[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]

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?

[mythtakes]

Yeah. But it wasn't some tiny little thing. She's massive. Huge. Ugly annnd really fast.

So monsters and other gods can't get back at the Olympians they take things out on their kids. Children of Athena in this case. For a wisdom goddess Athena has a temper. A really bad temper. I have a charred t-shirt to show it.

Anyways... there was this big important thing stolen from the Greeks by the Romans and Arachne guarded it, since it made Athena go all crazy face. Athena kept sending her kids at it to get it back, but generally they just became snacks for Arachne and it was a bad time.

[dendarii]

[ Miles makes faces all through this description. He's never liked spiders, but now it seems downright pathological. Deep breath. ]

Was? Did you get it back then?

[mythtakes]

It was this big huge super magic statue that was supposed to belong in Greece. It really looked like her. Like REALLY looked like her, you could feel judged for dating her daughter just by being in the room.

[And for a moment, he looks subdued, almost a little hollow, as if remembering something a little too terrible.]

We beat her. Actually Annabeth beat her with no weapons, a broken ankle and no magic.. Outsmarted her entirely. Then WHAM, Arachne fell into the pit of Tartarus under the statue. But she had webbing wrapped up around Annabeth and we didn't notice it. So, we fell with her.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. Hence Percy picking off every bit of webbing still on him. He glances over himself one more time just to make sure he hasn't missed anything either.

He sucks in a breath in sympathy for Annabeth, listening to all that. ]

Tartarus? Isn't that the Greek version of hell?

[mythtakes]

Yeah. It is.

[After all of that explanation and quirky descriptions, that's all he's offering on that.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles understands the impulse very well. With that kind of thing, you just don't ask for details ... He swallows hard and tries not to picture too many details. ]

And then? After that?

[mythtakes]

After that... she found us not long in. She tried a sneak attack on Annabeth but... well. I guess I was a little mad by that point. It didn't take long.

So yeah, she's probably after me too.

...

I just can't figure out why it's her here. There's gotta be something else.

[dendarii]

[ He nods a little at that. ]

Are there any other monsters that hate you that involve spiders? You did ask your father for a hint ...

[mythtakes]

Nnnno. Maybe. Probably not.

[Usually someone else explains that stuff.]