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]

[—Kitten? There is this—person, and she called him kitten, and she looks—

Simply put, Dorian has never in his life been in the physical presence of someone who was not of Western European blood, and even then only select nationalities. So he does pause a little, uncertain of what to do with himself.

Also she called him 'kitten' and that's new. And she's American.]

Oh. I see.

Thank you?

[In which natural social awkwardness is amplified by prejudice.]

[aheartoffire]

You're welcome. [She leans in, fluttering her eyelashes at him since he's clearly bothered by something about her, and she couldn't care less what it might be.] Can I see it?

[depicted]

[aaaaahhh!!!

Dorian draws back on instinct, also shoving the tablet away from him.] O-of course! If you like! Miss!

[aheartoffire]

[She seizes the thing so he won't drop it, and grabs his sleeve in case he falls over backwards.] Woah! Careful, bunny. You'll break something else, and it'll probably hurt.

[She lets go of him, turning the tablet back and forth, upside-down, backwards, unknowingly imitating Dorian's earlier actions.] Here, what's this?

[It is, in fact, the on switch. The screen lights up and Frankie bounces in victory.] There, see! Everything's jake.

[She holds it back out to him.] This place is berries, isn't it? You can't even breathe without getting magic in your mouth.

[depicted]

[WHAT JUST HAPPENED. There is touching, and taking things, and words he doesn't understand, and now the screen is lit up.] I'm—I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean.

[aheartoffire]

It's all right? It works? I think it does, anyhow. [She waggles the tablet at him again.] How old are you, bunny?

[depicted]

I'm—I'm eighteen, almost nineteen—the light still shows but it is cracked. I did not break anything vital? [That is a relief, wow.]

I am not a bunny.

[aheartoffire]

Doesn't look like it, Big Six. [She grins again, this time far less mocking.] You're such a bunny. I said, isn't this place the bees knees? Cat's meow? It's swell, and I'm Frankie. What's your name?

[depicted]

My name is Dorian Gray, and I'm afraid I don't speak your . . . your English, Miss. It is not spoken among those I know.

[aheartoffire]

No, I guess you wouldn't, would you? Brits are always ten years behind on the good stuff, though you're decades ahead of us right now with the hard stuff.

[She takes one of his hands in one of hers and places his gently underneath the tablet.] Go on. Take it back.

[depicted]

[He takes it, very uncertain of so many things right now, but still, he takes it back.] What do you mean by the 'hard stuff'?

[aheartoffire]

[Blink.] Jeepers Creepers, bunny. Alcohol?

[depicted]

What of it? [alcohol. sure is delicious. Americans drink too.]

[aheartoffire]

What... [She's caught between laughing incredulously and genuine confusion. He cannot possibly this sheltered. SURELY HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMERICA BECAUSE AMERICA.] It's illegal. No ossifaction for us-ski?

[depicted]

[um] That can't possibly be true. No one has said anything about it.

[aheartoffire]

1920 to this very dreary day. [A thoughtful pause.] I wonder if I could take some magical hooch back with me.

[depicted]

[A pause. And then he laughs in understanding.] Oh, now I understand! You're from the future. You see, I'm from 1881.

[aheartoffire]

[There a pause, before she whistles, grins, and takes his wrists in her hands because one of his hands is full of tablet.] Horsefeathers! Is that why you're wearing those clothes?

[depicted]

[AMERICANS ARE SO TOUCHY. HE HAD NO IDEA. THE ONES THEY INVITE TO CRUSHES ARE NOT THIS TOUCHY.] Yes, it is. [he is tense but can't tell her to unhand him because dummy]

[aheartoffire]

[She sees the tenseness, though. Her smile softens into something understanding and apologetic, and she steps back, holding both hands up to say she won't grab him again.] Sorry, bunny. I got excited. But your clothes are pretty terrible from where I'm standing.

[And they remind her of Thomas, in a way, which makes her feel the first twinge of homesickness. Ridiculous. There is no reason to be homesick here. She forces the smile back onto her face.] We could get you something new, if you wanted.

[depicted]

[A pause.] I like my clothes. [It isn't the stubborn, churlish refusal he might make in older years. It is more of a comment that fails to resist the offer before him.

Easily influenced. Even by an American black woman.]

[aheartoffire]

You could wear clothes from a magical world with the keenest toys I've ever seen, and you want to stick to those glad rags? [She gestures toward the interior.] I'll get something too. At least try them on!

[depicted]

[Okay, he can't just accept that.] They aren't rags! They are very fine clothing, quality fabric and well-made.

[aheartoffire]

[She bites her lips together gently to keep from laughing at him. It wouldn't be fair.]

'Glad rags' is 'nice clothes', bunny. And that's me being generous.

[depicted]

[This pouty bunny.] I don't know why you couldn't just say that.