thenearshore | Open! | Catch-All for August

Who: Yona and anyone!
When: Various points during the month.
Where: Her temple, the Far Shore, the Near Shore
What: Yona has decided this is the month she's going to learn more about this strange world she's been brought to.

A. The Near Shore

[ With most of the excitement over the past few weeks, Yona's in the mood for some distracting, something to keep her busy, or something she can engage in with the new companions she's made in this place. The biggest priority here is understanding more about this world she's found herself in and so she makes several trips down to the mortal world with the intent of exploring and learning more about it.

The place is full of wonders and she's often easily distracted as she wanders, whether it's by some strange new type of food that might catches her attention or a colorful storefront that draws her over to peruse strange wares. The first time she discovers an open market fills her with delight, because this is at least a little more familiar to how commerce is dealt in her world, but then she discovers a grocery store and her mind is blown all over again. She might loose several hours wandering through a bookstore, filled with more tomes than she's ever seen in one place. A colorful candyshop has her stopping to pick out gifts to take back home to her friends, picking out a strange and varied sample, all of them ones she'd never heard of before, but look fantastic all the same.

But as fascinating as it is, it's also a little overwhelming, and all too easy to get turned around. Hopefully, she can manage to not get too lost, or at the very least find someone to point her in the right direction, if she does... ]

B. The Far Shore/Aine's Temple

[ Things at her temple are often lively and filled with laughter. Any visitors are greeted with happy smiles, although on occasion, it's the temple's other residents that beat the gods and shinki to the greeting. Namely a mischievous pair of kittens who answer to the names of Eun and Min and enjoy getting into every bit of trouble they can find. Or perhaps it's one of the horses that make their home among the orchards, an intelligence in their gazes that speaks to much more than just a common animal and hints at fae bloodlines that come as part of Aine's heritage.

Or perhaps you've wandered by and there's a conspicuous lack of a greeting. A little wandering around might lead you to find the temple's goddess seated in the center of one of the gardens, eyes closed and her attention focused on.... something. Occasionally strange things will happen around her, such as a sudden gust of icy wind rushing outwards away from her or a shadowy outline of a bubble around her or a fiery claw slashing downwards, shattering a nearby rock in half before vanishing abruptly. Yona's only starting to understand what her magic can do and learning to master it is proving to be a challenge... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She....likes it....here... ]

...if it's sweets you desire, I can provide a luxury smorgasbord.

[ someone rescue the prince ]

[ You've officially caught her attention. ]

Really? Like what?

[ She's always interested in trying new treats. ]

[ Hah, diversion successful. Hibiki smiles.

...this would, traditionally, be the part where Ando appears with a tray bearing the desserts in question. But Hibiki's current staff, though up one very competent shinki, is down one butler. She will have to improvise. ]

Only the highest-class confections. [ She reaches into her jacket pocket. Even without Ando, a genius is always prepared. ] You like chocolate?

I do! We didn't have this in my world, so I've been enjoying all the ways they use it here.

[ And it had been one of the first things Zeno had given her to try. It was a treat for someone who hadn't had delicacies and sweets in a very long time. ]

Then, allow me to expand your palate into a new dimension.

[ From her pocket, she pulls...what looks like a rose made of gold, at first sight. But if you look closer, whatever's inside is just wrapped in gold leaf. (Which may or may not be real.) ]

Freshly-made chocolat from Prance. Pour vous.

[ It's handed over. As someone heading down the aisle, a bunch of boxes in their arms, actually looks their way... ]

[ Her mouth drops open in surprise as she carefully accepts the delicate sweet, her eyes wide in wonder. ] Oh, it's so pretty!

The taste is incomparable.

[ Hibiki will wait, watching with interest, for Yona to sample this treat. She is also available for assistance if Yona can't figure out to get it open.

The staff member here to restock the aisle squints at the two of them, as if they're hard to make out... ]

[ The wrapping is proving to be a little puzzling until Yona stumbles across one of the seams. ]

Oh, I see! This comes off, but oh, it's almost too pretty to eat. [ She pauses a moment, but it would be rude to let the gift go to waste, so she carefully unwraps it before balancing the piece of chocolate in her fingers. Taking a taste, her expression lights up. ] Oh, this is wonderful!

Your pleasure is m--

[ "Guest!"

They've been noticed, now, though it took some doing. Hibiki blinks at being suddenly interrupted by the store employee now interposing themselves between herself and Yona.

"Guest, you can't eat the products before paying for them! You have to head to the registers first, please!"

Hibiki's brows quirk downward. ] It's a present from me. She'll consume it where she pleases.

[ that's not the important part, hibiki ]

[ Yona's mouth drops open in surprise at this, glancing from the chocolate to the salesperson and finally back to Hibiki. ]

Is... something wrong?

[ "Well, miss, you have to....you have to pay....for things...in a store...." ]

And I'm telling you she's fine!

[ To Yona, with a smile: ] It's all right. Savor it.

[ Back to the staff member. ] Retrieve your supervisor.

[ Yona glances down at the chocolate she holds and then her eyes widened in understanding. Since Hibiki had pulled the rose out from her pocket, she hadn't realized it had come from the store itself. ]

Oh, no, there's no need to cause a fuss. I hadn't realized this hadn't been paid for yet. I will be happy to do so.

[ She smiles warmly at the salesperson, not wanting them to get in trouble for her own misunderstanding. ]

[ ...well, here's the thing. This is a simple misunderstanding that Hibiki has made worse by not pointing it out.

Until now. As tactfully as possible. ]

Do you honestly think I'd feed you dreck from this establishment?!

[ Okay, maybe not that last part. Hibiki glares at the staff member, stepping slightly in front of Yona. ] Jumping to conclusions and bothering customers is hardly the hallmark of top-class service.

[ The grocery store worker, though, is still trying to process that someone, in 2016, just used the word "dreck". ]

[ Well, this certainly isn't clearing up the confusion any and now Yona reaches out to place a hand on Hibiki's shoulder in hopes of calming her. ]

Oh, don't be upset with them when they're only trying to do their job. There's just been a misunderstanding. You're saying the chocolate didn't come from here, yes? You said it came from... Prance, correct? Then there should be no problem after all.

[ She smiles brightly at the sales person, hoping this information might clear up the problem before it can escalate further. ]

[ "It's....not...?" ]

That's right. [ Hibiki's eyebrow twitches. ] Don't you know your own stock...?

[ But, no, Yona is troubled. Taking a deep breath, Hibiki wills herself back to her desired equilibrium. (Mostly.) ] Well, as the injured party is willing to overlook your incompetence, I shall show equal mercy. Cease your interruption and we'll drop the issue.

[ The staff member takes a step back, not sure what to make of this. They do look at Yona gratefully, however. ]

[ Yona is just relieved that this seemed to solve the issue. Although perhaps it was better to take Hibiki elsewhere since she seemed to find this place... less than impressive. ]

Ahh, good, that's better, yes? [ She casts a hopeful smile at Hibiki, hoping she can continue to distract her long enough that the situation can be diffused entirely. ] Perhaps it's time we go explore somewhere else...?

[ Hibiki nods. ] This environment is depressing.

[ That can't be suitable for your finishing your chocolate!

Is it all right if she guides you with an arm to the small of your back? ]

[ It is, if only because Yona thinks it best they spare the poor shopkeeps any more excitement for the moment. So she lets herself be escorted out of the grocery store - for her own sake, of course.

Outside is sunny and bright and she turns to Hibiki with a smile. ]

Out here seems much less depressing, yes?

[ Hibiki sighs. ] Well, while hardly PriParis, it suffices.

[ It's still noisy here. Poor Yona. Clearly not of a world like this, but exposed to so little of the finest quality that this planet has to offer.

Perhaps Hibiki should change that. ]

Open! | Catch-All for August

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