[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]

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.]

[dendarii]

[ Watching Percy manipulate the water sends a faint chill down Miles' neck even now. But that mention of Arachne - that's even worse. He looks Percy over for obvious injuries, still retreating at a reasonable clip. His own bites burn with an alarming intensity. He just wants a bath in a tub of milk or lotion or something. ]

Then - was she attacking me? Shouldn't she be attacking you?

[mythtakes]

I don't know. She's may still have it out for you guys. [As if Miles' heritage is just a forgone conclusion.

He matches Miles' pace easily, looking back now and then.. before just turning all of his attention to the retreat. He shows not a single sign of injury or insect bite.]

Hang on, stop for a second.

[dendarii]

You still don't know for sure--

[ Ugh, these bites itch so much. And Percy doesn't seem to have any, that bastard. He slaps ineffectively at a red welt just visible above his collar.

In any case, he's glad to stop. ]

What are you looking for?

[mythtakes]

Any webbing still on you.

[There's some light dusting of cobwebs that he pulls off, balls up as well as any web will ever do, and shakes it off of his hand.]

Long story.

[dendarii]

[ He watches Percy clear the webs with some distaste. ]

... I think I need as much information as possible. Since it seems I'm involved regardless.

[mythtakes]

So uh. When I say it's a long story. It's a REALLY long story.

We might want to do this somewhere near a lot of water. [Just in case.]

[dendarii]

[ Right. Tactics. Ugh, he has to think for a moment. Vorbarr Sultana is nowhere near the ocean, alas, but... ]

The city is built next to a river. We can walk to the nearest bridge?

[mythtakes]

Lead on.

[dendarii]

This way. We aren't too far.

[ Thank goodness, because these welts are painful. He endures, for now, and leads them on a brisk pace. The bridge in question is an old-fashoiend pedestrian one, with beautiful architecture; the river is large and old and swift. ]

[mythtakes]

[As they stop at the center of the bridge, Percy first roots around in his jacket pockets. After a moment, he brings out a small square of... something. He breaks off a corner of it and hands it to Miles.]

Eat that. It should help.

Okay... Arachne to start with?

[dendarii]

[ Huh. That ... is not what he'd been expecting. He accepts the corner, instinctively wondering if he's being offered poison - no, dammit, he's already decide to trust the boy. And this hardly looks any worse than some of the MREs he's had to endure. ]

Arachne, please. If - if I'm who you say I am, then I need to know who I'm up against.

[ He punctuates this by putting that bit of food into his mouth. And his eyes immediately widen at the taste - delicious, the same flavor as something out of a distant memory. A pastry at Gregor's birthday? He half-lids his eyes for a moment, trying to place it. Meanwhile, the red welts on his neck fade back into pale white marks instad. ]

-- What was that?

[mythtakes]

That's proof positive you're a demigod ... or at least a legacy. It's ambrosia, food of the gods.

[Then just as casually as it had been told to him, years ago at Camp.]

Regular mortals would just combust. To us, it just tastes good.. like something from home.

[AS IF THAT WAS NO BIG DEAL.]

So, do you know the legend of Arachne or should I start there?