Inbox: Golden Peacock

[philancer]

@philancer

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@philancer
25 / male / yes / 7♦️

About Photos Questions Personality Compatibility

Details

My Self-Summary

Back home, I'm a noble, the son of a Margrave, but for most of my life I've been a knight and a soldier. I'm mostly just looking for a good time and people who are open-minded enough to enjoy it with me, maybe try out some new things. There's a lot here I've never gotten to experience and I'm interested in changing that.



Outside of that, I'm a connoisseur of fine food and fine teas. I enjoy cooking, gardening, horseback riding, chess, and discussing a wide variety of topics, whether it's art, fiction, theoretical ideals, or more esoteric topics.

My Future Plans

Enjoying myself to the fullest here. Making conections and meeting new people. Experiencing all this place has to offer and finding those interested in exploring it with me.

My Talents

Varied and many. I had a robust interest in pursuing pleasures of all sorts back home and I hope to keep expanding that knowledge and skillset here.

Favorite Books, Movies, Music, and Food

I enjoy books on a variety of topics, but I've never seen a movie. Plays and operas are far more common in my world and a comparible form of entertainment. I like a wide variety of dishes and have a fondness for trying new dishes from distant places. I have a fondness for spices and rich flavors.

My Ideal Partner

I'm very adaptable and tend to adjust to whoever I'm with, making this a very broad category, since I have a varied taste in companions as well, depending on my mood. I find people interesting and like as many varieties here as I do in my favorite dishes.

Height 6'1 Body Type broad and muscular Smokes only when casting fire spells Drinks yes Drugs only healer prescribed Sign ...Gemini? Apparently?? Education Garreg Mach Officer's Academy Occupation Noble Paladin Income ... Children dear goddess no Pets Felix Horses Hobbies Reading, cooking, chess, tea, horseback riding, hiking. not dying.

art credit: one. two. three. four. five.

01. WINE OR BEER

both, depends on the atmosphere

.02 CLOWNS OR MIMES

neither

.03 SHOWER OR BATH

yes

.04 PIRATES OR NINJAS

what does this even mean??? and what's a nija?

.05 TITS OR ASS

yes

.06 COFFEE OR TEA

tea, although coffee is interesting, i will have to try more of it

.07 SPICY OR SWEET

spicy

.08 SUMMER OR WINTER

both have their fine qualities

.09 LEATHER OR LACE

depends on who's wearing it. some people are just very much one or the other.

10. ROUGH SEX OR GENTLE SEX

yes

Personality Type
Campaigner: ENFP-A

ENERGY

79%

Extraverted

MIND

55%

Intuitive

NATURE

61%

Feeling

TACTICS

61%

Prospecting

IDENTITY

61%

Assertive

personality test. art credit.

hover for rating.

Comments

[abit_ofboth]

[This message is sent around 8:30 in the morning the day they planned to get tea.]

Good morning. I just wanted to let you know that I ended up showing up to the tea house a little early. So I am here if you are available a bit early.

I look forward to meeting you in person and try out some of their options here.

-Loki

[philancer]

[ Sylvain does answer the text - partially because he’s still figuring out how this watch thing works, being a completely foreign concept to him and partly because, well.

He’s really not a morning person. At all.

But he does wander into the tea shop about five to ten minutes later, showing he actually had been almost ready to go, he might have just hurried through his morning routine a little faster than intended.

He’s still yawning, too, looking a little ruffled from sleep, although his hair can look pretty tousled normally.

He glances around, trying to find someone that looked like the image that had come with the messages of the person he’d been conversing with. At least he hoped that’s what he looked like? Maybe they should have come up with a code word or something.

Spotting a head of dark hair, he heads in the man’s direction, hoping he’d found the right person. ]

Loki?

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki isn’t sure if he’s a morning person or not. He just doesn’t particularly sleep with any consistent schedule. He does enjoy early hours though. Watching the sun rise with a nice cup of tea is always pleasant. It’s just that sometimes he’s not gone to bed yet and sometimes he’s just gotten up.

He takes a seat at a table that would allow for some privacy, but where he can still see the door and refrains from ordering until Sylvain arrives. The tea house has a wide variety of teas to choose from and he’s looking over the menu when the other man arrives.

As soon as he hears his name, he looks up and smiles, standing out of politeness.].

Sylvain? Well met. I already wish to thank you for telling me of this place. Their selection is quite impressive.

[philancer]

[ Sylvain’s enjoyed more than his fair share of sunrises before he’s slept before, but that tends to be a bad habit back in his realm. Or a consequence of being out on the town all night.

When the man rises to greet him, he smiles and inclines his head in greeting, a crooked smile slipping across his lips. ]

Oh, good. I got here and then realized I wasn’t sure how to find whoever I was supposed to be meeting. And you’re welcome, although that’s very good news to hear. Please, sit and be comfortable again. [ And he’ll move to do the same, sinking down across from where Loki had seated himself, reaching for one of the menus for this place. ] Did you spot anything to appeal to you? Or is it more trying to decide which to sample first?

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki is also no stranger to being up all night for pleasurable reasons. There were many a feast thrown at the palace that had him, Thor and Thor’s friends drinking well into the night. Those were often the best times to watch a sunrise.

The crooked smile he receives in return is rather charming, and the one on his own face softens slightly.]

Ah yes, I am afraid I have been doing a lot of guessing myself when meeting people here. You’d think I would get better and making sure people know who I am. [He shrugs at that though. He’s really just used to people knowing who he is.

Loki takes his seat again and waves over a server.]

I am going to start with their Earl Grey. It is my personal favourite and should be relatively easy to master. I figure if they can do that right, then there is a higher chance that the others will be good as well.

[philancer]

[ Sylvain’s actually enjoying not being infamous for a little while, so he’s offering no complaints about being unknown.

There is a flicker of confusion on his face when Loki lists off his favorite tea, because he has no idea who Earl Grey is meant to be, or what kind of tea it is. Then again, he doesn’t expect them to have Seiros tea, either. Albinean Berry and Almyran Pine are probably also out, considering their origins, but there might be something similar. ]

As long as they have a decent cup of Bergamot, I’ll be content.

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki isn’t sure yet if he likes not being famous now or not. Anonymity has its perks for sure, but being famous never really prevented Loki from doing what he wanted anyway. Though his reputation sometimes made things a bit harder.

There’s a brief moment where Sylvain’s confusion causes Loki to be a little confused himself. Though it quickly occurs to him that wherever Sylvain is from, they likely don’t have the same teas. Or perhaps they just go by different names. There are plenty of fine teas from Asgard, but one of the things that Loki thinks humans do well is their tea… unless you are in the United States. They have no tea game at all.]

I have not tried that one. What is its flavour profile?

[Yes, Loki is that kind of tea nerd.]

[philancer]

[ Considering Sylvain is from the Fodlan equivalent of the British Isles, they’re just as particular about their tea. But spotting what he wanted on the menu - they do have Bergamot! - he slides it across the table, fingertip tapping on the entry so Loki could see for himself, since he seemed to know a great deal about tea as well. ]

Here it is, this one.

[ Which, Loki will find, sounds an awful lot like Earl Grey. Because it is. Ironic, that. ]

[abit_ofboth]

[So Sylvain is from his world’s version of the British Isles and Loki sounds like he’s from there. What else might they almost have in common? Well, it would seem they have the same tastes in tea.

Loki looks down at the menu as Sylvain taps on the description of Bergamot and a small smile spreads across his face.]

I do believe we have ordered similar teas. Perhaps I shall order yours next to see if there is much of a difference at all.

[With that, Loki makes his order and lounges back in his seat.]

So, tell me more about yourself. What else do you like besides tea?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain does the same, crossing his arms atop the table when he’s finished and leaning on it comfortably. ]

Oh, I dunno, a lot of things. Reading, every now and then. I’ve a knack for chess and strategy games, when I’m bored. Horseback riding. I dabble a little at gardening, herbal lore, cooking. Sometimes helping out the healers when they need an extra hand.

[ He shrugs, as if that’s not a very wide variety of interests. He’s more of a jack of all trades than deeply passionate about one thing or another. ]

What about you?

[abit_ofboth]

Sounds like you like to keep yourself busy. I hope this place didn’t take you away from anything too important.

[It’s quite a hefty list, many of which Loki enjoys himself. Or things he had enjoyed before his life fell apart and was rebuilt again.]

I do enjoy a good game of chess as well and I used to help my mother out with her garden when I was younger. I enjoy reading and listening to music, especially of the orchestral variety. Otherwise, when I had time, I would work on my magic. I was often trying to improve or create something new.

I wonder if they allow for any of that sort of thing here or if they will turn every hobby we have into some sort of sex game.

[As much as Loki does enjoy sex, he thinks anything could be overdone.]

[philancer]

[ He gives a quiet snort of laughter, threading his fingers on the tabletop in front of him. ]

Ehh. Just a war I’ve been stuck in for the past half a decade or so. [ Not all that important at all. ] I still haven’t decided whether I should be annoyed like everyone else, or send them a thank you card and a gift basket.

[ He does look intrigued at the mention of magic, though, leaning forward again. ]. You’re a mage, then? Did you study a particular school of magic? Or doesn’t it work like that in your world?

[abit_ofboth]

Ah yes. War isn’t something I would wish to return to either. [In a way, Loki is fighting a war of his own back home, though it is not the standard kind of battle he is used to. There is very much a fight though.] I suppose it depends on if the war is necessary and if you are integral to the fight. Even still I would be tempted to go with the card and gift basket option.


[Sylvain’s reaction causes him to smile warmly.] I am a mage yes. And yes, people do tend to pick a specialty, though I have a natural ability in a number of areas, I tend to favour conjuration and illusions. So you have magic users in your world then? Not everyone here has seen it before.

[philancer]

[ Sylvain gives a quiet sigh and his gaze goes distant for a moment, a faint frown on his face. The war is… complicated. Also, since Edelgard and Hubert are here, he has no idea what that means for back home. Are they still even fighting? ]

I don’t think I’m integral to it, but as for the rest of it… I guess that depends on who you ask, really. The Empire seemed pretty intent on invading our country, but as the Empress and her second in command are currently here, I’m not exactly sure where that leaves everyone else. [ He shrugs, because it’s not like there’d be a lot he could do about it either way. ]

And yeah, we do. I haven’t studied a lot of it myself but I know some. Magic in my world is divided into studies of Faith and Reason. Faith is a lot of defensive, support, and healing magic, but it does employ some Light magic for offensive purposes. Reason is more elemental-based, and far more offensive and dangerous in nature.

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki thinks war is always complicated. It is something he was born into, something that changed his whole life. How different could things have been if Jotunheim and Asgard had never become foes? If his people had won? If Odin hadn’t found and taken him home? The possibilities were endless.]

I suppose that is true for any conflict. Though I can see how it would change a lot if the people responsible in part for that conflict are removed from the scenario. I would suppose it would depend on if they are from the same branch as you are, if it affects you specifically. Or if they are variants from another line. I do hope it means all is well in your homeland for as long as they are here. [Again, so many possibilities and more every second as more and more people make different decisions and branch off further and further… Loki shakes his head as if to clear it, returning his attention to the man across from him.]

I do not believe I have ever come across magic divided quite like that. Or rather, referred to in that way. I would have to say I would fall more into your Faith category, though I am able to use magic offensively as well, most of what I do is to trick my opponents so I can manipulate the situation. I don’t always use my magic when in direct battle.

So tell me, what kind of magic can you employ?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain blinks for a moment, confused, because he'd gotten lost about halfway through that answer. ]

...Branch? [ What are variants and a line of what? ] But thank you, I hope that as well.

[ At least the magic part he knows enough about to explain. Or at least bluff his way through it enough to make it seem that way. He wasn't a full-blown mage by any stretch of the imagination, although he had employed quite a bit of it when armored up as a dark knight on the battlefield. ]

I have a basic grasp of healing magic - mostly from necessity on the battlefield or helping my healer friends when they were short on hands or overwhelmed. But mostly I wielded a lot of elemental spells. Fire was my specialty, apparently I had an affinity for it. [ Which had surprised him as well as his professors. Then again, he'd always purposefully downplayed a lot about himself at the Academy. ]

[abit_ofboth]

[Loki takes a deep breath and sighs. He might appear annoyed, but he’s not upset with Sylvain. He’s simply not used to having to explain himself so much. He really needs to come up with a simplistic and generic description of what he does just so he doesn’t keep running into this situation.]

I am sorry, please ignore me when I go on such rants. I get a little caught up in what I was taken away from and forget most are not aware of what I am talking about.

[He’s relieved when the conversation merely stays on magic use after that. Just to have someone that believes magic exists and has some working knowledge of it makes Loki happy right now.]

Elemental spells? I have some abilities concerning that. I do enjoy the usefulness of fire, but I actually have natural abilities with ice. It is less about my magical affinity and more about my physiology, but it works out about the same in results. Is there anything of yours you can show me? Or are they all meant for the battle field? [Loki wants to see something, but he also doesn’t think accidentally burning down the tea house is a great plan either. They have all the tea!]

[philancer]

[ If only Sylvain realized Fodlan and all it’s paths were just the sort of thing Loki would recognize. Not that he knows there’s different paths himself, of course, but that confusion is sure to come up eventually.

As for the magic…

He makes a face for a moment, contemplating what he can do. ]

The fire magic is too volatile for in here, unfortunately. A healing spell would be simple enough, though. Although you’d probably feel it more than see it.

[ But he stretches out his hand across the table anyway, palm up, waiting and letting Loki decide if he was alright with that or not. ]

[abit_ofboth]

[Perhaps one day this topic of conversation would come up for them again at a time when Loki is more willing to explain, though he doubts it will matter. It really is rather complicated and he doesn’t expect anyone to understand. Not that they need to.

Loki can’t help the slight look of disappointment when his initial thought proves correct. It would seem abilities concerning fire were dangerous no matter where you are from.] I suspected as much, but I thought I might ask anyway.

[As Sylvain holds out his hand, Loki doesn’t have to think twice. Of course he wants to feel it. He stretches out his hand in return and places it in Sylvain’s rather large one. He watches the other man’s face, trying to read him as he waits to see what happens next.]

action; garden date

[deferences]

[after helping sylvain struggle through a few back-and-forth messages on the watch, they've eventually solidified a time and place to meet up. as decided, the cloud dwelling garden is probably their best bet; the place will be (mostly) quiet and they won't have to worry about being coerced into doing anything they don't currently want to. (unless, of course, one of them ends up getting too close to an aphrodisiac flower—) which, sizhui's actually keeping in the back of his mind as a reminder, thanks to jin guangyao's warning before.

some things really don't ever change, it seems.

dressed in a blue pullover, black skinny-legged jeans and matching boots with three paper cups in his hands; one is chamomile, another is earl grey and the third is coffee, something he and sylvain had talked about trying before, so he figured why not give it a go now? he's waiting patiently outside the entrance to the garden, hoping the ever-growing crowd won't be too much when sylvain comes to find him.

sure, he could go sit on one of the benches nearby, but he imagines that would make him even less noticeable compared to his standing around while others are milling about. it's a little unsettling, how quickly people appear, and yet he pays them no mind, keeping a keen eye out for the single person he's expecting.]

[philancer]

[ Sylvain might actually find it pretty fascinating - if unfortunately too accurate, if those from his home start comparing notes and timelines anytime soon. They can table it for another day, perhaps.

But relieved he can at least show the man something - since flinging around fireballs and opening up lava rifts inside seemed to be a very bad idea, in his mind - he lets his fingers curl about Loki’s wrist as he closes his eyes to focus.

Reason magic, he’s found - especially the elemental branches - always seemed to react more strongly to surges of emotion, or adrenaline. At least when he was using it. Perhaps it was the chaotic nature of their composition or maybe he’d just spent more time calling on it on the battlefield rather than practicing it in a classroom setting. It always came stronger for him when tension was high.

Faith magic, on the other hand, always came easier when he could quiet his mind and calm his body. It didn’t come as naturally to him as his fire magic, but he’d honed it all the same. Mostly to help Mercedes or Annette triage the wounded after a battle. He couldn’t do much, but he could keep many alive long enough for a true healer to get to them and sometimes those extra minutes were just enough.

Now, though, he reaches for that well of power and coaxes it through his body and into the other man, using their shared contact as a connection point to funnel it through. His fire magic was often like loosing an arrow or heaving his spear, but Faith magic was more like tipping a cup just enough to let a trickle of much-needed water over the edge.

He’s not sure what it would feel like to Loki, but to him, it had always started as a warm rush of sensation beneath the surface, followed by a cool tingling in its wake. Since Loki isn’t actually wounded or ill right now, he doesn’t release it into the man with a specific direction in mind, so instead the magic will wash through him like a balm, easing whatever it finds in its path instead. ]

[philancer]

[ He shows up a couple minutes late, looking a little tousled and out of breath, but he breaks into a grin when he spots someone matching the little image he’d figured out how to see on his watch. Which was still weird, despite the lessons he’d been getting on how to use the damn thing.

Hurrying in Sizhui’s direction, he lifts his hand in a wave of greeting as he approaches, jogging to close the distance. ]

Hey! [ He comes to a stop, resting his hands on his knees as he shoots the other young man a grin and takes a moment to catch his breath. ] Sorry if I kept you waiting. The, uh, elevator was apparently feeling frisky today and kept giving the other passengers ideas.

[ He grimaces, and then glances down to straighten his tshirt - no erotic or graphic logo today, at least, just a plain dark grey. Clearly someone had been trying to get handsy, however, and he’s looking a little rumpled. ]

[deferences]

[it isn't wholly surprising that sylvain is late. not because that's what sizhui expects, but because he can imagine how one might get swept up in the crowd— or groped by the elevator and its inhabitants at the time, apparently.

sizhui would've ordinarily waved back if his hands weren't full, but for what it's worth, he does brighten and politely incline his head in greeting.] Hello! [when sylvain stops, his head tips sideways, considering his ruffled state, his eyebrows lifting in surprise at the remark.] It's okay, you needn't worry about that. The... elevator, you said? [and its passengers, of course, that's not nearly as shocking; people will take whatever they can get, it seems.

oh-so-carefully, he tucks the cups into the crook of one arm and steps closer, outstretching the freed hand to help sylvain straighten his shirt.] You weren't injured or anything, were you?

late january; vr shenanigans

[veardant]

Are you available?

[philancer]

I can be. What's up? Did you need something?