LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. TO DEFEAT THE CETAS.

[shri]

Who: Lakshmi ( shri ) & Vorinnis
What: Lakshmi signed up to the Imperial Rangers, and some poor sod has to train her.
When: Around the 3/April
Where: Training grounds
Warnings: Someone should probably warn Vorinnis?
Did Negri eavesdrop?: Probably.

[ Here she was 57, Queen from the age of 13, led a rebellion at 20, fought Lycans, Vampires and Empires from one corner of the world to another. Burned down buildings and made them fear her so much, that they made her name a crime.

Reporting for her first day of duty as a private in someone else's army. She shouldn't laugh, it didn't help matters, and it didn't endear her to anyone when it clear she was biting her tongue in regards to most of it. Didn't want to make anyone else around her more uncomfortable than they clearly were. Because more than anything, it was a start, and it was the same start everyone else ever asked for, and it would be enough for her. Far be it for her to put on airs and graces when she arrived, let alone now. So she puts her nose down, she rolls her shoulders back and just takes her place. In that regard, it's relaxing, she falls in line, takes her cues and when she's called for, she steps up. It doesn't require very much from her apart from not challenging anyone particularly.

God knew if she could survive doing that for very long, but all the same. ]

'Bai', is how it is said, [ an easy correction, and it's not her last name, not strictly, nor was that something she truly had for a long time, and this one seemed easier than trying to force them to say 'Newalker' ] and reporting for duty, sir.

[ She really doesn't know who looks worse for this whole endeavour, her or him. But all the same, she stands to attention like any other soldier. Respect for her commander first and foremost. ]

Comments

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

[for_honor]

[ alexei vorinnis is a loyal officer. he wasn't always one of piotr's -- it was emperor dorca who had assigned him here, and if there's anyone vorinnis is loyal to in the end, like any barrayaran, it's the emperor. and if the emperor saw fit to make piotr vorkosigan a general at age twenty-two, then there must be a hell of a lot to him. and in the years since his assignment here, vorinnis has seen plenty to back it up.

so when the general had, in all great seriousness, asked him to take lakshmi bai on as his new private, vorinnis took it seriously. the general, after all, is not famous for his sense of humor. and the woman has been serving as the countess's private guard for some time, and as he understands it, she is no woman to trifle with. but...to put her in the army? in the imperial rangers? it isn't just unprecedented, it goes strongly against a number of barrayaran sensibilities. vorinnis doesn't consider himself a staunch conservative, but he isn't quite so progressive as piotr, either, and this is radical even for the general. still, they're the general's orders, and he isn't about to go disobeying them. ]

Private Bai, then. [ he gives her a short nod, looking her over with interest and curiosity -- not so crudely as some other soldiers, might. she may not have his respect as a soldier at this moment, but she does have his respect as a trusted ally of piotr vorkosigan's. he gives her a short salute and then relaxes into a parade rest. ] At ease, Private. I understand you've experience with sword combat?

TOUCHES YOUR FACE

[shri]

[ She shifts her shoulders to something more relaxed, her arms coming to settle by her side. Her eyes stay on his face as he looks, because he isn't being crude, small mercies, she'd hate to have to break his nose on the first day. Her salute is short in return, the gesture a little unsure but - well, one thing at a time. ]

Sword, spear, dagger, staff, mounted and on foot.

[for_honor]

Ah. [ vorinnis looks surprised, eyebrows raised. he does nothing to mask his surprise, and he looks just slightly skeptical, but he doesn't question her. ] I understand you've been acting as the Countess's personal guard, after a fashion. This enlistment...was your idea?

[shri]

[ She nods, head bowing with the motion in the same stiff formality to his question. ]

When you spend your life fighting, stopping is... difficult. As this is where everyone starts, why not myself?

[for_honor]

[ vorinnis looks a little nonplussed at that, but nods provisionally. ]

So you've spent some time at war, then.

[ well, that does help. ]

[shri]

[ That she smiles for, a little edged. ]

Yes, some time. Give or take ten years in combat.

[ Not so hard with her age as she looks now. Somewhere between mid-twenties and forty. ]

[for_honor]

[ and there is the inevitable look of surprise. well, sure, he didn't think the general would send in a woman who didn't know one end of a sword from another, but that's...not insignificant. ]

Oh. [ he looks contemplative. ] Continuous?

[shri]

[ She lifts her hand, waving it as if to say - sometimes. ]

Sometimes. A year will blow hot, the next will blow cold. I had as many as six one year, then none the next.

[for_honor]

Six. [ and there's some more surprise -- but it doesn't come without an impressed look. he's trying to keep an open mind about this, and the woman holds herself well, but he's so fundamentally barrarayan that he's honestly having a hard time wrapping his head around it. but piotr ordered it, and he's...trying. so, a bit awkwardly: ] I'm sure you know by now that General Vorkosigan is considered somewhat of a progressive around here -- prole officers, you know.

[shri]

[ 1857 was a busy, busy year. ]

Oh yes, proles, women, mutants, foreigners. Altogether too liberal. Just letting anyone in, is he not?

[ She's altogether too toothy with that remark. ]

[for_honor]

[ vorinnis looks a little flustered at that. ]

No, that's -- that isn't what I was saying.

[shri]

[ Bless him, she grins wider. ]

No, but it is what the rest of the men are muttering, I am sure. Let's be honest between ourselves, shall we? You will not find me that kind of Queen. I am no Vor. I simply wish to serve as well as all the others.

[for_honor]

I don't think anyone around here is accusing you of being Vor, milady.

[ vorinnis's eyebrow does cock slightly at that, but he coughs and shakes his head, still trying to regain his footing. ]

I don't doubt that you do. But you do understand that this is unavoidably political, don't you? A Queen, in whatever capacity, doesn't strike me as a stranger to politics.

[shri]

Thank God for that, I would have strangled someone if I was.

[ But to his other question, she nods with a long drawn out sigh. She would like to be oblivious but was neither a fool nor cruel. ]

I am more than aware, unfortunately. I am not just another soldier, I am a woman setting a precedent that will have consequences long after I am gone from here.