Ivan is not that good at cards! But he has some experience with genetically engineered people and picked a game that's mostly luck.

It's fun.

It passes the time.

"Oh, is that them?" wonders Isabella.

"Unless someone else has been upstairs the entire time, yes."

Dr. Hall glances over in idle curiosity.

Lalita's curiosity is rather more than idle.

"...Hell of a crowd all of a sudden," Mark observes, when he and Stalas emerge from the stairwell.

"Faster than light travel."

"For more direct transit from point A to point B through the horrifying void."

"Bar says this one," says Ivan, pointing at Lalita, "is your half-alt, or something, Mark. Same half that finds me mysteriously entertaining."

"Your half-alt is my husband Lalita, and I'm Isabella, and this is Dr. Hall."

"But Ivan," says Mark, "all of my halves find you mysteriously entertaining."

"Hello," says Stalas, looking mildly uncomfortable. "Uh, this is Mark and I'm Stalas."

"You know, that's what Lalita said, too."

"So we're told. Rumor has it you have elves. Before you ask, I am not an elf."

"I wanna come back to Barrayar," Mark says brightly.

"I'm tempted to suggest putting you in a duffel bag. It would be easier to convince Vivienne that she simply hadn't noticed me carrying one in."

Mark cackles.

"And how would you carry me in?" asks Stalas. "Two duffel bags? Alas, my princely dignity."

"Would you object to sharing a duffel bag?"

"...How sodding big are these bags?"