garrulously | duv wants to be in the room where it happens

Captain Ivan Xav Vorpatril is here, according to his superior officers, because he’s Ops and he knows Duv Galeni. He’s helping ease the transition of the new Imperial Counselor, working as the liaison between Galeni and Solstice’s Ops outpost officially — which means, in actuality, he’s there to smooth upset Barrayarans and Komarrans alike. The ruffled feathers he expected, and the thinly veiled threats are traditional, but on Komarr it actually has a chance of degrading into violence.

It boils down to a lot of parties and a lot of paperwork, one of which Ivan takes to easily and the other probably reminds Imperial Counselor of time spent on Earth over a decade ago. But Ivan does his job to average standards in everything but the social aspect of it. There his skills and talents don’t go wanting. With women and men, after Ivan’s enlightening experience at Count Dono Vorrutyer’s skilled hand. Again.

This night, however, has him staring at Duv Galeni over a glass of wine. He’s, what? Forty something and still unwed despite his new high-ranking position. Ivan thinks about what he told Miles — that he didn’t think Duv Galeni was one of those men, interested in other men. Well he’d been wrong about himself back then, hadn’t he? And either they’d somehow gotten a much stronger wine than Ivan had thought, or he’s seriously considering flirting with Duv Galeni just to see.

He’s on Komarr, Ivan reasons with himself, it’s not going to be as public of a scandal as if they’d been doing this on Barrayar. Imperial Counselor Galeni or no. Finishing off his glass, Ivan turns up the grin and hands it off to a server before making his way to Duv.

“Enjoying yourself?”

Nailed it.

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Something warm and pleased curls up in Ivan's chest at Duv's smile. It brightens his face that both makes him look more approachable and less worn down; and here Ivan thought the flat look was a constant. It makes him look good, really. And then Duv awkwardly fumbles for the flimsy and Ivan clears his throat, attention snapping away from the other man.

"Sure. I mean, the point of efficiency is to spend less time on everything in general. I'm good at that." He is, Duv, just watch him. He'll make this office run smoothly yet.

"Less time on some things so we can spend more on others," he corrects. There's no expectation of down time in this posting, as far as he's concerned. He keeps his eyes glued on the document in front of him. It makes it far easier to stay in Ivan's office when he's not staring directly at the man.

"When do you have meet your mother?"

"You know how to put a damper on my excitement, don't you?" Really Duv, putting a stopper on his joy already? Ivan doesn't look all that put out about it, even as he throws his now-filed paperwork back on his desk. "Within the half hour. At some Komarran place Laisa recommended -- Simon thinks the head of Galactic Operations mentioned something about it, or at least he looked like it was familiar, but."

Ivan swallows, not knowing what to say to Duv about the state of the former Chief of ImpSec. At least Miles'd gotten the bastard who did it, in the end.

He shrugs. It's not the first time he's heard how little fun he is to be around. They're in the office, not out on the town.

"Thinks he heard of it?" There's a small frown at that and he looks up from his flimsies. He'd been involved partially in that internal investigation and he hadn't had much contact with Simon Illyan since he was forced out of his office. No one had seemed to want to speak much on the current condition of Illyan and he only had rumors to go by. "I'd heard he wasn't the same after his retirement."

Has Duv ever been out on the town, as it were? Ivan would like to see the other man at least slightly unwound, although he's not sure that's actually possible. At least not with this job.

Ivan's lips purse and he considers it. "Most of the rumors exaggerate the damage. For his safety, and m'mother's now, too." He doesn't feel bad imparting this to Duv, who he feels has been granted some measure of trust by Gregor, and therefore should know what he's heading into. "But he's not as together as he acts."

It's the only way he can explain it. It's easier to see once you meet them, once you see his mother cover up for Simon's slips.

"Hm." Which means Duv should take any advisement he receives with some caution. Surely that mind that had run ImpSec smoothly for decades was still in good enough shape to help him.

There's another glance at his flimsies and he begins reordering them according to a new priority set by this new knowledge. Hopefully Illyan wasn't hoping this would be a personal meeting.

"I appreciate the warning, Captain. I'll keep that in mind when we might."

"Oddly enough," Ivan says, leaning back. "I think he's bored." Which is a scary thought, so he'll let that sink in for a moment or two. He catches the movement out of the corner of his eyes, and tries not to roll his eyes. Of course Duv would bring paperwork to meet Simon, he probably brings paperwork on dates.

No wonder he hasn't gotten marred. At least Ivan's had the opportunity.

"He'll appreciate your interest, in that case."

Bored. That's a state of being Duv would prefer to avoid at all cost. It's ingrained in him that if he's bored, he's likely not doing enough to get where he wants to be. Downtime has never been a major feature of his life.

It'll be strange once he's more settled into the practice of this position. Where else has he to go from here?

"That's what I was hoping for," he admits. "He declined to clarify why he wanted to meet with me."

Time to focus on domestic issues, eh Duv? Ivan's utterly unsurprised at that admission, and gestures towards his door to shepherd Duv out. Not unkindly, and Ivan will be right on his heels; as reluctant as he is to let Duv go off so soon.

"Touch base and have a nice conversation without the subtle threat of his position hanging over you, maybe. M'mother's been teaching him how to act a little less like the Chief of ImpSec and a little more like someone she can take out in public."

And doing very well, from what Ivan understands.

The flimsies are tucked under his arm and he takes the hint. He leads the way out, rubbing lightly at his chin in thought. His experience with Illyan has only been on the other side of giving reports, hardly in any personal meetings. This was going to be interesting.

Thankfully he's walking with someone who has more experience in this department. He glances over his shoulder and asks honestly, "Should I leave the paperwork here then?"

That's-- a good question, and one Ivan's not sure about. He's silent for a moment, running a hand through his hair. He's flattered that Duv might think his opinion on this matter is valued, enough to ask him for it. That's new. But to answer himw-- "Take it, but work up to it instead of throwing it out right after you sit down. Wait until after the appetizer."

Ivan might like you, Duv. And he might want to sleep with you, but he's pretty sure you'd do something like that without a second thought.

The fact that Duv doesn't think of Ivan's recommendation as an insult says that yes, that had been his exact plan and no, he sees nothing wrong with it. Part of him feels like he should be taking notes. After the appetizer, he can remember that. As for building up to it well, he'll have to see how the conversation pans out. Surely the usual pleasantries would carry them through the beginnings of the meal.

"Thank you, Captain. I'll keep that in mind." As they enter the main foyer of the embassy, Duv's ImpSec guard (or at least, the obvious one) is quick to join him. "I'll see you in the morning, Captain."

duv wants to be in the room where it happens

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