a short trip

[dotted_lines]

The Carlsbergs are gathered in the kitchen. Or, most of them.

Steve and Janice are gathered in the kitchen, and waiting, with a suitcase packed suitably for a short trip to another world. To which they are definitely not fleeing for their lives, officer, no need to worry, just stay in that bush outside.

Comments

[dotted_lines]

"Okay, that sounds like a plan. Is it probably safe for Janice, if she wants, to join the forum from here too? And would you like help with any of your interdimensional nonsense?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"As safe as joining the forum ever is. Very low risk of being interdimensionally kidnapped unless you're openly meddlesome like me. And I'd certainly like help with some of my interdimensional nonsense, but there's no rush. Get settled in first."

[dotted_lines]

"And are there any local laws that would affect how it's a good idea to use the forum? I'm usually up for helping with things, although I would rather wait a bit before trying to find new information."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Nothing I think is likely to come up... unless you actually try to arrange an assassination or something along those general lines, your forum use isn't going to be illegal."

[dotted_lines]

"I mean, are there things that'd be illegal to say on the forum, or for that matter off of it, that we might not expect?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"In general you don't need to worry about things being illegal to say unless, like I said, you are actually trying to arrange an assassination. The only thing I can think of that might actually get you in trouble is swearing false oaths, but that's easy to avoid - 'don't make any promises you don't intend to keep, particularly not to someone who seems very serious about them' pretty much covers it. And swearing false oaths only gets you in trouble if you do it to Barrayarans, so you can say what you like to other forum members."

[dotted_lines]

"Um, okay? If you're sure? But yes, we can both avoid arranging assassinations pretty easily, and swearing oaths we don't mean."

[thisvorlunatic]

"'Things that are illegal to say' is a nearly empty category on Barrayar for strong cultural and historical reasons."

[dotted_lines]

"That sounds... very good. I'm glad this planet is like that."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Me too."

[dotted_lines]

"Could you show us where everything is, and then we'll start unpacking?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Of course," he says. He gives them a tour of the house, a brief introduction to the comconsole, and shows them the lake outside and the much bigger house visible in the distance.