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

[skjalf]

Peace, sir! I mean you no harm.

( so very cool. the corners of her mouth twitch and then turn upward, until she is smiling with no small amount of amusement at this bear of a man who has just hidden from her as though she is some fearsome creature. thankfully, it is a saving grace for both of their senses of dignity that she does not laugh.

instead, she takes a step or two closer to the wall, and shades her eyes by curving one of her hands at her brow, as if it makes much of a difference. not really, elizabeth. )

In regards to the war in this realm, of course! ( anyone should know that, right? life in the middle ages 101. ) Should there be a siege, this fortress should have dedicated access to a supply route, and an excellent view far-afield of all the surrounding territory.

( not to mention a moat! even though those are sort of old-school by the standards of her era. oops. )

[akweks]

[Strategically-located in terms of strategy. Of course. Connor looks around for a second, then climbs up on top of the dormer to perch on it, crouched.

He points up with a jerk of his head.] I would need to go higher in order to see routes and views. But it does not appear to be well-fortified from this side.

[To be fair, they are in a courtyard. Who would lay siege from a courtyard?]

Are you a strategist?

[skjalf]

( meanwhile, elizabeth will silently marvel at how a person can perch so precariously and not fall to their doom. how does one begin learning how to do something like that, anyway? it certainly appears to be a useful skill.

she nods, though the corners of her mouth tug again. ) Sir, that is because you are looking upon a courtyard. What about the outer walls, and beyond?

( is she a what? oh, my. the idea is entirely preposterous, because who in their right mind would allow a woman to plot any manner of stratagem that does not involve running a hosuehold? no easy job, in the least. but she is taken aback, and stands a little taller, head tilted curiously at his suggestion. where is he from, that he would think her capable of that? )

Nay. I am one day to be the Queen of England.

[akweks]

[Well... okay, good point, lady. He glances around again, then shrugs -- again, he'll need to climb higher to get any sense of what the castle is like. Beyond the courtyard, anyway.

Her answer gives him pause, though. He watches her for a long second, his head slowly tipping to the side as he tries to remember how succession works in England. It's never been very important to him, despite Achilles's best efforts at teaching.]

Charlotte...? Or the betrothed of Prince George?

[skjalf]

( the way her brows furrow together and her nose wrinkles should tell him all he needs to know before she even says anything in response. who? the only name of the lot she is familiar with is george.

and the only george she's known has been dead since she was a little girl. )

Nay. My name is Elizabeth. His Grace, Edward the fourth was my father.

[akweks]

[Connor makes a similar expression, his brow furrowing deeply. Edward IV. That would mean...]

You are from far in the past, then. [He pauses, thinking about it.] Or I am in the future. Perhaps here, though, it does not matter. I am Connor.

[skjalf]

( Distant past? It is plain that Elizabeth does not yet comprehend what is actually happening. Not yet. )

I had thought this a dream. ( She responds slowly, as her head starts to hurt. Such a thing as he is suggesting is impossible. It must be. ) You are right; no matter if this be but a dream or not, it truly cannot matter.

I am glad to meet you, regardless, Connor. ( She smiles up at him for a moment, and then cranes her head. )

Might you help me up? I have never stood upon the roof of any building before.

( That view must be a thousand times more spectacular than the one she'd had from her window at court. )

[akweks]

If it is a dream, it still has meaning. That is the nature of dreams; they tell us what our spirits want.

[He acquiesces to her request, though, climbing down off the dolmen and back down the wall to the ground. He turns his back to her, indicating that she ought to just climb on -- which is maybe not what she meant, but hey?]

[skjalf]

What our spirits want? ( She echoes, curious. ) I have never heard such a thing before.

( Elizabeth looks at him askance for a moment, cheeks flushed. Surely that is improper! But you know, she did ask for help, whether this is what she'd meant or not. Feeling no shortage of awkwardness but refusing to be daunted, she does as he indicates and climbs onto his back. Something she has not done since she was a child and her older half-brothers had raced about with her. )

Thank you.

wow what was i doing, *dolmen = dormer

[akweks]

[If Connor notices her discomfort, he doesn't mention it. He just waits patiently -- which may indicate he notices very much -- and, once she's on his back, he moves back to the wall and begins to climb. He's broad-shouldered and it's not just for show; he climbs slower with her added weight, but it doesn't appear to add any further stress.]

It's no bother. [He pauses for a second, thinking, then answers her question.] Our souls, if you like. What we see in our dreams is our spirits' -- or souls' -- true desire. To ignore it is to call misfortune upon yourself.

[skjalf]

( If he does notice, then Elizabeth appreciates very much that he does not remark upon the fact. She endeavours not to focus on how scandalous being this close to a man who is not her husband truly is, and instead upon the view as they climb. To say she is impressed with this feat of athleticism on his part is an understatement. She is not a light burden to carry.

Eventually, she smiles quietly. )

Do you climb about thusly wherever you go? ( That would explain his ease with it, at least. ) I should think that would not be the truth concerning nightmares. If one dreams of being closed-in and frightened, that could hardly be what one might truly desire.

( She might have just let slip more than she'd intended. Her nightmares are terrible things, relentless and frightening. But she also sees things against her will in the light of day. )

That is an intriguing notion. It has ever been thought at home that dreams are glimpses of God's will and what He intends for us. What you describe is ( blasphemous. ) quite interesting. How came you to learn this? Is it what you were taught?

[akweks]

[He can't look at her because he's afraid turning over his shoulder might throw him off balance, but he can hear the smile in her voice and he returns it, just a little. She has about the right of it.] Sometimes I will go sailing instead.

[Her curiosity makes him a little wary, though. He doesn't much like talking about the beliefs of his people -- it always just brings more questions and more ignorance, and it reminds him of how much he's lost. But there is something to be said for educating others, and he knows he shouldn't be so reactionary.]

Yes. The beliefs of my people are quite different from those of you Englishmen. As for bad dreams, those may be countered by actions in life. If you dream of being closed-in, you must take pains to ensure you are free.

[skjalf]

Ah, sailing! That must be glorious. I have seen the sea from the top of a cliff a time or two, but never been aboard a ship. Perhaps if there are ships to be found ( She is about to suggest something scandalous. ) or commandeered, would you do me the honour of allowing me to come with you?

( She values cooperation and forgiveness about making pointless war, and possesses a love of learning and fine things typical of the renaissance. She is intensely curious about what she is being told of his people, and wishes to understand. Her smile is patient and gentle, and she nods in agreement. )

I should imagine not. But then, as do those of the Ancients. The Greeks, Egyptians, and even those of Rome. Even the tribesmen who once called my realm their homeland. ( Her inner nerd might have caused her to inadvertently make a faux-pas here. ) Connor.. if I gave any indication that I judge the beliefs of your people as inferior to my own, I am sorry. What you have described is beautiful.

It is my hope that perhaps we might both find some manner of freedom here.

[akweks]

There are some who believe to have a woman aboard a ship is bad luck. I do not believe such a thing, and so I would be glad to have your company.

[Connor is beginning to notice that Elizabeth is a bit chatty. Which is fine, he has no problem with it, but he only hopes his own reticence doesn't strike her as rude. He is just kind of a quiet dude, okay.

He lets her speak, not answering right away because they've reached the roof and he has to concentrate on not pitching her off his back as he pulls himself up.] Hold on.

[skjalf]

( She wrinkles her nose, and laughs. ) What a silly notion! I am glad that you would welcome my company.

( Though the people—men he's referring to are foolish, indeed. The fact that she is chatty is somewhat interesting considering she has grown to be otherwise, trapped at court. It just goes to show that if a topic that interests her is found, she is capable of acting herself again.

And a comfort, too. Elizabeth makes no further comment, thinking he requires quiet forthwith to focus upon his task, and merely tightens her grip on him by a little. She has no intent to fall, certainly! )

[akweks]

[It takes a little more effort to climb up onto the roof than it had just scaling the wall, but once they're up there, he bends his knees a little to make it easier for her to get down. He wouldn't want her to lose her balance and like do a header off the castle, because that would be... pretty awkward. After all this trouble.]

As to different beliefs, [like there was no interruption in this conversation at all] I have also studied the Greeks and Romans, though my focus was more on philosophy than anything else. There is some overlap. But often the beliefs of my people are treated as a curiosity, so it is difficult.

[He pauses, then, taking a look around. He's a bit higher than he was before, when she spotted him from the ground.] How do you find the view?

[skjalf]

( Carefully, Elizabeth loosens her hold on him and gets herself able to gain steady footing upon the roof before letting go of him. She directs a grateful smile in his direction, and glances out at the view, first with awe and then with a more critical eye. )

I have also found common threads upon examining works written by citizens of each culture. It seems to me as though Rome borrowed a great deal from Greece.

Ah, I see. ( Elizabeth glances back over at him, frowning. ) They are of interest, I will admit. But not as a novelty. If they are being treated as such, then that is a terrible thing.

( There is much one might learn from other cultures, and also appreciate. She turns her head away, not wishing to say anything further on the topic. Instead she turns her head about, inspecting the defenses of the fortress. Slowly, a smile comes to her face. )

Beautifully well-defended.

[akweks]

Some. Cicero was a Stoic, was he not? The Greeks were much more interested in science than what the Romans accepted, being more interested in their religion. Now, there are those who would reconcile the two. [He could tell you some stories about Deists.

But he'll let her change the topic to something more immediate, and he follows her gaze over the castle's walls.]

Except, perhaps, for the courtyards. [That might be a joke.]

[skjalf]

Yes, I believe he was. However, I would not say the Romans were uninterested in advancing themselves. I have heard that many of their feats of engineering remain unparalleled, even in my era. But.. what is this?

( Mixing science with religion? No way, dude. That's plain blasphemous, and she crosses herself in response. Advancements in thought and technology are all well and good, but leave God out of it.

His joke is a welcome diversion, and she casts him a glance to make sure that is actually his intent. So far, he has seemed an entirely serious fellow. The corners of her mouth twitch upward, and finally, she laughs. )

Never fear, we could always flood it and create a moat in the event of a siege.