video; un: laurea

[wearingguess]

[ thunder crashes. the wind howls. a blond youth wearing an enormous cable-knit sweater over a dress shirt with the collar popped places his palms flat on the counter of a starter-apartment kitchen and earnestly addresses the camera. ]

Hello! The current circumstances are less than ideal, but I can put this off no longer.

Whether you know me or not, I am Titus Alexius, formerly of the Reim empire. It is more or less accurate to say that I am sixteen years old. I have been conducting research with the Lunar Scientia for the past several months, and I have also had more than I can stand of living alone. Therefore, I have prepared a simple twenty-question survey!

Anyone and everyone is welcome to submit a response, and there is no need to answer every question. But to show my appreciation, I shall provide all those who complete at least the identifying information with a code redeemable for one free empanada from the stall by the fountain at the northern end of Greatmoon Groves. [ he pauses thoughtfully and then leans in further. ]

...And if you do not care for empanadas, let me know and I will arrange an alternative.

...Also, I am reasonably certain everything in that marketplace is currently closed due to the inclement weather and invisible tentacle attacks. And a number of the survey questions, too, posit situations or activities that are momentarily, if not impossible, then inadvisable. But, well. We must believe these hardships will be temporary, mustn't we?... [ he shrugs helplessly and grimaces! ]

Thank you for your attention!

[ and underneath the prismagram video is the survey in question, along with a few additional links. ]

Survey Form
Name: Moonblessing: Approximate length of tenure on Prismatica: 1. Are we friends?  —If yes, hello! —If no or unsure, would you like to be friends? 2. Are you satisfied with your current living situation? —If yes, might you also be satisfied with a different living situation? 3. Do you have any roommates? —If no, would you like one? —If yes, would you like another one? ——If yes, would your roommate(s) also like another one? 4. Would you like to live on Level 2 of Lunatia in a cottage with a small garden? —If yes, are you open to sharing a room? ——If yes, are you open to sharing a bed?  5. Do you like cats? —If yes, would you like to have a(nother) cat? ——If yes, would you like to have this cat (SEE SUPPLEMENT A)? 6. Do you have any aversions or preferences when it comes to fragrance (both in general, and with regard to Cordis pheromones)? —If yes, please elaborate: 7. Would you consider the recurring presence of Cordis pheromones in a shared living space to be a benefit, a drawback, or neither? 8. Are you comfortable with moths and butterflies of various sizes? 9. Do you have any strong feelings regarding magic or mages? —If yes, please elaborate: 10. Do you like to stay up late? 11. Can you fly? —If no, would you like to? 12.  Do you like to cook? —If yes, would you like to cook for me? ——If no, would you like me to cook for you? 13. Do you like to go out to eat? —If yes, would you like to go out to eat with me? ——For fried noodles? ——For waffles? ——For seafood curry? ——Other (please specify): 14. Do you like to go shopping? —If yes, would you like to go shopping with me? ——For snacks? ——For clothes? ——Other (please specify): 15. Do you wish to obtain more possessions? —If yes, would you like some of mine?  ——If yes, please visit my current home (SEE SUPPLEMENT B) to make your selections (the Lost Orrery and leatherbound treasury of Prismatican myth are off limits).  16. Do you like hugging? —If yes, would you like to hug me? 17. Do you like kissing? —If yes, would you like to kiss me? 18. Are you a member of the Lunar Scientia or the Moon Knights? —If yes, would you like to join me for lunch in one of the commissaries sometime? 19. Do you have any strong feelings regarding the Lunar Scientia or the Moon Knights? —If yes, please elaborate: 20. Would you like to register a grievance or complaint of any kind against the Lunar Scientia (e.g., for leadership's continued reckless rush to reawaken anything and everything, no matter how poorly understood and potentially cursed)? —If yes, please elaborate (indicate whether you wish your response to be anonymized):  ***Please submit this survey to receive your coupon code. For directions to the empanada stand, see supplement C.***

Supplemental Survey Materials
A. file: phix.image
B. location: apartmentL2U128.nav 
C. location: EmpanadaEmpusa.nav

Comments

[wearingguess]

Hello Lady Nitocris!! (If that is an appropriate way to address a pharaoh. Please advise on this matter.) Thank you for your response! To get a free empanada, please go to the empanada stand and ask for one, and mention my survey.

>2. To tell you the truth, it would be a lot better if my Master or Ozymandias or any of the other pharaohs were in this world with me. But right now, it's kind of lonely. I miss the liveliness of Chaldea...
Ah!!
Are you a Servant? (And were there many other pharaohs in Chaldea?)

>3. No, but I wouldn't mind a roommate. It would make life seem a little more normal again.
I feel the exact same way!!
Well, no, that is not true
At this point I have lived without a roommate for longer than I was ever able to live with one, so not having one is technically "normal"...
But even if it is normal, I hate it!

>5. In my country, cats are just one form of one of our gods. They are deserving of nothing less than my utmost respect. I will gladly build yours an altar if we become roommates.
How wonderful! I think he would probably really like that!

>9. It all depends on what that magic is being used for. However, being a magic queen under the command of another mage myself, I don't mind it.
I think that is a good perspective. I would like it if those who use magic were always judged for their actions, rather than the fact of what they are (and vice versa those who cannot use magic).
Is it not slightly awkward, as a queen, to be under another's command?

>11. No, but I would love to learn if you're willing to teach me. It would make a great addition to the other kinds of magic that I already know.
Splendid! I would also love to learn more about your magic.

>12. No, but I wouldn't mind having someone cook for me again like in the old days.
I shall be glad to cook for you if I can find a recipe! What would you like?

>13. Yes. All of these dishes sound delicious. I would love to try any of them with you.
Let's go out and eat all of them, but not all at once!

>14. Yes, shopping is always fun.
Let's go shopping!

>15. Yes, but you don't need to give me any of yours.
Well, if you are certain.

>16. As the pharaoh, intimate physical contact with anyone other than my consort is a gross violation of royal protocol. However, so long as it's someone that's close to my heart, some exceptions may be extended.
I quite understand. You have my full support and encouragement in grossly violating royal protocol only when you sincerely wish to do so.

>17. How dare you solicit a pharaoh in such a manner. I started this survey thinking that you were looking for a roommate. But now I am starting to have second thoughts about your real intentions.
Please allow me to reassure you! I do wish to find someone to kiss in addition to finding a roommate, but I have no particular expectation that these should be the same person. And I will admit that when I wrote the questions, I failed to consider the possibility that a pharaoh would answer them... My apologies for that oversight!

[nitiqret]

Lady Nitocris is fine, thank you (´ ∀ ` *)

>2. Ah!!
Are you a Servant? (And were there many other pharaohs in Chaldea?)

Yes, I am. But how did you know? Could it be that you're someone from Chaldea that I've never met before?

And there were a few other pharaohs in Chaldea, yes. Besides myself, there was also Pharaoh Ozymandias, Pharaoh Iskandar, and Pharaoh Cleopatra. That's a lot of pharaohs in one place, and it can be kind of intimidating sometimes...

>3. I feel the exact same way!!
Well, no, that is not true
At this point I have lived without a roommate for longer than I was ever able to live with one, so not having one is technically "normal"...
But even if it is normal, I hate it!

Have you tried advertising for roommates before, or is this your first time?

>9. I think that is a good perspective. I would like it if those who use magic were always judged for their actions, rather than the fact of what they are (and vice versa those who cannot use magic).
Is it not slightly awkward, as a queen, to be under another's command?

It's all right. My Master was none other than the King of Kings himself — Pharaoh Ozymandias — also known as Ramesses the Great.

Besides, I only rose to power because of my brothers' unfortunate circumstances. To tell you the truth, I was far too immature for the role. It's much better to have a mentor like Pharaoh Ozymandias to guide me than to be a fish out of water all by myself.

However, in this place, I have no Master... and that's even stranger than being a queen with a Master.

>11. Splendid! I would also love to learn more about your magic.

I can't teach much to a mage who is not also a Servant, but I can give you a demonstration.

>12. I shall be glad to cook for you if I can find a recipe! What would you like?

Do you know how to cook an ostrich egg? They're delicious and they can feed a person for several days.

>13. Let's go out and eat all of them, but not all at once!
>14. Let's go shopping!

All right, just let me know when you're free.

>16. I quite understand. You have my full support and encouragement in grossly violating royal protocol only when you sincerely wish to do so.
(￣□￣」)

>17. Please allow me to reassure you! I do wish to find someone to kiss in addition to finding a roommate, but I have no particular expectation that these should be the same person. And I will admit that when I wrote the questions, I failed to consider the possibility that a pharaoh would answer them... My apologies for that oversight!

I accept your apology this time. However, next time I won't be as merciful, so you'd better watch out!

[ She isn't as threatening as she thinks she is. ]

[wearingguess]

Well met, Lady Nitocris. I hope you and I shall be great friends!

>2. Could it be that you're someone from Chaldea that I've never met before?

I am not. But a dear friend of mine who is no longer on Prismatica hailed from there.

>3. Have you tried advertising for roommates before, or is this your first time?

This is my first time. Up until now, I thought I should always remain ready to live together with my dear Marga, if she should arrive... I was reluctant to "put down roots," no matter how much time passed, because to build a life without her input, much less without her in it at all, seemed unthinkable.

But I have finally realized that she will not come here. So I must accept that and live a different life.

>9. I was far too immature for the role. It's much better to have a mentor like Pharaoh Ozymandias to guide me than to be a fish out of water all by myself.

That is just how it was for me in Magnostadt, at first. But it was difficult, because I could only speak to Lady Scheherazade when I was alone... I sought out others to rely on for more day-to-day guidance, but they didn't understand my circumstances, nor did they know I was relying on them that way to begin with... I couldn't really explain it to them, either. Or at least I believed I could not. I made many poor decisions.

>11. I can't teach much to a mage who is not also a Servant, but I can give you a demonstration.

You can't? Is it forbidden, or is it simply a type of magic that only Servants can perform?

>12. Do you know how to cook an ostrich egg? They're delicious and they can feed a person for several days.

I do know how to cook an egg! Next time I am at the market, I shall inquire after this variety.

>13/14. All right, just let me know when you're free.

I am nearly always free at midday and in the evening! And if I have advance notice, I can clear my schedule at almost any time whatever.

>17. I accept your apology this time. However, next time I won't be as merciful, so you'd better watch out!

I will, by all means, and I thank you for your clemency! If you have any advice on how best to avoid inciting your just wrath, I would be very grateful to hear it.

[nitiqret]

>2. I am not. But a dear friend of mine who is no longer on Prismatica hailed from there.

I'm sorry to hear that. May I ask who this Servant was? They may have been someone I know.

>3. This is my first time. Up until now, I thought I should always remain ready to live together with my dear Marga, if she should arrive... I was reluctant to "put down roots," no matter how much time passed, because to build a life without her input, much less without her in it at all, seemed unthinkable.

But I have finally realized that she will not come here. So I must accept that and live a different life.

I can only imagine how it must feel waiting month after month for the people that you knew in your previous world to join you in Prismatica, only to realize that they never will. It sounds like you've been here for a very long time. May I ask how long?

>9. That is just how it was for me in Magnostadt, at first. But it was difficult, because I could only speak to Lady Scheherazade when I was alone... I sought out others to rely on for more day-to-day guidance, but they didn't understand my circumstances, nor did they know I was relying on them that way to begin with... I couldn't really explain it to them, either. Or at least I believed I could not. I made many poor decisions.

What?! Was Scheherazade the Servant that you know from Chaldea? But she's never said anything to me about a place called Magnostadt before.

>11. You can't? Is it forbidden, or is it simply a type of magic that only Servants can perform?

It is a type of magic that only Servants can perform. Noble Phantasms are particularly unique to Servants because they are the symbols of our very existence. Mine, for example, is a mirror that reflects the Netherworld because of my personal connection to the Egyptian Underworld.

>12. I do know how to cook an egg! Next time I am at the market, I shall inquire after this variety.

That is most excellent. It seems that ostrich eggs are less common in other parts of the modern world, so it's been a while since I last had one. But they're very hearty!

>13/14. I am nearly always free at midday and in the evening! And if I have advance notice, I can clear my schedule at almost any time whatever.

Then let's meet this weekend! How about Saturday?

>17. I will, by all means, and I thank you for your clemency! If you have any advice on how best to avoid inciting your just wrath, I would be very grateful to hear it.

My wrath is primarily reserved for those who disrespect the throne of Egypt. So long as you remember that a pharaoh is also a god, and to treat pharaohs like myself as such, then we shall have no problems.

[wearingguess]

>2. May I ask who this Servant was? They may have been someone I know.

He was a very handsome, kind, and charming young man who sometimes went by the name Shin! [ titus isn't actually sure if yan qing's protectiveness over his true name extends to other servants, but... better safe than sorry, he figures. ]

>3. It sounds like you've been here for a very long time. May I ask how long?

It has been 493 days.

>9. What?! Was Scheherazade the Servant that you know from Chaldea? But she's never said anything to me about a place called Magnostadt before.

?? Are you acquainted with Lady Scheherazade?
But she is not a Servant. (At least, she never mentioned it to me...) She is the magi of the Reim empire, and
my mother, I suppose.

>11. Noble Phantasms are particularly unique to Servants because they are the symbols of our very existence. Mine, for example, is a mirror that reflects the Netherworld because of my personal connection to the Egyptian Underworld.

Oh!! That is really interesting!! What kinds of things are in there? Can you interact with them at all, or just look?

>12. It seems that ostrich eggs are less common in other parts of the modern world, so it's been a while since I last had one. But they're very hearty!

How would you like it cooked? I can fry, scramble, boil, or make "omelette"!

>13/14. Then let's meet this weekend! How about Saturday?

Wonderful!! I shall look forward to seeing you then!

>17. My wrath is primarily reserved for those who disrespect the throne of Egypt. So long as you remember that a pharaoh is also a god, and to treat pharaohs like myself as such, then we shall have no problems.

Ahh
Hmm
Is that only for pharaohs of Egypt?
My dear friend Sphintus is from a family that once served the pharaohs of Heliohapt, but it seems they were quite mistreated in many ways, so I feel I should be honest with you that I don't know if I can treat all pharaohs across the board with unblemished reverence.