singing open the great gates

[middlingalong]

The following day, very little happens, except for Vorreedi mentioning that Yenaro has been arrested (by the civil police, for theft, on charges from a ghem-lord Miles has never heard of, as opposed to by Cetagandan security for treason).

Also, Ivan gets bored - with all the bodyguards Vorreedi now requires for them after the incident at the bioestheties exhibition, the possible spontaneity of going out with his ghem girlfriends is much reduced.

But the next day they get to attend the Singing Open of the Great Gates.

And oh, is there ever singing.

Comments

[isthisart]

"Hi," says Linya, from where she's reading an optics textbook in Russian - apparently if the ship's library doesn't have optics she hasn't read, at least it has optics she hasn't read in Russian. "I am afraid that your cousin may tease you the next time you see him. He asked why you weren't at lunch with me and I said you were asleep and then he burst out laughing."

[thisvorlunatic]

...Miles giggles.

"I'll live," he says. "But now that you mention it, I'm hungry."

And he yawns his way out of bed and shuffles off to the lav to take a shower, then dresses himself somewhat haphazardly and goes in search of food.

[isthisart]

Linya catches him for a quick kiss on his way out but does not otherwise impede him.

[thisvorlunatic]

Food!

He is feeling much more energetic when he comes back. Hugs for Linya!

[isthisart]

Yay, hugs! She scoops him up; it is irresistible.

[thisvorlunatic]

Scoopful hugs! He's very scoopable, it's true. Mmm. Cuddlesome.

[isthisart]

"You fell asleep before I could inform you - in a complete sentence, anyway - that this morning was lovely," she says in mock reprimand, snuggling him.

[thisvorlunatic]

"This morning was very lovely," Miles agrees. "Possibly the loveliest of all mornings."

[isthisart]

"So far, I hope you mean."

Did she just wink? She may have just winked.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Future mornings do not appear on the scale," he informs her, grinning, "because they haven't happened yet and are therefore difficult to rate."

[isthisart]

"Aha."

Snuggle.

[thisvorlunatic]

Snugglesnug.

[isthisart]

Their mealtimes have gotten all out of sync; Linya winds up going to dinner solo.

When Miles eventually goes -

[middlingalong]

- Ivan is there.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles sits with him, naturally. He's still feeling rather unduly buoyant, and is not especially concerned about possible teasing.

[middlingalong]

"Sleep well?" asks Ivan chirpily.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes, thank you," says Miles sunnily.

[middlingalong]

"Pleasant dreams? Very restful?"

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles starts laughing.

[middlingalong]

So does Ivan.

[thisvorlunatic]

...Yep, now he's giggling helplessly.

[middlingalong]

That's not going to get Ivan to stop!

[thisvorlunatic]

"How—" he manages between giggles, "how obvious was it? I mean, I was asleep at the time... all Linya said was she ran into you at lunch and said I was sleeping and you started laughing."

[middlingalong]

"That's - basically it," snickers Ivan. "But, uh, she was smiling. And I've had a little practice figuring out how to read her face like it is a face and not an idol made of solid gold or something, so - yeah. Good for you, coz."

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles beams.