[video, 15th June, Nesir Aeser] Job seeking?

[disregardeddagger]

[Nesir's still not really sure how these phones work but she's got the basics down. Not that she's tried talking on the message boards yet. It felt strange when she could just speak to them face to face without the trouble of pressing buttons and not accidentally pressing the wrong thing on the glass.

But she did admit it seemed a good way to reach multiple people at once and she can do it whilst being physically out of the way.

On a rooftop actually. It had seemed the safest place to spend the night, after waking up in a heap of rubble.]

My name is Nesir Aeser. I have been here about three weeks and was serving Noctis, the god Nox. He is gone now. [She sounds pretty matter of fact about that. She had been aware such things would happen, though it had not prepared her for the suddenness when it actually happened.]

Are there any gods in need of a shinki? I can fight with a variety of weapons, I turned into a dagger for Noctis though that might not mean anything going forwards. I'm decent at climbing. I probably have other skills I haven't figured out yet.

[That might be a lie, she's figured bits and pieces but she isn't about to announce them over this phone. She can explain further is she actually gets any gods interested in naming her.]

Please tell me if I should actually be letting the heavens know and being officially reassigned or something.

Comments

Text: Ginia

[unlucky7]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Are you doing okay?

There's a shelter for shinki to go to if they need a place to stay, I can give you directions there.

I could also ask Ebisu if it's okay for you to stay here. We have plenty of space for guests.

1 of 2. Text

[disregardeddagger]

I'm fine.

2 of 2 Text

[disregardeddagger]

Sorry. That was curt of me. [Ginia's kindness was one thing when Nesir was in an alright position. But now she is vulnerable her instinct is to shy away from it. Run away.] Thank you for your offers, I should be fine here, it's not cold.

[unlucky7]

No need to apologize, I understand.

What are you going to do about food while you're looking for a new god?

[Ginia won't force Nesir anywhere she doesn't want to go, but she worries.]

[disregardeddagger]

I'll manage. [She shrugs. It seemed a curse of being a shinki was to be hungry all the time, but she still has the money Ginia gave her, she has no idea how relative it is to the cost of anything but she can figure that out. If nothing else she can steal food, it's not like the humans will notice.]

I don't want to burden anyone.

[unlucky7]

You wouldn't burden anyone.

Look, the shinki shelter has food there. If you want to talk to the person who runs it, her name is Wendy, she's a shinki here. You can find her in the contact list.

Since you're looking for new god too, take your time with it. IF you get the chance to choose your god, look for one that's a good fit.

[disregardeddagger]

Right. I will contact her. [Maybe. She figures she will be fine for a bit, if it turns out no one wants her it's good to know there's a place she can stay. A place that will give her food.

It still feels bad to be in someone's debt like that. But she is not going to dismiss it out of hand.]

Right. It's hard to know what a good fit is, but I will try and choose wisely.

[unlucky7]

A temple you like and someone you can get along with. If you have an idea of what you like and what you want to do, that helps too. If the god has any shinki, talk to them.

You could even stay at their temple without a name if you want to take the time to sort things out. Any god who wouldn't agree to that isn't a god worth serving.

[disregardeddagger]

[Good advice, all of it. She can take her time, try and find someone she can work well with. She's not sure honestly what she wants to do and she's still figuring out what she likes moment by moment. But it is a sound strategy nonetheless.]

You sound like you speak from experience.

[unlucky7]

I made a lot of mistakes my first few months. I'd rather not see anyone else make them.

[disregardeddagger]

It's good of you to let others learn from them.

[And learn from them herself, Nesir assumes.

She gets another message and spends a moment replying before going back to Ginia.]

Do you know the god Iskander?

[unlucky7]

I do. He's a good god if you want to fight. He treats his shinki well.

Temperamental temple. You'll want to be careful of the chickens if they're still there.

[disregardeddagger]

[She was good with fighting, she was good at it and it was definitely better than doing nothing.

But. Chickens?]

Chickens? They are dangerous?

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar can use his phone but he's not expert either so his video response is not great. Short and informative but that's it.]

I'm sorry you lost your god so quickly.

I am Iskandar and I am always looking for good fighters.

My temple is quite small. I believe my expectations are pretty reasonable. So if you're interested we can talk about further details in person.

[disregardeddagger]

It's nice to meet you Iskander. [Can you say meet when it is over a phone and you are not technically meeting?

Who knows. She's just glad someone has replied. A god she means, obviously Ginia replied to her but she is a fellow shinki.]

I would be happy to meet you in person to discuss things. Where you you like me to meet you?

[towards_okeanos]

[He's not much of an expert himself in all that new technology so that's as good as meeting to him.]

You can come to my Temple. I'll send you coordinates. Or we can meet on the Training Grounds if you prefer a more neutral location.

[disregardeddagger]

Your temple is fine, I am sure I can find my way. [Hopefully. She's gotten to know the lay of the land quite well in the last three weeks.]

[towards_okeanos]

Then I shall meet you in front of the Temple but do wait for me outside if for any reason I'm not there yet when you arrive.

[Attached are detailed directions on how to get to Iskandar's temple. With the district constantly shifting nature any coordinates would be less reliable if not downright nonsensical.]

[disregardeddagger]

Of course. I will see you there.

[She wouldn't enter anyone's home without them being there, not in this context anyways. She can think of many reasons she might enter someone's home without permission but none of them are constructive to find someone to work for.

She makes her way over the rooftops, jumping from one to another. It's easier to navigate like this, being able to see things from up high rather than getting lost in the streets.

Soon she was outside what she hoped was Iskander temple. Blocks of yellow stone, lamps at the gates. Every bit as imposing as Noctis' had not been. She stood near the entrance, examining one of the glass lamps, appreciating the art work.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar lifts his eyebrow as he notices the slender woman already there when he comes out. That was fast.]

Welcome.

[The Temple has been uncharacteristically calm today. It'd better stay that way.]

You must be Nesir. I'm Iskandar.

[He steps away from the entrance a little.]

Come, we can talk inside.

[disregardeddagger]

I am. [She gives a polite nod and smiles. Nerves are useless things and she pushes them away as she accepts his offer. Gina had said he was a good god and Ginia was one of the very few people she had had more than one conversation with, excluding Noctis. So she had little choice but to trust the girl didn't have it out for her for some reason.

She follows him, taking in the oddities of the temple.]

[towards_okeanos]

[The Temple is odd indeed. Right behind the entrance flanked by the lamps she examined earlier, there's a corridor so high its ceiling disappearing in the darkness. It all feels and looks ancient. Sandstone walls are covered with images of battles, feasts, victories, processions of offerings all carved into stone lit by the soft glow of lamps that light up when they approach and go out as soon as they passed them.
Only the sound of their footsteps and crackling of the sacred fire in the copper vase at the very end of the corridor breaks the silence. Shadows dance on the walls surrounding the fire as its flame flickers. The smell of incense gets stronger and stronger as they approach the vase.

But Iskandar doesn't stop there, he leads her past the fire and into another entrance almost invisible in the wall behind it. There is a short flight of stairs behind leading to a definitely more modern living quarters. They end in what looks like a living room complete with a couch, a large tv facing it and huge glass French windows spanning most of the wall overlooking a garden.]

Do sit down.

[Iskandar gestures towards the sofa before disappearing in the adjacent room which must be a kitchen as he returns just a moment later with two glasses and a bottle. He drops on the other side of the couch, fills both glasses with wine then slides one of them in Nesir's direction. Her choice if she wants to drink it or not.]

As I already mentioned, I'm always looking for skilled fighters. Right now I have one shinki, a soulless by the name of Ada. I sent her away for now but shall you accept a name from me, you'll have a chance to meet her.

[He takes a sip from his glass.]

I do not have expectations for my shinki much above the obvious: that they help me fulfil prayers of my followers, vanquish ayakashi if we encounter any and represent my house with dignity. Other than that you'd be free to do whatever you want. If you have interests you wish to pursue I shall not interfere as long as whatever is that you want to do won't put yourself, my house or my followers in danger, interfere with your work for me or bring shame to my name.

I shall provide you with food, whatever weapons that you may need, clothing and some extra money for your personal needs. You will get your own room here in the Temple. I may not have Ebisu level of wealth but I have a steady income. Shall you wish to get a job outside of it, I have nothing against it, as long as it does not interfere with your work for me.

There is however one thing I don't accept from any of my shinki. If you ever happen to Nora to another god we will not be able to work together any longer. I won't hold it against you if the other god named you without your consent but if you accept a name from them willingly, I will revoke mine.

[It's odd how his stance has nothing but hardened comparing to how he viewed things when he arrived. But a lot has happened since then. There are always edge case of course. Circumstances that he might probably take into account. Maybe. But that's something he would worry if and when he has to. As a general rule, it's just no. Plain and simple.]

I don't have anything against Nora as they are. I don't subscribe to the idiotic notion that Heavens have on them. I just don't want any of my shinki to be one. That's simply a question of trust and responsibility.

[He may have long discarded the idea of rebuilding his army here but he still needs people he can rely on.]

So these are my conditions. What are yours?

[disregardeddagger]

[She sits where instructed to and takes the wine with a polite nod. She has no idea if she likes it or not so of course she will try it. She sips it as he speaks, it is not an unpleasent taste.

Ginia had told her to stay a few days without being named, get to know him and see if they could work together. But Ginia, as competent and knowledgeable as she was, seemed to believe in friendship as much as Kairi did. Something about it sat wrong, but Nesir didn't have words or experience to figure out why. Clearly Ginia's way worked for Ginia, she served multiple gods and wielded a shinki of her own. But Nesir wouldn't even know what she was looking for, what would make her more likely to wish to serve?

This though. This she understood. Clear guidelines, clear expectations. Exactly what he expected and what he was prepared to give in exchange. She could work with that. Noctis had been the same, if a lot less formal about it.

She feels she can meet his expectations, fighting ayakashi was what they were here for after all. She certainly doesn't think she acts in a way that would bring dishonour or shame upon him.

His stance on Nora is interesting, compared to other people who she had met. But she had no problem with it. She can promise to serve only him, trying to serve more than one god sounded exhausting.

He asks her conditions and she thinks on them for a moment. He has already offered food, a room, weapons, clothes and money as well as the freedom to pursue her own interests (when she figured out what they were).]

Only that I get your word you will revoke your name if I ask it of you. In exchange I can promise I won't, unless I find it completely necessary.

[There's a lot she can handle, so she doubts she ever would need to. But she has only known him a matter of moments and once he names her the power is his. Keeping a route out open is probably a wise move.]

[towards_okeanos]

Of course. I don't want to keep people who don't want to be here.

[It seemed so obvious to him that the thought to mention it never even crossed his mind.]

Only, that I'd like you to tell me the reason for your decision if it comes to that. It won't change anything, you'll still be free to leave, nor will I judge you on it. There are many perfectly valid reasons. I just prefer to know what it is.

[Like finding a better fit for example. The number of the new gods available is dwindling rapidly but still, he's not her only option.]

Similarly, I'd like to know if you ever disagree with my decision or have doubts about anything. I require loyalty but not absolute obedience. I'd prefer for my people to able to think on their own and exhibit a healthy amount of common sense.

[That's his main problem with soulless...and the notion that Gods are always right and can do no wrong. Because, sweet Hera Queen of the gods, he's seen too many times how wrong can they be.]

[disregardeddagger]

[She is glad when he agrees, not that she had believed he wouldn't. There wasn't much point in keeping someone against their will, not when you appreciated loyalty as he seemed to do.

Explaining her decision is a term she can agree with, as is expressing her opinon. Loyal but not blindly obedient sounds an obvious way for a shinki to be and she is glad that in this regard at least their opinions align.]

I can agree to that, it seems we will hopefully work well together.

[She can definitely think on her own and she would like to think she had common sense and he seems sensible, comfortable with the power he wields and not overbearing.]