vatheon | (no subject)

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Who: Peony IX, you~~, that cute girl, and that one...~~
Where: Plaza
When: Early evening
Status: Open
Style: Anything goes?

Peony was not unfamiliar with large bodies of water, or with accidents involving it. Being that his capital city was surrounded by the sea and in fact the sea passed through the barrier and alongside Grand Chokmah's streets--which were more like bridges as a result--there was always the occasional seaspray or accident that meant someone was getting soaked. It was more where he was that proved strange. Well, it helped that it looked like he was under the sea instead of on it. He paused in his steps to tilt his head back, towel falling from his head only to be pulled over his shoulders. Just to make sure it hadn't just been a bad fall and he'd been seeing things.

Nope, still underwater.

Damn.

To be honest, he'd mostly been wandering in a circle. Pacing, in a way, to help him think. He'd spoken to a few of the shop owners, but Peony only drew the conclusion that this was all pretty crazy. This place--Vatheon, they'd called it--had to have some kind of Fonic barrier to keep the water from flooding everything. He'd mentioned the word, but gotten no sign that anyone had ever heard it before. That was mainly why it was pretty crazy. Unless you were sheltered (which, he admitted, could and did happen), you'd have to know what fonons were and possess a general understanding of how they're used in day-to-day technologies.

At some point during this walk, just before his current state of pause, he'd taken off his sandals. The squelching noise wasn't helping him think at all. It was actually pretty distracting because of how ridiculous it sounded, and the part of him that still acted like a child kept laughing at it. He held them in his left hand now, ring and little finger hooked through straps on either. The befuddled monarch pulled his towel back up over his head like a hood, wringing his hair while it was covered; he needed to do something about this. Was there anyone higher up he could speak to? A ruler? But all he found was a cluster of coral, which he hadn't realized he'd stopped so close to. Grimacing slightly, brows drawn together and upward, Peony couldn't help a small chuckle.

"Well, if anything's going to rule an underwater city, you're the best candidate." As if it could hear him. Coral wasn't alive in the sense that humans were, after all. They were everywhere though, as he recalled from books he hadn't touched in years, and this batch seemed no different.

One of the few comforts of this place was bits of what he could see were vaguely reminiscent of Grand Chokmah (if just underwater). It eased the stress of his bemusement some if only because it gave him some hope that maybe he wasn't so lost as he thought he was. This probably unintentionally made things harder by thinking this way, but he'd deal with it for now; he needed the calm. After all, answers with any real substance would make everything that much easier to digest, even if he was wrong. He'd have something else to fall back on that wasn't just confusion of the highest caliber, but in the meantime he wouldn't be panicking. ...It made sense to him, somehow.

With a heavy sigh, he turned his attention away from the glowing mass and cast his gaze out upon the shops again. He hadn't thought to ask anyone who wasn't a shop owner, just yet... Maybe that's what he should try. If he ran into a tourist, then oops. Next person. This in mind, Peony strode away from the coral to find someone else to ask. Someone who looked like they might know enough to answer his questions, anyway. Er. Well.

Okay. First person he got to!

"Hey, I was wondering if you could tell me something about this place. Where it is, if everyone gets here without knowing how and catches cold as a result, that kind of thing."

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[Before arriving in Vatheon, her reaction to his flirtatious manner would have been irritation. Now, it reminds her of Zelos - and he's practically family! She just smiles and places a hand on his arm politely.]

It's right this way. My name is Zelda, by the way. It's good to meet you.

[The Welcome Center isn't far from where new people arrive. It's quite a convenient location, really.]

There's a shower in here if you would like to use it. I can take care of your clothes while you get cleaned up.

[ Well, it's good that he's not so irritating to her! Granted, irritation would just mean that he'd act his age, buuuut that's no fun. He flashes her a grin. ]

I appreciate this, Miss Zelda.

[ And... let's... just spare everyone the length. ]

I'm Peony; I'm glad to meet someone like you upon arriving here.

[ Though it's a wonder how he missed the place; must have been walking into a circle too much. Huh. Thinking too much--that's a new one. ]

I'd also really appreciate that. My city's on the sea, but there's only so much sea water a guy can handle, you know?

[Peony sounds like a girl's name, but she doesn't comment on it out loud.]

Indeed. And it's no trouble, really. We have to stick together down here, hmm?

[The princess picks up one of the brochures for him to look at and a fresh towel, directing him to the bathroom.]

Just leave your clothing outside the door, I will tend to it.

[ He'd probably just think it's amusing, really... and ask what her opinion of names like "Jade" and "Saphir" was. ]

Well, I'm grateful anyway.

[ His tone remains light as he speaks, and he takes the brochure and towel as he flashes her a grin. ]

I'll do that.

[ But before he darts off to take care of that, Peony shifts everything to one hand, using the other to carefully bring the back of hers to his lips as he bends at the waist. Lips barely brush the back of her hand, and he straightens up before releasing that gentle hold. Aaaand... then he's off! ]

[And just a split second too fast for her to pinch his nose for it! She's amused. Being kissed on the hand, at least, is behavior she's familiar with. Zelda moves to put on a pot of tea while he gets cleaned up, waiting for a wet "plop" to announce that his clothes are ready to be de-salted.]

[He's pretty slick like that~ Kissing a lady's hand is also fairly standard, though he's usually not close enough to whomever he's speaking to for it to be something he engages in. She gets that "plop", and his bracelets and things join it a little off to the side and on top of that first towel. Hello, hot water, how are you?]

[The clothing is whisked away and washed of the salt. Once that's out, it's a simple matter for Zelda to wick the moisture away with a spell. She folds everything neatly and places it outside the door, likely over finishing up the tea by the time he's done with his shower. Unless he takes an inordinate amount of time - in that case she's tracked down some sandwiches, too.]

[Weeeell, he might take a little longer than expected, but that's to work out the tension that built up between his shoulders from the whole process of arriving. Having forgotten they'd need drying until he'd shut off the water, and cracking open the door, he'd nearly turned around and picked up where he'd left off. Except she'd already laid out his clothes by then. When he's out and dressed, the towel remains on his head even as he walks out, slipping accessories on his wrists and placing his sandals back on his feet. Some things are stowed away in a nicely concealed pocket under the wrap about his waist, but all-in-all, he's pretty impressed the clothing's done so quickly.]

Now, I have to ask--did you use the third or fifth fonon to dry these? The girls have done some quick work with laundry before, back at the palace, but never this fast.

[She's taking a pot of chamomile tea over to the little sitting area when he asks her a question. Fonons? She hasn't heard of them before. Maybe it was like mana? Her ears perk up curiously.]

What is a fonon? If you're asking if I used a spell, then yes; I did. I just drew the moisture from your clothing. It doesn't do much for the salt though, so they did require a little washing at least.

[And that's actually the first time he notices her ears. Whether due to the lingering disorientation of being some new place with no explanation or not, he's simply been oblivious to their presence until just now. It might also be the mind trying to keep things as logical as it can. Her answer, however, is a bit strange to him. How can you use magic without knowing what fonons are? It's all fonon manipulation...]

You used an arte without using fonons or...? That just shook up my worldview, have to admit.

[He laughs a little, and it's an easy sound but it's still pretty evident he's confused.]>

Wonder what Jade would make of that.

Artes? There are a few people here that refer to magic as artes. Perhaps there are people here from your world, then. Vatheon pulls people from different times and worlds, so what is true in your world may not be in mine.

[Zelda takes out her SFC, now looking like a cell phone. It takes her a minute to pull up the residency list with the new layout, but she finally manages it and holds it out to Peony.]

You should have something like this with you, everyone does when they arrive. I know the brochure said "starfish", but they changed forms recently. This here is a list of all the foreigners in the city. It's not too long, why don't you see if there's anyone you know?

My world?

[The phrasing gives him pause, and his confusion escalates. And again when time is brought into the picture. Time flows in one direction, doesn't it? What... That doesn't make any sense at all to him, but he's not the science-y person of his posse, so it's probably not unexpected. Brows knit together some as he peers down at the device Zelda holds now in her hands and tries to distract himself with it.]

I can't say I remember that, but I was a bit of a zombie, just now. Might be that I just wasn't paying attention...

[Good job, Your Majesty. A magnificent example of Malkuthian royalty, comes a drawling voice in his head. It would chose that as its example, wouldn't it? Peony masks the small smirk that tries to form, instead keeping his attention on Zelda.]

If I can figure it out, that is. How does this even...?

[Confusion gives way to some mild degree of frustration; he doesn't like being in a situation he can't make heads or tails of, and it's slowly becoming evident. Stressssss.]

[When someone gets upset, it's Zelda's first instinct to help them. She takes the device back from Peony and scrolls the screen slowly with her thumbs, standing close enough for him to read it. At least the translation spell over Vatheon (or she thought of it as a spell, at least) would allow him to read it.]

You can move the list like this. Is there anyone in particular you are looking for? If you have their name, I can just look them up for you.

[By this time, chances are she's gotten to the "C"'s with "Guy Cecil" and "Jade Curtiss" both listed.]

[He's usually pretty good at keeping his level of displeasure with situations fairly concealed unless they're things that matter. Like war and politics and crazy maestros and all that. As Zelda takes back the device, a weak grin forms on his lips. Yeah, that obvious, right? Haha...]

I can give you a host of names, but some of them are a mouthful. Standard nobility naming, but I don't know if they'd fit on that... Wait.

[As Guy's name slips up toward the top of the screen and Jade's comes into view, the expression on his face turns more genuine.]

Well that could be a good or bad thing.

It's not an enemy of yours, is it?

[Judging from the concerned look on Zelda's face, that is a real possiblity. Things are always more awkward when you're stuck in an underwater bubble with a mortal enemy!]

Even if it is, we try to live together peacefully here. We foreigners have to depend on each other, after all.

[He laughs, setting a reassuring hand on Zelda's shoulder. Nothing to worry about, really.]

Guy Cecil, no, no. He's a good man. And Jade Curtiss? Hardly an enemy, but if he's here, then he's not back home. And he always does make such a fuss about his work.

[Peony's hand lifts to curve against his chin, pondering; he's not sure how many people Zelda knows that he does, nor how many people he knows are actually here.]

That's good, though. Cooperation in an unknown situation is the key to getting out of it, too.

[There seems to be recognition in her eyes at both names. She smiles.]

No time will pass on your homeworld while you are here in Vatheon, the whole area seems to be one large temporal abnormality. Jade and Guy are both aware of that fact, so I doubt either of them are fretting too terribly. You can relax somewhat as well.

[Peony, you might want to run away. Zelda's getting out her notebook, she's going to explain things.]

[And relief visibly surges through him. Good. Good. It's awfully difficult to run a country when you aren't there to actually do it. Not to mention panicky court and possible issues arising between Malkuth and Kimlasca would really not be all that conducive to anything remotely nearing the word "good". Which his mind just keeps repeating until it shifts to spoken word.]

Good. Good, that's... That is great. Well, then Gailardia must be entertaining himself with whatever technological gadgets there are available to him. As for Jade, I'm sure he's as uncute as ever.

[Nope! He's happy to have things explained. He'll just, uh. Run away if it goes on too long.]

[The hand going for the notebook pauses. Zelda looks faintly amused.]

...Gailardia? Is that Guy's name?

[That's such a pretty name! It sounds like a flower, though. No wonder Guy hadn't given his full name before. But oh, she's tempted to call him that regardless. Maybe he wouldn't mind terribly as long as she didn't tease too much.]

[Blond brows lift a little as lips curl in what might be a sheepish way, if not for the fact that amusement overpowers it easily. And floral names really aren't that unusual among Malkuthian nobility.]

He's probably used to "Guy" at this point.

[Not like Peony's going to stop her from calling him that.]

But it's such a lovely name! Do you think he hates it terribly?

[Clearly she wants to call him Gailardia, don't crush her dreams Peony. Knowing a man named Peony is fabulous enough, knowing another called Gailardia? It's like having a garden! ~~Only filled with men. Wait. That sounds bad.~~]

That, I'm not sure of. I wouldn't think so, but if he does get upset over it, don't tell him I told you.

[Because the result might be amusing. Oh, poor Guy. Also, clearly flowers are the best names? Oh, wait until she learns the entirety of noble naming schemes...]

No? Oh, very well.

[She moves to pick up one of the brochures, handing it to Peony.]

This covers the basics of this place. It is a little outdated as we don't have the fairies anymore and our starfish communicators changed form recently, but you'll get the idea. I am happy to answer any questions you may have, or you can ask Jade or Guy.

[Either way he'll be asking Guy. Guy, explain.]

[Taking the brochure in hand, he skims it over as he listens to her explain.]

What would you say the best way to start is? Other than getting cleaned up and figuring out what this place is about?

[He wiggles the brochure at that, just to indicate that it was addressed. And yes, Guy will be getting most of the questions. Undoubtedly. Because he's Guy.]

Choosing a place to live while you're here helps. I chose a location near the library, personally.

[Spoilers: she didn't leave the place for a week after first arriving.]

This place has a great many cultures, after all. I was looking things up all the time at first!

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