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Who: Gregor and Eggsy
When: Today
Where: Gregor’s room
What: Discussing the whole Miles/Clark thing
Warnings: None yet, but will update if necessary

[There’s been times in his life when he’s fucked up. Some of those times have been worse than others, and some not so bad. The thing with Miles and Clark, well, it had started with good intentions, but he’s pretty sure he’d pissed them all off. He gets it. Don’t meddle in people’s business, but he’d thought about what Ivan had mentioned and Clark had come to mind. Something about Miles and Clark together seemed like a good fit, he still thought that even now.

Miles had been pretty ticked off about it, and even though he said it was okay, Eggsy still thought he needed to do something to make it right.]

Miles, it’s Eggsy. Let me in, bruv.

[A knock on the door, two bottles of some strange purple liquor he’d picked up down on Emiri before everything had gone tits up in his hands. The vendor said it was magic and that it could make a person forget their worries. Maybe Miles would forget about being upset with him.]

Look, I know you’re mad about the whole Clark thing, but that ain’t no reason to leave me waitin’ out here.

[Another hard knock.]

I thought you’s would look cute together.

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[The door slides open on someone who is definitely not Miles--he's a foot and a half taller, for starters, with the same dark hair but with hazel eyes. They're fixed on Eggsy now with a keen interest.]

Excuse me. [His voice is cool and polite but there's a little shiver of a laugh under his tone, buried deep.] Are you the person who set Miles and Clark up on a date?

[Oh, that's not Miles, but you won't find Eggsy complaining about that. He didn't know that Gregor and Miles were roommates, but he's never exactly asked Miles either.]

I am, yeah. Eggsy, remember?

[He cocks his hip to the side, eyes narrowing to see the reaction Gregor's having to what he heard Eggsy say. Looks like it's a pleased one, so that's something.]

Thought they'd be good together.

I see. I certainly do remember.

[Gregor steps aside to permit Eggsy to enter, his eyes brightening a little.]

You thought correctly, by my estimation. Miles isn't here, but feel free to come in.

[Eggsy nods, shuffling into the room. He's only been here once, stopped by to make sure that Miles was alright after everything that had happened. He should start coming by more often anyways.]

Didn't know you two were roommates, Greg.

[He stops in the middle of the room.]

Well, was hopin' they'd get on and all that, but haven't really asked him yet.

Yes. Miles is my foster-brother and Ivan our cousin.

[Gregor's expression shifts to a faint smile that's almost wicked but not quite.]

I expect Miles didn't realize it was a date until about two-thirds of the way through the evening, but he and Clark get along just fine, from what I've seen. It's a bit hard not to get along with Clark, he makes quite the effort to be personable. As far as I know, it went all right, not that Miles generally sees fit to divulge to me every detail of his dates, planned or otherwise.

Oh, so you're family.

[He hadn't known that but it made a lot of sense.]

Nah, I'd hoped he wouldn't cause then he might have backed out of it. Just wanted them to give each other a shot, and if it didn't work out, they'd go back to being friends.

[Eggsy sighs, shrugs, and then lifts the bottles in his hands.]

Brought these, you interested?

Of a sort, yes.

[Gregor tilts his head in consideration.]

Not if they're a reconciliation present for Miles--you may still need them. I suspect that he's not upset about his date with Clark, but it would be highly disingenuous of me to say that with any certainty. You are, however, more than welcome to stay for a while if you like, drinks or no drinks.

Only a little bit, yeah? I was gonna make him drink it if he was still mad. Loosen him up some.

[He leans forward and hands Greg one anyways.]

I've got more for when I see him next. 'Sides, we should drink 'em and you should tell me about yourself.

Loosen him up into unconsciousness, more like--his alcohol tolerance is terrible.

[Gregor accepts it with a surprised little smile that warms his face all the way to his eyes.]

Then thank you, in that case. Though I fear I might disappoint--I'm not really all that interesting. I'd be happy to hear about you, though. Where are you from?

Is it? I ain't seen him drunk before. I wonder what kind of drunk he is.

[Eggsy glances around the room, not really sure where he's supposed to set himself up at. He kind of wants to make himself comfortable, but knows a gentleman waits to be invited before sitting.]

I think you're interestin', but, yeah, I'm from London. England. Where you from?

Depends on his mood when he starts drinking, usually. Though I've never, in all my years of knowing him, heard anyone describe him as 'mellow,' drunk or not.

[Gregor moves back to the side of his bed, kicking companionably at one leg of it before settling down on the far edge.]

Please, do sit. I've lived in less cozy places, but they were generally actually a barracks, so this deck leaves a great deal to be desired as far as an ability to entertain company is concerned. I've never been to London--Miles has, and he seemed to enjoy what little of it he saw while he was there between getting shot at, as is his general custom. I'm from the city of Vorbarr Sultana, on a planet called Barrayar that nobody else here seems to have heard of, so I fear that doesn't really tell you much.

Well then maybe it's a good thing he ain't in and you're drinking this instead.

[Eggsy comes over and sits down on the bed beside Gregor, at the opposite end. It just feels weird to sit on someones bed that isn't here so he'll make himself comfortable on this one instead.]

It's a nice place, yeah? Bit damp most times, but you get used to it. [It didn't rain as much as it was generally overcast and chilly. He sits the bottle down on the floor next to his feet.] I've never heard of it, but that's pretty common here on the Moira.

Did you like it there? Got people waitin' for you to come back?

[Gregor tilts his head, watching Eggsy a little curiously, turning the bottle slowly between his fingers.]

This isn't the first ship I've served on, but it's certainly the oddest. [He ducks his head and an honest-to-god laugh huffs from his chest, his mouth twisting wryly.] I suppose you could say that. Not much family, though. Mostly Miles and his parents. ...and yourself?

It's the first ship for me, too. Ain't ever been to outer space before.

[Eggsy leans back on Gregor's bed a little; he toes the heal of a shoe off, then looks at Gregor, gesturing to them with a nod.]

You mind?

[If he doesn't, he'll kick them off.]

I got my mum and baby sis back home. I worry 'bout 'em sometimes.

Not at all, please. [He makes a little abortive go-ahead gesture and settles again, watching Eggsy for a moment before his face softens.]

A sister. That must be nice. I'm an only child, and my father died during military service when I was... very young, about four years old. Everyone I grew up with are well along on their own military careers, now, though I worry about them too, I suppose. It's just not quite the same.

[Eggsy kicks his shoes off and scoots back on the bed.]

Is nice. She's just a little thing. Kinda wanna go back to make sure nobody's botherin' her.

[Stepfathers, eye roll. Eggsy had been in the middle of fidgeting to get comfortable, when Gregor's words catch him off guard. He stops moving, an understanding expression flashing across his face.]

My dad died in the military when I was about four years old, too. Guess it's not much of a secret after what we did together down on the planet, but I followed in his footsteps some. You did, too, yeah?

Hmmm. I understand that, I suppose, though I'm not sure the alternative is better--my foster-mother arrived here recently, and we're all scrambling a little trying to figure out a way to keep her safe. The thought of anything happening to her is unbearable, and it's harder to control in a place like this.

[Gregor's belly goes suddenly very cold at the idea of him following in his father's footsteps in anything. He breathes very carefully for a moment and tries not to let the shivering uneasiness just below his ribs show at all in his face.]

Not... exactly. Or, not deliberately, at any rate. Military service is not mandatory at home, but it is strongly encouraged as a large part of our culture. I knew by the time I could walk that I was eventually going to be in officer's training. It didn't have much to do with my father at all.

Your foster-mum is here? Shit, bruv. If you need an extra set of hands to keep her safe, you just let me know, yeah?

[Eggsy did miss his family and worried about their safety back home while he was here, but he wasn't sure, with everything that had happened, that he'd want them to show up here, too.]

My mum says that my dad was a good guy. I don't remember him much, I've met some of the people he used to work with. Suppose I wouldn't've followed in his footsteps if I hadn't met them, but it's all the same in a roundabout way.

[He glances over at Gregor, trying to gauge what kind of mood the man was in.]

M'also sorry I kissed ya without askin' first.

[Gregor raises his eyebrows a little before his face warms into a faint half-smile.]

I appreciate that a great deal, particularly from someone as well-trained as yourself. Though, I think you'd get along with her extremely well in your own right. She doesn't take shit from anybody either. [The smile flashes briefly into a full-blown grin before he settles back, exhaling slowly.]

Ah, yes. I believe I owe you an apology as well. I don't, er. Mind, exactly. I'm certainly not upset with you. But I was unnecessarily curt afterwards, and I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that I was angry. I was just-- [He hesitates, his face draining to a sort of careful blankness, but he figures after everything Eggsy has a right to know. He draws in a breath.] Cordelia is my foster-mother because I was kidnapped when I was five, kicking off a several-week ordeal at the end of which my own mother was murdered. She was the final surviving member of my family. [His mouth crooks up a little at one corner, wryly.] Since then, I tend to take that sort of thing... personally, which was stressful. It wasn't because of you, or anything you did.

M'glad you ain't mad. I figured I'd crossed the line. Got distracted by all the adrenaline and your cute face, forgot what we were doin' for a moment.

[That wasn't an excuse, but it was his fault for kissing Gregor in a high-stress situation at the wrong time.]

That's shit to have gone through. What kind of fucker kidnaps a kid and then hurts someone's mum. I really shouldn't've done that and m'sorry. It was stupid of me to take advantage when those kids were more important then us makin' out.

[He pauses, wanting Gregor to continue if he wants, but not minding if he'd rather not talk about it anymore. He wasn't pushy and wouldn't try to get the man to tell him more than he wanted. Eggsy leans forward, eyebrows raised and an amused smile curving his lips. He liked the way Gregor's face changed when he smiled like that.]

Should smile more often, bruv, s'nice, yeah?

Not particularly--you had no way of knowing how on-edge I was, or why. [Gregor has no idea what to do with that compliment so he glosses over it, his cheek heating only very slightly.] It's not that I don't respect that approach to high-stress situations, it was just that particular high-stress situation that set me off.

[He smiles at Eggsy a little, faint, just at the corners of his mouth and his eyes.]

Apology thoroughly accepted, if that will ease your mind, but I don't really believe you have anything to apologize for. You weren't 'taking advantage,' and I'm not offended. It's all right, honestly.

[That smile turns a little wry, and he tilts his head.]

I've... been told that before. 'Laconic' seems to be a commonly used and particularly gentle descriptor of my resting expression. Old habit, I think. At any rate, my foster-mother found the person responsible for my mother's death and beheaded him with a swordstick, if that makes you feel any better. [GREGOR WHY WOULD THAT EVER MAKE ANYONE FEEL BETTER ABOUT ANYTHING] It was a rather delicate political situation, right up until that point, I'm told. I meant it, when I said she didn't take anyone's shit.

Good, cause I'd regret it more if I knew you was unhappy about the kiss.

[Eggsy would have felt like a massive perv if Gregor had felt taken advantage of.]

Your foster-mum did that? [His eyes go wide.] The one that's here, yeah?

[Because that sounded to him like she wouldn't need anyone protecting her. She could take care of herself.]

Political situation? [Eggsy squints, leaning back with a thoughtful expression on his face.] So, what's that all about? Kidnapped as a kid, politics, and father was military. Was you the son of a high-powered couple or somethin'?

[Eggsy's from England, where he knows of royalty and parliament. So if Barrayar is anything like that, he's going to start assuming Gregor was the son of someone like that.]

[Gregor stiffens, his spine straightening a little, and he hesitates for a moment--unwilling to break security, but also unwilling to lie.]

Mmmm. Oh, like I said, practically everybody's military, at home. There was a war on at the time, for the Regency government. Cordelia's--my foster-mother's--husband was Regent after the former Emperor's death, and someone attempted to overthrow him by marrying the dowager-Empress and claiming power for himself, it was all very messy and there was a great deal of hostage-taking all around. My mother was in the Imperial Residence when Cordelia slew the Pretender and set fire to the wing in which he was entrenched so she could escape. She and Aral took care of me afterward, as a courtesy.

[There. All true, just... not quite complete. Gregor's mouth tilts crookedly.]

I'm nobody, here. Don't worry about it.

Oh, alright.

[That's a lot to process all at once, and Eggsy's no idiot or anything, but he wasn't well versed on politics from Gregor's world. He was obviously missing something, but he'd think it all over later, so he wasn't rude by trying to work it out in front of Gregor's face.]

There's that grin again, seriously, it don't get old, yeah?

[He unconsciously tips forward, a worried frown marring his brow.]

I get what you're sayin', but nobody is nobody. [There have some very intense worldly advice from a 24 year old.] Ya get me?

[Gregor smothers a sigh at apparently being let off the hook for explanations--for the time being, anyway.]

I hear you. But life is very different here, for everyone, I expect. How are you adjusting? Besides worrying about your family, I mean.

Ah, I'm fine, yeah? Got a friend here that's like a father to me, so I ain't alone neither.

[Eggsy didn't struggle with adjusting very much, he was mostly doing okay. Harry told him once that if he adapted, he could transform, and that had stuck with him.]

So you wanna crack those drinks open or what?

Oh. Yes, quite.

[Gregor looks down at the bottle still in his hands in faint surprise, then opens it and reaches out, clinking it gently against Eggsy's.]

To family, then, found or otherwise. I hope I'd be all right without Miles or Ivan or Cordelia or Bel here, but I am certainly glad to have them, despite how inescapably kidnapped we all still are. I'm glad you have someone aboard too.

To family. It's shit you've got people you care about here, considerin' it's not always safe, but least it ain't so lonely.

[Eggsy grins, tapping Gregor's bottle, and then taking a small sip. He grimaces at the taste, then shrugs. He's had worse.]

To meetin' new people.

[Another sip, a brow raised, head tipped in Gregor's direction.]

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