testing_the_box | TEST DRIVE MEME

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My apologies.

[He bows his head to her slightly.]

I never stopped to consider that you might be new here as well. Do you happen to know what the current set of laws in the city is then? I have no wish to break them while I am attempting to get settled in. Especially if there are...punishments as a result.

[The hand rubbing his shoulder pauses in its motions before tightening against it. What his master had done had been a punishment right? For not working fast enough to win the war. For not being strong enough. For failing.

Doubt, pain and betrayal all cloud Diarmuid's eyes for a few moments before he manages to push them away. He will deal with that all later. For now, he needs to deal with figuring out this place.]

You say you are new as well, so I will understand if you do not know, but if you do I will greatly appreciate any assistance you can give me.

[ Again, Cecil picks up on the subtle body language and she silently berates herself for moving her eyes to his shoulder in interest. Her attention snaps back to his face when she catches herself and she focuses on his words instead. ]

No, that's all right. You had no way of knowing.

[ But then even his face reflects what he's feeling and it becomes that much harder for her to ignore. ]

I will happily help in any way I can, but-- please forgive me. I don't mean to pry, but-- are you all right? Does it... hurt-- the site of the amputation?

Does what hurt?

[Diarmuid is confused for a moment by her sudden change of topic. No, he's not in pain. Not physical pain anyway. What would make her think--

His eyes shift to where she is looking and he suddenly pales, dropping his hand from his shoulder as soon as he realizes what he's doing. While Diarmuid doesn't intend to be harsh, his voice does come out a bit colder than it had been before.]

No. It's an old wound. It happened long...

[Not long enough.]

...ago. Please don't worry yourself on my behalf. It doesn't hurt...anymore.

[ The change in tone is delicate, but undoubtedly present. Cecil inwardly winces at it, acknowledging that she has, as she predicted she would, touched upon a sensitive topic. Sympathetically, she merely nods for the time being in agreement and turns to explaining the laws. ]

Well, those laws are, as I said earlier, all rather ridiculous... One is that apparently we must all live with at least two or more people. Another is that everyone must have cinnamon in three meals each week. And another still has to do with those plant sprigs they seem rather fond of hanging up during this season. I can't say, unfortunately, that I really understand any of these laws though.

[He appreciates the nod and the fact that she doesn't pry, but the wince bothers him and so he doesn't just let the topic go as he might have otherwise.]

Please don't feel bad. It is only natural to be curious, especially with me drawing so much attention to it.

[Diarmuid sighs, hand reaching up again to rub at his shoulder.]

Apparently even though I have only been back from the Throne a short time, I've picked up a nervous habit.

As for those laws...they don't make things easy for new people, do they? I was told none of those and yet I could very easily run into trouble with them. How am I to know that I must live with two others or eat something specific? Servants...don't even need to eat.

[That...was going to make things interesting. While he could eat, he had never really given it much thought before.]

As for the plant...it is called mistletoe. In the land where I grew up, it was used as a ward against evil spirits. I'm not sure how that ties into the festive theme unless perhaps the festival is one specifically meant to protect this place from them during the coming year.

[ Cecil still doesn't understand what he means exactly by some of the things he says, but she respects his privacy and does not ask about them. ]

Winter festivals are often to celebrate what one does have during the longer, darker days of the season. If that is the mistletoe's purpose, it does not seem too much of a far-fetched idea that they would want to protect what is theirs as well as celebrate it. In any case, we are fined for attempting to damage or remove the mistletoe.

If that is its intended purpose here, it seems odd that people would want to disturb it, but you have said that these laws are random. I guess I shouldn't try to make too much sense out of any of it.

[Diarmuid seems kind of surprised that she is letting the topic of his arm drop so easily. People are usually much more curious. Still, he appreciates her respect for his privacy.]

Are the fines as random as the rules?

[ Cecil laughs softly. ]

They do seem rather fond of... putting on public displays of affection underneath the mistletoe, but I stopped trying to really understand such things about the city within a few days of arriving. I believe the fine is... two thousand pandies — the local currency.

'Public displays of affection?' Do you mean like kissing? What does that have to do with a plant that provides protection against evil spirits?

[Diarmuid seems destined to be confused about this place for a long, long time.]

Is two thousand a lot of...pandies, did you say? Different forms of money are not things I am very used to working with.

Ah, yes...

[ Cecil visibly becomes a little uncomfortable. She blushes only a little, but largely it's her sudden inability to make eye contact that probably gives her away. ]

...I'm sorry— I'm not accustomed to speaking of these things openly with strangers.

[ Even in Troia it was uncomfortable for her! ]

But, to answer your question, I cannot say. This holiday does not exist on my world. The pandy is the currency here, but I'm not certain what the minimum wage of work here is. I'm afraid I'm not much help...

[Diarmuid gives her a gentle smile when he sees how embarrassed she is.]

It's not your fault. Most people are like that I think. Unfortunately, my history leaves me a little less...easily embarrassed by those kinds of things lets say.

[In another seemingly unconscious tick, Diarmuid reaches up and rubs at the mole that sits beneath his eye before letting his hand fall away.]

Even if you cannot help me much, you have done your best and I am grateful for the information you have given me. I will just make a special effort not to deface the mistletoe. It shouldn't be too hard.

TEST DRIVE MEME

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