Test Drive #2

[felldenmods]

Welcome to the September test drive! We're so excited to have you with us.

A few things of note:

✦ Test drive threads can be considered game-canon if you choose. They're essentially in a shared dreamscape and take place between your character leaving their world, and arriving in the audience hall with their faction leader.
✦ Reserves will open at 12:01 AM UTC on October 1st, and continue to be until 11:59 PM UTC on October 7th; they are not necessary to apply! They're valid for the first four days of the application cycle.
✦ Applications will open at 12:01 AM UTC on the 8th, and remain open until 11:59 PM UTC on the 15th. The IC & OOC intro logs will be posted two days later.
✦ Working on your app and not sure where you put your character? We have a faction sorting meme available for people to make use of!
✦ Questions? We have a FAQ that's chock full of good information! If they are test drive specific, we have a top level thread below that allows for OOC questions to be posted.
✦ The network is available to use! No matter where your character is, their compass arrived on their person. Please feel free to include a network post in your top-levels! Once opened, the compass will display instructions on use, such as using voice-commands to activate it. Usernames are your characters first name or their most common nickname.

All set? Perfect! Welcome to Fellden.

AS THE MOON RISES. You’ll find yourself just outside the Temple doors, which will be locked if you try to open them. A little rude, keeping you out after bringing you all this way. The thing is, you can hear a lot of commotion in the distance, and smoke rising from the center of a district; you may want to check that out. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! Except the smoke is not at all something to be concerned over. Instead, people are gathered near a large bonfire in the decorated city square, drinking and carousing, singing songs of celebration; Moon saviors have arrived! War winners! The residents of the city laugh and sing and dance in pairs throughout the square, grateful for those who have come to aid them. Their merriment doesn’t dwindle as the sun begins to set on the horizon, twin moons rising in its place. When you (and other new arrivals) are finally noticed by the revelers, do not expect to be left alone! Flower crowns will be deposited upon your heads, food and drink placed into your hands, while live musicians play loud enough for the dead to hear. You’ll be invited to dance, to drinking games, and offered food and flowers and other items of value. Some may cry when they look into your face, thanking you for becoming their champions during this long and exhaustive war. Hopefully you’re here to enjoy the festivities. Sneaking off is just fine, too, but don’t expect to be let go of quietly; the people of the Moon Temple are so happy to see you! Enjoy the celebration while it lasts long into the night.

THE SETTING STARS. Unlike the Temple, your arrival to the Court of Stars is met with a rather somber greeting, however expressions are relieved, despite any emotional guard that may be up. A gathering of knights, weary from a skirmish along the border they're returning from, pat you on the back and lead you through an open air courtyard. All the gathered people of the Emperor's Court look up from their tasks, giving the passing Otherworlders a knowing nod. There's gratitude in their eyes, but that's all the welcome you'll receive: your presence is appreciated, but growing an attachment is another heartache for those that care so deeply for their faction fellows. The silence is broken when a high-ranking member of the guard gives the proclamation: "Our heroes have arrived! Court defenders, world travelers! Help has come from the far lands to aid us in our battles for our Emperor, for all of Fellden!" From there, the few knights that have not yet departed will lead you through the Court's castle, a brief tour of the most important areas (dining hall, housing wing, guard barracks, and the throne room) is given before they instruct you to rest, because the real excitement begins when the sun falls behind the horizon. Left to drift, you can explore the castle, or venture out to the surrounding city as it prepares for the celebration the Starfolk have in store for the returned soldiers and, now, the new arrivals. You'll be invited to the party that spreads across the entire Court city, drawn into large circle dances, and will find that the locals become more at ease and welcoming the longer you spend with them.

BACK TO SCHOOL. School is back in session and Terebellum is here to tell you all about the benefits of the University! Come for a tour (except for the library which remains closed and well guarded), meet some current students, see what all the fuss is about when it comes to this prestigious institution! With All Hallow's next month, the students of Terebellum have decided to pay homage to many of the games and decorations that will be found around the country that night! Carving pumpkins or other seasonal squash, bobbing for apples fresh from the harvest, or watch as Illusion students wow you with life-like displays of dancing skeletons. There are booths for each school of magic as well as all other subjects taught at the University, others are dedicated to businesses within the city that hire students. There will be cycles of tours that will show you the University grounds and all it has to offer! Get paired up for a small tour group to enjoy the sights or bump into a new arrival (or old guard) while listening to people speak at various booths. As the only major University in the country, Terebellum accepts people from all walks of life, regardless of faction affiliation. Come meet some fellow potential students, learn from current ones about the atmosphere, or participate in some of the booth activities.

Comments

Who better to leave Dimitri to suffer the tragedy of Having Fun?

[bethotted]

He certainly didn't expect to see Dimitri here as well, but hey!! It's a welcome surprise. Sort of like how watching his old, uptight friend get pulled into dancing is also a welcome surprise, and one that makes Sylvain bark a laugh from his place among that very same group.

"Well, whaddya know, Your Highness," he grins, shouting over the noise rather than making any move towards him. He's already danced his fair share, you see, and so he'd rather not risk getting roped into it all again when he's finally settled along the edge with a few of the locals. "You finally took my advice to heart and learned to let loose. It sure took you long enough!"

Nevermind that he's purposefully misreading the situation, but he does sound especially amused with it all. There's no real harm to it, save perhaps some dizziness after all's said and done, but a dizzy Dimitri... sounds hilarious, so! He can go ahead and make as big a fool of himself as he can, because he owes him this. Sylvain kept up his end of the bargain all those years ago! Time for Dimitri to pay his dues and have some FUN for once.

[royalboar]

[Too bad Dimitri is now officially stuck in the momentum of the circle dance, ushered along like he were caught in a tide. When a very familiar voice miraculously reaches his ears over all the commotion of music and laughter, it’s almost comical how he attempts to twist his body around to spot its owner. But there he goes… disappearing from sight… linked arm-in-arm with a pair of strangers within a vast array of strangers… And he has to wait until he’s come back ‘round again, offering him a view of actual confirmation.

Because yes, at a distance stands a certain redhead, with a wide smile as he watches him “dance”, making no move to come in and save him.]

Sylvain—!

[Agh. Well. Not that Dimitri cannot save himself, taking only the barest effort to utter an apology (lost in the music, what’s even the point?) before detaching himself from the circle with the polite forcefulness of a man who has something more important to tend to.

He makes his way over to his friend, hair strewn across his forehead in the midst of all the movement… but what else is new.]

Watching from a distance while I suffer through the endless hospitalities of our new hosts. It is good to see that being brought to a new world has not dampened your usual priorities.

[bethotted]

There's something too damn funny about seeing the future king of Faerghus getting whisked away to dance with a bunch of well-meaning commoners--and looking about as lost as a kitten that fell into a stream, as well. It's all in good fun!! His friends... are not the best when it comes to letting their hair down, so to speak. He's gotta take what help he can get.

And speaking of letting their hair down, it's not until Dimitri winds his disheveled self back around and finally breaks free that Sylvain excuses himself from his own animated group of townsfolk to catch the poor guy halfway. He's still grinning, his step more of a smug sort of saunter as he slows to a stop.

"Hey, they would've let you go eventually." He stretches his arms up behind his head, good-natured humor evident in his tone. "And besides, it's important to get to know these aforementioned hosts of ours, don't you think?"

Like, their only rep here is 'those Otherworlders who showed up to help win the war'? These people don't know the first thing about them... which obviously means there's no better time to socialize.

[royalboar]

[Sylvain, as ever, seems rather unbothered by the circumstances. Not that Dimitri is so foolish to think that anything jovial or celebratory would ever bother him — the proof stands before him again and again, and today is no exception. He swears that he’s just seen his friend detach himself from a laughing group of natives just before he draws close enough to actually have a conversation.]

Perhaps so, but what can be learned through dance can be more effectively introduced through traditional introductions.

[Goddess, here’s hoping he never gets pulled into a jubilant dance circle ever again; he honestly didn't know what to do with himself, as Sylvain had seen.

Still, he straightens his shoulders a little, taking consolation in spotting a familiar face. No amount of teasing will make him unhappy to see his friend present.]

Though I take it that has not stopped you from 'getting to know' the locals, in a way that includes as much… [skirt-chasing….] …celebrating as possible?

[bethotted]

He won't deny that claim, though it does earn a quick laugh.

"Heh, you know me." What can he say? Things were a little touch and go at first, but once everyone started opening up a bit, he found it to be a pretty welcoming crowd! Plus, no one here seems to know the first thing about Crests, and that's got a draw all of its own. "I try and stick to what I know."

Which is why it's definitely somewhat of a relief to run into Dimitri here, even if he's admittedly unsure how he feels about leaving the war back home without him. Don't get him wrong! It's great that his friend has moved past his obsession with pursuing Edelgard's head and spilling so much needless blood to get it... But in the grand scheme of things, if Sylvain disappears, it won't make much difference; Dimitri, on the other hand, plays a much more crucial role.

It's something to consider for sure--but as there's nothing to be done for it now, it gets pushed to the back of his mind without a second thought. If Dimitri's made the decision to come here, in sound mind, then there's no sense second-guessing it. Instead, he continues without missing a beat:

"...And what I know, is that you're not going to impress anyone if you keep up with that attitude. I mean, really--'traditional introductions'?" he repeats, incredulous. Goddess, save this poor, boring man... "Please. We have got to get you out more."

[royalboar]

[Tricky business, being here. Leaving the Kingdom’s campaign behind — but if this place was linked with saving all of Fódlan, how could he have ignored the beck and call of his needed presence? Knowing that a few of the others were here, fighting yet another war, on a scale more affecting than they could have imagined… He’d feel a useless fool if he left them to do it all by themselves. A leader needed on both fronts; if only there were two of him.

But Sylvain's demeanor doesn’t allow for these more somber thoughts, nor does the atmosphere of celebrating people and bubbling laughter. Dimitri has heard this all before from him; the same song and dance that he’ll never be free of from his old childhood friend.]

And who am I to impress, exactly? None should care for my ‘partying’ or dancing skills [could you hear those scare quotes? yes please save him], only how well any of us contribute to this conflict. And yet we are already being lauded as heroes, the celebration all around us. Doesn’t that presumption bother you at all?

[I mean. Just looking at Sylvain, obviously it doesn’t. But it’s one of those questions he asks in order to make a point.]

Dimitri 'partying' is spooky enough to be a display name tbh

[bethotted]

"It's a little strange," he admits, nodding sagely. "Not that I'm complaining, of course! The ladies go crazy for all that war hero stuff."

A pause, just long enough to suggest he's finished speaking. His eyes drift from Dimitri's face to the scene behind him: people still twirling aimlessly together, hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm, the sound of music rivaled only by the laughter hanging in the cool, evening air. Then:

"Didn't you notice how quiet it was when we came in earlier...?"

He lowers his voice as well as his arms, resting one hand at his hip as he glances carefully over a shoulder. The group he himself had left has since merged seamlessly back in with the others, everyone merrily laughing over drinks with their neighbors and friends. Occasionally, someone tugs their partner towards the dancing with a playful grin, and even those who shake their heads no are still smiling when they acquiesce, their hesitation born not from fear, but from innocent fluster. It's a stark change from the suffocating silence of their arrival.

"These people are fighting a war they don't know they can win... They're worn out, with no guarantees for their future--and I still haven't met this Emperor of theirs, but they clearly aren't the cheery, motivational sort." Sylvain's only known this place for the better part of a day now, but a war-weary city is anything but foreign to him. And, perhaps more importantly, these people are just civilians--they aren't politicians, some not even soldiers, and others only children, still. If lording them as heroes is what it takes to give them back some peace of mind... well. When he glances back to Dimitri, his expression has softened some without its usual mischief. "If you ask me, I'd say they needed a good excuse to celebrate like this."

...But, because this is Sylvain, and he can't let anyone know he's more serious than he lets on for more than like, five seconds--even his old friend--a spark of humor returns by way of a glint in his eye and a small quirk to his lips.

"But, if you really wanna be the one to tell them they can't rely on us, then by all means--I'll wait right here."

the true horror of fellden descends.... dimitri's pathetic attempts at """"partying""""

[royalboar]

[And there it is, unearthed from the pause following the declaration of just how easily the ladies swoon over a war hero. A sincere consideration for the city around them, an observation that belies his friend’s usual easy demeanor; it is enough for Dimitri to cast his own gaze back, away from the circle of dancers with whom he had broken away so hastily. Their laughter, ringing in his ears — quite the difference from the weary and leery looks that had been cast his direction earlier in the day.

He must concede the point — somewhat, at least. Dimitri is a bit too empathetic a soul to truly argue against it, his kindness an undercurrent beneath the usual stiff-upper-lip and straight-backed first impressions. But in the same breath that he deigns to reply, Sylvain’s gone and banished the serious moment passing between them, so fleeting that it might have not existed at all.

Dimitri knows better, of course. Turning back to look at his old friend, an eyebrow is arched, despite his softened, somewhat resigned, expression.]

You know that was not my meaning. I would not smother their burgeoning hopes in my first day here.

[He’s not that cruel, not that angry — not any longer.]

Any doubts I will keep between myself and Otherworlders, not needlessly recited in the midst of celebration. Though— [He crosses his arms, shoulders squared, considering Sylvain.] I would have your opinion about all of… this. Our new circumstances and what you think of them.