(no subject)

[keep_nothing]

WHO: Cordelia and whoever else
WHERE: Anywhere
WHEN: March Catch-all
WHAT: Various stuffs
WARNINGS: The threads with Aral and Kitty has discussion of past domestic and sexual abuse, rape, etc.

Comments

[keep_nothing]

[ In the days following all that Soviet business dying down, Cordelia has the opportunity to do a little shopping (no, not that kind). She purchases a number of items that had been on a growing list, but first and foremost was an item or two she could only get from a specialty store which is why it took her a day or two to complete her shopping trips.

After coming home with her spoils and tucking most of them safely away for later distribution, she looks for her husband and is pleased to find him alone in the study. She gives a light knock on the door frame before stepping in, not wanting to interrupt if he's working on something. ]

[use_everything]

[Ah, he could always tell hers by its cadence and light tenor on the wood. His head lifts immediately.]

Ah.

[The game has progressed. You could say it had grown if you were feeling generous. Begun to eat all of the bookshelves if you were not. There were still select paths in the very carefully regulated chaos, and at one of the far corners, dubbed the tactical ops, Aral sat at one of the armchairs, leg draped over one of said arms. The book he'd been working on is set aside in favor of her.]

Is it so late?

[keep_nothing]

[ She steps in, one hand curiously tucked behind her back while the other is casually at her side. She pauses for a moment to marvel (or is it stare in horror) at the size their game as grown to be, dimly shaking her head to refocus back on Aral. ]

Not very. What are you reading?

[use_everything]

[The book he turns over to her is clearly a science fiction from a couple decades of this world's past. Apparently about some sort of Mars space princess, by the somewhat lascivious cover.]

About Mar's colonization. It took me a little bit to reconcile that it was speculative fiction and not a comedy.

[keep_nothing]

[ Her laughter when he hods up the novel distracts her careful movement across the room, her hip bumping into some precariously perches board. She'd been concentrating on keeping whatever is behind her back out of sight whenever she had to turn sideways to maneuver through the chaos that has become the study. She grimaces as some of the pieces on that particular board scatter a few inches. ]

Sometime post occupation

[failureisntachoice]

[ She's turned the recording of the video into a physical copy, a nice DVD labeled simple "Ops #1." The first of many to come, she hopes given how lucrative this one has been. Garrus had delivered good on his word to pay her for their bet and there's an additional bonus promised from Cordelia. She couldn't have planned it better.

She gives the woman some warning before she shows up on their doorstep, the DVD in a slim jeweled case that she holds up for Cordelia to see as soon as the door is answered. ]

You got the cash?

[keep_nothing]

[ It certainly doesn't look like the data chits she's used to so it takes for a brief moment to realize what Tex is holding. ]

Of course, though it's in the form of something called a "check." I had to have Gregor write it out.

Come on in. [ She holds the door and steps aside. ]

[failureisntachoice]

That's how he pays me. [ Which means she's more than used to it. Some time she needs to get an account transfer system set up so Gregor can easily wire her paychecks to her.

She slides inside, heading straight for the living room. ] It's a long video, you sure you wanted the full ops footage and not just the highlights?

[keep_nothing]

[ She closes the door once Tex is inside, heading into the living room as well. ]

Absolutely. It lets me see what the hell Miles gets into sometimes, what leads up to it.

[failureisntachoice]

[ She settles herself on the couch and holds out the disc for Cordelia to take. ]

Let me guess, he gave you the abbreviated version.

[rathercommon]

[ Cordelia, of all the people who know Gregor, is really the logical one to come to. Miles - Miles she can't talk to for obvious reasons. Aral likewise. Besides, Cordelia is clever and sensible. Kind-hearted and compassionate. And honestly - really lovely to talk to, just generally, a lovely person.

And so that's why, when Kitty is over at the Barrayarans' home, she tentatively comes and knocks on Cordelia's door. ]

Hullo? Cordelia?

[keep_nothing]

[ She'd just been reading in her shared room while the boys were playing their board game - rather boisterously, hence the retreat to someplace quieter. She's surprised to hear Kitty's voice, but she pops up from the bed and opens the door. ]

Kitty! What a nice surprise,[ she says as she immediately leans in for a hug. ]

[rathercommon]

Oh!

[ The hug gets a little noise of surprise - and pleasure, too. She leans in to return it after a moment. She already feels stronger and less frail than when she first arrived; the hug is firmer by far than it would have been then. ]

I'm glad you're in. I have - a few things I'd like to ask you about.

[keep_nothing]

[ That was actually part of why she hugged Kitty, to see if there was any kind of physical change that she could feel (mostly it was just to hug her). Cordelia's desperately glad that Kitty seems to have gained some strength since she last saw her.

She pulls back from the hug smiling, ] Oh? Now I'm intrigued. Did you want to go out somewhere to chat, or did you want some privacy? [ she nods back into her room for emphasis. ]

[rathercommon]

Privacy might be good, I think.

[ She chews on her lip very slightly. ]

From, erm - everyone. I don't know if you've got the telepathic link with the others...

[failureisntachoice]

[ She had been wanting whole new experiences. This was about as new as it got. Someone far flung in the future from a very different Nexus and culture. And the woman had decided to proposition her. With the career and life Tex has led, she hasn't had many takers. Her reputation back home had been established early on as a terror and here...

Here there were a helluva lot more people, many of which could be bigger assholes than herself. It made it easier to blend in and seem nice by comparison. At least, it seemed to be working on those she cared to spend personal time with.

The reservation's been made and the time has been set. She's not late in picking Cordelia up. She arrives right on time with her helmet on and spare in hand as she knocks with the other. Hopefully its Cordelia answering the door. ]

[use_everything]

[There are certain forces of nature. That buttered toast lands butter down. That you only hit red lights when you're in a hurry.

And most importantly, that Murphy rides shotgun.

It's Aral Vorkosigan that answers the door.]

Ah. Agent Tex.

[failureisntachoice]

[ Of course Cordelia's husband answers the door. Does he even know about this yet? Surely his wife has discussed it already.

Even still, she's not sure if this is better or worse than Miles answering. Her helmet is on and it makes it much easier to deal with this Barrayaran-shaped obstacle. ]

Aral. Is Cordelia in? We had plans for today. [ Which is innocent sounding enough, in case Cordelia hasn't seen fit to inform him just yet. ]

[use_everything]

[That gets an eyebrow raised and a wry smile that follows it.]

Of course. [He steps aside, allowing more than enough room for entrance. He looks back towards the staircase.] She should be ready.

Please, come in.

[failureisntachoice]

Thanks. [ She slides past him inside with a polite nod. With that look on his face, there's no way he doesn't know, but if he's not going to comment on it neither is she.

Instead she'll wait at the base of the stairs for her intended companion. ]

[failureisntachoice]

[ She's not aiming to top how wonderful Cordelia had made things last time, but she can get pretty damn close. Heropa's their destination once more, for the nicer weather and because she's more familiar with the area. It makes it easier to select out a nice restaurant, one worthy of formal attire, and an equally nice hotel picked out for after. It isn't often that Tex feels like splurging, but this feels like a damn good time to.

When she arrives at their door, her helmet is left with her bike. Her leather jacket is more for show than out of an actual need for protection of the elements - she'd look incredibly out of place riding her bike in only her tight-fitting, black dress. Short heels are stashed away in her bike's saddlebags to swap out with her more practical boots for driving.

She takes a moment at the door to make sure her clothing and hair aren't too wild from the ride over and then knocks, right on time. ]

[use_everything]

[One would think that, with Tex's absolute punctuality, Cordelia would be the one getting the door this time. Or maybe sending Aral is a part of her plan.

Either way, it's certainly better than it being Miles. Her effort in dressing up gets a rather unsolicited answer of a bright look at Tex, eyebrows lifting before he steps aside for her.]

She said she would be right down.

[failureisntachoice]

[ She's smiling as the door opens and.... it's Aral again. Her smile doesn't falter, though she is slightly surprised it's not Cordelia. Maybe she should try coming a few minutes after the scheduled time.

She gives him a nod in greeting as she steps past him. ]

Thanks. She always take this long to get ready?

[use_everything]

[And he's certainly some degrees warmer than the last time, or at least, far less uncertain and awkward. This part has had practice.

The answer to her question is no, but even he could be a bit diplomatic.]

She had been excited getting ready... [The gesture is vague that follows that.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ That she can understand. With how excited Cordelia had been last time... She lets out a small sigh and moves to stand nearby as she eyes the staircase. ]

I'm glad she's looking forward to it. [ A small pause then she decides it'd be best to make some small talk, ] So what are your plans for the night?