[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]

[ Tilts his head as if he doesn't comprehend what Miles is getting at ]

Yes, Admiral, the function of such devices is obvious. Impaired skeletal development is also a common side affect of numerous teratogenic defects, regardless of the actual root cause. Therefore, once the identification and purpose of such devices is determined, there was little need to dwell on the observation.

[dendarii]

[ Damned logical Vulcans. Ultimately, that's the response he wants, right? For no one to care about his physical defects, to just make his own life regardless ... but he feels a bit like the wind's been taken out of him anyway. Outside his own control if he doesn't control the response too.

Deal with it, Miles. It could have been much worse. ]

Yes ... yes, you're absolutely correct. [ A bit flippantly: ] Well, let me know if you have any further questions.

[scienceping]

Of relating to your unique physiological state, none at this time.

[dendarii]

Perfect.

Are you warm enough to practice your powers again?

[scienceping]

[ Spock raises his hands from where they were resting lightly on his thighs; the very tips of his fingers are still slightly green, but much better than having the cold color them all the way to his second knuckles at least. He flexes his fingers briefly while looking over both the palm and back of each hand. ]

I believe so, though I would prefer to wait until full sensation has returned to the extremities of my median and ulnar nerve endings.

[dendarii]

[ Much better, yes ... mmm, but Miles would be more comfortable seeing Spock completely recovered too. He's only curious and friendly; the last thing he wants is to seriously injure his fellow space buddy. With a light wince, he gets back up on his feet. ]

That will give me some time to get some water for you. A couple glasses and a few various bowl sizes, I think ...

[ He heads off into the kitchen to see what is available. ]

[scienceping]

[ Spock remains seated on the couch, about to give a protest of having Miles wait on him in any fashion in his own home, but decides against it since Miles is up anyway. He does call out while Miles is rooting around the kitchen though. ]

What of your powers, Admiral? You previously implied an application of irony regarding one of your new abilities.

[dendarii]

[ Ah. Dammit. He should have expected this ... Maybe he did, subconsciously. He doesn't like to complain about his powers in front of Gregor, and he hasn't made any other friends so far that have ferreted out his secret identity ... He returns with a set of half-full tumblers, then turns back to get the bowl. ]

They're very simple powers in theory. Teleportation and shape-shifting.

[scienceping]

To what were you referring when you mentioned irony?

[dendarii]

[ He makes a bit of a face, coming back with the pair of bowls. ]

The, er, teleportation is limited to following pipe fixtures. The shape-shifting, well ...

[scienceping]

[ ... Waits for Miles to finish ... ? ]

[dendarii]

[ Damn Vulcan is gonna make him spell it out. He sets the bowls down on the table, rubbing at his face lightly. ]

Wouldn't you want to change your appearance if you looked like me?

[scienceping]

[ With complete seriousness: ]

To what point and purpose?

[dendarii]

[ Really, Spock. He's fond of you already but this is ridiculous. He fumbles over a few emotional responses before deciding to go with something as factual a possible, to see if that gets through to him. ]

The details are somewhat lost to history, but ... there was some sort of nuclear holocaust long before I was born. The resulting mutagenic defects have had a profound effect on our culture, including severe social prejudices against genetic mutations. Up to and including infantcide of anyone born with physical defects. My own grandfather ...

[ He stops there, before this "unemotional" explanation takes a turn he doesn't want to follow. ]

[scienceping]

[ Welcome to talking with Vulcans about anything ever. Spock can, unfortunately, guess what Miles isn't saying, and he thankfully doesn't pursue that particular topic. ]

Then you would use it as a means of escaping the aforementioned prejudices of your society. A facade to present to the general public.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' relationship with his grandfather is a complicated one. Mostly he can't help thinking that he might have gotten into the academy on his first try if he'd had this power back then ...

Not worth dwelling on, maybe. He just sighs a bit and nods. ]

Correct, Commander. Extremely useful to have on a couple different levels.

[scienceping]

No doubt.

But I would invite you to consider, Admiral: one's development may be influenced by their exposure to the available environment, but the environment is also influenced by the individual as well. Your unique physique has shaped your upbringing and may well have provided you with alternate means of adapting that others have either not considered or even realized. It is then remarkable that you achieved the rank of Admiral despite the supposed disadvantage that your society has placed against you.

In summation, if you had previously had the same ability to create a facade via shape-shifting into a more pleasing form, you would have fundamentally changed the outcome of your upbringing, thereby completely altering your development and current self.

[dendarii]

[ Miles' mouth twists a little at the "Admiral" comment - Spock doesn't know half the story there. But Miles isn't going to correct him just yet either. Best not to actively dismantle his own cover, even with it punctured like this. He opens his mouth to protest a few times, then quiets instead. Not sure what to say now, at the end of it. ]

You're right, but I don't like it.

[scienceping]

Nor does anyone when a "disadvantage" is assigned to them.

[dendarii]

What do you know about it? Your society is too logical for that, isn't it?

[ That comes out a little sharper than he'd intended. ]

[scienceping]

[ It's hard to tell what exactly Spock is thinking just then, that damn calm and blank expression masking his thoughts, but he appears to hesitate before replying. ]

... While Vulcans strive towards logic and the control of one's emotions, that does not preclude the presence of some emotion, though many would deny it.

[dendarii]

[ Miles is good enough at reading people that he spots the pause, as slight as it is. ]

Then you have been the target of prejudice.

[scienceping]

I am, despite honoring the Vulcan way and achieving many milestones in Vulcan tradition, different from my peers.

[dendarii]

And they made you suffer for it. Physical bullying, mental? Both?

[scienceping]

I admit that I would prefer not to speak of the matter.

[ Spock once again looks down at his hands, flexing his fingers; they've heated back up by now, no longer the alarming shade of green that they were. He runs through a series of small finger movements to test the sensation and function of his nerves: abducting the digits to his radius, pressing each tip of finger to his thumbnail, judging the sensational reaction, and so on. ]

Suffice it to say that Vulcan children learn the control of their emotions, but they are, in fact, still learning at that stage of development. And as you already are aware, prejudice established early in life is often the most difficult to overcome.