[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]

[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?

[dendarii]

[ Miles' attention zooms in on the lock of hair immediately - that says a death offering, to him, and is the biggest piece of proof that this shrine is being maintained. Even more than the coins and the pastries. He goggles for a moment, clearly surprised. ]

I ... hadn't thought so. Most here don't practice any form of religion at all. But there's always been pockets of exceptions. I suppose we've just found one.

Did you come through that?

[mythtakes]

I.. have no idea.

I guess?

[dendarii]

[ Miles approaches carefully, not sure if he wants to touch any of this. It seems like it has the distinct possibility of doing something supernatural. ]

Could you try to go back? Ask it to take you?

[mythtakes]

Can't hurt to try.

[He steps past Miles, regarding the shrine for a moment. He lets his fingertips skim the surface of the water.

There's no magic teleportation, no change to the shrine, no door opening. Though there is a faint scent of ocean air drifting by that Miles may be able to pick up.]

Hey dad.

I don't suppose I could have a lift back home...

[Nothing. The only sound is the muted bustle of traffic high above and pedestrians making their way down the road.]

Yeah. Figured.

... So, how about a hint, instead?

[For a moment, it seemed as if this might be as fruitless as the last question. Then Miles may see something tiny and black skitter over his collar and towards his neck.]

[dendarii]

[ That faint puff of saltwater air makes Miles shiver. They're nowhere near the ocean here, no possible way that they could have anything like that drift in naturally. Just one more small piece of evidence, stacking up against the last bastions of his rationality. It seems to teeter precariously in his mind even now.

Miles is so focused on the response - or rather the lack thereof - that he doesn't notice the spider until it's practically at the base of his neck. Then he yelps in surprise, trying not to sound too pitiful as he bats at the place where he felt the spider go. Miles is not a fan of insects crawling around on him. Or spiders, for that matter. ]

Sorry - hang on - don't let me interrupt --

[ He says as he frantically waves his hands in a distinct "oh shit get it off" kind of way. ]

[mythtakes]

[It bites, sending an electric jolt of pain through Miles' skin. He can feel one crawling down his back, another handful prickling their way up his legs.]

What...?

[dendarii]

[ Well this has gone from faintly alarming to horrifying in the space of a few seconds. He winces at the first bite, swatting at the thing hard to try and squash it. The rest of them - he glances down just in time to see more of them going up his trouser leg. With another yelp, he jolts back towards the wall. ]

Spiders. Why'd it have to be spiders?

[mythtakes]

[The color drains from Percy's face. The bites are now like staccato lightning, coming as rapid fire jolts.]

... We've gotta go NOW.

[The walls around them seem to darken and pulse as a small horde of them gathers, racing down the sides towards them.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles has endured worse pain - so much worse - but this is infuriatingly painful on an entirely different level. Itchy and agonizing all at once. A stream of curses comes out of him, sliding from English through Greek and into some truly foul and gutteral Russian ones. ]

Why - nevermind, explain later--!

[ He pulls out his stunner in one smooth motion and fires it into the writhing mass. ]

[mythtakes]

[The blaster cooks a small hole in the swarm. The others back away, cautiously... then surge forward.

Percy fumbles with his own... the oddity of the weapon and the strange feeling of anything NOT a sword makes the shot a bit wild... but with a pile of arachnids like this? It hardly matters.

He starts backing away only a far as where Miles is standing.]

[dendarii]

[ So no telling Percy to go on without him. That ... is probably a good thing, given Miles' own experience with this nonsense, but it goes against his own instincts. And what if he did manage to chase Percy off, only to have a seizure afterwards? And how does Percy even get to safety if his guards dont' know the kid? No. Both of them have to get out. It's the only way.

He grabs Percy by the arm with a surprising amount of force and begins to run. He sets off another stunner bolt, crackling with ozone. Then winces as it nearly clips the fountain too. How many times had his parents drilled him on not using a stunner anywhere near water? It's the quickest way to get --

His breathing stops for a moment. Maybe there is another way. ]

Percy - can you grab the water out of that shrine?

[mythtakes]

[He looks back over his shoulder, keeping pace with an awkward, side run as he lifts his hand.

Water begins to spill over the edge in vast quantities and surges after the escaping pair in a thin sheet.]

[dendarii]

[ Not quite as much water as Miles would have hoped, but it'll have to do. When the spiders are about as soaked as they are going to get, Miles fires one more time - directly into the water. The electric blast of the stunner goes through it like a shockwave. ]

[mythtakes]

[Percy's face lights up with a wild grin.]

Not bad!

[He pulls the water up and back around, letting it flood back around any stragglers... but they were beginning to thin out, retreating as if called back.]

[dendarii]

[ Oh thank god. Miles exhales hard in relief and makes sure to squash a few of the ones still lingering under his clothes. ]

What was that?

[mythtakes]

Someone who shouldn't have been back alre-

[Percy stopped himself mid word... as if realizing, again, how much time had passed. Almost flinging it, the water surges back to the shrine.]

Back then... Arachne used to send spiders to attack the children of Athena in revenge. We defeated her... but monsters don't stay dead.

[He squints after the last of the retreating arachnids, considering whether to leave Miles here and go after them himself.]