barrayarmods: (Default)
For Barrayar mods ([personal profile] barrayarmods) wrote in [community profile] forbarrayar2016-12-19 09:43 pm

[ january i log: barrayar ]

Who: Everyone
What: Arrival on Barrayar and what follows
When: January 2nd - January 17th
Where: Barrayaran guerrilla camp
Warnings: None (at the moment)


welcome to barrayar.
It's the dark of night when you come to in the foothills. Snow on the ground, chill winter wind whistling. A steep mountain range towers just ahead, its peaks illuminated by the light of two moons. Whatever you last remember, it isn't how you got here, and you feel oddly jetlagged, slightly queasy.

And you're not alone. There are nine other people close by, all looking equally lost and confused. But before any of you have a chance to figure out what's going on, the soldiers arrive.

They're dressed in weather-worn green uniforms, bearing swords and bows, and they surround you immediately, poised to attack. But they quickly realize you're not their enemy, the ones they call Cetagandans. They're just as confused as you are, but rather than hanging around to puzzle it out, they start shepherding you toward their camp in the mountains while it's still dark. There's a war on, they say, and you unlucky bastards have just been dropped right smack in the middle of it.

the guerrilla camp
It's a few hours' hike through the mountains to get to their hidden camp, set up in a clearing framed by dense, hard forestry and backed against a rock face. Daylight is finally dawning when you make it there. You and your fellow sudden arrivals are ushered to an empty tent on the far end of the camp, just big enough to fit all ten of you. You can't help but notice they've posted guards all around it. You aren't under arrest – they just don't know what else to do with you.

You are able to glean, from hearsay and what the soldiers are willing to share with you, that you are on a planet called Barrayar, and this is their home, and ten years ago they were attacked without warning by the Cetagandan Empire. They've been holed up in the mountains fighting against their invaders ever since, outgunned and outmanned, but scoring little victories where they can. They don't tell you much more than that. Some dialect of Russian seems to be one of the predominant languages of the camp, but for the most part they all speak English too, if with an accent. They're gruff and wary, and if you look a little less – or more – than human, they'll eye you with suspicion, maybe even make obscure hex signs at you that seem intended to ward off evil or disease. But they aren't hostile to you, not unless you start something with them.

the outsiders' tent
It's not in the greatest shape, but if you look around the camp, the rest aren't much better off. It's cramped, but you've at least been provided with bedrolls and heavy wool blankets to ward off the frozen chill, and if you're in need of clothing, they'll provide it, although it probably hasn't been washed in…a while. The soldiers bring you food at mealtimes -- not very good food, mostly tough meat and groats, and they keep you your own campfire, just to keep you warm. They've also hastily dug you your own latrine area at the edge of the perimeter, just behind the treeline. No private bathroom stalls in this outfit, unfortunately. The entire camp seems tense and wary, and the soldiers are alert, but they don't talk much. You could try sneaking past them, but you probably won't get far.

Well, at least you've got each other for company: the outsiders on Barrayar.
dendarii: (solpadeine130)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He really should. For all that he hates the thought of Byerly Fucking Vorrutyer spotting him through his seizures, he's also the only person here that Miles has known for longer than ten minutes. And Vorrutyers do have their own curious sort of loyalty, if it works in their own interests...

He's silent a long moment, not responding yet. ]
littlemissfutility: (58)

[personal profile] littlemissfutility 2017-01-05 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"What's a zombie?"
vorrutyer: (smug and punchable)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ And Byerly watches him for several seconds. Then, getting bored - and to goad him - he starts whistling a jaunty Imperial march. ]
truevor: (pic#10326015)

[personal profile] truevor 2017-01-05 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"That is one option," Olivia concedes, although her gaze turns sharper and more piercing when he volunteers himself. "But I am not the one with the final authority to make that call." That belongs to Piotr, but if this man is serious about his desire, the obvious might only be an impediment and not something to disqualify him.

Still -- "Those two things will perhaps be more useful than you think." It is all that they have left, after all. That and the soul-consuming desire to win. "If you are serious in your offer, I can perhaps assist you in making your attentions clear to the right individual. Although I cannot promise how quick an answer will come, if it comes at all."

He will have to earn their trust, Piotr's trust. And who's to say if that will happen at all? But better to give him the option if he's willing than to lose something -- someone -- who wants to try, who can help.
Edited 2017-01-05 19:59 (UTC)
dendarii: (frakkingcylon 223)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
God, Byerly. Just shut up. I can't think straight.
vorrutyer: (shaaaahhhhts)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ And here you claimed that you weren't able to think any way but straight.

By, with a flourish of his hands, acquiesces. ]
dendarii: (eidetics 163)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Piotr. It all ultimately comes down to him, doesn't it. And if Miles fails with him - if his story doesn't fly with him - then Miles is almost certainly dead. Outcast at best. Executed perhaps. He has no illusions about the old man's fondness for people like Miles, especially in a time period like this. He must impress the old man if he hopes to keep any permanent position here.

"Who are you then," he asks after a moment, "to have General Vorkosigan's ear?" He has a guess, but he's still not 100% sure. Vor lady, who might assist him with talking to Piotr ... Surely there's only one candidate.
dendarii: (TW_S1_E3_0348)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He hates everything right now. Hates the camp, hates this damn time traveling, and especially hates Byerly.

But really, he has no choice. ]


This has to remain a secret, Vorrutyer.
vorrutyer: (handsome)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Another, more elaborate flourish of his hands promises secrecy. ]
dendarii: (frakkingcylon 005)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Fuck it. He's doing this then. ]

Seizures.
vorrutyer: (confused)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A beat. ]

What - that's it?
dendarii: (cunning plan)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Isn't that enough? One bad mission without telling Simon about the issue and I was done.
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 5)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
You could have gotten a desk job.

[ Hold on - ]

Without telling him about it, you said.
dendarii: (solpadeine107)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A desk job. Could he have continued like that? God, the thought makes him shiver a bit. ]

Without telling him. Falsified a report. Now do you get it, Vorrutyer?
vorrutyer: (is this dude handsome)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He shoots Miles a look that's honestly disapproving, honestly a little horrified. ]

That's bad, Vorkosigan.
dendarii: (solpadeine115)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Disapproval from Byerly Vorrutyer. What is the world coming to. ]

You think I don't know that? I was stupid and desperate and I didn't want a desk job.

[ And now I have nothing, he thinks wearily. ]
vorrutyer: (Backpfeifengesicht 3)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose. Right. Don't scold him. No point to it, and it'd just annoy them both. ]

How bad was the mission?
Edited 2017-01-05 20:22 (UTC)
dendarii: (frakkingcylon 223)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Rather like trying a wrestle a pig, that. Miles huffs out a breath. ]

We rescued a courier. Went well until I cut off his legs with a plasma arc.
vorrutyer: (confused)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ By doesn't say anything this time; his face just gets more horrified. ]
dendarii: (eidetics 52)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
There you have it. As I'm sure you expected, Vorkosigans don't do things by halves. Especially failure.

[ He deflates afterwards, misery taking the place of hostility. ]
vorrutyer: (explaining everything (badly))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He opens his mouth, then closes it again. Rubs at his eyes. After a moment - ]

How bad are these seizures?
dendarii: (solpadeine118)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He'll give Byerly credit: the man is already jumping to the next conclusion without Miles even bringing it up. The really dangerous part of all this ... ]

Bad. I get a few minutes' warning at best. And then they last for several minutes.

[ Unspoken is the fact that if he has one of those in front of the Barrayarans - if he has one in front of his grandfather - he's almost certainly dead. If he doesn't just have one in the middle of a firefight. ]
Edited 2017-01-05 20:34 (UTC)
vorrutyer: (hung over 1)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
And how frequent are they?
dendarii: (exercise)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-05 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Every few weeks, as far as I can tell. Stress might trigger them as well.

[ Like, say, time traveling to a warzone. ]
vorrutyer: (explaining everything (badly))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-05 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Sarcastically: ]

Well, we ought to make sure you avoid stress, then.

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