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The day of the party approaches. Linya learns a Barrayaran-original solo piano symphony, adds some flourishes of her own where the composer has marked that it may be played "freely", memorizes the whole thing, and arranges to be playing it on the grand piano when party guests file in on the day of. She smiles and nods at them and takes note of how they arrange themselves in the room; there are thirteen minutes in the piece unless she decides she needs an extra three (if there seem to be a lot of stragglers; if there isn't a good path to the people she wants to meet and around the people she wants to avoid) and takes the repeat at the end to prolong it.
She doesn't wind up taking the repeat; the end of the symphony without it has her playing the final chord when Lord Auditor Vorthys is nearer than anyone she's hoping to evade. She counts out the beats, holds for a moment longer, and then lifts her hands from the keyboard. She has decided that given her choice of titles she's going to address this particular guest as -
"Professor Vorthys."
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isthisart
first-loyalty
"Is he that - um - very old Lord Auditor? I think my uncle might have mentioned him a few times," says Ekaterin with maximum politeness.
middlingalong
"Yes. That is him. Let's not say his name again lest he be summoned."
isthisart
Eventually Ivan drifts off, and Linya talks to some other people, although she doesn't make it to first-name terms with anyone besides Ekaterin and her own cousin-in-law. Emperor Gregor Count Vorbarra mentions briefly that he's glad she seems to be enjoying the party and then fades into the crowd again. She does at one point get cornered by Vorparadijs, recommends that he see about obtaining customized gut flora, regrets this immensely, and escapes by claiming the sudden need to go play something else on the piano, which takes five minutes but does require crossing the room; mercifully she is not trailed.
By the end of the party that is the worst moment of the entire affair, and she has an appointment of sorts to go visit Ekaterin for companionable gardening in a week's time.
By the end of the party that is the worst moment of the entire affair, and she has an appointment of sorts to go visit Ekaterin for companionable gardening in a week's time.
thisvorlunatic
Miles locates her as the whole thing is winding down, the lasts few guests trickling out the door and the servants beginning to patrol for stray wineglasses.
"So, how was your first proper Vor bash?"
"So, how was your first proper Vor bash?"
isthisart
"Roughly within expected parameters. I like Ekaterin Vorsoisson quite a bit, I'm going to go visit her and help her pick out and plant flower seeds next week." There are servants around, so she doesn't scoop him. She wanders into an adjacent and uninhabited room hoping that he will follow her first.
thisvorlunatic
He traipses after her. Well, traipse/limps.
"Oh, good! See? Friends!"
"Oh, good! See? Friends!"
thisvorlunatic
"I wasn't previously aware that was a thing," says her extremely scoopable husband. "I definitely feel like I shouldn't have done as much standing up as I did this evening. Congratulations on your plant-related exploits. No kitten trees, I hope?"
isthisart
"No. Storebought flower seeds, entirely heirloom. And no more standing up for you, I think." Up she goes, still carrying him, to their room.
thisvorlunatic
"Excellent. I remain convinced that Barrayar is not ready for kitten trees. Also, I love you," he sighs, leaning his head on her shoulder.
isthisart
"I love you too. Barrayar may remain uninfested by vertebrate-bearing flora."
thisvorlunatic
"Barrayar thanks you. Or it would, if it had any idea. This way's probably for the best." She has such a cozy shoulder. Miles may be falling a little bit asleep on it.
isthisart
He is welcome to fall asleep on her. She will very gently tuck him in to bed if he does it.
thisvorlunatic
He remains sort of dozily half-awake until she does that, and then drifts off as near-instantly as one can fall asleep and still be said to drift.
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