vor: (Genes generating monsters)
Emperor Gregor Vorbarra ([personal profile] vor) wrote2012-06-24 07:06 pm

Fourth Cream Cake: [Action/Voice]

[It has been some time since he did this.

Tonight, Gregor is behind CH7 with two large aluminum bowls. He places them on the ground.

One, he fills with sweet-scented bark and sage leaves. The other, with twigs and dried paper.

His hair has grown too long anyway. Carefully, he snips two locks of raven-black hair from his head. One for each bowl.

He kneels in front of the second bowl, the one filled with ordinary fuel, and tosses a tuft of hair in. Then, he strikes a match and sets fire to the contents. As it burns, he quietly adds a slip of paper with his signature written on it in his best handwriting. His official Imperial signature.

He says nothing as the death offering for his father burns. He's done this many times, at the guidance of Lady Alys. There had been no funeral offering for Prince Serg but the one which had filled the sky of Sergyar.

He returns to the first bowl, tenderly adding the lock of hair, a slip of paper with an invisible kiss, and, of all things, a child's shoe. As the offering burns, tears glisten in his eyes. When he's sure no one is around, he curls to the ground and quietly weeps.

He's aware of the limited privacy, but he'll whisper a few words over each offering. Anyone clever enough to sneak up would have to come very close indeed to hear them.

It is supposed that the burning of these offerings helps to drive away ghosts.

When that's over, he simply sits with his back to the wall and speaks into his journal. It's soft and hesitating--he's certainly not the "inspiring speeches on a dime" sort of ruler back home, but writing in the dark is ill-advised. His voice is somewhat rough.]


On Barrayar, we burn offerings for the dead. People died on the draft, but generally, the usual rites don't apply if they're coming back. It's limbo. What do you do?

Um. Could...someone give me a haircut?
fleurdesel: right, confused (so...what)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-04 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Perhaps they expected someone to be on the balcony watching you, or simply didn't expect you to climb down.

[She takes another sip of wine and freezes a bit.]

...Your. Bat...man?
fleurdesel: left, smile, smirk, sarcastic (I'm sorry)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-04 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
...that's an odd choice of title, unless it is derived from a particular language with which I am not familiar.
fleurdesel: left, smile, smirk, flirty, serious (Let me be)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-05 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
It has a slightly different context in my time. Then again, I blame pop culture.
fleurdesel: right, serious, confused (You have my attention)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-05 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
You...found passage on a ship bound for the. Hegan hub?
fleurdesel: right, serious, sad, angry (Thoughtful)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-05 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Would there be a...punishment upon your return? I cannot think of any way that an Emperor could be chastised. The very concept is surreal.
fleurdesel: right, sad, confused, tired, serious, angry (I need a moment)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-08 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
They'd be especially frustrated with their own subordinates, I must think. Especially if the last time you managed this was when you were five- that is a long record of excellent security.
fleurdesel: left, smile, smirk, sarcastic (I'm sorry)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-14 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
It would not end well, that much is for certain. We've some time before the next cycle. Perhaps someone will appear, perhaps not.
fleurdesel: right, serious, confused, angry (puzzled)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-14 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
You are terribly nonchalant whilist discussing your own death. [Flat. Slightly curious but. She won't ask. Only comment.]
fleurdesel: right, sad, confused, tired, serious, angry (I need a moment)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-15 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose they would after that long. All the same I do not think the majority of the village would take to repeated attempts at murder quite well. Even if we have no proper legal system.
fleurdesel: left, tired, serious, confused (Time. I need time.)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-15 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
A few scattered conflicts aside- mostly induced by shifts or experiments, there is not much by way of crime here. Yet. There may be in the future; not having arrangements for them is unsettling. I know of a handful who would suggest we simply kill the offending party repeatedly until they've so many penalties from returning from death that they cannot be a danger to anyone.
fleurdesel: right, tired, sad (just a breather)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-15 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
If such actions can be justified, they will be, and carried out unless someone acts as a voice of reason. There are individuals in the village that are respected enough for them to work but...I do not know what their stance is on this. It's not something most give thought to as we have a fairly well behaved populace.

Of course that only makes me worry more. When something happens, and it will be when rather than if considering the luck this village has had as of late, it has the potential to divide the village.
fleurdesel: left, smile, smirk, confused, sarcastic (The punchline is...?)

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[personal profile] fleurdesel 2012-07-15 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
We do not even have a Democracy, not truly. We've groups that defer to particular individuals and little else.

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