Snowflake Challenge, Day Twelve

[sunlit_stone]

In your own space, create a fanwork. Make a podfic, an icon, a sketch, a meta, or a rec list. Arts and crafts. Cross stitch. Draft an essay about a particular medium. Put together a picspam or a fanmix. Write a review of book you love, a ship manifesto, a you-should-be-listening-to-this-band essay.

I thought about doing meta! I'm good at meta, I like meta. But the main meta post I have in mind right now is Kylo Ren redemption meta, and 1) I wanted to do something totally new for this challenge and 2) that is way too much work for me at this time of night and I am tired. So....



The chime from the comconsole woke Vorlaurence from his daze, and he quickly set his papers aside to answer it. It was Galeni; or at any rate, the thought occurred to him, someone using his console.

But no, it was Galeni, after all, and Vorlaurence found himself almost weak with relief. Galeni looked exhausted, accompanied by a peculiar sort of irritation that even Vorlaurence rarely saw and a deeply exultant triumph; he had not, after all, been convicted of treason.

"Duv," he said. "I am so glad--I knew you had not, I never doubted--" he stopped, trying to wrestle words around his exhaustion into some kind of useful order.

"Yes, I got your message," said Duv. "For the record, addressing a passionate defense of a recently imprisoned suspect to 'whomever the honourable agent is, who is monitoring Colonel Galeni's commconsole,' was probably not your best idea." He hesitated. "That said--thank you, Will. I can't pretend I'm not grateful."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept your gratitude," said Vorlaurence. "It was not more than any honourable man would have done; even beyond any ties of personal affection I bear for you, there is the horror of condemning an innocent man, nor could there be any question of leaving free a man who would attack Captain Illyan."

Galeni was looking at him with a fondness that Vorlaurence had come to recognize, but he said only, "Mmm. Well, you weren't the only one to feel that way. Miles got me out."

"Lord Vorkosigan?" A sliver of his earlier uncertainty returned. "Are you--that is, have you truly been cleared--"

"No, God no, I'm free. Stop worrying, Will. They even found who did it." He blew out a breath. "I don't think I can tell you who, though, not yet. It'll come out in the next few days, but it's, ah, delicate. Needs careful handling." He stopped again. "I'm babbling. Look, I should get some sleep. I just wanted to let you know that I'm all right." Then, squinting at Vorlaurence, "You look exhausted, too. Have you gotten any sleep, since I was arrested?"

"I wished to be awake," said Vorlaurence, "that I would hear any further news of you, or in case I might be useful in some way to the cause of your freedom." He was glad to have done so; he would sleep far better now, knowing Galeni free and the guilty party arrested, than he would have contemplating Galeni in ImpSec's dungeons. Nevertheless, "I am glad that you called, Duv, and I greatly appreciate your thought for me. But I fear you are right about sleeping."

"I'll call you tomorrow. Explain a little better," said Galeni. "But it's good to see you. Good night, Will."

"Good night," Vorlaurence echoed, and watched as the screen returned to the static of a cut connection.

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Ooh, yay, more Vorlaurence crossover fic! :DDD

Galeni looked exhausted, accompanied by a peculiar sort of irritation that even Vorlaurence rarely saw and a deeply exultant triumph;

♥

And ahhh, they are up to first names now, which is nearly as significant in Vorkosiverse canon as in Temeraire-verse.

"I am so glad--I knew you had not, I never doubted--"

I love that this is the first thing Laurence has to tell him, and that he sent a letter with a snarky address. And it is so neat to see Laurence's feelings on people unjustly accused of treason from the other side (and especially the bit where part of his anger is that this means the real culprit is not neutralized or punished).

Miles got me out."

"Lord Vorkosigan?" A sliver of his earlier uncertainty returned. "Are you--that is, have you truly been cleared--"

I loved this bit! So, Laurence is sufficiently familiar with Lord Vorkosigan's MO to have justifieable worries in this regard XD

(So, is grown-up Vorlaurence ImpMil? Does he, through a heroic accident, end up captain of a brand-new experimental sentient Cetagandan dreadnaught who refuses to answer to anyone but him? ;)

[pensnest]

Vorlaurence - what an interesting idea. You've presented a lot of character in these few lines, nice job.