TEST DRIVE MEME #5

[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

[depicted]

[Dorian sees the moment to be dramatic and gallant, to be like a character in a play, like a work of art. But he is just a boy, little experienced and little learned. When he unhooks his arm so he can genuflect before her, the theory is sound but the execution is more uncertain, as with an actor who is too shy to commit fully to the part. Still, he bows his head—] Your Imperial Majesty, I beg you to show mercy on this unworthy servant of the crown! Or, um, sceptre, I suppose, if you're an Empress. [He tries to put the act back together.] My heart beats for you, my hands work for you, my mouth speaks for you. [Did he flush at that last one? Yes. Look, Constance taught him other things mouths can do, and he hasn't forgotten.] I plead my case only—only for love of you, so that I might do your work? [Slipping into uncertainty again, he gives one of those pretty, fragile, helpless smiles, the kind that lets him get away with anything, sincere even in its failure to commit.] Please?

[prioritise]

[Her hand covers her mouth, in an attempt to hide her smile, but she can't help but let out a delighted laugh. Dorian is too precious and charming.] Your bravery and humility have melted this once icy heart. Only mercy lives there now.

In honour of your gallantry, I will knight you. [she takes the broken tablet, and touches each of Dorian's shoulders with it. when she is finished, she takes a step back] Rise, Sir Dorian of Mercy.

[depicted]

[Smiling helplessly now, he rises to his feet.] A knighthood! Your Majesty, you truly have honoured me. I hope I can use my Knighthood to serve you well.

[prioritise]

I trust you will. It is one's found bonds, more than one's familial bonds, that you can rely on to support you.

[depicted]

[He laughs a little, offering his arm to her once again.] I imagine I cannot shy back from my duty now, not with the support of a monarch behind me. I needs must play the brave knight.

[prioritise]

Precisely. [she links her arm in his, holding her chin a little higher now, putting on the affectations of royalty] I cannot tolerate cowards or traitors. It's why I employ only the most brave and dashing knights.

[depicted]

I shall do my very best not to disappoint you, Your Majesty.

[The little play-acting gives him that extra bite of confidence, such that when they do approach the booth, Dorian is able to detach himself and speak to the person at the counter. There are still the tell-tale marks of his nervousness, in the flutter of his hands and the curve of his head and the shake of his voice, but he goes through with it. And the person is not so hard on him, although they do want some kind of recompense. Dorian easily and quickly agrees without even fully understanding the economics of the sum he agreed to, so relieved is he to not face this person's anger.]

[prioritise]

[Mary stands back and watches Dorian. It's like a baby taking his first steps. Where is a portraitist when you need one?]

[When Dorian finishes, she puts her arm back in his] You seem relatively unscathed. The clerk wasn't too harsh? [Mary does carry daggers if necessary...]

[depicted]

[He accepts the gesture with far more grace than the first time. He is becoming more comfortable around her. It is possibly a problem that he gets this comfortably this quickly, but there you are.] Not at all. I explained the situation, and he said it would be no problem so long as I paid a sum equal to the amount needed to repair the object. Once I can acquire that sum, our debt will be quitted.

[prioritise]

And how much was this sum?

[depicted]

Only five gold pieces, or the equivalent in work. I told him that I haven't worked a day in my life, so he said the five gold pieces would be fine.

[rich boys]

[prioritise]

And do you have five gold pieces?

[depicted]

Well—not at the moment, but it can't be that difficult to come up with them, can it? Fairies give away gold all the time. To worthy questants, that is.

[Wait. Has he made a mistake...]

[prioritise]

So you refuse to work, but you will be taking on a quest?

[depicted]

I don't refuse to work, I simply haven't, I mean, not unless you count philanthropy, and Lord Henry doesn't. Work would spoil me. But a quest is different! Knights and heroes take on quests! So I don't see why it should be any problem that I would. My family has had plenty of nights before, and now I am one too, by your hand.

[prioritise]

A quest requires training. Training is just another name for work. [a breath, and then she gives him a smile] And what better way to begin your training than by working off your debt.

[she unlinks their arms, and then takes his hand, and attempts to walk him back over to the clerk, like a parent dragging their child somewhere to apologize]

[depicted]

What? But that would be unbearable!

[PETULANT CHILD THAT HE IS.

And she's right about the clerk.]

[prioritise]

Not nearly as unbearable as being indebted to that person for who knows how long.

[depicted]

Getting the coins can't be that hard!

[prioritise]

Working isn't that hard. Did you negotiate the cost?

[depicted]

You mean . . . haggle? [Why would he haggle??? Ever????]

[prioritise]

If you want to put it that way. I only worry, perhaps, this clerk may have over-inflated the value.

[depicted]

You mean you think he cheated me?

[prioritise]

I wouldn't put it so bluntly. [yes]

[depicted]

Oh. [Well. That would be . . . annoying, probably.]