[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]

Okay. I get that.

[dendarii]

[ At least Miles isn't doubting him. His gut is all but screaming at him not to doubt this weird kid. When a little less than half the bottle is gone, he lets it fall back down again. Considers for a moment, then offers it to Percy. ]

My mother is a theist, but -

[ He shakes his head lightly. ]

What are you then, to be involved in all this?

[mythtakes]

[He gives the bottle a half grin and waves it back.] Thanks, but no. My mom would know if I drank even a sip of that five wormholes away.

[A beat, then.] I'm a half blood. Son of Poseidon, specifically.

[dendarii]

[ Miles shrugs and takes the bottle back. And - um. Maybe it's a good thing Percy didn't take any. He's going to need the entire thing before this night is through, he can just feel it. A bit faintly: ]

Mortal mother, immortal father?

[mythtakes]

Got it in one.

[There's a little sympathy on the kid's face.]

I can prove it. But I'm not actually sure if that would help or if you'd keel over at this point.

[dendarii]

I'm ... not sure myself. Let's try it and see what happens.

[ As Gregor would say. He firmly puts the bottle back on the floor for now, where he won't be tempted to drink from it again. Immediately. ]

[mythtakes]

[Percy cocks his head, gaze a bit distant.]

Not here... everything's in pipes. That'd be messy.


... There! That'll work.

[And he's taking the cellar steps two at a time.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles follows behind him a bit dizzily, unsure of what the hell he's gotten himself into. Is this what it's like following him around? Suddenly he feels a stab of sympathy for everyone who tried to make him slow down over the past thirteen years. Even Ivan. ]

Where are we going?

[mythtakes]

I'm not sure yet. I'll know it when I see it.

[Hopefully, it's not a water heater. That would be embarrassing. He gives a cheeky wave and a grin to the uniformed men he passes... and comes to a stop before the fountain on the ground.]

That's it.

[dendarii]

[ Miles has to twitch another headshake at the guards to keep them from getting riled up again - dammit, Percy - before slowing to a halt. Before the fountain. Huh. He looks between Percy and the small, stone pool expectantly. Out here the scenery is a bit more obviously unearthlike, with normal Terran vegetation being interspersed with smudges of brown or red from the native species. ]

It's a fountain.

[mythtakes]

[He was so focused on the water, and the fountain that it isn't until he turns back to Miles to reply that he actually SEES the world around. It's not like there are fifty moons or a purple sky, but...

For a moment, he's pale, obviously shaken and seems really small.

He steps back towards the fountain, as if the water IS a comfort in what is now an undeniably foreign world.]

[mythtakes]

[And the water seems to reach back out towards him, pulling up out of the pool and wrapping around the kid. Almost instantly, the bravado is back.

What was at first a tendril becomes a wave as the whole contents of the fountain, the pool, the reservoir, even the water that had been coming from the spout at the moment all takes to the air, circling around Percy.]

Was a fountain.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' turn to feel insignificant in the face of the unknown. He sucks in a sharp little breath, watching the water twist and undulate around Percy. His gray eyes widen with awe as he tries (and fails) to come up with a more rational explanation for this. Could there be tech to simulate this? Sure, Jackson's Whole could surely custom-make some kind of anti-gravity rig that only works on water, and make it small enough to implant into a human being. But it's all wildly strange, and - for what purpose? Why would anyone send a kid to infiltrate his home as a son of Poseidon, of all things?

All else being equal, the simplest answer is usually right. As unbelievable as it all seems. ]

Son of Poseidon, indeed.

[mythtakes]

[The water twists, billowing in some areas and tightening into channels in others, until a giant hand of water is formed. It waves at Miles before gently settling back into the fountain. It sputters a moment before water passes through the dry pump again.]

So uh... I hate to do this, but this sort of thing never happens without a reason. I can tell you've seen your share of trouble and the guards here respect you way more than just some rich guy... So who are you?

[dendarii]

[ No sense in hiding it now. It would be obvious soon enough if this boy stays for any length of time, and it looks for all the world like he's stranded. Unfair, too, after that display.

He bows artfully. ]

Lord Miles Vorkosigan. [ A beat. Normally that would be all he says, but he gets the sense this kid wants more context than that. ] My family owns this house, yes, and most of the guards are either Imperial Security or sworn guardsmen to Count Vorkosigan. He - my father - was the Lord Regent of the Barrayaran Imperium until Gregor gained his majority, and he and I are the first two in the line of succession to the Imperial Throne.

[ That's not a good thing, from his tone of voice. Not only is Gregor one of Miles' best friends, but being the Emperor is a job Miles desperately does not want to undertake. ]

[mythtakes]

[Percy stares a long moment, appearing as bewildered as Miles had only moments before. He rubs the back of his neck, shifting awkwardly.]

So, I've never met a space prince. Should I be going for the "Your Highness" stuff?

[dendarii]

[ That deserves (and gets) a snort. ]

Never heard it called that before. Honestly, you probably outrank me. Being the son of a god and all.

[mythtakes]

I don't think it works that way. But I'll take it.

[And seems fairly pleased with the idea by the looks.]

I'd probably forget anyway.

... Right. The name's Percy Jackson.

[dendarii]

[ Oh good. That saves him the trouble of asking. He was beginning to wonder if the boy hadn't introduced himself at the start of this debacle and he'd just missed it. ]

Nice to meet you, Percy. [ Now what? He suddenly feels unbalanced now that they're no longer weighted down by secrecy. ] If you're stuck here, I should show you to a room you can stay in. Tell the guards you're one of my mother's cousins from Beta Colony. That kind of thing.

[mythtakes]

Yeah. Beta Colony.. got it.

So... can I ask a really weird question?

[dendarii]

Perfect. You already got the accent down pat.

[ He slides into it for a moment himself - flat and pseudo-American, that's all it is. Back to the more gutteral Barrayaran: ]

Why not?

[mythtakes]

[A deep space colony with a New York accent. He kind of wonders if your brain could explode from weird...]

[JUST IN CASE, it's worth figuring out how literal the cousins might be. There's no particularly non-crazy way to ask this one, so he does it the way Percy is best at: Straightforward.]

Would you say you take after your mom? Like, grey eyes, strategy, leadery-stuff that sort of thing?

[dendarii]

[ Just shows which parts of the world colonized what, mostly. Miles blinks for a moment at that question, confused. ]

Yes? She was the captain of the Betan Astronomical Survey before marrying my da.

[ Normally Aral Vorkosigan is more well known as the strategist in the family, but from what he knows of his mother, she was no slouch either ... ]

[mythtakes]

[Athena was never particularly warm about him. Or even all together civil half the time. If this was HER... this could be a really hard quest.]

Okay, that's hardly definitive but... If Athena's in your bloodline somewhere, that would explain why you could see the monster for what it was. And maybe why I'm here.

[dendarii]

[ A pause. A very long pause. ]

Are you insinuating - no, that's definitely what you've just insinuated.

[ The thought makes him dizzy. Obviously his mother is flesh and blood, but - no, if being in a uterine replicator had any impact on demigodhood surely he wouldn't look like this - he can't believe he's even considering this idea. Deep breaths, Miles. He decides to ask a more reasonable question. ]

Normal people can't see monsters? ... What would my guards have seen?