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

[thisvorlunatic]

"Just fine," says Miles.

[isthisart]

(Linya giggles faintly and obtains food.)

[middlingalong]

Ivan peers at Miles's face and looks really curious, but he isn't quite curious enough to ask about what he wants to know in the presence of a lady.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles obtains food. And sits next to Linya. And... scintillates.

[middlingalong]

"You look, uh, well."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Oh, do I? Maybe it's because I'm happily married."

[middlingalong]

Ivan blinks, attempting to decipher secret coded messages in this utterance.

[isthisart]

Linya looks amused by this exchange. She tucks in to her lunch.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles beams and eats his food.

[middlingalong]

"So, how's Russian going?"

[isthisart]

"Do you speak it? You tell me," Linya replies, in Russian of limited idiomatic fluency but technically acceptable grammar.

[middlingalong]

"...I'm going to assume that means you have retained more over the past day and a half than I can remember from when I was supposed to learn it as a kid."

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles giggles.

[middlingalong]

Ivan appears to be trying to figure out whether the two of them have had sex by psychic powers.

[isthisart]

This is either completely lost on Linya or just too vulgar for her to acknowledge.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles is no help. He just keeps looking really pleased with himself. And madly in love with his wife.

[isthisart]

By the time Linya has finished lunch Ivan is no closer to figuring this out. However, when she finishes eating, she gets up and kisses Miles on the top of the head before she departs -

[middlingalong]

- which causes Ivan to startle in his chair, as though he has just witnessed someone turn into a frog or a piece of furniture deliver stirring oratory.

[thisvorlunatic]

"...What?" says Miles, somewhat crossly.

[middlingalong]

"If I answer that are you going to bite my head off?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"That depends. Is the answer 'I knew you were married but I never in my wildest dreams imagined she might kiss you'?"

[middlingalong]

"...Not exactly."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Spill, then. I promise no decapitation will ensue."

[middlingalong]

"It keeps being bizarre that she acts like a person and not a - a - rosewater-drinking elf."

[thisvorlunatic]

...Miles snorts.