thenearshore | June Training

Entry tags:

June Training

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: June 7th, 2017
Where: Apollo's Temple, The Far Shore
Summary: FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINME---er, training for extant gods and shinki

Determining which temple to visit for today's training is not difficult. For one thing, Apollo's Temple is setting off fireworks periodically to entice newcomers through its high, Hibiki-statue-flanked doors. For another, anyone leaving their own temples will find themselves immediately confronted with an adorable purple goat robot wearing sunglasses and a bow tie. The goat has a silver platform suspended above it, atop which has been set a single purple rose and a brief note:

I shall be maa-ttending you today. Follow me.

Said goat will continue to follow your character until they give in and do as the note suggests. In fact, even once they do, the goat shall accompany them for the duration of today's log, seeing to their every need. Ask the goat to fetch something, and it shall be fetched. Ask the goat for directions within Hibiki's castle - "Where is the god training?", "Isn't there an amusement park in here?" - and guidance shall be provided maa-ccordingly.

It seems, today, everyone will receive a full Celebrity Maa-xperience.

Introductions

"CelePara Prince Hour!"

excellence

exercises

God Training

Top-Class

Open the new celeb world

first flush

Shinki Training

boring

really

Self-Improvement Training

ad-lib

random scenario

Rest and Refreshments

everyone

self service

full service

enforced

Please take care

Starship PriPirates'

In Summary:

Delight in your precious new robot BFF (maa-ttendants are OK to NPC & adopt!)
Learn absolutely nothing from anybody actually charged with hosting this informational session
Engage in various "training" activities with no ulterior motives behind them whatsoever
Be kidnapped by pirates?????
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Never nora'd before, or really thought about it for myself. So if it does come up, it'd have to be from the big guy.

[ Similar to how he never accepted suggestions of who to go to, he wasn't going to be bound to someone that didn't want it to begin with. It couldn't be their choice if people were suggesting it for them, and if it was, then they didn't have the spine that Judar wanted his god to have.

Which is why he doesn't push anything, or distract Waver from his phone. It was either to check for names, or to talk to his King, so he just waited around until the suggestion to go elsewhere came up. ]

Sure. You got the hang of teleporting for it?

[ He knows that there's some limitations to that ability, but why not use a handy thing like it? He does, with its flashy spell, all the time. Which is why he goes over by Waver's side, offering his hand if that's the choice, but ready to walk if that was still too new to the former shinki. ]

[Waver nods. Becoming nora was inconceivable to him, aside from the fact he'd fall if named again.]

Speaking of him, he's at my temple now. [So the latter there.] He'll be meeting up with us.

[Anxiety still spins low in his gut as Waver begins to brace mentally and construct his psychic armor so he doesn't have a reaction that gives anything away to Judar. It doesn't show on his face or in his body language - he's relaxed as he stands and takes Judar's hand - but it's doubly important now that he knows Judar knows.

He can't allow a clue to slip past of what he's seeing.]

Teleporting's fine. I enjoy it.

[For how damn useful it is.]

Flying, though... now there's something I'm working on...

[The scenery shifts and suddenly they're in a garden filled with peach trees with ripening fruit and wildflowers among the grass. It's quiet and peaceful except for the call of a crane occasionally. He has a small flock of them hanging around the grounds, and while they leave Iskandar and himself alone, some of Amaterasu's shinki have not been so lucky.

Beyond the garden is a small traditional Chinese villa nestled up next to a fairly large pond with blue lotus and rock formations rising from it. The temple's blessed water source... and as Waver has found, a fairly decent place to cool off when it's stinking hot.

Iskandar is nearby, by one of the stone lanterns with the Argead Star at its base. Waver raises a hand in greeting.]

Hey.

[Iskandar lights up with a smile seeing them. Seeing Waver. Still, he's looking for any sign of unease. With Waver being master of hiding his real emotions, it's not an easy feat. To his dismay, Iskandar had time and occasion to practise. He knows when to look even if the evidence is subtle.]

Hey.

[He turns to Judar if only to acknowledge his presence. He nods.]

Judar.

What's so hard about flying?

[ Such a question that came out with incredulous ease. Then again, Judar had a good handle of using flying magic while independently controlling other spells, so clearly he was well practiced and at ease with it. That and he didn't have a fear of heights, which helps.

After they teleport, while there's a general awareness of Iskander, the magi's attention and eyes are drawn immediately to all of the ripening peach trees. They seemed so close to being at the perfect point for eating, too. Ah, it's been so long since he ate something good. What a time to be reminded of that- tsk. But really, there was something about the garden that warmed him in a way that other temples hadn't. Probably because it was reminiscent of the castle's gardens, in a time he'd be unlikely to remember. You wouldn't think he could be such a hellion with the expression he had, really.

And it took him a second to realize that he was completely ignoring everything else. Whoops. So his expression shifted to something casually friendly enough, like he was in a good mood. Even if he really wasn't sure of how he was feeling right now. ]

Hey big guy. You two really do do everything together when you can, huh?

[An answer to that one isn't coming because of the teleport, but it has to do with a general fear of heights and no familiarity with flight or any magecraft surrounding a grant of it.

There's a pleased look at Judar's distraction as he takes in the garden. It's very subtle, but Iskandar can see the fine points of tension in Waver's movements and posture, even if his expression gives nothing away as it melts to softness as Waver takes in Iskandar's smile. It tells of anxiety and Waver locking down, refusing to show anything that might give Judar a dangerous idea once the naming's underway.]

Pretty much. We always want to be together for the important things. [Casually. There's no trace of unease in Waver's voice as well. His years of politics at play.] You ready?

[Waver gives Judar and Iskandar time to respond before turning to Judar. Best now, before the anxiety can whip itself into a frenzy by drawing it out any further. He holds onto his mask with an iron grip as he speaks the incantation, drawing out the kanji for the name in glowing light.

He's not going to fall, he's not going to fall...]

My name is Zhuge Liang. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument.

[Here it comes.]

The name, Nokoru. The vessel, Zan. Come, Zanki!

Edited (last edit) 2019-07-07 05:36 (UTC)

We really do.

[That's his only comment. Other than that he stays silent.

Waver's is a god of this Temple, it's his ritual. Iskandar would never compromise his lover's authority by showing that he knows how harrowing the whole ordeal is for Waver. His part is to show support, provide comfort and stability. The decision has been made and now they just need to follow through with it.
There is a glimmer of hope though. Judar and Waver, they're both mages. It will be definitely easier for them to come to understanding then it would if Iskandar was in Waver's place.

Iskandar has never seen the Naming that he wasn't one performing it before. Never observed it happen from the outside. For all the agony there's still an otherworldly beauty to it, the bond is sacred. It is something truly special.

Now more than ever he thinks that the old gods or whoever that created the ritual tapped into a power more ancient and arcane than they themselves have ever been. And they've done a truly poor job of it. As if they have done only half of the work. He sees hints of it everywhere, glimmers barely, images he doesn't even understand and for a moment it feels almost sacrilegious that he had performed the ritual himself. Twice. No, three times already. For it feels like an intrusion over what might have been. But it's only a moment and it's gone in an instant.

He really shouldn't let his mind wander. Waver needs him focused.]

[ There were a couple of glimmers of hope, between that and the fact that they weren't assigned. No one pushed Judar upon Waver, save for Waver himself. The Caster was ready to accept things, and whether he felt ready or not, Judar was taking a chance to choose and try once again, with another god. To make the decision before the process had been done, instead of after he'd been drained, or because a bond was already set by other gods. So, with this time, he makes sure to watch as the character is written in the air before it sends itself over to place itself on Judar's back- against the left shoulder blade- before his body took that first change into whatever he'd be.

First it seemed like it might be a staff, with the pole that went to Waver's hand, before continuing to form. As the fringe and blade started to take place, it proved to instead be a chinese glaive, which seemed to be of a quality meant for someone higher than a common soldier, but not so ornate that it was for ceremonial purposes. The only ornate part was the mark inlaid in the blade, that seemed similar to one of the many Solomic seals, for the 8-pointed star in a circle.

It's an item that Waver will end up seeing quite a bit of in the memories, even towards the end of them. He'll have far more context on the shinki he chose to name, having chunks and snippets of a world with only one language, but many ways in which it was written. He'd get enough of a glimpse of the way the magi was raised, just expertly enough to be a powerful tool to some group, until the memory where he'd learned the truth and decided to destroy them. Then, of course, the final memory, which didn't end with a lack of oxygen and cold, but just a sudden blackness while he seemed to be in a place of safety.

Meanwhile, Judar was familiar with the white space he was in, after so long. It feels similar to how it was while Cu had him named, more so than Izumo, so it must be due to the potential of lending out his mana- ruhk in his world- to help maintain a servant's reserves. A lot of it seemed similar, actually. Like this was his form, but it didn't stop here.

But the magician was still going to wait a bit to make sure things went okay on the other side. ]

... Hey, frown lines, you good?

[Iskandar can see the moment the memories hit as a snap of muscles to tenseness. It's unlike the sudden flow of memories like the tide in as his and Zhuge Liang's consciousness joined, or the misty vision that came in a dream that wasn't a memory of Iskandar's at all, but a prophecy of what is yet to be. They throb through him, yanking him along to live Judar's life alongside him in fragments. A long silenced heartbeat.

To be loved by the World and the Rukh, the magic, for the purposes of shaping it. The role of a magi is to chose the King and guide him or her to the throne. To find the candidates, to guide them through the dungeons and trials, gathering power and wisdom and the hearts of the people, until one is ready and worthy to sit and rule. This is ordained by Fate.

There are supposed to be three that are meant to be these most important of guides in magic and kingship. But there are always those that would pervert the system to their own ends and abuse those higher callings and the power that comes with it. Waver fought them on his own battlefield. But the enemy is everywhere.

Waver snarls mentally in mounting fury as he watches the story of a child raised as a tool and conditioned and made dependent upon a group, upon a woman and made to do their will. He watches the fumbling attempts at friendship, the influences that make them fail, and a child reaching out, trying to fill a gaping hole in his heart as the corrosion rises and Waver's old friends bitterness and anger take hold.

"Because, as long as you're my King, I'm fine with just you!"

There's a hole there and Judar fills it however he can, and that includes with the people he's guiding. Candidates... not friends, never forget a magi attracts just candidates for kingship... but companionship is what he's truly desiring. There's one face in particular... Hakuryuu... that keeps coming up. Alcohol flows in some of the memories. Judar huddles in the dark in others, comforting himself with his purpose, as the dark bears its terrible fangs.

There's a peach garden like the one he owns...

He watches as Judar watches how it all came to be. The past reflected on the wall as Waver stands with Judar. His parents holding a happy child, his magic pure and without corruption, flickering around him in the form of butterflies. It's joyful, with hope for the future, and then it all turns to ash as those loving parents are murdered for their child, and that baby stolen.

Then it all turns to horror as he sees what's intended for that baby, the ritual to turn him into their tool. Waver's blood runs cold as he watches the woman blast the wailing infant with black and violent purple energy until the child's magic corrupts and those dancing butterflies of light turn just as dark as the spell. He watches, Judar eats a peach as he stares at the wall when the images all fade out, the stream of memories beat on.

If that woman appears before him, she's dead. Waver swears it upon his status as a Heroic Spirit.

Absorbing Magnostadt. Brushing past Sinbad, the King candidate he's never been able to ignore before. His determination to bring Hakuryuu to kingship. Belial's dungeon - Hakuryuu at his side... then staring down at the image of a burning country with Judar and another, Aladdin. An illusion... no a reconstruction of a memory. The country's name is Sindria and Judar's laid it to waste.

His guilt. Aladdin, the fragment of his mind made illusion, tries to say it's not his fault even though he's committed atrocities, that he was used ever since he was born. That they understand. But it's not that easy. Fuyuki burns in Waver's mind as he watches Sindria burn in turn. It's not that easy, as he stands with Judar in the memory, not that easy at all as he watches Aladdin urges Judar to cut ties to those who are using and abusing him.

Forgiving yourself is never that easy no matter the real level of responsibility in the matter though.

Cut ties. Waver watches Judar melt down. Sure he'll cut ties but why should he forgive - he can't forgive?! Robbed of his parents, life controlled without any choices! Why was it him and not any of the others - WHY HIM?!

Memory beats on and then they come to it. That final fight between Aladdin and Judar. It's a titanic struggle that shatters the landscape - akin to a battle between the Heroes on the Throne. There's another battle nearby - Hakuryuu versus another. The earth groans as things continue, flame roars. Hakuryuu falls, both legs burnt away. But the other is worse. He's won, and Hakuryuu commands Judar to hurry up and finish Aladdin and come to his side.

Who could ignore such an order from their liege?

Who would not become anything in order to fulfill that command?

Waver watches as Judar takes in more and more power to attack, but Aladdin is countering, and Waver watches a form strike and Judar is pushed up, and up, and up, and readying to counterattack even as he soars ever upward.

Hakuryuu is yelling for him and interfering. His King trying to save him, and ordering him to put up an isolation barrier. But it's too late. Judar breaches atmosphere and there's perfect black.

Not the way he wanted to go. Not the way Waver would have wanted for anyone, with their King watching.

It all goes dark and the visions fade. A heartbeat silenced, a candle snuffed...

And he's staring into Iskandar's eyes as the world reappears, eyes burning as he forces the mask to stay in place, forces himself to breathe calmly and not give anything away. He knows his King can read the signs that he's shaken, and right now he's taking a moment to get himself together and try to dispel the last ghosts of memory as Judar's life and death sink itself into him and grabs hold with claws.

He's incredibly steadying right now and Waver focuses on him and the guandao in his grip. Hakuryuu's weapon. ... h-ha. He recognizes this. Guan Yu carried this kind of weapon, he remembers from Zhuge Liang. Though. A glaive for a Caster. He's so totally not qualified for Lancer class. Somewhere he feels like Cú Chulainn might be raising a brow. How does he? Use this?

Um. Iskandar?

Thank fuck he's here.]

I'm good. It's been awhile since I've seen a guandao, though. Guan Yu, maybe?

[Thank fuck he sounds calm and normal. Iskandar needs to hear him too. Then he squawks to distract Judar from any thoughts of what he's seen.]

And... Hey! Those are my charm points, thank you. They're not that bad!

Edited 2019-07-09 08:39 (UTC)

[Iskandar notices exactly the moment when Waver's eyes glaze, widen and then fix at some distant point. Judar disappears at the same time only to come back as a weapon.
Iskandar moves closer. The young mage can snicker and make fun of them to his heart content later but right now he doesn't care. He needs to be first what Waver sees when all the visions vanish.

Shh...my love. It's all past. It's all gone. It can't hurt you. It can't hurt him. You are safe with me.

It's a relief when it's all over. Iskandar can't hear what Judar has said but judging from Waver's exasperated reply he can guess. He laughs a little.]

Don't listen to him. You're beautiful no matter what he says.

[The glaive though. The correct term may be guandao but to Iskandar it's a glaive and ... sheesh... That would be ... a challenge. They can only hope that as a spiritual weapon it won't require the amount of strength the regular one does.]

You'll be good. You just need a little refresher.

[More likely a complete course and hell lot of practice actually. Then some conditional training to match if it turns out on the heavier end. Any kind of polearm type weapon is utterly devastating when wielded properly but it needs raw strength in addition to skill.

Raw strength is not exactly Waver's defining characteristic.]

So your charm point just gets deeper when we talk? It almost sounds like an unintentional seduction.

[ Lighthearted commentary to distract from anything that might lead to a question. Judar's aware of memories and that there's a 'greatest secret,' but the effect of a shinki was to never actively try to dig in and find out more with your own past. While that can be eroded with curiosity, it's done its job in keeping the magi from needling and trying to learn more about himself.

Just as there was a lot that Judar had a sense for, but couldn't know. He was something long, that could be held, but he wasn't really aware of it being a glaive. He was especially unaware of the mark on the blade that noted this as a Metal Vessel. He just had a sense that there was more.

Ugh, this was going to be awkward if these two started kissing while he was in Waver's hand. He'd already accepted that the big guy was going to be around and acting as a lover as much as he was Waver's King. He'd been told that, so it was something he'd come to expect. No sniggering or teasing towards Iskander, for now. Despite the joke being made, he has some sense of timing.

Being a mage, he obviously couldn't provide advice on how to handle whatever needs a refresher, but he can give some good news. ]

Look, if it helps, every time I was named, the god was able to use some kind of magic, not just use me as an item. Like, aside from Cu transforming with the bracelet, there was some good amount of wind magic.

[ He was unable to make the link of that to 'this vessel form is also similar to a djinn equip,' but at least there's been enough connections to make from two previous namings. The memories that Waver was burdened with should be able to provide that kind of help instead. ]

Is that so? No wonder I get chased so often. [It had been different with Waver. No time to worry about a past when every bit of him was committed to surviving to the future. But near falls can fracture barriers, and Waver privately wonders if that also had been a contributing factor to the mess with him, and one that was as helpful as harmful to him. With Discerning Eye, with every other skill he had honed and his history and general makeup, he thinks the Fall would have happened one way or another eventually in any case. Maybe not when he was younger, but now... he grew from that boy on the bridge. Being on that edge had strangely given him a fighting chance.] And here I was thinking it was mostly my devastating fashion sense and not some sort of Mystic Face skill.

Maybe I need some persuasion later, though?

[Waver pouts, perfectly willing to continue to scandalize a teenager to bring them past the danger point. Though it's less flirtation, more banter, given how Waver hasn't really taken his eyes off Iskandar and both of them wouldn't go that far in this moment, and more a nod to talking later about everything.

He can feel himself relaxing the more they all talk. Judar doesn't feel heavy, but he doesn't really have context for how a glaive should feel in his hand. All this is very new.

... o-o-oh god, though. Little refresher? Training from the ground up the Macedonian Way. His gym hating soul is crying as a certain song from Mulan is kicking in in the background. He's a Caster with E and D ranked physical stats, better than human, BUT. He might have more than enough strength to swing Judar, but last in a melee battle? OH BOY. But he doesn't want to get run through with any more steel and Judar is definitely counting on him, so he's going to square up and get down to the business of ~~defeating the Huns~~ mastering the glaive. While not dying.

Waver's expression shifts to something more determined.]

That would help. It's been a while.

[HAHAHAHAHA. It's been never, but okay, bring it. He's terrified but ready.

... right, he remembers the transformation with Cu. That had been a djinn equip right there. So this glaive is Hakuryuu's. He should be expecting something like plant manipulation, then, along with a transformation of its own if things follow form.]

Oh yeah. It does help to know both vessel powers have been previously brands of magic. Hmm...

[He's been told that focusing on the connection with the Name helps to bring it out for the shinki; maybe it works that way for the God as well. He never was in vessel form often and Satya had control of hers, but he's heard that the control of them can vary. It's going to be a learning curve.]

Thinking of trying it out?

[Iskandar doesn't even stop his chuckle.]

I'm willing to provide some really strong arguments. You'll see my case is airtight.

[They're not flirting. It seems kind of inappropriate considering the situation. Iskandar feels like he's intruding on something private from the very beginning. Still, Waver wanted him here. His presence and their conversation right now helps Waver relax, so Iskandar just kicks any doubts he may have and continues. He can do the scandalizing if only it works.]

You will be fine in no time.

[Right. That. Here. That's an exaggeration. But he's never one to shy from a challenge. So is Waver. Iskandar fully intends to make absolutely sure that Waver is able to hold his ground. He's not here to win any prizes. Just not die. That's all. Easy.

...and errr...yes... wind magic. He remembers this. He remembers it very well. In vivid detail. How could he ever forget.]

Edited (messed up what he can hear and what not) 2019-07-11 15:06 (UTC)

[ This is the weirdest flirting that Judar had no choice but to hear, if it even was flirting. At this point, he couldn't tell. Just that it felt like the right reaction was to want to gag. ]

Look, if you two wanna make out, then let me turn back so I won't... Throw up, or something.

[ He wouldn't throw up, but at this point, Judar was aware that he'd feel jealous and lonely. So many people with their pairs and all that other crap that he had no chance of getting or understanding. He'll just settle for fooling around with Zhuge Liang's better looking followers. It still meant not being caught around something envying. ]

But yeah, go ahead and try for the magic. Just... Focus, and let it join with you, I guess. This is also another way to get any energy you need from me.

[Okay. They're safely past the danger point for now. And he has a teenager... being a teenager at him. Which both relieves him and flags instincts long developed as a teacher and the parent he can hardly admit to being. Okay that's enough, then.

Waver relaxes further, even as he tilts his head, because things are flowing fast and thick into him thanks to the bond and what Judar being in vessel brings and what is that feeling?]

We're not going to make out. We wouldn't do that to you. If we're ever bothering you, tell us to knock it off and we will.

[They all have their coping mechanisms, but that's going to be a cause for some worry when it comes. ... there's a hole and a desperate need for companionship and that's not an easy thing to deal with in this place, once Waver gets thinking about it later when Judar is settled in.]

Alright. I'm going to try for it now. [As he carefully points the glaive away from Iskandar and to an empty space in the garden where a lone peach in the garden has fallen off a tree and rolled across the ground. If this goes like he thinks it will, all the space in the world will help if there's an unexpected discharge of magic. Also he'll be showing off a lot of skin (and all his scarring) just like Cu did.] Let's see what happens.

[As he closes his eyes, seeking out the Name and the tether between him and his shinki for that power. There's a bright rush of mana, flowing over him and spilling into his reserves, and Waver's breath stills for a moment at the feeling of being saturated. Enough power's flowing in that he'd not only be able to make full use of his first Noble Phantasm, but to rise to the demands of the second as well. It's been a while since he's been that well fed.

He opens his eyes.

Oh... that's... about as much skin as I was expecting.

Um.]

[Iskandar moves out of the way. Just far enough to give Waver some space but close enough to react if he was needed. Which means he gets a first-row view of the outfit and it's...

oh... wow...hello, gorgeous...

That IS a lot of skin.

Don't stare. Just don't stare. Try to not to deconcentrate him. Look casual.

Iskandar takes a deep breath. This is going to be a challenge.]

[ A lot of skin, and while the frame and body is still very much Waver, it has some modifications, similar to what Cu went through. Hair, markings, a third eye and muscles. Judar may not realize how true to form he was acting for these djinn equips, but at least he couldn't be blamed for the natural flow one's eyes might want to make along the equipped look.

However, he can watch Iskander's reaction, which served as a great distraction for the huge portion of energy that was taken out. (He'd been talking about threesomes earlier, but geeze- not like this!) Nothing that wouldn't flow right back into him, but still a lot in one go. ]

Were you running that low, or are your reserves that much deeper than Cu's?

[ There was no way he could know, but he did recall the array that Waver had been talking about, back when the man had been a shinki. He should concentrate- fuck. Right. Transformation, which means to his mind, some of the energy around and inside is prepared and suited for a particular branch of magic... One that Judar isn't too personally familiar with, aside from maintaining his own health, in some ways.

He had no way of knowing that Waver was already aware, due to the memories, of the actual extent of the magic. ]

Seems like... Some style of life magic. It doesn't seem like direct healing, from what I've used of that.

[Jesus Christ, he's now ripped. Cu didn't need any help in the muscle department, but Waver definitely falls on the svelte side, even with going through the Hard School of Danger and War in the Singularities leaving him far more toned than he was before.

But do they give him a stat boost? Or are they just pretty?

... he's sneaking a glance at Iskandar to see his reaction, and UH. Yes, he's enjoying the view. A fact that is both very enjoyable and a bit distracting to Waver himself... and he's grateful that's there's a barrier between a god's thoughts and their shinki because UHHHHHH. The tips of his ears just went bright red.]

Both. I have more affinity to the Caster class than he does, so that makes a difference in our capacity.

[Or more like Zhuge Liang does and that's really the deciding factor here on the whole reserves question, not Waver's compatibility.

...

Waver chases away thoughts on that. He knows where they're leading. Not to a healthy place. Back to this type of magic.]

Hmmm. Life magic that isn't healing? Alright... hmm, I remember you wanting to experiment with the peach orchard I told you about with something along those lines in combination with a few other magics.

[He really needs to ask how that went.]

Let's see what we've got here...

[He focuses a spell on the fallen peach. Let's see if we can get a whole new tree going.]

[Bury him in the darkest depths of Tartarus, he might be a god but he hasn't stopped being a man! If you're going to be parading here half-naked, have mercy and at least give him a word of warning.

Though in all truth he should have expected something like that. It's not that different from the way Cu Chulainn looked during their famous fight. So Iskandar has only himself to blame he didn't think it would work similarly for Waver. He can't shake the feeling he's now being more of a hindrance here than help. This is really not time nor place for his mind going ... well... places.

Alright! Peaches! That's something he can focus on!

Thank the gods for the stupid trees. Alright, the trees are not stupid. They are very nice trees.

If he'd only understood anything of this magic Waver and apparently Judar were discussing he would have something to distract him. But he doesn't understand so nope, no distraction for him. Iskandar is almost certain the kid is laughing his head off in the shinki space just by looking at him and his many failed attempts to control his facial expression.

Among other things he has to control now...

So... yes... now... the trees. The trees are endlessly fascinating. A true marvel of nature.]

[ There would've been more of a stat boost, if Waver were a regular human. It brought strength up to an appropriate level, but Servants already had an enhanced amount of strength in comparison to mortals. However there was a far better benefit, given how encompassing the changes were; should ayakashi come by, they'd be met with the regalia before the actual god. Protection from blight and other substances, though the latter was more likely to affect Judar, at least blight couldn't be contracted in this form.

In an attempt to avoid the subject of the trees that Waver had told him about, Judar's awareness had decided to wander away from the peach on the ground.

... Ah. Well then. ]

Yeah, before your king jumps your bones. I don't want to know how far my awareness extends like this. Not right away.

[ The peach pit would easily germinate and continue on into a tree, if that's how it's directed. It could grow in the shape of a spike, with roots going deep as others circle around as hazardous territory, if Waver willed it that way. He could focus and target the smallest of seeds that were around, feeling the awareness and tracking it down, even half a world away. ]

[A mental chuckling sigh. Waver doesn't know whether to be exasperated or amused.]

Geez. Love him dearly, but...

[And that's when the mental reminders come in that he's just as bad. Just as bad. If it was Iskandar with his shirt off, he'd be drooling too.]

Maybe you should offer him some ice. He clearly needs to cool down some before he combusts.

[There are so many seeds in this garden. He wonders how many of them he could affect at once, but that's for another day. Right now all he's going to do is see how fine his control is over the magic right now as a baseline as he directs the peach pit to grow into the full sized version of this tree.

Huh. Not bad. Room for improvement, of course, but not bad.

Now before his lover utterly breaks...]

Alright, alright, I'll have mercy.

[Sorry, Iskandar, you are getting teased some.]

Return, Judar.

[Excuse him, that's not his fault that he's vulnerable to such sights! Maybe if Waver chose to sport similar look more often Iskandar would have a chance to develop some immunity to it.

...or not.

Most probably not. Still, he wouldn't complain. How could he ever complain?]

I must admit, the tree is impressive.

[Tease him all you want. He's just happy the whole thing didn't spiral into full despair and misery. He can handle all the teasing if that's what puts your mind at ease.]

Should I?

[ An innocent enough question, but it's not as if Waver isn't aware of Judar's specialty. He had a first hand experience quite a while ago, after all. So he let his new god get a feel for the magic, spawning a new tree in this garden that already had so many.

So when Judar reverts, he finishes returning to his true form in some comfort, by staying floating in the air. ]

It's just the beginning, too. Though you might want to cool off before that.

[ Which is about the point when snow formed above Iskander's head, about two wheelbarrow's worth. To just... let gravity take over. At least it's relatively harmless, for an interpretation of Waver's suggestion, and there was a moment's chance to get out from under the sudden avalanche. ]

Please.

[There's a mental sound of amusement. Sorry, Iskandar, Waver's in that rare mischievous mood and is going to troll some. You said you could handle all the teasing.

Pffffffffff...]

I do not know how you are going to survive the summer, love. It gets hot here. Not the kind of weather for shirts.

[Tease, tease. Also that's a promise, even if well, he's working on the gun show. Shirtless around the Temples. You haven't knocked all the shame from him yet.]

I do not need to ...

[Iskandar starts but gets interrupted by a cartload of snow landing on his head. Now that's uncalled for! Here he was complimenting your magic and that's how you thank him? He shakes as much of the snow as he can from his clothes and hair. Which is... not much as the snow in question is rapidly melting in the warm air.]

You little rascal!

[Such action requires a response. He scoops some of the snow that hasn't melted yet to make a lightly packed snowball and throws at Judar. There! That's for making fun of him. He would make a better impression of his righteous indignation if he wasn't grinning like an idiot all the way.

But he's not able to hold it much longer and bursts out laughing the moment Waver states his doubts. No weather for shirts? You'd better make good on that promise because he really would love to see that.]

Really? Says the man who wore a long-sleeve to our first trip to the beach. A black one. I think I'm going to survive just fine.

[ Judar doesn't even blink as the snowball comes straight for him. Mostly because right as it's about to get in his personal space, a shield of energy blocked it all. Hey, it's not like he needed to cool off.

Which is why he glanced over at Waver with raised eyebrows. He wasn't really the only rascal here, and was already ready to indulge with his god's moods. Mostly because it was funny. ]

... Long sleeves?

[ Judgement, slight disgust. Though it reminded him that maybe he should give a heads up to keep from people barging into... wherever he was supposed to be staying. Maybe he should go deal with that, instead of trying to figure out where all of this was supposed to go. ]

Anyway, if you're about to jump each other, I'll just go find some empty room to get my stuff to. I might need more shelves.

[ That couldn't be surprising, with the context that Waver now had. With all of Magnostadt in his head, he'd probably tried to get it all out on paper to keep from going mad while trying to get it all under control. ]

June Training

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