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[use_everything]

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[use_everything]

[The scritches pause for a moment, as Vorkosigan frowns. Slavery was, frankly, one of the few atrocities Barrayar DIDN'T get up to on a regular basis. That was in the purview of Jackson's Whole.]

It would be, indeed. [And a wonder if it was him that she got that particular trait from or merely the admiration from a kindred spirit.] Was he one of those who changed your views?

[rathercommon]

Yeah. He was one of the first spirits I talked to. Instead of - erm. [ With a bit of reluctance: ] Killing outright.

[use_everything]

It's the hardest illusion to shatter, isn't it? [The petting resumes, attention to the soft fur at the ruff.] Realizing that every enemy you've killed is someone else's child, as full and complicated a life as your own.

[rathercommon]

[ A little quietly: ]

Yeah. Before then, I didn't even realize that they could think. That they had personalities. Let alone that they were doing what they were doing because they were enslaved to the wills of wicked men.

[use_everything]

[And conversely, he could clearly imagine the terror, resentment and anger that must have grown for however long this system was in place. Even meeting this race outside of these magician's control would be dangerous, for any number of justified emotions could drive a strike. ... Trust had to have been difficult and incomplete.]

Did they join your effort?

[rathercommon]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No.

[ Echoing his thoughts: ]

They didn't trust humans. For good reason, really.

[use_everything]

[He nods, and finds nothing to add to that.]

I wish your new government well.

[rathercommon]

Yeah. So do I.

[ A little sigh. ]

I believe they can do it. If they just rise above their worse instincts.

[use_everything]

I suppose that would be the trick with any society. Though some have been taught that their worst instincts are all they have to trust.

[rathercommon]

Fortunately, they did just have a pointed demonstration of how their worse instincts tend to get lots of people killed.