[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

[scienceping]

A relaxed posture to encourage a quiet mind.

[ He sits in the opposite side of the booth, neatly folding his fingers together on the table. And for the first time he slouches forward, just a bit while seated even though for the most part he is upright. ]

[dendarii]

Right. Relaxed.

[ He considers for a moment, then swings his feet up onto the booth seat too. Better than having them dangling awkwardly. He rests one elbow loosely on the table and leans back. ]

Good enough.

[scienceping]

[ Spock tilts his head to the side again, more casual this time, like a sideways nod. ]

Also acceptable.

[dendarii]

[ Miles takes a deep breath, then, calming himself. A quick message to Gregor to make sure his shields are completely up - before doubling down on his end. Walling off everything of Miles Vorkosigan, with a wall of Richard III blocking it off in case Spock gets too nosy. Miles' anti-interrogation tactics are ... creative. ]

Now what?

[scienceping]

[ Lets Miles have a moment to do so, quiet and unobtrusive while he gathers his own thoughts and raising his own barriers. ]

First I will explain the various details and implications of the mind meld to fully prepare you ...

Physical contact is required to initiate the link. If you wish to end the mind meld at any time, you may pull away, though I would caution against doing so as the severance of minds will be abrupt and may cause a headache of significant intensity, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Rather, direct your thoughts towards mine and request that I cease the link and I will do so.

Those in a meld share consciousness in what multiple individuals have described as a kind of gestalt. It is often overwhelming at first, but slow breathing will aid in your navigation of the link.

At the conclusion of the meld, each mind will retain some knowledge of the other, though I have spoken of the concept of shielding both of our minds to prevent undue wandering through thoughts where the other is unwelcome. Another side-effect is the transfer of emotion; any memory gleaned through the meld will carry the emotional weight that the other person experienced at the time of the memory, or the current emotional state of the other if no memories are shared.

[dendarii]

[ Miles nods, listening to Spock's explanation. ]

In other words: don't move, take deep breaths, and try not to cry.

[scienceping]

[ ... Eyebrow. ]

Essentially.

[dendarii]

I think I can handle that.

[scienceping]

[ Lets the other eyebrow join the raised one in a momentarily, utterly Human Look he gives Miles, but they both relax only half a moment later. Spock abruptly gets up then, switching from his side of the booth to join Miles on his side, scooting in close to almost be touching his raised feet, but leaving him an inch or two of room before leaning forward, hands raised and approaching Miles' face. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles snorts a bit but doesn't comment. He rather likes the expression on Spock's face.

In any case, he only flinches momentarily when Spock reaches for him. Deep breaths. He can do this. ]

[scienceping]

[ He pauses at the flinch, fingers only inches away. ]

Calm your mind, Admiral.

[dendarii]

I'm calm. Please, continue.

[ He stills himself for real this time. ]

[scienceping]

[ Reaches forward to place his fingertips in various places across Miles' face, applying only the barest of pressures. After a moment,Spock then closes his eyes to begin the meld ... ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles still isn't completely relaxed, but he's doing his best. A bigger issue might be the pace of his mind: frenetic, full of thoughts going every which way even at his quietest. That damn Richard III is running loudly too, keeping a firm wall between the parts Spock can access and everything else.

There's only one leak in regards to his identity, small enough that even he doesn't notice it. More like a permeance in his mind that won't go away: not Admiral Miles Naismith, but rather Lord Miles Vorkosigan. ]

[scienceping]

[ Adding to his flurry of thoughts is Spock's sense of presence in his mind now too: quiet and as unobtrusive as possible, but still there. They're cool to the touch, the kind of calm you'd expect of a underground lake with no current or wind to disturb it, flooding in slowly to press against the walls of Miles' barrier.

While there may not be any thoughts detectable like this, Miles should still be able to just feel Spock; truthful, sincere, yet adamant in his chosen discipline, literal to a fault and fiercely loyal. Definitely telling the truth before then.

After allowing Miles to become accustomed to the meld, Spock begins to move around in his head a bit, mindful of the barriers, but actively seeking the telepathic link Milers spoke of ... ]

[dendarii]

[ Yes ... and how strange to have his character judgment be proven right so completely and immediately. It's gratifying. Deeply so.

Miles is all light and sparks, vibrant energy that is glorious when present and utterly, agonizingly hollow when not. He meant it about being either on or off all the time. After some fumbling to adjust to the meld - this is very different from his link with Gregor - he maneuvers to bring the link to the front of his mind. Like a valve between the two of them, with points to adjust the flow on each side. Seems perfectly healthy, if still being adapted to. No way to check how it's affecting Gregor without opening the link. ]

[scienceping]

[ He'll feel Spock's curiosity at Miles' emotional mentality, such an odd mix of emotions and emotionlessness in a Human ... but Spock lets it slip past him,concentrating instead on the link he shares with his counterpart. Good from this side all around,gently probing to test its resiliency and limits, satisfied with the outcome. ]

[dendarii]

[ A mental shrug in return. It's just how he is. Manic or depressive, with very little in between.

If Spock is done checking, then Miles is gently going to shoo him out. Before he slips up any more than he already has. Now is the winter of our discontent-- ]

[scienceping]

[ Spock begins to withdraw, only monetarily pausing to finish the phrase, made glorious summer by this sun of York—the sense of him reading Shakespeare in Earth English as a child leaks out at the recital, the love of reading it with his Human mother who also loved it, her smile coloring the words on the pages, real paper pages, delicate and crinkling under his fingers— ]

[scienceping]

[ —and then Spock is gone from his mind, his fingertips pulling back slowly as he once again sits upright in front of Miles. ]

[dendarii]

[ Oh. That was what Spock meant by the mental transference, wasn't it? He hadn't expected it to be so vivid. Or for it to draw out a memory of his own in return. He'd been alone in a room of a dusty, ancient home, steadfastly memorizing the complete works volume he'd been given, complete with falsetto vocalizations of the female parts. Richard III had held particular meaning for him, centering as it did on the deformed figure at the heart of it--

Miles jolts back with a gasp. ]

Ah - ah. That was ... very different.

[scienceping]

No doubt ...

[ Spock moves slowly away, switching back to the opposite side of the booth to allow room for Miles should he want it after that. For a few heartbeats, Spock doesn't meet his eyes ... ]

[dendarii]

[ Is he supposed to respond to that? Or dutifully ignore it? He's reminded rather abruptly of the first time he had sex and the extremely awkward denouement of that encounter. ]

I - er - you read Shakespeare?

[scienceping]

[ That causes Spock to meet his eyes, slightly wide in surprise, which he recovers from quickly. ]

... Ah. My apologies. I was just considering how to ask you the same question. The shields I had used to keep our minds mostly separated had somewhat collapsed towards the end of the mind meld.

[dendarii]

[ Huh. Maybe he wasn't supposed to mention it. Too late to go back now. ]

And thus something slipped through?