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[jacksonian]

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[jacksonian]

You don't trust me.

[illuminescent]

I trust you for this.

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

[jacksonian]

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

[illuminescent]

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

[She lifts her chin a bit.]

[jacksonian]

[ 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. ]

[illuminescent]

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.

[jacksonian]

[ 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.

[illuminescent]

Well.

[She sighs.]

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

[jacksonian]

[ 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.

[illuminescent]

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.

[jacksonian]

[ 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.

[illuminescent]

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.

[jacksonian]

[ 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.

[illuminescent]

You mean the Lord Aral?

[jacksonian]

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

[illuminescent]

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