October 2018 Test Drive Meme

[sodder]

OCTOBER 2018 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to October’s Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: HALLOWEEN HORROR.

All Test Drive Memes contain at least one clue to the Deerington's upcoming in-game events for the month! Keep your eyes peeled! But...not literally.

Characters may die during TDMs, but you do not need to count it towards a game-canonical death unless you want to. Consider it a freebie. All TDMs can be considered game canon as TDMs introduce minor aspects about the world of Deerington that can be revisited by characters later on in the game. You may also use TDMs for your application writing sample as well as AC.

CW: Wet and rotting corpses/zombies, ghosts, violence, blood, knives, possessed dolls, options for underage drinking

Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

IT’S JUST A BUNCH OF HOCUS POCUS

It’s not Halloween if you don’t make a trip to a cheesy haunted house. At least, that’s what everyone in Deerington likes to say. The old Victorian stands at the top of a hill, rickety and in desperate need of a new paint job. The yard and porch have been decorated with what you’d expect for your typical haunted house; fake spider webs spread across the overhang, painted foam grave markers with cheesy names like “Here lies Richard Cranium” and “BEWARE!!” in creepy letter etchings. You can see the blinking of variously timed strobe lights in some windows and the shadow of what you’re pretty sure is a full-sized doll standing in the window, meant to look like someone staring out at you. The rocking chair on the porch near the door has a skeleton with a bowl of candy in his lap, and a sign is propped up against the wall next to him.

“ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. TOUCH NOTHING AND NOTHING WILL TOUCH YOU!”

Well that sounds promising.

The first few rooms you enter are appropriately cheesy. There’s the silly burst of air that you hear just before a plastic figuring pops out of a poorly constructed coffin, the clicking sound of the machinery inside echoing in the room when it starts to pull back and the lid closes once again. There’s fog machines trying to give the appropriately spooky air, stuffed sheets shaped to look like dead bodies wrapped up laying in piles on the floor with fake blood staining the white fabric, black lighting to show off words scribbled on doors like “TURN BACK NOW” and “SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.” Nothing you haven’t seen before. It might be even worse than things you’ve seen before, over the top cheesy, boring enough to give a yawn. Each door seems to open on its own so you don’t even have to touch the handles.

As you make your way through the next automatic door, the room you walk into is different than those before it. It’s a regular children’s room. A bed against the wall near the window, a dresser in the corner, a small desk with a chair. Nothing out of the ordinary, save for the lights not being on, and the strange flickering light in the closet. You step towards it, figuring you’re in for another jump scare, but the door doesn’t open. Whether you’re naturally the curious sort or not, something in the back of your mind makes you want to open the door and see what’s on the inside.

If you fight it and walk towards the next automatic door, you’ll find you’ve walked out to the backyard of the house, those same foam decorations and a dozen or more jack o’ lanterns lighting your way on a path back to the town.

If you choose to pull the door open, however, it’ll take you into yet another room, with a flickering television playing nothing but static. Once you step past the doors of the closet, they slam shut behind you and whoever else dared to enter. The doors won’t lock no matter what you do, no matter how strong the person shaking the handles or pushing against the wood may be. You realize you broke the one rule; you’ve touched something. But can things now really touch you?

The only light source in the whole room is that television and it’s not lighting up much inside the room around it. If you squint when the TV is at its brightest setting, you can just make out another door. Your exit, you hope. But as you make your way towards the door, the flickering suddenly stops, the TV steadily bright, a low humming noise coming from the screen, and suddenly the door seems several more feet away from you than it was a second ago. Before you can reach the door, there’s the sound of trickling water from behind you. If you choose to look back, you’ll see something coming out from the screen - a girl with soaked clothing and pale, rotted skin. She emerges fully from the glass and starts to move towards you. You know it’s best to start running for that door. If you stay and try to fight, you’ll find that no regular weapons work on her, though special weapons and powers that are effective against spirits will definitely do the trick. For those who don’t have any of these at their disposal, however, there is one more hope besides just trying to run; two old school VHS tape sit on the table near by, a fancy machine between them that is meant to copy one to the other. Work as a team and have one distract her while the other records, and you’ll find that she disappears as quickly as she flickered on the screen and the TV will return to static.

Regardless of what you choose before carrying on, the next room you come to as the door slams and locks behind you is entirely different. Brightly lit and filled with what seems like hundreds of porcelain dolls, it’s almost hard to tell where there could possibly be another exit hidden among the massive shelves. You can start to wind your way through them, but before long, you start to hear the sound of running feet, the jingling of bells, the swish of satin, and most eerily the sounds of children giggling - but there’s nothing that sounds save about them. Some of the dolls you saw on the last shelf seem like they’ve moved and are sitting in the corner or laying in a new position on a new shelf. Sometimes you swear you can see their heads turn to watch you pass, but it has to be a trick of the light, doesn’t it?

That is until one of those dolls runs by you, brandishing something shiny in their hands - something sharp. A knife, you realize too late, as it tries to slice at your legs and knock you down. You can kick them away and they’ll go flying, and when the porcelain smashes, the doll will scream in agony. You notice there’s blood pouring from the hole that formed, spreading quickly across the ground. The dolls are easy to kill, but are they really just dolls? You can take your time to contemplate that later, as now you have to fight your way through the violent and armed toys to reach the door at the end of the maze of shelves. Hopefully you can get out without too many severe injuries.

When (or if) you do manage to get to the next room, you seem to have a chance to take a breath and tend to any wounds. It’s decorated like the room of a small cottage, a large pot over the fireplace that isn’t lit, and several jars full of (possibly rotting) food and herbs on the shelves. You see a book on the stand in the center, latched shut and covered in dust. You can open it, if you want, but remember the warning you ignored that got you in trouble in the first place. It’s probably better to carry on to the next room.

If you do choose to open the book, though, there will be eerily glowing text lining the pages, the light will seem to poor out and fill the room, and you’ll be transported back out in front of the house.

Those who continued through the door will find themselves out in the backyard. Just like for those who got out sooner, there are dozens of jack o lanterns, but the graves don’t look like they’re made of foam this time. They’re real stone, engraved with real names and real dates this time. And the ground underneath them seems to be moving, like someone’s trying to crawl out of there. Better not to wait around. Soon as you start to move down the path, you’ll start to hear the sounds of groans as the undead start to crawl from their own graves, pulling themselves up through the dirt, and determined to get to the only food source they see - you. The zombies seem like they’re never ending, coming from every inch of the yard, but at least they’re just like normal zombies - completely incapable of being killed unless you cut off the head. There are shovels lying next to a few graves if you need a quick weapon, but there’s also still always the option to run as fast as you can up the stone path to the front of the house and back towards the street.

When you do finally manage to get back to the front, there’s a momentary blinding flash of light, disorienting anyone near it for a few seconds. When it finally fades, any leftover zombies chasing you have disappeared and the house looks like the same, cheesy haunted house you walked up to in the first place. If for some reason you decide to go and explore the backyard again, the grass will be back to normal, and the graves will all be replaced by cheaply painted foam once more.

Was that all in your head? Who knows. But maybe it’s best to just get out of here.

WE DID THE MASH

Somehow the street lamps have all been converted to oil based flames, the Authority are in witch hats, and every where you go there is music that seems to be playing from faintly glowing bats hanging upside down from telephone wires. The bats will open their mouths in succession, seeming somehow capable of producing the sounds of instruments and singers alike of popular Halloween songs.

Yards are decorated as thoroughly as the front of stores. Maybe you haven't bothered to decorate, but your neighbor sure has! Fake gravestones are propped up in yards, giant fake spiders in trees, and no matter where you walk, the ground seems covered in thick, rolling fog from machines. Or at least you hope it's coming from machines. Hell, you can't even find it in yourself to be too worried! Everyone around you is having way too good of a time! And God, there is food everywhere! Might as well grab a bite while you're out, huh?

It's tempting to break loose and dance. Jack-O-Lanterns absolutely crowd the streets. There's more than you can even begin to count, and all of them are lit all throughout the night. Even if you accidentally trip over some, they don't seem to catch fire to anything or go out! Some neighbors have camp fires set up with marshmallows to roast, while others have...are those broomsticks? Well that's kinda cool, you guess. Correction: it's really cool since you can actually pick one up and take it for a fly! Make sure to attach a little lamp to the front though because God knows it's dangerous flying at night. The brooms only work if you wear the appropriately provided hats, of course, but you can keep both the broom and hat indefinitely and have a readily available means of flight in Deerington after! Be forewarned though: the brooms are as easily broken as regular brooms and the hats easily blown away in the wind.

TRICK OR TREATS

At any of the events, especially the nighttime partying, you can find any number of the following treats (and their potential side effects):

Donuts (Will make you deliriously happy. Everything is amazing to you. May cause a lot of affection. A lot of affection.)
Candy Apples (You will eagerly tell someone everything you like about them. Talk about a sweet tooth.)
Candy Corn (Will make you extremely sad. Like god, you'll be wondering why you hate yourself so much.)
Pumpkin Spice Lattes (Causes suspicious amounts of obedience and a desire to do what you're told.)
Hot Chocolate (Can provide some minor healing. Best stuff to drink with a common cold!)
Hot or Cold Apple Cider (Nothing will happen. It's just really good.)
Alcoholic Cider (This isn't your grandma's apple cider. This stuff will knock you on your ass. Anyone who drinks this will get wasted regardless of whether or not they are immune to alcohol or even ingest regular food. It only takes one or two before you start to get tipsy, but any more than that and you'll be well on your way to drunk. Please drink responsibly. We don't need any FUIs.)

Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

There is not a collective "all these characters showed up at the exact same moment" occurrence in Deerington. Since characters fall asleep, die, or pass out at various times throughout all their worlds, it wouldn't make too much sense if they arrived in game all at the exact same time. There should be some discrepancy between character arrival, whether by a couple minutes, hours, or even days up to a week.

The players are entirely in control of how/when they want to play their characters arriving in Deerington. For TDMs, you can play it like your character has just arrived and that can be maintained as your game canon, or you can wait until game events for that moment. Or you don't need to acknowledge it at all. The flexibility for character allows a bit more of an organic feel to the character arrival situation, so please play it to whatever feels right for you.

If you are interested in having an "arrival" introduction for one of your TDM prompts, you are more than welcome to explore that option.

Comments

arrival

[vermillon]

[There's something in the air that is like a beacon to X'rhun, such powerful aether, if that is even aether... X'rhun follows his senses without hesitation, using his ears and nose to pick his way through the dark despite his poor vision at night.

But despite that, he does note the man the moment he seems to have arrived at his destination, the staff in his hand... And that is indeed a staff! For magic! How long has it been since the Miqo'te has met with another disciple of magic? His tail waves in his excitement.]

Good eve! You've the look of a man lost.

[nottevintersoldier]

Why, yes I-- [As Dorian is turning to address the cheerful and friendly voice, he'll get an eyeful of it's owner. Not only is the man rather...short, but he has sleek, pointed ears like that of a feline. His features are somewhat unique, very human, or elven and yet... not. There's attractive patterns around his striking cyan eyes that seem to almost glow under silver bangs. But what really distracts him is the softly swaying tail.]

..am.

[He finally finishes his sentence and tries to collect himself so he's not just staring rather rudely at the fellow. At first he could've chalked it up to a very elaborate outfit or costume, until he saw the tail, that is. He's seen plenty of different species of beings, but never a cat-person.

He shakes himself out of his disbelief and wonderment to try and be a little more polite.]

Sorry, I'm just... a little overwhelmed by everything. It's all so very new and fascinating to me.

[vermillon]

Mrr.

[Ah, it's that look. The look where someone sees X'rhun for the first time and cant seem to grasp just who they are looking at until understanding sets in. Would have been annoying to other Miqo'te, but X'rhun has seen this far too many times in the past month to not be anything but amused.

It's a form of entertainment for him, now.]

Take your time, my friend. [His initial excitement abating, his tail sways in a more relaxed state behind him.] 'Tis an unusual situation you've found yourself in, after all!

X'rhun Tia, at your service. [Pronounced "Sheh-run Tee-yah", he helpfully smoothes out his accent to make his name sound less difficult for Hyur tongues, before it returns to its usual, with flat A's, similar U's and O's, and an occasional lilt here and there.]

[nottevintersoldier]

Very. And in the middle of what looks like some sort of festival with costumes... [Dorian pays quick attention to the pronunciation of the other's name. Hearing it spoken is simple enough, looking at it spelled out might be another story. It reminds him a little of Qunari, or elvan, but not quite either.]

It's nice to meet you, X'rhun. [He smiles, not butchering the name at least. ]

My name is Dorian Pavus. [He clears his throat.]

Perhaps you could explain what this place is or how I got here?

[vermillon]

Mrrr... [Hopefully Dorian doesn't think this is a costume he's wearing, people have already mistaken the ears and tail for such-- he'd been in danger of being tugged on multiple times before.

But what Dorian has said takes his attention more-- it's concerning.]

My friend, did you see the basket next to your front door when you awoke? It has many of the answers you need. [But if Dorian did not see it, he might not have eaten the food needed to not die.] Or... was there none?

[nottevintersoldier]

[To be honest, yes, Dorian thought it was a costume until he saw the swaying tail, then he was fairly certain it was all real. ]

Ah... no. I'm sorry, I don't remember seeing a basket. But to be honest I was quite disoriented and more interested in my outside surroundings rather than the house I woke up in. I... take it by your concern it was important...

[vermillon]

Oh, to say it is important is a misunderstanding!

[X'rhun comes close, until he is nearly at Dorian's side, and tilts his head at the man. Now he's much closer, he can see the details better. That is an interesting moustache, he has to admit! But he cant fault a man for wanting to be well-groomed, especially when the Miqo'te himself is the same was with his fur.

And it's not like the facial hair doesn't suit him.]

Come, come. Let us make haste for your house and I shall see about informing you of Deerington as you peruse the contents of your basket, aye?

[nottevintersoldier]

[Dorian may lean just ever so slightly away as the cat man gets very close and seems to scrutinize his facial features. So to make himself less uncomfortable he'll just watch those velvety ears and how they may shift or twitch in the other's obvious curiosity.]

...sorry...My house? I have a house? [He'll sort of turn and start wandering back the way he came but he wasn't exactly paying attention to the outside of the house when he left it. ]

[vermillon]

Indeed! [The Miqo'te's footsteps are nearly silent despite having steel for bootheels. But then again, he iscat-like, and keeping any noise he makes soft is just nature to him.] 'Tis yours whilst you are here in Deerington, unless you decide to leave it for another, I assume.

[Though given X'rhun simply stayed in the house he woke up in, he's not too sure about how the moving process works. Nor does he quite care, when he's made it as hospitable to himself as possible.]

For you see my friend, we cannot leave this place, and we might as well be comfortable while we stay, aye? [There's a hint of sarcasm in his tone, there, though he's managed to bite back the bitterness with a brilliant smile. Even if it can only be half-seen in this night.] If you attempt to do so, you shall make yourself sick I'm afraid.

[nottevintersoldier]

Deerington? That's not seriously what this place is called... it sounds like a five year old made it up. [A sigh and a deep frown.]

We can't leave. Are you certain? Certainly if trying makes us sick then there must be some way out. [Having a deterrent other than the simple inability to leave means there must be something they are deterring them from.]

How sick, exactly? [He's determined to wake up and go home. The Inquisition needs him.]

[vermillon]

[The bright yet false smile disappears from X'rhun's face, replaced by something sadder. More tired. But undoubtedly genuine.]

So ill that you may see blood on your pillow for a few days. [And that's just one of the problems. X'rhun knows many of them however, having attempted to leave himself when he first arrived in town. But of course, he's still here.]

Mayhap you shall also forget your own name, let alone what you were doing or why you are out all alone, or which way is up.

[That? That is the most terrifying thing, in X'rhun's opinion. Losing himself, when all he has are his memories of home.]

[nottevintersoldier]

Sounds as if you are speaking from experience. [it's hard to say if it's a personal one or if he watched a friend suffer. Still, Dorian wonders if there is some way to guard from the effects or push through them or...]

Could it kill you? Can we die in this dream world?

[vermillon]

We could. There are many ways to die here. [Still speaking from experience, definitely, and his ears flick backwards just a little bit as he reminds himself that his death wasn't too long ago.] I would not recommend it, my friend.

Speaking of death... Do not be alarmed, but there is a real chance of that happening to you, should we not find that house in time.

For you see, there is a jar of food within the basket I mentioned, and without partaking in it, death is a real possibility. [He may say do not be alarmed but that is indeed some alarming news. X'rhun has always been the master of understatement. But at least now Dorian knows why he was so concerned.]

And I do not wish to see a fellow mage simply disappear. [Solidarity among mages, and all that.]

[nottevintersoldier]

That is... unfortunate. [So, they can die, and by the sounds of it, that's not a way out of this place either.]

Don't worry, I don't have a death wish. [Though perhaps they should find that basket, or his home, as the other states...]

How long do I have to eat this jar of food before it... effects me? And by disappear do you mean literally or..? [He makes a mental note about the other being a mage, after all, there are more pressing things on his mind at the moment.]

[vermillon]

Nrrr... Half of an hour I believe? [He wasn't exactly counting the time when he first arrived, really.] As for the effects...

Ah, you needn't have the added nightmares, my friend. This town is already as close to any of the hells as it can get without imagining your potential disappearance in your head.

[X'rhun smiles in a matter he believes is apologetic. Slightly sheepish, but ultimately he would rather not describe it. He wasn't hurt, per se, but he did not appreciate the slight uneven patch to his fur for a while when it flaked away to dust.]

Now... are we close to your house? [He tilts his head, and one ear swivels about. There are many others about, but they're far too busy in the revels rather than care about two men walking on the streets and talking about morbid subjects.]

[nottevintersoldier]

That's all? [Well that's mildly alarming, he's certain he's been wandering around for almost half that. Suddenly it seems he's paying a little more attention to what the houses look like and trying to remember any of the decorations or things outside of them that might remind him of the way he came and how far he walked. He's also considering how far he and his companion have come and... it must be here somewhere soon...]

It would be dreadful, I'm far too pretty to die or just... up and disappear. This figure is too beautiful to be incorporeal.

[So the Cat gets the first taste of how full of himself Dorian really is, which is all the more of a deep wound to his pride that his magic is the way it is. His abilities and his looks are everything to him.]

I... think so? I remember seeing that scarecrow thing. [A motion to a neighbors festive decoration.]

I think it was--Ah! [He jogs over to a soft, mint green colored townhouse with white trim.]

I'm pretty certain it's this one.

[vermillon]

[X'rhun chuckles, a deep rumble in his throat. He's amused by the comment about his figure-- whether Dorian is serious or not, X'rhun will not begrudge a person their desire to keep themself looking the way they want. After all, the Miqo'te himself is extremely vested in his own appearance.

Particularly that of his fur, a source of pride for Miqo'te. If you cant keep your fur well-groomed, then what is the point of you? It's right up there with one's ability to hunt.]

Excellent-- just one more step away from keeping your exceptional self on this mortal coil, aye? [X'rhun bounds right up the steps, his tail waving as he goes. Then he tests the door, and upon finding it unlocked, pushes it open. Finding the switch for the lights takes a few more seconds however, him pawing around for it on the walls until he manages to snag hold of it.]

Aha.

[Oh, is he so glad to have some light again.]

[nottevintersoldier]

[If Dorian minds the Cat letting himself into his house he doesn't appear worried. In fact, he's quite happy to stay behind and watch the Miqo happily bound up his stairs, fluffy, luxurious tail bouncing and swaying as he goes. It's almost as good as watching a particularly round behind jogging along or moving to music. He'll pull himself out of his fascination and admiration to follow suit, hanging back as the other finds a way to flip on some light fixtures and Dorian pauses a moment to blink and let his eyes adjust. Then he stares in wonderment. They don't have electricity in Thedas.]

That is a magic I have not seen before. It's very clever.

[vermillon]

The folk here call it electricity. 'Tis a product of science rather than magic-- I still strain to wrap my head 'round it myself sometimes. [After all, Eorzeans simply used fire-aspected crystals and called it a day. Who needs electricity when you have magic (or ceruleum) powering everything?

X'rhun looks about the foyer, tail raised with a slight bent at the end. And then he spots the basket on the floor.]

Aha! There it is! [And he points, as if Dorian doesn't have eyes either.]

[nottevintersoldier]

Electricity hm? [Well he's controlled lighting, he knows how to generate Electricity but without something magical around to contain the energy an circulate it or a mage to do those things, he's curious how they get it to work. Where does the energy go when the lights go off? Is there's a device like an orb or artifact? He wants to know more. He briefly wonders if'd he'd be able to create the magical fire they've used to find hidden runes and light pathways in dark underground, ancient areas. But that's for another time.

The moment X'rhun spots something he can't help but to look at the other and the way his tail literally perks up and curls with something almost excited. Almost like a pointer dog spying it's prey. He'll go to the basket and pick it up to bring it over and set it on a table and peer into it. He starts pulling out the items one by one, inspecting them curiously.]

I... suppose this is a nice gesture. Especially for the fact I could die if I don't eat some special food. Which one is it?

[vermillon]

[X'rhun perches himself on a window sill, no longer finding any reason to be nosy and poke around, crossing his legs and resting his palms on the smooth surface.]

That would be something in a small jar. Apparently it differs from person to person-- I had peppers. [If only there were fish, he could have had himself a tuna Miq'abob. But in hindsight, with the state he arrived in, he wouldn't have been able to do anything.]

And by the way, there should be a letter with printed words-- I suggest you read it as you eat. It would tell you about the situation much better than a man such as myself. [What does he mean by that? Who knows. He does, though Dorian doesn't.

But X'rhun wont be offering much in the way of clarification within the next several seconds. On his perch, watching Dorian as he works, the Miqo'te will slip into a light meditation, sensing the air with his aether and seeing just what sort of magic Dorian has. How potent it is, his elemental affinities, how controlled it is, how it is perhaps used. He wants to get a feel for what sort of mage Dorian is, because X'rhun has never met someone like him before.

He's so curious.

Though this does have the effect of turning his expression blank, of making his eyes focus on just Dorian. His face, or his back, or any part of him facing the Miqo'te as he works. He looks like he's checking the other man out with laser-like intensity.]

[nottevintersoldier]

[He feels somewhat silly for even asking "which is it" as he's pulling items out of the basket one by one and realizing there is only one jar of food stuffs in there. Another jar with a letter, keys and a card of some kind within so they aren't lost among a pile of his stuff from home. Some of his outfits and a little wooden duck without wheels. He smiles somewhat fondly, remembering when he came home to the little thing sitting on his bed and remembering the friend that put it there.

All of which gives the other plenty of time to meditate and stare at him from where he sits on the window sill to his right.

He'll open the jar of food, clearly unaware he's being studied. He plucks out a handful of what's inside--Green grapes.]

Well... they aren't peeled but I suppose they'll have to do, hm? [Though he doesn't know what's so special about them, as he pops one or two past his lips they taste just like normal grapes.]

They're better peeled, you see, not nearly as chewy. [He pulls out the letter as he eats the grapes thoughtfully, reading whats written to him. His brows raise slightly at the idea he has a TATTOO somewhere on his body. The letter is put down in the basket and he swallows his mouthful to start inspecting himself, coming to the conclusion that wherever the tattoo is, it must be under his clothes.

He's about to ask the other to help him look for it on his person when upon looking to X'rhun notices the other is somewhat zoned out and staring at him. Is he staring at his ass??? Dorian straightens up and turns to face the other putting a hand on his hip with sass and clearing his throat to get the other's attention.]

Looking for something in particular? [He smirks.]

Not that I can blame you for enjoying the view of course.

[vermillon]

[X'rhun jolts out of his trance of examining the other's magic, how he seems to favour ice, fire and lightning like a black mage, and with the reserves to perform just the same way...

But when a Miqo'te startles, they simply don't straighten up or hike their shoulders up to their ears like any other race. No, Miqo'te are the most expressive of the Eorzean races, they don't do anything by halves.

His entire body stiffens to nearly a straight line, ears standing straight up and his tail fluffing out to resemble a bottle brush. He just startles so much that his steel heels scrape across the floor and his tail bumps against the window in its haste to straighten out, and he's almost right out of his seat on the sill. His eyes are wide as he looks up at Dorian's face from... what was he even looking at?

Oh gods, it wasn't his rear, was it.]

Rrh-- [X'rhun covers his face in sheer embarrassment as he tries to compose himself.

Miqo'te in the middle of their dramatics are such a sight to behold.]

Begging pardons. I did not mean to--

[It was a view though...]

[nottevintersoldier]

[The display is quite exaggerated and somewhat amusing, he'll have to make note to fluster the other more often if only for a giggle.]

Did not meant to what? Admire me? Please, I don't believe that for a second. [He sighs.]

If you weren't checking out my superb derrière then what were you looking at?

[vermillon]

[Gods, he doesn't even have a comeback for that. Whatever happened to the confidence he had with flirting outrageously and playfully with another? Oh right, that only happens because he prepares in advance.

X'rhun gives himself a mental shake and forces his body to relax. Palms the back of his neck as he leans back against the window sill.]

Ah, well... you've caught me now. What else can I say?

Other than admirations you likely already know. [Though somehow he gets the feeling he's digging himself into an even deeper pit...]