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: (solpadeine30)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 11:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Miles follows gladly enough. He won't hide this portion of his backstory, but ... well, it is odd, isn't it?

"Because I was pulled here same as you," he says. That much is the absolute truth. "But I was halfway across Nexus when it did. I don't know how they managed it."
vorrutyer: (satisfied (but smug))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll have you know that many a Vorrutyer has had many a career in the military.

[ Byerly offers a dismissive little flap of his hand, trying to tamp down his vague feeling of unease. Distract, distract, distract... ]

Why, my dear uncle Ges was an Admiral, you know. Not that I ever met the man. He met with some horrible accident not long after I was born. I don't suppose you'd have heard of that, of course.
shri: (» now they whisper it)

[personal profile] shri 2017-01-02 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She keeps still, eyes closed, patient when she wants to be, or at least content. Her life had always been full of people, in one form or another. Whether that was the court her husband had kept, or the hub of a rebellion run out of a brothel house. She's content being surrounded, in her way. ]

You must be in high demand with many women.

[ Digging double meaning, given just how charming he was being. ] Now if you could just hold your finger here - [ she reaches up to the top of her crown, taps next to where she means. ] I'd be obliged.
dendarii: (bg045)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Bit of an exception, him. [ Miles has no idea really. More importantly, it's not enough of a distraction to nudge his attentions aside. ] As are you. Tell me, how long have you been working for our dear captain?
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (feels bad man)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-02 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think many of us know what to do with ourselves either..." she says, a little quieter. Zarya is suddenly embarrassed even further about her earlier outburst. They really are doing their best and she'd thrown it back in their faces... she makes a mental vow to make it up to them.

"How long have you been in the army?" she asks, deigning to change the subject.
vorrutyer: (shaaaahhhhts)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His smile stretches uncomfortably. There's a little shudder of panic in his guts. To hide it, he makes a show of looking around. ]

Which one would that one be, now?
shri: (» you were sharp as a knife to get me)

[personal profile] shri 2017-01-02 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She would like to pretend she does not know how such thoughts occur, but she knows how - someone who in time, could not look after themselves, was a burden on their family. To the poorest families, they could never do the back-breaking work required of them, and would become an extra mouth to feed with no money to support them. For this alone, they could never marry, to bring more profits into the family. It was easy to say, but she'd be lying to say she did not know it occurred, and just why it might be considered at all.

But for her own boy, so snatched from her after carrying him, lay in pain to bring him into the world, and in so many months: gone, she could not forgive such a thing.

She murmurs, low, quiet, perhaps she ought to apologise for asking something like that, for bringing up what must be painful, but she does not apologise for much. Rather comes to another thought with it.
] Were you then well loved, or well bred, that you avoided such a fate?

[ Hope said the former, reality said the latter. ]
dendarii: (frakkingcylon 138)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't play dumb, Byerly. [ A pause. ] Though I imagine you're good enough at it by now. Dear god.

[ Good enough to fool Miles anyway. He's kind of impressed. ]
vorrutyer: (world-weary (and smug))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Shit. By looks back and smiles a puzzled smile, shaking his head in clear confusion. ]

I really don't follow.
sibearian: (kill streak queen)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-02 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
She's been doing the same, though perhaps with a less medical eye.

"As far as I have been able to find out, everyone seems to mostly be together," she confirms with another nod. "Though this will not be the case for much longer in this weather."
vorrutyer: (hmmmmm not bad)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Goodness. Maybe she is Betan. He's been so long surrounded by Barrayaran ladies that her forwardness actually does take him aback a moment. Oh, he likes it, though. Honestly, this whole situation has been...disconcerting; getting to spend a bit of time caressing a beautiful woman's hair is a little soothing to him. ]

Of course.

[ He murmurs that into her ear, pitching his voice a little low. He straightens up a moment later, touching the indicated spot with a feather-light touch. ]

I suppose you normally have servants for this?
dendarii: (solpadeine112)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Both, in fact; Miles has been well-protected by his title in his own time, though it would have been all for naught if not for his parents' great love of him. His own grandfather had tried to murder him on multiple occasions after all. He's quiet a moment, still holding the chain carefully in place for her. Debating what he should tell her. As much of the truth as possible, surely... ]

The former. I'm no noble. [ Though for a commoner he's uncommonly well-spoken. ] My parents were both deeply stubborn people who kept me despite all odds. There were members of my own family who attempted to override their decision forcibly.

[ In other words, they'd tried to kill him. ]
vorrutyer: (hmmmmm not bad)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-02 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
A soldier is a soldier. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that - By has had his fair share of fun romps with serious soldierly types, though many of them have the most frustrating habit of looking shamefaced after (shame which is useful for ImpSec, less useful for his self-esteem) - but right here, right now, he doesn't want to talk to a soldier. He wants to talk to someone with a little bit of life to her. Someone who won't just speak in soldierly denials and reprimands - someone who won't stolidly keep discipline - someone who will actually have a chat with him.

"Ah," he sighs to the woman with the bowl of groats. And as she hands it to him, he positions his grip precisely so that his fingertips brush against hers. "Angelic." And then he smiles up into her face, meeting her eyes intensely.
dendarii: (solpadeine109)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-02 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No escaping it now, coz. Miles has a certain Auditorial glitter in his eyes. ]

Of course not. That would disrupt your entire image, wouldn't it.
vorrutyer: (intense (but smug))

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-03 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, By thinks to himself, you certainly did fuck this one up, Vorrutyer. ]

If your guess is correct -

[ A bit of the fey mockery has gone out of By's face as he looks at Miles. Left behind in its place is a small, ambiguous smile, and steady eyes. ]

That would make me the sole ImpSec officer here. Which would mean, logically, that you would be deferring to me. Tell me, do you really want that to be the case, or do you want to rescind your guess?
dendarii: (120)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-03 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Fuck. Either admit to being wrong or admit to being in Byerly's chain of command? Like hell. Miles stands a little straighter, his chin raised in defiance. ]

Neither. I'm right, and you know it. But as I am not in ImpSec myself, I owe you nothing. You cannot command me.
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (feels bad man)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-03 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Better. I am sorry if you saw me earlier. I am not usually this way." she says, trying to cover her bases. The genuine guilt is clear on her face.

"My name is Zarya," she offers after a moment. "And you?"
vorrutyer: (annoyed and/or stressed)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-03 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ By's lips ripple in annoyance. ]

You just tried to say I should let you handle it because of your ImpSec authority. Turnabout, Vorillyan.
Edited 2017-01-03 00:17 (UTC)
dendarii: (bg046)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-03 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ He did just argue that, didn't he. Dammit. Miles crosses his arms over his chest in irritation. ]

Illyan. And I would be much less argumentative if you weren't being an absolute idiot. We cannot tell the general where we came from.
sibearian: <user name=gay4zarya site=tumblr.com> (upset)

first one I Gotta

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-03 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
She'd been about to go into one of the nearby tents when she'd noticed Miles having some trouble with one of the guards. Zarya recognises his face from the hill and frowns for a moment, before deciding the only way she can figure out what is going on is to get involved. Nosey and inappropriate, sure, but she doesn't really care for that right now.

"Excuse me," she calls out sternly to the guard. "I know we are but guests here, but my friend has a query he would like help with. I am sure you can spare a simple question after saving our lives earlier, no?"

You better believe she is looming over that guard.
shri: (» we're at the start)

[personal profile] shri 2017-01-03 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's almost as bad as the Marquis, Lafayette didn't have enough hours in the day for how many women he sought to seduce, and she'd only ever indirectly met the man, it seemed a fair comparison.

But far be it for her to be crass at the best of times - it's good to keep people on their toes - see what he might do with it. She says no more, her face up but her eyes are lowered, demure except that she clearly isn't. She has no reason to suspect him of being up to too much other than drunkenness and lechery, given everything so far, it comes mostly from her own need to misdirect.

But, she supposes, at least inwardly noting how his breath is a warm thing on her skin where it is frozen otherwise. Just for herself, to think on later, just like he's nothing terrible to look at either, if the inclination was to look.
]

Once, yes.

[ With his hold in place, she begins to rake her hair, comb it in blunt strokes of her fingers into sections, drawing the front parts over her shoulders as she fishes for the next gold chain. Intricate piece of work that it is, why she needs the help is plain, she traces a line up from her ear, back to the top chain, and there she hooks it in place before she does it up at the piercing in her ear. Secures itself in place, before she begins on the other side. The long wide brace of gold that frames her face. ]

I have no business pining over them when I've found such a worthy replacement.

[ Purposefully deflecting. He doesn't need to know anything about her. Nor why she's just so comfortable eliciting a perfect stranger to do something so personal. ]
vorrutyer: (shaaaahhhhts)

[personal profile] vorrutyer 2017-01-03 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ By's lips tighten. He looks away, disgusted with himself, as he points out: ]

We have a duty to Barrayar. Including Barrayar's greatest hope against the Cetagandans. No less than if we'd been born in this era. [ Then, snidely - because even if the story was medical discharge, By heard the gossip - ] That's how you avoid getting fired from ImpSec, Illyan.

[ Which is, of course, a bit hypocritical. It's certainly not as if By hasn't had his fair share of getting demoted for taking too much initiative. ]
dendarii: (cocky lil bastard)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-03 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Bless this giant Russian woman. MIles looks up at her in undisguised relief as the guard stiffens, clearly intimidated by her. Miles is more than happy to take advantage of that fact.

"It's very important to the two of us, yes," he says with a very slight grin. "I'll only take a moment."

The guard stammers something, still eying Zarya with some alarm. But he seems more receptive now.
dendarii: (bg045)

[personal profile] dendarii 2017-01-03 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Super hypocritical. Even without knowing that ... well, Miles would expect no less from a Vorrutyer. Still stings, though. ]

We do have a duty to Barrayar. To preserve our history as best we can, and not meddle in ways that might have disastrous consequences. God only knows what us interfering will cause.

[ Miles has a selfish bit of self-interest here too. In that he's quite certain he'll never actually be born unless Aral is forced into a military career of some kind. ]
sibearian: (sparkle sparkle)

[personal profile] sibearian 2017-01-03 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
When Zarya catches Miles' eye and when the guard is looking at him - in between going back and forth between them, like if he does it enough they'll leave - she gives him a quick wink.

"We are very grateful for your hospitality, sir. I'll be sure to report to your superior how kind you have been, specifically."