January - February Test drive

[indigo_events]

➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!

NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR TEST-DRIVE JOURNEY?
CHECK OUT ALL THE LOCATIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN:

JOHTO | KANTO | SEVII ISLANDS

Feel free to make various prompts in multiple locations!

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OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
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Comments

[donoteattheweeds]

['Shortly' is a bit of a stretch-- it will probably be several hours before Claude arrives, though that's far faster than they could've traveled such a distance in their own world. But it's good that Claude has already been made aware of the fact that a Golden Deer has arrived, as he's been mostly in the company of another house for so long. Not that the Lions have been anything but welcoming to him-- some parts of it extremely so-- but Lorenz is one of his own.]

[Lorenz also invites him for tea. It's unprecedented-- there are few who would take tea with Dedue as it was, and he was never one of them. Lorenz associated with other nobleman's sons, not Dusci commoners with poor reputations. He must be desperate for company indeed if he's stooped to asking for Dedue's. And while tea with Lorenz isn't exactly something that thrills him, perhaps he ought to keep an eye on him for a time--]

[And then Lorenz chokes on his tea.]

...Very well.

[Dedue takes a seat across the table from him as Lorenz' own companion mocks him. It's a sorry sight.]

[silky_bearing]

[It will absolutely be several hours but considering it took a few days to travel out from New Bark Town that is shortly.

But as for his choice of company it is not so strange these days as Dedue might think. He's had years to come to understand the... deeply flawed presentation of things he'd had as a child and even longer to become fiercely disenchanted with his Father and the priorities he'd instilled in him.

Though, in some regard, he is desperate for company, yes. He's been alone for far too long to turn down any chance he has to speak with others, no matter who they might be. Perhaps even moreso those that he wouldn't have given the time of day to in his youth for who but they could help him continue to learn truths that had been carefully denied him for so very long.

He tries to smile but it takes a moment and a handkerchief to cough into a couple of times before he is able to actually speak. Any chance he might have had to not realize his pokémon had been responsible for his spiked tea goes out the window just by how gleefully the little ghost is giggling. It hops its way across the table to Dedue as if to ensure he's seen the cleverness of it's prank and Lorenz... Lorenz just sighs heavily, tucks his handkerchief away and glances back to the door of the cafe.]

Well... it seems I'm going to have to order a fresh pot regardless. You... preferred spiced teas, did you not?

[He made the invitation which means he is hosting and therefore the tea served will be to his guests preference. He still has manners, thank you.]

[donoteattheweeds]

[While Lorenz composes himself, the little teacup clatters its way across the table towards Dedue, as though looking for praise for its prank. There is something endearing about its antics, in the same way that one might find a kitten endearing even though it's knocked a glass off of the table-- but one should not encourage such behavior. It might lead to bad habits. Ruining Lorenz' cup of tea once may be amusing, but doing so regularly and indiscriminately would quickly become a nuisance.]

[Strange, though, that Lorenz knows the kind of teas that Dedue prefers. He isn't entirely sure when he would've found out about it or why he would've bothered, but Lorenz clearly took the time to do so.]

Yes, you are correct. I prefer cinnamon or ginger, though I do not mind other kinds.

[He drinks chamomile quite regularly since it's His Highness' favorite, and, on the relatively rare occasions that he did have tea with someone other than Dimitri, usually deferred to the other's tastes. He's a little unused to someone else accommodating him.]

[Then, with regards to Lorenz' giggling teacup,] Have you given a name to your mischievous companion?

[silky_bearing]

[Lorenz nods, pleased that his memory has not failed him, and he will return from the counter inside a moment later with a pot of tea that smells sweet and spicy as it steeps.]

It's a ginger... fruit? blend? [What's a peche? Who knows! It's peach ginger. He does sound a bit apologetic, uncertain if the fruit aspect with detract from Dedue's preference for ginger.]

Ah... I admit I haven't considered a name just yet. I was trying to get more of a feel for it's personality... Pity I can't call it Claude, given it's antics.

[For all the annoyance in his tone there's a fond sort of smile that tugs at his lips despite himself. It really has been far too long since anyone harassed him like this.]

[donoteattheweeds]

[Even if the addition of fruit did ruin the tea for Dedue's particular palate, he wouldn't be rude enough to say so, after Lorenz did him the courtesy of trying to cater to him. If he can drink sweet-apple tea with Annette without complaint, surely a little peach with the ginger will be fine.]

[The idea of Lorenz naming his mischievous teacup after Claude is an amusing one; Dedue thinks that Claude might not particularly mind being its namesake, either. Though Claude, to him at least, had always appeared as more of a busybody than a prankster, but perhaps that's simply because he was never the target. And it would, anyway, take a very bold sort of prankster to want to pull one over on him.]

There is nothing that prevents you from naming it as you wish. [Dedue named one of his own-- a gift from Felix-- Friendarius almost entirely for the look on Felix's face when he did.] I had been under the impression that Claude directed most of his efforts outside of his own house, however.

[That is to say, trying to get his nose into the other lords' business for whatever he was scheming at that time, rather than messing around with his fellow Deer.]

[silky_bearing]

[Perhaps it is uncharitable but as soon as Dedue suggests that the Deer got away without being subject to Claude's tomfoolery Lorenz scoffs, shaking his head.]

Nonsense. He got to bemuse himself at our expense day in and day out!

[Funny how, for all the indignation he attempts to put into his words there's still that same fondness that lingers in his expression, something wistful even. Their schooldays when there was nothing more to worry about than Claude's bad habits were... certainly a simpler time. Being able to bother Claude with mundanities instead of the heavier troubles that came later.]

Still I don't think it would be quite fair to inflict his name on this silly little teacup.

[A teacup that is eager to tug up the lid of the pot and sniff at the tea steeping inside. ]