agentleooc | test drive 02

I know dust grows even when there is a breeze
Can't move, can't grow When you've fallen on your knees

► All TDM threads may be considered canon provided both parties agree and are accepted into the game.

► Canon threads may be redeemed for influence and reputation depending on how you solve the issue at hand or how you engage with the prompt. They also count toward AC.

► Feel free to switch up your character's Jewel from thread to thread. Get a feel for how a Birthright Jewel may limit or enhance your character's abilities.

HOT UNDER THE COLLARD GREENS
The relationship between the Blood and the landens has never been easy anywhere, least of all Draega, and even less so now that the Strangers have arrived. Between Blood and landen, opinions on the Strangers vary wildly. Some Blood believe the Strangers were landen in their original worlds and thus cannot possibly have anything to offer, but some landens think this means that the Strangers will be more sympathetic to them—or that landens could gain the power of the Blood one day, too. Then there are the landens who think the Strangers have sold their souls to Queen Fayura to gain the Jewels and the Blood who think the Strangers have embraced what it truly means to be Blood. Whatever that means.

Tensions are high, and they're highest on the main street of the Old Town Bazaar, where two restaurants have an on-going feud. The Last Meal is owned by a Blood family, none of whom wear a Jewel darker than Yellow. Across the street from them stands the mockingly named Blood and Breakfast, owned by a landen family.

To say these two hate each other would be something of an understatement.

On this particular morning, Lord Harle, the Yellow Jeweled owner and chef at The Last Meal, comes storming out of his front door. "You've done it now, Laney Cook! Soured all my milk!"

Simultaneously, Laney Cook, who is the owner and chef at Blood and Breakfast, comes stomping out the front door of her establishment, brandishing a wooden spoon like a sword. "Aye, and you've replaced all my sugar with salt, you ripe old bastard!"

Without missing a beat, both turn to you and the Stranger at your side. Wrong place, wrong time, friend. The two chefs decide the two of you can be trusted to help them prove the other party guilty of sabotage because neither of you has a stake in this. And, well, if the Queen brought you here, you should be an independent party. Both Harle and Cook seem to think the Queen is pretty okay.

Truthfully, they're both equally guilty. Lord Harle and Ms Cook have been trying to ruin each other for years, but who knows what you'll find when you go searching for evidence. And even if you find evidence that decides one way or the other, perhaps you'll simply lie and manufacture a solution that suits you—or the Queen who brought you here.

TERRIBLE TWO(HUNDRED)S
You're not entirely sure how this happened, but you're starting to understand why Blood females constantly grumble about the caste of males they call Warlord Princes. Prince Loren has, somehow, managed to maneuver you to the place you're at now: the head of a classroom full of Blood children who all look like they're somewhere between the ages of eight and ten. It's hard to tell, and you're pretty sure one bossy little boy declared he was 203-years-old, so everyone else has to listen to him, thanks.

Regardless of how Loren managed to get you there, there you stand. Fifteen energetic elementary school children all wearing Jewels shriek and shout, using Craft to amplify already shrill voices. One girl floats near the ceiling, her face screwed up in concentration as she clutches a Rose Jewel. Two little boys are taking turns passing their hands through their desks, which strikes you as distinctly unsafe for eight-year-olds to be doing. (You're not wrong.)

At least there are two of you, and you only need to babysit these children for the morning. "They're here for Craft lessons. Surely, you can manage until Lady Sheera arrives," Loren had said before abandoning you to a battlefield full of powerful, pint-sized children.

There's a lesson plan on the teacher's desk, but maybe you should lead with the snacks.

REVENGE, SERVED STINKY
The air is crisp and cool; it's still winter, but it's not as chilly as it has been, and so you're out for a walk. You've made your way north through Old Town and now find yourself meandering down the roads in front of the landen Guild Halls. Even though they're all made of red brick, each building is entirely unique. The Hunter and Crafter Hall, the largest of all the buildings, has more in common with a hunting lodge than the university building it once was. The Elektriline Hall might be the smallest building, but it's covered in neon lights and impossible to ignore.

Equally impossible to ignore is Master Tinker Mari and her collection of landen young adults. They're clustered around a storm drain. When Mari sees you, she detaches herself from the group of landen students and bounds over to you. "Ahhah! Stranger! You have been brought here against your will and are surely sympathetic to our cause!" she exclaims.

That doesn't make you feel too great since, you know, you're aware that the Hunter Guild tried to kill all the Strangers maybe two or three weeks ago. They may have mellowed out, or they may just be biding their time. Thankfully, none of Mari's students bear the markings of a Hunter.

She pulls you to the group. Already, canisters have been lowered into the sewers. A handful of students have clambered down after the canisters. "The Blood wouldn't help us repair the damage in Old Town," she says, rubbing her hands together. "Our people's homes were unlivable. So we're going to make their workplace unbearable." She points at the canisters. "Stink bombs."

There's another Stranger in the group, and you make eye contact over the top of the storm drain. Are you of the same mind as each other? As Mari? The choice is yours: agree to Mari's plan and fill the buildings of the Ebon Council with untenable stench or try to convince them there's a better way.

AIR TIME
Whether you catch the news on a Far-caster in the city or you're spinning the dial on your own device, you'll hear…

etiquette with evandra and aren
[Evandra's voice is a little bit rough and a little bit husky, the kind of voice that gives bad ideas to young men and headaches to fathers.] Today we're talking about everyone's favorite subject.

[Aren's voice is chipper and bright. He sounds more like an eager boy than the full-grown man he is.] Food?

[A laugh from Evandra.] No, Lord Aren. Sex and flirting. Culturally, the Blood don't consider it rude to flirt quite blatantly with each other, even when one or both of the parties is married. Isn't that right?

[Aren:] That's exactly it, Evandra. Older males allow young witches to flirt because it's understood that the male isn't interested or available. He becomes a safe partner for her to practice on, and his approval lets her know what is and isn't acceptable.

[Evandra:] What does it mean if a married male or witch flirts with you?

[Aren:] Casual flirting means that witch or male thinks you're safe. It's their way of telling you they feel comfortable around you. Of course, it's always acceptable to ask them to step back! [He laughs.] As we all know, just because you can flirt with a Warlord Prince's lady doesn't mean you should!

[Evandra:] Let's take a look at casual flirtation between different Blood castes…

the weather
[A soft-spoken man's voice rumbles out of the Far-caster. He's pleasant to listen to, with a soothing cadence to his voice.] Warmer temperatures will see melting snow over the next week. Be careful around the Heartsblood River, as the heavy snows will result in flooding along the banks. Need flood insurance? The Transport Guild is looking to expand into…

the news
…amusing to hear that Grand Master Niall blames the Blood for the fires in Old Town. It is my understanding that members of the Blood, these so-called Strangers, went out of their way to rescue both Blood and landen during the fires set by the Grand Master's Hunter Guild. [The man speaking has a slow, clipped cadence to his voice. It's very posh and polished.]

[Another voice, presumably an interviewer:] The Council counts the Strangers as Blood, Lord Grejor?

[Grejor:] What else can they be? They wear the Jewels, therefore they are among our number. [He laughs, and the sound is cold.] The Council is pleased to welcome our new brothers and sisters.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Piper glances at the other Stranger and it seems that he's waiting for her to take the lead, which she doesn't mind doing, even if she hates being in the spotlight, this is just - two people arguing. She can deal with that. ]

We'd be happy to help, right?

[ Glancing at the other Stranger. ]

We can go take a look and see what evidence we find.

[He gave her a grateful look, nodding in agreement. He doubted it would be that simple and sounded like the sort of riddle that Maester Luwin might have given Robb as a boy, preparing him to be lord.

But at least it was somewhere to start.]

The Last Meal first?

Sure.

[ She turns a devastating smile on to the their two quarrelers. 'Searching for evidence' is not something Piper feels particularly skilled at - walking around and playing 'hot or cold' by keeping an eye on the person who's establishment it is works better for her. ]

And you two should come with us, that way you'll each see what we find with your own eyes.

[ Aaaaaaaaaand that way they won't be left out on the street alone together to try and murder each other. ]

[He doesn't like the idea of those two watching over their shoulder as they inspected both restaurants, but it was the best way to keep them distracted from each other.

The obvious first step was to taste the sugar and see if it tasted like salt. He might never have tasted sugar before, but he knew salt. After a quick taste, he held the pot out to her.]

She's right, it's salt.

[He sighed.]

I think we'll find the milk soured too.

[ While the strange... Stranger inspected the salt, Piper watched Laney Cook and Lord Harle. It was strange. There was an expression of satisfaction that flickered across both their faces at the announcement. ]

I wouldn't be surprised... [ she takes the salt and sets it down. She turns to Laney Cook, ] What makes you think it was Lord Harle that did this!

[ Laney sputters: 'He's always out t'get me, the old bastard! If it's my salt this week, it was my basil the week before, and putting a giant barrel of manure outside my window the week before that! He can't stand the competition!'

'Competition? From a landen? Don't make me laugh,' Lord Harle returned. 'You're the one who's always sabotaging me, you probably soured my milk just by looking at it, you daft old cow!'

Piper can't help but notice that neither of them have denied either accusation. She sends a glance in the other's direction to see if he's picked up on the same - or something similar. ]

Edited 2019-02-17 22:59 (UTC)

[His head is already aching from the near back and forth, not helped by the roll of his eyes. It was hard for him not to notice the looks of satisfaction or the fact that they never denied their involvement. So what were they supposed to do now?

Clearly this was going to continue, no matter what was said.]

This isn't what I agreed to when I was asked to come here. [It's muttered to the girl, barely heard above the argument.]

Enough! You both made your point and inflicted enough damage. Keep out of the other's restaurant or you will be fined.

Keep to your own business.

[ That... what? She glances at him, surprised, because how can he possibly think they can enforce that?

Laney Cook becomes positively shrill: 'Fined?'
Lord Harle: 'By what authority--' ]

I think, [ Piper steps forward, her hand spread out slightly in order to get their attention, ] what the Stranger and I both mean to say is that things are hard enough out there without you two causing trouble. [ She weaves a little bit of power in her voice, not enough to persuade, just enough to get their attention. ]

It can't be easy to compete for the same customers, but right now times are difficult for everyone. People who are going out to eat just want a nice time out with their loved ones, something easy and light - home without the work. You both can give them that, give them some rest, some joy -- and make money at the same time. [ She's been gradually lacing in the slightest bit more power to her voice, both Laney and Harle are leaning in now. Piper judges this to be the right amount - breaking through their natural prejudices and defenses, but not pushing them over to the edge of doing exactly what she wants just because she suggests it. Just... getting their attention. ] But only if the customers come. If the two of your are constantly sabotaging each other, how long will it be before they go somewhere else entirely? There are two other restaurants just down the road.

[Again his sticking his foot in the mouth. Going from being king to this, he still needs to remember his orders won't be followed in the same way.

He can only watch with admiration as she navigates through this, handling something that he should have been more adept with. There was Craft present, he could gather that much. He was still learning how to use his power. Piper was obviously much more comfortable than he was.]

Word will spread soon that this is all you do. Your reputation won't be for food but this fight.

[He thinks that he is catching on now.]

[ Piper nods. Yes, good, at least he catches on quickly.

She doesn't give Laney and Harle a chance to talk back, because if she does, she's afraid one will say something to insult the other, and then she'll lose the tiny bit of a handhold she's got on them, and have to use more power, and then that will wear off and they will just be back where they started. ]

It's started to get in the way even now. How are you going to work today without sugar? [ Looking at Harle. ] And you without milk>

[ Dramatic pause, and then Piper turns back to Laney. ] ...of course you have milk, don't you?

[ A glance at Jon - she hopes he sees where she's going with this. If not, she's going to step forward again quickly. ]

[He gauges her meaning quickly, almost smiling at her cleverness. It was almost the sort of thing Tyrion might do or say, adding to the growing respect he had for her.]

You have sugar. [He looked at Harle] It's only fair that you spare some for each other, given how far you have gone to ruin the supplies.

It could be a truce and then you focus on your businesses succeeding.

[ Yes, good. That's exactly where she'd been going, and she's glad that the other Stranger was able to convey it so well. Maybe this would actually work?

Except -- darn it --

'I'm not going to share with her,' said Lord Harle.

And Piper can see how Laney immediately bristles. ]

Then you'll go without milk, [ said quickly, sharply, a marked contrast from her convincing tone of before. ] And we will help Laney Cook get her sugar another way. And have lunch at her restaurant and tell everyone exactly how good it is. Or you can agree to share, and we'll walk away, and we won't need to say another word.

[ A quirk of her lips. ] But you can compete honestly and let the one who really is the best cook win. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Lord Harle?

test drive 02

collard greens

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