TEST DRIVE #6

[fairyfoes]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping to EACHDRAIDH? Why not give the setting a test run here! OPTIONAL SCENARIOS 01. ARRIVING IN THE DRABWURLD. The Seelie and Unseelie courts welcome you with mirthful revelry and hearty food. After you have been briefed on your purpose here, you will find an endless feast and a night filled with entertainment to placate your concerns. Mingle with new arrivals, sneak down the castle halls and make sure your eyes are always on your glass; fairies and imps have no bias when it comes to tricks! 02. THE STATION. Looking for a little slice of home? The Station gives you all that and more. Take advantage of the wifi, have a cup of fairy-brewed coffee (the one they didn't spit in) or sit back and relax on the patio. You can even move your things into one of the available rooms! 03. WILDCARD. Your own scenario! Explore the Drabwurld or simply take advantage of your Locket!

Comments

jack benjamin | kings | unseelie

[benumbing]

[His father used to read by his sister's hospital bed, stories about princesses in ivory towers rescued by knights in shining armor. He never talked about the rescue of princes, that it might be at the hands of some farm boy, or something as equally undignified as being kidnapped and hauled about in a sack.

Jack refuses to think of it as a rescue. Rescue means debt, and debt only means betrayal once it's been paid. He casually wonders if it wouldn't have been better to just die, but now that he looks back, something seems determined to keep him alive.

It's not God. Maybe it's this.

Feasts and mingling, Jack knows how this works. He comes down the steps, pulling one hand from his pocket to claim a goblet and sample the blood red wine inside of it. Jack stops shoulder to shoulder with someone, eyes scanning the revelry in the room.]

At least the alcohol is palatable. I was worried that we might be forced to snort pixie dust.

[wipedclean]

[He's not sure why he came back to the feast, except Steve mentioned it might be a good opportunity to meet people and make friends and while Steve never gives orders, he usually takes Steve's suggestions as such anyway. Because Steve usually knows what's best.

...well. When it comes to him, anyway. Jury's still out on Steve knowing what's best for Steve.

Regardless, someone stops next to him and speaks, and he's startled to find the voice sounds... familiar.

He looks down and




holy fuck

what

is happening]

Who the fuck are you?

[benumbing]

[Rude. Still, Jack's just as capable of dropping the niceties and unsheathing the double-edged sword of his tongue. But whatever acerbic comment was on the tip of his tongue dies there.

Seriously, what the fuck.

He lifts his goblet, because he's definitely going to need more wine for this. But his eyes are bright and sharp on the stranger's face.

No, his face, weathered and scruffier and older. Maybe not a twin, but definitely a brother.]

What am I looking at here? Is this my future? Have I been lied to again?

[He arches a brow at the stranger, waits for him to say something before continuing.]

[wipedclean]

[Future? No, that's not... He might not remember his past but he's... kind of sure he wasn't ever... whoever this is.

Okay he's not sure at all, but there's one way to check.

He frowns, shifts, then swallows. He should be more polite, probably. Steve would want him to be.]

Are you James Barnes?

[benumbing]

[Jack stops himself from frowning, because there's too much of this mirror imaging thing going on already. Any more and even he wouldn't be able to mask that he's pretty fucking unsettled right now. He looks at the man pointedly, waiting for him to spit it out. He shouldn't have unkind thoughts, but old habits die hard.]

No. But he and I do share the same initials, so I think you're getting warmer.

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head at the answer, then looks away.]

Then you're not me. Congratulations.

[The words come out sarcastic, biting, bitter. He's not sure where the sudden rush of emotions are coming from, but he can't hold it back, scowling to himself as he readjusts his sling.

Well. He knows he's got reason to be bitter. Even if he can't always remember it.]

[benumbing]

You're James Barnes?

[Now there's a twist. Jack points a finger of the hand wrapped around the goblet's stem. He gives him a quick once-over when he looks away. Sturdy. Seems to really be into the leather scene. Not bad looking, if he's allowed to be a bit of a narcissist - and Jack is.

He grins to himself, fading a little before he gestures at the sling.]

What happened to your arm, James Barnes?

[wipedclean]

[He looks back, and down at his arm, and for split second remembers falling, falling... screaming, and then the agony and terror of waking up with a metal arm and a head full of chemicals and a scientist over him gloating.

He shakes his head. He doesn't want those memories.]

It doesn't work here.

[benumbing]

[Jack's been in battles himself, believe it or not. War has raged between Gath and Gilboa for as long as he can remember. And he's been right in the middle of it, because it's easier to be respected as a king if he was already respected in the military.

He tilts his head a little, studying the man's - James' - arm, shiny and silver. Strange.]

A prosthetic?

[He looks up at his face again for confirmation.]

[wipedclean]

[He tilts his head.]

Similar. Stronger than my other arm. When it's working.

[polyphobic]

They could have hidden it in the wine.

( Claire had stayed away from the food and the drink, too cautious to want to trust them despite the hunger that was beginning to gnaw a little at her. The whole place was uncomfortable, or she felt uncomfortable in it, away from the safety of the Dollhouse. She hadn't left in months, and being forced out? Some would say that it was a good thing for her but it made Claire hide in a corner - or by the steps to the exit, it was as in the room as she was getting.

She didn't know anyone there, and being greeted by that unfamiliarity, the apparently lavish room for them all and the 'kidnapping' too? It put her very on edge, and far out of anything she knew. Parties, or fancy dinners were not things that she enjoyed )

Waiting to see who would test it first.

( Unless he knew. Was he part of this, was that why he was talking to her? )

[benumbing]

[Clever, and maybe just a little bit underhanded. He likes her already. Jack looks at her, smiles, and takes another, deliberately longer gulp of his wine. Even if she's right, he doesn't have that much to lose at this point.

He reaches for the table, plucks and grape and pops it into his mouth.]

Hm. A little more tart than I like. They must be out of season here.

[Tart, but apparently safe. The seconds pass and nothing happens.]

[polyphobic]

Is that your biggest concern about being here?

( The fact that he didn't seem all too concerned about what had happened - or even worried about what was happening made Claire's wonder about whether he was part of this a little stronger. Either he was from whatever this place was or knew something about unusual appearances. People weren't this calm when they were kidnapped - even if they weren't as suspicious or skittish as she was at it )

Whether you have grapes from the wrong time of year?

[benumbing]

Wars could be prolonged for lesser things where I'm from.

[Gath and Gilboa. Maybe they would finally have their peace now, now, after everything he'd given up. To not even be allowed to enjoy it...well, that wouldn't change whether he was here or there.

Jack shrugs a shoulder.]

Before that, my biggest concern was getting out of that sack. [A little bitterness creeps into his tone at that, because humiliation and Jack don't mix well.] Now I'm out of it, and free to indulge in all that they've placed before us. So I say, why not?

[polyphobic]

Because we don't know what they've done. Or are doing.

( The food itself might not be a test, unless it was poisoned, but something here could be. Or it might not be a test. Whatever this was Claire didn't want to be part of it, even if it meant turning down free food when she was a little hungry )

Can you say you really know what's going on?

( Other than the oddity that she'd already been told )

[benumbing]

Not yet. But I doubt the answers will just fall into my lap. Figuring it out is bound to come with a few risks.

[And that's one of the very few perks of having nothing left to lose. Jack pops another grape into his mouth, follows it with another gulp of wine.]

Anyway, if you were concerned about the grapes, don't be. They're fine.

[fulminants]

[ Death is overrated, princeling. Why choose to end it all when there's so much to have here? Johnny's taking a quick breather from mingling with the crowd, having spent the last hour or so weaving through all the others; alternately flirting and picking up whatever scraps of information he could (mostly it's the flirting; have you seen some of the revelers here?).

He's just finished another fire-related party trick to a set of lovely redheaded triplets who'd then drifted away when Johnny's attention turns to the dark-haired stranger beside him (ah, that's a little bit of a loss; he's got plans for the triplets). He smiles, all the same, amused with that dry wit and that oddly regal bearing.

Eh, he'll catch up with the triplets later. ]

There goes the dream of Peter Panning it outta here.

[benumbing]

[Jack had also noticed the triplets, but no more than he'd noticed most of the others gathered here. Not so long ago, he would've had one on either side of him, put on a show as a womanizer before finding some young man to take back to his rooms at the end of the night. A young man probably not unlike this one, truth be told.

But there doesn't seem much point in such a display anymore.]

You could always wear the green tights and the funny little hat anyway. I'm sure it would be amusing.

[It would amuse Jack. That's what he's really saying. He smirks before taking another drink of wine, but his eyes are bright and sharp on the young man by his side.]

What was that you were showing them?

[fulminants]

I'd totally rock the green tights and the funny little hat.

[ Johnny's grin is cocky, entirely at ease with the fact that he could totally pull off the spandex. His uniform might be hidden inside his shirt and tie right now but c'mon, there's nothing in the world he hasn't worn the hell out of.

But that thought flitters quickly away when he gets a chance to study him better, his curiosity about the man's bearing holding his attention for an inordinate amount of time (see, it's strange, he's not usually interested in dudes, not in that way). But hey, he wants to see a pretty light show, right? And Johnny, well, he's never gonna pass up a chance to show off. ]

Magic.

[ So Johnny rolls up his sleeve again and snaps his fingers, letting long, thin threads of flame swirl up, twisting and twining -- it'd taken awhile to master this little trick, and his grin turns into a smirk, his eyes almost glowing. The twining flames reach higher, and he can't help a flair for the dramatic when he sends it shooting upwards in a great burst, startling a couple of others nearby. Oops. ] What can I say, don't try this at home. You in charge of this place?

[benumbing]

[Yes. That's what he wanted to see. Jack lowers the goblet, blinking a few times as he feels the flame's warmth against his face. He forces down the swallow of wine before he tries to speak.]

Did you learn that here?

[Because if there's ever a time and place where Jack was finally ready to believe in magic, it would be the one with little little imps crawling around and a guy with fire at his fingertips.

The question makes him pause, and a little smile comes back to his lips.]

Not yet.

[Okay, so King of Gilboa is off the table now. Nothing says he can't still be ambitious.]

[fulminants]

[ See, Johnny usually never performs for the dudes -- he'd much rather focus on the ladies, but there's something fascinating about Jack's interest, something smoothly predatory that he's never quite seen before. He reminds him of Victor, just a little, although probably without the colossal dickbaggery that came along with it.

He laughs a little at that question. ] Nah, got it before I came here. Giant cosmic freak storm. [ He pauses, deciding that he quite likes Jack's ballsiness, because 'not yet', really? ]

You're pretty nuts, aren't you? [ The inflection of it indicates only amusement and genuine interest. ] I'm assuming you're pretty new here, too.

[benumbing]

[There's where you're wrong, Johnny. There is so much dickbaggery in Jack yet. But he also has his moments, brief glimpses of the better person he could be.]

You're a human matchstick talking about cosmic storms and I'm the one who's nuts?

[Jack gives him a pointed look before the corners of his mouth tug up, pulling into a thin smile. There's something about this guy, the way he lives the way Jack could only pretend to, wild and carefree. Could be entertaining. Jack's eyes lid a little as he swallows the rest of his drink and reaches for another.]

Less than an hour ago I was kicking a creature who was was gnawing at my shin. He flew about twenty feet into a castle wall. You?

[fulminants]

[ Johnny, to his credit, looks endlessly smug (and a few shades shy of practically preening -- look, when you're Johnny Storm, you get used to a certain level of attention from people). There'll probably be enough time to catch more of those glimpses of dickbaggery if they're in the same court, but so far, Johnny doesn't mind the company, even if it's currently male.

He's interesting, that's what matters. ] Well, hey, I'm way better than a matchstick. [ But oh, color him impressed -- he doesn't even hide it as he leans forward, grinning. ] Cool. Bet you're hell with a soccer ball. Me? Saved the world from getting eaten by some huge dude with a weight problem, then saved myself from someone who wanted to be married. Possibly to me. [ And Johnny Storm is positively allergic to that. He shrugs. ] It's been a long day, although I haven't kicked critters into walls yet. What's your name?

[benumbing]

[What is this ceaseless babbling? No really, what is it. Saved the world? He's calling bullshit. Jack can only stare at him and wonder exactly how much of that he could take, no matter how much he enjoys watching his lips move. But he'll give him his little chance to talk about himself before showing him a real reason to brag.]

Jack Benjamin. Prince Jack Benjamin.

[Bet he's got a nicer room. Jack would offer to show it to him but he's afraid he would either burn it down or fill it with lingerie models.]

[fulminants]

[ Whoa, hey, in presence of royalty! That's pretty cool, too. Johnny might have no problems bragging, but he's got no qualms about being impressed, either.

He leans forward after taking another sip of his glass, interested. ] Cool. Prince of where? [ He's actually only heard of the British royal family, and that royal family Grace Kelly married into, then there were the Japanese -- but is woefully uneducated about the rest.

(To be honest, Johnny would probably both end up burning Jack's room down and fill it with lingerie models; it'd be heaven with Victoria's Secret angels, baby.) ]