[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

[mythtakes]

Yeah.

It's bad. Whenever it shows up, it's not being used for good things.

[dendarii]

... I can imagine. Someone fighting both the supernatural and humans at once is unlikely to be on your side.

[ He takes another hard-boiled egg and chews on it thoughtfully. So, only one weapon that will be guaranteed to work, and clearly being used to best effect if it remains in Percy's hand. But given he has no idea if a stunner - or even a nerve disruptor - will work on monsters, he'd better have a more analog backup on hand just in case. He has just the thing... ]

[mythtakes]

Yeah no. We're weak to it too. Twice the weaknesses... but we can go anywhere, challenge anyone as long as we have the courage to do it.

Not exactly sure about how that's a perk, but that's what was told to me.

[In the mean time, finally FINALLY Percy seems to be slowing down. The kid can really pack it away.]

[dendarii]

[ Ma Kosti will be pleased. Miles eats a very small amount in comparison - he's rather slim in addition to his short height, and he just doesn't eat as much food as the average person. Let alone a teenage boy.

He considers Percy' response thoughtfully. ]

Opportunity isn't an advantage everyone gets. I think ... I would rather have that than anything else in the world.

[mythtakes]

That? You'll get a LOT of that if we're still dealing with the same sort of thing.

[dendarii]

Careful what you wish for, eh ...

Do you usually end up fighting a lot of monsters? Like what we handled yesterday?

[mythtakes]

It's not every day. Sometimes you can go a couple of months without running into anything at all.

But man, when it hits the fan, it hits hard.

[dendarii]

Months. [ He shakes his head. To be fair, his life is such that something seems to happen every few months for him as well but ... not always physical threats. ] Is that what I have to look forward to now?

[mythtakes]

If you haven't run into it before now, you might be fine.

Oooor things are waking up now and I'm like some weird time traveling Obi-Wan.

[dendarii]

... Who?

[mythtakes]

It... It's a long and really awesome set of movies that have this wise old mentor guy.

Not that I'm old.

Or wise.

And I really don't think I'm going to be any better of a teacher than I'd be a god but really, if I ever get back to my time I'll leave a copy of the movies for you in some time capsule.

[dendarii]

[ That clears it up a little, though he shakes his head anyway. ]

Deal. You may check the library too - could be in there next to the Shakespeare.

[mythtakes]

You know. I will absolutely accept that as a roommate.

[dendarii]

Same sort of fine art?

[ He grins a bit, getting to his feet. ]

[mythtakes]

Absolutely the same sort. Except actually in real English and I don't feel an overwhelming urge to wander off during.

[He hurriedly wipes his face with a napkin and gets up as well. Then pauses, because his mom raised him right, to call into the kitchen. "THANKS THAT WAS GREAT!"]

[dendarii]

Shakespeare is English too ...

[ Ugh, kids. While Percy is distracted with Ma Kosti, Miles slips upstairs to his room to retrieve a few items. Namely, a spare stunner and his grandfather's Vor seal knife. He returns with the latter strapped to his belt and the former out on the table for Percy to take. ]

[mythtakes]

[It was just in time as the teen was about to go find him. And really, who knows how much damage THAT would have resulted in.]

Wait. For me?

[dendarii]

[ Phew. No need to track the kid down then. One less thing to worry about. ]

Yes. I have no idea if it will work on your monsters, but you ought to have something that can strike from a distance.

[mythtakes]

[He picks it up eagerly and... a well earned caution has him pause.]

So.. how exactly does this work?

[dendarii]

Glad you asked. Here, there's a trigger button underneath ...

[ He gives Percy a quick tutorial. No ammo, per se, but the battery pack goes dead eventually. ]

[mythtakes]

All right!

[It really doesn't matter if it will work on monsters or not. He just got a space blaster thing.]

Let's start back at the beginning, then.

[dendarii]

Good place to start ...

[ He checks his own stunner briefly before heading out the front door of his mansion. The weather is cool but pleasant - the first breath of fall on a world somewhat cooler than most, especially in this area of it. Miles pauses a moment to get his bearings, then strides forward purposefully.

It's more obviously an alien city when you're not running at a breakneck speed. The architecture is vaguely Russian ... almost, and the terran species are occasionally pushed aside by brownish or reddish variants. And the vehicles - most of them hover, though there are some analog bicycles too. Several levels of traffic, from groundcars to a high-pitched siren from an emergency vehicle passing far overhead, at the highest level of traffic. ]

[mythtakes]

[In some ways, it's achingly familiar. The sounds, the push of it. There's a heartbeat to a city... any city... that gives it its life. But those elements were just fantastic enough, unreal enough that the sense of displacement could be pushed away in favor of sheer unmitigated wonder.

There were a few points he just all out stops, eyes wide at a flying vehicle getting close enough that he CAN see that there's no strings, no tricks. It's own future magic pushing it along.

It really ISN'T a long walk until Percy's look narrows, a landmark here or there, caught in the blur of information that an ADHD mind throws at you in a life or death battle.]

It's down that way, right?

[dendarii]

[ Miles gladly slows to let his new friend gawk a bit. It is an impressive sight, even if you're used to the tech level involved. He smiles, faintly, before turning back to their map. ]

Yes, that looks about right. A bit abandoned though...

[ Except for the swath of destruction left around it. Miles carefully approaches the little abandoned shrine at the end... ]

[mythtakes]

[There was a heavy gouge to the left, where Percy had ducked a lunge, and the top of the alcove itself had several bricks cut clean off where his own strike had gone wild...

But inside of it, however, is a modest shrine. Water flowed gently over a tarnished copper trident into a small, coin filled basin. A few honeyed pastries, some as recent as today by how fresh they looked, sat on the edge of the altar, beside the candles. A simple lock of hair sits near the back, and by the ashes, more offerings were routinely burned.]

... One of dad's. It's still practiced here?