[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]

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.]

[dendarii]

[ Dammit, Percy. Miles makes a faintly exasperated noise. ]

It's the only myth involving spiders I've ever heard of, but I'll ask one of my guards if he has any thoughts. Or my mother, for that matter.

[ That is going to be a hugely awkward conversation. ]

[mythtakes]

... your mom.

[SURE IS WEIGHING THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF THIS ONE.]

[dendarii]

Yes.

[ He doesn't sound happy about it, but ... ]

I need - I have to know. What her answer is, at least.

[mythtakes]

If you need a test, she'll probably be instantly annoyed by my existence.

[Not that. He actually wants to be there for that.]

[dendarii]

[ He makes a bit of a face. ]

Athena not fond of you dating her daughter, eh?

[mythtakes]

Something about rivalry with Poseidon blah blah blah. Olives are pretty good on pizza so Athens was all biased. That sort of deal.

[dendarii]

[ Miles doesn't remember that particular tale, alas. But he shrugs and accepts the explanation as given. ]

I suppose she'll ask to see you. If we can make a connection with her. Is there a trick to that Iris message other than the coin and the water?

[mythtakes]

The angle. The trick is a rainbow. Iris is the goddess of rainbows, messages and rock hard super healthy 'snack' things. [Complete with finger quotes.]

I can get one going if you want.

[dendarii]

... Um. I'll take your word for that last part.

[ He's beginning to think Percy's version of this mythology is weird. ]

Please. I - yes. That would be helpful.

[ This is the final proof, he's decided. If he manages FTL communication with magic ... then that's it. He's a believer. ]

[mythtakes]

You've got it.

[The river isn't really his, outside of his domain, fresh water. But it still surges up into a spray when he calls it. A faint rainbow forms in the air behind him.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles' breath catches in his throat. Right here, right now. This is it. He pulls out one of the leftover drachma and watches it catch the light in his hand. ]

What do I say?

[mythtakes]

This one's pretty easy. Just call her name. "O Iris accept my offering" then say who you want to see and where they probably are.

[dendarii]

Right. Simple.

[ Before he can lose his nerve, he tosses the coin into the rainbow. ]

O Iris, accept my offering. I wish to speak with Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan, on Sergyar. In the Viceroy's Palace.

[ The image flickers for a moment ... and then a woman with long red hair and gray eyes is staring back at them, looking rather startled. She's in the middle of washing her face. ]

"Miles?"

[mythtakes]

[Percy squints at the girl in the connection. One thing he has learned is that gods and goddesses can look any way they please...

There's really only being around one that can make you sure.

Still, he gives a cheeky wave from behind Miles.]

[dendarii]

[ Cordelia's eyes immediately narrow as she takes in the both of them. A glance back - there's a second figure in the room, just out of sight and out of earshot - before she leans back in. ]

"It is you. Miles, what's going on? Who's your friend?"

[ Miles just. Has to swallow for a moment, recovering less quickly than his mother. ]

Mother. Er - it's a long story.

[ He goes into a truncated summary of the story so far. Percy showing up out of nowhere, monsters, shrine of Poseidon, spiders, and now the Iris message. He skips over the part where he's seriously considering the possibility that he could be a demigod until the very end.

Cordelia, on her side, listens patiently to her son. At some point through the proceedings, Aral comes in too - so now there are two people staring at Percy with familiar steely-gray gazes. Miles starts over after the first question from his father, until they finally get to the real question at the heart of this. ]

Is it possible - er, for Mother, I mean - [ Does he just mean Cordelia? Could a goddess take on a male form? But somehow his mother feels more possible than the Butcher of Komarr. This is too much. ] You aren't a Greek goddess, right?

[ Cordelia, in all her grace, manages not to laugh. There is a wicked glint of amusement at the corner of her eyes though. The resulting slow but steady barrage of questions mostly hinge around on delving into why Miles has mistaken his mother for a goddess while Aral considers his wife with thoughtful smile.

At least he's given them enough of the truth to convince her that his concerns are entirely literal. Either way, her answer is no. ]

[mythtakes]

Yeah. She's actually got a sense of humor.

[Because the peanut gallery is not known for keeping his mouth shut.]

[dendarii]

[ Her eyes seem to sparkle more at that. ]

"The only way not to go crazy on a planet like Barrayar."

[ Aral seems incredibly used to this. Miles, meanwhile, snorts faintly. ]

That doesn't explain why I didn't spontaneously combust ...

[ That gives his parents just enough time to look alarmed before the message cuts out, requesting more drachma. ]

[mythtakes]

[Percy's hands automatically go to his pockets.. but predictably, come up empty.]

It could be further down the line on either side. The Romans called them legacies. The children of demigods... I guess the line gets diluted quickly... but uh. Seems strong enough.

[dendarii]

[ Miles has that last coin, but like hell he's using it now. Not when he possesses the only way to communicate instantaneously in the entire goddamn galaxy. He'll save it for a true emergency someday.

Legacies, eh ... There's certainly enough holes in his family line on both sides for that to be possible. ]

Would it be stronger if they both were?

[mythtakes]

... Yeah. Probably right back up to full demigod power.