( ah, there's the sort of disapproval ivan has imagined coming from his mother towards this whole mess. he grins, but shakes his head. )

Not a chance of it.

( his crew uniform doesn't reflect his rank on-board -- which is high, but they're mostly just handed out to them at the beginning of the month. being barrayaran, however, they matter a little; miles likes flaunting his. but he has a satisfactory answer to that question of his mother's. )

When I was seventeen, along with Miles. I'm a Lieutenant now, in Ops. I was just finishing up a year's stint embassy work on Earth before I got dragged here.