Grasping at Grace (and Growth)

I've always felt sorry for Ivan; he's a not unintelligent man — in fact, he's probably very intelligent, dropped to "not unintelligent" only by virtue of his cousin's brilliance by comparison — who turned out remarkably well, given his mother's temptations to micro-manage and his cousin's ability to put him into all but fatal albeit interesting situations. I so loved Captain Vorpatril's Alliance because of that. But even I can admit to his frailties ... nay, even his faults. This managed to scratch an itch I had, to celebrate Ivan while having a little fun at his expense.

And I'm glad you liked it!