[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

[rathercommon]

[ A nod, though not terribly firm. Her passion is for domestic politics far more than for interplanetary, unless the interplanetary politics involve Beta Colony or a place like that making strides towards greater political freedom. Besides, Cetaganda has done so many invasions of so many places, and this one was a comparatively minor one. ]

I do.

[dendarii]

I was in the middle of that mess.

[rathercommon]

[ She gestures, an unambiguous well-go-on. ]

And what happened there?

[dendarii]

[ Wryly: ]

A mess. And a promise if more work.

[rathercommon]

[ And she clucks - ]

Yeah, but what sort of mess? And how were you involved? Come on, I'd like details.

[dendarii]

We're already skirting dangerously close to confidential details. ... I'm not sure I have any missions I could walk through start to finish.

[rathercommon]

Well, how am I supposed to understand what your job meant to you if I can't even figure out what your job entailed?

[dendarii]

[ He considers that for a moment... ]

Terror, mishaps, and luck. A occasional moment of brilliance. Never, ever boring...

[rathercommon]

That makes you sound like you were only in it for the excitement.

[dendarii]

The excitement helped. I think... I mostly enjoyed feeling like I had a very direct, palpable effect on the world. Not so much, here.

[rathercommon]

Hm.

[ She drops her chin into her hand, regarding him thoughtfully. ]

When you were called in...Was it to engage in warfare? Fighting of some sort.

[ It's a question that feels a little silly, because, well - It's a little hard to think of the tiny man across from her in combat. But fighting's different out there, off-planet, than it is on the surface here. ]

[dendarii]

[ Is it confidential to betray that much? No, couriers get in the middle of fighting often enough. Safe to talk about. ]

Mm, very frequently. Precision more than force, but some of the latter as well. I've had nearly all my bones replaced with synthetics...

[rathercommon]

Synthetics? Meaning - fake bones?

[dendarii]

Yes. The real ones don't stand up to strain very well.

[rathercommon]

No, I've rather noticed that about bones, but - Why didn't you just...let them heal? You know.

[dendarii]

Like a normal person? I would have loved that. Truly.

[rathercommon]

[ She shakes her head in confusion and gestures for elaboration. ]

[dendarii]

My bones were underformed due to a teratogenic defect. Extremely brittle. Lucky I was born with them at all.

[rathercommon]

[ Oh. Underformed - She wonders if that has anything to do with his small size. ]

What does that word mean? That's the second time you've used it.

[dendarii]

Ah - my apologies. It means I was affected by something unpleasant while my mother was still pregnant with me. My genes are unaffected, however.

[ A beat. ]

Contrary to popular belief, I am not, in fact, a mutant.

[rathercommon]

Oh -

[ She colors, because - Well. She's thought of him as a mutant several times through this conversation. ]

I - didn't - know that.

[dendarii]

[ He just shrugs a little. Has he finally gotten to the point where being thought of as a mutant doesn't bother him any more? Not quite. But ... somehow, he's less quick to correct people. His experiences have made it seem a little smaller in comparison. ]

Now you do.

... And I believe you owe me several answers, after all that.

[rathercommon]

[ Ah. Right. This was supposed to be an exchange, wasn't it. ]

All right. Ask. If you'd like.

[dendarii]

[ He starts it off with a brilliant smile. ]

What is your real name?

[rathercommon]

[ She takes a breath, considering giving him a hard time - and then decides, no, she'll be cooperative. He was quite cooperative with her. ]

Kitty.