[He had been resting poorly to begin with. It was not so much the strange room. Military life inured one to, if not the concept of not owning the room one slept in, the idea that most outside of home were simply stopping points in one's day. It was the empty side of the bed that made rest elusive and fitful.
It was when he heard the first gentle, near inaudible sound at the window, he was abruptly grateful for the absence of company. Eyes closed, he kept his breathing slow and regular, mind pacing through possibilities. A long range weapon would have already been deployed. A nerve disruptor or a stunner would be too dangerous to simply charge at and strike blindly. He'd fall before he even had himself untangled from the sheets. No, this was a time for measure.
He listened, over his own rising adrenaline, to the soft whisper of steps. A petty thief, he decided, he'd simply let leave. He had no pittance here he couldn't stand to be parted with.
A simple, deep calm took him when he heard the click of the antiquated weapon being primed to fire. Ah. Here we are.
Aral Vorkosigan. ... The lack of formal address was so amazingly incongruent with what SHOULD be there ...
He lets his eyes open wide, as if startled from sleep. He had a plan forming, but the opportunity to measure the intent of an intruder who would wake him first...]
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It was when he heard the first gentle, near inaudible sound at the window, he was abruptly grateful for the absence of company. Eyes closed, he kept his breathing slow and regular, mind pacing through possibilities. A long range weapon would have already been deployed. A nerve disruptor or a stunner would be too dangerous to simply charge at and strike blindly. He'd fall before he even had himself untangled from the sheets. No, this was a time for measure.
He listened, over his own rising adrenaline, to the soft whisper of steps. A petty thief, he decided, he'd simply let leave. He had no pittance here he couldn't stand to be parted with.
A simple, deep calm took him when he heard the click of the antiquated weapon being primed to fire. Ah. Here we are.
Aral Vorkosigan. ... The lack of formal address was so amazingly incongruent with what SHOULD be there ...
He lets his eyes open wide, as if startled from sleep. He had a plan forming, but the opportunity to measure the intent of an intruder who would wake him first...]