IC CONTACT

[wizzardly]

VOICEMAIL:

"Er... yes, okay, I suppose I should tell you that if you're trying to reach me I'm not here, and if you're trying to reach me because you want to do something involving pointy bits of metal or otherwise painful objects, I'm never going to be here. So sorry."

Comments

[jacksonian]

Thanks. I'll avoid him.

And I guess if he did a good job before, I won't suggest caterers or anything. Though there are a few good vegetarian ones I know of down in De Chima.

[wizzardly]

Really? I didn't know you knew those sorts as well. In addition to the money-handling sorts, I mean. And security sorts, I suppose, since your brother has that whole business.

[jacksonian]

Uh - [ That was a lot of "sorts." ] Vegetarians, you mean?

[wizzardly]

Oh, no, business-people I meant more like.

[jacksonian]

Oh. Yeah. Of course I do. I have corporate events.

[ A slightly embarrassed pause - ]

And, uh...You know. That house in De Chima. There are a lot of people there. It's hard to keep everyone fed. So we pay for catering a lot.

[wizzardly]

I'm surprise your lot doesn't just have personal chefs for that private army of yours. You'd think Miles would have recruited someone by now. Run into someone with food-based powers, maybe.

[jacksonian]

[ Just a little forcefully: ]

I found someone, actually. But he's only part-time.

[wizzardly]

You're doing that as well now?

[jacksonian]

Yeah. I help out the household. [ With a defensive sort of pride - ] They'd have a really hard time of it without me.

[wizzardly]

I believe it. [sincerely.] Well done on so far keeping them from getting into another inter-imPort war or other ridiculous nonsense.

[jacksonian]

[ Hah. For the time being. Since it seems they're on the brink of another one...Mark fights to keep from grimacing. Why can't they just all stay out of trouble? Stupid Illyan. Baelish and Chilton have resources to bring to bear if they decide they want to fight the Barrayarans - allies - What if there is a fight, and Lady Vorkosigan gets hurt? Or Winry? Or Miles, not that he'd ever voice that worry aloud...

Or me. Mark wonders when his own safety was moved to the bottom of the list. Weird. ]

Yeah. Uh, well, I can't take sole credit for that. There are a couple of people keeping Miles from doing anything stupid.

[wizzardly]

I'd imagine it takes a committee. [a beat.] Possibly chains.

[jacksonian]

Hah. Fortunately, he's currently distracted with that relationship of his. That keeps him calm.

[wizzardly]

Who would've guessed that was the solution?

Anyway - I'll see you at the party, right?

[jacksonian]

Yeah. I'll see you then.