diatu | Let The Games Begin

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Let The Games Begin

February Event and Intro Log

Orientation Week/Magic Mayhem

The campus of Diatu Magicademy stretches out before you, confused and chaotic and surging with energy. Where are you headed? To your dorm or suite, to get settled? Maybe you need some food now? Wherever you head off to as your first stop, you have to deal with the snow. Helpful or proud students are passing out various magical remedies to get you where you need to be -- umbrellas with a nasty tendency to dump snow directly onto other people nearby, an iron tube that projects fire but appears to have no off switch, snowshoes that keep you slightly too high off the snow and thus provide no friction for stopping...

Familiar Follies

Familiars do not harass or harm each other as a rule -- but that doesn't mean they have no pecking order, and the week of Orientation finds them all jockeying for status and position as suits them. This can take the form of pranks, displays, competitions, or simple physical assertiveness towards each other. The goal is simply to be seen as superior by the student body. New wizards especially may find themselves surprised at this behavior of their familiars...

Research On the Sundered

Wonders Await

Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Said other familiar is a snake, four feet long if it's an inch. If it weren't being such a pain in the rump to someone else's familiar, it might even be considered attractive. Deep-blue scales cover its head and back, shading to creamy white at its underbelly, its snout a light peach color. Oildrop eyes stare at the owl that cowers behind the large man...

Unfortunately, it is being a pain in the rump. On one hand, Yotsuyu might be amused if she weren't well aware of the fact that if they both weren't fairly clearly familiars, owls eat snakes. So that is why she strides gracefully up to the blue racer, snatches it up in a fist, and holds its face up near hers, hissing at it just as much as it's hissing at her. Its tail vibrates, setting up a buzzing racket.]

Just what do you think you are doing, pray tell? I did not put you up to this!

[ Yotsuyu gives the snake a small, vicious shake, before letting out an annoyed breath and letting it crawl around her neck. They must have some sort of agreement, because it does not immediately attempt to strangle her, even after somewhat rough treatment...]

[Jecht lets out a low groan, running one hand down his face.] Hey, don't be too rough on him. He got offered way too easy a target.

[Reaching down, Jecht scoops up his own familiar -- by the head, making the owl fluff up in surprise.] Come, on, look at that! You're twenty times that snake's size! What's with the coward act?!

You think so? [Canting yellow eyes down at the serpent who even now regards the fluffed-up owl intently. It is as apologetic as she is. Which is to say, not at all.

Her lips twitch in amusement at the man's admonishment of the owl.]

You need not be so harsh, I suppose. Perhaps he is unused to prospective dinner fighting back?

[At her words, the snake snaps its head up at her, vibrating out that buzzing noise again, and Yotsuyu arches an elegant black brow.]

Don't be foolish. Owls eat snakes. Not the other way around. Were you not my familiar, yes, I do think even you might be in danger. You have come to no harm thus far, have you not?

[Not even from her and her neck-shake.]

Just my luck I get the real wimp of familiars.

[Sighing, Jecht sticks his other arm under his familiar so the owl can get a perch. The bird transfers over with nary a peep of complaint, and even a gentle grip of his talons on Jecht's skin.]

And you got a brave one, huh? Ain't really sure he would've lost if these guys actually fought.

If bravery is not learned through trials, it is foolishness. I am not certain which he is displaying. [Though clearly, HER familiar thinks he's plenty brave, and the snake almost glares at her for insinuating he's not.]

I am not so certain your familiar is a 'wimp', but cautious. It shows at least a modicum of intelligence.

[Yotsuyu narrows her eyes and glances at the rather annoyed snake, before tilting her head at the large man's familiar.] As they say, fools rush in. You might have won, perhaps, but unscathed? I think not.

Be wiser next time. I am not the best at tending another's hurts, which includes yours. [Though her tone softens a bit, which insinuates that she'd at least try with her familiar.]

[Okay, this woman likes her big words, Jecht shuts his eyes and then opens them again, trying to get his bearings back. Yikes.]

Hey. Sometimes you gotta put on a show, otherwise everyone thinks you can be bullied. That ain't intelligence. Better to at least show you'll fight back!

[That earns Jecht an arched brow as Yotsuyu turns her attention back to him.]

And what happens when your bluff is called, and your enemy is stronger than you? What then? Is it better to fall back on bluster and bravado and risk everything?

[ Because Yotsuyu had done precisely that, once. Took a gamble, risked it all, and ended up swept out to sea and worse. In its way, that gamble was why she was here now. If this was an attempt to impress her--it did not. But she wasn't certain.]

[Jecht starts to fold his arms, but has to pause since his owl has to clamber up to his shoulder.]

Heh, yeah, and here's why. You want that stronger guy to know they'll get hurt if they challenge ya. If they don't think messing with ya will cost them, they got no reason not to do it. But if they think they'll take some bad hits even if they're sure to win, they're gonna think twice.

[The end of this pronouncement loses some effect as Jecht finds himself leaning away from a big fluff of feathers right next to his head.]

I do not think I can agree--though I suppose that is a mere difference of opinion. That, and you are certainly more daunting than I shall ever be, eh?

[A smile curves Yotsuyu's lips, though it's more amused than any attempt at flirtation. There is a part of her that regrets that she has no brute here, but she isn't about to attempt to enlist one, either. That is past, and there are certain mistakes that should not be repeated.

At least she's not laughing at the owl fluff in Jecht's face?]

So, does your familiar have a name, then?

Yeah, sure, but you kick me in the junk and I'm a sad man even if I win, y'know?

[Jecht glances sidelong at his owl, who has settled quite comfortably despite Jecht's own misgivings.]

Oh yeah. Guess I should think of something for this guy at some point.

[Junk does not mean the same thing to Yotsuyu that it means to Jecht, clearly. The expression on her face is one of confusion, certainly.]

I do not see why kicking your ship would make you sad...

[Though that's more a self-directed musing, though she gives him another odd look, nonetheless.]

We do not have many owls where I am from, but yours is certainly a handsome member of his species. I have been told they should, indeed, be named. As it is, I have named my snake Gosetsu. For...one who was my friend.

[ Because despite everything, she thinks that is precisely what he may have been trying to be. The old Roegadyn had done his best for her.]

[Well. Uh, good that she thinks he's the size of ship?]

[Kinda getting the feeling here that this name business is a lot more important than she's letting on. Well, what the heck, everybody's got something going on they don't wanna address directly, right?]

Maybe I oughtta name this guy "Blitzball". Seems like that's all he's good for!

Blitzball? Curious. Why name him that?

[The 'all he's good for' has her frowning just a touch--sounds like something she'd say. Worse, the old her, before Tsuyu ever mollified those...urges.

In short, something not precisely good.]

Is that something you are fond of, at least? I have never heard of it.

'Cuz he's big, round, and doesn't do anything! [Jecht pokes his owl, who ruffles his feathers indignantly. The grin on his face says he doesn't really mean it, but this is Jecht; he's good at picking on people, or familiars!]

Blitzball's the only sport worth playin', that's what it is.

And how long have you known him? Perhaps he has not had a chance to prove himself to you.

[Ever used to being the one doing the picking on, Yotsuyu may be missing the point, here. She tilts her head slightly, brows furrowing even as she frowns a little.]

I have never heard of it. Then again, I always had more of a penchant for games of chance...not that that did me a great deal of good.

Oh, a gambling girl, huh? [Those might not be the purest thoughts in Jecht's head at the moment. Could be worse, though. Just something about the idea's got its appeal.] S'too bad, you were missing out.

Was I? [Jecht has impure thoughts. Yotsuyu's are no less impure, but in a different direction, though she schools her features to sweetness.]

Perhaps you shall have to do some instruction in that, though the folk here seem to be more interested in--what was it, Bala-Inlota?

[Her tone seems to intimate she's not much interested in that, either...]

Yeah, and blitz is kinda hard to play without the proper setup! Guess the wizards here could probably whip up a giant ball of water if they wanted, but -- yeah, they're all into the wizard sport, huh?

[Which Jecht is more curious about, just because he needs an outlet. Studying and schooling... ain't really his thing.]

Water? [Yotsuyu is mystified by this, brows furrowing, but then the man continues, she just nods.]

Yes. They are, it seems, though I have no idea what the draw is. At least that means I am likely too old to participate.

[She snorts in amusement, here. She might be persuaded to watch, but to play? No. No thank you!]

[Jecht laughs, loud and brash, with his head tipped back.] No way! I ain't lettin' age stop me, and there's no way you got years on me!

Perhaps not, but I've little skill for that sort of gaming.

[Plus, her dignity would likely not allow it. Though she allows a smile to touch her lips, briefly.]

Though if you do intend to go through with it, perhaps I shall come watch.

[Jecht winks, pointing a finger-gun her way.] Show up and I'll score a point in your name.

[Her eyes narrow at that, and Yotsuyu cannot help but smirk, then.

A name you still don't know, hm?

[Nor is she about to help him out, here. It's all she can do to not laugh, really. Though there's definitely a hint of challenge in her demeanor. She's cowed better men than Jecht, after all.]

[Jecht lets out a groan, shifting his weight to his left leg.]

That was kinda your cue to tell me.

Pity, I'm somewhat lacking as an actress. The theater was never my forte.

[Not that she's terribly bad at acting--certain talents of hers do demand it, after all--but there's a certain sadistic little part of her that's enjoying watching this man twist in the wind, so to speak.]

Besides, you act as if I should know you. Pray tell, why is that?

Familiar Follies

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