testing_the_box | TEST DRIVE MEME

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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?

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Yes, it's absurd. It's the 20th century, and they remain mired in feudal times. [He's read de Beauvoir, he knows these things.] I'm sure if I'd remained, they would have set me up with some unfortunate pedigreed wife to carry on the family bloodline, and we would have been absolutely miserable together. What a beautiful domestic tableau.

[A terrible thought.

Kayneth likes talking about how people who make decisions different from his own are idiots, so he carries on, his enthusiasm building as he goes. In his life, he isn't actually able to talk about magus society, seeing as how he doesn't willingly talk to any magi, and he can't speak to others about it. So his feelings of resentment are more than a bit pent up.]

It's regrettable that their so-called luminaries are simply the people who are best at following their senseless rules, so that the magus elite are nothing but generation after generation of ever more mindless dullards. Petty, cruel, unimaginative, and ultimately pathetic.

Life is too short to waste your time doing as others dictate. The ideal human state is freedom.

There's a woman and you --the other you, I suppose-- seem to feel something for her, but it isn't mutual. I don't know how emotionally invested y--he was with my mother, honestly; she was the daughter of a first-generation mage with no ties to the Association whatsoever, so his family had her killed when they found out about me. You know how Archibalds feel about scandals and low-born families, I'm sure. The woman he was supposed to marry learnt of it and used it as leverage to call off the engagement. Being raised by my grandmother until I stupidly entered Clocktower against her wishes, I wasn't brainwashed with the typical tradtionalist rubbish.

[Instead she had an unrealistic idea of what a magus was and thought she'd finally find a place where she belonged. Waver is still embarrassed over how wrong she was back then.]

I don't mind if you think I'm completely mental, but... the fact that some version of you who gets it can and does exist makes me very happy.

[Kayneth rarely talks about his personal life, so he doesn't say anything about his own domestic situation when faced with that of his supposed other self.

His lip curls in obvious disgust. Murdering women, simply because of an affair. The sad thing is, remembering his past and the way he used to be, he can actually see himself having accepted such things as normal if he'd chosen to remain. He hadn't left home for humanitarian reasons, but for selfish, prideful ones. He'd only happened to learn a bit of humanitarianism along the way.]

How barbaric.

[He should say something comforting, shouldn't he? This is a young woman talking about her mother being murdered. But he doesn't know what to say. He's terrible at such things. Saying "I'm sorry" doesn't seem right at all.]

All the more reason that that institution should be wiped out.

[That's comforting, right?

Not that Kayneth had tried to stir for social change, he had just ditched everyone.]

I don't believe you're mental.

[High praise from Kayneth. Although... this is awkward.]

I'm pleased my very existence can be of some utility to someone.

[He tries to sound sarcastic, but it doesn't really work out.]

[She's gone through the DOWN WITH THE INSTITUTION phase herself, but in the end Waver realised she probably couldn't beat the system on her own, so she's given up. Well, that and she has a promise to keep. She seems to take comfort in being told she's not mental, though.]

...I'd like to see your work some time, if you don't mind showing me.

[She told Lady Archibald she'd consider attempting to get to know Kayneth better. She never specified which Kayneth.]

[Kayneth is just too selfish to ever join a protest or fight the establishment.

Oh, someone interested in his work? Well, that's the surest way to appease Kayneth.]

If you'd like. I wouldn't be adverse to showing you.

It's a shame there's no way to access the main body of my work here. I don't even have any slides or clippings. I've had numerous shows throughout Europe and America. But I have been working on a few pieces since my arrival.

Oh, um, there's a woman that runs an odd shop with trinkets and things. Sometimes she can get stuff from home, though I've no idea how. Her idea of payment is odd, but not terrible. I was told to write letters in order to get my familiars back.

[She isn't sure it would work, but Waver supposes she could at least mention it to him.]

Is that so? Interesting. [He ponders this news.] I could make an attempt. It wouldn't hurt to have a few of the smaller pieces. I have nowhere to store my larger works, which is a shame, as I do my best work on a grand scale. But yes, at least I could ask for slides, although three dimensional work loses so much in a two dimensional portrayal.

[His life is hard.]

The city could use more art. It's no Paris or Barcelona, to be sure.

You could convert one of the abandoned buildings into a gallery. Even if it were only to display new work, it could be a nice thing to have.

[Okay, maybe she misses wandering around the British Museum a little and it's influencing her suggestions...]

A gallery. That's an excellent idea.

[He'd been too busy complaining about being here and feeling sorry for himself to think of productive ways he might spend his time.]

There's so much empty space here, it would be simple. I could make a studio as well, so I'd have enough space to create something truly inspiring. I'm not sure if there are any other artists, but it might be worth arranging a show. Curated, of course. I can't let just anyone in.

[He misses museums, too. All the museums.]

I'm not much of an artist, admittedly, but I'd be happy to help you organise it. Surely you can't be the only one in the city.

[Waver truly would love to find a productive use of her time, and she likes appreciating other people's artistic talents well enough.]

That's quite all right. I don't expect most people to have so much as an ounce of artistic talent.

[He means this--in the nicest way, really.

Finally, there's someone here who is actually useful and not insane.]

I could use the help. Organizing and curating a gallery show is no small task.

[If someone is going to offer help, he's certainly going to take advantage of it.]

No, there must be others, we simply have to find them, and to assure that they're worthy of being shown.

It's more that I've had other outlets for my creativity.

[She shrugs, not exactly bothered by his attitude. In truth, it's much more tolerable when not directed at her personally.]

An advert on the city network ought to generate some interest.

Such as?

[Not that that changes the fact that he doubts most people have the ability to be even mediocre artists, regardless of their drive. But Kayneth's attitude on this point is general rather than pointed.]

I could make an attempt.

[Kayneth sounds slightly reluctant. He's not really in the mood to deal with a lot of idiots, which he assumes will be the result of any such effort.]

Unfortunately, you're just as likely to get a lot of untrained amateurs who've been told they can get a good likeness or draw a flower but have no real inspiration or developed talent.

Grandmother insisted I learn to sing, Kayn-- er, my father saw to it that I learnt to play the piano and violin as well as dance so that I wouldn't embarrass the family during social events. I've taken an interest in baking since coming here, and I like to garden.

[Waver starts to blush a little, fidgeting with her sleeve.]

I like to experiment with spellwork and alchemy, but I've been scolded repeatedly for using magecraft frivolously... not that they have any room to talk, considering the sort of horrible things they get up to with it! And I suppose I doodle compulsively, but that hardly counts as art, I'd think.

[Ah, but a change of subject! She will leap on that.]

You could host a contest. It would be a convenient way to gauge talent levels without obligation.

Ah, music. That's acceptable. Not a poor outlet at all.

[Kayneth isn't musical himself, but he does have a fondness for the other arts (even if he might think them inferior in some ways). He doesn't mention baking or gardening because he's not particularly interested in them. They're certainly not art forms!

He makes a dismissive noise at the idea of Waver being scolded for her work.]

I experiment with magecraft myself. I fail to see how that's frivolous. It's my ability, and I will use it as I see fit. I've come up with some interesting developments. And as it so happens, I'm very interested in the artistic applications of magecraft. It's unfortunate that such things must be kept private, or it could add a whole new element to my public work.

As if a cabal of murderers has the right to lecture anyone on the applications of power.

A contest... [Anything that involves Kayneth judging others is something he can get behind.] Yes, that might work. I won't be able to select a victor if no one shows any talent, however.

Exposing the existence of magecraft to the public isn't against the law here. In fact, most residents have some ability or other themselves.

[Waver examines her nails innocently as she mentions that little tidbit, pleased as pie that he feels the same way she does.]

Being unable to select a victor would be problematic, though.

Yes, I suppose it isn't, is it? I despise this place, but that is one benefit. We're rid of those meddlesome mages. I could consider a public display of my more esoteric creations... I highly doubt anyone has devoted themselves to the aesthetics of magecraft with anything approaching my talent or drive.

[He is a prodigy, you know.]

I refuse to honor the best of the worst. Only excellence should be rewarded.

[Kayneth will not be moved on this point.]

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