[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]

[ 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?

[dendarii]

[ Miles chokes. They'll come back to Arachne in a moment, but first -- ]

There was a possibility I'd combust?

[mythtakes]

[Oh.

Right.]

... Maybe. It didn't seem all that likely. I mean, I was pretty sure.

[dendarii]

I still had doubts!

[ And then he freezes, looking down at his very much uncrispy skin. ]

I still had doubts.

[mythtakes]

[He leans on the rail to the river, scratching his cheek. It was really easy to assume... no wonder so many did when HE first came.]

Monsters almost never actually attack mortals at all...

[He glances to where the welts on Miles' neck is fading.]

There's this whole orientation video...

I never got to watch it either, actually.

[dendarii]

[ God. Gods. Whatever. Miles just looks exhausted by all of it. No point in denying any of this now, is there? Even though his mind rebels painfully at the thought...

He shakes his head. ]

I hope I never end up watching it either. [ A beat. ] I am not going back to your camp with you.

[mythtakes]

[Almost immediately Percy nods in response, emphatically.]

You shouldn't.

I mean it's great. It really is. But you've got a lot going here, that you shouldn't be locked away from.

[dendarii]

[ Miles sags a bit in relief at that. He was having the most horrible mental images for a moment there. ]

There's also the small matter of being the Vor lord and eventual Count of my district.

[mythtakes]

And a space prince.

[dendarii]

... Yes. That too.

[ He wonders if being a demigod might disqualify his claim on the throne ... if only. ]

But - first, Arachne. Had a weaving contest with Athena? Turned into a spider?