TEST DRIVE MEME

[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 grand feast is held in the Eaglais clearing. The food is good, the music is sweet, and the evening is lit by gentle fairy lights. All Shardbearers of all courts are summoned here under a universal truce for the evening. Nature itself has shaped itself into tables, chairs, and long couches so that the new guests can rest. When they’re ready to call it a night, Shardbearers are brought to their court strongholds in a one-way trip by fairies and imps. 02. NETWORK Take advantage of your Locket! The network can be accessed by any Shardbearer with a locket or shardless characters with enchanted devices, and is a quick way to meet new people and discuss the state of the world. 03. WILDCARD. Your own scenario! Explore the Drabwurld! There are lots of places to go, and plenty of trouble to get into in them!

Comments

[serpentking]

[[ Tzilan took pride in being a predator which could recognize another of the same; but this unfamiliar face struck no such alarm. Beneath the growing, cool stillness of his features, bafflement grew like a choking weed. ]]>

I... see.

[[ He wasn't interested in saving Saralegui any embarrassment, and his unblinking stare pinned the pale young man a moment longer, as if with the weight of it alone he could unravel whatever truth seemed to elude them both.

And then, smoothly, turned aside. ]]

[enthraller]

[It was like being stared down by a snake. Saralegui was still and unmoving under that gaze, and the silence stretched until Tzilan turned away.

And then the panic hit him.]

Wait.

[Insistent, even as the pink in his cheeks darkened with the awkwardness of the whole situation. What could he even say? I loved you in the future even though I never actually said it? But the thought that Tzilan might walk away and disappear to god knows where, that Saralegui might never have another chance to say anything, pushed him to take half a step forward, mind racing for something worth saying that wouldn't sound completely crazy.]

...That is your name, right? You're...

[He trailed off, didn't even know how to end that statement. There were too many options.]

[serpentking]

[[ Tzilan's nostrils flared as soon as Sara's pulse began to rise. Panic was a taste he could breathe on the air. He paused mid-step, but didn't immediately turn to face the young man who addressed him. Instead, he rifled through the long, long fabric of his memories, lips pursing.

He tipped his head, considering Saralegui from the corners of his eyes. ]]

... It's something I was called, for a time... But how could you know that...?

[enthraller]

[It was a ceaseless conflict, relief to see Tzilan pause mixed with an anxiety over how the hell he was supposed to explain that.

Saralegui hesitated a moment, arms crossing in front of himself in a gesture he hoped seemed casual and feared read as the exact opposite. And then he attempted a pleasant smile, slightly shaky but manageable through sheer habit.]

It's...a very long story.

[That much, at least, is true.]

[serpentking]

[[ Tzilan's eyes flicked over the shift in posture, the persistent and unconvincing smile. The elevated pulse was a tease; not with a start, but a sliding, slipping awareness he realized that he wanted to close his teeth around it. ]]

You know, I've learned to never quite believe that, when people say it.

[[ His voice was rich and velvet-soft, almost touchably so, and allowed himself a slow and earnest smile. ]]

But all the same, here we are; not strangers, but not introduced. Will you gift your name to me?

[enthraller]

[Tzilan was talking to him. Bantering, almost. It was a struggle for Seralegui to keep his voice even in the face of that, when it was only tempting him more to do something that would make this all very messy and complicated.]

You can believe what you want. But I'd be willing to bet anything that I'm right.

[Already, this was more than he'd thought he'd ever have again.

And "not strangers". He liked that way of phrasing it. Saralegui wasn't one for hope, but heating Tzilan say that certainly sparked something like it in his chest. Some tension eased out of him, a more genuine warmth working its way into his smile even if it was still tight with more emotion than he knew what to do with.]

It's Saralegui. [A pause, and:] You can call me Sara.

[serpentking]

Sara, then.

[[ He said it smoothly, just a low purr, and extended one long-fingered hand to the other man, tapered fingers curved, palm facing upward, clearly awaiting Saralegui's own hand to fill it.

His own world was populated with enough strangeness-- vampires, werewolves, and every odd beast in between; gods, spirits, visions, apocalypse... After the moment of being wrong-footed, he recovered with grace. ]]

Will you walk with me a while, Sara? I've no interest in lingering in the middle of all this... excess and noise.

[enthraller]

[Again, there was a flash of emotion across his face, a brief lapse in his guard that revealed a glimpse of something, nostalgic and longing. His recovery was better this time, at least.]

If you wouldn't mind.

[His hand trembled ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, but he took the offered hand without pause. Almost reverently, perhaps, so careful he was in taking it, but with nothing like hesitation. Saralegui's hand was warm and smooth, free of callouses and with finely manicured nails. A noble's hand.

His heart was racing, but no longer from fear.]

[serpentking]

[[ When by nature he was so still, it was impossible for Tzilan to miss even those fine tremors. Wondering if he could trap the sensation against his skin, he folded his thumb over the pale hand set into his.

Bent at the waist, pressing his lips neatly and courteously to the back of the other man's hand.

With an air of indolence, he rose, shoulders rolling to tuck himself a little more securely into the shoulders of the cloak disguising the suit beneath, and drew Sara after him as he turned. ]]

I imagine you know the way better than I. Am I correct in thinking that one of the corridors branching off this end of the hall would lead us outdoors? A courtyard of some kind?

[enthraller]

[His heart skipped a beat at the press of those lips to his hand, and his fingers curled a little around Tzilan's.][

I wouldn't actually know. I have never been able to come to this place before today because of the warring courts.

[For a moment he let himself be led, content to follow after Tzilan again, finally, hand in hand. But eventually he quickened his pace a little, fell into step alongside the vampire and flashed a little smile with a hint of playful mischief in it.]

But we can certainly find out.

[serpentking]

[[ A black brow arched neatly, the inquisitive expression cast back over his slim shoulder at the man he led, slipping through the revelry as quietly as shadows and moonlight filtering through a dense forest canopy. ]]

Warring?

[[ His mouth pinched, thoughtful, expression turning inward. Meanwhile, he followed instinct and the fine, drifting scents of hay and crushed greenery towards the exit of the hall. ]]

You mean to say, all's at peace for the moment?

[enthraller]

[Saralegui's smile went a bit wry and self-deprecating, and he shrugged.]

Honestly? I'm not sure. Everything's changed very suddenly and wildly, and I'm really not even sure who all the players in this new situation are yet, let alone who's allied with who and what fighting is going on. Give me another week and I'll be able to tell you everything.

[serpentking]

[[ Tzilan tilted his head, considering the man alongside him, letting their hands fall to their sides as they walked, footsteps hushed on stone. ]]

I don't intend to stay even so long. A face in view is one that's also a target.

[enthraller]

[His smile shrank a little, and Saralegui averted his gaze to the path in front of them.]

No, I suppose you wouldn't.

[Without his noticing, his thumb smoothed over the back of Tzilan's hand in a soothing pattern, idle and familiar.]

And where will you go?

[serpentking]

I don't quite know yet. I'll have to... find a place that suits me, I suppose.

[[ But he was looking at Saralegui with just the barest shade of puzzlement, as if he were trying and failing to find the root of the other man's interest. His hand, cool and smooth as stone, relaxed under such idle attentiveness. ]]

[enthraller]

[Saralegui kept his gaze forward and down, trying very hard not to stare and thus missing the perplexed look. Not that he couldn't guess it was there. It wasn't like he didn't know he must seem like a lunatic.

But even the embarrassment that came with that didn't outweigh the need to stay close and keep talking, however mad he had to seem to do it. Perhaps not the best new first impression, but the very thought of letting Tzilan disappear again made his heart feel like it was being crushed.]

This new world has plenty of beaches.

[serpentking]

[ Tzilan's fingers flexed at the suggestion, squeezing 'round Saralegui's. His features were too finely schooled to do more than lift his brows. ]

That sounds... ideal, all told.

[ But how did he know...? ]

Which would you recommend? I've no interest in ports or cities, but... a beautiful place, remote, quiet...

[enthraller]

[A slight squeeze around his fingers, and the faintest little hint of a smile crossed his face. It was embarrassing and he felt bad for probably making Tzilan nervous, sure. But truthfully, it was still a little amusing to be the one to know more for once.

He squeezed back, lightly enough to be nothing more than an acknowledgment that he'd felt that.]

I haven't had a chance to visit any myself. But I've seen maps.

[serpentking]

[ The wheels of his mind turned fast enough to burn on their own cogs, trying to pick apart the whys, the hows, and he adjusted smoothly to the new information. ]

Would you have a map I could see, perhaps? Or know where I might happen to find one?

[enthraller]

Not on me.

[A glance sideways, just a glimpse of gold through his bangs, and his lips curve in the slightest smile.]

But I could loan you one, if you don't mind stopping back at my place.

[serpentking]

[ Golden eyes. And telepathy, perhaps? Some other curious extension of the mind? He rifled through possible explanations, his smile curling all the tighter. ]

I would enjoy that.

[enthraller]

It isn't exactly close by. A different continent now, in fact. We'd have to take a fairy ring.

[He angles slightly, turning from the path towards the woods and tugging Tzilan lightly after him.]

[serpentking]

[ The little tug was unexpected, and with a wide-eyed blink, Tzilan hastened to follow, nearly jogging to correct his pace alongside that of the other man. ]

Beg pardon, but... a what?

[enthraller]

A way of getting around quickly. Unless you have a better method?

[His smile was brief and oddly knowing. But he could hardly suggest anything else, could he? He didn't even know if Tzilan could already teleport around at this point in his life.

With an airy gesture, he flashed a band of red around the middle finger on his free hand.]

My ring would usually do the trick, but unfortunately, it can only handle one person.

[serpentking]

Ah... so it's... some manner of thaumaturgy at your command? Spells, magic?

[ Tzilan could only assume that the young man might have some connection to Magi, or perhaps some Tremere lord. And it wasn't often that he was wrong-footed, left to feel the lesser. His free hand smoothed over his shirt, underneath the dark cloak he'd cast on over his clothes. ]

I've only got my feet, I'm afraid.