[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]

Well. Part of it, certainly. But you need more voices speaking for you. And not just one benevolent Vor looking out for you.

[rathercommon]

Mm.

[ Her gaze turns just a little suspicious again. ]

I'm not giving you names of associates.

[dendarii]

Wouldn't dream of it. I would request that you dissuade your companions from assassinating me, however. Kidnapping too for that matter.

[rathercommon]

[ A little shrug. ]

Yeah. I expect they'd be a little keener on it than I am. I'm glad it was me here, rather than them. Anyway - anyone who'd like that idea isn't getting told about this.

[dendarii]

Probably a good idea.

[ That's not quite a promise, is it ... He makes a mental note to carefully - carefully convince ImpSec to double-check the activities of any democratic protest groups in his district. No interference, just ... monitoring. It wouldn't do to be caught off guard again. Which brings him back to another thought. ]

You still haven't told me why you did come here today. If not to assassinate or convince me, then - why?

[rathercommon]

[ Yeah. Her lips thin, but...Well. They've been mostly honest so far.

Mostly. ]

Why would you have wanted to die a week ago?

[dendarii]

[ His own mouth twists in return. Is he drunk enough now? Very nearly. One last swig for the road. ]

I think ... I have been very honest with you, Miss Anastasia. You answer my question first and I'll answer yours after.

[rathercommon]

[ She eyes him skeptically, but eventually decides: he'll probably keep his promise. And that if he wanted, he could just have her interrogated professionally anyway, and she'd probably crack under the pressure, so...why not? ]

I was here to burglarize you.

[dendarii]

[ The thought of fast-penta has crossed his mind. But that would not be a good start to this partnership. ]

Really? [ He looks her up and down, not seeing anything obvious ... Then again, the house has a number of small antiques that could easily be hidden in pockets. He knows of at least one hidden jewelry cache. ] ... Have you already taken it?

[rathercommon]

No.

[ Her lips tighten. ]

I haven't. I was directed right to this room. And I think there's nothing here.

[dendarii]

[ Hmm. He'll do a double-check later just to be sure, but he believes her. He can do both. ]

Except me? ... Did whoever directed you intend that?

[rathercommon]

[ She pushes her hair behind her ear. And she says, honestly: ]

I don't know. But we were told there would be no one here. The house would be empty. And we weren't given enough time to verify.

[dendarii]

A month ago, they would have been right. But ... I hadn't tried to make my return obvious, but surely ...

[ Something bothers him about all this. He chews his lip for a moment, trying to think through possibilities. ]

With most Vor lords, you'd likely have been turned over to the guards. Arrested, interrogated. Or - spurred to do something very bad for my health. So I have to wonder again: is it possible that your contact knew I'd be here?

[rathercommon]

[ She knows. She knows both those things. And she knows how little she would matter in the grand scheme of things. And she knows that her comrades get...violent. If it had been anyone but her - ]

It's...possible. All things are possible, right?

[ But her expression is tight and unhappy. ]

[dendarii]

[ Clearly she's having the same thought he is. His voice is gentle but firm as he completes the scenario for the both of them. ]

Very much so. To remove a mutie Vor lord with known liberal sympathies, throw my father and his Centrist coalition into disarray, fuel conservative ire, all at the hands of a democratic terrorist brave and defiant enough to never point fingers at the actual culprit ...

[ He's dismayed now, and not just because of the plot killing him. This - this has all the potential of being a much larger and well-orchestrated event. Damn, if they'd been watching him closely enough, they might even have taken his suicidal funk into account. Hoped that he'd throw himself on the knife, to make Kitty's situation even less believable. He swallows thickly, some of the color draining from his face. ]

[rathercommon]

Yes.

[ She watches him carefully. There's no fear in her face. Instead, there's a growing element of anger. She doesn't like the thought of being manipulated and used like this. Not one bit. She doesn't like that someone played with them, with her group, and was willing to have them cut to pieces to take out Lord Vorkosigan. ]

It's possible.

[ Then: ]

It was an amateur effort. If it was that. Too many random variables.

[dendarii]

Agreed. I would have at least sent a follow-up, to make sure that precisely this outcome didn't happen.

[ Like that debacle with Metzer and Cavillo. Oh hell - now he lurches to his feet with the intent of getting some guards. Maybe if he puts in a call straight to Illyan, he can have some extra backup here tonight. He is not going to get himself killed to further someone else's plot and ruin this woman's life.

He leans for a moment against the table, regretting that last swig of wine. He has a sudden image of that shuttle on Dagoola, Beatrice slipping right through his fingers at the last moment - no. It's not happening again. He notes her anger with a twinge of admiration and dismay both, hoping she doesn't take this as some kind of arrest. ]

I think - you should stay the night.

[rathercommon]

[ That brings her more surprise than anything else. Her eyebrows draw down, and she gives a little shake of her head as her eyes track his path across the room. ]

I thought that was a foregone conclusion. Where I'd be staying the night. Is that not the case?

[dendarii]

[ He blinks at her for a moment, surprised himself. Oh, right. She means actual arresting. It would be safer ... the temptation to do just that spikes for a moment, then ebbs. Not a good way to start this relationship, however well-meaning. ]

No? You haven't done anything, really. And if you tell me how you got in, I'd take it as a freelance security consultation.

[rathercommon]

[ You haven't done anything? That sort of thing wouldn't...matter to most Vor lords. They'd throw someone like her to their goons. But instead - She gets treated like this...

She pushes her hair out of her eyes, feeling suddenly a little...overwhelmed. Her arrest had seemed like such a foregone conclusion; there'd been something simple in it, knowing that her life was over. But now that's not the case. And that's...a little strange, suddenly. She suddenly has options. ]

I won't be giving anyone up until I'm sure that they betrayed us first.

[ She studies Lord Vorkosigan's face. ]

Why do you want me to stay?

[dendarii]

Fair enough. In turn, be aware that I have to follow up on this myself.

[ Agitation and concern primarily, with something else going on below the surface. (Dagoola - a screeching shuttle ramp - the feeling of skin against his fingers, and then nothing --) He shakes his head sharply, fighting the sensation back. He needs to protect this person. It's the only productive thing he's wanted to do since this mess with ImpSec started. And it's lit him on fire again, pulling him back towards the manic side of his personality. If he weren't tipsy, he'd be pacing around the room.

As it stands, he manages a few paces before he has to stop. Boy, Illyan is going to be pleased to see him. ]

Isn't it obvious? If there's a follow-up, they will surely try to kill the both of us. You're much safer here than alone on a street at this hour.

[rathercommon]

Yeah, but -

[ She bites her lip. Why? seems like an overly self-deprecating question. Why wouldn't he want to save someone's life? Anyone would. And Lord Vorkosigan...He's proven himself to be decent. Compassionate. The answer to the question why is simple enough: to be kind.

So she takes a breath. Shakes her head. ]

If that's the case...It's not a good idea to group both targets together in the same place, I'd think.

[dendarii]

[ Dammit, she has a point. And if she just disappeared, would her manipulator know she had failed? There's no way for him to fake his death for very long - shudders at the very thought, after the Jackson's Whole debacle - so whatever safety she has will be limited.

And yet where can she go that would be safe? Something that wouldn't tip them off, and yet might still deliver the follow-up into his waiting security ... He brightens as the solution comes to him. ]

How would you like to be arrested after all?

[rathercommon]

Honestly? I'd really like that very little.

[ But she says that mildly, all things considered. She keeps watching him. Because she suspects - ]

You have a plan?

[dendarii]

I do. Let your puppeteer think that their plan has succeeded on one level: that you walked into my parlor and I had you arrested for trespassing. I'll explain it all to Illyan and he'll set you up in a safehouse for the night - you'll be safe. And not actually arrested, in case that wasn't clear.

And then, when they send someone else to finish the job, security can pick them up. We get answers, risks are split, and you don't end up mysteriously dead somewhere.