Um. Miles chokes hard on his wine when she mentions a marriage alliance. Both dizzy with dreamy glee at the thought of being married to Lakshmi - and horrified by the thought of her being forced into a marriage of convenience with someone as deformed as he is. God. There’s no easy resolution to that thought. Either he steers her away for her own good, or he selfishly tries to set himself up. The first is heartbreaking; the second, surely evil.

He coughs a little more before finding enough breath to speak. “Both are quite wrong,” he says firmly. “That description belongs to Lord Vorkosigan, as you can see by his clone,” he says, gesturing to himself. “And you may find Vor women in stables, but only because they are thoroughly enjoying themselves by preparing their steed for a ride.” So none of either of that shit, good god. He. Hesitated a moment more. Piotr is such a conflicted influence on him that he’s not even sure what to say of the man. Best not to.