Fic: Aral Vorkosigan's Dog 7/15

[philomytha]

Title: Aral Vorkosigan's Dog 7/15
Rating/warnings: R, Shards-level sexual and physical violence
Length: 70k (this chapter 5600 words)
Summary: Illyan is assigned to watch Aral Vorkosigan during the Escobaran war. Soon he has to choose between his duty and his conscience, and the consequences rapidly get beyond him.

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Comments

[rogerstening]

Again, WOW. Very, very, VERY good - carry on, please!

[philomytha]

I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'm polishing each chapter up as fast as I can...

[bratfarrar]

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

This is brilliant. Gut-wrenching, but brilliant.

[philomytha]

Thank you! This chapter was particularly gut-wrenching to write, I must admit.

[avanti_90]

This is very possibly my favorite chapter, even though it's so painful.

Then two won't make matters any worse. They can only starve me to death once.
For some reason I just love that line.

And Serg being Serg was perfect and scary, as was Aral charging in to rescue the ensign at all costs. Puts me in mind of Miles' line from ACC. This is why men follow this man.

And Illyan feeling like he's been petted on the head. After that, watching him be so cold-blooded in the end was more than a little heartbreaking.

I know I've said this before, but oh, poor Aral, knowing all his friends are going to die and he's got to let it happen...

[philomytha]

Yes, this one might be my favourite chapter too. (Well, or maybe chapter 2, or 8, or 10, or 15... okay, maybe I haven't got this 'favourite' concept sorted out yet.)

Writing Serg being scary and a little crazed and a lot evil was very hard, so I'm glad he worked out in the end. I had so many drafts of that scene, you wouldn't believe it.

And yeah. Nobody's very happy by the end of this chapter.

[rymenhild]

The intensity level just keeps rising. So painful and so very well done.

[philomytha]

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[laleia]

Ah! You know, I reread Barrayar (well, the relevant bits, at least) for this. And now I'm even MORE ready to read the rest! I mean, poor Illyan doesn't even find out the truth of the matter when Cordelia does -- though I imagine he finds out eventually. And, of course, I can't wait to see what he thinks when he finally meets Cordelia!

[philomytha]

Well, we've a way to go before Cordelia shows up, but yes, it's going to be quite a shock for poor Illyan. There's that line about why Illyan is always a little scared of Cordelia, about 'vivid first impressions'...