For Barrayar mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
barrayarmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
forbarrayar2017-05-20 08:57 am
barrayarmods) wrote in forbarrayar2017-05-20 08:57 am
Entry tags:
[ may ii: eavesdropping ]
Who: Piotr & Ezar
What: Piotr needs to have a chat with Ezar about a certain murder mystery.
When: the evening of 5/18
Where: the creek at the Barrayaran camp
Warnings: N/A
Did Negri eavesdrop?: absofuckinglutely
Piotr finds Ezar down by the creek along the south perimeter of camp, well after dark, and -- as far as he can tell -- alone. Piotr doesn't bother hunting for Negri; the child seems to be remarkably good at hiding in plain sight, and in the dark like this, hell, he could be suspended up in a tree for all Piotr knows. He isn't here to play a game of hide-and-seek, and even if Negri isn't listening, Piotr's certain he'll hear this conversation one way or another. Just as well, considering what it is he wants to talk to Ezar about.
"Captain Vorbarra," Piotr says with just the slightest drawl, hands in his greatcoat pockets. "Colonel Vorvolk and I were presented with a body recently. It seems that Captain Vorkalloner met an untimely fate. Too much drinking and a steep fall, or so it was reported to me. Or did you hear it from the Colonel himself already?"
Ezar has no problem with lying. The truth is a valuable tool, and should be used as such -- it’s not worth wasting on problems that can be solved through other means. But he is still Barrayaran, and Vorbarra besides. So it’s out of honor and respect that he doesn’t attempt to lie to his commanding officer.
“A man who will hardly be missed by many,” he says, matching Piotr’s drawl with one of his own. But his eyes are sharp as he watches the other man. “But the Colonel has not shared that piece of information with me, no.”
Not attempting to lie doesn’t mean falling on his knees and confessing what they both know to be true, however.
"That's surprising. Considering how often the two of you conference, I thought he'd have mentioned it." Piotr's voice is neutral, not accusatory at all, because he doesn't actually question Ezar's loyalty, even if Vorvolk's is beginning to prove shaky right now. He's sure that Ezar's making sure to be seen with Vorvolk, too. "He was understandably upset. It was, of course, a mere accident, but the timing…"
Yeah, accident his ass. The look he gives Ezar is silent and pointed. Executing dissidents isn't necessarily on Piotr's blacklist, but there was too much evidence left behind, from what he heard from Lakshmi and Sisko. "It was two outsiders who discovered his body. If one of them hadn't been Lakshmi, I don't know that I could have protected them from any untoward accusations."
There’s no use in pretending that Piotr doesn’t know exactly what Ezar did, or how. So he shrugs one shoulder, meeting the other man’s gaze. “Understood, sir. Was there anything else--?”
"Lakshmi and Sisko were wise enough to fully debrief only me in private. Vorvolk is already suspicious enough as it is. They said they found some very small footprints in snow." Piotr's look grows more pointed. "If you're going to play politics, Ezar, then do it neatly -- and for God's sake, don't send a child to do your wetwork."
“Politics, Piotr?” Ezar places a hand over his heart, giving the other man a slight nod. “I thought it was merely housekeeping. But I’ll see to Negri.” And tell him to be more careful next time, although all Ezar said was to neutralize the threat -- how he did it was up to the kid himself. Interesting that he jumped so quickly to that.
Who: Diya & Ba Talim
What: Ba Talim betrays its lady's confidence.
When: the evening of 5/18
Where: Diya's personal tea room
Warnings: more sad gay i guess
The culling had hurt, being separated from Sei and Shiki had hurt, and the pain had hardly dulled over time. But ever since Sei arrived on base, it has only sharpened. Finding out Sei's role in her own culling – a betrayal of the heart of the highest order, as far as Diya is concerned, and yet Sei seems hardly remorseful. She seems to feel justified.
In some ways, her marriage to this ghem lord in particular had been a mixed blessing instead of just a curse. Here, even as far away from Eta Ceta as she is, she's lived under no one's shadow but her husband's, and she's made sure to shine too brightly to go ignored. Her appointment as the head of the Star Crèche's research on the Ninth Satrapy was her sole solace. And now, ever since Sei's arrival, Diya has felt the gradual eclipse. This is no longer her work, her place, her home; it has all been appropriated by Sei. She's barely even bothering with the pretense that this is Diya's project; after all, Tarn had gone behind Diya's back and directly to Sei to appeal her decision on his gene therapy, and Sei had overridden her. God. It's humiliating.
She hasn't been as present or as visible lately, feeling fatigued and yet still anxious, because there are still skeletons in her closet that Sei doesn't know about, more or less literally speaking – the remains of her and Amai's ill-fated projects are still in cold storage, pending a good opportunity to dispose of them without risking Sei's notice. For the first time since her culling, she feels real despair, but she doesn't dare show it, not to Sei, for the inevitable wilting flower comment.
The power is out, but Diya's personal tea room is soft-lit by fragrant candles placed around the perimeter of the room, casting an ethereal glow that somehow makes her feel full again. Real again. Real haut, as she was always intended to be. She misses the protection of her force bubble.
She only hears the soft footstep at her door because she was meant to. She looks up and sees Ba Talim, standing petite in the doorway, hands tucked in its wide sleeves. The candlelight illuminates the embroidered satin of its robes and casts a soft sheen over its smooth face, quiet and somber. It's too late to cover the tears with any grace now. Diya merely sniffs delicately and dabs at the corners of her eyes with her sleeves.
"What is it, Ba Talim? A message from Haut Sei?" She doesn't mean to sound short, but her words come out curt in her attempt to sound composed. She bites the inside of her cheek, willing her face to turn to stone, but fails utterly before Ba Talim. It merely gives her a melancholy smile.
"I merely wished to visit my lady's garden again."
Its voice is soft in the room, absorbed by the gentle dark beyond the candlelight. Diya feels a tremor in her heart when the ba calls her my lady. Not Sei. Her. She blinks rapidly, refusing to sniff. Ba Talim smiles at her as if in benediction and holds one sleeved hand out. It's an old, old gesture – God, when did five years feel like such a lifetime? – one of trust and loyal affection, and Diya responds in kind, placing her palm over the ba's smaller one. It clasps her hand tightly, not the gentle touch Diya was expecting, and she feels something hard pressed to her palm. The ba turns its hand and withdraws it, tucking it back in its sleeve, and gives her that melancholy smile again.
"It is just as beautiful as when I last saw it."
Diya feels something strange stir in her chest, and she looks down at the data disk in her hand. Just what is it entrusting her with? "Ba Talim..."
"I must keep my lady's confidence," Ba Talim whispers, and bows before it sweeps out of the room. She stares after it for a time before she looks back down at the data disk, turning it in the candlelight. Unlabeled. Utterly nondescript. Diya glances at her personal comconsole, dead for lack of power, and rises to her feet. The gene lab comconsoles – those have power.
What: Piotr needs to have a chat with Ezar about a certain murder mystery.
When: the evening of 5/18
Where: the creek at the Barrayaran camp
Warnings: N/A
Did Negri eavesdrop?: absofuckinglutely
Piotr finds Ezar down by the creek along the south perimeter of camp, well after dark, and -- as far as he can tell -- alone. Piotr doesn't bother hunting for Negri; the child seems to be remarkably good at hiding in plain sight, and in the dark like this, hell, he could be suspended up in a tree for all Piotr knows. He isn't here to play a game of hide-and-seek, and even if Negri isn't listening, Piotr's certain he'll hear this conversation one way or another. Just as well, considering what it is he wants to talk to Ezar about.
"Captain Vorbarra," Piotr says with just the slightest drawl, hands in his greatcoat pockets. "Colonel Vorvolk and I were presented with a body recently. It seems that Captain Vorkalloner met an untimely fate. Too much drinking and a steep fall, or so it was reported to me. Or did you hear it from the Colonel himself already?"
Ezar has no problem with lying. The truth is a valuable tool, and should be used as such -- it’s not worth wasting on problems that can be solved through other means. But he is still Barrayaran, and Vorbarra besides. So it’s out of honor and respect that he doesn’t attempt to lie to his commanding officer.
“A man who will hardly be missed by many,” he says, matching Piotr’s drawl with one of his own. But his eyes are sharp as he watches the other man. “But the Colonel has not shared that piece of information with me, no.”
Not attempting to lie doesn’t mean falling on his knees and confessing what they both know to be true, however.
"That's surprising. Considering how often the two of you conference, I thought he'd have mentioned it." Piotr's voice is neutral, not accusatory at all, because he doesn't actually question Ezar's loyalty, even if Vorvolk's is beginning to prove shaky right now. He's sure that Ezar's making sure to be seen with Vorvolk, too. "He was understandably upset. It was, of course, a mere accident, but the timing…"
Yeah, accident his ass. The look he gives Ezar is silent and pointed. Executing dissidents isn't necessarily on Piotr's blacklist, but there was too much evidence left behind, from what he heard from Lakshmi and Sisko. "It was two outsiders who discovered his body. If one of them hadn't been Lakshmi, I don't know that I could have protected them from any untoward accusations."
There’s no use in pretending that Piotr doesn’t know exactly what Ezar did, or how. So he shrugs one shoulder, meeting the other man’s gaze. “Understood, sir. Was there anything else--?”
"Lakshmi and Sisko were wise enough to fully debrief only me in private. Vorvolk is already suspicious enough as it is. They said they found some very small footprints in snow." Piotr's look grows more pointed. "If you're going to play politics, Ezar, then do it neatly -- and for God's sake, don't send a child to do your wetwork."
“Politics, Piotr?” Ezar places a hand over his heart, giving the other man a slight nod. “I thought it was merely housekeeping. But I’ll see to Negri.” And tell him to be more careful next time, although all Ezar said was to neutralize the threat -- how he did it was up to the kid himself. Interesting that he jumped so quickly to that.
Who: Diya & Ba Talim
What: Ba Talim betrays its lady's confidence.
When: the evening of 5/18
Where: Diya's personal tea room
Warnings: more sad gay i guess
The culling had hurt, being separated from Sei and Shiki had hurt, and the pain had hardly dulled over time. But ever since Sei arrived on base, it has only sharpened. Finding out Sei's role in her own culling – a betrayal of the heart of the highest order, as far as Diya is concerned, and yet Sei seems hardly remorseful. She seems to feel justified.
In some ways, her marriage to this ghem lord in particular had been a mixed blessing instead of just a curse. Here, even as far away from Eta Ceta as she is, she's lived under no one's shadow but her husband's, and she's made sure to shine too brightly to go ignored. Her appointment as the head of the Star Crèche's research on the Ninth Satrapy was her sole solace. And now, ever since Sei's arrival, Diya has felt the gradual eclipse. This is no longer her work, her place, her home; it has all been appropriated by Sei. She's barely even bothering with the pretense that this is Diya's project; after all, Tarn had gone behind Diya's back and directly to Sei to appeal her decision on his gene therapy, and Sei had overridden her. God. It's humiliating.
She hasn't been as present or as visible lately, feeling fatigued and yet still anxious, because there are still skeletons in her closet that Sei doesn't know about, more or less literally speaking – the remains of her and Amai's ill-fated projects are still in cold storage, pending a good opportunity to dispose of them without risking Sei's notice. For the first time since her culling, she feels real despair, but she doesn't dare show it, not to Sei, for the inevitable wilting flower comment.
The power is out, but Diya's personal tea room is soft-lit by fragrant candles placed around the perimeter of the room, casting an ethereal glow that somehow makes her feel full again. Real again. Real haut, as she was always intended to be. She misses the protection of her force bubble.
She only hears the soft footstep at her door because she was meant to. She looks up and sees Ba Talim, standing petite in the doorway, hands tucked in its wide sleeves. The candlelight illuminates the embroidered satin of its robes and casts a soft sheen over its smooth face, quiet and somber. It's too late to cover the tears with any grace now. Diya merely sniffs delicately and dabs at the corners of her eyes with her sleeves.
"What is it, Ba Talim? A message from Haut Sei?" She doesn't mean to sound short, but her words come out curt in her attempt to sound composed. She bites the inside of her cheek, willing her face to turn to stone, but fails utterly before Ba Talim. It merely gives her a melancholy smile.
"I merely wished to visit my lady's garden again."
Its voice is soft in the room, absorbed by the gentle dark beyond the candlelight. Diya feels a tremor in her heart when the ba calls her my lady. Not Sei. Her. She blinks rapidly, refusing to sniff. Ba Talim smiles at her as if in benediction and holds one sleeved hand out. It's an old, old gesture – God, when did five years feel like such a lifetime? – one of trust and loyal affection, and Diya responds in kind, placing her palm over the ba's smaller one. It clasps her hand tightly, not the gentle touch Diya was expecting, and she feels something hard pressed to her palm. The ba turns its hand and withdraws it, tucking it back in its sleeve, and gives her that melancholy smile again.
"It is just as beautiful as when I last saw it."
Diya feels something strange stir in her chest, and she looks down at the data disk in her hand. Just what is it entrusting her with? "Ba Talim..."
"I must keep my lady's confidence," Ba Talim whispers, and bows before it sweeps out of the room. She stares after it for a time before she looks back down at the data disk, turning it in the candlelight. Unlabeled. Utterly nondescript. Diya glances at her personal comconsole, dead for lack of power, and rises to her feet. The gene lab comconsoles – those have power.