[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]

[ He would like to say that he planned this from start to finish. But no, that would be giving himself too much credit. Miles is not exactly a long term planner. Where he shines - truly shines - is in seizing the opportunity when it presents itself.

And in looking back at Percy's strained face, to the press of water far upstream, then back to the spiders surrounding them - Miles sees an opportunity. ]

Percy. Let go.

[mythtakes]

[In better circumstances, he might have checked to make sure Miles knew that that meant. Maybe asked if he was sure.

But right now? Right now, it's all he can do to take a ragged breath before he lets go. He staggers back, grabbing onto Miles' arm the second before a twenty foot wave of angry riverwater smashes into the bridge, them and the mass of spiders.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles gets just enough time to regret this decision a little before the water hits him. He has no idea if Percy can help him now but it seems like a damn good idea not to lose his grip on the son of Poseidon. It's fortunate that he recently had the last of his bird bones replaced with synthetics or he probably would have died outright anyway.

As it is... He's not. He's surprised he's not. That's about all he can think of with the water rushing around him. He tries to swim awkwardly with one hand, but he can't tell which way is up. Is he about to drown? Is that what's going to happen? ]

[mythtakes]

[The water is a muddy brown, heavy missiles of fragments, rocks and a vehicle in it. Somehow, somehow none of them slam into either of them while Percy is still struggling for consciousness. The problem is, instead of another miracle, Percy's grip on Miles' arm goes slack..]

[dendarii]

[ Miles' lungs smolder, then catch fire. Percy's clearly out, the mud is making it impossible to see - he's reminded of a similar incident at Cyril Island, where he awoken to find himself half-drowned in frozen mud. Same desperate scrabbling for air; less sense of which way to go, and still fewer tools to use to try and right himself. Besides, he's not leaving Percy. Even now.

The muddy water pours into his lungs at last. He gags - has time for one more coherent thought -- At least it isn't cold -- before the world spins away in fragments. Mercifully, he loses consciousness quickly. ]

[mythtakes]

[It's somewhere outside of the entire city itself, possibly by many miles, in the muddy, damp, debris filled banks of the river, Miles may awaken to the raw, disturbing feeling of water getting literally pulled whole out of his lungs.

Having recovered shortly after, Percy found Miles on the bottom of the river, and shot back out with him to the banks. Thank the gods, there was still a faint, struggling heartbeat. He hadn't quite had the strength to pull them entirely from the water, or even sit up, himself. Just did what he had to do with an unsteady raise of one hand.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles chokes on that. He's reminded uncomfortably of having a breathing tube taken out of him - at least this isn't solid. But it's still alarming and weird and desperately uncomfortable. As soon as Percy's pulled enough out for him to breathe again, he turns over and leans on his forearms so that he can retch and cough the rest up properly. It's then that he realizes that they're still sitting in a shallow layer of water.

No flopping down, then. No matter how much he may want to. He settles for a faint groan instead. ]

Th ... thank you.

[mythtakes]

[He's still soaking up what strength he can get from the water. Percy isn't moving for a while now.]

No prob... [he croaks,] that... was one beast of a river, man.

[dendarii]

[ Percy get a weak pat on the shoulder from Miles. ]

One of the largest on the planet. Should have ... warned you.

[mythtakes]

[It starts out as a little huff of air, then a snort, then an outright, full, long laughter.]

Maybe... maybe a lil bit. Yeah.

Guess we call that a wash.

[dendarii]

[ Miles just snorts loudly at that. He doesn't have the breath to laugh, or else he would. ]

No chance it killed her then?

[mythtakes]

Hate to break it to you, unless she reformed like that...

That wasn't her at all. That was just spiders she was controlling.

[dendarii]

Then where is she? How do we find her? Obviously calling her isn't a good idea.

[mythtakes]

Probably in the city somewhere.

... probably underground. [He says that like it's the last place he really wants to be.]

Usually there's some really vague not always rhyming prophecy thing that gives you a vague direction to run in. Unless it's Mars. That's the only thing Ares ever does right- clear directions.

[dendarii]

[ Miles frowns, thinking about it. ]

There is an extensive sewer system under Vorbarr Sultana. And the palace itself has a number of secret passages. Mostly sealed off for Gregor's safety.

[mythtakes]

That... sounds like a really good place to start.

[dendarii]

Come on, then. I'll get Martin out here with the lightflyer.

[ He frowns down at his commlink. A bit waterlogged ... but not so much he can't switch it on and make the call. ]

[mythtakes]

... By that do you mean airplane?

[dendarii]

Oh, no. More like a flying motorcycle. Partially enclosed, fits four.

[mythtakes]

... how low to the ground can it fly?

[dendarii]

... Are you afraid of heights, Percy?

[mythtakes]

I'm afraid of highly directed bolts of lightning.

[dendarii]

[ Miles looks up at the cloudless sky. ]

Er ... we'll need to clear the treetops, at least. I can ask Martin to stay low though.

[mythtakes]

...

What if I just walk?

[Not that he's even sat up yet.]

[dendarii]

Then I'll see you in a couple days. We're well out of the city here.