[IC] TEST POST

[dendarii]

[ Miles Vorkosigan cuts an unusual figure even under the most extraordinary circumstances: tiny and somewhat hunchbacked, his curved spine obvious even beneath his custom-cut Imperial Security green military uniform. Unless you're bitty like him (and he's met few adults below his height of 4'8"), he likely comes up to your shoulder or a little lower.

There is, however, a manic energy to the man that makes him fill up more than his physical space. Sharp, penetrating gray eyes take in the world around him as great refreshing gulps of information. Depending on the situation, he may be taking in you as well. ]

A - Canon

[ In his case, you suddenly find yourself in an empty and rather old-fashioned looking house. Old-fashioned except for the high tech consoles installed in various areas, anyway, and if one looks out the window a relatively sci-fi-esque view can be seen interspersed with vaguely Russian architecture. Miles looks up, startled by your sudden appearance. ]

I'm sorry, have we met?

[ In other words, how the hell did you just waltz into the Vorkosoigan House without him being alerted by the guards? Visiting his father or mother, maybe? That's the only thing coming to mind. ]

B - Mask or Menace

[ Staring, Miles can deal with. It's depressingly normal and almost comforting, given the circumstances. But having people approach him like some kind of celebrity is damned unsettling. It feels like some awful combination of being both Lord Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith at the same time ... which is technically true, but he's not enough at ease with himself to cross those wires just yet.

Speaking of which. He fixes a brilliant smile on his face as his confident swagger threatens to knock over anyone within a five meter radius of him. The space operatic Admiral Naismith persona in full force and practically spilling over. After all, when faced with a wall, Miles tends to charge right the hell on through. First obstacle to be defeated: finding out what the hell is going on and why his head is feeling strangely full all of a sudden.

He's about twenty or so, though with a face like his he could be anywhere between early twenties and early thirties. The tell-tale import barcode flickers at his wrist; he hasn't quite realized what that means for himself or anyone else. In a remarkably flat, pseudo-American accent: ]

You know, I think I've gotten myself lost. Any chance you're more familiar with this place?

[ Heropa is where he's come out first, but by now he could be in any of the Porter cities. ]

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Ha. She's not wrong. His mouth quirks upwards, slightly. ]

More or less. Firmly dismantled, now. Mark has differentiated himself in a few ways as well.

[rathercommon]

Right, in that he lives on...Beta Colony, right? Do I remember that correctly?

[dendarii]

That's right. Temporarily, I think. It's all up to him now. I do miss him ...

[rathercommon]

[ She shoots him a wry smile. ]

You're a soft-hearted thing, aren't you, Lord Vorkosigan?

[dendarii]

[ Another of his wry little half-bows. ]

You've found me out. I'm ruined for sure.

[rathercommon]

Fortunately for you, I happen to like soft-hearted things. I'll stick up for you. Don't worry. Is there anyone you need me to punch?

[dendarii]

[ That's - kind of touching, in fact. He can't help but want to see her punch something, at least a little. ]

No, not lately. They're all too polite or too smart to insult me to my face any more.

... You've gotten me off on another tangent.

[rathercommon]

Not my fault that you're distractible.

[dendarii]

What can I say? I enjoy conversing with smart, beautiful women.

[rathercommon]

[ Distractible and a flatterer, it seems. She draws attention from her faint flush with a grin, then asks: ]

It was hard, I suppose? Reconciling with your brother Mark. That's quite a fraught history between you two, I think.

[dendarii]

More fraught for him. We're working on it.

[ A slight shake of his head at that. No, he's talked enough about Mark - any more would be impinging on the man's privacy. ]

Back to you for a little while. Where are you from?

[rathercommon]

[ Darn. Well, it's only fair. She gives a little shrug. ]

The mountains, originally. My family came to Hassadar when I was still quite young. I grew up in the city.

[dendarii]

[ Aha. That explains it. ]

I knew that accent wasn't a complete affectation ... Just a bit overdone, maybe.

[rathercommon]

Oh, yeah.

[ She wrinkles her nose. ]

You've spent a lot of time out there, have you.

[dendarii]

... Not as much as I should, I admit.

[ He has the decency to squirm a bit. ]

Fewer people make the hex-sign at me now at least.

[rathercommon]

[ Right. Yeah. Lord Vorkosigan sort of has a way of making you forget about that, but...Kitty's mouth turns down. ]

No. That's a good reason not to go out there.

I hate that, by the way. The way they...treat people who are different.

[dendarii]

[ ... Something in that phrasing catches his attention. He cocks his head to one side and looks her up and down. Really looks at her. ]

Were you? Different.

[rathercommon]

Me? No.

[ She lets out a little huff, shaking her head. ]

Genetically perfectly fine. You think I'd have been allowed to go to school otherwise? Bad enough that I was a girl. Worse still that I was trouble. And worst of all that I wouldn't put up with the normal prejudices and cruelties.

[dendarii]

[ Ah, right. More insidious than a mere genetic mutation: the crime of being born female. It makes even less sense than the prejudices he faces. ]

But you're here anyway. One way or another.

[rathercommon]

[ A little grunt. ]

Yeah. I'm here. Not through the best run of luck.

[dendarii]

No, although I do still wonder if part of it was malice...

[ Different topic, that. He shakes his head. ]

What are you? Other than a revolutionary.

[rathercommon]

What am I?

[ The corner of her lip turns up just a little bit in some private amusement. Then she shakes her head. ]

Other than a revolutionary, I work as a barmaid. I'd invite you to stop by for a sip of ouzo or nastoika, but...none of the people there are involved with any of this, so I don't want to rattle them. And they'd probably swoon to see a Vor lord.

[ That's a lie. Her comrade, Andrei, also works there, and the location is a hotbed of seditious murmuring. She trusts Lord Vorkosigan - she can't help it - but the instinct not to rat out the others is strong. ]

[dendarii]

Perhaps I'm in the mood for swooning. And a drink, for that matter. Where is it?

[rathercommon]

[ Her answer to that is just a small smile and a shake of her head. Not giving them up. ]

[dendarii]

[ Sigh. Well, that's one way of confirming it. ]

Intertwined, then. The two halves of you.