Many Questions To Be Had

[fixed_destiny]

Who: Xehanort, Open
What: bothering people, and other things
When: June 13thish to maybe the 20th or so
Where:Other temples, his own after dark.
Warnings: None so far.



A

[Although it would be best if he saw to some of his prayers, instead Xehanort has picked up his notebook, a bit of tape and phone, shifted to the jackal-headed form most associate with the god Anubis, and gone looking for other temples nearby. He could have stayed in human form, but if he's intending to speak to gods and shinki both, isn't it best to be easily identified?

Once a temple is found, however, it's just a matter of looking for a door to knock on or a proper place to call out a greeting .. or even approach someone who happens to be standing outside.

He's really not that picky. God, shinki, it's all the same.]

B

[So someone wasn't home when Xehanort ventured to visit their temple. That's alright, there are a million things to do in a day. But at any temple that seemed occupied but nobody home, he's left a note.]

Greetings. I am Anubis; I visited your temple today but nobody was home.

I'd like to ask some questions about your experiences here (God or Shinki!), but since it seems I've missed you, perhaps you'd like to visit me instead, or leave me a message? I should be back at my own temple after sunset, but I can also be reached at [number] easily.

Thank you for your time.

[Visiting Anubis' temple, on the other hand, is visiting a desert. It's dry, even with the bits of oasis-like pools here and there, but it's not completely uninviting.. if it's after sunset he'll be there.]

Temple Description can be found here.

Comments

[fixed_destiny]

[Another interesting place to observe, and he's going to take his time. The colors and newness mixed in with the obvious old was by now a familiar pattern but clothing on stone statues was new, and worthy of interested inspection. There was no need to rush, was there?

Finding people doesn't deter him from his observation, though it does remind him he's here for more than sightseeing. They don't seem quite as lively as most he'd encountered.. perhaps they were used to this sort of thing.]

Greetings. Are you the owners of this place?

[ONE is an obvious shinki, the other ... might be the deity, perhaps? One way to find out!]

[fullcowl]

I guess that depends on the type of tests?

Mm... It should stack. My god... power, I guess, is to share powers with one other person. Uh, mine is a little difficult to use so the person I'm sharing with has to be pretty strong to begin with though. If they aren't, they'll... it's dangerous. Anyway, I can use it with Todoroki-kun, since I know he's about as strong as me, when I don't have my quirk active.

[fixed_destiny]

[Anything like concern is immediately waved off. He had nothing awful in mind.]

Little things, like pick up that rock. Now pick it up after a little boost, how much easier it is. Or tossing darts at a board, how much accuracy changes, or how fast one could run from here to over there and so on.

[It is really simple stuff but to him it would also be vastly entertaining.

Had been. That pause, and then 'it's dangerous' sounded .. potentially questionable.]

When you say 'dangerous' do you mean minor injury, major injury or potential death?

[fullcowl]

I wouldn't mind doing that. [He can only use about 5% comfortably, and 8% if pushed, but even that is enough to break concrete.]

It depends on how strong the person is to begin with. If... say somebody wasn't already physically strong, they could explode. That's, uh, how it was described to me.

[fixed_destiny]

[Except now he has to weigh in the possibility of people exploding. That wouldn't at all help with any sort of tests that might be done, and would definitely ruin the evening.

If he looks a little shocked, it's probably reasonable.]

I think if we do try such tests we'll have to vet your partner in this experiment very carefully, I do not wish to be responsible for someone exploding.

[fullcowl]

[He knows that look very well. Not on a jackal's face, except maybe once or twice in passing, but on his own? Often.]

I've worked with Hajime when she's in her Gatcha form before. I think the base level is lifting about 176 kilograms comfortably.

[This tiny looking kid can lift 175 kilos with very little effort.]

[secrowtary]

[While Hibiki doesn't perceive it as unfriendly, for a moment here he considers telling him that he might want to narrow the number of smiles given down.]

Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely aware of my abilities. But without gods shinki cannot reach their full potential.

[Or at least it seems to be the case, from what he has heard.]

I'm flattered. As for the rules...well, it's more of an exception to a rule than a rule by itself, but allowing shinki to serve many gods. That's something I can't quite understand.

[He's not going to stop anyone from doing that, because it's by no means his business, but he can't imagine doing it himself.]

[clothes_make_the_man]

Yes, the shinki involved would almost certainly be at risk using a method like that.

[Forrest frowns, thinking.]

It couldn't hurt to ask. I know there are a few shinki that were here before any of us were.

[moonfang]

[not all of them! But even in his eyeless vessel forms, he had a vague idea of what was going on... he could "see" even if he couldn't see.

Man, the way this guy was reacting, it was almost as if he hadn't really used his god-assigned shinki much. A bunch of normal shinki things seemed foreign to him. But hey! No big deal. Zangetsu was here to be a teacher, after all]

I've never been anything but a sword, so I can't say what it'd be like. Hehehe... But... hm.... I can think of a few ways to kill someone with a teacup!

[a pause]

... Far fewer if I'm not allowed to break the teacups, though.

[the chain unwinds from Xehanort's arm and coils on the ground]

Unfortunately, I got no way of tellin' what kind of power you have from our bond. It'll be a surprise?

[fixed_destiny]

[Xehanort's idea of how strong people should be is rather skewed, but he's pretty sure that's not precisely ordinary. But he did say his world was full of powers, so perhaps it was standard there.]

Do you think she'll be willing to help? Perhaps ask if she likes darts. I'll .. have to set some things up for a controlled environment..

[But it'll be interesting. Maybe isntead of throwing things at a dart board, get some water balloons as targets instead. He looked young, possibly his friend was too. Why not turn it into a game?]

[fixed_destiny]

I'd be willing to catch them myself. I already have for one, why let others bear such an unpleasantry?

[Of course it hadn't gone too well for the thing he'd caught, and then he'd had to release it later as otherwise would require his shinki's help..]

Oh? Could you tell me their names or how to contact them? It's certainly worth a try if nothing else.

[fixed_destiny]

[How right Zangetsu was. With his other shinki elusive, even finding out the basics of how this sort of thing worked was .. not happening. That leaves study, watching the way the chain seemed to move of its own independent will; did the Hollow still have some control over what he did in this state?]

... I could too. But it was an example, not a suggestion.

[No killing people with teacups.]

At least I was told what to expect from my 'god power', but I have other skills to rely on if your only gift is this. I have a little magic, at least. I wonder if it's possible to channel any of that through this shape you've taken.

[And he's almost tempted to do it ... but this is a strange god's home, and destroying it out of curiosity would be rude. Perhaps later.]

I suppose you should be advised, much like you shinki, I have no memory of my past. .. Save I have the benefit of the last two years or so as apprentice to a very learned man. Much by way of scholarly pursuits, not much in the way of anything else. Your task may prove ... difficult.

Incidentally. Are you remaining in this place, or returning with me?

[As he speaks, tone idle, the blade is swung. It didn't feel quite perfect, like something was missing, but it still felt far more comfortable than any other weapon he'd held since waking.]

[moonfang]

Well how am I supposed to know if a question is rhetorical or not?! Geez.

[Man, this guy didn't know anything. Good thing he has a former nora to show him the way]

No no, I meant-- when a god makes a contract with a shinki, and that shinki is in vessel form, it gives the god some new ability! Like for Jin, I turned him into a really strong monster. Yoruichi-san got access to some of my abilities. Maybe you got one of them, too?

[... a god with no memories? Now that is interesting. Zangetsu has nothing to say about that, except a slight "hm" of interest. He tucks that information away for later.]

I should probably go with you. But I need to get my shit together and let this nice fella know I'm leaving. So perhaps leave me some directions and I'll catch up to you later. ... Is your temple hospitable to chickens?

[nolittlesecret]

[Hehehe the thirst for knowledge is strong in this one. Nari can sympathize since he'd rather find the information himself rather than ask people.]

I don't share eggs. He can make his own.

[Breakfast foods are the best foods. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. People who don't like breakfast food... well, that's their own preference.]

Baked bacon is better. Keeps more of the flavor intact. Makes a damn good BLT... okay, now I want a BLT.[Without the tomato.] I should go make one. Or five.

[clothes_make_the_man]

Kazuma and Yukine. I'm afraid I don't know them personally, but I have seen their names before.

[fullcowl]

You haven't met her yet, huh? She's really friendly. She'd be willing, most likely.

[Hajime is a force of nature in the form of a person. And she's friendly, he's a little surprised that not every single person knows her.]

[fixed_destiny]

...Assume if I'm asking about ways to kill a person and not an ayakashi it's rhetorical and I don't actually want to know.

[Especially from someone like Zangetsu, who probably could get messily creative pretty easily, and that wasn't the sort of thing he wished to dwell on. Defeat was enough when dealing with most foes that aren't monsters.

The explanation is mused upon; nobody had mentioned having a shinki granted more than the obvious of a weapon and drawing on their ability to kill those things. There had to be a more reasonable way than simple trial and error, though, that could mean losing an advantage when it was most needed.]

Perhaps I have, though I admit I feel no different. I saw no difference in my alternate form either.

[After a moment's pause, Xehanort allows Zangetsu to reclaim his humanoid form, turning to study the chickens with a frown. As far as he knew, chickens were ubiquitous.]

Not as well as some places might be. Anubis is a god from a desert pantheon. Though there's plenty of places for a bird to hide, it's pretty hot. They should be alright if given enough water.

[In.. theory.]

[small_reservations]

[Axel just crosses his arms. He hasn't heard any of this, but... that's understandable. Apparently on his last stay he turned into an Ayakashi. He's now among the least trusted of the powers that be.]

... Why are you telling us this?

[fixed_destiny]

[Xehanort sighs. Now he wanted bacon too. Bacon and more opportunity to get at that Wikipedia thing. He'd come here with other purposes in mind but those are rapidly being forgotten under the impetus of other, far more immediately relevant things.

Like handheld encyclopedias and bacon.]

What about pancakes?

[....]

Actually if I keep discussing breakfast foods I'm going to get very hungry, so pardon me if I ask a bit of a subject change.

[Now, he did not skip his own meals but somehow just talking about it made it seem like he hadn't bothered in DAYS.]

[fixed_destiny]

A young man I encountered named Forrest. He's a very good cook.

[There's probably more than cookery involved but frankly, that's what stuck in his mind as it was the only nonsweet thing he was able to easily locate. As he settles on a seat it .. feels like something's under the cushion and sort of uncomfortable.

A bit of fishing around covertly brings up a .. can of tuna?]

Because I am asking many questions myself. It is reasonable to offer information in return, especially if it seems relevant to your interests. As you distrust them, something that may be interfering with them might be interesting.

[As far as he felt it was very straightforward. Give and take.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Walking closer, Chikusa leans over and takes the can, because, yes, he did see that. With it in his possession, he moves away...]

[...and puts the can in the cushions of another seat.]

[He says nothing this entire time.]

[small_reservations]

[Axel completely ignores Chikusa's antics. He's used to them by now.]

... I guess. You can ask your questions, then.

[This whole situation is just weird. Axel takes a seat on a perpendicular couch, pulling a packet of rice crackers out from under the cushions and sticking them in a potted plant before he continues.]

We'll try to answer them, within reason.

[fixed_destiny]

[It's for the best that with a dog's head currently, Xehanort's expression is pretty unreadable. But he watches as Chikusa takes the can of tuna and tucks it away somewhere else.. then watches Axel acquire rice crackers out of another cushion and move it.

No question is forthcoming immediately, while he struggles to come to grips with what seems to be a pair of humanoid packrats.]

... Though this isn't why I came here, do ...

[one hand rises as if to point, but the gesture is aborted and he sets it back down.]

... Do you have enough food? If you need assistance, I can probably find enough so you don't have to, ah.

[Hide it everywhere like they were expecting it all to be stolen suddenly??]

[kokuyoyo]

We're fine.

[Xehanort may have difficulty believing it, and it is highly debatable if Chikusa is actually fine at any given moment, but. Well. It's what he says as he shuffles to stand by Axel, not bothering to sit down.]

[small_reservations]

Is that what you came to ask?

[Why would you come to visit just to ask that.]

We've got plenty of food. ... Are you hungry or something?