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

Lancer (Diarmuid Ua Duibhne) | Fate/Zero (Spoiler Warning: Canon Point is Epi 16)

[oathshackledbird]

Prompt: Arriving in the City during the Christmas in July Event!

[The war was not suppose to end like this. His life was not suppose to end like this. Not with another betrayal. Even though Diarmuid had suspected things might have started to twist toward that familiar ending again, he had hoped he would be able to stop it. To keep things from getting that far.

Then the war had ended. His spear in his chest. His blood on the ground. Black and red, hatred and rage filling his vision--his self--until there had been nothing left.

There should have been nothing left. However, instead of nothing there had been the box. And the curiosity.

Did it matter now if he opened it or not?

So he had and here he was, wherever here was. Oh, he had listened to what he had been told during his little introduction, but now that he is standing on his own in the middle of this strangely...festive city, he really has no idea where to start trying to decide what to do.

Or why the residents seem so worried about needing protection from evil spirits that they have mistletoe hung up everywhere...]

[shortafewcircuits]

[Waver is really not in the habit of watching where she's going. There aren't usually enough people out this time of day to bother, and the reindeer-drawn sleds don't venture this close to the side of the street. And so she is rushing down the lane, rummaging through a bag for something, when she crashes right into his back and falls flat on hers in the snow.]

...Bugger.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid turns quickly when he feels the smaller form run into him. Without really focusing on who it is, he moves to the person's side, crouching down so that he can make sure they are okay.]

Hey, you didn't hurt...

[His voice trails off when he catches sight of the person's face for the first time.]

Waver Velvet? Is that you?

[shortafewcircuits]

[It is a very unimpressed face. The mouth is even in sort of a ﹏ shape.]

I'm-- ...awkward.

[How very awkward indeed. Should she scream?]

[oathshackledbird]

[Rude, Waver. He's just trying to help!]

Awkward?

[Diarmuid's confusion is just growing by the moment.]

Are you hurt?

[He repeats the question, hoping at least get one thing settled before he tries to start figuring things out.]

[shortafewcircuits]

I'm not, no.

[Waver sits up and rubs at her head, and then brushes the snow off with a low whine.]

I didn't know you were here, but I'm not going back to Kayneth's place even if you drag me so please don't even try it.

[oathshackledbird]

(OOC; I keep meaning to ask... Is Waver dressed in a way that gives away she is a girl or is that pretty hidden by her clothes?)


I just arrived today...

[Diarmuid's voice is just as confused as his face is.]

Why would I drag you back to Kayneth? The last I knew the two of you were enem--

[His voice cuts off and suddenly his expression darkens.]

Are you saying my Master is here?

[The word master is nearly snarled.]

[shortafewcircuits]

(ooc: short skirt + wool tights and a girly scarf, yep. :3 She probably also sounds more feminine if he's the type to pay attention to that stuff.)

Yes and no.

[She flinches at his tone, but having decided it's a reaction in her favour, Waver calmly stands and pats the rest of the snow off before her bum can freeze to the ground or something.]

He's here, but he's from before the War and seems to have gotten himself in cahoots with another Servant.

[oathshackledbird]

(OOC: He might have missed it all at first being worried if she was hurt, but now that she just stood up in that short skirt and he's crouched down still..... X.x)


Another servant? Waver what are you--

[Somehow Diarmuid had missed it. He can blame it on any number of things--confusion from the new city, startlement from being run into, or surprise at seeing a familiar face--but whatever the reason, he has missed something very important. Something he can't ignore any longer now that Waver has stood up so suddenly, and Diarmuid himself is still crouched down where he had been when he had offered to help.]

Waver...why are you a girl?

[A girl in a fairly short skirt too. Well...this is awkward...]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil finds the appearance of the city strange as well, but doesn't recognize it as a festive theme. Having grown up in a coastal kingdom on a fairly warm continent, snow isn't something she's used to seeing. In fact, she's only been exposed to it a few times in her life — the majority of said instances having taken place in the last year, in fact. As such, she's not finding the cold all that enjoyable. It reminds her of the moon, actually— the cold of space and the days' tendency to be short and dark compared to the long, warm days of summer.

This holiday they call "Christmas" doesn't exist on her world. They have their own winter traditions, true, but it's different from this and in Baron it's different from the rest of the world. Cecil pulls her cloak tighter around herself and walks up the ice-covered steps leading to the entranceway of the library carefully, mindful not to slip. There's mistletoe hung in the arched doorway just inside, where Cecil pauses for a moment to shake the snow from her silvery hair and clothes, but she doesn't notice since she's still not accustomed to looking for the little green sprigs at every turn. The warmth of the library is inviting and she shivers slightly from the shock of it sinking into her body. She's going to have to search for more suitable clothing to wear in this weather if it's going to stay this way for a while. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[As a servant, Diarmuid is fortunate that he doesn't have to worry about the cold. If not, he would probably be pretty miserable by now. However, while he can't become uncomfortable from the cold, the dampness from all the snow is starting to bother him and that is why he had stopped in the doorway of the library as he has been making his way through town trying to figure out just what all of this is and what he is suppose to do.

He steps off to the side slightly as the silver-haired woman enters the doorway and nods to her in a friendly manner despite the fact he is still very confused about everything.

If he notices the nearby mistletoe, he says nothing. After all, to him it is hung as nothing more than a protective talisman. Why should he worry about it?]

It is not exactly the nicest day to be out, is it? It seems my bad luck has dropped me here at a difficult time.

[proteusmoon]

[ The paladin looks up when she's addressed and she laughs softly at the man's comment while she finishes brushing the cold snow from her shoulders. She's certainly grateful to have at least taken a modest outer garment from one of the clothing shops, since it's doing all the work keeping the elements away from her body, but she still feels uncomfortable about having taken it and she becomes almost sheepish at the mention of the weather. ]

No, unfortunately, but I... imagine it could be worse out.

[ It's fleeting and her eyes soften a little, her memories moving back to the box she opened that brought her to the city. ]

To be honest, I think all of us can attest to having bad luck, seeing how we've all ended up here. At least we've both arrived when the city seems to be in a very cheery and warm-hearted spirit. Everyone has been especially kind to me-- a little unreasonably so.

[oathshackledbird]

You are newly arrived here as well?

[Diarmuid is slightly surprised at this since she seems pretty comfortable with the surroundings already aside from perhaps being a little cold.]

Though, not so newly arrived as I am I'm guessing. I have only been here a few hours. Just long enough to be talked to by those odd management creatures and be sent on my way.

[He looks out at the snow for a moment before looking back at her.]

Tell me, does this place ever get less confusing? It might be festive, but that doesn't really help me figure things out. It just makes everything festively confusing...

[proteusmoon]

A few hours? Oh!

[ Her blue eyes widen, then she's quickly taking off her cloak and already wrapping it around the man's shoulders. Yes, she's cold, but surely he must be colder, considering he is wearing much thinner clothing than she is. The cloak is rather long on her, so it will at least trap some of his body heat closer to his torso and his groin-- the places that are vital when it comes to warding off hypothermia, that is. She seems to have not quite noticed he's asked her another question. ]

You must be freezing... Have you been wandering in the snow for all these hours? There is a fireplace further inside. Come.

[oathshackledbird]

Y-yes, but....

[Diarmuid tries to explain to her that he can't get cold, but before he can get the words out she is wrapping him in her cloak and pushing him toward the fireplace. He won't argue that the fire is beautiful, but it can't warm up what wasn't cold to begin with.]

Aren't you cold? You just came inside and I don't wish to take your wrap from you. My armor... It's warmer than it seems...

[She's so insistent that he can't bring himself to say that her actions, while kind, are totally unnecessary.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Since he's resisting, this actually puts the two of them directly under the mistletoe. At first, nothing happens; Cecil doesn't even notice and she continues to fuss over him. ]

No, no, truly... I'm fine. It's kept me warm enough while I walked here. I live nearby as it is, so there's no need to worry about me. Please-- I cannot send you back to your own world, but I can at least ensure you do not freeze nearly to death while you try to adapt to your--

[ Then, unexpectedly, she stops, her hands on the fastening at the collar still and her eyes widen a little again while she stares at him as though seeing him for the first time. She sweeps her tongue over her lips once quickly and slowly -- obviously with effort -- withdraws her hands. The sudden urge to kiss him is strong, but the fear that stirs in her is stronger and she manages not to actually do it. ]

--ah, to your new... surroundings...

[oathshackledbird]

You don't need to worry about sending me home or keeping me--

[Diarmuid's voice trails off when his eyes catch the movements of her tongue over her lips. He draws in a shaky breath when he feels the spike of need those actions cause him. And then he freezes. He's had enough experience with love spells that he recognizes what is happening. He's just not sure of the source and he's not used to being on this side of the spell.

Is this how women who fall under his spell feel? And will this pass if he gives into the urge to kiss her he's feeling or is this something that will last longer like his curse does?

Diarmuid is thankful when she pulls away from him and it's obvious from the unease on her face that even if she doesn't mention it, she's felt something too.]

What is that?

[He winces when he hears how breathless his voice is.]

[fionnuisce]

[He'd thought the box left upon his desk was at best some kind of gift from one of many admirers or at worst, a harmless prank from Eskardos. Of course he'd opened it, Waver had thought nothing of it to begin with.]

[But this was where 'curiosity' got him? This...this was cruel. Some illusion of a city decorated in mistletoe, with him standing in it? Waver's right hand curled into a fist, still bearing the faded scars that had once been bright scarlet Command Spells.]

What is this? [He barely managed to keep an audible snarl out of his voice--instead his words were forced and even pained.] Some kind of joke? You're not really here--you can't be here.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid starts when he hears the words snarled at him with such an odd, pained tone. The city itself has confused him enough, but now to have someone he doesn't even know telling him he shouldn't be here...

Doesn't he realize Diarmuid already knows that?]

Tell me something I don't know. Have we...

[He pauses, giving the man a closer look.]

Wait... We have met, haven't we?

[fionnuisce]

...You don't...recognize me. [Waver shook his head as though that would clear out the confusion he felt. Speaking more to himself than Diarmuid, he continued:] No, of course you wouldn't. Even if you could remember me, don't I look completely different now?

[Adjusting the sunglasses he'd worn on top of his head for what felt like forever, Waver sighed with a bitter smile.] Very well...since this is obviously some mad little dream I brought on myself from working three days straight, I'll play along.

My name is Waver Velvet. There was a time some years ago when I called myself your Master--no, your friend.

[oathshackledbird]

Waver Velvet? Rider's master?

[Diarmuid gives the man another look. As he says, he does look completely different and yet...yes Diarmuid can definitely see the resemblance now. So that solves one thing. Now for the million other things that aren't solved.]

I'm sorry. There must be some kind of mistake. I mean no disrespect, but there is no way you could have been my master. My...master...

[Diarmuid's eyes flick away from Waver's, his expression darkening for a moment as his hand unconsciously rises to rest against the center of his chest.]

His name was Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi. It should sound familiar to you. He was your teacher, was he not?

[fionnuisce]

...hmph. What kind of absurd dream would have you say something like that?

[Sighing, Waver kept speaking in an explanatory tone.]

Of course he was my teacher back then. But I'm telling you, I wasn't Rider's Master. That idiot summoned Berserker after I stole his original relic. [He reached to the back of his neck and unfastened a small pendant hidden under his shirt--a small silver chain holding a broken shard of ivory.]

This one, in fact.

I almost wrote Lady Sola of the too-freaking-long-name instead... Geez...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid eyes the relic. Yes, it is familiar. It is the same one that Sola-Ui had shown him was used to summon him to the war, though that ivory shard had not been set into anything when he had last seen it.]

As impossible as this all seems, I have been told this is no dream and that the city is some kind of dimension outside of our own. It smells to me of second magic, but I am no magus so I have no idea how accurate that idea is.

And yes, that is my relic. How it came to be in your hands is beyond me. The last time I saw is my master's fiancee, Lady Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri had it. Was it retrieved by the Church or the Tower after the War...ended?

[And what did that say about the fates of his master and his fiancee? Had sacrificing his servant to save his own life been in vain? Had Diarmuid's whole existence in the war been in vain?]

fffff

[fionnuisce]

Diarmuid, why aren't you listening to me, I have it because I stole it before the war st--Second Magic?

[Son of a bitch.]

...

[His insistence that this was a dream had been denial more than anything. He didn't want to believe this was real; didn't want to see Diarmuid because that meant losing him again. But if this was real and Second Magic was involved...]

[Waver slowly stepped forward looking like he'd very literally just seen a ghost, reaching out a shaking hand to lightly touch the knight's shoulder.]

You're...you're real. You're not the same one, but...you're really here?

[oathshackledbird]

[While Diarmuid is still confused as to why Waver is acting so..friendly toward him, he is glad the man seems to have at least accepted that this isn't some kind of fever dream.]

Yes, I am real. I...shouldn't be here. I should be...

[Dead. Erased. Gone.]

...on the Throne, but for whatever reason, I am here instead. Something to do with those odd boxes we all seem to have found.