Winterfair

[veryvorkosigan]

Vorkosigan House is astir this evening: the children are getting their own carefully supervised Winterfair party in the nursery wing, and the adults making ready to head to the Imperial Residence for the Emperor's party.

In the Dowager Countess's suite, there's one extra guest making ready.

Comments

[veryvorkosigan]

She chuckles. "Anything can be a canvas for art, really -- though Barrayarans use some pretty unexpected things. Hair as a base for flower arrangements, I'll tell you, we never thought of that one on Beta Colony."

The party appears to be dividing into two cars; the Count and Countess and two of the brown-liveried Armsmen in the first, and Cordelia and Duo in the second. (Along with an Armsman, but he takes his seat in front with the driver.)

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo manages to be only slightly twitchy because he isn't in the driver's seat.

Heh. If Relena could see him now.

He spends most of the trip staring out at the city in fascination. A city on another planet. In another system entirely. They've barely started on Mars.

[veryvorkosigan]

It's an old city, quite visibly so: archaic-looking stone buildings (like the one they've just left) cheek by jowl with much more modern-looking complexes and high-rises, the streets clean and brightly lit but clearly designed for foot and horse-drawn traffic rather than the much faster aircars.

Cordelia points out a few items of interest: a medical complex ("very new, very well-staffed, almost up to galactic standard"), a sprawling university campus ("where Ekaterin got her advanced degree"), a few distant picturesque castles picked out in colored floodlights.

[maxwellsdemon02]

He tries not to goggle too obviously, but his enthusiasm is easily detected.

"Thanks," he says to her. "For inviting me, I mean. This is amazing."

[veryvorkosigan]

"I'm glad you're enjoying it so far." She grins. "Any questions before we get there?"

[maxwellsdemon02]

He immediately goes blank. They had a pretty thorough briefing before they left Milliways, he's pretty sure they covered everything. From fashion to some social no-nos.

"Don't think so. Elbow me if I'm using the wrong fork or something?"

[veryvorkosigan]

"You bet." Amused. "Remember, you're an offworlder; nobody expects you to have all the local traditions down pat."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Well, no. I am pretty good at following the lead of everyone around me to blend in. But just in case."

He fiddles with one of his jacket cuffs.

[veryvorkosigan]

"Just in case," she promises.

The vast stone pile of the Imperial Residence is looming up ahead of them, with more colored lights accenting architectural details here and there; before too long (albeit after a decidedly professional security scan), they're disembarking and being escorted in from the chilly night.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Security is thorough but polite, courteously asking if Duo minds having his knife peace-bonded. They're used to weapons around here, Duo sees plenty of swords hanging from belts.

They assure him the spray they use won't have any negative effect on the finish of his knife or sheath, and they can apply the solvent on their way out.

Good enough for him, he doesn't expect to need to use it. And if he does, he can get creative.

[veryvorkosigan]

"That's a fairly recent addition," Cordelia murmurs for his hearing only as they regroup with Miles and Ekaterin in the vestibule. "Much more diplomatic than requiring non-Vor visitors to turn over their weapons."

The Vorkosigan party is ushered into a long reception hall, lined with mirrors on one side and tall windows on the other. A multicolored array of House uniforms and formal gowns makes the floor look like another resplendent garden-mosaic -- this one in motion.

A major-domo announces the four members of their party, by name and title, in an amplified voice.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Here goes nothing," Duo says, flashing that same wide grin once more.

"Looks like your Emperor really knows how to throw a party."

Or a few dozen people who work for him, anyway.

[veryvorkosigan]

"I'll tell Alys you said so," she murmurs, through a bright social smile, as the two of them sweep in behind the Count and Countess. "She's bound to be here somewhere. -- Lady Alys Vorpatril," she adds by way of explanation. "Official social secretary of the Imperial Residence, and one of the sharpest social-technical experts I've ever come across."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"So, does the 'Vor' prefix-thingy have a meaning? Or is it just traditional?" He copies her smile (though with a few more teeth in it), peering around them at the other guests. Some of whom peer back, equally curious.

[veryvorkosigan]

"The linguistic origin's been lost," Cordelia says with mild regret. "Though there's some speculation, of course. In Old Earth Russian, dvor means 'court'; that's considered by many to be the likeliest origin." With a tinge of wicked amusement, she adds "Of course, in the same language, the syllable vor by itself means 'thief,' so take that as you will."

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo smirks. "Nothing wrong with a thief or two."

...or a couple hundred, considering their surroundings.

[veryvorkosigan]

She grins back. "In terms of what it means culturally, rather than linguistically, it was and is a military caste that turned into an effective aristocracy. If you're interested in the history, there's a fellow I could introduce you to ..."

They've drifted away from Miles and Ekaterin by this time, and further into the room; the buffet table is invitingly nearby.

[vorpatril]

Ivan is at the buffet table putting together two plates and mentally going through what he knows Tej likes and what she needs to try, when he spots them.

The Dowager Countess is hard to miss, but he doesn't know the man, young man, with her and stabs himself with a cocktail fork, the two swords of his dress uniform clinking against the table, "Aunt Cordelia, good evening."

[veryvorkosigan]

"Happy Winterfair, Ivan," Cordelia says cheerfully. "Is Tej here too? I was hoping to see her. Oh -- Duo, this is Ivan Vorpatril; I think technically he's more a cousin than a nephew, but family, regardless. Ivan, Duo Maxwell."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Pleased to meet you," Duo says, giving Ivan another one of those short bows. "Recommend anything in particular?" he asks, gesturing toward the plates.

[vorpatril]

His thoughts race, why is he being introduced as family? Is this Duo going to become family too? His mother, Miles, Miles should have warned him, in triplicate,

"Um, the puff things taste like something Ma Kosti made though I don't think she did. Would have heard of that. Yes, she is, with Mamere talking about I think...clothes when I left."

[veryvorkosigan]

"That's very high praise," Cordelia interjects in an aside to Duo. "Ma Kosti is Miles's superlative cook, and no, she hasn't been accepting any offers to cook for the Residence so far as I know. -- And oh good, I was hoping to see Alys too. Maybe I'll catch them together."

Her smile at Ivan is fond; not quite the maternal one her sons get, but definitely affectionate.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo cheerily investigates the food on the tables closest to them, and takes one of the aforementioned puff things. He also goes for anything that looks like fruit. There's plenty that he recognizes- whoever the original colonists were, they must have taken some flora with them.

When you spend a lot of time in space, you get used to some of the food not being the same as it is planetside. But Duo got spoiled by fresh fruit from Earth, and at Milliways.

Hey look, grapes!

[vorpatril]

That's not helpful and Ivan smiles at his aunt though its a bit pained.

There are things he should know like who is the far younger man she's with who is devouring the fruit, "You probably will. Mamere hasn't let Tej go far from her since we arrived."

[veryvorkosigan]

"I'm so glad they're getting on well."

She takes a glass of white wine from a passing servitor, gives the man a smile and nod, and turns back to Ivan. "And how are you and Tej doing, in general?"