duv wants to be in the room where it happens

[whatdidisay]

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.

Comments

[komarran]

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?"

[whatdidisay]

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.

[komarran]

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."