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Entry tags:
- !event,
- *npc: cyrus,
- arcane: silco,
- arcane: vander,
- black butler: sebastian michaelis,
- ennead: set,
- expanse (the): amos burton,
- final fantasy xiv: cid garlond,
- final fantasy xiv: emet-selch,
- final fantasy xiv: hythlodaeus,
- genshin impact: kaeya alberich,
- granblue fantasy: eustace,
- mortal kombat 11: shang tsung,
- oc: liem talbott,
- orv: sooyoung han,
- persona 5 strikers: sophia,
- tiger & bunny: barnaby brooks jr.,
- until death do us part: mamoru hijikata
TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉
Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.
Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.
This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this happens sometimes, since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They’re fine and may even return to Kenos one day, but for now weren’t able to make the full journey.
As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!
For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!
New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!
When they emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!
At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post, since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision in which Faction they'd be drawn to.
New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.
Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈
Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!
General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.
CODING
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment
I. BEARING FRUIT (new characters only)
It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
And then, it goes wrong.
The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.
So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—
You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.
I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.
The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.
From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.
And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.
II. MORAL HAZARD
There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.
Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.
Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.
LET'S PLAY A GAME...
As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.
- Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
- Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
- Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
- Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.
This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…
When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.
III. DREAMING OF HOME
You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.
As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.
Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.
And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!
CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE
Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.
Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.
That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.
To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.
III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος
After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.
Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.
IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы
Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.
Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥
NOTES
no subject
Matsui apparently has nothing to say one way or another about three Japanese teenagers being coincidental, only humming lightly. As for the rest:]
I am used to the year that I hail from being much farther ahead than most.
[Y'know, considering [redacted] happened in his world and all. Also the whole time traveling schtick - you're always years and years ahead of everyone you talk to, then!]
Still, things aren't so different then, I think... At least where I live. I would go so far as to say that many of your time might consider our way of living quite rustic.
no subject
I do know someone who came from a world with technology advanced enough to enable space travel, but we never talked about what year he was from. I wonder what we could potentially find out from a proper census of the Shard Bearers, but it would probably be difficult to have everyone answer. There's no telling if the data would be any useful, either.
[She's happy to motor right along as if this was any other ordinary topic, and nods at his commentary.]
Really? I like rustic myself, haha. But whether there's magic or technology, in the distant past or future... Living is living, and this place is a good example of it. Have you ever seen a city as busy and lively as this? We must've passed by several dozen shops by now, but the bathhouse is coming up! The style of the buildings are shifting too, it's looking more Eastern in this area, right?
[The section they were in before with the clothing shop looked more Western, now the walls and roofs are looking decidedly more Chinese. She's staying vague because she's frankly not that cultured herself, but this much is probably safe and polite to say? Yeah... Yeah!!]
no subject
If not useful, it would at least be interesting, I would think.
[But he's not the type to organize things like that, so he just lets curiosity lie where it wants and carries right along, too. LIVING IS LIVING... Well. It's not like she's wrong.
At the mention of the change in scenery, he blinks, glancing around.]
--Ah. It certainly does have a more familiar feeling here. [Compared to Roman things, at least, even if it's not exactly what he's used to. At one or two points, he'll slow down a bit, like he wants to stop and look at something more closely - but he never does. Once he spots the bathhouse ahead:]
Is that it?
no subject
Right? Language is quirky here too, come to think of it. We can speak Japanese and other languages from our home worlds if we focus, but otherwise, it's almost as if there's a magical filter in place that makes us understand each other instantly without effort. If this is happening for our spoken words, goodness knows what else may be affected just from being here?
[She's trailing off, but it doesn't mean her attention span is just as flighty. The way he's looking around but not getting sidetracked... A mission-focused type? Seems like a plausible theory! Then she'll be polite and not ask, at least for now. Gotta get him his bath first, especially if this hypothesis is true!]
Yes, that one. You have a good eye! [The building blends in pretty well with everything else around it, though there is a sign hung up too by the front entrance, albeit with somewhat small font.] --Oh, I have an idea. I'll have to speak to the receptionist, but before that, may I ask if you would be comfortable with showing your Shard? It's the gem-like crystal you should have woken up with that's somewhere on your body right now.
[A beat.]
Have you been explained its significance, by the way?
no subject
...I suppose it isn't a surprise, given what else they seem to be capable of here.
[Weird, though. Damn. BUT AWAY THEY GOOO to the neatly tucked-away bathhouse. At the question, his head cants to the side a little.]
I have heard of it, yes. [Perhaps he'd be more weirded out if he wasn't already used to basically carrying his "true being" in another, separate form anyway.] I wouldn't mind showing it. May I ask what your idea is...?
no subject
[She may be glossing over it too lightly, but it's not like they can do anything about it anyway, so!
Straightening herself but keeping her easy demeanor, she'll start slowing her pace as they gradually get closer to the bath house.]
It's not uncommon knowledge that a new group of Shard Bearers have awoken at the Tree of Life, and both factions are very interested in having us join up with them. There shouldn't be any Meridian officials at the bath house, at least not unless we run into someone from Heliopolis on their break or something... But if you show proof of being a Bearer, maybe they'd let you clean up free of charge and could explain to you their perspective as Meris? You'd want to look around and learn more about both factions before you make up your mind anyway, right?
[Especially if he's the planner type... But yes, she looks to him expectantly after she explains herself. It's sensible enough of a pitch, maybe?]
no subject
I see. It's not an unreasonable assumption to make... I will give it a try, then, and see what comes of it. True enough, it would be a net benefit to me regardless. There is still much about both sides that I wish to know more about.
[Even though, for Complex Sword Reasons (sweasons), he ultimately knows which side he'll... more or less have to err toward.]
no subject
Okay, then let's try that! Here we are.
[And almost as if on cue, they reach the front of the building. The double sided doors are open, and while the lobby area looks small, it does appear well-maintained. Smiling to him with a tilt of her head, Ciel doesn't hesitate as she leads the way in and makes straight for the counter. The receptionist is a woman with pointy, elven-like ears, and she's wearing what looks like a (strange but functional) fusion between Japanese kimono and Roman toga. She bows politely towards them both at their entry, though she probably can't be blamed for lingering her gaze longer on Matsui who definitely looks like he can use a bath.]
Good day, ma'am! We're here on behalf of my companion.
[Does that work as an icebreaker? :>]
no subject
Still, he'll take a step forward once the cue is given, dipping his head into a little bow of greeting.]
Good day. I have gone through an unpleasant birth into this new world and would like to clean myself up a bit, but I don't yet have any lodging or currency. If you're amenable to a trade, I would be glad to listen to your faction's reason for supporting this side in exchange for access to bathwater. Even just a few minutes would be fine.
[Well. At least he's to the point...]
no subject
The interior looks a bit cramped, but straightforward: the reception desk is by the left wall at the front, behind it is a waiting/rest area with wooden chairs, a wooden couch, and a tiny shop counter that seems to peddle drinks and snacks. At the back of the room is another double-sided doors, they're closed and seem to lead to the changing area/baths proper. Seems like this is primarily a public and open mixed bath, one very much of convenience over luxury in form and function alike.
The elven eared receptionist gives another glance to Ciel, then looks at Matsui again, and finally nods.]
I see, that explains it. Yes, Springstar has become more lively of late with the newest generation of Shard Bearers' awakening, there's been a lot of speculation about what your lot will do. [Saying that, she unfolds a paper fan seemingly out of nowhere and hides her mouth behind it. Lady...]
The officials at Heliopolis would be more than willing to give you a stipend and temporary housing in exchange for considering us Meris, sir, but here, we are but a humble, small, and public bathhouse. Yes, we are amenable to bartering, but you will have to trade something else for the use of our services, dear customer.
[Ciel glances curiously at them both, but doesn't say anything. Thankfully (?), the receptionist lady's (semi-dramatic) pause doesn't last long.]
For every five minutes spent in our baths, you will have to answer one question from me--each. Well?
[That has Ciel blinking once. Huh? Oh, she's getting roped into this too...]
--I don't mind! How does that sound to you?
[They weren't kidding when they say Springstar does a lot of bartering...]
no subject
That said, he sure didn't expect Ciel to get roped in... He glances her way, brow furrowing minutely.]
You don't mind? [The tone is very "are you sure?", but... Well. Considering she's already given the go-ahead, he'll glance back toward the elven-eared lady and her fancy little Fan Of Mystery. After a second, he inclines his head forward just slightly.]
I will also agree to these terms, then, if my companion is amenable.
[Good thing he isn't one of the swords with ten thousand pounds of hair to wash...]
no subject
Matsui gets an easy and chipper smile back with a few nods as response, it's fine, it's fine! Ciel is NOT going to throw out loud anything silly like what's the worst we could get asked, that's just begging for disaster. The possibility isn't lost on her however, though she has a feeling that they should mostly be easy and harmless, whatever questions the receptionist has in mind for them. Now whether her intuition is good or not, that's a different matter...]
Good, good~ Then take this and go through the door in the back, we're always happy to do business with Bearers.
[He's handed a bamboo tag with the number 6 etched on it, and uhhh I'm not gonna look up and describe proper bathhouse structuring and etiquette pls understand, basically THINGS ARE COMPACT HERE and very potentially arranged in a fire hazard-esque manner, but it's still functional, no problem!! So go clean up, don't sweat the details! But also Matsui will find the dirty clothes he left behind magically cleaned (literally!!) by the time he's done, so this may serendipitous solve his need for new clothes, at least for now?
How long does he take...]
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Thank you.
[He'll take the tag, dip his head toward the receptionist, turn and do the same toward Ciel, and then mosey on outta there. BYEEE.
But not forever because he's not enough of an asshole to dip, and also not forthcoming enough to spend too much time cleaning up. He will emerge in his shiny clean clothes exactly 15 minutes later, having spent 11 of those speedrunning getting gunk out of his hair and trying to wash his shellshock down the drain to no avail. He'd already passed the two question mark after ten minutes, so he decided to take his time toweling off and changing back into his magic clean clothes. An even three questions... That should be fine, right??
Once he's back out, he peers around, looking for Ciel first and the receptionist second. He's nice and clean and no longer smells like compost! He still behaves in the exact same alien way!]
I've finished...
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Once Matsui is done and out, he'll find Ciel and Receptionist Lady chatting away pleasantly making small talk. They seem to be getting along well for better or worse, and at his reappearance, Ciel turns to give him a small wave. Receptionist lady just shakes her fan Mysteriously in greeting, how Mysterious...]
Welcome back, Matsui! That was impressively quick. It also means... You get to ask three questions total and get six answers back combined from us both, right ma'am?
Yes, indeed.
[Snapping her fan shut, she tucks it away in her sleeve and smiles Purposefully at them.]
Now then, let us not dally any further and begin. Question number one, Bearers:
[...Dramatic pause...]
What's your favourite food?
[Ciel just freezes for a second with her smile.
Huh, that's it?]Curry!
[It comes out automatically after the aforementioned second has passed, no hesitation or thought involved at all. Well, it WAS a simple and innocuous question, so easily asked, easily answered? What about the nice and clean sord with Alien Ways...]
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Matsui will make his way over, offering another little inclination of his head in polite greeting. QUESTION TIME...
Easymode question time?? Huh. If he's surprised by how easy ("easy") this first question seems to be, it doesn't show outwardly. Instead, he just turns his attention to Ciel first, before looking back toward the fan-wielding mystery lady.]
I cannot say that I have one. [On account of the fact that he's tried very little food in general...] But I've found carrots to be palatable.
[The completely normal answer of "ah yes my favorite food is carrots".]
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They both just Stare at him. Yeah ngl, this is WAY stranger than randomly talking about blood tbh. The receptionist lady narrows her eyes, Ciel just blinks again.
Carrots are palatable, he says. Ciel isn't judging, but that's her first real cue about how this guy may not be human human...
THAT IS! Easymode as it may be, that the question is so straightforward and simple is also precisely why there's very low odds of them lying. So after a brief moment of silence, the lady does speak again.]
I see. Fine. ["Fine", she says.]
Onto the second: what's your favourite hobby?
[Huh, there's kind of an emerging pattern here, isn't there? Ciel falls in deep thought and is taking a moment to mull this over, what about Completely Normal Not An Alien Living Organism Matsui Gou,]
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Ah - I enjoy singing and dancing, so I would say one of the two... Singing a bit more than dancing, I think.
[A STARK CONTRAST TO HIS ALIEN CARROTS ANSWER. It's much weirder when put in the context of "I'm a full-time sword warrior, part-time time traveling idol", but hey, it's fine. He'll leave that part off to maximize how normal he sounds.
Politely, he glances toward Ciel after speaking, waiting with a genuine sort of curiosity to hear what her answer may be.]
1/2
MAYBE CIEL WILL ASK HIM ABOUT IT LATER...
At least this time, the receptionist lady's eyes seem to light up at his answer.]
Ohoho, interesting...
[So he's made up for before, at least?? And as her gaze expectantly slides over to his companion--]
I like a lot of things! But if I had to narrow them down, baking and tinkering!
[Ciel sure started out with a cop-out, which has the front desk lady's eyes briefly narrow, but at least she continued on? With two... seemingly very UNrelated things, but whatever, it sounds normal enough! With a hum of approval, the receptionist lady briefly closes her eyes with a nod towards them both.]
I look forward to the both of you allowing your passions to bloom on Kenos, dear Bearers, so that all our lives here may be richer and more fulfilled for it. Now then, onto the last question.
[The fan flaps.]
2/2
[...hm, she's serious, and Ciel blinks blankly in turn,]
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But it's okay, he's so distracted by her reaction to this lady's final question that he doesn't think to press about her answer. Not that he would have anyway, really. Instead, he just looks between Ciel and her blank stare, and this lady with her kind final words and apparently unwelcome last question.
After a few seconds, with Ciel not answering, Matsui will just look back toward the lady and ask what is probably an expected question.]
My type of what?
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The lady looks Smug and Does Not Elaborate, she seems keen on letting them figure it out on their own. Rendered more than a little helpless, Ciel can only glance back at Matsui somewhat awkwardly, but after witnessing his open confusion, gives a small sigh in what almost sounds like defeat.]
As in like... [clears her throat,] the type of person you like, I imagine?
Now that's more like it, yes! And not just as a platonic friend either, but someone you would find attractive, take out on dates, and maybe spend the rest of your lives together with... Fun things like that. Understood, now~?
[if u catch her drift, is what her wriggling eyebrows also seem to say.
. . .]
A... Um. Someone kind and reasonable...?
[Don't mind how reluctant she sounds. It's their hole to dig together, apparently!!]
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For now, Matsui's just like "ah" internally, because now He Gets It. Humans and human-adjacent things do care so much about these matters for whatever reason... Weird! "Kind and reasonable" is also hilariously vague, but Matsui just gives a little nod after she responds as if to pass over a little support. Life's hard when you gotta answer awkward questions.
He'll turn to face this poor receptionist again after Ciel speaks. While he could just as easily say "I haven't considered it before" or "I don't have a 'type'" and have that be an honest answer, he gets the feeling he'll just be given another Look for that... So instead:]
Someone who enjoys physical activities, particularly jogging, but also likes to ride motorcycles and horses because they move quickly, too. Very physically fit, always laughing and smiling, knows exactly what to say and when to say it. Oblivious but charming.
[He's just describing Buzen help.]
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in a heterosexual (citation needed) life partner!]Oho, how eloquent.
[The receptionist lady is taking notes. When did she pull out a notepad and a pen??? No one knows. It is simply fact that she's set aside her fan and traded it for a pen, and has now taken notes of what's presumably Matsui's very normal elaborations.]
Both of you had your highs and lows, but you ended up covering for each other passably enough. That is your payment settled, thank you kindly for your patronage of our humble establishment.
[Setting down her pen, she picks back up her fan to hide her mouth behind again. Tbh Matsui could've bathed for as long a he liked free in Heliopolis upon revelation of his Bearer status, but they chose to come here, so they
got personal information swindledhad to do business on the house's terms. Simple as, yep yep! Totally fair, right? So despite the shitty answers here and there, 6 answers was still a pretty great deal.In the reception lady's opinion, anyway. The Bearers in question can stay blissfully ignorant~
Or just Confused, as it is in Ciel's case. She's frowning a little, but also this is kind of a relief? Are they... done done,]
Ah... Please don't mention it, and thank you, ma'am. [...] That should be all, then?
[She glances back at Matsui. Are we done... unsure,]
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Matsui doesn't seem perturbed by the fact that this weirdass lady has pulled a pen and notepad out of nowhere and seems to be documenting their information as though it's actually valuable. Honestly, good for her, she's got that grift finesse.]
Thank you for allowing us use of your facilities.
[He'll dip his head politely, gently keeping to himself the thought that he will almost certainly not come back to this place in the future. He's still grateful to not be sticky and covered in dirt anymore...
But he'll turn back to Ciel after that! They're done here! He's declaring them done!!]
We will take our leave now.
[He really did just say "WE'RE DONE" and now he's turning to head back out the door??? BYE LADY, APPARENTLY. He'll wait at the threshold for Ciel to join him on his way out, though.]