| Meanwhile back at the safe house... |
[Aug. 1st, 2007|09:46 pm] |
The hot tub had been everything Gregor had promised, and the couple emerged glowing, hungry and laughing after a long soak.
Breakfast had been assembled, cooking would have been too strong a word for the pulling together of ration packs, and some of the contents of the box the doctor had brought. Coffee had been drunk, and some of the rather ill matched collection of clothes in the wardrobe donned. Laisa felt much better in a pair of trousers and a shirt, although her fair hair still looked as though she had been electrocuted somewhat.
Time had moved on sufficiently for them to contemplate contacting the Vorkosigans, to find out how Alys and Simon were, and to speak to the children, but the comconsole was sending out a busy signal.
"That's odd, isn't it?" she asked Gregor. |
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| Waiting... |
[Aug. 1st, 2007|12:32 pm] |
Ekaterin had sat restlessly since the alarm went up. Ivan still sat in the armchair looking decidedly worried. Pym had contacted Miles on Ma Kosti's private commconsole and he was on his way here directly and as usual she was getting absolutely no information. As she thought about why she was getting no information she shuddered, The commconsoles are busy...? She shook her head. One thing at a time...One thing at a time.... She needed something to do but there was nothing. She got up from the chair and paced the room trying to reach Jankowski by her comm link every few paces. A noise in the hall made her look up and Ivan jumped to his feet. She ran outside to the foyer and saw a hoard of men entering and a strange limp for being carried by two men. Her jaw clenched as she saw it was Jankowski. General Allegre burst through the mob and walked up to Ekaterin.
"Lady Vorkosigan we...I have some terrible news. Its seems as though the children along with Byerly have been kidnapped. We've been trying to reach you by commconsole for over an hour..." Allegre's eyes went to the commconsole where it was shut off. Ekaterin followed his gaze.
"Ivan says it's been busy since last night but no ones been on them all day."
Allegre swore under his breath and bellowed orders to find a technician and find out why they weren't working. He looked at Ekaterin, the pain from her eyes reflecting in his. "I've given orders that the Emperor and Empress, Dono and Olivia, as well as Miles be contacted and sent straight here." He turned away and muttered to himself, "all this extra precaution for Gregor and it wasn't even him they were after..."
Ekaterin took a deep breath and turned to Ivan tears swelling in her eyes when a knock on the door indicated more people arriving. |
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| Civilian jump station, Komarr (x-posted from character journal) |
[Aug. 1st, 2007|12:45 pm] |
Tamu smiled over her father's note. As if she didn't know the affection that lay behind his gentle chiding about her choice of a new home on Barrayar, so far from Earth. But it was like him to make sure.
All of her belongings had been whisked away into the baggage system. Her shuttle wouldn't leave for a good while yet, all she had to do was show up at the appointed time. Meanwhile she could keep herself amused by wandering about the station and engaging in her perennial pursuit, people watching. It went far beyond mere hobby or pastime; what was an anthropologist, after all, but an over-educated people-watcher?
She caught the scent of a bakery. They vented their ovens into the corridor so that it filled with the rich smell of spicy Barrayaran bread. Clever! Well, she might as well start sampling the local cuisine. Plus, deep-set instincts would make her appear more innocuous to others if she were eating. You had to know such things if your hobbies involved staring at people. She grinned at herself and went in.
The person behind the counter was a tall youth, with what she'd come to recognize as typically Barrayaran brown eyes and hair, and a distinct resemblace to the stout middle-aged woman who bustled around with bread and cakes and muffins and other delectable items a few steps back in the tiny shop. Neither of them so much as glanced twice at the small woman in her exotic-looking head scarf and long dress. After all, they lived on a space station and saw all kinds.
Tamu gazed at the list of offerings posted above the counter. Ma Babochkin's Barrayar Bakery, the sign proclaimed. Indeed. "Spice bread...a Barrayaran specialty!" That sounded promising. Ooh, and a meat pastie. And some coffee. Everywhere in the Nexus had coffee. It was a human universal. Even the overbred Cetagandans drank it.
She drew a logical conclusion. "Can I get some cinnamon in my coffee?" Yes, she could. She stepped out again with a small sack full of goodies and a steaming cup of universal human food culture. Barrayar had milk cows as well, it turned out.
Tamu settled in on a bench with the best view, nibbled on her prizes, and watched the human variety walk by. There were a few Barrayaran military types, though most of those she assumed would be over on the other station. There were many more Komarran citizens in the loose trousers they favored, and more Barrayarans, some dressed in civilian clothes and a very few in what she recognized as House uniforms. She didn't know enough yet to instantly know which ones were which, but she did recognize a Vorsmythe uniform from when she'd been socializing with the Vorthys' and some of their friends. Vorsmythe, she understood, was an industrialist and it made sense that some of his people would be travelling between Barrayar and Komarr. The presence of one of his Armsmen might mean that Vorsmythe himself or one of his family were here, or it might just mean that he had a pressing need for a very trusted agent. Another man dressed in a House uniform she didn't recognize strode by, looking tense.
This sent her thinking about the peculiar Barrayaran system of neo-feudalism. How did it continue to survive under the pressures of contact with the galactic civilization? And yet, it did. Changing, no doubt, but maintaining its basic structure. Was that inertia, a desire to minimize social chaos (of which the Barrayarans had had plenty in the last hundred and fifty years) or did it offer some intrinsic benefit which made it worth preserving? She hoped to find out, or at least to form a more elaborate theory... |
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| Captured! |
[Jul. 31st, 2007|02:43 pm] |
Byerly Vorrutyer woke up with his name echoing around him.
"By!" "By!" "Uncle By!" "Wake up!" "By!" "Please be okay!" "By!"
I hate babysitting. he thought. "Quit dancing on my head." he tried to say sternly but it came out sort of creaky. He opened his eyes and looked into a bunch of small, but concerned faces. "I'm okay." It was coming back. They must have stunned him. He sat up and felt his pockets instinctively. His stunner was gone and his comlink and tracer, but his shoelace was still there. He felt the back of his neck, smooth unbroken skin; his subdermal implant was still there. The range wasn't great, but how far could they have gone? So begins the waiting game. As his senses came alive, he was aware of a low humming noise and the vibrations of the floor. He looked around for Jankowski and counted off the kids. All the kids were present, but no Jankowski. "We're okay, kids. Have we done our reconaissance? What do we know?" |
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| lions, tigers, bears...oh..my? |
[Dec. 30th, 2006|12:24 am] |
Jankowski tried to keep up with the children as they ran around a turn trying to see who was faster. When he turned the corner the children were staring open mouthed at the giant frame of a bear. He grinned at the site of the stunned children. He turned to By who was on his heels around the corner and whispered in his ear.
"You know what might be fun...if you go up behind them and scare them. That'll teach them not to run ahead of us from now on." He grinned slyly and walked up to the cage to talk to the children. |
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| The following morning Laisa & Gregor |
[Dec. 18th, 2006|11:08 pm] |
Laisa stirred at little, from her comfortable warm position curled in Gregor's arms, and opened one eye to observe him. She yawned, then ran a hand through her hair, and smiled at him.
OOC - up to you whether you're awake or not :) |
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| Children on the way to the zoo |
[Oct. 13th, 2006|10:13 am] |
Aral and Helen looked about in fascination as they entered the gates to the zoo. It had been awhile since they had last been there but since they were little they couldn't remember much of it. Helen looked over at Aral who had been bouncing up and down and being annoying in general. He had a big grin on his face as he was standing in between Xav and By.
"I want to see the lion." He held up his hands as if they were claws and roared. Helen rolled her eyes. Jankowski standing right behind her bent down. "Is everything ok?" She smiled and nodded. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 6th, 2006|08:57 pm] |
Arriving in Vormuros' District was awkward. They were stuck with the conundrum of just how to get there-- the suborbital shuttle Imperial Security provided was safe, sure, but there was no chance he was coming unannounced, now. ImpSec would rather not like their most junior Imperial Auditor taking unsecured, pre-scheduled, public transportation in this moment of secret crisis, thank-you-very-much-m'lord. Roic, beside him, was ImpSec's only concession, and even that took more argument and request-and-requiring than usual. The Armsman shifted in his seat, and Miles found himself looking into the young man's pensive gaze. "Yes?" he asked. |
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| Brooding in the library (after By picks up the children) |
[Sep. 6th, 2006|03:20 pm] |
I really shouldn't have been so angry at him. I don't know what came over me..and to leave By standing in the hall...He must think I've lost my mind or something. But how could Miles do that...plan to leave and not even tell me...break yet another promise to help Aral with something. I couldn't even calm down after Miles left..and to have Pym walk in on my crying...maybe I have lost it... Ekaterin sighed and stared at the comconsole which was displaying the garden plans for Count Dono's garden. She had been sitting in the library since the children left with By and she still had not actually done anything.
A sound from the hall made her look up. She heard the door open and some mumbled words. She sulked back into her chair when she realized it wasn't Miles who had come home and stared again at the comconsole. She heard footsteps approach the library and then stop. The door opened and Pym poked him head in, nodded in satisfaction of finding her there and sad softly.
"M'lady, Lord Ivan is here to see you."
Ekaterin nodded and Pym retreated out the door. Ekaterin tried to look more chipper but couldn't quite pull it off as Ivan entered. |
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| In the kitchen |
[Aug. 15th, 2006|12:24 am] |
follows on from http://community.livejournal.com/vorkosiverse/10245.html
Laisa checked through the box that the doctor brought, and unpacked it into the small refrigerator and a cupboard in the corner of the kitchen. Everything she had asked for was there, although looking around the other cupboards there was a distinct lack of any conveniences to prepare a meal. Imp Sec obviously expected them to manage on the prepacked rations for however long they were there.
( more ) |
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| A Special Surprise (Joint Post) |
[Aug. 9th, 2006|12:41 pm] |
Mark made it to his flat as he was taking a shower getting ready for their date he was running late to pick Kareen up. It had been an interesting day of class, his teacher caught him day dreaming about Kareen. His exacts word were "Accountants don't day dream." He laughed what a sad man.
Kareen sat on her couch watching a holovid and waiting for Mark. She looked at the clock, Late...not like him usually.
He made it to her place twenty minutes late and he rang the door bell.
Kareen sprang off the couch and ran toward the door to open it. "Mark!!"
He had some flowers for her. "Are you ready for a fun night?" He smiled at her.
She took the flowers. "Of course, Mark. I always am."
He smiled at her as he offered a bent arm to her. He glanced at what she was wearing.
Kareen took his arm and closed the door. She noticed his glance to her clothing she smiled. "So, Mark, where to?"
"Only the best resturant on Beta The Oracle. I have had the resevations for three months."
Kareen looked surprised. "What's the occasion?"
She would have heard that the place was $1000 beten per plate there. "It's a surprise."
"Ok...." She glanced at him and allowed herself to be lead out the building.
He lead her to a limo that was parked outside. The driver opened the door for them.
"Oh..." Kareen said in surprise as she saw the limo.
Mark had gotten a call from Barrayar three months to the day and it was killing him not to tell her.
Kareen was getting all excited by the extravagence of the night.
He took her hand in his and smiled to her his eyes hid something.
"Mark...whats all this about?"
"Has to do with you graduating this month. My last class was today you are looking at a certified accountant." He smiled at her.
"That's great Mark!" She gave him a big hug. "But what has that got to do with me graduating? My classes don't end for another two weeks."
"Well I have to fly home before you get out. My brother has me a fast courier in orbit. The perks of having a brother that is an Imperial Auditor."
"Oh." She looked down. "But will you be back in time?"
"It's just two weeks. Oh yes, I'll be sure to get back in time."
She brightened. "Good. But why do you have to go back home?"
"That to is a suprise. But do you trust me?"
"Yes, of course." But why all the surprises.... |
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| Over at Delia's |
[Aug. 7th, 2006|01:19 pm] |
The cab driver gave Ivan a smile and nod as he was being tipped. "Thank you, sir. Have a good day, sir."
Ivan returned a weak smile. "Yeah thanks." He turned around as the cab drove off and headed up the steps towards Delia's apartment here in Vorbarr Sultana, blinking furiously to get the glow of the morning sun out of his eyes. What a terrible night.
Ivan had left ImpMil a few hours ago after seeing to Simon's needs and hoping for a waking peep out of his mother. No luck on the last one. He'd then informed Impsec about Simon's theories about their attack, and in return, got told that yes, Gregor and Laisa had been sent off somewhere safe and that yes it really was safe. Ivan had sighed and hoped for the best. When it became obvious that he was hindering more than helping at ImpMil and that people were too polite or daunted to tell Lord Vorpatril to just go home, Ivan had had the decency to excuse himself and trudge back to his apartment. After making sure that he would get the first word if anything else developed, of course.
Ivan had tried to call Miles at home, but couldn't get through. Damn busy signals anyway. Frustrated, he'd thrown himself on his bed and buried his head in the pillows.
A few hours later, Ivan was interrupted from bad sleep and worse dreams by the chime of his comconsole earlier that morning, which was why he was here in the first place. Delia had also been worried after his mother, and Ivan had decided that he needed company badly. So he'd dressed in a rush, grabbed a bag of muffins and hailed the first cab he saw on the street.
He'd forgotten to shave.
Well at least I pull off the handsome kind of rake haha. Ivan cleared his throat and rang the doorbell. |
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| Convo between Kou and Drou-Joint Post |
[Aug. 6th, 2006|11:42 pm] |
Kou walked to the door hearing a knock as he opend the door there was a delivery man with a milla evelope and has him sign for it. All their daughters where out of the house for a change he enjoy the silence and had day dreams of a time they could be alone again.
Drou was in the kitchen making lunch when she heard the knock and followed went to the door:: What was that dear?
He looks to her with a odd look on his face as he shut the door. "It is addressed to the both of us and it has the Vorkosigian seal on it." He showed her the envelope as they made their way to the living room. "you dont think this has to do with Mark do you?" His look to her showed that he was still not trusting of Mark. Mark had returned from Beta Colony a month ago and Kou had been on edge ever since. He placed his swordstick against the edge of the couch and sat down.
Drou looked worriedly at Kou. "I'm sure it's nothing bad."
Kou looked to his lovely wife she had aged so well where as he felt like a old man. "Then you open it." He smirked and hands it to her:
"Ok." She took the envelope with a rather odd expression on her face, took a deep breath and opened it. "Huh. It's an invitation." She looked toward him and grinned. "And you can't find out what it says."
"And why is that?" He looked at her.
"Because you have to tell me why you distrust Mark so much. I see the looks you get when anyone mentions him."
Kou exhaled. "He was trained to be a assassin my dear wife. You trust a man like that with our daughter?"
Drou thought for a moment. "Yes I do. Because he has not done anything against any of us. I see the way he looks at her. Hurting her would be the last thing he would do. Though anyone else who hurts her...I fear for. I trust him completely. Though he might not trust himself at times." She looked at him and sighed recognizing that he would not change his mind about Mark. "Cordelia sent us a gift." She handed him the packet with a strange smirk on her face.
Two round trip tickets to Beta Colony and to the Betan Orb were inside. He looked at it and blushed.
She laughed. "What a lovely color on you, dear."
He looked at Drou. "You think she is trying to buy are excepetents of her new son?"
"No i think she's telling us don't judge till we've experienced." She shrugged. "Could be interesting. And we can see Kareen while we are there."
"That's true." He smiled. "But who will look after the girls while we are gone you know they will kill each other with out us to ref."
"Well Delia is at school and she has Duv. The only one here is Kareen and well she has that Dr. Borgos fellow...not to sure about him though."
He looked at the card. "You know are anniversary is coming up."
"It is isn't it. Maybe Cordelia thought about that and is the reason she sent it...well now at least. I think the world will go on without us love." She looked at him seeing his skeptical face. "Come on, it'll be fun. We haven't done anything for ourselves in awhile..."
He looked to the ceiling and exhaled. "There will be alot of walking at the shuttle ports." He smirked trying to make her beg. "And you know I am not as young as I used to be."
"Now you are just making excuses." She took his hand. "Come on Kou. It'll be fun. In more ways then one..." She grinned at him.
He looked at her and grinned. "Maybe a sample of how much fun it will be? Before we pack out bags?"
"Ohhh...I don't know. You know your old age and all..."
Kou tackled her and they rolled off the couch. Landing with a thud on the floor.
Drou giggled. "Hey no fair you took me by surprise." She kissed him.
Kou kissed her back his love for her had not change a bit from that first night they had made love in Vorkosigan library so many years ago.
The fire burned as hot as ever in their hearts for each other.
She pulled reluctantly away. "Here? The windows are wide open." She got up, her shirt was unbuttoned as she went to close the window and spotted Mark walking up the drive to their door. "Oh damn." She hurriedly fastened her blouse. "Kou, Mark is here." She grumbled under her breath. "Don't know why he can't have better timing."
Kou stood up and tucked his shirt in. "Seems to be his lot in life it. Your turn to get the door." He sat on the couch. |
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| What to do with children when roasting isn't an option |
[Aug. 3rd, 2006|03:39 pm] |
Armsman Pim ushered Byerly into the library at Vorkosigan house to alert Lady Vorkosigan that was there.
By tried to imagine his Uncle Ges, a shadowy figure from his childhood, sitting in the library. He had been in the library countless times, but never really thought about what might have happened if Miles had been born his cousin. He might have grown up around Vorkosigan house. The whole world might have been different. Prince Serg might still be alive and be Emperor Serg. A small action to change the world. He wondered if he believed, as he'd been often told, that Aral Vorkosigan had killed his aunt. Not that it mattered much. He'd never met her. And it wasn't like the Vorrutyers didn't have plenty of other children. How did you miss one aunt in such a mass of family?
And what a family. His experience growing up a Vorrutyer convinced him more than anything that if Count Vorkosigan had killed his aunt, she probably deserved it. And now he'd be babysitting the Vorkosigan children and heirs. Richars would probably have plenty to say about that. He supposed he'd have to comconsole Richars with the news before he heard it from other sources and started to question By's loyalties. |
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| Lunch with the cuz |
[Jul. 27th, 2006|11:07 am] |
"Thanks Szabo." Byerly said as he was ushered into the library to await the pleasure of his liege lord and master. Byerly smiled at the thought.
He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment everytime he stepped into Vorrutyer house. Surveying the immaculate bookshelves and entirely dust-free environs he was again greatful he'd gotten involved, even if it had gotten him into a bit of trouble with his Imperial masters. He knew the staff worshipped Dono. They'd probably have all been out of work if Richars had taken over. Richars preferred sycophants to competance.
"Lucky for me, I'm both." he mused outloud as he trailed his fingers over some of the titles on the bookshelf looking for something to read while he waited for Dono. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 25th, 2006|03:55 am] |
"...I said, I think it's time and past time for the children to be in bed. You too, it appears." And me right behind her. This day cannot possibly hold any more surprises-- none that I could bear, at least. Stepping up on tiptoes to plant a quick kiss on her cheek, he took Aral's hand-- how did he het himself sticky again?-- and gently patted little Kareen's shoulder with the other.
"Time for bed, everyone. Would you help your brother, Kareen? He needs you." |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 18th, 2006|04:02 am] |
Returning from the house he came from was a surprise to the ImpSec driver, but the look on the little Lord Auditor's face when he announced their change of plans was more than enough to convince him. Miles' booted feet clattered on the marble floor as he entered Vorkosogian House. Pym snapped sharply to attention at the front door and lead Miles and the newly-arrived physician to where they could find Ekaterin and the children. Ekaterin, my poor love, if this day would only stop spinning a moment... |
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| Gregor and Laisa at Camp B |
[Jul. 17th, 2006|06:40 pm] |
continued from http://community.livejournal.com/vorkosiverse/9196.html
The lightflyer came up over a small rise, and there was the camp. A small clearing outside the little cabin provided just enough space to land the flyer safely. Everything around them was lush and green, and Gregor could hear the waterfall nearby. Gregor hopped out and helped Laisa, then took her hand and headed them towards the cabin. There was a slight breeze and a chill in the air; the mountains where the cabin was located never got warm, even at the height of summer. Hence the hot tub, but right now Gregor wanted Laisa back in touch with the children as quickly as possible.
I'll need to tell her the tale of how I spent time here before. She'd probably be amused. But not now.
The door was unlocked, of course, and they stepped into the front room, which had a fireplace at one end -- complete with fur rug -- and a small stove at the other end. "ImpSec sends someone up here every week to check up on the place and keep it clean." he said. He then led Laisa to the back room, which was furnished with a comfortable bed and a comconsole. Her eyes lit up when she saw it. "Go ahead, it's a secure line." Gregor let go of Laisa's hand and sat on the bed. She was still dragging with exhaustion and stress, he could tell, but hopefully a call to the children would cheer her up. |
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