fairynuff | TEST DRIVE MEME #4

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TEST DRIVE MEME #4

TEST DRIVE MEME

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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!

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The decor could use a slightly different focus, but otherwise it reminds me quite a bit of home.

[Boars, he just can't escape them.]

So what did you say to that woman to cause such an...energetic response?

[There was a little bit of a snicker on the first young man's part as he scratched his chin.]

Well, you know. I said she danced pretty nimbly and complimented how her thighs looked through the fabric of her dress--even made a suggestion about what she could do with them.

[Diarmuid can't help but smile and then shakes his head.]

A little too far, my friend. One would think you were trying to channel the great Cu Chulainn's legendary charm and skill with the ladies...

[The Hound felt the dagger press between his ribs and right into his heart with absolute cruelty.

Weakly, he set his hand on Diarmuid's shoulder.]

Well, we all miss from time to time. Though, I'd say that my screw-up just now would be an insult to anybody with 'legendary charm', wouldn't it?

Well, we should give your charm a little credit. She didn't call the guards on you, after all.

[Diarmuid reaches over to pat the hand that is on his shoulder.]

Your charm may not be legendary, but it's something at least. Keep trying. Perhaps someday you will be as good as he was...

[The second knife hurt just as much. Cu Chulainn's head dipped just a touch.]

Come on, now. Each jab is gonna hurt more than the last... [Going from having guards called onto him to simply being lesser than himself--]

But, still, I'll recover. I can't help but wonder just how insulted I ought to feel by this, though.

[Sure, Diarmuid didn't know, but words were strong--and, damn it, they hurt.]

[He knows not to whom he speaks. If he did, he would be mortified at his words.]

Come now. Don't be disheartened. Take it as a challenge, not an insult. For all you know, your failure was merely bad luck. Even those with legendary charm have days were luck is against them.

How about I get you another drink to make up for my words? We have just met and it's no fun to get off to such a bad start...

Edited (Oops! Typo!) 2014-09-12 01:31 (UTC)

[With a sudden grin, Cu Chulainn realized the guy in front of him couldn't have possibly been the enemy. Diarmuid made an offer that livened his spirits with immense ease.]

Ahhh, that's the kind of thing a guy likes to hear... [He shook Diarmuid's shoulder just a little bit, not at all realizing he was talking to another Heroic Spirit. The fact that he was in a room with all kinds of other magical folks had him too distracted.]

So, you can call me Lancer, pal. What should I call the kind fella offering me a drink?

Lancer, hu? That is an odd sort of name.

[All of the magic in the air has made it difficult for Diarmuid to sense other Servants as well, but as soon as the man in front of him speaks his name, Diarmuid focuses more tightly on the man's aura. Sure enough, Heroic Spirit. Still...the war that is raging here is not one for the Grail. There is no need to immediately assume that all other Servants he finds will be his enemy.]

And it just so happens it is one I share with you...

[Sure enough, Cu Chulainn did the same as Diarmuid the moment that the two seemed to draw that conclusion from one another. The man before him had an aged presence, much like himself. To most, recognizing a servant would be a confirmed moment in which a battle would have to begin, but he fully understood the war was considered 'over', especially in his case. It ended with Goldie's or Saber's victory--of which he had no clue which was the case.

Even then, he was unconcerned about fighting. Instead, he just sort of--]

...It could be confusing. This isn't gonna deter us from havin' drinks, is it?

Hardly.

[Diarmuid can't help but laugh, glad the other Lancer seems to have come to the same decision he has.]

Let me get those drinks and we can discuss how to best deal with this. Perhaps nicknames are in order?

[He flashes a quick wink at the other man and then disappears, returning mere seconds later with two drinks in hand.]

For you.

My thanks.

[The moment Diarmuid turned away, Cu Chulainn noticed a few of the glances of the women by his side who looked and fell to the handsome man he had been speaking to. Coupled with the spot under his eye and the exceptionally handsome and polite tone that man took, he felt absolute confidence in his suspicion. Admittedly, with the swooning women on hand, he couldn't have felt any less than a little bad for the guy if he had been right.]

We've already got enough nicknames to go around, I'm sure. Admittedly, I feel guilty not saying mine right off the bat, but yours follows you around in a bad way, Love Spot.

If I'm right, then I'm a bit slower on the uptake than you. I think you already had mine in mind from the start.

[He made his guess, his eyes leaving just a little doubt so Diarmuid would know he wasn't feeling at all smug about that wager. Lancer took the drink, not exactly feeling proud about it, but that thanks was still voiced.]

[Diarmuid both looks relieved and a little saddened when the other Lancer mentions his nickname. He swirls the liquor in his glass, but doesn't drink it. Instead, he just watches the liquid as it moves.]

To be honest, I have always preferred the 'Hawk of Ess Ruadh' over 'Love Spot' when it comes to nicknames. One speaks only of my looks and curse, while the other speaks of my skill and fighting style. One of these sets of things is much more important to me than the other.

As for your identity...that is one bet that you would lose. In fact, I did not have any idea who you were until just now when you figured out my identity so quickly. There is only one other spearman who I can think of who would go to our homeland's stories so quickly to find an answer.

[He bows, then, his glass carefully balanced in an outstretched hand.]

It is a great honor to meet such a hero. I apologize for my earlier jokes, Lord Hound. I did not mean to insult you.

Ahh, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't call you 'Love Spot' just to call on the attention the ladies give you. Your beautiful face could easily do the same without that kind of curse. [Cu Chulainn bowed his head in turn with Diarmuid, offering him a sort of easy smile in return. Despite his seemingly arrogant nature, Cu Chulainn decided when he liked people pretty swiftly and it didn't seem quite right to give Diarmuid a half-assed explanation of himself.

Simply because he always thought that his own story was more like a scary story told to children before they went to bed, Cu Chulainn actually liked Diarmuid's story despite how sad it was. It resembled something he valued the most:]

You were true to your word your whole life, weren't you? A story like yours is one everyone ought to respect the most. 'Love Spot' was your burden and to the end, you were famous for being the most honorable.

[He raised his glass, offering a friendly toast to Diarmuid, figuring he'd prefer to see the guy smile, instead.]

Now I think you are flattering me. Either that or the alcohol has gone to your head.

[Diarmuid returns the toast, drinking for the first time, and then laughs, but the smile that follows the laugh is small. Perhaps after the war is won and Diarmuid has had his wish fulfilled, he will be able to completely recognize the great honor it is to have the man he considers his hero speak so highly of him, but right now, the praise is bittersweet.]

I may have remained honorable my whole life, but my loyalty suffered for it. I am fighting to fix that now, though. Things will be made right.

[Even if that fight has been delayed at the moment.]

But listen to you. You speak as if your stories are not greater than my own. You were my inspiration as a child. My hero. I would not be who I became had it not been for what you did.

[By the time he was six, Diarmuid had many of Cu Chulainn's stories memorized. They were not scary to him. Not at all. They were his favorite stories to hear...]

[Cu Chulainn nearly snorted at that. He was genuinely amused by what Diarmuid said. It was the complete opposite of what he expected. Young men were supposed to hear his story and think, 'That was cool, but I'll definitely never do what that guy did!' To hear Diarmuid regarded him as his hero nearly made him blush.]

You're even better than what history says about you! [He took a long drink from his glass, a cooled breath leaving his nostrils. Cu Chulainn was definitely in a good mood again.]

Well, I'm at a loss! I always figured my stories would be the stuff you'd tell to your kids to scare 'em before they fell asleep! Havin' such a noble-spirited knight call me his hero--now, I don't think I'll feel bad at all for quite awhile, now.

I'm glad to hear that. I can't have my hero being down on himself, now can I?

[Diarmuid finally takes a drink from his glass. He still can't believe his luck. Not only has he been brought to this place that is so much like home, but he has also met his hero!

Should he feel guilty for being so...content...with the idea of being here for a little while?]

Consider it a thank you for all the inspiration your stories gave me. So...

[Diarmuid motions out toward the area around them.]

...party aside, what do you think of all this? One more great war to win?

Ah. [Diarmuid got to a point that Cu Chulainn hadn't even really put to mind. He thought about the little rumors he heard in the crowd and things from the folks who had already been around. It was a lot to process for most, but in simplistic terms, he already knew what the standard was for everyone.

It was a draft. Folks were brought around and, one way or another, they were being asked to take part in a war that was foreign to them. It was an eccentric and very impractical way to send people to fight.]

I've only ever bowed to one man, before. [Even if he was kind of a jerk to his King, he loved him. Conchobor was scarcely someone anyone Lancer would want to consider to be 'one' of his lords. Conchobor was supposed to be the only lord and King he would ever have.]

Even if the old man and I had our spats, I'm not exactly interested in something like this. I'm sure it'd be fun, but--it seems like it'd be kinder if I let some other rough-spun kids make their own legends.

[Diarmuid's mouth quirks up into a smirk when he hears Cu Chulainn refer to Conchobor as 'the old man.' He cannot imagine having taken that tone with the High King or Fionn for that matter, and before things had gotten bad, he and Fionn were fairly close.

Still Cu Chulainn is a very different man and hero from Diarmuid even if he looked up to him while growing up. Despite those differences, Diarmuid finds himself a bit surprised at the other Lancer's thoughts on this war. The last thing he expects to hear is that his hero doesn't really want to take a part in this fight...

After a moment of thought, though, an idea pops into Diarmuid's head. One if true, is something that makes him sad.]

Did your war not go well? Is that why you do not wish to fight now?

Ahhh, that war put me in a bad mood, but it's not really the reason I'd like to stay uninvolved. [For the most part, Cu Chulainn couldn't have possibly felt bad about any war in which he had a second chance to fight strong opponents. He was happy to have faced off with folks as much as he had and even his last fight with Gilgamesh was fun. Despite his major disadvantage, Goldie had fought him fairly honorably. As such, he wasn't in that bad a mood despite his statement saying otherwise.]

My old Master was an incredible coward. He had two Servants at his disposal, but refused to use either! In the end, he just wanted to bend the rules and squeak by so he could steal the Grail from the potential winner.

[He sighed irritably, waving his free hand dismissively. He didn't want to talk Diarmuid's ear off about it.] That loser aside, it's not really the reason.

You know my legend, right? After all the fighting I did and all the things I managed to get done, do you think I really should be so greedy enough to ask for more glory? It was even a part of my vow to live a short life--so, if I fight, it should be for my own fun or my beliefs and not for some famous cause.

It sounds as though your Master was extremely unworthy of the Servant he summoned.

[Diarmuid might not agree with all of Kayneth's choices when it comes to battle, but he is not going to call the man a coward. After all, he had come to the fight, even if he had stayed hidden within the shadows instead of standing at his Servant's side.]

You have my sympathy for your misfortune.

[And, since he can hear the irritation in the other man's voice, Diarmuid says nothing more on that topic. Instead, he shifts over to the reason Cu Chulainn has given for not wanting to fight.]

I guess I see it in a different light than you do. It is not so much about glory as it is completing a duty that has been handed to me. If winning this war is the only way for me to return to my current lord so that I can fulfill the vows I have made to him, then I will put my all into finishing this war.

I am just saddened I will not have the chance to fight it with you at my side. However, the choice is yours. Even heroes deserve their rest.

Ahhh, but who knows? I'm a fickle man from time to time. [It wasn't entirely true, but Cu Chulainn had said it right away: if he was to fight then it would be for fun or to adhere to his beliefs. It just so happened that 'justice' was one of those things he occasionally had striven for. He wouldn't likely be behind any major battles for the sake of the kingdom, but if there was a fight he thought was interesting or waged against a friend--]

You might see me on one of your battlefields if it's up to snuff by my standards. [He said that with a wide, toothy grin. The way his eyes had shone, it was clear that Lancer said that with the utmost of hope. He wanted a good reason to fight by his standards. By far, Cu Chulainn decided that Diarmuid was everything he expected from his legend and it was awe-inspiring that knights could still be that full of pride and valor.]

And, y'know, I'd probably have your mindset if my war wasn't over. Just try not to outshine those rookies who might just be starting their careers.

I will take fickle. It just so happens that I am a man who likes to keep a firm grasp on hope no matter how small of a sliver it may be.

[He raises his glass in toast to Cu Chulainn.]

Here's to hoping I will see you on the battlefield someday and woe be to those on the other side from us. They will very quickly regret their choices.

[Diarmuid takes a long drink from his glass and then nods.]

I will try, but I make no promises, my friend. When I fight, I fight to my fullest and give my all. It would be a dishonor to the one I am fighting and myself if I didn't. Those rookies will have to work hard so that my feats do not shine alone.

[Touching glasses with the same child-like grin, Cu Chulainn moved to top it off and gave a relaxed sigh once he finished off his drink.

He inspected the emptied glass a moment.]

It makes me feel a bit guilty when I hear that. [Still, he couldn't regret his decision. It was something he'd adhere to so he could respect Cathbad a little--for once. If not during his life, maybe a few times in the next one.]

I've always lived without restraint. It's gonna be weird trying it out.

Don't feel guilty. If it is truly what you want, then follow that path with a glad heart. No regrets, remember?

[Diarmuid takes a moment to finally finish his drink before continuing.]

Restraint has its positives. I should know. After I got this...

[He passes his hand under the mole on his face.]

...restraint is something I came to know very well. There was too much chance of things going wrong and people getting hurt otherwise.

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TEST DRIVE MEME #4

[Seelie Party]

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