Canon is the Vorkosigan Saga

[vor]

[We come in on the middle of a conversation between an irritated Emperor and his mun.]

You wouldn't want Miles in an enclosed space of any size either. [A pause as he listens to the argument that Luceti is deceptively large.] In case you failed to notice [although he can't imagine how this is possible], a planet has failed to contain Miles. It is making it increasingly difficult to quell rumors of treason, or at least track down where they're all coming from.  Fortunately, that's not my job.

Ivan, on the other hand, would enjoy the excuse not to work. [A thoughtful pause.] And the free bar.

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[shardsofhonor]

Long day, kiddo?

[vor]

[Oh not-mom, you make everything...well, better, not necessarily okay. The line of his shoulders eases as he lets out a sigh.]

Long month. This place is... [He makes a vague gesture before deciding words aren't going to cut it.] I wish you were here.

[OOC: Canon point is chapter 8 of The Vor Game and also /SCREAM CORDELIA.]

[shardsofhonor]

[If she were more "hands-on", she might have offered a hug, or at the least, a shoulder rub. As it was, she simply gave an understanding nod.]

One of those, then. I see.

[ooc: Cordelia's c.p. is probably somewhere around there, too. Forgive, I haven't played her in forever, sob.]

[vor]

...I have wings.

[The bruised dignity is secondary to the sheer capacity Gregor has discovered for being a nervous wreck over whether or not this is, despite what many have attested to, Cetagandan work.]

[OOC: That is more than okay. I am ecstatic any time I find canonmates, so.]

[shardsofhonor]

[Both of her eyebrows went up at that little statement.]

--come again?


[ooc: Tell me about it. Why more people don't know about this series...boggles me.]

[vor]

[A sigh.]

Everyone has them. I hear they're necessary for survival on this world. I thought a Betan Survey Captain could work that out, if anyone.

[OOC: And it's harder to get people into a series of books, as opposed to, say, a TV show.]

[shardsofhonor]

Now, now. Let's not be snide, dear. Admittedly the thought of a Barrayaran with body modification threw me a bit. Especially you, Gregor.

[The planet would quite probably go up in flames.]


[ooc: ALAS.]

[vor]

[He does not want to tell the mother of Miles Vorkosigan how much it creeps him out to have something so blatantly abnormal attached to his body.]

I meant you'd like to study them. Maybe it's something akin to photosynthesis?

[He starts to trail off, since he recognizes when he's out of his depth in the face of an expert.]

[shardsofhonor]

[No matter what title she acquired along life's journey, the Betan born scientist had always kept her innate curiosity. And Lord knew, if Gregor Vorbarra had somehow manifested an unnatural appendage somewhere, well.]

Well, I'll certainly take a look. [She stood up, unruffled.] Strip.

[vor]

What? Oh. [He quickly removes his jacket and turns around, hiding embarrassment. The wings are small, certainly not large enough to fly with, and appropriately black with narrow silver striping on the insides, as if someone painted him an extension of Vorbarra house livery.]

We have a Dr. Brennan taking scans to see how they're attached, but otherwise, most people seem to take them for granted.

[shardsofhonor]

[Cordelia examined the appendages methodically, truly fascinated. But she was careful not to poke or prod, there was no telling what sort of "oddness" went hand-in-hand with...this.]

...huh. Interesting. [Her lips quirked.] And in the Vorbarra colors, no less. Whoever thought this up has a sense of, well, irony, I would say.

/edits for ever

[vor]

[He wants to put the jacket back on. Badly. But he lets her continue her examination.] As far as I've heard, they won't come with me when I go home. [Saves the civil war.] I don't know how wing colors are chosen. The only information I can dredge out of anyone about what brings us here is that no one really knows. But after we turn up, the Malnosso round us up and use us to work out how to leave. Very Jacksonian.

[shardsofhonor]

"The Malnosso"? Something native to this new world, I take it?

[Finally she waved him back, finished with her curiosity for the moment.]

[vor]

[He slips the jacket back on carefully.] Scientists, actually, and not native, no. Apparently this world doesn't have many natives. Whether we're there by accident or design... [He sighs, an irritated flip of his fingers dismissing the speculative talk as pointless, speculation being something he exhausts himself with anyway since his arrival in Luceti.] Has Simon had a stroke yet?

[shardsofhonor]

Hm. Interesting.

Simon? Well, can't say for sure, kiddo. I haven't seen him, nor Aral, nor even Miles - which is cause for concern in itself - for quite some time now. I can only hope the poor man hasn't keeled over in a heart attack.

[vor]

You haven't seen the Count?

[This is odd, but she just might be back on Beta visiting her mother...]

[shardsofhonor]

Astounding, isn't it? No telling what sort of mischief those males have kicked up. Hopefully Alys is close by, keeping an eye on things.

[vor]

[Oh, his mun wants him to name his new horse Lady Alys, which would send Ivan into conniptions if he ever learned.]

Where've you been?

[shardsofhonor]

[Probably, but would be worth it.]

Stuck up here in this gal's brain, playing Mama Captain to a different set of "little boys".

Thrilling, I can assure you.

[vor]

[A soft exhalation that merits the title of "laugh" only because it comes from Gregor.]

Is collecting lost souls a hobby of yours?

[He knows better. He can attest it's all but her profession.]

[shardsofhonor]

Seems to be, doesn't it?

[But she didn't mind.]

Or maybe I'm like a gravity well, all those wandering planetoids just get pulled right on in.

[vor]

[Ah, the familiar scientist humor. He's missed you so much, not-mom.]

Maybe sanity attracts insanity. Sort of like a vacuum.

[shardsofhonor]

[She missed you too, slightly-backward-adopted-child. Evident in her smile.]

Lucky me, eh?

[vor]

Lucky us.

[How much closer can he really get to saying "I love you?" She's not his real mother, and he's not her real son. Maybe it would have been easier to fall into that role if he didn't remember Kareen.]