[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]

[The beast lets out a dual yelp that shakes the rafters of the old house. It scrambles madly on the floor, deadly claws suddenly not finding any purchase on the slick surface.

The boy had rolled aside, anticipating an attack... when it hadn't come, he got to his feet, gawking at the mortal for only a moment.

He darts in, slashing at Orthrus with a bronze sword. The dog drops heavily to the ground, gash dripping golden blood for a moment before the whole creature starts to dissolve into sand.]

Good thinking.

[As if that was a surprising and rare thing... The kid starts towards the door and... stops as all of the stunners were leveled at him.]

So. How about I let myself out?

[dendarii]

[ A nice little half-circle of stunners, previously trained on the monster and now aimed directly at Percy. They look for all the world like a set of Star Trek phasers.

Miles, meanwhile, drags himself the rest of the way to his feet. Still staring in shock at the remains of the monster, mildly horrified by the whole ordeal. At least this dusty powder is much easier to clean up than a freaking corpse, but he finds himself unnerved all the same. Explanations. He needs more information now. ]

Where? Back to get more of - whatever that was?

[ He gestures wildly at the collapsed sand castle in his dining room. ]

[mythtakes]

[He doesn't look particularly sure of what they are, but is giving them a healthy amount of respect. After a moment of hesitation, he drops his sword to the ground and holds his hands up.

Contrary to the careful gesture, the kid's tone is light. Almost joking.]

You know, that's a really good question.

Where am I?

[dendarii]

[ Kids. Not that Miles is terribly far past that, and by no means out of his own manic stage - but he feel terribly old right now. He's puffing a bit while this ragamuffin seems almost gleeful at his own swath of destruction... ]

Vorkosigan House. Vorbarr Sultana, Barrayar. Is that enough for you?

[ It all comes out rather sarcastically, because of course they're on Barrayar. ]

[mythtakes]

How in Hades...?

[He didn't dunk Hera enough the last time, clearly.]

Okay, I have no idea how I got into the Middle East, but I REALLY need to get back. Or to a phone. My mom's going to kill me.

[dendarii]

The Middle East? Of what?

[ There's something missing here. Alas, Miles doesn't know his Earth geography well enough to pick up on it immediately. ]

Where are you from? I'll be happy to contact your mother if it gets you out of my hair.

[mythtakes]

New York City... Uh. It's probably going to be a long distance call. Sorry about that.

[Without, seemingly, a care for the sword he relinquished, the kid drops his hands and walks towards Miles.]

[dendarii]

[ That's weird. It puts Miles more on edge, because surely there's a catch he's not seeing. But even so, he puts up a hand to hold back his men. ]

Down, please. I can handle this.

... And it's going to be a very long distance call, I'm afraid. Sending a message to Earth would take at least a week even if you were the Emperor himself.

[mythtakes]

[There's a long pause, and Percy sizes up Miles, serious, calculating and a little fierce. It's gone and his shoulder's drop.]

You're messing with me.

[There's a certain tone there. Like he already knows Miles isn't messing with him. Someone else is.

There's a commotion, behind him as the sword vanishes right in front of the guards.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles' own expression softens for a moment. He still has no idea how this kid got here, and is highly suspicious of that how until he has an answer - but that's a hell of a thing to wind up on a whole 'nother planet without realizing it. He's tried it once. Didn't like it much. ]

Unfortunately, I'm not. You're about five wormhole jumps from Earth by the shortest route.

[ And then the sword disappears. Miles' head whips around as soon as his guards react, equally alarmed. ]

-- Where the hell did that go?

[mythtakes]

[The kids eyes widen and his hand comes up, raking through his messy hair, anxiously. He mutters something in Greek, the beginning of a rather mild curse- and it cuts off as he whirls around, expecting another threat at the surprised voices...

It takes him a second to realize what the matter was.]

Oh. Yeah. It does that.

[dendarii]

It does that?

[ That curse in Greek though ... Both Miles and one of the guards cock their heads, though the rest of the guards don't seem to notice. Hmm. Miles considers for a moment - is it worth losing the possible advantage of this kid not knowing he speaks Greek? Could catch him saying something he didn't mean to tell. But on the other hand ... He slides into the language quite fluently, himself. ]

You make no sense at all, you know that?

[mythtakes]

[He looks back at Miles, surprise clearly painted across his expression. Almost cautiously, brows furrowed, he answers,]

I've been told that before. You are one to talk, you know.

[dendarii]

[ He just grins a little and shrugs. Another gesture to the guards makes them retreat a little, though they don't slink entirely out of sight just yet. ]

I've been told that too. If you're done fighting monsters in my parlor, would you like something to drink?

[mythtakes]

[He takes a deep breath, and lets it out, steadying himself. The devil may care grin resurfaces and he nods.]

I don't suppose there's a place on this planet to get a Coke, huh?

[dendarii]

[ If nothing else, Miles has learned that a bit of a friendliness goes much further than force when dealing with potential hostiles. He brightens at Percy's request, and switches back over to English. ]

Actually, I think I do still have a bottle. Souvenir from an ... er, vacation on Earth.

[mythtakes]

[Whatever and whoever this kid is, it seems to have been very much the correct tact as well. His demeanor loses the last of that edge, becoming easily friendly, bright. As if they'd known each other for a while.]

Seriously? Man, that's awesome. You're on.

[dendarii]

Excellent. Just stay close and I'll get it out of the cellar.

[ There, solved for now. He's suddenly very glad he decided to toss that bottle in his luggage at the end of his Terran tour. Probably best the kid doesn't wander around too much though, for both his sake and Miles'. He heads for a staircase down the hall, which goes to a musty (but obviously well-maintained) wine cellar. ]

[mythtakes]

[The kid wanders only a step behind. There's a bit of manic energy about him, looking at almost everything, drifting here and there to check out anything that seems to catch his eye.]

Wow... I don't think I've ever been in a house this big. You live here?

[dendarii]

[ Miles can sympathize. He'd been the same not so long ago. Hell, he still mostly is. Just ... more focused, nowadays. As long as Percy stays within sight, he lets him wander. It's a fascinatingly old house, full of rich dusty carpets and obvious antiques at every corner. Doors up and down the corridors they pass promise whole wings to explore if someone had a day and a map. Even the wine cellar is full of interesting labels and vintages. None of the dates make sense, though, as they're either based on the system used by Barrayar only during the Time of Isolation, or based on the new galactic standard, which doesn't match up with AD or CE at all.

Miles retrieves the bottle swiftly enough and settles back for a moment, watching Percy rove. ]

I'd been away for a while. But yes. Grew up here originally, in fact.

[ After a moment's thought, he selects a bottle of wine for himself. ]

[mythtakes]

[The kid offers a cheerful thanks, twisting the cap off with a satisfying pop and hiss.]

Man, does this make you an alien. Or am I the alien, technically. Your English is really good by the way...

[The dates didn't seem to impress or hold him, though Miles gets an eyebrow quirk at the selection.]

Aren't you a little young for that?

[dendarii]

[ His drawl is a bit sarcastic this time. ]

100% human, as far as I know. Now that monster of yours --

[ Wait. Did this kid just call him - he sputters briefly, more startled than annoyed. That wine bottle gets uncorked with a little more force than is necessary, though. ]

I'm thirty.

[mythtakes]

What?

[He. Looks down at the other guy. From his own monstrous height, with HONEST CONFUSION.]

But that's ancient.

[dendarii]

[ Miles knows that look all too well. Stupid kids with their stupid giant tallness. He fumbles mentally for a moment, not sure if he wants to be more irritated with being ancient or too young, and decides to be annoyed with both. Better get a long, aggressive swig of that wine bottle before he replies. ]

And how old are you, exactly? Fifteen?

[mythtakes]

... Seventeen, somehow.

[He takes a drink of the soda. If he even picked up on Miles irritation, there was only happiness at the preferred drink right now.]