Character is Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan, from Bujold's Vorkosigan books--game-shopping

[wentshopping]

If you keep poking at me, this account, and those books, getting me to leave you alone will be a very great task indeed. It usually is.

However, if you want my advice, I would wait until this next school term gets started, if you want my advice, to judge whether or not it is going to be less busy than the last. A week should go a long way toward informing you how difficult it might be picking up yet another responsibility.

Additionally, you should probably decide which redhead you wish to run with. While this Miss Sophie Jenkins nee Hatter seems like a lovely girl, two at once is perhaps inadvisable.

That said, if you're determined... let's see what happens.

Comments

/throws your foster-son at you

[vor]

...So that's where I got that from.

Gregor! \o\

[wentshopping]

The phrase? [Or the attitude that goes with it?] Possibly. It does tend to be rather useful.

Canon point = during The Vor Game, btw

[vor]

[That, too.]

Very useful. [A pause.] You might be going somewhere?

[He tries not to look, or feel, too hopeful.]

Oho~ Cordelia is quite a bit later

[wentshopping]

This young lady garnered several suggestions a while back, before, wisely, choosing to ficus on her real work for a bit. But now that that's lightened up for her, well.

As for whether she'll go through with it is anyone's guess. But at least two different places are spaceships, apparently, so at least I might not feel too out of place.

I figured.

[vor]

[For Gregor to look faintly glum is nothing new, but as Cordelia is one of the few who can tell the difference between glum and glum, it's worth noticing. Not that he's about to encourage anyone to follow him from home, as it would defeat the purpose of the exercise entirely.

Except that Cordelia is perhaps the only person he knows who wouldn't be freaking out over his presence in Luceti come May. In fact, she'd probably think the opportunity to be independent of Ma and Da--Simon and Aral, respectively--would be good for him.]

Oh? Which ships?

Re: I figured.

[wentshopping]

[And notice she does, though it's been quite a few years since she saw him this down. Then again, he does look a fair bit younger than last she saw him, so that, perhaps, explains that.

While she is a theist, angels seem perhaps a little far-fetched; but at least the boy would be away from most of his current daily stresses. At least Aral she has a hope of getting out of Barrayaran politics alive someday, but not Gregor. Poor boy.]

One seems rather sillier than the other, as far as what I've seen, but travels to new and interesting places on a fairly regular basis. The other, actually a station, is apparently currently engaged in a struggle against a galactic empire--not Barrayar, nor, more shockingly, the Cetagandans, but some other.

[The SS Thor at Gargleblasted/Mostly Harmless and the Senburu-Trati'salan station at Entanglement, respectively. The planet-hopping Thor, yes, appeals to the Betan Survey Captain deep down in there still...]

[vor]

Thinking about going back into planetary survey at this stage in your career?

[It's not really the question he wants to ask.]

[wentshopping]

And out of Barrayaran politics? It would certainly be more restful, for one thing.

[And that's not a real answer to the question he did ask. What's on your mind, Gregor, Foster-mom wants to know.]

[vor]

[That gets a nigh-imperceptible smile, and the line of tension in his shoulders eases just a little. Cordelia is being Cordelia and that alone is putting him at ease. She's not really even noticeably older. She may well be from his point in time.]

Restful. You sound like you're talking about retirement and not... [He makes a vague gesture with one hand, either too tired to think of the word he wanted or pretty sure she gets the rest of the sentence anyway.]

[wentshopping]

[That's an improvement, at least. And, yes, there are advantages to being Betan, it's true. Such as looking 40-ish even at 60-something.]

Put it that way and Aral will never see fit to join me.

[A bit of an ironic hint to that smile, because even at your point, beloved Emperor, you should know you will always have the Admiral working for you.]

[vor]

[Now that gets a real smile.]

Not likely, no. [Oh not-mom, he is going to miss you. His smile fades.] I'm going to think I'm a political prisoner of the Cetagandans when I arrive...where I'm arriving. You have to admit, it's as close to retirement as I'll ever come.

[Going a little glum again now through the dampened fake cheer. It's not really a bright side. As lovely a prospect as being a mascot, really.]

[wentshopping]

[She will miss you too, un-son. Even when you don't need her anymore.] That doesn't sound much like retirement to me. It just sounds like the same political messes transplanted.

[All the sympathy because wow sweetie, talk about out of the mire and into the midden...]