nineveh_uk: Photo of Rondvassbu in winter (rondvassbu)
[personal profile] nineveh_uk
Brought to you by memories of adverts for jobs in Greenland that emphasised the exciting opportunities for those who enjoyed the outdoor life. Miles might assume his preferences are universal, but I bet there’d be some people on Barrayar who’d just love the idea of a posting on Kyril Island.

Lots of planets have a north

Basic training was complete and next-stage assignments were through. The long line of trainees wound about the hall, dotted round with small groups and individuals variously opening and reading the flimsies handed out by the desk sergeant , discussing them with their comrades, and in a few cases staring glumly into a corner and swearing.

“Got it! Engineering, vehicle mechanics training in the best posting in the Empire, Lazkowski Base. Three years of ice-yachting here I come. All right, Gaillard, you’re next.”

The second man took a deep breath, turned over the plastic sheet, and exhaled an emphatic “Yes! Enhanced infantry physical, with assignment to the PT trainer course on passing at the end of two years – Lazkowski Base. Looks like Petukhov was right: ask for Camp Permafrost and you get it. Who’s next? Third time’s the charm.”

The third trainee looked at his flimsy – and swore. “Shit! Fucking shit, shit, fuckity shit. Ship duty.”

“Oh fuck. Sorry, Andrei. What is it?”

“The Prince fucking Serg. Apprentice weapons tech. I’m finished. Once they’ve got you on one of those space cruisers you never get a land posting. It’s all specialist galactic shite.”

“You get long leave, though.”

“Yeah, and spend half of it getting back to a planet with an ice-field, and when you get there the artificial gravity’s buggered your balance.”

“There’s always Plan B. Find some rich Vor bitch and get a gig as her armsman. They have to sign you out if a Count asks for it.”

“I might just have to. Come on, Beatrix, what have you got?”

Beatrix scanned his orders with some trepidation and shrugged. “Comms training, Vorhovis Base. Could be worse, there’s decent ice-climbing on the Black Escarpment, and there’s lots of postings for Comms down the line. You gonna see the sergeant, Andrei, and try for a switch?”

“And get marked down as a malcontent, no fear! Two years keeping my nose clean and apply for a transfer, that’s me. Maybe I can get a cruiser near Sergyar or something, get into the mountains on leave.”

“That’d be all right,” said Gaillard. “The cold climate hunting’s supposed to be stupendous. Besides, the grav might not be too bad. Everyone gets a personal programme from a medtech these days, and the gym on the Prince Serg must be pretty hot stuff. You might not lose much.”

“Yeah.” Andrei shoved the flimsy into his pocket. “Yeah, it’ll be all right. You wait, boys. I’ll be back on long leave creaming you all on the ice.”

“Kyril Island all-comers championships. Come on, final night on the town. Let’s go and get pissed.”

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-14 08:24 am (UTC)
legionseagle: Lai Choi San (Default)
From: [personal profile] legionseagle
Oh, yes, I loved it!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 05:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wellinghall.livejournal.com
Another excellent piece.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 05:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fallingtowers.livejournal.com
Now you've made me google job ads for Greenland. Apparently, you can become a local GP with a basic salary of 7000 EUR/month, plus extra pension contributions, free language classes, and bonus travel allowance.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 06:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wellinghall.livejournal.com
I wonder how many bookshops there are in Greenland ...

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
At least one (http://www.atuagkat.com/?lang=uk).

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fallingtowers.livejournal.com
Well, Nuuk does have a university and a university library, too!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Sounds all right to me! Though I'd hope you got enough holiday to use the travel allowance...

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fallingtowers.livejournal.com
The same job ad also promised a minimum of five weeks of paid leave per year, so that wouldn't be a problem. I'm wondering, though, what the average cost of living in Greenland is and how this might relate to the salary.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Good point. I suspect any food bar fish is not cheap, and tax is probably relatively high, given the Scandinavian connection.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fallingtowers.livejournal.com
Not to mention the heating costs!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 06:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ankaret.livejournal.com
AWESOME.

In the wake of the Paralympics, I also want to see what the Imperial Navy veteran sled hockey team do to people who call them mutie.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-13 07:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
I dread to think - but since you make me...

A deathly silence descended over the bar.

‘So,’ enquired Alexei of his companions. ‘Do you think he dresses to the right or the left?’

‘What? You a poofter as well, mutie?’

Alexei raised his drink, before smashing the neck off on the table. ‘Not at all. Just want to know where to aim. Let’s get ’em boys.’
(deleted comment)

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-15 09:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-14 04:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alitheapipkin.livejournal.com
Entertaining as always :)

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-15 09:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-15 11:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dolorous-ett.livejournal.com
What fun!

Actually, I imagine that Kyril Island was pretty rigorously reorganised after the bad business with Miles, and is now actually rather a pleasant place to be.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-15 03:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Good point!

It also seems really poor planning to put all your incompetents, discontented people, and people who have done nothing wrong but piss off Miles Vorkosigan, in one place. It's asking for a mutiny!

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-16 01:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dolorous-ett.livejournal.com
I would read that fic like a shot! I'm very fond of Bujold's work, but I do get fed up of Miles and co ending up being right just because who they are. In particular, I'd give good money to read a fic in which the wondrous Cordelia is completely wrong about something.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-16 02:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
I like to imagine that one day Bujold will explode her universe by writing a novel from the other side of the viewpoint.

I would also very much like to read that Cordelia fic. In it's absence, I think you will like my next Vorkosigan one, which can be basically summed up as Miles v. the UKBA...

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-15 10:09 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Lovely! I always assumed Kyril Island was like being shipped to the colonies during the British Raj - some loved it, most didn't..But you're right - keen sportsmen would probably love it.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-16 11:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
I wonder if the Vor have an inflated idea of how awful it is compared to other ranks and non-Vor officers, because they are the people who will miss the social opportunities of other places most. Whereas if you're an infantry private confined to base, then the difference is less.

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-16 10:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mel-redcap.livejournal.com
Aaaaawesome XD

(no subject)

Date: 2014-04-16 02:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nineveh-uk.livejournal.com
Thank you!

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nineveh_uk: Illustration that looks like Harriet Vane (Default)
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