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

[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.

[middlingalong]

Ivan starts chuckling again.

[thisvorlunatic]

Well, that's just going to set Miles off.

[middlingalong]

Whoops!

[thisvorlunatic]

He can't help it, he's just so giggly!

[middlingalong]

Eventually Ivan manages to eat his dinner without aspirating any of it and pats Miles on the shoulder and goes back to his cabin.

[thisvorlunatic]

And Miles manages to finish his dinner now that there is no one to giggle with, and goes back to his own cabin still grinning irrepressibly.

[isthisart]

"What's so funny?" asks Linya when he comes in.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I'm not entirely sure. I ran into Ivan and it wasn't so much a case of him teasing me as of the both of us giggling like idiots for the entire meal."

[isthisart]

"What, why?"

[thisvorlunatic]

He shrugs helplessly. "No logical reason I can think of."

[isthisart]

"Huh."