[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]

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.

[dendarii]

That ... that is entirely possible. I had never thought the gaps might be filled by Athena.

[mythtakes]

[The spray of water drops back down to the river as Percy gives an elaborate shrug.]

Some families just attract attention.

Annabeth's family is like that too. I swear it's every other one of them.

[dendarii]

Yeah? Maybe Athena in particular prefers to stick with a line once she's found one she likes. Particular like that.

[ He's cheering considerably now that he's reasonably certain his mother isn't a Greek goddess. That was really his primary concern in all this. ]

[mythtakes]

It's ... a bit more complicated with hers.

[Probably telling him about the OTHER pantheons is... a little much. Hades, it was a little much for HIM and he lived through it. Even WAS a purple vulture god thing for a bit.

Bleh, he could still taste the road kill aftertaste.]

Anyways... If Arachne was our hint... we probably need to find her.

[dendarii]

[ Miles gives him a quizzical look but doesn't ask. Yet. Arachne should be their next concern. ]

How do we do that? Follow the spiders?

[mythtakes]

Yeah. Spiderzilla's going to come and find us eventually. She'll make a path right to her web.

Probably, you first... sorry about that.

[dendarii]

Me first, right ...

[ That gives him a thought. Not a very good thought. ]

Perhaps we should expedite the process.

[mythtakes]

Is this an "I've got a crazy idea but it just might work" plan?

Because I love those.

[dendarii]

The only ones I ever seem to have. Yes.

Set a trap. Bait her in.

[mythtakes]

Well, that lets us pick the terrain. What do you have in mind?

[There was the idea of cellphones, but who knows if they exist here, if they amplify the same way or what ELSE is around.]

[dendarii]

Does she react to anything in particular? Incense, squishing spiders, blood sacrifice?

[mythtakes]

She was associated with weaving. Annabeth worked on her pride through it. Monsters that powerful definitely can pick up on their name... so... we've already said it a lot.

[He's always been really bad at that.]

Other than that... monsters can sort of smell where we are. The more powerful you are, the easier it is for them. There's ways to amplify it with cellphones.. but we could get everything nearby if we do that.

[dendarii]

[ He scratches at the side of his face thoughtfully. ]

Given I've never heard of those, I'm assuming they're obsolete. Power... What's the biggest thing you've ever done?

[mythtakes]

Set off a volcano...

Sort of summoned a hurricane too, I guess.

[dendarii]

... Let's try something a little less destructive. Could you reverse the flow of the river?

[mythtakes]

[He turns and looks back into the water, feeling the pressure of it, the age. Fresh water doesn't respond as well in general, and to do this, it had to be without the spirit of the river talked into doing it for him.

After a moment, he looks back at Miles.]

Yeah, but it's going to mean you're going to be the one taking on what comes. At least until I get my feet back under me.

[dendarii]

[ He'd barely been able to handle her spiders, much less their source ... This is such a bad idea.

But what choice do they have? Wait until they're ambushed at Vorkosigan House? No, worse idea. He won't endanger his armsmen and ancestral home. ]

Can I borrow your weapon?