reallybadeggs | Test Drive for January 2014 Apps

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Test Drive for January 2014 Apps

Welcome to your monthly Test Drive for

high_seas! Here is where new players can test out their characters' voices, old players can try out new muses, and everyone can help each other get some threads for their applications! Feel free to use one of the prompts below, or come up with something on your own! Comment around, have fun, and remember that any CR formed here does not carry over to the game!

See you during the application round!

♦ So you're new to this world and have just woken up in the Town Square. How do you react? What do you do?

♦ You're lost at sea. Maybe you got separated from your crew. Or perhaps you're on an abandoned island. You need help!

♦ "Pirates off the starboard bow!" It's an enemy ship! Attack!!

♦ You and your crew are hanging out on your ship. Just another day at sea!

♦ "LAND, HO!" Hey look, a new island! How about you go explore it? Tell us what you find!

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[She can't help to notice that he seems taken aback for a moment, and she does so with slight worry and regret. Elsa offers a smile again, small and sad.]

I suppose it would be naive to expect the beorc of your world to at least know how to pay proper respect to a laguz royal, right?

I'm simply surprised. I know a handful that do to several other royals, though I may be a special case as to why they wouldn't. [Clears his throat and waves a hand csaually before replacing his frown with a smirk.] It is incredibly refreshing to see it from someone other than my own countrymen, however.

[A "special case"? Elsa pauses at that and considers it a moment before she frowns slightly.]

I apologize, but I can't approve of that. No matter the circumstances a king is a king and deserves the proper respect and acknowledgement for it. I understand that there may be many reasons as to why relationships between two kingdoms or royal members wouldn't be pleasant, but none of those are above respect and manners. Just because I wouldn't get involved in trade with a kingdom or forge an alliance with them doesn't mean that disrespect is adequate.

[No matter what, Elsa thinks that being proper and well mannered is important. Even when dictating that one would never again establish trade with another land.]

Our species have been purposefully kept separate for a long time. I wouldn't pay automatic respect to beorc royalty, so why would they do the same for me? It's not as if we have all of your kind's ridiculous traditions of nobility, either. So your approval or not, it's barely something to get worked up over.

[He just shrugs again. She keeps getting offended on the behalf of the laguz, something that, for the most part, he doesn't even do.]

I'll give you that it's an honorable mindset, at least. Albeit one I have never understood.

[Even keeping in mind the rift between laguz and beorc, Elsa finds it difficult to see it as anything but different countries and cultures. She knows that people have been sneered at, ignored, persecuted and punished just because of their culture, she won't say that beorc don't do that kind of thing because they do. But she would like to think that if everything had been as it should, that if she had been normal or able to control her powers and come to rule Arendelle, she wouldn't be the type of royalty to disrespect others. No matter how strange or different they or their culture was from hers.]

I suppose it's because I was raised into thinking that it's always best to treat others the way one wishes to be treated, and that even if one is disrespected that doesn't mean they should do the same. But you're right, it's of little consequence, and it's not my place to talk about your world, even if I don't approve of it.

[This time, though, she won't apologize for speaking her mind. Not even as a polite apologize.]

Ha! The noble view becomes even more so. Surely you realize it can't always be handled that way? That's something many kingdoms would gladly take advantage of.

[Wait, he's not done, because that kind of goody-two-shoes attitude has always bugged him, and now he's finally gotten a chance to speak his mind about it to someone other than the damn hawk king. That's not to say he's trying to be difficult, he just thinks that's an incredibly naive standpoint. Being nice all the time! Who could imagine??]

Alright. Forget about my world for a moment, as I'm assuming it's the same in yours. Beorc choose their royalty by birth, yes? By class? [It's worded rhetorically, as he's pretty sure already knows the answer.] They're taught to be exceptionally kind to another country's noblemen simply because they had the luck to be born into aristocracy. Throw one bad egg into the family and suddenly you're paying respects to someone one day who might try to brutally annex your kingdom the next. It doesn't make sense. Respect isn't earned, it's automatically given.

[She listens with attention to his example, trying to understand his point and the reasons behind it. She almost has to stifle a laugh when he's done, almost, but she doesn't need to and instead just smiles at him. For a random encounter she's personally enjoying talking to him quite a lot, specially when he voices his opinion like that. She says nothing regarding how royalty is chosen in her world, after all he's right.]

King Naesala, I'm afraid you are misunderstanding me. Just because I think that respect must always be given, and positions acknowledged no matter the circumstances, doesn't mean that I am "exceptionally kind" to them, neither I was raised to be so. My respect is something that I'm willing to give without asking for anything back, my kindness, however, must be earned. Don't mistake respect with kindness or weakness, I don't doubt that for some it may be so, but in my case it's far from it.

In the example you offered just now you said that one may find themselves paying respects to someone one day who might try to annex our kingdom the next. That's true, you may also pay respects to someone who might try to steal all the riches of your country through misleading trade agreements. Or to someone who may the next day just plainly try to take your life. But I think that the key word in all those situations is "try". Just because I pay respects to someone it doesn't mean I have to lower my guard when around them, or that I would allow them to get away with their intentions in general. I do believe that any situation can be handled while remaining respectful to the others, but not every situation can be handled with kindness unless one wishes to appear weak to others.

[And there's nothing worse than to show a weakness. One little slip and everything may fall down. Elsa knows that well.]

[Alright, she's got him there. Even he can admit he respects several of his peers, and he treats them as belligerently as anyone else.] Perhaps "kindness" was a poor choice of words. However, you've still missed my original point. You're still doling out respect to anyone with royal bearings without any other credentials.

A king could have done nothing but come next in the family line; have no merits to his name and serve as an overall mediocre ruler, and you'd still give a bow because of his title. And that's where I lose all understanding. Why give your respect so freely, but hold kindness until it's earned? Where's the logic in that?

[No, really, he doesn't understand. It only works that way with one laguz species, and they're a very special case so far removed from beorc. She's explained well so far that he has a hint of her class standing, even if she didn't introduce herself with a title.]

[Her smile doesn't falter though her expression softens to show that she understands the correction and acknowledges it.]

I see, I apologize for not understanding it better before. You're right, to pay respect to someone just because of their birthright may be considered a waste and a foolish attitude. In fact, it could happen that someone were to introduce themselves to me as royalty without being so, and I would be bowing and paying respects to a man whose only merit was to procure fancy clothes to go with his pretense. I am aware of that, and I can't see why it would be something to confuse you as well as seem pointless.

But I try to be respectful to everyone, it's true that I enforce it more with royalty, and I won't say that I don't slip and act arrogantly at times. But I do my best. And I know that for some, "respect" is a huge thing, something important, and that shouldn't be handed cheaply. But in my opinion, kindness is more valuable. It's true, I will end bowing and showing respect to people who deserve none and are mediocre at best, but unless they earn my kindness, that's all they will get from me. And no one will be able to accuse me of being inconsiderate or dishonorable if I maintain respectful manners to them.

[She pauses and simply shakes her head to herself.]

I don't pretend you to understand it, I admit it probably there's nothing to understand. It's just the way I've chosen to be, the way I was raised. I don't think it's better or worse than any other way, so long as the objective is the same, which is the well being of those who depend on you.

Come on, now. You admit it doesn't make sense, though you aim to continue doing so anyway? [Beorc confuse the hell out of him.] I was expecting some sort of excuse, perhaps a convoluted tradition started ages ago when the ridiculous class system of yours was set in place; not an agreement, of all things.

[It looks like he's prepared to argue further, but when she mentions the "objective of those who depend on you", he stops. Because she's right, and he knows that far, far too well, and sometimes respect is something you have to give out whether you like it or not.]

I can admire your...dedication to such a bizarre practice, at the very least. Just as it's not your place to talk about my world, maybe I should leave beorc customs enough alone.

[Runs a hand through his hair, a little exasperated. Landed here not too long ago and already discussing intricacies of customs.] I didn't mean to hinder what was meant to be simple introductions so, but goddess above, there is so little about your kind that makes sense.

[Elsa laughs softly, not mockingly but calmly.]

No, there are no excuses, other than that it's a decision I have made, conscious of the cons it presents. I don't doubt that there are many things that don't make sense about us to you. But probably the same holds true the other way around. If that wasn't the case, we wouldn't be different kinds and cultures.

[And wouldn't that be boring, and troublesome as well, because just as sometimes problems came from differences, solutions came from them as well. Just as the trolls had been able to save Anna when no human would have been able to.]

I didn't mean this talk to take such a turn, but I would lie if I said that I haven't enjoyed it and so I won't apologize for it. It's mostly my own fault, but I don't have often the chance to have an interesting talk with someone, beorc or of any other kind, so I appreciate this casual chance.

Now, if my babbling hasn't annoyed you enough to make you decide to leave immediately, I would like to repeat my offer of refuge for the night. You may stay out if you feel more comfortable that way, and I will provide you whatever you may need, or you may take advantage of one of the empty rooms below. As well as of the food we have so long as you don't leave us with nothing for the following days. I assure you I won't bother you anymore if you wish so, and I will make sure that the same stays true for the rest of the crew.

As tempting as it sounds, I'll probably stay as out-of-the-way as I can, if it's all the same to you. Dawn will shed enough light to find my way back, and I can find something in the wild to peck at then, if need be. [Literally. Though he does nod towards her, in gratitude.] I do believe my thanks are still in order for the offer. And for not chasing me off.

There's no need to hide away on my account, however. Our chat went much better than I'd originally feared, and I've certainly meant far worse conversation partners. [He...means that as a compliment, really.] Do whatever you like. I'm the one intruding on the nightly routine, here.

Well if you had arrived with blood covered weapons and demanding our supplies, I would have definitively had to chase you off. But a man that just needs a place to rest until light returns isn't someone I would chase off, no matter the circumstances.

[She smiles at his next comments, taking his words as a compliment even if it's not clear if it is. Maybe it isn't, but she isn't going to question the matter and so she's happy with her assumption of it being something relatively nice.]

Then, I will stay out here a bit more. The night air is so nice and comforting that it makes it hard to return to my room.

[It may be a bit colder than what most people would prefer, but given her powers it's no surprise that she enjoys it this way as much as if it was summer.]

I'm lucky to have picked the right ship. Perhaps luckier that one of your crew wasn't out and about instead of you. [He shrugs, turning back to the water, trying to make out anything of note that might help him locate his original flight point.] Hopefully this won't happen again, though. As comfortable a night as it is, habit of landing on others' vessels unannounced is not one I want to make.

It's not one I would recommend indulging in often, either. But I'm sure there's no need to worry, you look far from a fool so I'm sure you will take measures to avoid it.

[A pause as she looks at him and his attention to the water.]

If it serves of anything you came from the port side, so I guess you were heading starboard.

[snorts] Fool enough to try and scout so close to sunset.

[He momentarily looks back at her with a completely blank expression.] ...Right. It's been a while since I've heard those terms used. Either way, I'd only go back the way I came. There's barely anything out here.

Fortunately it's something easy to avoid in the future, and there was no way you would be able to know that there was nothing around to be found. Except this ship, of course.

[She nods calmly.]

Indeed, if the information of our map is correct we are still a couple of weeks away from any form of land. It's amazing how far apart the islands of this world are at times.

Amazing isn't the first word I'd pick. Annoying, maybe. Terribly inconvenient. [shakes his head] Now, what is amazing is how any of you can stand to be out to sea for so long. It's unbearable.

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Test Drive for January 2014 Apps

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