[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]

[ Time to stare at yet another horribly strange thing. Is this kid trying to call home? Across who knows how many light years and -- ]

Did she just say millennia?

[ Easiest question first, while he works up to the rest. ]

[mythtakes]

[That seems to have gotten Percy's undivided attention too.]

What do you mean millennia? Hey... Iris!

Breezy?

[The recorded voice simply repeats that more currency is needed. Percy mutters another Greek curse and fishes around his pockets. One more glittering gold coin goes into the water. Then another.]

What do you mean millennia?

[dendarii]

[ Miles edges close awkwardly, not sure of how close he wants to get to ... This. All of this. ]

What year is it for you?

[mythtakes]

[He doesn't answer, looking for more coins for a few more moments.

His pockets come up empty... and the rainbow dissolves. It's a few moments with him just staring at the water.]

2008. [After a pause,] AD.

[dendarii]

[ It takes Miles a moment to puzzle that together. 2008 ... AD ... oh. Yes, he can translate that easily enough. He does turn to stare at Percy yet again though. ]

... Over a millennium. Yes. If we still used that system, the current year would be --

[ He rattles off something that starts with 3, stooping to see if he can retrieve any of the fallen drachma. ]

[mythtakes]

[Of the three coins, the last two he threw in seem to have dropped back into the water of the fountain.]

...

[He repeats the year, sounding a bit dull. His hands ball into fists, knuckles white and faintly trembling.]

Of course. Why not?

[dendarii]

[ Very, very carefully, he scoops them back up. He has a wild idea of just what to do with these. Then he turns to Percy, his expression sympathetic. ]

I'm sorry. You are a very, very long way from home, my friend. But I aim to return you there somehow.

[mythtakes]

[His expression is locked with fury, green eyes dark with rage. For a moment, it focuses on Miles, the air heavy with water... before he seems to let it go very carefully.]

I... appreciate it. We need to figure out why I'm here... and which one of them is behind this, hopefully. [SO HE CAN FIGHT THEM SO HELP HIM GODS] After that, whatever we need to fix.. I'll probably get sent back. That's how it usually works.

[dendarii]

[ Miles lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Dear god, having a son of Poseidon angry at him is a terrifying thought. So is the thought of taking on a god, but - one thing at a time here. ]

I was hoping you might say that. I ran some checks - asked for reports of strange inexplicable dog attacks over the past week. You may be interested in the results.

[ A beat. ]

Do your missions usually involve confronting your extended family?

[mythtakes]

[Percy seems to perk up at that. If there wasn't any information at all, then he assumed it wouldn't have even come up. First things first, though...]

... Yeah. Yeah almost every time. Or an enemy of my family, or a far more distant relative. I try not to think about how the family tree actually works.

What did you get on the great dog chase 3000?

[dendarii]

From what I recall of my mythology, that's probably a good idea. More incestuous than Gregor's family line ...

[ Nevermind that Miles is part of that family line too. And now part of the Greek side - nope, not thinking about that. Moving onto more productive topics. He waves the flimsies vaguely at Percy, then back towards the inside of the house. ]

A couple of things - mind discussing it over breakfast? They'd likely just get soggy if I tried spreading them out on the fountain lip.

[mythtakes]

Not just incestuous but weird. Makes me glad there's no such thing as godly DNA.

[He looks back towards the house. ... There is no way he'd find the kitchen on his own. He makes a AFTER YOU, gesture.]

[dendarii]

[ He tilts his head at that as he leads them back inside. Not to the kitchen, but rather to a large banquet hall with enough room for 96 people in it. There are a few places set up at one end; Miles picks out one of the chairs and settles himself comfortably enough. ]

Godly DNA? Are you saying that you get none of your genetics from your divine parent?

[mythtakes]

[He takes a bit to look around, a bit widely. This sort of thing he's only seen in movies. Or boarding school cafeterias. But those are never nearly as nice. Or cavernous.

Or quiet.

He grabs a chair in front of one of the set places.]

I don't know exactly how it works, actually. Eye color seems to be a common trait. Like, every child of Athena has these really noticeable grey eyes... There's other things too. We get a lot of personality, I guess. You can always tell a kid of Hermes by how they smile, for example.

[dendarii]

[ Very quiet, though there are noise and light and good smells coming from the kitchen nearby. A woman in an apron is preparing a reasonably large breakfast - not just for the two of them, but also for herself and the guards.

Miles, meanwhile, rubs subconsciously at his face. Gray eyes, eh... ]

But - er, romance isn't complicated by it? I don't suppose it would show up on a gene scan either ...

[mythtakes]

Not really. Demigods think of those with the same parent as siblings but everyone else as just.. I guess, the same "kind."

[Leaving mortals and gods as something else.]

And I have no idea, honestly. It might show up as weird or it might not.

[dendarii]

We could find out.

[ Though by now he's had his genes scanned so many times it hardly matters. There are no unknowns that he can see. Maybe if poor Percy is stranded here too long ... Not important right now. ]

Is Annabeth the one you mentioned last night? The one you've fallen in love with?

[mythtakes]

[There would have been an uncertain comment about what a gene scan involved... but the question seems to catch him off guard. His jaw sets and he looks down and away.]

Yeah, yeah she is.

[dendarii]

[ And thus the one he tried to call, oh hell. Miles' smile fades immediately. Best not to twist the knife any further. ]

We'll get you back to her. If we can figure out how you got here to begin with ...

[ Maybe they can even bypass the mission. That would leave Miles feeling much better about everything. He leans over, spreading out the overall map. There are several marks on it. One is exactly the location Percy came from to begin with, whether he recognizes it or not. ]

[mythtakes]

She's gonna kill me. Like, really kill me. Super kill me. Even if I go back to the exact same moment in time, she's going to KNOW somehow.

[Nevermind the fact that she's been dead and gone for centuries now. It's just... not something he's capable of thinking about her having years... maybe even decades go by, waiting for him.

He shakes his head and rubs a hand over his face, considering the map rather than anyone's demise, hers OR his.]

... There... what's that?

[dendarii]

I like her already.

[ Better to focus on the present, yes. Miles leans in and taps on of the marks in Vorbarr Sultana for emphasis. ]

Large dog sightings. One in a Greek minority area not too far from here, and the rest throughout the Greek minority areas in my district. Not a coincidence, I'm guessing.

[mythtakes]

That sounds promising.

[dendarii]

Exactly my thought. Do you have any idea where you first showed up here?

[mythtakes]

[It had been a blur, turning a corner in Manhattan and the architecture had become more than a little unfamiliar. He'd barely had any time to look around before he'd heard the tandem growls...]

It was... sort of a dead end alley. I had to double back when I heard Double Dog Breath. There was an alcove at the end, and ...

[He describes a few of the buildings and one of the small local shops.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles brightens immediately. Ah yes, that sounds exactly like the little alcove of shops where he'd bought food before meeting Ma Kosti. He points to a mark on the map, and then another one labeled "Vorkosigan House." ]

Very close indeed. And in a Greekie area just like the rest. Stop there first after breakfast?