[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

[mythtakes]

[He doesn't ASK if Miles needs a hand. But that was a whole bottle of wine in a really amazingly short period of time. He just comes down the rest of the way into the cellar on the lines of JUST IN CASE.]

I think I get that.

[dendarii]

[ Incredibly short period of time, and an incredibly short body to process it all. There's a reason why he doesn't normally have more than a single glass at a time - 3 is enough to put him under, much less a full bottle. He staggers his way towards the stairs. ]

You too, huh?

[mythtakes]

[The height difference makes things a bit hard, but Percy just so happens to be right there when a wobble gets a bit far, steadying the space prince.]

Yeah. More times than I really ever want to think about.

[dendarii]

[ He's light, at least, and he can brace his hand against Percy's arm when the room wobbles too much. ]

Comes with demigod life, does it ...

[mythtakes]

[Percy might not look like much, especially in comparison to a certain son of Zeus, but he's more than solid. The stairs might be interesting though.]

You made it to 30, though. [Like this is a serious plus.] I've never met anyone who had.

[dendarii]

[ Stairs might require carrying. When they get to the first set, he eyes them rather dizzily. ]

No one? In all your demigod friends?

[mythtakes]

[Slinging an arm over his shoulder isn't going to work... is it?]

I'm kind of one of the oldest.

[dendarii]

[ He'd have to bend down painfully low for Miles' feet to touch the ground. Better to just carry him. Miles makes a face, obviously coming to the same conclusion. ]

That's ... not comforting. It must be terrifying for all of you. I'd just failed the entry exam to the Imperial Academy at 17 ...

[mythtakes]

Is that like a college entrance exam? I'm kind of worried about that too.

[So if he was a guard, and saw his charge thrown over an intruder's shoulder like a sack of potatoes...

Percy assumed he'd get the business end of whatever those hand square things were.

Sorry Miles. We'll call it a prince carry.]

[dendarii]

No, no. The written exam was fine. The damn physical, I broke both my legs jumping down from the very first wall --

[ Whoops, and now he's being carried. Well. Dammit, this is embarrassing. He's lighter than he looks, the synthetic bone replacements being lighter than even his frail real ones. From this angle, the angry knot of scars at his neck and collar are more visible.

Ugh. He adjusts himself, gripping Percy's shoulders. ]

Embarrassing.

[mythtakes]

[Those... are disturbing. Percy frowns slightly, but makes no comment, hefting the space prince to push open the door.]

Whoa.... they didn't teach you landings?

[dendarii]

Taught me all they could. Doesn't help when your bones are approximately the same size and density as a bird's. Snapped just like twigs...

[ He's babbling a little, the intoxication hitting him hard now. The hallway before them is labyrinthine, with doors all up and down it. Miles gestures vaguely at a set near the far end. ]

Do - children of Athena have powers? Like yours? Something impressive?

[mythtakes]

[He flinches, wincing in sympathy at that. It's not hard to imagine... and he glances at Miles' legs, almost expecting something different there. Sure he could have put Miles down, but the chances he was making it on his own power was getting lower by the second.]

Uh, they're not as flashy. ... There's one girl I know who is easily the best of all of them. She's absolutely unreally brilliant.. just straight up amazing. Always knows what to do, where to attack, or what to say, has a plan even when the circumstances are insane.

[dendarii]

[ They look reasonably normal all clothed like this, though he's scarred heavily underneath. There isn't much space on his body that isn't marred by scars at this point.

He listens for a moment, open-mouthed. And then ... he begins to laugh. It's not a pretty sound. ]

Oh, god. I thought it was intuition this whole time. Me being madly brilliant at the best moments, not - I need another bottle just for that poor bastard. I didn't appreciate you while I had you, Admiral Naismith ...

[ And then he turns to Percy, deadly serious again. ]

She sounds incredible. Please tell me you've proposed already.

[mythtakes]

[That... doesn't sound or look okay at all. He was about to interject about how it honestly WOULD be him, it's just the brain that's better.




When the question seems to remind every molecule in his body that he is, in fact, a teenager stupidly in love. He goes bright red, starting at the tips of his ears.

He steps up the pace to the room Miles had pointed out.]

It... not yet! We just started dating and then Hera messed with my memories and we had to fight Gaea or she was going to destroy the world and that just didn't have any good times for it ...

[dendarii]

[ It's a nice little wing of rooms, neatly made up as guest's quarters. Miles, meanwhile, attempts to get down out of Percy's arms. This mostly involves wriggling. ]

Nonsense. End of the world is perfect timing. She can't say no.

[mythtakes]

[He lets Miles down, making sure he's ... reasonably close to steady before letting go entirely. No strike that, he keeps a discreet grip on the back of Miles' jacket/shirt.]

The end of the world gets really distracting.

[dendarii]

[ That's for the best. He keeps pitching forward awkwardly, threatening to smack directly into the floor without Percy's hand there. ]

Immediately after then. Quick, before she marries someone else. Or decides she can't stand your backwater dirtball of a homeworld. Or - or has too short of a lifespan. Deserves better. So much better ...

[mythtakes]

[Percy just starts steering Miles towards a bed. There wasn't a doubt about what Miles was talking about but.. what do you even say TO that? It would be nice to have Annabeth's brain sometimes.]

I will. Soon as I see her again.

[dendarii]

Good. Your word as a son of Poseidon.

[ Miles goes obediently to the bed ... and draws up short. ]

-- This isn't mine. This is yours.

[mythtakes]

Providing neither of us are getting attacked at the time, I'll swear to that.

Oh.

[This is a really nice room.]

How far is yours?

[dendarii]

[ They're all nice here. ]

Down the hall, yes. Other side. No more stairs.

[ He lurches for the doorframe. ]

[mythtakes]

Whoa, whoa. Hold up.

[He follows quickly, grabbing Miles' collar when the lurch goes a bit dangerously far.

Indirectly or not, he didn't want to be the cause of the next bird bones incident.]

Which way?

[dendarii]

[ Whoops. He dangles for a moment before managing to brace himself the doorway and work himself upright again. ]

Er ... That way. Other end. Towards where you first showed up.

[mythtakes]

[He leaves the door to this room open, so he can find it again and.... Mostly guides his host back down the hall.]

Are you going to be okay? I mean, after the massive hangover tomorrow.