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You know.

[ A small shrug. ]

I throw my name in the hat, and I'm - so unsuitable that I end up humiliated. It's a pretty easy one.

[She looks at him for a long moment, quiet and thoughtful.]

No.

This is no such thing, my lord.

I thought you would do well in this position. You are clearly so careful for your brother and for your friends. And you are clever enough to do well financially.

[ He looks up at her, studying her expression. A few months ago, he'd have assumed she was lying to him. He wouldn't have even entertained any possibility aside from the possibility that she was lying to him. Now, though...now, he three-quarters believes her. And that's pretty damn good for him. ]

The thing is - I do well financially because of my Porter ability. [ He gives a small shrug. ] I don't actually have any training as a businessman. Let alone as a leader. I know I'm technically Lord Mark, but I wasn't Lord until very recently. [ Another shrug - ] Or Mark, for that matter.

I do not see how those things should matter.

[Because they're all still true.]

I'm not someone that anyone sane would put their trust in.

I disagree.

You don't trust me.

I trust you for this.

[She doesn't lie. But she's not going to let him dissuade her, either.]

You'll have to work with me. And you're still scared of me.

Not so afraid as to not meet with you alone, am I?

[She lifts her chin a bit.]

[ He gives a little gesture of his hand, indicating the room around them. ]

Come on. You're not naive. I don't believe for a second that you don't have someone you can call to help you out if I try something. You're not really alone.

[ Mark is actually cynical enough to look at Lucy and assume not-naive. ]

This is a distraction.

[She is getting that look in her eye, the one that says she's really getting bored by this.]

My fear is not remotely the issue. Your capabilities, however, are.

[ He shakes his head - but not to argue. All of that - well, yeah, it was a distraction. ]

I'm not...You've just gotten the wrong impression of me, Your Majesty. I'm not...capable. [ A breath in, and less vulnerably - ] And what's more, I think that most of the stuff the government here does is just stupid. I'm not some kind of compassionate bleeding-heart who's going to look out for the downtrodden or whatever. Honestly, I think most people are really stupid. And I don't think it's our job to bail them out of their stupidity.

Well.

[She sighs.]

If you think so, then I am sorry I have wasted your time.

[ He looks down and away, and gives an awkward little shrug. ]

Yeah. Well. The tea was good. [ He rubs the back of his neck - ] And, uh, I appreciate that you said all those...nice things about me.

I do mean it.

You are much more than simply the Admiral's brother, and I should hope you to step out of his shadow.

[ As he does in moments when he feels particularly self-conscious, he corrects her: ]

Clone. The Admiral's clone.

[ Anyway. He runs his hand over his head, smoothing back his hair. ]

Have you asked him? He'd be good at it. He's a real lord - the title isn't just honorary for him like it is for me.

And it stands, still.

[She tips her head a little.]

We have considered him. And I will discuss such things with Lord Baelish, and I am confident his name will arise.

[ A nod. He rubs at the back of his neck. ]

And, uh, Lord Vorkosigan, too. Miles' father. [ My father, he thinks of him, but - that's weird to say, after his insistence on clone instead of brother. ] He was Regent for the Emperor back home for years. And Prime Minister after. That's all in his future, but - even so. He's really good at all of it.

You mean the Lord Aral?

Yeah. Lord Aral. He - doesn't exactly like politics, but he'll do it.

I will discuss the matter with Lord Baelish and take your suggestion into account.

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