thefarshore | Many Questions To Be Had

Entry tags:

Many Questions To Be Had

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.

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[The temple of Hestia is a fairly small place, at least so it appears on the outside, so that means while there's no one really futzing around outside, it's easy enough to find the door. After a few moments, it opens up, revealing a certain bespectacled teen in a white beanie. Apparently he was in the middle of something, because he has a simple navy blue apron on.]

[A pause.]

...It's you...

Chikusa, is someone here?

[He doesn't wait for an answer, instead teleporting over in a rush of flame.

It's probably a good thing Xehanort did not approach in his normal form. After all, he's someone Axel has seen over the years, and eventually ended up working under, more-or-less. Maybe at his current age they were only glimpses, but it'd still be at least a double-take.

Of course, he's never seen his Anubis form either, so it's still a surprise.]

... What.

[It's the guy with the frogs! And at the beach! Third time may be the charm, but honestly he didn't expect so.

Nor did he expect to see such a person in a place like this. Instead of immediately saying anything, he leans back a little bit, surveying the building a little better.]

I admit I had expected perhaps bars on the windows.

[Ever so mild. Chikusa did not strike him as the sort that'd be in THIS sort of setting, and here he was. In an apron. Whatever else he was intending to add is interrupted by a sudden blast of flame, and if he recoils in alarm well, it's probably the fire and not Axel.

Probably. One way or another it takes him a moment to recover and make sure nothing's singed. Volcano god maybe?]

..Does that fiery appearance always happen?

[It's a dog headed man that talks! .. And his voice might not be much help either, while he does sound a touch like Xemnas, it's been YEARS since anyone in Axel's era has heard Xehanort talk. And he sounds a little put out. ..No, he's here for a purpose and that isn't worrying about scorched fur.]

... Pardon, where are my manners. I am Anubis, the Egyptians have an odd idea of what divinity looks like, could I trouble the two of you for a few questions?

[Bars on the windows, wow, rude]

[Okay, not really- or, at least, Chikusa doesn't seem offended. That may be because he immediately comes to attention at Axel's appearance, not bothered at all by all the fire.]

...Do you want to, Axel?

[Chikusa clearly doesn't give two shits either way, god bless his apathetic little soul]

Are you one of the old gods?

[He's never seen a new god looking like that, after all. Maybe he's from some other world, but he LOOKS like Anubis does in the books Axel's been perusing when he can find them. He could be the actual Anubis, which means...

Well, that he can't be trusted. It's nothing personal. Axel doesn't really trust any of the old gods, simply because they don't trust him or any of the new gods. The only exception might be Amaterasu. He's never met her but she seems pretty chill.]

We haven't done anything wrong.

[That's his first thought, that this is some kind of interrogation.]

[To say Forrest is surprised to see a jackal-headed man standing at his front gate would be an understatement. But still, it's best to be polite to visitors.]

Ah... can I help you?

[...And this must be Chikusa's god then. Why else show that much immediate deference?

No sign of frogs though..]

No. I've been here a little under a week, this is merely the ... power I was given, such as it is, in order to do my job.

[It has benefits, really. And in a way it did feel appropriate to have a jackal's head and a pelt when roaming around claiming to be the god that had both as well.

Those oversized ears perk back up at the denial of wrongdoing. Guilty conscience, perhaps? Or a troublemaker?]

If you have done something wrong, it's not my jurisdiction until someone's dead and their soul needs judging. [Which isn't precisely true, that didn't seem to actually be Anubis' job at all but who else would know that?] My questions are more ... about experiences when you first arrived than anything going on now.

[Simple ones, straightforward ones. So he can put his name on the paper and know every single person who reads it has to be referencing his work.]

[And those big old ears perk right up. It's always nice to find someone he actually could remember.]

Hello again.

[He sounds pleased - and depending on how good Forrest's memory is, he may well recognize that voice. That guy who didn't like sweet sauces on his barbecues!]

I apologize for the interruption, but might I bother you a little more with some questions?

[After walking under the torii and walking across the bridges, Xehanort will find himself in front of a traditional Shinto temple, the brilliant vermilion painting the pristine waters below the same vibrant color.

The doors are open and lead to an open courtyard, where he'll find Lu Meng busy sweeping some loose leaves into a neat pile. A small set of stone stairs lies to the left, and a kitten can be seen napping peacefully on a step...until Xehanort steps over the threshold. Ears perk up, eyes snap open, and immediately the claws are out. Hissing and spitting, with all its hairs standing on edge, the kitten's raising a little bit of a racket at the sight of the jackal-headed god.

That certainly grabs Lu Meng's attention, and when his gaze falls upon the source of the cat's ire, he draws a sharp, startled breath before his eyes narrow with suspicion, hands gripping the broom tight. Forgive him, the last time he saw an animal-human person, it was a spider lady trying to kill him.]

Good day to you. [A cordial and careful greeting.] May I know your business here?

[It's a peaceful location and building. Old Japanese architecture seemed to be designed that way, and he takes his time picking his way towards it, looking around with interest. A person is just what he's looking for, not a kitten .. but it's the kitten that's more obvious about its displeasure.

As the tiny thing fluffs up in its best effort to look frightening, Xehanort glances at it .. and very deliberately turns his attention elsewhere. Cats, like dogs, didn't seem to enjoy being stared at, maybe the little puffball will relax a bit if it's being 'ignored'.

The person's reaction isn't much better, honestly, and he raises both hands, palms-out. No weapons except for short claws.]

Good day. I am looking for the shinki and god of this temple, to ask a small number of questions on a matter of no serious importance. I do not come to do harm, to you or anyone else here, including your little friend.

[Well.. at least he sounds peaceable enough, tone moderated to politeness quite purposefully.]

[Sounds peaceable enough for Lu Meng to relax a smidge, though that wariness keeps the grip on his broom firm.] I have no objections to that, but I'd like to know who I'm speaking to first.

Anubis. And yourself? Are you lord of this temple?

[He's going to stay polite for now, being rude never really gets ANYTHING accomplished except aggravation, and that won't get him any answers.]

Anubis...[That name rings a bell, actually. He's been reading up on all the different gods from various pantheon...come to think of it, wasn't there one which identified with a jackal?

Recognition finally flashes in his eyes and he finally relaxes completely, setting his broom down to the side to properly greet the god. A respectful gesture in the form of two hands brought to his front, one clasped over the other.] Well met then. My name is Lu Meng. I'm not the god of this temple, only a shinki.

[A small bow.] My lady has matters to attend today, but I will be glad to answer your questions. A courtyard is no place to hold a conversation though. Please, follow me.

[And Lu Meng will begin to lead "Anubis" past the temple, to the strangely modern house behind the shrine. Along the way, he does have a question for the other god:]

Were you brought here to take up the role of a god? Or are you one of the original gods of this Heaven?

[ Hokuto returns home from the Near Shore with arms full of grocery bags. She's going to cook dinner today, and maybe bake a cake for dessert. Or cookies? She hasn't decided yet. Fortunately, she's gotten enough ingredients for both.

She pauses and clears her throat when she approaches the door. There's someone standing there knocking. ]

Ahem.

[It's his name as much as Xehanort is these days, perhaps moreso given he'd guessed at a name and this one has been assigned to him by far more powerful gods. Learning to answer to it was going to take longer, however.. probably just in time for him to up and disappear.]

As I understand it there's little 'only' about shinki, you do yourself a disservice.

[But it's good to know what NOT to ask after and bring up.. some things are acceptable, other things end in MONSTERS. That would be a horribly rude way to begin a visit. He follows as bidden however with no hesitation, taking only a moment to look for that kitten and make sure he's not suddenly going to have it latched onto his ankle in passing.

The addition of a very different style of building is a little out of place with the rest. Were there others as well and he'd just missed them because of the more fascinating temple?]

I was brought here, as far as I know. I don't think I've met any of the native gods. How long have you been here for, sir? You seem comfortable with this place.

[In fairness it's a very nice place.]

[There is no chance in sneaking up on someone with ears that big. One gold-edged ear rotates back a little at the sound of crinkly bags and footsteps, which pauses his next knock-attempt neatly, and as Hokuto approaches he swivels carefully .. and then steps out of the way.

... No wait, she doesn't seem like she's going to get the door open like that. Should he offer to relieve her of her food burdens, or offer to get the door?]

Do ... you need a hand with those?

[Well, questions can come afterward..]

[The kitten gives out one last hiss before she bounds away. Lu Meng glances at her and sighs.] Sorry. She doesn't like newcomers. [Or anyone but her owner, if he could be honest. His own arms are covered with faint scratch marks, a testimony to that cat's grumpy disposition.

Anyway. Where were they? Right, how long he's been here.]

To answer your question, I have been here two months. [Though honestly it feels so much longer than that. Time in Heaven seems to flow strangely.] A short amount of time, but life in the Far Shore has treated me well.

[After holding the door for Anubis, Lu Meng follows the god inside. The living room isn't too far from the main door; furnished with comfortable sofas, with an open glass door to allow plenty of sunlight and fresh air in, it's certainly a nice room to entertain guests in.

Should Xehanort look around further, he'll see a mantlepiece with a couple of photo frames on display; Lu Meng is in some of the photos, along with a young, cheery woman with green hair.]

Please, have a seat. I shall fetch some tea. Would you prefer western or eastern teas, sir?

[There's something like a smile, but on a jackal's face it isn't exactly the nicest expression; some things simply don't translate well to nonhuman faces.]

I can't imagine seeing a giant two-legged dog is good for any cat..

[He's not going to take it personally, it seems. There's a murmured 'thank you' when the door is held open, the interior far more what he'd come to expect of the city than any old temples. Comfortable and pleasant.

He's going to have to prepare a similar place in his own temple..]

With such a peaceful setting as this, I think I can envy that time a little. This is a beautiful location. Do you tend to all of its upkeep yourself?

[There had been that pile of leaves earlier..

Although he had a further question, he pauses as he passes the photos, stopping to look at them. Something like amusement crosses his features - and that almost displays itself exactly as it might on a dog. If he had a tail, it might have wagged.]

Ah, is this the temple of the Goddess of Miracles? She was very kind to me not so long ago!

[And she'd declared herself his friend, though Xehanort still had trouble reciprocating such things. He's not completely distracted at least, turning back to Lu Meng quickly.]

I'm afraid I don't know the difference. I'll trust your judgment, sir.

The upkeep is shared between my lady and myself, though--

[--huh. Lu Meng stops in surprise when Xehanort comments on the photos.]

Oh, you've met Lady Kochiya? [What a small world. He looks at the photos, a slight smile cracking his serious demeanor.] I'm glad to hear that she's been kind to you. She's always trying to help as many people as she can. [Something like pride creeps into his voice. Eventhough it's just been two months, it's clear he's fond and proud of his goddess. But he's quick to reel in any sentimentality, and that stoic, formal tone returns. Perhaps a tinge warmer though.]

If my lady has helped you, then surely I must match her efforts. I will answer as many of your questions as I can.

A moment while I fetch the tea.

[And within five minutes he returns with two cups and a pot of green tea. Pouring a cup for Xehanort, he hands it to the god before taking a sit himself.]

Now, what would you like to ask?

Edited 2017-02-08 04:05 (UTC)

[The list of people Xehanort views favorably with few negatives is very, very short. Sanae happens to be on it. She hadn't hesitated to try to help, even though it hadn't worked she'd tried.

He picks a place to sit and settles there carefully. Sooner or later he would have had to run into her temple, it was rather nice that it was so soon. A pity she wasn't here though..

When Lu Meng returns with tea, he accepts a cup with one of those canine not-smiles. Whatever else might have happened today, at least this was going to be a pleasant visit.]

She certainly didn't hesitate to try to help me, a stranger at the time. I won't soon forget her kindness. Or yours, for that matter.

[Hospitality is also valuable!]

Happily my questions are not particularly invasive.. I think. It came to my attention during the beach party and later on that when we arrive here, shinki and god alike, there's much we wish or need to know that simply isn't told to us right away or easily discovered without doing a lot of asking around. I intend to remedy this, and write a small guidebook for the newly arrived. Being new myself, I know the sorts of troubles I ran into.. but other perspectives on what confused them, or they wished to know upon waking here, would also be invaluable. So here I am, to find out.

[He gestures a bit with his free hand before wrapping it around the cup again. It smelled good, not unlike one of the teas Master Ansem favored..]

[ At first she thinks it's a guy in a (fox?) costume. But she's surprised and thoroughly amused by the fact that the head is actually real, with twitching ears and talking mouth. And he even offers to carry her things. What a polite sort of fox! ]

Oh, I would.

[ Since he's offering, and all. She offers up one of the bags. ]

[Now that he's offered, he's obliged. The offered bag is taken easily, its weight fairly negligable but sometimes it's just having so many things to juggle that makes things like doors or managing groceries troublesome!]

I apologize for visiting at such an inopportune time. If the door is unlocked, I can open it.

[Since he's interrupting and all.]

[That's a good answer- Chikusa had started to casually reach into his pockets, staring straight at their visitor with a blank gaze. At the clarification, however, his thumbs merely hook into the pockets, waiting but not immediately getting his yoyos.]

[Izuku's temple is a Japanese style apartment building so it might take Xehanort a while before he hits the actually occupied apartment.

Assuming he didn't get frustrated with the sheer number of empty rooms, he'll reach it to Izuku's eventually.]

Hello. I don't think we've met.

... Alright. You can come in.

[There's something about his voice... oh well, he's probably just heard him at the party or something.

Axel holds the door open and moves out of the way. The hallway it opens into is longer than the building is deep.]

There's a parlor-type room, first door on your left.

[And the couch in it has tuna cans hidden within. Thanks, Chikusa.]

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