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!

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[This 'poor sap' is now following the poor, hapless boy, yellow eyes flashing with anger. Oh, Yotsuyu might have been offered an umbrella, or (Kami forbid) a flame tube, or snowshoes, but in her ire has disdained all these things to practically stalk young Lloyd, following him where he is going.

Poor Lloyd.

The drenched and shivering woman doesn't make much noise, and her anger has pretty much taken all sense from her. He's following his stomach. She's following him. Surely he has to notice her eventually...]

[ it takes a little while, but he does feel it. the raw ire. the daggers practically at his back. absolute fury that could rival even the most terrifying of demons.

that, and Lloyd kind of has really advanced hearing.

so once he's out of the snow and is putting away his umbrella (and inadvertently lobbing yet another pile of snow in Yotsuyu's direction) he finally turns around and finds the poor woman covered head to toe in snow. and he has no idea he's the one at fault! ]

Oh-- jeez, are you okay?!

[ Her eyes flash yellow fire, and she bares her teeth at him, despite the shivering that has overtaken her. If she had sharpened teeth, he might think that Yotsuyu was about to bite off his head.

She still might. ]

No. I am not 'okay'.

[ She pauses, lifting a hand to pull a gob of melting snow out of her hair and lob it at him. Her aim isn't terribly good, though, probably because she's still shaking. Anger or cold, hard to tell at this point. Taking a deep breath, she continues.]

Do you have any idea what you have been doing all the way across this campus?! [Since Yotsuyu realizes he probably does not, courtesy of his question, she points to herself.]

Your umbrella has been dumping snow everywhere! And I am one of your victims! What are you going to do about it??

[ y i k e s .

even if the aim ended up being true, Lloyd's quick reflexes would have been enough to dodge the gob of snow getting hurled at his face. that's about as much movement as he does, though, because he finds himself kind of stuck where he is, confused and maaaaayyybe a little bit scared. it's her explanation that gets Lloyd back to his senses, and he looks between her, the umbrella, back at her, then back at the umbrella.

oh. oh. ]

Oh… Oh! I'm s-- here, hold on. [ dropping the umbrella as if it was on fire, Lloyd quickly pulls off his winter coat — Eiather colors, which had been hanging off of his shoulders the whole time — and drapes it over woman. he feels warm enough in his Dwarven wear, he'll be fine without it. if allowed (and if she doesn't bite his hand off in the process), he'll even rub her arms to generate friction and brush some of the snow off her head. ]

Ugh, I'm really sorry! I got that thing from one of the students here, I didn't even know it was dumping snow everywhere! [ he looks around the campus hall, as though searching for something, before turning back to the woman. ] Is there a fire around here…?

[His hands don't get bitten off, but she does jerk back and hiss at him. ]

Don't you touch me!

[Yotsuyu does deign to accept the coat, however--too cold to snatch it off and throw it back at him. There's a rattling sort of buzz coming from her person, now. It sounds rather annoyed, and from around her neck, the head of a snake slips out, black tongue flicking.

Somehow,Lloyd might get the feeling that said snake is giving him the stink eye.]

I have no idea if there is a fire anywhere near here--and ugh! Of course you did. I wonder if they meant it as a prank, or an attempt to get us at each other's throats...

[Though that makes her stop and think, if only for a moment. If it was a conspiracy, this boy is only an unwitting tool, and probably doesn't deserve her anger.

Probably.

Yotsuyu is not done scowling yet, but it isn't laser focused on him now.] It probably was not your fault. Pray forgive me for my harsh words.

[ and stop he does, stepping back so Lloyd could give the woman the space she needs. the small hiss catches his attention, and his eyes flick briefly to the snake that pops out of the collar of his coat. did that come from his coat? or was it hers? he can vaguely feel the stink eye coming from it.

yeah, he's not touching her again. Lloyd does visibly calm down once she does, and even offers Yotsuyu a reassuring smile. ]

…Hey, no problem. I'd be pretty ticked off too if I were in your shoes.

[ why does he always get into these sorts of situations…? at least she didn't beat him into the ground. he glances around once more, something seemingly catching his attention, and he turns back to the woman with a gesture to follow. ]

I think I can hear a fire going down this way! You can hold onto the coat, if you want-- at least until you're warm again.

[ is Lloyd playing her for a fool or does he really hear a fire? only one way to find out. ]

[Not that she ever said she was sorry for what she'd done...

Not that the thought of beating him with a slipper or something hadn't crossed her mind (it had!)...

Yotsuyu gives him a suspicious look. She can't hear the fire by any means, but there seems to be a hint of sweet woodsmoke on the air that she can smell. Perhaps it's only her mind convincing her that's a fire down the way that this young man can hear, but she wants to believe.]

Very well. And...thank you for your coat. I shall not do it any harm, and I shall follow you.

[ it wouldn't be the first time Lloyd was beaten with something, at least.

in all honesty, Lloyd would be surprised if she could hear the fire. it was faint, even for him, and he could only hear it through virtue of his angelic senses. he offers the woman a grin before taking off in the direction of the fire, keeping his steps slow enough so that she could follow comfortably. ]

Don't worry about the coat! The school gave it to me, it's not really mine.

[ though he still would like it back in one piece. his or not, it was actually pretty comfortable. ] Didn't you get stuff like this when you got here? I know they were handing out a bunch of supplies for the school.

[Yotsuyu can't help but roll her eyes, then.] You do not think they might hold you responsible for your belongings? Or the ones they have assigned you?

[Dolt. That's what her expression says, not that he can see it. Probably a good thing that he can't.]

I was allotted uniform robes and a cloak, but I was not expecting snow. Foolish of me, I suppose. I had not thought they'd make us wear uniforms until classes actually started, as well. The books are safely in my living quarters, however. Far too useful to be casually carried with me, all willy-nilly. I had thought to perhaps get a bearing on the campus...I had not expected there to be so much snow.

[Ridiculous, perhaps, but Doma really did not get a great deal of snow, save high in the mountains. She was completely unprepared.]

[ crap, she has a point. ] …Guess that would make it mine, huh?

[ to be fair, he didn't ask for any of that stuff. hell, he didn't even ask to be here. none of the people like him did. but he supposed he's not in a position to shirk responsibility over his not-belongings. man, this was something better suited for Genis, not him… ]

You shouldn't have to call yourself foolish just 'cause you weren't expecting it. It was still warm where I'm from, I just lucked out because I wear clothes like this all the time. [ he tugs at one of his suspenders, snapping it back in place. ] I'm pretty sure a lot of us weren't expecting this much snow, just like you and me.

Only reason why I still had my coat was because I didn't check out my room yet. [ Lloyd pauses, slowing in his steps but not quite stopping. he jerks his head to a left turn. ]

C'mon, it's louder over here.

I suppose. It is still warm in Doma, as well. [Odd how the conversation somewhat mirrored her thoughts, but it probably should not have come as a terrible surprise.

And yes, I think it would make it yours. Just as the things given to me are thusly my belongings, and in my care. [ A pause, then.]

Such as it is.

[She pauses then when he jerks, but his words clarify his actions.] There? Very well.

[And here it is again. Just like Gosetsu. Why is this boy being so kind to her when she was rotten to him? It made no sense now as it made no sense then. Though now, she might be able to ask.

Soon. Once she was warm, perhaps.]

That'd make sense, huh?

[ he continues down the hall, his head turning to and fro as though he were trying to listen to the walls themselves for a hint of a fire. it's when he reaches a set of double doors that he finally pauses, pushing one of the doors open to reveal what looked like the school library.

it definitely wasn't the first place Lloyd would willingly be in, but true to his word, there was a fire blazing in one of the fireplaces against the farther wall.

just how in the world did he manage to hear that…? ]

Ah-ha! Fire, just like I thought! [ if he had a dog tail, he'd be wagging it by now. ]

Some sense, yes. [The faintest twitch of a smile touches her lips. The smoke smell does seem to be growing as she follows him. At the sight of what seems to be a library--in a magickal school such as this, the kami knew this might be one of many--the smile grows slightly. And, well, the boy hadn't lied!

Though truly, he seemed remorseful enough, so why would he?]

So it is. And for that, at least, I am grateful. [Yotsuyu does not exactly shoulder him aside to get to the fireplace, but she certainly doesn't waste any time getting to it, either. His coat, she removes, setting it somewhat close to the flames--ostensibly to dry, since she certainly hadn't been dry herself when he'd given it to her.]

...Thank you.

[ and Lloyd wouldn't even dare to stop her from reaching the fire; he'd instead follow after her, pulling up a chair so he could sit nearby (straddling the back of it like an uncouth heathen--). it was partly to make sure the woman was well situated and getting warm thanks to his screw up, and partly because… well, it's as she said. the coat is his now. he has to make sure it's well taken care of, and that includes making sure it's on his person at all times.

he supposed lunch could wait at least a little bit longer. ]

No problem. I couldn't just leave you to freeze like that.

[ he offers the woman another grin, genuinely glad to see that she's already looking a lot better. definitely a step up from the frosted mess that she was mere moments ago. ]

I bet your snake's feeling a lot better, too.

I am surprised that he is not getting himself as close to the fire as he can, without roasting himself!

[Though Gosetsu has sense. The snake, at least. The samurai...well, he had some sense, even if it was leavened by a streak of altruism at least a yalm wide. It still didn't lend itself to her understanding. Perhaps someday.

Still, the racer coils by the fire, even as Yotsuyu checks over the coat, before handing it over.]

It is unharmed by its association with me. If, perhaps, still a tiny bit damp. I thank you again. May I know your name? I am Yotsuyu goe Brutus, formerly of Doma.

[As if they weren't happy to see the end of her. Still, she wasn't about to admit that, yet.]

[ even as the coat is handed back to him, Lloyd doesn't get back up to leave. he simply drapes it over the back of his chair, allowing it to continue drying while he converses with the woman-- at least until she's had enough of him. and even then, he won't leave immediately.

not until she's dry comfortable again. ]

Aw, it's fine. I can just stick around until it's completely dry.

[ there's a singular blink at the impressive title, but not further reaction as he juts a thumb to himself. ]

I'm Lloyd. Lloyd Irving-- no fancy titles or anything like that.

[ unless one counted something along the lines of 'Hero of the Twin Worlds' or 'Guardian of the Mana Tree' as a title, but Lloyd doesn't give a hoot about that. he's just doing what he can to make the world a better place. ]

You sound like you're a princess with that kinda name.

Title? Oh, no, not at all!

[That almost has her laughing, truly, and she shakes her head.]

Lloyd. A pleasure. I am...sorry for my rude treatment of you.

[Apologizing sure came a lot easier for Tsuyu. Yotsuyu can't quite help a lip curl, but she shakes her head again.]

Goe only means that I am a citizen of the Empire. No princess. I was not born with such a title, either. It...well. The Empire is not always a nice place, shall we say?

[And while it is her name, "goe Brutus" is probably not one she favors, if she had a choice. Though it meant more in Doma and the Empire proper than it does here. But does she really want to go back to Naeuri? Yotsuyu isn't sure. But she'd grasped and schemed for it...if nothing else, it should serve as a memory. A reminder of what not to do, if nothing else.]

[ his smile drops as she talks about the meaning behind her name as well as the small bit of detail he'd gotten of her home. he's only heard a handful of sentences worth, and it's already not giving him a very good impression.

he slumps in his chair a little, burying the bottom half of his face into his arms. when he talks, it sounds more muffled because of it. ]

Don't worry about it. But it sure does sound like they're not all that popular.

[ a beat. ]

Do they categorize everyone like that?

They do. I am not even particularly high ranking in the Empire, in truth.

[It wasn't as if Asahi had not had a more important designation, despite the fact that she had been named Viceroy of Doma. His anger at the end was still quite fresh in her mind. At Lloyd's assumption of their lack of popularity, she couldn't help but laugh.]

No, no. I dare say Garlemald is not popular at all. Feared, perhaps. Almost likely, I would say.

[A pause, then.]

I hope your homeland is not such a bitter place.

…They sound like they need to be knocked down a peg.

[ or four. hundred.

there's a beat as he considers Yotsuyu's words. his homeland… well, his home by far was not perfect. he knew this from experience. there's strife all over from the two worlds being rejoined, with the Tethe'allans holding a sort of superiority complex over the people of Sylvarant. and even before then, extreme racism ran rampant-- and that's only the tip of the iceberg.

her homeland almost reminded him of the Desians and Cruxis.

he didn't want to think about that. ]

Where I'm from isn't that bad. There're some parts of it that aren't all that great… But we're all doing what we can to make it a better place for everyone.

From what I understand...they are being knocked down a peg. Or they were in the process, when I...came here.

[Yotsuyu is really not certain she wants to popularize the fact that she'd actually died, that seems like a bad idea to her.]

The Eorzeans had driven them back, and from what news I had heard, were working to liberate Ala Mhigo and Doma from the Empire.

[And there, she makes an uncertain and pregnant pause, biting her lower lip a moment before she looks over at Lloyd again.]

I am certain of Doma's freedom. Now, am I certain it will last? No. Garlemald does not like losing. Hien Rijin was...good to me, when I did not deserve it. So...I may hope that he succeeds where his father failed. As for your home...every place has its good and bad. It is your home, though, is it not? Thus for you, it is important.

[Not so Doma for her, but she does realize it's not like that for everyone. Surprising enough to her that she does hope the Empire doesn't come back to Doma too quickly.]

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Let The Games Begin

Orientation Week/Magic Mayhem I am so sorry.

NEVER BE SORRY I LOVE THIS

oh dear no I'm still sorry! partly for being slow

shhhh it's ok i'm way slower :')

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