[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]

[ No. He is not going to go into the inside details of his psyche with a woman he just met, who might be an assassin, and certainly has ties to something he should be concerned about. Even though she is pretty.

Too young, Miles. And not a special case like Taura. He sighs faintly and settles for admiring her bravery.

That doesn't remove her from this parlor, though. Or get him any more details at all. The longer he keeps her talking without running off, the more he might learn ... hmm. Moving slowly enough not to prompt any spurts of heroism from her, he reaches for the wine bottle he'd had with dinner. Inspects the glass - finds it clean enough for someone else to use - and fills it. Offers it to Kitty by putting it on her side of the table, then takes a quick swig of the bottle to show it's not poisoned. ]

If you want me to answer that, we both need to be drunk first.

[rathercommon]

[ She opens her mouth, then closes it. This...might actually be her escape. If she can outdrink him and incapacitate him. He's little, after all. So that low body weight will give her an advantage - though on the other hand, she's hungry, and she's sort of scrappy and doesn't outweigh him too hugely. Plus she doesn't really drink very often. She doesn't like the thought of getting stupid or sluggish. But she has incredible force of will - surely she can just will the alcohol to not take effect.

Ha, ha. Fat chance. But what other choice do you have? A bloody drinking contest against Lord bloody Vorkosigan with for your life the prize. Brilliant. ]

Fine.

[ She takes the glass and takes a cautious sip. She'd expected it to be vile, like most wine of her experience, but apparently Lord Vorkosigan doesn't drink the sort of rotgut you can find amongst the lower classes in Hassadar. It's velvety and rich. She sets it down with just as much caution, then offers him a bit of honesty. ]

If you'd handed me your knife a week ago, I'd have stuck it in my back pocket and taken it out of there and peddled it. I'd get a good price, I think, and I'd prefer you not falling on it yourself. As someone who follows politics.

[dendarii]

[ He snorts faintly at that. Not amusement at her, exactly ... ]

That may be the strangest compliment I've ever received.

[ Another long sip of that wine. On the one hand, he is tiny, and with a high enough metabolism that two or three glasses is enough to put him under. On the other hand, he's doing this on a full stomach, with a dark bottle that can easily mask how much is left. That about evens the odds. ]

[rathercommon]

Probably 'cause it wasn't a compliment.

[ She crosses her arms. ]

Others out there - [ Her comrades, for example - ] Think that just 'cause you're Vor, you're no friend to us. But that's not true. Not really. You might not be a friend to the proles, but you're closer to one than just about any other Vor. Killing you would give ammunition to the conservatives, would cripple your father emotionally, would set off a firestorm of retributions, and when the time came would pass the Countship onto someone whose politics no one knows anything about. No, thanks.

[dendarii]

Quite right. Nearly the exact logic I was going to use to dissuade you if you'd pulled that knife on me after all.

[ A beat. ]

Don't underestimate Mark, though.

[rathercommon]

[ A shrug, and then she leans back in her chair, trying to look very casual about how little of her wine she's drinking. ] I'm sure he's quite clever. I'm sure he really knows his business. I'm also sure that none of us have any idea what he favors. He's a mystery. Why risk a mystery when you've got someone perfectly acceptable?

[ Her gesture takes in Miles, perfectly acceptable as he is. ]

I'm glad you think the same way that I do, though. It speaks decently highly of your intellect.

[dendarii]

You are a font of flattery, milady.

[ He takes a real swig this time, feeling a distinct need for it now. And here he thought it would be too quiet with Ivan gone. ]

You said there are others out there? Should I be concerned?

[rathercommon]

[ She sidesteps that question best she can. ]

Of course there are others out there. If you weren't aware of that, and concerned, I'd be quite curious about your security team.

[dendarii]

[ He waves a hand, a bit dismissive. ]

Just so. One of those protest groups, I assume - are you with the democrats or the communists?

[rathercommon]

[ Her frown is considerable. And, again, she sidesteps. ]

You don't seem to take either of them seriously, Lord Vorkosigan. Is that fair to say?

[dendarii]

No, not really.

[ Said almost apologetically. ]

It's not that I doubt your bravery, nor the importance of your principles. It's just all ... normal. In comparison.

[rathercommon]

[ And her eyes narrow further. She does look rather dangerous now. Less of an assassin than someone who'd murder another in a fit of passion, perhaps. ]

In comparison to what.

[dendarii]

[ He does seem to inspire that in people. Sigh. ]

All kinds of things. Nowadays it takes a lot more to get my attention. Kidnapping at absolute minimum.

[ At that, he leans forward to pour her more wine. There's a flicker of unintentional movement under one arm - that stunner holster, just barely visible past his open jacket. ]

[rathercommon]

[ Her eyes flick towards it. She thinks - she could grab his wrist right then. Yank him hard, jerk him against the table to drive the breath from him. While he's trying to regain his wits, she could grab that stunner, shoot him before he can alert anyone -

And then...carry him out of here? He's little, but not that little. No. A Vor lord would be good leverage if she could pull off that aforementioned kidnapping, but - too many difficult details. Regretfully, her eyes leave the gun. And the sting of the missed opportunity lends a bit more viciousness to her words than is perhaps warranted. ]

No, of course. I mean, that does make sense. After all, it's just the lives and the futures of us proles, living in squalor with no way to change our lot in life. That's much less exciting than - [ She lifts her glass and suggests - ] Drinking really delicious wines.

[dendarii]

[ She could certainly do all of that. If she knew about Miles' driver and his seizures, she might even manage to walk out the front door with him claiming a medical emergency. And Miles would curse his big mouth for getting himself into yet another ridiculous situation.

The moment lingers, then passes. And Miles leans back in his chair.

Really, he is sorry that he can't be more serious about this. He knows this is a serious issue - had a fully serious argument about it with her moments before. Her words cut him sharply, and rightfully so. He studies the bottle in his hand for a moment, thinking. ]

My apologies. I didn't mean to trivialize your concerns. [ More softly: ] You are from my district, aren't you?

[rathercommon]

[ His apology makes her feel less vindicated and more...awkward, honestly. Like she'd been too harsh. Which is ridiculous, because that was what he'd been saying, right? That the life of a Vor lord, drinking and socializing and laughing, was so much more interesting to him than the plight of her people. And yet - It feels for some reason as though she's being unfair. So her eyes drop to the tabletop, and she offers a little one-shouldered shrug. ]

Yeah. I am.

[dendarii]

I should be hearing more of this. Directly. I can't change the government - I think you will find it a more stubborn beast than you think as well - but I can change what I can.

[ All the humor has dropped away from his expression, leaving only gray-eyed intensity. ]

[rathercommon]

[ And she looks up at him, her thick eyebrows runching together in uncertainty. ]

Meaning what, exactly?

[dendarii]

... Honestly? I'm not sure. But we can find out.

[rathercommon]

[ She hesitates a moment, her eyes searching his intensely. She doesn't know what she finds there. But for just a moment, she shrinks back a little bit - becomes neither the cringing maid she'd pretended to be at first or the strident, loud woman she'd defaulted to, but instead - someone uncertain. But someone also very hopeful. Maybe he's just mocking her. Maybe he doesn't mean any of this. But if he does - ]

I have ideas.

[dendarii]

[ No, no mockery at all. Only honesty, in deadly earnest. ]

Go on.

[rathercommon]

[ She bites her lip, hesitating just a moment longer before going on. ]

We need more voices speaking for us. And to us. Not benevolent Vor looking out for us, but - representatives from the lower classes, working for the lower classes. Sitting in on committee meetings. Getting a say in the government. We need people trained as journalists and advocates. People who have voices and can make their voices heard. Maybe true democracy won't come yet, but the first steps can be disguised in the professional fields, and disguised as ceremonial positions.

[dendarii]

[ Miles considers all of that, swirling the wine around in his bottle without taking a sip. They're all good ideas, no doubt about it. Practical ones? Ah, there's the rub. Gregor would be delighted, he's sure of it; the rest of the Vor, not so much. They'd need proof that it worked, a limited test run perhaps, with one eccentric Lord to lead the way ...

And your father's politics? How much of a mess would that make?

Right. Smaller steps first then. Petition Gregor allow him to make a small council for himself, more scholarships and opportunities ... It'll be difficult, and finding the money ... Would Mark finance it? Very possibly.

And now that Naismith is dead, shouldn't he focus on Barrayar? On his people? This night is getting heavier and heavier. ]

I think ... most of that would be possible. Starting with the professional fields - it will be easier to build a council with people I can defend as being wildly competent. Certainly there are areas in the backcountry that badly need very basic services as well.

[rathercommon]

[ She's encouraged as he chimes in thoughts of his own. Her nod gets more energetic, and her eyes brighten. Her face comes alive. ]

Very much so. Education is so important - massively important - Because one advocate, no matter how sympathetic and no matter how high-born, isn't going to compare to giving us the tools we need to speak up for ourselves. And continuing education, too. I know lots of people, loads of them, who were ridiculously clever but who never had a chance 'cause university was so completely out of their income range. If they could be supported...

[dendarii]

Then we would build up exactly the kind of citizenry that could support something more democratic later on. Yes.

[ Should he feel bad for usurping Gregor here? No, he's certain the Emperor would like the idea. And technically he's not arguing to supplant the Vor, just ... hastening their obsolescence. Yes. Perfect. ]

It will take time. And I can only promise change in our district. The other Vor must needs develop it on their own, once it's proven to work.