(no subject)

[dendarii]

WHO: Miles, Bel
WHERE: Downtown Nonah
WHEN: April 1st
WHAT: Miles and Bel have themselves a date~
WARNINGS: Maybe some kissing and stuff. Will edit if they get into dark conversation topics.

[ Miles know this is a one off - must be a one off, something more (or less?) than a one night stand, something far less than a romantic relationship. And he is happy with Kitty, as happy as he is ever going to be with someone who isn't Gregor, Bel included. But - he's greedily excited for all of this anyway. His own feelings have become tangled around the subject of Bel, and having the opportunity to act on them in a safe context is freeing. He's not the only one needing to work out some unrequited feelings, as paradoxical as that seems.

He sends Bel the address and a time: around seven PM on April Fool's, at a gorgeous vegetarian restaurant downtown. Hard to get into at this hour, he'd found out; he'd had to lean a bit on his status to get them a table. The place styles itself as a vintage place (though it all looks "vintage" to Miles anyway), with a gilded gold look inspired by the artwork of Gustav Klimt. It's all perhaps a bit too upscale, but if Miles is only going to do one date, he's going to do it right, dammit. Starting (but not ending) with a damn good dinner.

He's there at the table ahead of Bel. Cutting quite a nice figure in his dark brown suit laced with silver accents. The suit that Gregor had given him for his birthday last year; the irony of wearing it to a date with Bel because Gregor isn't here is not lost on him. But - for tonight, he's not going to ache over any of it. He's going to enjoy this moment as hard as he can. ]

Comments

[dendarii]

[ An awkward little shrug. ]

A different sort, today. I'm more nervous about you not getting close.

[shipmaster]

I'm sure I can set your mind at ease. Or at least throw it at a puzzle until you've tired it out on more likely things, like Cetaganda deciding empires was last year's fashion.

[dendarii]

[ A faint snort and a shy smile. ]

The puzzle is likely more effective. I have trouble tricking myself into relaxing.

1/3

[shipmaster]

That would...

[shipmaster]

[ Actually............................ ]

[shipmaster]

[ A Milesian icebreaker AND useful for the satisfaction of one Betan's curiosity. ]

I DO have one for you. After that tiny mess on Earth, we did a short run to Kibou-daini that I never quite figured out. Perhaps you can make more of the pieces.

[dendarii]

[ Miles furrows his brows, but his eyes are already alight with interest. ]

All right. You've piqued my curiosity.

[shipmaster]

The quick and dirty was it was meant to be a simple pickup and resell, likely an 'official' mission, due to how closed lipped you were and that I was taken off of Intelligence and sent to Nav and Comm. [ The "again" isn't vocalized, but it was there, subaudibly.

Bel's fork makes a little furrow in the risotto, idly.]

It ended, after myself and my pilot were tucked away in the station's holding cell for two days as some sort of political blackmail, as I gathered - with us taking two packages, rather than one. One of those being a cryochamber.


The amazing part, is the build of the ship that chased us nearly out of fuel to Beta was of Barrayaran make.

[dendarii]

[ Well. If it was "official," then of course he'd have Bel out of the way. They're too damn smart and Miles is too canny himself. But ... two packages? And Barrayar chasing them down for one? It's true that his role is secret, but that sounds ... strange.

His previous nervousness evaporates in the wake of this new tidbit. ]

Barrayaran make? Or Barrayaran?

[shipmaster]

Make as far as my perspective went. I assumed it was repurposed or stolen, given that it was chasing us. Though the possibility that you couldn't break cover for some reason is certainly there.

[dendarii]

[ If not for their high class setting, Miles would get up to pace. As it is he drums his fingertips along the table. ]

Someone who wanted to get Barrayar in trouble, not knowing we would know better. Who did we deliver both of the - er, packages to?

[shipmaster]

[ It's both enjoyable to watch and profitable ... using Miles' brain to unravel the mystery that Miles didn't divulge at the time. ]

One went to Komarr, which was almost certainly routed back to Barrayar, the other, interestingly enough, went to a science facility on Beta.

[dendarii]

Beta Colony ...

[ The wheels are definitely turning. ]

Who were they? Do you know?

[shipmaster]

Government, almost certainly. The fashion was at least a year out of date. Even I could tell.

[dendarii]

And frozen for over a year. Captured and stored on Kibou-daini? And rescued by us at the behest of Barrayar.

[ It's one hell of a puzzle all right. ]

[shipmaster]

I honestly don't know which package was the one we were supposed to pick up.

[ They take a moment to savour the taste of the meal, and the next part, particularly. ]

Now, would you like the things I'm not supposed to know?

[dendarii]

I admit I'm going to need the hint.

[ Better savor that too. ]

[shipmaster]

[ They give a light hum, pleased. ]

There was a heavy Jacksonian presence as well. I'd lay odds that you were chasing your brother's trail at that point.

[dendarii]

[ Jacksonians, a Komarran, and a Betan ... That's one hell of a mix. ]

Perhaps Barrayar sending us isn't quite accurate, then. More like I convinced Simon it was a good idea.

[shipmaster]

And you managed to stir up more trouble than you set out to find, yes.

[dendarii]

As often seems to be the case.

[ He helps himself to s sip of wine. ]

The Komarran was likely one of Galen's group. Lingering, either forced into hiding or just plain forced. Simon would have sent me for them.

[shipmaster]

With the transaction as a cover? You've certainly done that before.

[dendarii]

[ Miles nods. ]

It's entirely possible. The Betan ... I bet that was improvised.