vatheon | (no subject)

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."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Long enough to make a difference.

[At the motion and offer, hands dart up for the towel. He really does need to get out of these.]

I'll gladly take you up on that.

Hardly. I've been gathering information at best.

[At the acceptance of his offer, Jade began to walk in a direction, hands in his pockets.]

Thankfully there's some to be had. Unfortunately, it comes somewhat vague.

[Rubbing the towel over his head again, Peony followed after, still barefoot. Vague information--he'd gotten that from the shop owners, too.]

So I noticed. At least you haven't been idle. I'm sure that would have made this place unbearable for you.

[A grin as it's said.]

I wouldn't have been able to just sit by and wait around for a solution to appear.

[Jade arrived at a large building and went in, leading Peony to an elevator that took them to the top floor. Jade wandered down a hallway and to his apartment number. He unlocked it and headed inside, revealing a neat little cozy apartment.]

The bathroom is down the hall, you can use the robe until your clothes are dry.

I'd start wondering if you were sick, if you had.

[Dropping his sandals just inside the door once they got in, Peony glanced about to take in Jade's current abode. Being used to probably unnecessarily expansive rooms by this point in life, Peony wasn't sure it was particularly large--but then it was multiple packed into one. But clean, as per its owner's nature. He started in the direction Jade indicated, already pulling at metal and fabric before he reached the door. Nothing major, just outer layers and accoutrements.

Pausing with one hand on the door, Peony twisted back to face Jade.]

Where do you want me to put these in the meantime?

No sickness here, fortunately~

[Jade had headed for the adjoined kitchen when he heard Peony's voice.]

Place them in the room next to the bathroom and I'll have them dried.

[Jade disappeared into the kitchen to get some tea going.]

[Peony dropped still-soaked fabric where Jade indicated, laying accessories elsewhere--along the sink, over doorknobs, generally making a small mess--and slipped into the bathroom with only pants remaining to start the shower. He didn't plan to take too long, but long enough to work out the tension between his shoulders and get rid of all the salt clinging to him.]

[After getting the tea on and going, Jade went to get Peony's clothing washed, then changed into some houseclothes that consisted of a button-up shirt and slacks. Then it was back to the kitchen to check on the tea whilst he waited for Peony.]

[About ten minutes later, Peony wandered back out into the apartment proper in the directed robe and scrubbing at his hair with a towel in one hand, complete with steam floating out of the shower and following him. Once satisfied with the job, he left the towel over his head as he walked to the kitchen.]

Jade~

[Jade looked to see Peony when he entered and nodded to him.]

Feeling better now?

Much. I don't feel like I've been pushed out my window anymore.

[Peony sighed, shoulders drooping for the moment, and straightened back up with a smaller, goofy grin.]

Weird to see you in anything other than your uniform, though.

If I've no need to wear it, then I won't.

[Jade poured out a mug of the tea for himself, then one for Peony. An herbal, warming tea that might help the Emperor shrug off the last of the chill from being drenched.]

However, everything is free, so you can get an apartment and the like when you're ready. The only things that cost anything are items specific from Auldrant.

Obviously, but that doesn't change how strange it is.

[Weight shifted to one foot and Peony slid the towel forward over his head to fiddle with it between his hands as he considered that.]

Not even a bartering system? Either native resources are limitless or something, then.

My apologies, should I go put it back on?

[A smirk at the man and a raised brow before he put the mug on the table for Peony and moved to lean back against the counter as he sipped the tea.]

I'm unsure. Though, that seems to be the case.

Only if you wanna.

[Claiming the mug set aside for him, Peony lifts it to his lips mildly. Mild for now, anyway.]

If that's so, then we should find a way to get back and patch this place through to Audlrant. Might be nice while we're still picking up.

I think I'll survive in this.

[Jade stays right where he is, sipping his mug and offering a light sigh.]

I don't know if it's possible, but dream all you like~

Disappointing if you didn't.

[Peony hums around his tea, grinning still. It's a nice thought, anyway.]

So pessimistic~

[He lowers his mug to consider the man across from him.]

So have I already asked you what you've been up to? Other than information gathering.