Blessed Be These Summer Days (Open + Closed)

[challengesfate]

Who: Lucina and Prompto, and YOU
When: August 16th to August 20th
Where: The Far Shore (Temple of Lucina) + The Near Shore
What: Getting settled into a new life (OPEN) + Prayer #43 (CLOSED)

The Far Shore - Settling In

[The Temple of Lucina is a fairly new addition to the Far Shore, and though it may not be as lavish as other temples, the mere fact of its newness is enough to impress Lucina with a sense of awe. In her first days of godhood, she is entranced by examining the statues in the main hall and the fountain of water that bubbles up from the largest one, the woman who shared her name and yet was not her. She opens and closes the fridge in the kitchen, marveling at the exact moment the light inside turns off as the door closes, and lets the water fill up the bathtub in the bathroom and dips her hands in, surprised at how warm it is. She examines the flowers in the garden and climbs the lotus and quince trees to sit in the higher branches, peering out from the natural border at the gods and shinki who pass by. Overall, if you come calling to the strange new temple, the god and shinki within will be happy to welcome you inside to look and make your acquaintance!]

The Near Shore - Prayer #43: A Prayer For Strays

[Naturally, when one is made a god, there is work that is expected to be done, and when Lucina first hears this prayer, she finds herself feeling...proud, almost, that someone has come to call on her, even for a small thing like this. With Prompto in tow, the pair quickly make their way to the Near Shore and set to navigating their way through winding city streets to the goal of their request: a clowder of uncollared, somewhat scruffy cats mewling at the gate of a small urban house, scratching and trying to leap up and over to the empty bowls perched on the stoop. Lucina frowns a little at the sight, bringing a hand to her chin.]

There certainly are a lot of cats...what do you suppose we could use to feed them?

Comments

Prayer #43

[photoshooter]

I guess if the homeowner's away, we can't go in and ask for the food they use, huh? Hmm...

[Prompto crosses his arms and watches the poor hungry cats, thinking.]

Well, cats like fish, right? I'm sure we could get some fish somewhere. Unless we have some money to buy cat food--oh!

[One of the cats has noticed them and detaches herself from the crowd, meowing and rubbing against his leg. He smiles broadly, crouches, and offers her a hand to butt against.]

Hey there, buddy! You hungry?

[Of course, that draws some of the other cats' attention. Here they come...]

[challengesfate]

They certainly seem to respond to humans well enough...perhaps there may be a market we could barter with nearby. I don't think I have any gold, but a shopkeeper wouldn't begrudge some help, would they?

[So many cats...Lucina had never gotten to have a pet at home. She crouches down, offering a hand carefully to the nearest one. It sniffs her briefly...and then licks her fingertips.]

Ah-! [Her hand flinches, but she doesn't pull it away.] It's rough!

[photoshooter]

[He laughs and puts aside petting his new friends for a moment so he can pull out his phone.]

Yeah! It's because that's how they groom themselves. With their tongues, I mean. Always gotta look sharp for the lady cats. Now, say 'fuzzy pickles!'

[He points his phone camera, and--click! He now has a photo of Lucina with an adorable kitty cat.]

[challengesfate]

Fuzzy wh-

[And then the phone thing clicks, and Prompto's picture of Lucina is a little confused, a little grossed out at the idea of a fuzzy pickle. You probably don't want to eat anything fuzzy, after all.]

A-Ah...so they clean themselves that way. But then, how do they clean their mouths?

[Just going to casually reach out and pet this little guy lightly between the ears. The cat's eyes close and it purrs, and the others start to swarm around her, butting their heads into her legs for attention.]

Ah - w-what did I do? They're all...

[photoshooter]

[Aw yiss, this photo's a keeper. He beams at his work, pleased with himself, and then slides his phone back into his pocket so he can lean over to her and help her with her new feline fans.]

Aw, they just want some love, too. Come on, guys, she's only got two hands!

[A couple of them peel away to rub and meow at him and he doles out some petting accordingly, obviously happy to be awash in so much furry affection, even if they are maybe not the cleanest creatures on the streets.]

Sure are a lot of you, huh? You guys must have it good here. Let's see, one, two, three...

[He points at each in turn as he counts, hoping to get a good estimate on how much food they'll have to buy, when he sees one cat off by herself, watching them warily, tail curled around her paws. He softens his voice.]

Oh... hey, don't be shy. We're the good guys. We're gonna get you all some chow, okay?

[He offers a hand so low to the ground his knuckles almost scrape the pavement and twitches his fingers. Come on, girl. Friends?]

[challengesfate]

[He really did take so quickly to that funny device, Lucina's noticed. It springs something warm in her chest, something gentle, to know that Prompto's found something to enjoy about this new life so quickly here. Lucina finds herself smiling as she tries to pet as many of the cats as possible, but looks up at the change of tone in Prompto's voice.

Oh - oh, there's one more. What's it doing over there?

Softly,] Could there be more than this nearby?

[photoshooter]

Could be. If they're used to the food being out for them whenever they want it, this might just be one wave of hungry customers. Doubt it, though. Doesn't seem like there are enough bowls to support more than these.

[While he turns away to answer Lucina, the straggler cat decides the two of them are safe to approach and rises heavily to her feet. As she pads over, Prompto notices just how round her belly is.

...Uh-oh.

[challengesfate]

[.....Uhoh.]

Oh no. That's...

[They're gonna need a lot more food aren't they, and it can't be cheap garbage. No way. That's a Momma Cat. She needs the Good Stuff.]

[photoshooter]

[Momma Cat needs the Good Stuff indeed. She must feel the same way, as she bypasses Prompto completely and goes straight to Lucina, meowing one soft, plaintive meow.]

...Maybe she's why this prayer came to you, Lucina.

[His phone comes right out again.]

I'm gonna look up how to take care of a pregnant cat. She kinda looks like she could burst any second...

Here to meet both the newbies

[lookingforhead]

[The view in and around the temple is fairly idyllic, but then a thoroughly modern noise breaks the songs of nature. It's not so bad as to ruin the mood, but it's still something out of place as the motorcycle rumbles up the road.

Having been roaming in the Near and Far Shore both since she acquired the bike, Celty notes the new temple and she rolls to a stop near the entrance, looking it over curiously. Her helmet blocks any view of her face, any expression, but the way she's sitting makes it seem like she's curious but is debating if to intrude or not.]

hello!

[challengesfate]

[That sound is, honestly, one of the strangest things Lucina has heard yet. When she begins to hear the faint rumble, it draws her out of the temple, peering through the door for the source, and she flinches when it gets louder. It's safe to say that the vehicle this new person is riding is one she's never fathomed before, because the sight of it makes her eyes widen and her mouth fall open.]

What in the world is that...?

Re: hello!

[lookingforhead]

[Celty remains seated on her bike as she looks around, the motorcycle slipping to a softer rumble as it idles. For a moment she considers moving on but then she spots Lucina and offers her a wave.]

[challengesfate]

[...You know what, she's curious enough to come over at that, looking a little guarded but otherwise calm.]

Hello...? May I help you?

[lookingforhead]

[Lucina walking over helps. Celty pulls her phone from her pocket and types into it, holding the glowing screen out to be read once the temple goddess is close enough. A strange new device for her perhaps but hopefully she's seen one before this moment.]

I don't remember seeing this temple before. Is it new?

[challengesfate]

[She has! She owns one, and is slooooowly figuring it out. Slowly. Lucina blinks, then reads the message...]

Ah, yes, it's new...I just arrived a few days ago. My name is Lucina. What is yours?

[lookingforhead]

[It's not the best way to communicate, but it works for Celty. She knows it can be tricky for others.]

I'm Celty, I'm one of the Shinki for Aditi. I had some time to myself so I was out riding when I saw your temple.

It's nice to meet you. Welcome.

[challengesfate]

[At least she knows how to read!]

Well, it's...nice to meet you, too, even just by happenstance. Do you often ride in your spare time?

[lookingforhead]

I do, yes. I don't remember anything about my life but I think it's safe to say it's in my nature.

[photoshooter]

[That motor-engine rumble really sounds out of place out here, and the first thing Prompto does--without really knowing why, with a knot of worry under his breastbone--is lean out and look up.

But there's nothing in the sky, and when Celty's motorcycle pulls up, he relaxes and waves.]

Uh, hey there! Can we help you with something?

[lookingforhead]

[Celty offers a wave back, but rather than replying she waves him over. As he closes the distance she slips her phone from her sleeve and types something into it, holding it out when he's close enough.]

This temple. Is it new? I didn't see it a few days ago.

[photoshooter]

[Prompto blinks before peering at her message, then rubs the back of his head.]

I, uh... maybe?

[He laughs and holds his hands up.]

Well, we're new, so I guess it might be, if that's how it works. I'm Prompto! Oh, um, I don't have to type my answers back, right? You can hear me?

[lookingforhead]

[The helmet bobs in a firm nod and she quickly types her reply.]

Right. I can hear just fine. I'm Celty. It's nice to meet you. Are you the god of this temple or one of the Shinki?

[photoshooter]

[He shakes his head and nods in turn.]

I'm the shinki, yeah. The temple belongs to Lucina. She does protection for mothers carrying children, that kind of thing.

[lookingforhead]

I see. That's a good role.

I'm one of the Shinki for Sharak, or Aditi I guess in her god name.

[In her research it seems Aditi is more of a 'mother of other gods/creation' goddess, with more ephemeral and implicit domains.]

She's very serious about what she does.

[Which is mostly shooting at willing Shinki as training.]

[photoshooter]

[At that, Prompto laughs, already very fond of his princess-god.]

Yeah, Lucina's like that, too. Really dedicated to doing the right thing, taking care of people, the works.

[Aditi isn't a name Prompto's familiar with. There's so much he's going to have to learn.]

Is Sharak nice? What does she do?