TEST DRIVE MEME

[behind_the_box]

Starting now, we'll put up a new one of these very month! Feel free to use the current setting of Pandora (Christmas in July) or make up your own! You can also use the following scenarios if you'd prefer:

1. Mushroom Kingdom

Have you ever wanted to be a fairy? Well now you are, even if the answer was no! The City is a big, big place, all of a sudden. Houses are roomy affairs inside giant mushrooms, there are colorful flowers everywhere you look, and the animals are always friendly! Unfortunately, the only food items being sold in the market this month are fruit, fruit, and.... more fruit.

2. School Town

You may be too old to attend the academy, but that doesn't seem to matter; your attendance is mandatory anyway. Or perhaps you're there to teach, because you're the only resident of Pandora that possesses a certain skill. It doesn't matter if it can't be learned; you have to come up with a lesson plan anyway. At least the uniforms aren't some god awful color, right?

3. Zombie Apocalypse.

There's no coming back from death in Pandora, so you'd better do all you can to survive. Three quarters of the city are already infected, and this is the last stand. Are you going to pool your resources and try to make it together, or is it time to stop trusting others and go it alone until the month is over?

Comments

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Prompt: 1. Mushroom Kingdom


You have got to be kidding me...

[Cu Chulainn looks around himself with disbelieving eyes, before suddenly breaking out into wild--perhaps not quite all there--laughter.]

I know I was drinking the good stuff last night, but seriously? Mushroom houses? Fairies? Fruit? That's a whole different kinda crazy even for me!

Well, maybe not so much the fairies, but...

[He laughs again before setting off to wander around the city, randomly poking the houses to see if they are really what they appear to be. Anyone care to bother the blue-haired guy with really bad fashion sense before he puts a hole in some innocent person's house? Or maybe after he does?]

[shortafewcircuits]

[She's just trying to have a moment of peace and maybe a little kip to pass the time when suddenly someone is poking holes in her wall?! Waver stomps to the window with all the rage a shrimp like her can muster.]

would you mind?! You could have stabbed me!

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[There is silence from the other side of the wall for several moments and then laughter. Once the laughter fades, a red eye peeps in at Waver through the hole.]

What do you know! I found a fairy! Or are you gnome? Maybe one of the wee folk? In any event, ya mind telling me what exactly is going on with this place? Those crow-lookin' bastards didn't tell me much. Not that I woulda trusted anything I learned from 'em anyway. Crows ain't exactly trustworthy people, ya know.

[shortafewcircuits]

I'm a human, you idiot, and I'm not going to tell you anything if you keep patronising me.

[She wants to throw something at him already. Why does she always have this feeling when it comes to Servants?]

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Lass, the last thing I'm doing is patronizing you. It takes too much energy.

[He laughs and it sounds like he might actually slap the outside wall of her house as well.]

So....you gonna come out here so we can talk, or should I just widen this window and let myself in?

[shortafewcircuits]

You could, and then I would be completely justified in setting your hair on fire and shoving you back out!

[She sticks her tongue out at him and makes no move to come outside. In her undergarments? Absolutely not!]

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Setting my hair on fire? Ain't you a feisty one! I like that!

[There is some clattering around outside. It almost sounds like he might actually be trying to create a window big enough for him to crawl in through, but after a moment things fall silent...

...and then her door is kicked open.]

All right, Lass, I hope you're ready for some entertain--

[Cu Chulainn's voice drops off when he sees her state of dress. Then he smirks.]

Well, well. You are a feisty one. Don't waste any time, do ya?

[shortafewcircuits]

{...Did he really just.... he did really just...! Waver stares at him in stunned, flustered silence for a moment before shrieking and throwing a flower pot at his head, grabbing the blanket off her bed to cover herself.]

It isn't like that, idiot!!

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Why yes, yes he did!

With a laugh, Cu Chulainn dodges the thrown flower pot. Actually, at the last moment, he catches the projectile balancing it on his hand and looking at it.]

Poor thing. She's a hard one to live with, ain't she? Don't worry. I'll see 'bout fixing that. She just needs some fun in her life!

[shortafewcircuits]

Stop trying to make my flowers side with you! You're the intruder, here!

[It sounds ridiculous, but what about this entire situation isn't?]

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Cu Chulainn grins at her from around the side of the flower.]

Ya know, if you stopped trying to teach 'em how to fly, they just might be a little more loyal to you. Plants can't fly, after all! Not less you give 'em some wings or something. Expecting 'em to learn something they can't is just mean.

[shortafewcircuits]

Really.

[It's a small thing to manipulate the air around the pot so that it will shoot out of his hands and whap him upside the head a few times without falling, assuming his grip on it isn't too strong. Waver attempts to do so discreetly while giving him the most unimpressed look a girl in her underwear wrapped in a blanket can make.]

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Down you little beastie!

[Cu Chulainn throws his arm up to block the pot while his spear appears in his other hand. In a flash, the poor flower is run through and thrown to the floor.]

Ha! Take that traitor! Seems like once a plant forgets how to be loyal it can never be so again, right Lass?

[He looks back at Waver and winks. His eyes are twinkling in a way that shows, even though his words had made it sound like he was blaming the plant for attacking him, he knows well who the true culprit is.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil isn't particularly concerned about the blue-haired guy with really bad fashion sense poking holes into the walls of her house, but that's largely due to the fact that she's far more engrossed with entertaining all the animals on the other side of the mushroom house that suddenly really want her attention. Kneeling in the grass outside, Cecil scoops another young rabbit that's hopped out of her hands onto her shoulder away from her neck and puts him back down with the rest of his family. A mother rabbit and her litter of tiny black, white, brown, and grey offspring aren't the only ones who seem to have found an interest in the paladin; a deer and a few red-breasted birds she doesn't know the name of are suddenly keeping her company too. ]

Not that I dislike making new friends, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you all to visit tomorrow instead...

[ She was trying to tend to the small flowerbeds that have cropped up around the house and though Cecil doesn't have any talent with gardening, she's very confident that leaving the flowers to be eaten by her unwanted guests is a sure-fire way of failing at her task. She tries to who away the bunnies, but they don't seem terribly troubled by her attempts. She sighs with exasperation. ]

You are all just as persistent as Namingway... Are you related somehow?

Sleeping Beauty Meets the Huntsman.... X.x

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Cu Chulainn is content to idly poke away at the house until he hears her voice and is suddenly quite distracted by more beautiful and interesting things. He follows the voice to its source and once he finds her, he lets out a low appreciative whistle.]

Seems my lucky star is out tonight! Not only do I get a beautiful lass to keep me company, I get supper all in one shot! Granted, supper's still movin', but that ain't ever stopped me before!

[He calls his spear to take aim at one of the deer, then stops, his brow furrowing for a moment.]

Does this mean I actually gotta thank those crow-faced bastards who talked to me earlier?

At least there's no spontaneous singing...

[proteusmoon]

[ As surprising as the sudden appearance of the long red spear is, Cecil is quickly distracted from her wonder by the realization that he intends to kill the deer. The paladin throws herself between the animal and the man, then begins to push the deer away, trying to make her run off. ]

Don't! There's no need to hunt when food of all kinds is provided for us here. You simply need to walk into the nearest shop that sells food and ask for something.

[ Suddenly, she regrets leaving her sword and shield inside the house. She hasn't actually needed it once since arriving here though. ]

I expect there might be some spontaneous death soon, though...

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Cu Chulainn pauses in his attack, a puzzled look on his face.]

Why'd I want something from a store when there's fresh for the taking here? Go on, Pretty Lady. Step aside. I'm good at this. It ain't gonna feel a thing! And don't you worry! I'll clean it for you! You won't have to dirty that pretty white skin.

[His eyes fall on the rabbits as he waits for her to move and then his puzzlement seems to suddenly fade.]

Oh! Would you rather bunny 'stead? Gotta grab a couple of those for a decent meal, but...

Wiiinciiiiiiiiiing...

[proteusmoon]

Absolutely not!

[ Cecil gets to her feet right away and practically tackles the man with the spear. She throws herself at him, meaning to push him away now, but he's a lot more solid in his footing than she anticipated on such short notice and it feels a little more like bumping into a wall. Still, she's not deterred. ]

This is where I live! I won't permit you to kill these creatures when you have no need to. If you insist on behaving this way, I will remove you from these grounds myself.

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Cecil's actions startle Cu Chulainn for a moment, but it's a short moment and soon his surprised look is replaced with a smirk.]

Well...ain't you a frisky one. If you wanted to do something 'sides eat first, why didn't you just say so?

[His spear disappears and once his hands are free, he wraps them around Cecil, pulling her against himself.]

We can play 'fore eating. I ain't got nothing else planned for today and it ain't every day I got such a beauty throwing herself into my arms...

[proteusmoon]

[ The paladin turns almost as red as the roof of her mushroom house. Cecil has always been one slow to anger, but the stranger is certainly trying her patience. She clenches her jaw and speaks through gritted teeth: ]

Let me go or I assure you— you will be in no condition to play with anyone for quite a while.

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Ha! You're a feisty one, ain't ya Lass?

[Cu Chulainn leans forward and flashes Cecil an almost feral grin. Excitement glints in his eyes...and then he surprisingly, lets her go.]

You're gonna make me work for it, right? Cause the chase is part of the fun! Ain't nearly so much fun when ya don't bite back!

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil takes a step backwards, hoping to stay out of his reach now that she knows he has no sense of personal space. She doesn't look amused by his remarks either. ]

If your hope is to flatter me, I'm afraid you've wasted your time, since I am certain you say as much to any woman who will listen.

[ She can't quite resist being rude, though she regrets the quip the moment it leaves her tongue. She takes a breath in an attempt to calm down. With all the commotion, most of the animals that were loitering around her house have fled now. A few of the rabbits have decided to linger though, lurking in the flower beds still with their noses twitching curiously while they watch the people. Cecil, still frowning, brushes her hair away from her face. ]

I'm sorry— but you can either leave or come inside for a meal, if you agree to respect my home and my wishes.

[whydidithavetobecrows]

Not everyone, Lass. Just the pretty ones.

[He flashes her a grin that seems to suggest somehow he thinks that's better. He then brings his hand to his chin and rubs it.]

Hmm... I certainly wouldn't mind a good meal right now. Ain't had one since I got here. I take promises pretty seriously, though. You gotta tell me a little more 'bout what these wishes of yours might include 'fore I can agree...

[proteusmoon]

I was hardly asking for a binding contract.

[ Cecil feels a little offended by the implication that she would ask something dishonorable of him, but she tries to let it go. ]

As long as you don't try to kill anything anymore...

[whydidithavetobecrows]

[Cu Chulainn is quiet for a while, watching the few rabbits that are still lingering around. Then he shrugs, smiling widely.]

If ya mean the fuzzy ones... Fine, fine. I won't kill any of 'em, but I can't say that for anyone who might attack me. I don't know this area very well. I have no idea what might happen. 'Specially not with evil spirits like the ones that talked to me earlier wandering 'bout.