Weekend Entertainment #1 - August Test Drive Meme

[havetubawilltravel]

Happy August! It's an app_this_plz weekend, and you know you've got characters you want to try out.


H O W T O P L A Y:

-->Reply to this post with any character, new or old, you wish to app into Milliways.
-->Scan the post and respond to any characters you'd like to interact with.
-->Milliways members: feel free to respond with your applied characters or post them
--> Have fun! Post is open until Monday's DE and/or until the next Test Drive Meme!

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then such I must do." He looks at Olivier's work. "You are a gardener?"

[equal_of_any_man]

"My mother was a herbalist. I tend a small garden here and keep a workshop in the bar where I make what medicines can. They are of little use here but in my own world, my lord and his retinue have much use of them."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I've never had a gift for that, such as some of my brothers have. My work has always been in the scriptorium."

[equal_of_any_man]

"A man of learning!" Olivier beams. "That is no small thing. The library here is without equal. I have oft found myself lost in it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"A library?" He brightens immediately, and considerably. "There's nothing like a good library."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I would be very glad to show you if you wish. But I must warm you, this place can be hard to grasp at first. People come here from all worlds, all times and not always mortals such as us. But it is a haven for all and the peace must be kept, even between the most dire of adversaries."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I have no adversaries", he says simply. "I've lived since I was very young among the brothers."

[equal_of_any_man]

"You have nothing to fear here." Olivier smiles, gesturing towards the building. "Please, let me show you the library." He picks up a basket of herbs, ready for drying. "And feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I will answer as best I can."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There will be many, I'm afraid", he says with wry self-knowledge. "May I help you carry anything?"

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier smiles. "Nothing to fear in that. There is nothing wrong with seeking knowledge. Surely that is the duty of a learned man such as yourself."

"Thank you but my herbs are light enough." He leads Athelstan inside to the bar and leaves it on the counter for later. He gives Athelstan a moment to take it all in; the strangeness of the people, the brightness of the lights, the wonderful of it all.

[athelstanthescribe]

He finds the lights close to blinding, for someone who's never known anything but natural light or candles, and blinks for a few minutes until his eyes adjust.

"What manner of place is this?"

[equal_of_any_man]

"A inn of sorts. There is no keeper, but the bar itself gifted with miraculous gifts. Anything that you may ask for will be giving. There are room above where you may rest if you desire."

[athelstanthescribe]

"A miraculous place indeed", he says with quiet wonderment. "My needs are simple, but it is useful to know."

[equal_of_any_man]

"I fear there are pitfalls here, for even the simplest of souls. There is a treat here called chocolate, unknown in my time. I have become very fond of it."

He leads Athelstan towards the library, opening to doors to the great vaulted foyer.

[athelstanthescribe]

He stands in the hall, looking much more at home if still awestruck. "This is no library, but a palace."

[equal_of_any_man]

"It reminds me of Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople." Olivier smiles, looking up at the curve of the roof.

[athelstanthescribe]

"I've never seen Constantinople", he says wistfully. "I hope to, one day."

[equal_of_any_man]

"It is a city of great beauty and grandeur. My mother took me there when I was but a child. I remember standing under the great dome, wondering how the hands of man could build such a thing. Even the great mosque of Antioch believed to have been build by the Ifrit."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The... Ifrit?" he asks curiously.

[equal_of_any_man]

"The Ifrit are creatures of Allah's creation. As men were made from clay and angels from air, the The Ifrit were made from fire. Like man, the Ifrit were given free will to believe and worship Allah as they wish. The king of the Ifrit founded the city in which I was born."

[athelstanthescribe]

He crosses himself automatically.

"But if not men or angels, then surely they must be demons."

[equal_of_any_man]

"Not so. Although many Christians would see them that way. Ifrit are stronger and longer of life than mortal men but just as true of heart and fallible of flesh."

"Many are great builders of churches or protectors holy places. It is said there are fewer now than once there was and that they shun the cities of men. But travellers of the silk road tell stories of pilgrims gone astray who are guided back to the trade routes by Ifrit. They are not demons, just different children of God."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Our tales tell of no such thing", he says, wondering. "You haven't seen one for yourself?"

[equal_of_any_man]

"They do sound very near to demons. It is no wonder many Christians misunderstand them."

"I have never been so fortunate. I met a man here once I believed might be an Ifrit. His skin was red as embers and he was twice as big as any man I had ever seen but he told me he was not. He was named for the demon his own world saw him as but he was kind enough to me, if a little short of temper."

"My mother once told me some Ifrit choose to appear as men so I may have passes one in the market place and never known it. It is said that it is only the fire reflected in their eyes where no fire is that gives away the truth of their nature."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Choose to appear as men? They can change their form at will?"

Despite himself, he's fascinated.