, or ducking an overzealous pigeon in the square - takes me back. [He's only partly hyperbolic. It's the sound of New York traffic he misses most, along with the sounds of his New York friends.] Though I take it as a good thing. It means I remember.

[And something is kept alive, outside of those tubes.]

What did you do on Barrayar, besides sit a little closer to the throne room than some people?

[vorrutyer]

What an unfair question, Prior.

[ By brings in the bowls. ]

Can't you see he's a baby?

[dendarii]

[ Miles twitches bodily at that. ]

Oh, yes. I only took over a mercenary fleet and nearly got executed.

[priorly]

[Prior nods along with the expression of a parent watching the middle school brass section murder Moonlight Serenade.]

Nearly got executed. Your culture being what it is, was that cause for a good report card home, or a must try harder?

[vorrutyer]

[ A grin as By bows Miles into his chair, indicating that it's time to eat. Good heavens, what a delight. Prior tormenting Miles Vorkosigan. He doesn't know what he did to deserve a treat of this magnitude. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles flushes a bit at that non-response. ]

You’ve missed the part where I talked my way into taking over a fleet of 2000 people.

[priorly]

[Prior puts a hand to the side of his mouth and whispers to Byerly at roughly the level of his normal speaking voice.]

I'm still not sure if I scold or praise.

[vorrutyer]

[ In a stage-whisper back - ]

Better to praise. He gets quite agitated and hyperactive otherwise.

[dendarii]

-- Don't treat me like a child! You asked for this information.

[priorly]

[A slow look to Byerly, and Prior mouths I see what you mean.

But it's a little unfair, and he isn't cruel by nature, so this specific line of teasing needn't drag out further. He did ask.]

And you told me what you do when you're at home is kidnap personal navies and almost die. Context, mon ange. Was this an act of war?