Open-ish ♔ Gods’ Arcadia: Charisma Millennium Kingdom

[priforprince]

Who: CelePara Talent Agency (& any interlopers)
When: July 11-12
Where: A luxury hot spring in the Near Shore
What: Hibiki won hot spring tickets. This is what passes for a training camp in CelePara.
Warnings: Bathing, so, nudity. Elitism, bad decisions. It’s a log with Hibiki in it.


[ A private overnight at a hot springs resort is the only part of Hibiki’s grand prize from the shopping district lottery she’d wanted. Rather than go completely by herself, however, she’s invited Natsuru, Kuroyukihime, Venus, and Wendy along - one part reward for Tanabata, one part Important Training. The more elite atmosphere to which Hibiki can expose Natsuru, the more the girl will be influenced! The more refined Japanese environments in which Kuroyukihime finds herself, the more she’ll grow into the motifs bestowed upon her by the god in whose temple she resides!

Venus and Wendy are, of course, here to make tea. Hibiki is making a special exception and drinking only green tea this trip - that’s the role - but the frequency with which she requires this beverage merits having her own supply on hand in addition to the inn’s.

The hot spring has been completely reserved for their group. This wasn’t quite what had been written on the tickets, but Hibiki went out to the casino, exerted her sensitivity to the number 1, and then booked the whole place herself the next morning. This means they have far more rooms at their disposal than they need, should anyone happen to have overheard plans about this trip….and the hired help is unlikely to notice any extra guests from the Far Shore….

….Granted, if you aren’t currently working with her, Hibiki will not be pleased to see you. But who cares? Hot spring!

Let us enjoy an elegant experience. ]

[[ ooc: This is a mingle log! Post your own top-level or comment around to others. The link in the “where” description shows off the particular inn this hot spring is based on, but basically, if it’s a Hot Springs Staple and you want to play with it, go nuts.

CelePara are the only people who have been invited, but if you can conceivably say your character could have overheard one of the people involved talking about this trip, feel free to have them crash the party. ]]

Comments

[declamando]

[Maria gives a slight smile at the sight of Hibiki - it's apologetic enough to show that she's aware of her infringement on the space, but not overly so. And given Hibiki doesn't remark on it, she figures her estimation of the situation was right. It's not like she'd be intruding on something like this before an important event, anyway, not when she'd have her own preparations to make.

It's a little obvious how Hibiki's gaze stays on her while she makes that statement, and Maria laughs softly.] Of course. I wouldn't have expected you to be interested in anything but the best.

[Is she remarking on the vista, or her reaction to Maria? Who knows. But she goes on after a moment anyway.] I thought I might see the kinds of people Natsuru will be working with. I know I have no right to interfere, but as her god I can still have the concern of a guardian.

[priforprince]

You take a very direct approach to guardianship. [ This is an observation, not a criticism. But Hibiki does at least actually get into the chair she's been hovering around.

Stage blocking. It's so important. Having established her superiority by a height difference, she can now put the two of them on the same level while she learns what she wants to know. ]

[declamando]

I take a very direct approach to most things, but guardianship is a particularly sensitive issue with me, you might say. I like to know those under my care are being cared for by others. [Partially because of what she's lost there previously, partially because she's used to being guardian of people much younger than Natsuru. Either way, it makes for someone very active in making sure those she's responsible for are okay.

Maria seems unconcerned by both Hibiki standing and her choice to sit down. It doesn't even really occur to her that it's an attempt to establish superiority, because that seems like a stretch even for Hibiki.]

[priforprince]

[ She doesn't particularly care whether Maria finds her superior or not. It's for Hibiki's self-satisfaction. The scene was well-staged. Go her.

It's not going to distract her, however, from what Maria's saying. Sort of. ] The ultimate mother...

[ Sorry. Your name is just really pleasing.

Back to the topic. Hibiki makes sure to make eye contact. ] Natsuru is discovering her wingspan. I'm dedicated to seeing her fly.

[ And to supporting those wings as they unfurl. ]

[declamando]

[A faint twitch of amusement colours Maria's lips at that, and she bows her head as if conceding to the point.] It seems a little obvious, doesn't it? But I'm afraid I can't help it.

[Not after the kind of life she's had. It's remarkable how apt an upbringing that could never have been predicted made it.

Maria appreciates the eye contact, since it makes it easier to pick the truthfulness of the statement. Whether it's for Hibiki's ends or not, she does seem prepared to care for Natsuru as long as she's among her number.]

I'm glad she is. I saw her performance on the night of Tanabata.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki's staying in suave manager mode, but she smiles at that all the same: hah. You came to her party. ] Did it move you?

[ Shikyoin Hibiki's Note To Self For Returning To Her Office Chessboard: advance rook two squares, take black pawn. ]

[declamando]

[There's a slight turn to Maria's mouth at that, which could be an expression of confidence or amusement. Or potentially both.]

It was certainly a start...but it takes somewhat more to move me. [There had been passion, certainly, but as ever with what she's seen of Hibiki and her style of performance, there was an element of overdone staging that, to her, overshadowed the true potential.]

[priforprince]

We have a new height to aim for, then.

[ Black bishop up three squares. Ah, well. The game is still winnable.

Hibiki sighs. ] This facility is at your full disposal. Use it as you see fit.

[ you totally needed her permission to use this hot spring that you tagged along to of your own accord

she's such a good host ]

[declamando]

I wouldn't expect anything less. [It'd be disappointing for a variety of reasons if the prospect of needing to improve put her off. While Maria is largely concerned for the enjoyment of everybody involved, unlocking their true potential is another way to bring out more of that as well.

Though Maria could point out that she doesn't really need Hibiki's permission to do that, she smiles and gives a polite nod in return.]

I appreciate the hospitality. It's been a while since someone here last organised a hot springs trip.

[priforprince]

[ the last one was definitely not as good as this one, too, whenever and whatever it was

Hibiki sinks back into her seat, head tipped back. ]

Detoxification is crucial for survival in such an incomplete world.

[ There's no PriPara. Some of the gods have no presence. ONE OF THE SHINKI PLAYS FETCH WITH THE SAME DIRTY MOUTH WHENCE FALL SENTENCE ENDERS.

She needed this. ]

[declamando]

[Since Maria actually hasn't heard a great deal of Hibiki's attitude on the rest of this world, she quirks a brow in mild curiosity at that.]

Incomplete? Very different to what I'm used to, perhaps, but I have to wonder why you'd call it that specifically.

[She's not going to disagree that detoxification helps, though "crucial to survival" is a bit much. But she'll leave it at just one concern for now.]

i do realize this means you're getting the pripara fanprince speech from all angles and i'm sorry

[priforprince]

There's no PriPara.

[ OBVIOUSLY. Some things are so true they can be stated bluntly. ]

at least one is smol and one is big

[declamando]

[That's not a word Maria thinks she's heard before, and she gestures as if to invite Hibiki to continue.]

I don't think I'm familiar with that, so you'll have to explain a little more.

the smol might be more coherent

[priforprince]

A location unique to my universe.

[ A sigh. Let it go. Let it alllll go. She'll rectify that particular issue soon enough, so no point in getting agitated about it again. ]

Where dreams and ideals themselves take flight, a land of ultimate entertainment.

[ Thinking about PriPara is kind of relaxing in its own way. If also bittersweet. And there's only one way Hibiki knows to drive home just how amazing PriPara is, only one point of comparison that could ever, ever help someone unfortunate enough to have been deprived of PriPara from birth comprehend exactly the scope of what they're missing: ]

My powers can but hope to evoke its majesty.

[ DUN DUN DUNNNN ]

[declamando]

[Well, Maria had pretty much established that first bit herself, since the name had sounded more like a place than a thing. It does sound somewhat intriguing the way Hibiki describes it, and though the dramatic final line perhaps doesn't strike the intended chord with her, it does get her attention for other reasons.]

I'm surprised. Your powers seem to have quite a broad scope. [Unfortunately, given her experience with Hibiki's idea of majesty, she has to wonder if this PriPara place has anything to do with how overbearing Hibiki's staging for her agency's performances is.]

"tricolore always spends a lot of money" - a real thing really said in a cast interview

[priforprince]

Of course, my performances within PriPara are unparalleled.

[ This is only tangentially related to what Maria said, but it's important to point out, all the same.

And might answer her unspoken question without meaning to. ]

seems legit

[declamando]

[Yeah, that about answers her question. There's a slight, gentle sound of amusement from Maria at that, as if she knows something Hibiki doesn't.]

Oh well, there are plenty of ways we have to adapt to this place. Consider that another one.

[And maybe consider that performing without that level of showiness might be a possibility. Maria would be interested to see the kind of performance she gives without it all.]

[priforprince]

It's a temporary setback.

[ Soon. Someday, soon....

Ah, for the light of PriPara. For its unparalleled grandeur, its living ideal.

Ah, for her Princesses, balm for her wounded and sentence-ender-weary heart. ]

[declamando]

[Maria has to raise a brow at that. Surely Hibiki doesn't think she can somehow bring the place here.

As it is, she's electing to believe she means going home to it, and lets out a long breath.]

How temporary is the question. I'm not sure the situation here is going to change much anytime soon.

[She sounds a bit wistful herself - there might be some people from her own world here now, but it's still not like being home.]

[priforprince]

Time will tell.

[ Um. That thing you're trying to convince yourself she isn't convinced she can do?

She is having an incredibly pleasant fantasy about it right now. ]

[declamando]

[In this case, Maria's going to choose to live in her own preferable fantasy, one where Hibiki actually does have some idea of things that are legitimtely beyond her means.

Still, whatever rivalry they might have in the making, it doesn't mean Maria can't still be interested in what's been going on outside of that, and she smiles over a little as she flicks her hair over the back of the seat.]

So, how have things been otherwise? I'd at least hope you didn't spend all of Tanabata on the performance when there were so many other festivities.

[priforprince]

Ah...

[ A faint pallor casts itself over Hibiki's face. She....experienced Tanabata, yes. She experienced the Tanabata performances. Including....your boss. ]

It was an...enlightening....festivity, indeed.

[declamando]

[That's the first time Maria's seen that sort of reaction from Hibiki, and she can't diguise a moment of laughter at how obvious it is.]

You look like you saw a ghost. Or something appropriately horrifying. [Given they're surrounded by the dead at all times here, ghosts have probably lost a bit of their effect.]

[priforprince]

Well.... [ Hibiki clears a mysterious blockage in her throat. Concentrate on something else. The festival. Orihime. Yes. ]

I trust the night of bliss eased the noble lady's heart.

[ This is not just a convenient second aspect of the topic. She really does hope it helped Orihime.

Even if Orihime won't let her call her "Princess." ]

[declamando]

[Ah, of course, the host. Maria hadn't actually spoken to her, but she does look rather sympathetic.]

I'm afraid I didn't meet Orihime myself, but I certainly hope she enjoyed the night as well. It doesn't seem like she deserves such a cruel separation from her lover.

[Though there's few people Maria would say deserved something like that. Orihime did seem particularly nice in her BBS post, though.]