[ He doesn't expect her hand to suddenly be in his and he pauses as he blinks down at it. All right. There's a second of hesitation before he decides he likes her right where she is and squeezes her hand close. ]
Are you certain? I was about to request a cup of coffee before you came in.
[ She watches it - that odd person he talks to in his wrist. So strange - but ah well. It nags him so terribly, sometimes, she's thought about stealing it so it can't interrupt. Maybe she might, one she's decided she wants time alone with him. ]
Like most things, yes. Though we have yet to bother getting a machine to bring it. [ No, that's what the lower ranking captains were for at ImpSec HQ. ]
The height of French sophistication? I was unaware the concept had originated there. [ Or perhaps the French perfected it. It explained much about the French restaurants here.
He motions for her to take a seat as he moves to lean against the desk. ]
No, because it is not about food. It is about service. The act of being served is reserved for nobility. After their revolution, the French did not think that should be reserved for the nobility alone.
[ A shrug, her fingers curl around his as she lets him lead her to sit. Settling in a sweep of her skirts, comfortably so. ]
Thus, restaurants were born. It is very novel. Quite unheard of in my father's time. To simply go and enjoy that pleasure for even the lowest class to expect service.
[ Was this how others felt when he launched into history lessons? He can't help but smile as he listens politely. It was a history he had not looked into previously though now he wonders if he could find research on the topic. ]
Have they spread much since then? In your time, I mean.
[ Since the idea had clearly gone intergalactic. ]
When I moved through France, yes, I saw many of them. I never got to enjoy one until I came here. But they're to be found in many places now.
[ She nods happily. Hadn't gone in, being on the run didn't let you sit and just bask and eat, besides - she was a Queen after all. It wasn't new to her. ]
The - I believe they call them department stores. Where all manner of items can be found in one place. That I had never heard of before.
Your experience sounds similar to what Barrayar experienced as they were reintroduced to the rest of the Nexus, [ he says thoughtfully. ]
Modernity in a way that was far from reach without the influence of others. Their stores and dining habits prior to that were closer to what you were used to before these trends caught on.
Do they complain it's awful that they cannot tell a street whore from a proper lady anymore?
[ Tries not to be so withering, but it's a hard battle. It's not a secret now at least - she happily beats her head against Vor Lords as hard as she can over their notions. Duv had shown her so much through their discussions, the books he'd shown her, the plays on that small screen at length, as much as she understood that slowness, how hard it could be for people to change. That their own Lords don't look for the betterment of their people drove her utterly mad. So much, so much to be had, more than she could comprehend and she saw a bunch of doddering old men twiddling their thumbs.
Easy breath, Lakshmi, it wasn't the time to go on a familiar rant at him. He must have heard it half a dozen times from her by now. ]
The older ones who refuse to see change. [ The younger ones however...
It had amazed him at how progressive and taken in by galactic values the younger generation of Barrayarans was. A wealth of opportunities opening up to them, mixing with their local traditions and culture. With the focus of his dissertation ever present in his mind, it was fascinating to watch and why he would never lose interest in his research.
Still. That does not improve matters for the woman in front of him and he frowns thoughtfully. ] Who has been giving you trouble?
[ She toys on saying nothing. She does need her help - but ultimately, what is she? Just one woman, not a small thing in and of itself, to be fair. Even if she did not go about throwing her title about, she still held herself with utter authority. It did not mean without any power to go with it.
But Duv - ? ]
The man that took my query as to your location in the office. He thinks my Russian is poor enough that I do not understand 'whore' when I hear it.
[ His eyes narrow. The man was in Imperial Security and knew better than to insult someone so brazenly. His hold on her hand tightens, protective, as he mentally runs through the list of superior officers to find this particular man's CO. ]
Did he, [ he says flatly. ] I will make sure it's not forgotten.
[ Her eyes lower to his hold, where his fingers curl around it. Smiling still, softer, she did not expect that from him. Sure enough the joked about it but even so. Her thumb sweeps across the back of his knuckles. A coax there, if patient. ]
Pay it not much mind, my Captain. I would rather be free and a whore, than what they call respectable.
While you may be accepting of that, if he thinks it is all right to insult a galactic who blends in better on Barrayar than all the others, it is only a matter of time before they insult another.
[ One less forgiving. It goes beyond her deserving to be treated with respect by a passing soldier. ]
Fortunately our current Emperor agrees. [ Because he has shot up the ladder given his late career change. Starting at 26 in the Imperial Service Academy when many began at 18 made it a different experience entirely for him. ]
It's taken others far longer to arrive at ImpSec HQ.
[ But that she thinks so too has him swelling with pride. ]
[ Young as he might be to her - as they all were. Though it's a false age, she regards them with. Even so, she brings his hand close up to cup her face, turning into it. He deserves the praise, he deserves more, whenever he felt like accepting it from her.
But for now, she just leaves it for turning into his hand and kissing the inside of his palm. Distracted that she doesn't hear the door knock - coffee apparently. ]
Thankfully there's several ways you can call him that. [ A fact Duv was grateful for after studying previous Emperors. This was a Golden Age for Barrayar as it leapt into modernity.
The knock causes him to frown as he reluctantly lets go of her hand to answer the door. His conversation with the officer there is quick and it's only a moment before Duv's carrying the tray with a coffee pot and two mugs on it. ]
[ A reluctance shared, as he slips from her fingers to answer the door. Her veil tugged as she watches the officer peer in over the top of Duv's head - blasted tall Barrayarans. Looking to see what, she doesn't know, as she meets his eyes directly just the same. Something to gossip about with his fellow soldiers.
A lift of her eyebrows and flat challenge. Shoo, puppy, she'll bite.
That isn't even remotely on her face as Duv turns back to her with nothing less than her most genuine smile. For him and him alone as she moves to clear a spot for the tray to sit between them. ]
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Oh, no, nothing at all.
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Are you certain? I was about to request a cup of coffee before you came in.
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Well, if you were going too.
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It will only be a moment.
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Will it be coming out of a machine too?
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Like most things, yes. Though we have yet to bother getting a machine to bring it. [ No, that's what the lower ranking captains were for at ImpSec HQ. ]
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Sending your staff about for you?
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I did hear of some restaurants we could try, for dinner one evening... [ If she was interested, and god he hoped she was. ]
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I would love too. I have never been to a restaurant until I came here. Everyone gossips about them being the height of French sophistication.
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He motions for her to take a seat as he moves to lean against the desk. ]
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[ A shrug, her fingers curl around his as she lets him lead her to sit. Settling in a sweep of her skirts, comfortably so. ]
Thus, restaurants were born. It is very novel. Quite unheard of in my father's time. To simply go and enjoy that pleasure for even the lowest class to expect service.
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Have they spread much since then? In your time, I mean.
[ Since the idea had clearly gone intergalactic. ]
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[ She nods happily. Hadn't gone in, being on the run didn't let you sit and just bask and eat, besides - she was a Queen after all. It wasn't new to her. ]
The - I believe they call them department stores. Where all manner of items can be found in one place. That I had never heard of before.
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Modernity in a way that was far from reach without the influence of others. Their stores and dining habits prior to that were closer to what you were used to before these trends caught on.
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[ Tries not to be so withering, but it's a hard battle. It's not a secret now at least - she happily beats her head against Vor Lords as hard as she can over their notions. Duv had shown her so much through their discussions, the books he'd shown her, the plays on that small screen at length, as much as she understood that slowness, how hard it could be for people to change. That their own Lords don't look for the betterment of their people drove her utterly mad. So much, so much to be had, more than she could comprehend and she saw a bunch of doddering old men twiddling their thumbs.
Easy breath, Lakshmi, it wasn't the time to go on a familiar rant at him. He must have heard it half a dozen times from her by now. ]
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It had amazed him at how progressive and taken in by galactic values the younger generation of Barrayarans was. A wealth of opportunities opening up to them, mixing with their local traditions and culture. With the focus of his dissertation ever present in his mind, it was fascinating to watch and why he would never lose interest in his research.
Still. That does not improve matters for the woman in front of him and he frowns thoughtfully. ] Who has been giving you trouble?
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But Duv - ? ]
The man that took my query as to your location in the office. He thinks my Russian is poor enough that I do not understand 'whore' when I hear it.
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Did he, [ he says flatly. ] I will make sure it's not forgotten.
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Pay it not much mind, my Captain. I would rather be free and a whore, than what they call respectable.
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[ One less forgiving. It goes beyond her deserving to be treated with respect by a passing soldier. ]
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[ Her eyes crinkle up with her smile - and he does give her so many reasons to do so. ]
If I were Queen in more than name, I would have promoted you years ago.
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It's taken others far longer to arrive at ImpSec HQ.
[ But that she thinks so too has him swelling with pride. ]
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[ Young as he might be to her - as they all were. Though it's a false age, she regards them with. Even so, she brings his hand close up to cup her face, turning into it. He deserves the praise, he deserves more, whenever he felt like accepting it from her.
But for now, she just leaves it for turning into his hand and kissing the inside of his palm. Distracted that she doesn't hear the door knock - coffee apparently. ]
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The knock causes him to frown as he reluctantly lets go of her hand to answer the door. His conversation with the officer there is quick and it's only a moment before Duv's carrying the tray with a coffee pot and two mugs on it. ]
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A lift of her eyebrows and flat challenge. Shoo, puppy, she'll bite.
That isn't even remotely on her face as Duv turns back to her with nothing less than her most genuine smile. For him and him alone as she moves to clear a spot for the tray to sit between them. ]
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