TEST DRIVE MEME #11

[abraxasmods]

Test Drive Meme

Welcome to the Test Drive Meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the three different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own under the Questions header below. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.

Below are some links to information you may find useful. Our Setting pages have information about the world itself as well as current events for each nation, while our Game History page outlines the game's story so far.

Setting | Game History | NPCs | Arcana
You can also find answers to questions asked on previous TDMs in their respective questions threads.

Reminder that the TDM is forward-dated to when the summonings occur in-game, at the start of April. For current players, this means all of the Summoned will have been rescued and recently returned home to their respective factions.

For prospective players, there's no need to familiarize yourself with the recent event, but prompts in the TDM may reflect the aftermath.

Summoning

You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.

You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.

There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. It's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground - still unclothed.

Arrival

You'll find yourself summoned to one of the following three major nations: the extravagant and magical Kingdom of Thorne, the bustling and advanced Free Cities, or the tightknit and faith-driven rural community of the Solvunn Commune.

If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either. After a week or so, your abilities will return.

When you gather your bearings at last, you look up into a series of unfamiliar faces...and equally unfamiliar surroundings.

Welcome to Thorne

Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card bearing the image of one of the Arcana. An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at another mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. The man peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.

"One moment," he says, not bothering to look up from the tome. He looks tired. "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. We’ll explain everything in a moment, but for now, please calm down. You’re completely fine."

Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the pages, until he stops on one specific passage, stares at it for a moment, and then nods, satisfied. "Excellent." He motions for one of the young apprentice mages over. "Settle our guest in, please. I don't have all day."

The apprentice hurries forward with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals. With a wave of their hand, the clothes reshape to fit you perfectly. Once you're dressed, the apprentice leads you into the hallways of Castle Thorne, prattling on about the kingdom, names of royals and nobles, and, of course, the reason why you're here: the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.

◎ Surroundings

Castle Thorne is where not only royals and members of the court reside, but includes the surrounding city itself. Now in spring, the weather mild and cool. In the distance, you can see snow-covered mountain peaks that are beginning to melt, and the gardens are in bloom. The castle is enchanted to be at a comfortable temperature.

As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:

• The North Wing, devoted to housing the Summoned, is tightly guarded against outsiders. As one of the Summoned, you're free to come and go. The guards aren't keeping anyone prisoner. They're there to protect you, and they take their jobs seriously.


• Apprentices, kitchen staff, guards - everyone seems to be bustling and busy. The air is tense, and you hear chatter of abductions and mutated victims who were only just recovered a week ago.


• The infirmary is full. Healers are in high demand. Normally, Thorne's staff put effort into welcoming new arrivals. This time, they're focused on what seems to be an influx of the wounded - including other Summoned who arrived before you.


• Despite the troubles, life in the Castle is beginning to resume. Still, you can sense that a major crisis has only just been resolved, and much of the fallout remains.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the land, Castle Thorne and its surrounding city have much for you to indulge in.

Care Packages
Castle staff are putting together care packages consisting of flowers, hot meals, and draughts to manage pain. Gather flowers from one of Thorne's many beautiful gardens. The gardeners will direct you if you ask, though you're welcome to gather anything that catches your eye. There's no magic in the flowers beyond their ability to brighten up someone's day.

You can put together the bouquets and care packages with a partner, as well as deliver them yourself to one of the older resting Summoned. They might be in the infirmary or in their rooms depending on their injuries. Why not stay and chat? Though you've only just met, they've evidently been through something terrible. Perhaps they could use a friend.

Magic Lessons
Regular magic lessons are held by apprentice mages as part of their training, usually involving learning to cast a small spell. These classes are for the natives of Thorne, but you're welcome to join if you wish. The spell they will be teaching is conjuring a modest defensive light shield that can protect against a single magical blow. The spell relies on Academic Magic which involves a few words said correctly. You'll likely need a few lessons to grasp it unless you're well-versed in magic already. In the meantime, the class of fresh-faced students means there's a constant bright explosion of light coming from the practice room as the spells fail. It isn't dangerous, but it can be annoying.

Forest Growth
Patches of woods in the city of Castle Thorne have suffered from dead flora. It appears to be related to some heavy magical corruption from the past several weeks. Though Thorne's deemed it too dangerous to go directly into the woods, you can help plant new saplings in square crates filled with soil and pack them onto wagons. Make sure they're secured and kept upright. These trees will be taken out into the woods later by mages to replace the withered plantlife in the forests.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Castle Thorne, the portal is a short walk around the back of the castle. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready to rest, you're shown to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (those who were previously brought in may have a great deal of information to tell you).

Although you can leave the castle, you can't leave its surrounding city with the exception of entering Nott via portal in order to assist with rebuilding or visiting Nocwich. Borders are especially well-guarded right now due to the recent attacks. Besides, Castle Thorne gives you everything you need: fine clothes, great food and wine, massive libraries, and all the magic and knowledge you could want. Isn't that plenty? You won't be given money as you're provided for, so if you want to do some personal spending later, you'll have to find a job in the city on your own.

Welcome to the Free Cities

Dry warmth hits you at once as you're set on a hard floor of dull ruddy stone. Men and women in unfamiliar uniforms of brown and red leather stand in a semi-circle around a small pool of water - the very pool you were just pulled from. The water is still now, rimmed in pale gold tiles with odd symbols etched into them. Across it is a raised pedestal with a card bearing an Arcana symbol.

A guard covers you with a simple robe and returns to their place in the semi-circle. Before you stands another woman, dressed in a more elaborate and decorated uniform than the others. A sword rests at her hip. She carries an air of authority as she approaches you with a nod and a warm smile. "Sorry about the circumstances. Take a minute, catch your breath. I'm Prime Minister Marlo Reiner and you're in The Free Cities. That nice lady over there will explain everything to you and get you settled."

A robed mage off to the side approaches to help you up. She brings you out of the cave through a corridor that angles upwards until you emerge in what looks like some kind of storage facility. You'll learn you're in the Cadens Desert Outpost 003, a military base on the outskirts of the major city of Cadens. You're told the world is in delicate and dangerous times, and you're needed to help. You're important and they're very grateful you're here.

◎ Surroundings

While you're currently at the outpost just outside of the city proper, Cadens on the whole is a large bustling city. Temperatures are rising, and the climate is hot and dry, though still pleasant - during the day, at least. At night, they'll cool rapidly. Desert blooms dot the landscape for the spring. Look to the west and you'll see a long stretch of desert wasteland. This is the infamous Badlands. The soldiers don't recommend going out there unprepared - you're likely to face a slow death to the elements or be eaten. Reaching Cadens is possible by wagon, a trip of about 2 hours each way. You're asked to return by sundown for your own safety... but no one will chase after you if you don't.

You'll be given a military style uniform with your Arcana stitched on it where a formal rank would normally be. As you walk or look around, you take in some of what's going on around you:

• Libertas shows signs of having suffered a devastating attack, but a good portion of it is rebuilt including a new garden park memorial that commemorates the lives lost. Chatter has shifted from the fire attacks to the abductions and failed experiments recovered only a week ago.


• From Cadens to Aquila to Libertas, the streets are heavily guarded. Soldiers patrol all areas, especially those typically occupied by the Summoned. This includes a particular inn and tavern in the heart of Cadens - The Sarstina - where the Summoned like you are often found...though it may not be as busy and thriving as it normally is.


• Instead, many of the older Summoned are either resting in their homes or recovering in Cadens' largest hospital. Doctors are busy, and the hospital is heavily guarded, too.


• Despite the troubles, life around the Free Cities is beginning to resume. Still, you can sense that a major crisis has only just been resolved, and much of the fallout remains.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the land, the barracks and Cadens have much for you to indulge in.

Training Grounds
Non-lethal training weapons and obstacle courses are set up for anyone to use. The soldiers will be watching, and if you catch their attention they might approach you and encourage you to enlist. You're free to invite other new arrivals to spar, but be sure to keep things friendly and avoid trouble. Discipline is key in the barracks. If you're especially competitive, the soldiers will sometimes hold impromptu obstacle races with informal wagers made. They'll be happy to race against even the most unlikely of opponents, and you'll be judged more on your spirit rather than your skill. If you really impress them, they'll even buy you a drink.

Supply Delivery
The Summoned are important to the Free Cities. The government means to take care of them through their recovery, and have instructed the military to assist. Soldiers are packing rations, medicine, and other supplies into crates to be delivered to the hospital in Cadens. You can help pack or make the deliveries yourself by hopping on the wagon. Though you aren't supposed to wander around the hospital, as one of the Summoned you have a bit more freedom than the average citizen. Maybe you could visit one of the rooms while you're there? Or you might run into a Summoned in the halls arriving to check on a friend.

Furry Friends
Researchers in Cadens have been studying the positive effects of animal companions on those who recently went through traumatic experiences. They've settled on the catlike Leosylph, a popular domestic breed, as the best choice. You can help bring these animals to anyone who would like one in the hospitals, or you can simply play with them and make sure they're fed while they're awaiting their assignments. They enjoy chasing mechanical mice powered by New Magic and purr when happy.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Cadens, the portal is a short walk away from the center of the city. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready to turn in, the barracks are waiting for you. They have a communal bathing room at the end of the hall, with curtains that can be pulled around the individual raised round tubs for privacy. Each barracks room is rather sparse. Six simple beds set against the wall, three on each side of the room, each with a trunk at the foot of it. You can greet your roommates here, most of whom will be new arrivals, as well.

If you plan on making use of your assigned quarters, you'll have your basic needs met: uniforms, a roof, bland food from the mess hall, and access to the training grounds. You won't be paid unless you formally enlist with the army. The longer you take advantage of the barracks, the greater the pressure to enlist. Some soldiers will start to see you as a freeloader if you refuse to join them yet continue to use their resources. If you're set on not enlisting, you can always strike out on your own in Cadens - but you won't be provided for and handouts are rare. You'll have to work to earn every copper and loaf of bread. Whether that's honest work is up to you.

Welcome to Solvunn

You're in a grassy clearing in the midst of a circle of large stone slabs stacked to look like doorways. In the middle is the same glimmering pool you were just pulled from. An elderly mage stands before an ornate altar. He holds an old leather-bound book in one hand and in the other is a card bearing an arcana symbol. "I detect no ill will from the gods," he says. "It seems we've been blessed with success."

Those that had gathered all breathe a sigh of relief and now seem pleased. One offers you some clothes of leather and knitted wool that seem to fit you perfectly. A rough-looking man steps forward once you're dressed and motions with his head outside of the stone circle. His speech is informal, his consonants harsh.

"Hold your horses, I can see all those questions coming about! Rowan March, at your service. I'm one of the council members of Solvunn. There's a lot to discuss, but it's best talked about over a hot meal." He leads you to a horse-drawn carriage and helps you up into the back. He talks the entire ride to the center of the Primary Settlement. You're told that the world hangs upon the brink of disaster and that there are those in this world that are happy to see it fall to ruin with their meddling.

You're important. The gods have graced them with your presence. They're delighted you're here.

◎ Surroundings

The Primary Settlement is full of greenery, blessed with the fresh ocean breeze. Winds are pleasantly cool with the occasional heavy spring rains that soak the farmlands. The scent of wildflowers fills the air. The shops, farms, and homes around you are all modest and unassuming. You get the sense that the people here prefer to blend in with their neighbors than stand out.

As you walk or look around, you'll be greeted warmly, even eagerly...though there's an edge of awestruck nervousness to some. Though the settlement is often quiet and calm, there's still plenty to take in:

• Shops and stalls in Solvunn are temporarily closed. Many of Solvunn's residents have instead dedicated their time to helping the rescued Summoned. They're reluctant to speak of the recent abductions, stating that what happened was blasphemous to the Old Gods.


• Solvunn Elders will accompany anyone who strays too far from the Settlements, and will give you protective charms to make sure you're safe. You're advised to stay close to the commune where possible.


• Shrines around the settlements are overflowing with offerings. It seems something has happened recently that's made the locals especially dedicated to showing their devotion.


• You're free to venture towards the ocean if you like, though heed the warnings of leviathans. These beasts do not stir near the shores, but if you look closely in the far distance - at night in particular - you'll see the water's surface bubble and roil beneath the moonlight.

◎ Exploring

Despite the troubles that plague the commune, the commune and its settlements have much for you to indulge in.

Warding Homes
In order to aid recovery, commune Elders have asked for your help to ward the doors of homes occupied by the Summoned. Many of these homes are in housing provided by the Council or with host families in the settlement. You can hang bone wreathes on the doors to request blessings of protection and healing from the Old Gods. You can also bring hot meals and herbal medicine to the Summoned while you're there. Host families are friendly, and will welcome you in as long as the Summoned inside are willing to receive you, as well.

Shrine Offerings
As a new arrival, you'll be encouraged to perform your first offering. This can be anything that feels right to you: fruit, wine, flowers, even an animal you've hunted. Whatever you choose, it must be retrieved by your own hand meaning you must pick the fruit, cut the flowers, or pour the wine yourself. You can travel to the shrine by yourself or with a companion. Once there, lay your offering and ask for a blessing through Solvunn's tradition of High Magic. Blessings are often made for the commune overall such as abundant crops or good weather. You will not see the effects right away, but you may find over the next day or so that the sun has cut through the rain. Of course, you're free to dismiss this as the nature of how weather works...but don't be too loud about it. Solvunn takes its beliefs very seriously.

Goat Herding
Due to the circumstances, Solvunn's traditional chaotic goat races will not be happening this month. This means the goats are filled with pent-up energy. Ornery and mischievous, they'll headbutt anything that moves, chew fence posts and clothes, and generally make a nuisance of themselves - some even escaping their pens. Exasperated farmers and herders are struggling. You can help retrieve escaped goats, repair broken fences, and do your best to contain the animals.

Nocwich
Nocwich, which is shrouded in an eternal darkness and is home to the werewolves and the vampires, opens on the first weekend of every month for a total of 3 days. Shortly after arriving, you'll be given a pendant that allows you to travel to and from the portal. In Solvunn, the portal is a short walk away. While Nocwich is normally thriving, no shops are open in Oleuni Square. Nocwich citizens explain that unforeseen circumstances prevent the market from opening as usual and request you return next month to explore. However, you can stay to help. Tents, tables, and medical supplies around the Square need to be taken down and packed up. You can guess that this was once a site for heavy rescue operations and emergency treatment.

◎ Settling In

When you're ready for your bed, you're brought to the center of town and escorted to an apartment above one of the establishments in town. The living conditions are temporary if you'd like them to be: the local families would also be happy to host you in their home. In return, you'll be expected to contribute to their household, taking upon daily chores and repairs. While money has its uses, many establishments and craftsmen are happy to barter with your time or skill for their goods. You'll find your willingness to trade and your friendliness with the natives more valuable than gold.

You can even leave for the other two settlements if you like, but you're encouraged to remain in the Primary Settlement. Just be sure you have an invitation to the Secondary Settlement. There are tales of travelers visiting the secondary settlement without invitation disappearing without a trace. The gods are as hungry as they are protective.

Questions and Answers

If after reading these you're still unsure about anything, or your question wasn't covered, please feel free to hit up our Questions thread below!

How many slots are open?

Please check the Taken page for how many player, franchise, and canon slots are available. Activity check will be processed before applications open, so the count may change between now and then. Existing players can apply for a second character without restriction.

How do I choose a scenario for my character?

Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Which faction your character is drawn into has nothing to do with their personal morality, beliefs, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into any one of the situations.

What happens if my character refuses to comply with the NPCs?

They will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and the faction leaders will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, they will be warned once that everyone is willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight they will make good on that promise.

My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the cities, murdering the NPCs, etc.), what would happen to them?

Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other NPCs would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude and intervention from various NPC guards, and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Abraxans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.

Is the power loss for characters permanent?

No, but it does take a week or so for their powers to be back in full, and certain powers (determined on a case-by-case basis) may require nerfs. If your character has world-breaking powers, please discuss with the mods what modifications may be necessary.

Can my character leave the bounds of the nation?

In Thorne, characters can leave the castle but not the city. In the Free Cities, they can take a trip from the outpost to the nearest main city, Cadens. In Solvunn, they can explore the entirety of the Primary Settlement.

Can my character eventually change nations or kingdoms?

Yes, but tensions between the major nations are at an all-time high. Doing so is possible, but will require some plotting and discussion with the mods once you're in-game!

How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?

This choice will determine where your character initially lives as well as the bias of the information they receive from NPCs (although other PCs can and most likely will give it to them a bit more straight). It will also affect your character's day-to-day life and development. Characters who seek technological advancements or combat will find more of it in the Free Cities while those keen on court politics and learning magic will have the most access to it in Thorne. Anyone who wishes to uncover the secrets of the Old Gods and forest mysteries will best do so in Solvunn.

This is not to say characters can't do these things from another faction - with effort and the help of friends, anything is possible! Don't get too anxious about your choice. This is just one of many, and every character in each scenario can work their way towards many individual goals and outcomes. Additionally, once in-game the Horizon will provide characters with a way to easily find cross-faction CR.

Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?

No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the three scenarios on your application.

What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?

Your Arcana sign won't have an immediate impact on your character beyond them seeing it on themselves or being told what it is by the locals. You're welcome to disregard those aspects in your prompts or try out different signs.

Can my character go to the Horizon?

First time visitors to the Horizon must be taken there by other characters, through either shared meditation or a physical journey to the Singularity, and all first-timers experience memory loss. For the purposes of the TDM, we suggest against using the Horizon.

If you're interested in threading with characters outside your borders on the TDM, you can utilize the Nocwich prompt which will allow all characters to meet in person regardless of arrival scenario.

What about making use of the network?

Much like Horizon they would need to be introduced to it by another PC, as no NPCs would be aware of the network or be able to access it. Because of this, we would advise against using this mechanic for TDM top-levels.

Can I try out more than one arrival scenario on the same TDM?

Yes, although only threads taking place in the arrival scenario you formally choose upon applying can count as canon. However, you're welcome to try out as many as you like on the TDM.

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Comments

[iustise]

Lord John frowns at the mention of kidnapping -- of sacrifice. There were quite a lot of people in the infirmaries, and those were no insignificant tents they were breaking down in Nocwich either.

"My God. How many were there taken? Does anyone know?" he asks, an edge to his voice that had not been there before. John is no stranger to casualty. He has been to war before, seen battle and bloodshed. But it does sound as though these people who were taken were innocents, caught up in whatever scheme had been at play. John is not against violence, where violence is warranted. But never against an innocent, especially at the hands of a person in power, as it sounds was the case here.

[beautifullies]

"More than I thought when this began, but I haven't seen an official count. I'm sure it's coming in the days ahead." Claire pauses as she opens the farmhouse door, turning to look at John.

"I repaired a shattered hand, nearly the worst I've ever seen." If he's as familiar as he seems to be with both her and Jamie, perhaps he knows what significance that holds. She waits for the recognition but continues walking, leading him through the home that Claire hasn't even fully explored yet, not with everything that's happened.

[iustise]

Of course he understands what significance that would hold for her. He has seen Jamie's hands, his fingers. He knows that there is a loss of mobility there, but that the damage could have been much worse, if not for the care of the woman standing there before him.

He offers her a nod at that, before stepping forward to follow after her into the farmhouse.

"And how are you with eyes, then, madam?" he asks. After all, that is what brought him here. Though he shudders to think about whatever caring for an injury like this might entail.

[beautifullies]

In her room, there's a small area dedicated for sitting, separated from her (small) bedroom and (equally small) bath. In the sitting area, there's a couch somewhere between the size of a loveseat and a full-size sofa. Her seat is a chair by the fire, a table with a piece of paper and pencil on top. The paper is a sketch of a necklace; nowhere near as good as Bree can draw, but decent. Everything is modest, typical of farm life.

"I've...learned some about ocular surgery." Claire isn't sure what he knows in regards to her. She's worked out already that he must be from her future. But the rest remains a mystery that she isn't allowing her mind to ponder.

"But you have options, John," she invites him to sit, and then moves to pour each of them a glass of wine, made in Solvunn. Interrupting herself, she pulls her hair down and removes the scarf, freeing curls that are less gray and more touched with the shade, here and there. "Please excuse my impropriety," Claire says, completely unapologetically.

[iustise]

Lord John gladly takes the seat -- and the glass of wine, for that matter. He has it half-raised to his lips to take a sip, and is mostly ignoring whatever Claire is doing with her hair, for that matter, when she goes out of her way to apologize for it. Which -- really?

He raises his one visible eyebrow (really, he has to stop doing that, it hurts the way it pulls at his bad eye) at her from across the room.

"Honestly, my dear," he quips, over the edge of his glass. "At this stage of our acquaintance, there is hardly any need to trouble ourselves with any concerns of impropriety." All Things Considered.

[beautifullies]

There's a pull to bring up their relationship again, whatever it may be, but instead, she sits back in her chair with the wine, contemplating him.

"Before we get to our acquaintance, I should tell you, I can fix your eye, John. I would need to look a bit more under better light, but I don't doubt myself. However, there are people here who can do things beyond what I'm capable of. They could heal you faster than I can with their talents, and I don't mind finding someone for you, it wouldn't offend me."

Taking a sip of wine, she finally begins to feel her insides unwind after the last week, an attempt to relax.

[iustise]

Lord John considers her words carefully. Magic, she means of course. He has seen a little of it, in Thorne. The lessons they were conducting. That he might have participated in, if he so chose. Light shields, they had said they were learning, which would be useful, for a man like him. All the same...

Raising his wine somewhat less steadily than he had before, John takes a heartier swallow than before. Fortifying himself. It has been... Quite the week, to say the least.

"What would you recommend I do, in your professional capacity?" he asks, at last. His one exposed and uninjured eye very blue and very direct as he watches her for her reply. "I trust you, Claire. And your judgment." It wouldn't be the first time he had put his life in her hands. Nor, he suspects, will it be the last.

[beautifullies]

Claire is quiet, giving the question thought. She's proud of what she can do, that she could fix him. But why put him through the pain and time it will take for healing? And again, there's that familiarity: I trust you. When she takes a deep breath and lets it out, she finally brings her gaze to John's onc more.

"I would recommend you let someone else help you. I'll arrange it, of course. But there are so many here with unique...talents; there's no reason for you to be in pain any longer than you have to be."

That's her piece regarding his injury, and after another swallow of wine, the questions that are burning at the back of her mind threaten to spill over. But she wants to give him room to acknowledge this first.

[iustise]

Of course he trusts her. She has patched him up several times over, and has no doubt saved his life at least once or twice. When he had the smallpox, for starters. And then after the explosion at the jail. He trusts her medical opinion, certainly above his own, and if she trusts that someone else might be able to fix this more adequately than she can herself? Then by all means, they're welcome to try.

Lord John offers her a warm smile, raising his glass in reply.

"Cheers to that," he says, taking a sip himself. "Much as I'm sure I will no doubt be able to find myself a more fashionable eye-patch, given time, I would much rather -- not."

[beautifullies]

There's a soft laugh from Claire before she nods. "No, I'd rather like to see you without any eye patch at all. I'll make some inquiries," she promises.

Setting her drink on the side table, Claire leans forward with her elbows on her knees. "I think we need to clarify something before we go any further." Her lips press together in a thin line, but there's really no other way to ask, so she gets on with it.

"What year was it, before you arrived on Abraxas?"

[iustise]

It's good to see her smile, to hear her laugh. From what little she has described of the past month or so, with the kidnappings and the rescuings thereafter, John can imagine that things must have been rather dire, especially for someone in medicine like Claire herself.

He is no stranger to the habit Claire has developed of simply asking him whatever comes to her mind, no matter how personal a question it might be, although his eyebrows shoot skyward at the query that follows.

What...year?

John blinks at her for a moment, before shaking his head. Honestly, though. What kind of a -- but he has come to expect this sort of question from her. "1778," he replies. "June, last I was aware, though I will admit it has been difficult to keep count of the days, of late."

[beautifullies]

She doesn't mean to laugh, or to make it sound as though she's lost her marbles completely. It's just that she's exhausted, and this is all so ridiculous. He's also confirmed that she's lived a whole decade with Jamie somewhere out there, in the future.

Once she gets a grip, her hands rub her face.

"Christ, well, that explains some things." Sighing, Claire sits back in her chair again and looks John squarely in the eyes.

"It was 1767 for me. Jamie and I were attempting to sail from Jamaica to Scotland. Good to know, I suppose, that we're all still in touch." She has no idea if she means that yet, but he's so familiar, she knows it's more than just keeping in touch.

[iustise]

An incredulous smile curves itself across John's lips for half a second, as if he is waiting for her to reveal the punchline -- because in truth, he is. 1767. Sailing from Jamaica. John hasn't thought about Jamaica for -- ages. And now...?

The smile slowly peels itself from his face as he realizes that it isn't a joke at all. And all the pieces start to fall into place. All the uncertain, nearly wary looks she had been giving him the whole trip over here, this whole conversation. The confusion he hadn't entirely been able to place.

It's -- impossible.

...but it does make sense.

"Oh -- good Lord," John says, raising his free hand to rub over his forehead, feeling a decided headache coming on.

[beautifullies]

"Quite right." She says it almost cheerfully and reaches for her cup again, nearly finishing it.

"When you mentioned Jamie being alive, I thought you meant because our ship broke apart during a hurricane. It's the last thing I remember, actually. I thought I was dead, so thank you for at least confirming that I'm not."

This time, her smile is small but genuine. "I'm not surprised to hear that yet again, I thought Jamie was dead." Now, the smile fades again. "But why in God's name did he do this to you?"

She can't understand it, not based on the interaction she saw at the Governer's mansion.

[iustise]

John lets out a laugh that sounds -- feels -- more than a little unhinged. Jamaica. She has no memory of any part of their acquaintance since bloody Jamaica.

Why not wipe the slate clean entirely then at that point, he wonders darkly to himself, before raising his cup to his lips and draining the lot of it. No. Now is not the time for him to be maudlin. Though he does wish that he could find a polite way to find something stronger to drink, just now.

"In truth, I'm not entirely certain you honestly wish to know the answer to that question, my dear," John says, sitting forward to put his face in his hands. What a mess. What... What a fucking mess.

In desperation, John raises his face to her. Studying her closely with his one good eye as he asks, "You -- truly don't remember? Anything of the New World?"

[beautifullies]

His distress pushes aside her burgeoning hysteria over the situation, and she knows she must say something. Whatever she thought of him in Jamaica, clearly over the decade things changed into something else. And so, with care, she reaches out to take one of his hands.

"I'm sorry, John. The fact that I made it at all to America is something I've got to wrap my mind around." Now she has questions for him, so much that she's desperate to know. But one thing at a time, she supposes.

"Are we—the three of us—living close?"

Jesus, how do they navigate this conversation?

[iustise]

John lets out a long slow breath at the touch, his hand tightening convulsively around hers. She may not understand the lifeline that she has thrown him, but he appreciates it nevertheless.

Struggling to collect himself, he focuses on the situation at hand. The question presented him. Feeling a bubble of laughter wishing to rise up within him anew. Are they living close? Well, he and Claire certainly have been...

"Closer at times than others," he replies, understanding that his answer is rather vague, and yet. His hand tightens on hers again. "Do -- you honestly wish to know, Claire? It has been a very long ten years, and then some. From what I can recall... You were not very fond of me, when last we spoke."

[beautifullies]

Claire's never been on this side of the time travel equation before. Usually she knows more than others. She remembers struggling with information, with knowing too much, though she suspects what John knows is less a history lesson and more personal. Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly, looking down at his hand still clasped in hers before making a decision. It's the same one that Jamie granted her what feels like a lifetime ago, though she'd decided to tell him everything in one go.

"I do want to know, but it doesn't need to be today. In fact, perhaps you shouldn't." How to address her lack of fondness? Although in a decade, surely they discussed this.

"I'm assuming you know the true reason Jamie and I were separated?"

She'd seen the look on John's face, the surprise to hear her addressed as Jamie's wife. Claire knows Jamie never clarified whether she was dead or not, only that he let people assume what they wanted. But suppose she told John herself at some point? That makes some of this easier, at least for her.

[iustise]

John looks somewhat confused for a moment at that question. 

"The true reason...?" he asks, somewhat uncertainly, before the heart of the matter clicks into place. She means, of course, to ask after whether she has told him about her special secret. John lets out the breath of a laugh, hanging his head at that. Of course. 

He takes in another breath, before offering her a nod.

"You have said," he acquiesces. "Although -- if I am being honest -- I was not certain I believed you at the time. I did not think you mad," he hastens to add, before simply offering her a shrug. "It's... A lot to take in at once, you know. You, and your daughter both -- forces of nature in and of yourself, without... That to add."

[beautifullies]

She's about to reassure him that Jamie asked her if she was a witch when she feels like the air has been forced out of her lungs.

"...What?"

Although she's so stunned, it comes out more like wot. "My daughter Brianna?" Who else, and yet the knowledge that she's with them in the past makes her glad she's sitting. She isn't sure if she's elated or terrified to know Bree's in a time that can be cruel. What happened to Roger? Why did she come.

Claire stands because she simply needs to move, and she paces right to the window, looking out across the farm.

"Christ, how did she even find us?" she asks, turning. But then she waves off the question. "No, no, I don't want to bombard you. If I start I'll never stop, but she's really—" Claire's voice hitches, eyes glassy as she looks at John, wanting to hear it again.

[iustise]

For better or worse, John doesn't know Brianna's full story, and so he probably can't answer Claire's questions even if he wanted to. But he certainly knows enough. Certainly more than is polite, given some of the circumstances he has encountered with Brianna over the years.

"Claire," he says gently, squeezing her hand gently in an attempt to center her. How swiftly the roles are reversed, he thinks to himself, with a pang. "She is... A lovely woman. Clever. Beautiful. Terrifying, if I am being honest with you. A credit to her parents. Both of them."

Because of course he knows her parentage. He has raised Jamie's son as his own, after all. He would have to be blind in order not to see it for himself, all things considered.

[beautifullies]

Claire lets go of a shaky breath and sinks down into the chair again, without letting go of John’s hand. It’s difficult to continue feeling as she had in Jamaica when he’s been nothing but perfectly kind. If she’s honest, she has no idea what she feels.

Managing something like a laugh, she clears her throat and squeezes his hand before finally letting go.

“I never wanted her to follow me. It’s so dangerous—well, you know.”

She doesn’t assume he knows anything about her, specifically. Claire’s thinking of the violations she’s endured, the violence she’s witnessed. “What is it about women that men find so frightening?”

It’s more of a rhetorical question, still absorbing that Brianna will reunite with her in the future. Despite her words, there’s warmth she can’t help letting bloom in her heart.

[iustise]

John has absolutely nothing else to compare life in the 1700's to, so as far as danger is concerned... Well, he if he had a daughter, he certainly wouldn't have advised her to live in the wilderness of the Carolina's as the Frasers had done, but. That was neither here nor there.

On the subject of the terrifying nature of the Fraser women, however. John gives her a look.

"You mistake me. Not all women are terrifying. Just the ones I seem to be surrounding myself with. Surely you have met your daughter, madam," he responds. "Nearly as tall and intimidating as her father." Which means she towers over John himself. "Never afraid of letting me know exactly her thoughts. Certainly not afraid to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, that is for certain."

[beautifullies]

Claire laughs and manages to resettle herself in the chair, rubbing her face.

"Alright, yes, you've just described Brianna. And me, I suppose."

Laughing again, but softer this time, she feels that familiar ache of missing Bree that never seems to really go away. And yet now there's that spark of knowing they'll be together again, if she ever gets off of this star.

"In any case, it seems you've more to worry about from stubborn, hot-tempered Fraser men," she says in a nod toward his eye. He still hasn't told her what happened but she meant it when he said they could take their time. But she can't help but give herself (and Bree) some points for not beating the hell out of the man in a disagreement.

[iustise]

Ah, yes. The eye.

John squeezes her hand once more, reassured that she isn't about to have any sort of an attack of nerves at this point, before releasing her.

"Certainly with regards to follow-through on the threats of violence," he concedes. He considers asking her whether she has any brandy on hand, but that would be ill form. He raises a hand to gently press against the bruising on his face, wincing slightly at the sting, before letting out a sigh. He knows he needs to tell her something. Perhaps not the truth, but...

"I shared some information with your husband that he did not particularly approve of," he concedes.