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[jacksonian]

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[jacksonian]

[ This is a part of Barrayar he doesn't know about. His education has always focused on the Barrayaran high society, the decadence of the Vor and their Emperor, the perversion and evil and inbred madness. (Another thing he got that shouldn't be his, that's Miles' - a family tree with rather too few branches, and all the genetic weaknesses that implies.) Less this. He hazards a guess: ]

Out in the country, right?

[keep_nothing]

Including, but not limited to. Even in places like Vorbarr Sultana!

[jacksonian]

Don't they have the money for it?

[ He frowns just a little. ]

With proper investments, electricity could easily be brought to them.

[ And, lest that sentiment sound too un-Jacksonian: ]

Which would turn a profit really easily.

[keep_nothing]

[ Meanwhile, Cordelia just lets her Betan show. ]

It should be a right to have it in the first place, not a privilege you have to pay for.

[jacksonian]

Well, regardless - why haven't they developed it? It's not like Barrayar is poor. I've seen holovids of their events.

[keep_nothing]

You have? Which events? Probably all the one with Aral regenting, where all the stops are pulled.

[jacksonian]

[ He looks up, nervous - but she seems genuinely interested, not like she's leading him into some sort of trap. Getting him to confess who he really is or something. So he nods a bit. ]

Yeah. Uh - all of them, really. Years of them. The Emperor's Birthday, Winterfair, Midsummer. Since the start of the Bu - Of your husband's regency. And beyond. And before.

[ He was well-trained on those, since they'd be where he'd have the best chance of killing the Emperor. ]

[keep_nothing]

[ She raises her eyebrows at the small skip in his voice towards the end. Instead of calling him on it though, she instead says: ] You can call him Aral, you know. You're working with him now, aren't you?

[jacksonian]

[ Well. At least she's not offended. ]

Oh. Uh - I'm working for...the Emperor. For the Dendarii. So that's a little different from working with...your husband.

[keep_nothing]

Gregor. And Aral.

[jacksonian]

[ He gives a little shake of his head. ]

I doubt they'd want to be on a first-name basis with me if they knew who I was, Lady.

[keep_nothing]

Well I want to be on a first-name basis with you.

[jacksonian]

[ His brows draw down just a little. ]

You want me to call you Cordelia?

[keep_nothing]

I'd like for you to.

[jacksonian]

[ He thinks it over a moment. And then confesses: ]

It - feels weird. Seems weird.

[keep_nothing]

To call me by my name? I may have married into a title, but I'm not exactly Vor Lady material here.

[jacksonian]

I know.

[ He fidgets a little, then confesses, even more awkwardly: ]

I was...trained to call you Mother.

[keep_nothing]

Well ... I wouldn't mind that either, truth be told.

[jacksonian]

[ Really? He looks up at her, then looks away at once, hastily providing the excuse - before he has to think too much about it - ]

That would absolutely raise some questions.

[keep_nothing]

Only if you want to keep it a secret, that is.

[jacksonian]

[ He looks over, a little alarmed, and says very pointedly: ]

I do.

[keep_nothing]

[ She holds up the hand not holding her fork. ]

All right. But if you ever want to call me that and not hide anymore, I'd enjoy it.

[jacksonian]

[ He starts eating again, a bit less desperately. ]

Would anyone else?

[keep_nothing]

How do you mean?

[jacksonian]

Just -

[ A shrug. ]

You're...different. I doubt they'd be glad to meet me. The rest of them.