[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]

[ That's refreshing. Damned refreshing. Miles decides that he rather likes this Spock fellow. ]

Hence the greenish color, eh? What about internal organs? All roughly in the same place or different?

[scienceping]

[ He's already used to Tellarite heights, okay.]

That is where our physical similarity ends. While Vulcans possess a majority of organs that perform similar functions to those of Humans, approximately 38. 4% of Vulcan organs and location of said organs differ from that of Humans. Most notable is the placement of our heart muscular organ; it is not located in the center of the chest.

[dendarii]

[ Miles blinks, surprised. ]

Where is it then? And ... er, do all Vulcans talk like you?

[scienceping]

Comparatively, the Vulcan heart is where a Human's liver would normally be located.

[ Spock tilts his head slightly again. ]

The language known as Federation Standard is available for all Federation members to learn.

[dendarii]

No, not - you sound a bit like the electronic textbooks I used to have.

[scienceping]

That is a common opinion among other species.

[dendarii]

Do we all sound messy and emotional to you then?

[scienceping]

Affirmative.

[dendarii]

[ Miles snorts a bit. ]

So, are you just well-controllled or not wired that way?

[scienceping]

Vulcans live by an ethical system based purely on logical principles. Emotions are to be controlled and repressed.

[dendarii]

All the time? Not even for relationships?

[scienceping]

Vulcans often have mates chosen for them by their parents by the age of seven, though it is not uncommon to initiate relations with another if the arrangement is agreeable to both parties.

[dendarii]

[ Huhhhh. Miles recognizes that. ]

Arranged marriages? Really?

[scienceping]

Affirmative. It is logical to match individuals of similar traits and qualities.

[dendarii]

And here I had always thought of it as a rather backwater practice.

[scienceping]

[ Spock quirks his eyebrow again. ]

Oh? May I inquire why?

[dendarii]

Because it's mostly practiced in the Barrayaran Imperium. They've only returned to galactic politics in the last hundred years or so, after nearly a thousand years of isolation.

[scienceping]

And such isolationism is ... "backwater"?

[dendarii]

That's the general consensus, yes.

[scienceping]

A curious conclusion ...

[dendarii]

How so?

[scienceping]

While diversity and discovery is more logical for societal improvement, isolation is not necessarily a hindrance.

[dendarii]

... Let me guess. You were isolated too?

[scienceping]

Not for several centuries before the formation of the Federation.

[dendarii]

But before that. How'd your planet take it?