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]

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.

[equal_of_any_man]

"I believe the older ones can. The king of the Ifrit who built Antioch could walk in any form he choose. It is said he favoured the form of a tall man with hair of fire. He was a great leader and protector of the people. I am proud to have been born in the city he built."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Your city must be a very great place."

[equal_of_any_man]

"It is." He smiles brightly, without reserve or hesitation. "It is a city of great trade and learning. People come from all corners of the known world, bringing with them spices, medicines, learning. The three great peoples of the book worship in peace and share their wisdom. It is not strange thing to find groups of learned men in the marketplace, arguing ideas of faith and theology. The libraries are open to any man or woman seeking to learn."

He speaks with pride and joy in the memory but sighs. "I fear I will never see the city of my birth again but I will make a new home in England."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Perhaps the next time I'm instructed to take the Word abroad, I shall ask to go to Antioch", Athelstan says wistfully. "But what brought you to leave it?"

[equal_of_any_man]

"Do. I have no doubt you will find it as wonderful as I remember."

He lowers his eyes. "My mother passed unto heaven, leaving me alone. I choose to take up with an English lord. In his service I am travelling to his lands, to protect his kin."

[athelstanthescribe]

"My sorrow for your loss", he says, and means it. "My own parents and siblings passed into heaven long ago - but it seems you are not alone in this world now."

[equal_of_any_man]

"My thanks." He likewise means it. "As my sorrow is for yours."

"I am not. I have been most fortunate. My station under my lord's protection and risen and when we reach England and our duty to bring his brother's children to safety is done, he has sworn to honour me with land of my own. I am of low birth and a bastard born between faiths and people but for his kindness, I am a knight."

[athelstanthescribe]

"God watched over me. They sent me to the monastery when I was very young - and so I escaped the fever that took them all." His eyes widen at the latter part. "A most rare honour indeed."

[equal_of_any_man]

Olivier smiles warmly, "And yet you doubt your worthiness to find your path here, when God has clearly set such a path before you? You are blessed indeed."

He ducks his head shyly. "It is and I strive every day to be worthy of the honour."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I hope so. But Father Cuthbert warns me often against hubris." He nods. "It seems to me you must have proved your own worthiness already."