test drive 02

[thestewards]

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.

Comments

[championbittersweet]

[It took him longer than he liked but Jonathan finally located a heartbeat that wasn't the right speed, a slow pulse that stuck out in the sounds of humans around it. Unnatural. Tired. Undead.

In a better mindset he'd have found the difference between himself and the other vampire curious and worth asking about, but his hunger and anger take the lead once more as the sunlight starts peeking over the horizon and he launches himself in a blur of speed and shadow to slam into the other man and use his momentum to carry them both away from the crowds.]

[withbite]

Son of a--!

[He hadn't really been expecting that, and there it was.]

Persistent kind of jerk, aren't you. Go find someone else to gnaw on. I'm busy.

[He swatted at the other, stronger vampire, trying to change the direction of where they were headed. He might not be afraid of the sun anymore, but he also knew what it did to vampires. Or, what it should do to vampires. It wouldn't hurt to find out just what kind of problem this one had with it.]

You're not getting enough vitamin D, buddy. Lemme help you out with that.

[championbittersweet]

[As they tumbled, Jonathan wrenched the other vampire's head to the side and sunk his fangs into flesh. The taste of blood was an immediate, euphoric high, strength and pleasure flowing through him with that first mouthful and his senses narrowing in to only the taste of blood and the sucking pull as he swallowed a second time.

But no sooner was he lost in sating himself then pain lanced through him and he pulled back, wincing and snarling as his skin cracked and burned in the sunlight. There was still little of it in the street, but the early rays burned like fire and Jonathan fought to free himself from the other vampire in sudden contrast to his early attempt to hold onto him.]

[withbite]

Hey! Not on a first date!

[Damon's hand went to his neck, feeling blood, but the small wounds had healed already. Bites usually lasted longer than that, especially ones where the other party had gotten at least one good suck from it. But nope, just a smear of red on his fingers and no holes. Okay, that was... handy.

But he noticed the reaction, smiling as he went to stand directly in a band of sun. Good. Some things still held true, then. He could at least rely on that. Of course, now he was going to have to find out this guy's other weaknesses, because this was like running into the Mikaelsons all over again. Jerks.]

This is what veganism and abstinence gets you, Nippy. Crappy table manners.

[championbittersweet]

[Jonathan fell back to the shadows and the wounds dulled to deep and painful looking scars in his flesh. While he hadn't had more than two mouthfuls of blood, it bought with it a clarity that he hated and he dragged his wrist against his mouth to rid himself of the blood.]

How... [He stared at the other man, standing in the sunlight without a concern in the world.] How are you doing that?

[withbite]

Magic...

[Damon did a little wave of his hands, all Abracadabra-like, then turned the one that wore a ring on it. He tapped it with this thumb.]

Magic ring. And before you get it in your head to take it and use it, you can't. Part of the whole magic thing is it's for one person and one person only.

[His thumb pointed at his chest.]

Me. I mean, unless you can find yourself a Bennett witch to cast the spell. But I don't see any around here, so...

[championbittersweet]

[Jonathan shook his head.] Of course it's magic. Why wouldn't it be?

And is that what you are? A Bennett witch?

[Still full of hunting energy, Jonathan paced the length of the shadow, although he knew it futile; the sun was only going to keep rising and soon he would need to flee for the safety of indoors.

[withbite]

Hell no. Witches are bitc-- well. There's male witches, too. But they're... no. Witches are witches. It's a lineage thing. I'm a Salvatore. Damon, if you feel like calling me something other than lunch. You can't really do the witchy thing once you get vamped either.

[Someone hadn't met the siphons yet. Shh. He was noticing the other pacing along the sunlight, like a hungry predator -- which he was.]

[championbittersweet]

[The other vampire - Damon, it would seem - was so relaxed despite Jonathan's attempt at killing him that he had to remind himself of the casual way Damon spoke of killing and feeding on others earlier. But even so, he felt guilt at letting his hunger override his control so easily and decided he at least owed the man his name.

Making himself stop pacing, Jonathan scrubbed his sleeve against his coat in an effort to remove the blood that was doing precious little for his mood.]

Dr Jonathan Reid. And I should... apologise for my actions. I'm not usually so direct but you must understand that you cannot simply attack whoever you choose here.

[withbite]

[What was a little blood sucking between pals, huh? Besides, it wasn't like he wasn't used to people trying to kill him. Other vampires, even. Maybe he just hadn't expected them here. But, that was the thing about new experiences.

He watched how the other man pulled himself together, slowly, and how he seemed to want the residual blood to be anywhere but on or around him. Something to note and remember.]

Why not? That's kind of the point of compulsion, buddy. Snatch, eat, erase. Then they toddle off home and think nothing of it. Unless I feel like making a mess of it. Then it's more like snatch, eat, hide the body.

[championbittersweet]

[Hey it's further than he's gotten with anyone else so far. But there it is, that attitude that had set him off embarrassingly easily. At least now the sunlight, creeping closer to him far too quickly, is enough of a deterrent for him, as Jonathan is rather quickly getting the impression that Damon won't learn until he's taught a rather painful lesson first.]

Very well. But don't claim you weren't warned when you find yourself risking having your head removed from your body.

[And with that he'll disappear, making a series of rapid shadow jumps accompanied by brief flares of light as he's forced to cross sunlight on his way back to the palace.]

[withbite]

[Go-go penetration... of the fangs. Into his neck. Wow, get your mind out of the gutter.

Damon watched as the other vampire fled, waving at the flares of light and puffs of smoke before he started to amble down the street again.]

Later, super serious grampa. Remember, aloe vera's your friend.

[And with that, he set off to go procure himself his breakfast. And lunch. And maybe dinner and dinner entertainment.]