June Training

[priforprince]

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

Incidentally, Hibiki's temple does indeed contain an amusement park. Everyone shall be directed there first, to enjoy the roller coasters, spinny teacups, and merry-go-round to their hearts' content until all the TVs in the area switch on at once. (Should your character not be positioned by one of the many televisions scattered throughout the area, have no fear. Your maa-ttendant has just rolled away and come back with one.)

"CelePara Prince Hour!"

Hibiki's face appears on the screen. She's a decent amount of space back from the screen, for once, and seated upon her throne. There's a brilliant sun motif on the wall behind her - or is it a crown? It's both, perhaps.

"Everyone, it's been a while. Shikyoin Hibiki here. Have your hearts been astonished by the peerless excellence I've delivered to you today?"

The maa-ttendants all nod. Which is hard for robots without neck joints to do, so they rock in place on their wheeled platforms instead. Clatter, clatter. Hibiki, for her part, nods back as if she's witnessed this occurrance.

"Splendid. The three characteristics of divinity are - Majestic. Unparalleled. And...Possessing great love." A smirk. "It's as if the position exists just for me. But those of you tasked with a duty you're currently incapable of fulfilling need not despair. I've arranged a variety of beneficial exercises for gods and shinki alike. Engaging in them is best, so we can create it."

She raises an arm, as if showing everyone ascending from her beneficial guidance. "Together with me - the ultimate puniverse!"

The TVs switch off. Those closest to gods display, on a map, where the god training is. Those closest to shinki display the shinki training. All indicate the physical training and the refreshments. The refreshments seem to be.....outside? With a time marked for dinner?

Pay that no mind. It's probably fine.

God Training

Hibiki isn't at the god training, either, which is taking place in a banquet hall. And which appears to be, ah....a swanky tea party. With a sign indicating there's a sauna next door. She does, however, appear on a large TV a bevy of spygoats push into position once any new gods have entered the room. Behold!

"So-called gods, glad you could make it. Yours is the tremendous task of assisting me, the God of Fortune Apollo, to bring radiance to the scrap-heap puniverse known as the Near Shore. As satisfying your followers with anything less than a Top-Class showing is insufficient, I'll give this chance to steep in a celebrity atmosphere to you. The chosen deities require no throat-drying or sweat-inducing hardship. Open the new celeb world."

And, with that, the tea party begins. Those not wishing to enjoy the top-class light sweets or delicious first flush teas may rid themselves of their average-person cares in Hibiki's special detoxing sauna. Those seeking an example to follow may take in a movie (in a theater featuring opulent reclining seats) starring Shikyoin Hibiki, or enjoy that the Shikyoin Hibiki History Exhibit has returned for a limited time only to this wing of the temple. Learn all about her many accomplishments, and be inspired!

If you're looking for Hibiki, however.....Well. Your maa-ttendant is willing to show you the way, especially if you're a shinki or a god seeking suggestions for a matchup. But there are two obstacles to reaching her. First, you have to successfully kick a soccer ball past a spygoat goalie. Second, you have to read from a college history textbook provided by a spygoat in a pasteboard hat - and get all the kanji right.

Or you could force your way through, or raise a fuss until Hibiki emerges, but who'd conceive of that?! Clearly everything will go as Hibiki intends!

Shinki Training

The good news for the shinki in attendance- or any gods who ran away from Hibiki’s tea party to see what else is happening- is that they don’t have to further deal with Hibiki. Or being proper. Instead, everyone’s maa-tendants will guide them to a large indoor space that has been purposefully, uh, repurposed for today. As there are a lot of big extravagant rooms in Hibiki’s castle, it wasn’t very hard to change it into what is essentially the inside of an acrobatic circus. Wendy will already be waiting for everyone to arrive, seated happily on top of some push up bars. “That’s everyone, isn’t it? Alright then!”

Since there are no newcomers as far as Wendy can tell, she gladly skips over “how to shinki” issues and instead offers some quick explanations and instructions to everyone in attendance. People are more than welcome to do the usual borderline practicing, of course, and Wendy will give a quick instruction for those who somehow missed that particular lesson. But that’s the boring way, and she didn’t set up all of this to be boring. In fact, there’s a particular shinki trait that she feels not a lot of people have really utilized: the strange shared trait that they’re all extremely light and can do things like leap ridiculous distances.

So everyone will be encouraged to use the various pieces of equipment that are around. People who are unsure of themselves can use basic things such as monkey bars, low balancing beams, and the other sorts of things that they’ve seen Heaven use in their training sessions such as jumping from stump-like platforms to another. There are even some trampolines for those who want to see how high a shinki can go before their head cracks into the very high ceiling. (And an almost extravagantly large bouncy castle for the kids and kids-at-heart.) But they’re really encouraged to use things that are a little more… high skill. Such as the tightrope extended high above the ground, or the swinging trapeze set. For those who want a bit of a challenge, Wendy even has a route set up where they have to go through just about everything that’s set up in the space… while she has another person practicing throwing borderlines at them to either dodge or deflect. Also the goats might get in the way. Is that part of the training, or is that just how the goats how?

Any random god that comes in will hardly get a blink besides Wendy ushering them in with an off-handed, “Sick of the tea, huh?”

Self-Improvement Training

Those looking for something less...extreme...than Wendy's contribution will find it in Hibiki's gaming arcade, which has been newly restocked with a row of PriPara arcade machines. These machines encourage you to create a customizable character and dress them up, then perform a rhythm game with the character dancing in the background. Successful completion earns you a ticket with more clothes that can be used on your character. It seems that a sense of rhythm improves intuition, which is useful for gods and shinki alike.

Also of use to all: the ability to ad-lib with a partner in an unusual environment! Which is what anyone who ventures into this concert hall will find. It looks like there's an improv contest going on. Grab a partner and be assigned a random scenario. You now have to act out that scenario in hopes of getting perfect 10s from a row of extremely Judge-Looking spygoats (they are wearing berets and glasses, to look Artsy, except for one who got the kind of judge wrong and showed up in a powdered wig instead.)

Now, pick your chosen field of battle! No sparring prompt is required to hone one's competitive urges and divine might.

Rest and Refreshments

Anyone desiring a change of scenery, as well as everyone once the sun begins to set, will be guided out the back of the temple by their maa-ttendant. A splendid dinner table has been set out upon the pirate ship in Hibiki's backyard, and everyone has a place reserved just for them. Why, their favorite drink is already awaiting them in their glass!

Food is available from a variety of sources. For those who prefer self service, a buffet table has been laid out next to one railing, arranged with a variety of high-class, gourmet foods. Filet mignon? Caviar? Lobster? Fugu? Vegetable delicacies? All are available (though none come with instructions - do have fun with the lobster). The maa-tendants are also happy to double as waiters and fetch food, for those who prefer the full service celebrity treatment.

Those seeking a more low-key, though no less eclectic, dining experience can find it along the other side of the deck, set up on a nice table with a tablecloth and some flowers for decoration. It seems one of Hibiki's shinki has decided to grace everyone with a bountiful spread! Poke, acai bowls, salad, malasalada, chocolate macademia, strawberry mochi, and manapua are all available, with placards indicating what each dish is and any potential allergens. This entire temple devotes itself to hospitality.

Still missing, however: the host, though there's a throne awaiting her at the head of the table, a cup of tea already in place. Music is also being provided by goats in the corners, who seem to have full stereo systems hooked up where the maa-ttendants have trays. Baroque classical music recordings softly waft over the diners, lending the entire experience a distinctly elegant air.

This aura of peaceful refinement shall remain until everyone who seems inclined to go aboard has done so (the goats do seem to maa-ccomend you board, but it is not enforced - sit this out, if you wish). At that point, all goats will roll up to their gods or shinki, carrying another sign - Please take care. The music dies down. So do the lights.

And beneath everyone, the Starship PriPirates's...rocket engines...rumble to life. And a triumphant peal of laughter, high above everyone - rings out!

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~

Comments

[hypomeneo]

[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.]

[towards_okeanos]

[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.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ 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.

[hypomeneo]

[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.]

[towards_okeanos]

[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.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ 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. ]

[hypomeneo]

[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.

[towards_okeanos]

[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.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

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. ]

[hypomeneo]

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.]

[towards_okeanos]

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.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ 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. ]

[hypomeneo]

Ha! Says the man who had to keep jumping in the ocean because things kept getting too hot for him. You're doomed.

[Now he's just giving you a hard time, Iskandar. And 'lo, is that a judging teenager he detects? Yep. Waver shakes his head, amused.]

... I refused to wear that garish monstrosity they call a Hawaiian shirt.

[He also kept his scars covered as a shinki so he wasn't tempted to think of them.]

We'll behave!

... and the Temple should provide. If there's anything it seems to love, it's shelves and books to fill them with. My library keeps expanding.

[His Temple might be part Tardis. That's a thought.]

I'll have to introduce you to Eirene later. She's at training right now. Is there anything we can get you while you're settling in?

[towards_okeanos]

[Sorry, Judar. If Iskandar was aware the snow wasn't your idea he would be directing his assault at the real culprit here. As he is not he just shrugs.]

Maybe I just liked the waves? Dream on. I think I'll survive.

[That's the true challenge of being near those two. The endless stream of banter and innuendo. They're both equally hopeless. None of them would ever say anything outright mean but Waver definitely is the one with a sharper tongue.]

You two go and find him a room where he can drop his belongings. I can wait.

[All the hilarity and banter aside Iskandar haven't forgotten that it's Judar who is the important person in all of this. It seems the worst danger is behind them but it doesn't mean there are no other concerns. None of them should be life-threatening. Just the prosaic realities of installing him in a new place.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

Hawaiian...?

[ And there's the moment when disgust and realization of what those were came to mind. Disgust because Cu had them, and would proudly wear the nasty things. Judar had simply tried to forget what they were called. Still, Waver, there's better choices between long sleeve shirts and those monstrosities. ]

If it's any empty room, I could also just pick one. Ah, but before I forget-

[ Because it's something he'd definitely need Iskander for. For reasons that Waver would recall was some of his worst habits and ways of entertainment back when he lived at that castle; having his way with people that'd just let him. It's fostered similar enough activities, made easy for the charm that Judar could have. ]

Big guy, if you two are so close, it'd be fine with you if I used your shrines and stuff to get to the Near Shore too, right? I'm curious about how good some of your followers look, too.

[ It seems he'd already decided to fool around with Waver's followers. ]

[towards_okeanos]

Unless you plan on using the passage for something illegal, sure you can.

[Now, the mention of his good looking followers gets a raised eyebrow.]

But don't mess with my people. Fair warning. I will know if you did and I will be extremely displeased shall anything ... unfortunate happen to them.

[That's what called boundaries around here, kid. Iskandar is usually friendly but he's also very protective of those he considers his own. You don't want to get on his bad side.]

You want to bang consenting ladies or gentlemen? Go ahead. But there will be no mind tricks, no breaking of marriages or seducing underage girls. Or boys for that matter.

[Yes, several of his followers are extremely good looking. Nerdy but good looking. Then there are the thugs from the dojo... they're ... well, they are not bad? If you happen to like that type?]

[kuroi_taiyo]

What counts for underage?

[ Judar's not even sure where he counts, not having reached a fully adult development, in that zone where 16 and 19 can look so similar. In fact, his only difference between those years was the matter of height. It's a completely genuine question in this case. Not that it's dissuaded his typical recreation that he's had since those kinds of urges first developed in his life. ]

It's not like I'm going out with the idea of manipulating people or breaking things. Just sex with those that're hot and have the right kind of presence about them. Which is usually those around my age or older.

[ Something powerful, strong, or charismatic in a way that made the person stand out among some others. Physically attractive was just the first thing he went for. ]

So it'd be fine, right?

[towards_okeanos]

Your age or older is fine.

[He started early himself. He can understand. But charismatic you say? He could think of a couple of those. The guild leader is obviously out of the question. She prefers girls anyway. Sorry Judar, you're cute but not nearly cure enough. Iskandar is her only guy-crush. Though that's probably more of hero worship that actual crush.]

I'm not against you having fun. Or them. I am just personally interested in their safety and well-being. That is all.

[hypomeneo]

[... hang on, he's getting a bit distracted by all these new emotions hitting hi--

errrrr... wut?

Waver makes a face.

... right, that. The sex. Where on the teenager scale is he going to place that? Above Caules' internet porn, below Flat's everything. This is revenge for all the banter and innuendo, isn't it?

... oh the bond would kinda... work... that way too. He's seen how he could drag Iskandar under while shinki. That is going to be interesting. Not that he's going to deny Judar that, but... boundaries, now that it's come up. Waver massages his temples and clears his throat.]

Oi.

I'm sure you've already guessed, but essentially the same rules and concerns here for the record. No underage, nothing illegal, give me some sort of heads up when you're heading out for fun... common sense stuff. Please don't get eaten alive by the geiko. Otherwise have a good time.

[Listen, the geiko make their living entertaining and are quite used to things like that. They're not the sort of people that easily succumb to those kind of charms.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ It couldn't be so surprising that it went this route. In Judar's memories, his lewd recreation through the castle had continued up until the point that he'd learned the truth of his history. That's what it took for the young magi to get more serious about what was happening, and in making a change.

Of course, it was possible that Waver was thankfully spared from those truths of the teen's history. ]

Geiko...? So they have those connected to your temples, too?

[ They were a little too old fashioned, compared to the other activities that were around in the near shore, but they did offer some challenge. Ah, but why does it seem like those wrinkles are twisting up into knots? Cu threw things or smacked him when the emotions bothered him, but it was rare, and Izumo rarely touched upon it. So the bond wasn't really coming to mind, for all his thoughts of mischief. ]

Man, you already look ready to go for a drink. Regretting things so soon?

[hypomeneo]

They're some of my more surprising followers.

[Really surprising. Geiko tend to be traditionalists in everything. Including worship. But there's a few progressives even in Gion and it's not like the Japanese haven't taken Taoist deities as their own before.

He shakes his head and shrugs. Now that he's had a minute for things to sink in.]

I'm an adult. I can deal with things like that on the bond. That just caught me by surprise, honestly. Though given all my students over the years...

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar chuckles.]

Boy, you have no idea...

[Iskandar wasn't as surprised as Waver that those who perfected the art of companionship will seek aid from a Taoist deity with a particular set of skills.
There was nothing on that level of refinement in Greek tradition but the style and the culture was not that alien to him. Iskandar is sure that Waver's geiko followers would find kindred spirits in the court ladies of Babylon.

Asian lionesses every single one of them.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

... You're a tutor.

[ Teacher would be accurate, but Judar's context put it in that term better. Either way it had that expected and judging teenage expression, wondering about his decisions (though there wasn't actual regret. Just passing reactions.) Given the purposefully false things he'd been taught, it's no surprise that Judar didn't have the best opinion of that occupation. ]

But yeah, I've got no idea for now, but I will soon enough. Maybe tomorrow, so I've had a chance to put all my shit away. It'll give Frown Lines a chance to get ready for his side, too.

[ The idea of them being lionesses is far from dissuading. Rather, it sounds even more like fun. ]

[hypomeneo]

Hm. I'm a lot of things. Including that.

[... yeah, that's going to have to take work. He unhappily knows where it comes from. However, as reactions go, it's hardly the worst.

Oh god, this kid's done for. R I P, Judar, your god warned you.]

Brilliant.

Right, you should get settled in. I'm going to check to see what I have on hand for food and supplies, and we can deal with any necessary shopping later.

[Sigh.]

... can already tell we'll need more bloody shampoo.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Ew. Tutor among other things. ]

Tch. As if I'd be the only one going through it.

[ At least he knows magic to maintain it all a lot easier! Hmph. Every time, there's a joke with getting more shampoo. ]

And who cares about the food stuff? It's not like I eat much to begin with, and shinki are already dead. It's not all that necessary... I can just eat the peaches, if anything.

[ Plus he can use magic to supplement things. Using magic as a supplement is a common feature for him, of course. Instead of letting that turn into a subject, however, he waves the air a bit before heading for the temple to find a place. ]