People are people, no matter the universe. They're a little too busy being knee-deep in their own biases to realize they're acting like gigantic assholes, and unfortunately there's no one higher up to make them pay for it.

[ This is Barrayar. This is the way things are. Land of garbage and shit, like Byerly said, understandable cultural biases like Miles had said, where there's no place for people like me, like Sonia had said. Wash has never been the kind of person to want to keep his head down, prefers to stand on principle, but god, there's so much riding on this. More than just his own petty pride. ]

I'm one more smartass comment about women and muties from grabbing someone by the throat and breaking his arm. [ So very calmly, and he gestures him over -- they're at the armory tent, now. ] So come on. I do need help with something.