[X]Hot Spring Episode - Champions and their guest have a small shindig to celebrate being alive at the Hotspring with light food and refreshments. Swimsuits required.
[X]Luna and Ramona
[X]Hot Spring Episode - Champions and their guest have a small shindig to celebrate being alive at the Hotspring with light food and refreshments. Swimsuits required.
[X]Luna and Ramona
Yeah but I don't think the Americans would cheat us right now especially we're currently in a situation where we feel gratitude towards them and have a pretty good reputation with them. Playing fair with us now would most likely be more profitable in the long run.Originally Posted by Malorius
You are seriously overestimating the importance of good relationships with us. Shinji is one person with some personal and political potential. PoAP, though? That's the world-changing stuff.Yeah but I don't think the Americans would cheat us right now especially we're currently in a situation where we feel gratitude towards them and have a pretty good reputation with them. Playing fair with us now would most likely be more profitable in the long run.
I don't expect any real problems from it anymore, I guess. It's not like we intend to benefit from it, apparently.
[X] Hot SpringEpisodeParty - Champions and their guest have a small shindig to celebrate being alive at the Hotspring with light food and refreshments. Swimsuits required.
[X] Luna and Ramona
Choice 478: [X] Hot Spring Episode Party - Champions and their guest have a small shindig to celebrate being alive at the Hotspring with light food and refreshments. Swimsuits required.
Choice 479: [X] Luna and Ramona
Writing in progress.
"Between the other Champions and my sister, who looks better in a swimsuit?" - Gabrielle Delacour
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
"I plead the fifth?" - Matou Shinji
Silly SL, we are past that point already! We don't have to conform to harem tropes if Shinji has an official girlfriend~
Although "No, you!" kind of answer is attractive indeed. Gabrielle is below our age group enough for it to work, heh.
Chapter 116. Unwinding
With his ownership rights over the potions he’d invented signed away for what he considered a fair price, Matou Shinji thought that perhaps he could finally – finally – afford to relax. With the US Government forgiving his loss of the last suit, unlocking the features of the one he had now, and agreeing to grant him papers certifying his competence, he rather thought he’d dealt with most of the bad ends that could await if – no, when – he was kicked out of Britain after the Championship.
‘It will be a strange thing, not going to Hogwarts after so many years, but I think I’ll manage…’
It wasn’t as if Britain was his home anymore – not after this year.
…pity, since he’d bought a home there.
‘I wonder what’s going to happen to that once I leave…’ he wondered, but then shook his head. That wasn’t something he could control – especially if Luna decided to come with him, which seemed likely if she was asking Japan to extract her father from Britain. ‘Ah well. I guess I’ll have to let the Maiden know about that so she can shut down the connection from my house to Japan.’
It wouldn’t do for Britain to stumble upon proof that he was a criminal who deliberately flouted British law, even if it was true. After all, proof could be incredibly damaging to his reputation, while without it, Britain was simply a rogue nation making meaningless accusations.
“Speaking of the party though,” he said aloud, hoping to change the topic to something more pleasant, “maybe we should organize something. A small celebration just for the Champions and their guests.”
Ramona raised a slim eyebrow.
“If you’re trying to convince me you’re not an alcoholic, you’re not doing a particularly good job...”
“No, I—it doesn’t have to have alcohol,” Shinji replied, shaking his head. “it’s just…look I…I think we’re all lucky to be alive,” he stated. “Much less to have done as well as we did.”
“Speak for yourself, Matou,” Ramona quipped, with the boy just bowing his head.
“I am. I mean, I know that I’m incredibly lucky to be alive – to stand on the podium next to someone like you, given how much more skilled you are than I,” he admitted. “I just…I think it would a good thing to have something for us – for all of those who risked their lives out there, trying to show the world what we capable of.”
“And you think a party is the way to do it?”
“It was the only thing that came to mind,” Shinji said defensively, before sighing. “Besides, I feel bad for Ka’aukai, since he never got to celebrate after we came back from the wilds. Not with that…filth that Sajyou-senpai removed from him.”
“…true,” the Champion of Qausuittuq noted, closing her eyes for a moment. “With that you have a point. If I recall correctly, Ka’aukai should be released from the infirmary later today, so I suppose we could have a small gathering for just the Champions and…a guest.” She smiled slightly. “Did you have anything special in mind?”
“Um…” Shinji wracked his mind, trying to think of something everyone might enjoy. “Maybe…something involving the hot springs?” He’d heard they were good for people recovering from illness or injury, and he found them relaxing. “I don’t think that would be too much to ask, would it?”
“I suppose not, even if it seems to me like you just want an excuse to see Lestrange in her swimsuit,” Ramona quipped.
“I – no!” the boy exclaimed, trying to defend his honor. “Besides, I’ve already seen her naked before!”
The Champion of Qausuittuq’s expression froze at this, with the Inupiat woman just staring at the British Champion for a moment and muttering something about there usually being some truth to rumors.
“…you have, have you?” she asked coolly.
“…when we bathed together,” Shinji explained, though Ramona seemed surprised by this. “Back at Durmstrang.”
“Bathed together. So, you two were…intimate, then?” the young woman asked delicately.
“N-no! Not at all!” the boy exclaimed, his cheeks pinking just slightly. “It’s not like that! Don’t get the wrong idea!” He groped for words to explain the situation. “I mean, it wasn’t just her. Fleur – the French Tri-Wizard Champion – she was there too.”
“I do seem to recall something about you and the French Tri-Wizard Champion – whose sister is their Potions Champion’s guest – being intimate,” Ramona noted. “So was it a ménage-a-trois then?”
“…” Matou Shinji gaped, his mouth working up and down like a fish out of water at this not-so-innocent question, though no sounds came out. “Uh…” he tried again, though he couldn’t say any more than that. “I…no!” he finally managed. “I…I just needed her.”
“You needed her,” Ramona echoed, waggling her eyebrows.
“I needed her to keep Fleur under control once I told her that Britain was trying to honor her would be killers as heroes!” he snapped, before paling as he realized he’d just shouted at someone related to the American government – and who could probably disable his equipment as easily as she’d set it up for him. “I…we were working together. It’s…she didn’t really care if I saw her naked.” The boy said in a more subdued manner. “As if her body was just another tool to her.”
“Not exactly unusual for agents,” the Champion of Qausuittuq mentioned. “Or magi.”
Shinji started at the mention of magi, though he supposed that with Ramona knowing about American agents, and apparently having some ability to manipulate their armor, it shouldn’t really surprise him.
“…well, magi as they are supposed to be,” Shinji admitted, shaking his head as he thought of a certain young girl who was not at all like a typical magus. “Whether or not they are like that…” He shrugged. “Magi are only people.” He paused. “Well. Most people.” Then the boy shook his head. “Anyway, that’s not important. What’s important is that we should do something.”
Ramona nodded.
“You’re quite serious about this,” she noted.
“I am.”
“So…food, drink, getting messages out to the Champions and making sure their schedules are clear – this is not a small thing.”
“…I know, which is why I’m going to need help,” Shinji admitted, frowning. I don’t suppose you—”
“I suppose I can lend a hand, though really, you should ask Elesa about this kind of thing, or at least her secretary.”
“Her…secretary?” Shinji repeated, raising an eyebrow. The Champion of Ilvermorny had a secretary? What for? And more importantly… “Who…?”
“Her name is Eugenia, and she takes care of Elesa’s schedule back in America,” Ramona replied with a wry smile. “You will recall that Elesa is a popular model back in America?”
“Ah, yes,” the boy noted dryly. “How could one forget, after her arriving just in the nick of time, with a coconut in hand?”
That she was a model, the boy didn’t doubt – she certainly had the figure and poise for it. Though he wondered just how many in America knew of the roles she held beyond that.
“Well, because of that and…other commitments, she has a great many demands on her time,” Ramona explained. “Eugenia helps her manage all her competing responsibilities.”
“Huh,” Shinji grunted. “Where did Elesa find her?”
“She didn’t actually. Rebekah did, at the President’s request,” Ramona admitted, with a wry smile. “I don’t quite rate that.” Then her smile grew more genuine. “Then again, the President also arranged for the former World Champion to mentor me, so I don’t think I have much room to complain.”
The boy blinked, given that this revelation – that the President himself took part in seeing to the training and well-being of the American Champions – had…interesting implications about how important the MACUSA considered their Champions.
‘…and how much of a barely tolerated afterthought I was to Britain,’ he thought sourly.
“She’ll help out with something like this though?” Shinji asked. “Putting together a party like this?”
Ramona chuckled.
“Let’s just say it wouldn’t be the first time.”
With the matter of who would handle the arrangements sorted, the two Champions managed to sketch out a basic plan for the evening before Tomas returned with copies of the signed, sealed, and witnessed agreements from earlier.
“Here you go,” the automaton stated with a nod. “Do enjoy your last full day on the island, and remember, the closing ceremony tomorrow is not optional.” He smirked slightly. “Keep that in mind if you do have something…wild you are planning.”
“…noted,” Shinji replied curtly, knowing better than to give Tomas an opening by challenging him. “Your concern is…appreciated.” Then he frowned as something occurred to him. “Out of curiosity, what do you…all of you CAS representatives do on the night before the Closing Ceremonies.”
“We make sure all the paperwork is in order for those who will replace us for the next seven years,” the puppet replied dryly. “And that we have copies of everything CAS Headquarters would want us to know.” Tomas chuckled. “As you know, there are very few certainties in life. Among those, you know of death and taxes, but I am coming to believe that paperwork is one of them.”
“Good recordkeeping is necessary for the functioning of an organization,” Ramona noted.
“Yes, and as such, I begrudgingly acknowledge paperwork as a necessary evil,” Tomas agreed. “Much unlike death.”
Of course, paperwork was hardly the only necessary evil for someone like Matou Shinji, who, having come in second during the Championship, was expected to talk to the press – something he both loathed and was not particularly good at – at least when press didn’t simply mean “Luna.”
‘Though I guess maybe I’m not the best at talking to her either…’ he mused. He had rather botched things up earlier, and he had a feeling he was still on rather thin ice with her, given that while they were still physically intimate, there was a level of emotional distance that wasn’t there before, as if Luna was looking out for herself more instead of just deferring to him.
Cognizant that she wouldn’t wait for him forever, the boy headed back to his room so he could talk about their plans for the day – only to find her gone, leaving Shinji feeling like he’d messed up again, even if he didn’t know how.
‘But I left a note this time…’ he thought sadly, wondering if he’d taken too long, if she’d simply gotten tired of waiting for him to return.
If only…wait—
‘Huh, she left a note too,’ the boy realized, finding a slip of paper on the nightstand that said something to the effect that as a member of the press, Luna had to go and prepare to interview some of the Champions, both as a panel and as individuals, as today was really the first time they would be speaking about their experience on the island itself. She noted that in addition to Sajyou-senpai and Ramona, she particularly wanted to speak with Ka’aukai and Libatius – words that brought a sudden surge of jealousy and rage to the forefront. ‘How dare she?! How dare she want to speak with another ma—’
But before he could do more than snarl, the boy forced the molten rage to bleed out of him, with an orb of fire materializing in his hand as he shunted his negative emotions into his power, with the hypnotic dance of the contained flames helping to calm him down.
‘Fear…fear afflicts the fearful, the strong, the weak, the innocent, the corrupt. Fear…the crack in the foundation of every mind, yet the proof of courage. Fear…’
Unrestrained, unshackled, fear was paralyzing, leaving one just a step before total obliteration. But for one who could face fear, could allow it to simply pass through and out, could channel it and use it as he wished…
‘Fear is my ally.’
Saying this, he crushed the orb in his hand, letting the pain of the molten plasma on his skin help him to focus, with blackened flesh giving way to fresh scales, giving way to unblemished skin once more as he breathed, breathing the world into himself as his essence intermingled with the world outside him, allowing him to sense the people around him.
‘How like candles we all are, burning away little by little to nothingness…’ the boy thought, smiling a lopsided smile as he changed from the outfit given to him by the Americans into the robes he’d been granted by the Centre as one who stood upon the Winners’ Podium.
‘Robes of silver and black, granted those who are recognized as Fellows of the Centre of Alchemical Studies.’
Wearing that, plus his medal, should be enough to make him look as if he belonged among his fellow champions, he thought.
‘And maybe it will keep less friendly members of the press from asking inconvenient questions,’ he mused, hoping that his thoughts on the matter were at least close to the truth. With the press, after all, he needed all the help he could get.
Alas, the most difficult question of the day came not from one of the many journalists who interviewed him, but from Gabrielle Delacour at the gathering that night, one that seemed innocent enough at first glance, yet might yet unmake him utterly:
“Between Miss Lestrange, my sister, and ze others ‘ere, who do you think looks best in a swimsuit?”
Choice 480: Wearing his Order of Merlin medal, as well as the Robes of the Master Alchemist, the boy walked out to meet the Aurors, with Nymphadora Tonks greeting him neutrally, mentioning that they had been expecting him.
"You're here to take me to the Ministry, I presume?" he inquired
This was it then - the prelude to the end.
"Indeed," the metamorphmagus confirmed with a distant nod as she regarded the boy, a flicker of something crossing her face as she seemed to be reminded of something. "As you have returned from the isle, the Minister himself would like to hear your report."
Shinji raised an eyebrow at this.
"The Minister," he echoed. "Really?"
Not the Wizengamot or some minor functionary? This was a curious development.
"There are many rumors regarding the truth of what transpired on the isle, Champion Matou," the Auror explained, with Shinji's expression darkening at her words. "Rumors which have given rise to questions and...a few concerns that we hope you can settle for us."
Shinji blinked.
Wait...hadn't he just had a press conf--
'Oh. Right. Luna wouldn't have had the chance to file her story yet,' he realized. Which meant that making a favorable (last?) impression was up to him - and this time, it wasn't as if he could ask Lockhart for help, since he wasn't speaking to a reporter.
"...I'll certainly see what I can do," the boy said guardedly. "I don't know how much I can really shed light on things," he deflected. "It was confusing enough to me, and I was in the thick of it all."
"Is that so?" Tonks asked. "Well, do what you can. That is all anyone expects."
"That much I think I can manage," Shinji replied. "Lead the way."
With that, the honor guard of Aurors escorted him to the Ministry, where his wand is weighed and the particulars of it noted, with a comment on how unusual a coral core is.
"Not one of Ollivander's, is it?"
"No sir, I bought it in Japan," the boy replied.
"Ah yes, that would make sense. Proceed."
He was led through several labyrinthine passages, with his Auror escort being challenged - and giving responses - several times, before they arrived at last at a rather plain corridor, beyond which he could not feel the world around him.
'Huh?'
"One of the conference rooms the Department of Mysteries uses, wot," Tonks explained, gesturing for him to enter.
Inside, the Minister of Magic waited with his back turned, a silhouette looking out upon a wall that looked like a window into the void, with endless streams of fire and darkness interweaving with one another.
"Minister. The Champion is here," Auror Tonks said respectfully.
The silhouette nodded, taking another moment to look at the alien vista before him, before at last turning to the Champion and his Auror escorts.
"Ah, Mister Matou," the Minister greeted him, his eyes seeming quite blue against the darkness. "How nice to finally see one so...illusive in the flesh."
"The honor is mine, Minister," Shinji replied. "I heard that you wished to talk?"
"I do," the man agreed. "Shall I call for some refreshments? Something tells me this may be a bit of a long discussion, as you have done...quite a bit worth discussing."
Shinji couldn't quite tell whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, but...he supposed it wouldn't hurt to have some kind of refreshment. After all, a cup of tea could be something he could use as a tool to help him collect his thoughts, and if refreshment would set the Minister in a better mood, all the better.
"Why not?" he said finally, with the Minister of Magic smiling slightly.
"Excellent," the man stated, making a gesture as a table and chairs seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Perhaps he'd conjured them without a word? Or perhaps they'd been always been there, just disillusioned, as an additional layer of security in case he'd done something like charge the Minister. "Have a seat then."
How will Matou Shinji spin his tale of his time on the isle?
[ ] In a straightforward manner - laying out everything as best as he is able
[ ] In the manner of David vs Goliath - a plucky young boy challenging people far more skilled and powerful - and emerging victorious
[ ] Defensively - he did what he had to do. If someone questions him, they weren't there - they didn't see what he did
[ ] As him trying, but failing to reach the top, sabotaged by assassination attempts from the Russian and Indian Champions
[ ] (write-in)
Last edited by alfheimwanderer; February 24th, 2019 at 08:14 PM.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
Damn, this is a tough one.
[] As him trying, but failing to reach the top, sabotaged by assassination attempts from the Russian and Indian Champions
I'm tempted to go with this one mainly because it's the one that is likely to be most favorably viewed. However, I'm uncertain as to the possible long term impacts, especially if this is being recorded. Thoughts?
I mean this one Is kinda true.
[] As him trying, but failing to reach the top, sabotaged by assassination attempts from the Russian and Indian Champions
So civil, much gracious. Truly, Lucius is a nice guy.[ ] In the manner of David vs Goliath - a plucky young boy challenging people far more skilled and powerful - and emerging victoriousThat's totally true, as far as I'm concerned. We'd be best served by keeping our story straight. Maybe there is a recording device somewhere. Maybe there are some reporters disillusioned as witnesses (I'm looking at you, suspicious bug!). Maybe Lucius intends to replay our story later by the Pensieve or something. There are a lot of ways to be caught up later by our own story, without a need for lies. But most of all... Why would we need to throw mud - even if it's totally deserved - in the direction of our opposition? We didn't come here to make excuses. We came as a winner, and Malfoy should treat Shinji as such.Or, well, get on with the offers we can't refuse, as we have all been prepared for.- - - Updated - - -Hey, Alf, how many people received the Robes of Master Alchemist? The four winners or all participants? That's important for the meaning these Robes carry.
Last edited by Malorius; February 25th, 2019 at 10:22 AM.
The four winners.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
[x]In the manner of David vs Goliath - a plucky young boy challenging people far more skilled and powerful - and emerging victorious
This choice holds true with him being the underdog who everyone thought had no chance of making it to the podium. Shinji can't lay out what happened in a straightforward manner due to secrets he has to keep and no point being defensive since that would solve nothing and make him seem like what he did at Durmstrang. The choices he made there were backed up from only his words with no one else seeing why he did what he did.
He has no proof to show that the Russian and Indian champion were trying to assassinate him to it so it would seem as he is shifting blame. Depending on what the Press at the Isle releases from his interview it could also contradict whatever he said.
Last edited by Dracueri; February 24th, 2019 at 06:07 PM.
Ah yes, the good ol' Veritaserum test.
[x] Give a careful summary of what happened, omitting stuff that Lucius is not supposed to know / which Shinji is not allowed to discuss / that which could give the Ministry power over him (things such as his current nature, etc...).
In short, just acting as he was in Britain from the beginning. Sincere, but not revealing more than he has to.
Hey guys I am not sure either of these stories you are trying to tell them will hold muster against them.
David vs Goliath Spin - The worst of the two people are voting for. While very true from Shinji's POV, it will not fly at all to anyone listening. The ministry does not understand Ayaka's true level beyond the normal level that a Mahoutokoro champion is at cause they win all the time. Nor do they understand just how behind Shinji was in Potion knowledge or fighting. They do not see Lestrange as being a major potion brewer. Flat out to the Minister this is NOT a david vs Goliath.
A david does not polymorph as another champion and AK another. Nor does he then throw MULTIPLE homing AKs at Mischa. And Shinji certainly did not seem like a David when he Dragon raged on that all out brawl with Mischa. You can not use effectectial this defense of him being grossing the underdog when what has been seen can be inferred as a Dark Lord (Shinji) unmasking himself.
Tell me again how anyone (not in the know) is ever going to believe that Shinji is the David against the goliath again?
Sabotaged by assassination attempts - Holds muster a bit better, even from the ministry's twisted view. But again can be twisted to them taking out the DARK LORD Matou as Russian has been screaming ever since the championship was over. What evidence does Shinji have that they sabotaged him when he came out on top everytime? And frankly both fights that were involved with Shinji against them, was OPENLY shown to have been the one to engaged them. Not the other way. Shinji attacked Mischa to buy time for the Bros. And he attacked at the Survival challenge because they were attacking Lestrange...and other champions. So again you can't have Shinji saying that the two sabotaged Shinji here. There is no sign of it.
If you are going to spin this, then you need a story that holds up to the facts as the Minister already holds to be the truth. You can add more details that they did not know to add weight to it but you can't just spin a tale that counters everything they hold true and expect them to believe it.
Daiki, I am not seeing the difference between your write in and the [ ] In a straightforward manner - laying out everything as best as he is able. Your write in I think goes without saying that he tries to avoid talking about that stuff, cause it seems like you are laying things out as truthful as you can still.
I am currently on the IRC channel if we want to discuss this.
Last edited by Skull Leader; February 24th, 2019 at 06:34 PM.
Ah, right, "refreshments".
What exactly do we know about Veritaserum tho? Does it compel to answer the questions, or does it only deny the falsehood in your tale? Will being short and precise even help here? We are on our way to telling him about all our current weaknesses, if that's in question. Those being our temper, no practice with a new form and Elements... lack of prana sense and Fusion.
"All those nasty rumors in press, I'm concerned that it must have hurt your social standing greatly. What about your sympathizers though, mister Matou? We all need friends, after all. Do you think there is anyone in Britain willing to help you in these truly dark times?"
Well, we still have an option "Press X to murder all witnesses." That's reassuring.
Maybe not in your version of the Bible.A david does not polymorph as another champion and AK them.
Last edited by Malorius; February 24th, 2019 at 06:34 PM.
Ha. I would enjoy that version. But still my point stands that he is not a believable underdog when he is throwing around AKs.
Does Veritaserum work normally on Shinji now since his body is composed of the elemental heart and Lindworm?
Didn't the article Slughorn write for the Daily Prophet put all the champions down except the 3 schools that usually competed at the Isle?
The David vs Goliath spin is not a great choice but it also isn't that bad. On paper looking at Shinji's grade with him being a forth year without any certificates there is no way that he is at the same level as seventh years who have proven to be the top of their schools. Shinji also skipped his lessons with Slughorn supposedly falling to the charms of the french champions so he wasted a semester instead of preparing for the potion tournament.
The British papers reported his so called exploits and we have a chance with whatever the Quibbler releases along with other magical communities will be during the meeting so the Minister has less chance of twisting the story. Only real problem is Dark lord angle due to AKs thrown around.
It's pretty close, yes. I just want to convey the intent behind the vote a bit more in detail, as Shinji could let stuff slip out if he goes in full tale me your story mode again (like with Rebekah). While Lucius wouldn't make Shinji feel as comfortable as she did, the Minister has the potion of truth on his side. So stay honest, even being blunt is fine with me here, but try not to reveal sensitive information if not questioned about it directly.
If Alf already intended to go with that very same meaning with his suggested choice, then by all means, my vote can count as that.
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