[Nexus/Town] The Temple of Inari XLIX

[Fenric]

Myobi shakes her head

It was more odd than bad, really: we lost our association to the Nexus for a while. That caused more than a bit of a muddle, and only recently was sorted out... only to end up with us back here again after all!

[Chaotic Bob]

Well that certainly doesn't sound very good to Kara, but as long as it's resolved now, she seems relatively better about it.
Enough to start smiling again at least.

"That's good! I don't think I make a very good replacement for everyone here, so we kinda need you around!"

[Fenric]

Myobi smiles a trifle embarrassedly

We do apologize for that. We certainly plan to keep our more usual availability now!

[Chaotic Bob]

"Sounds pretty good to me! Surprisingly few temples that sit in the public eye anymore, open availableness or not..."
Which is almost akin to something actually mature coming from Karaglen.

"Still gotta fix that somehow."

[Fenric]

Myobi shakes her head

To have a temple requires followers devoted enough to dedicate themselves. Adventurers tend to just not be that sort.

She sighs, then looks up

Things may not all be exactly as you remember them - the Nexus is a strange place, and losing continuity can make for changes.

[Baeleck]

It would seem the temple has a new arrival. A young half-drow, wrapped up in a long cloak that swamps his small form, has entered the temple grounds. He walks up the avenue towards the main building, booted feet crunching softly on the gravel, and bright blue eyes flicking apprehensively around the gardens. The pine trees weren't as tall and regal as he remembered, but it had been a long while since he'd last been in the temple.

It still felt just as safe, at least. That he is glad for.

Upon reaching the sanctum, the adolescent pauses in the doorway and takes a deep breath. The place was quieter than before too - aside from the priests there was barely anyone about. He swallows hard, then strides forwards, with a sort of nervous determination.

[Fenric]

Well, looks like the youngster is in luck. Fur white as snow, eyes like amethyst, dressed in the sky blue with navy trim kimono of a third-rank priestess: Myobi herself is still here.

Greetings, and the blessings of Inari be upon you. What can we do for you, today?

[Chaotic Bob]

"This city has many who should be able to devote something...but I guess I see your point."
Karaglen sounds mildly frustrated, but shrugs it off with a sigh.

Her sense of duty could not be displaced onto others, she knew. Wasn't entirely fair to expect so highly of others with their own problems and lives.

She places her gaze on the temple's latest guest and puts on her best fangy smile.
No need to scare the sort of thing she was just asking for.
Better let Myobi do the talking though, its her turf again.

[Baeleck]

'Hello,' the boy says, giving a quick yet respectful bow. 'I was hoping I could do something for you, actually. Um... my name's Urias Starsailor.'

The name might ring a bell with Myobi, though Urias has changed a bit since their last encounter. The small, shy half-drow child from before was now a... well, slightly less small, slightly less shy teenager.

'You probably don't remember me, but I stayed here in the temple for a while, when I was younger. The priests here looked after me and my mum. I'd... I'd like to help out at the temple here, if I might - as a way to say thank you, I guess - well, if you need someone to help, that is.'

He shuffles consciously on the spot when he notices Karaglen watching, but does offer a faint smile in return.

[Fenric]

Myobi nods to Karaglen

Yes, I personally would agree with you, but it is sad how often it does not work out that way.

Myobi's ears fold apologetically

I do apologize, but we have had a rather disorienting time, and much of my memory is scrambled and uncertain. And we are always looking for help, young man!

Myobi tilts her head

What is it that you would like to do? What are you good at?

[Chaotic Bob]

Karaglen doesn't have much of a response further along that, that isn't uncharacteristically broody of her.
Nobody likes a broody dragon.

Besides! There's this young fellow here, hoping for some way to get involved!
Have to keep chipper, give him a good impression.
Not make him feel like he's being judged by the Bale Council of Fang and Claw.

Which...actually maybe she should stop looking like a fable monster. Humans and the like always seem more comfortable when she has less spiky bits.


The dragon shifts back over to her more elven appearance, and settles about making sure she seems properly un-intimidating.

There!
All the better for standing nearby in an unassuming fashion.

[Baeleck]

While Myobi talks, Urias swings the duffel bag from his shoulder and lets it slide to the ground with a dull 'fwump'. It looks heavy, especially for a boy of Urias's size.

'It's fine. I wouldn't expect you to remember,' Urias tells her, smiling earnestly. 'It was a long time ago.'

Myobi's questions are met with some enthusiasm. Urias looks up at her, his bright blue eyes meeting her gaze. 'Well, I'm a healer really, though I'm sure you have enough priests here for all that. Otherwise... I can cook well? I don't know. I just want to help out, however I can.' Though he's an able fighter, Urias doesn't feel it prudent to mention it. This was a temple, after all.

Looking around again, Urias sees that the grinning dragon has vanished. The young elven girl in its place seemingly goes unspotted by the boy. Not being noticed is unassuming in its own way, one might suppose.

[Fenric]

Myobi shakes her head

You'd be surprised how poor priests really are at healing!

She puts her hands on her hips, and her ears flick up as she looks toward the temple hospital.

Yes, I have plenty of followers who can cast the basic spells: They are quite adept at closing debris inside of wounds. They excel at curing diseases that the person's own body would have handled well enough and in so doing setting the poor soul up for a second round, and worse, round of illness. They truly shine at wasting magic on people who just needed a bit of willow-bark tea and some rest because what they had was a hangover, not a disease.

She sighs exasperatedly, then looks back at Urias.

Our last proper healer left quite some time ago, and we've been far the worse for it.


(( Personally, I think the fantasy priests always seemed to make better pharmacists than doctors ))

[Baeleck]

'I like to think I'm a little better than that,' Urias says, wrinkling his nose slightly. 'I may not be especially gifted with magic, but that hasn't stopped me helping people back home.' He might be young, but he's learnt a lot from back home. Living on an active war-front has been pretty good for giving him first-hand experience.

'Magic isn't a panacea. Just a useful tool,' he says, sagely. It sounds like he might be quoting someone.

[Fenric]

Myobi smiles

Then I think you can fit in quite nicely: Our healers generally wear green robes, to help distinguish them from the priesthood who are in various shades of blue. You are not required to wear robes, of course, but if you choose not to then we ask that you wear a green vest.

[Baeleck]

'That' great.' Urias beams, bouncing slightly on his heels in excitement. 'I'd rather wear something a little more... free to move in, I think. Yes, a vest is fine. Should I buy my own, or...?'

Perhaps he could find a robe which is easy to move in, if he had the time. He'd rather not look too out of place here, so it might be worth his time. His voice trails off into silence as he ponders the idea.

[Chaotic Bob]

A slight hand sticks out from behind Myobi, jiggling a somewhat...loved vest in its fingers.

Where did Karaglen acquire this article of clothing?
Where does she acquire anything she wears?

...
Little clothing store three blocks down, she's friends with the owner's sister.

[Fenric]

Myobi smiles, not noticing Karaglen's offer.

If you wish for a robe, we should have something to fit. Otherwise, we would reimburse you for any reasonable uniform costs.

[Baeleck]

'I think I'll... um, I'll go out and find...'

Urias seems distracted by something behind Myobi. As such, he cranes his head sideways to see who might be hiding behind the priestess.

'Um, hello...' he says to Karaglen, blinking in mild bemusement. 'Is that for me?'

[Chaotic Bob]

Not the prettiest of vests, but certainly comfortable, Karaglen thinks it should be rather suitable for the task at hand.
She'd been planning on giving it to someone else, but then the Nexus dropped into this version of the Temple halfway through.

With that in mind, Urias becomes the recipient of her practiced Best Friend Smile. Sometimes it even works!
"If you want it! I think anyone who's willing to give the temple a hand deserves a freebie or two."

[Baeleck]

'Thank you, miss.' Urias politely nods, smiling meekly. Feeling awkward about talking through Myobi, he sidesteps a pace or two over, taking the offered vest. He holds it up to himself, tilting his head in contemplation. 'Seems like a good fit. What do people think?' His eyes flick between Myobi and Karaglen, hoping for words of agreement.

Thier responses regardless, Urias folds the vest over carefully and places it atop his bag. 'Is there a place I can leave my things? I'd like to go out and get some food shortly. It's been a long day of travel for me.' Mostly on account of getting lost for a good few hours.

[Fenric]

Myobi chuckles

Thank you, Karaglen. It looks fine, Urias.

And yes, you can leave your things in the storage room over there

She points to the third store-room on the left, facing the altar

Check with the Head of Housekeeping when you return about which room you have been assigned to, your belongings will be there.

(( And unless you really want to do that meeting "live" for some reason, hand-waving is fine ))

[Chaotic Bob]

A cheesy little thumbs up is supplied in answer to Urias' first question and then Karaglen resumes her "being slightly but not really in the background" task.

She's sort of just being nosy at the moment.

[Baeleck]

'Alright, thank you again,' Urias says, hauling his things over to the room and slipping them just inside the door. There's a pause as he rummages around inside, before returning with a small, empty shoulder-bag.

'I'll be back as soon as I can. Would you like me to fetch anything while I'm gone?' From the way he phrases it, it sounds like he's still addressing both of them.

[Fenric]

Myobi shakes her head

No, not at this time.

[Chaotic Bob]

Karaglen takes a moment to answer, before probably realizing that "Oh wait, maybe I was being addressed too".
Which is waved off with an easy enough:
"I'm okay! Thanks for the thought!"

Although celebratory cookies sounds good, that's not a selfish whim she'll impose on the poor boy.
He'd only just arrived to fulfill one selfish want as it is!

[Fenric]

But regardless of changes in backstory and current situation, Myobi can still read OOC text.

Cookies would be nice, wouldn't they?

She reaches into extra-dimensional space and pulls out ginger-snaps.

How about these?

(( Hey!! ))

[Chaotic Bob]

Karaglen and her narrator could bother to be surprised/amused by this, or she could grow an even bigger grin and laugh.
"Well if you're offering, they look pretty great to me!"

Who's she to say no to tasty little treats that she was secretly wanting anyway?

[Baeleck]

Urias's player wouldn't stand for his characters reaching through the fourth wall and stealing his biscuits. That would never do.

'I'll be back as quick as I can,' Urias declares, grinning broadly at both parties.

Without any further delay, he begins to hurry out of the temple...

...before nipping back to grab a ginger snap. A snack for the road.

[Fenric]

Cookies were nommed, fun was had. And there was night, and there was morning: another day.

Myobi has returned to the celestial plane, and the day's NPC priest has come from WinterHearth to fill in for her cousin. There is a respectful murmur among the Town acolytes and priests, no matter how many times their guest tells them to be at ease: she is dressed in robes of faintest ice blue woven together with finest silver threads and silvery silk, and the trim is a blue as dark as midnight...

a seventh rank priestess is visiting today!