01 ★ video

[spellspeak]

[When the video turns on Natsume appears to be outside on the street somewhere, standing in front of a darkened building. It's... A little creepy actually, not at all helped by the fact that he's wearing a dark robe.]

Good NIGHT~ ★ While I have made myself known to some of you there are just as many whom I am not acquainted WITH, so allow me to introduce mySELF.

[He curls his fingers in the air, something like green light seeming to glow around them just briefly before he places his hand to his chest dramatically.]

My name is Natsume Sakasaki, and I am a magician and fortune tellER. In my endeavor to enrich the lives of those here with the allure of enchantment and the occult I ask you to allow me to announce the opening of Chymica Esoterica!

[He grins and snaps his fingers. Instantly the building behind him lights up, revealing what appears to be a small shop. The windows are hung with tasteful string lights and somehow candles seem to be flickering inside, although it's hard to tell exactly through the curtains that are made of some shimmery and slighty-sheer fabric.]

In addition to offering my services as an advisor and fortune teller I also can provide you with brews of all SORTS, as well as items to grant your own special magic power for a short WHILE. If you happen to be of the more discerning and particular type I would even be open to making something special just for YOU.

I now welcome any quesTIONS, but until then let all enjoy the darkness and stars of the evening together until we meet aGAIN...

[Natsume winks and waves before snapping his fingers again and the video ends.]

Comments

action bc i do what i want

[demachi]

[THIS GUY has rushed over to where Natsume's shop is, dressed in dark and foreboding clothes, and he'd look like he fit right in if he wasn't running up waving a lace-edged black handkerchief and making sounds suspiciously like he's been crying.]

Natsume-kun!!!

[He whirls, and summarily adorns the threshold with a shower of rose petals, all of the deepest purple and red.]

Congratulations on your successful business venture! Show me your wares!

what a good dad

[spellspeak]

[Natsume definitely hadn't expected Wataru to be so quick and naturally jumps a little when he sweeps in with his dramatics and shower of rose petals.

But that surprise soon turns to a light smile at the older Oddball and he chuckles softly, stepping up to the other's side.]

Thank YOU, Wataru-niisan. I hadn't expected you for a christening so suddenLY, but if you're willing you can be my very first CLIENT. Please feel free to give feedBACK, of COURSE.

[He opens the door, gesturing for the other to step inside.]

[demachi]

[He sprinkles a few last petals atop Natsume's head for the best of luck, and twirls again in glee before entering the shop.]

I'd love to! In fact, I'd be honored. I may have saved up just a little chroma for this very occasion.

[A wink, but it's the truth. Ever since he heard about Natsume having business ambitions, he was more frugal than usual, eager to support him from the very moment he opened.

He steps inside, looking around at everything. It's dark and the ambiance is so perfectly Natsume. He can't dislike it at all. If there was something lovely about each of the Eccentrics, it's that they each had their own little sanctum. And this was a near enough approximation of Natsume's to make Wataru wish he had a theater to command.]

Breathtaking! Yes, truly Amazing☆!

[spellspeak]

[Natsume pouts, shaking his head to allow the petals to flutter out of his hair before following Wataru inside.

The shop is small and cozy, decorated very similarly to the secret room with esoteric items and arcane symbols hung about. Dried herbs and incense make the interior smell warm and comforting, the scents no doubt purposefully chosen for their calming properties when mingled together. The store does not have the high-tech and polished neon feel of many places in the city but that is clearly a choice made on purpose to evoke the sort of aesthetic that Natsume prefers.]

I'm humbled by your PRAISE, but this is hardly something unachievable by anyone else who TRIED.

[And he wants to do better. He wants to be worthy of standing alone on his own achievements, worthy of being put on the same level as his senpais.]

[inuko]

[ There's so much more magic around here than back home, but the reason he ends up replying, just a guy looking at his comm with a furrowed brow, is because: ]

Is there something up with your voice?

[ He can't tell what it is, but he sure talks... oddly? Shino's got enough "magic" going on himself, he's not worried about adding more in, but... what?! ]

[spellspeak]

[Natsume can't help but look slightly put-out for a moment. While he won't deny that his manner of speech is an intentional thing he can't tell if he should be frustrated with himself or this stranger for fixating on that as opposed to his business.

He supposes it can't be helped.]

Are you familiar with the concept of "kotodama"? Words and intonation have been the building blocks of spellcasting since mankind could utter the most primitive of SOUNDS. One must consider such things carefully and always speak with inTENT, that is simply what I am doING. The building blocks of my maGIC, you could SAY~

[inuko]

[Look, if he realised "brews" meant "tea" he'd be more into that first! As it is, he got distracted! ]

I'm not, no. It just sounded like you had problem with volume control...

[ Moving........ on............... ]

How do you know where to put that kind of inTENT?

[ The mimicry is unthought rather than deliberate, but given how he brought this up, may come across... poorly. He's trying to understand, since chants and the like have their own cadences, even hymns do, but those aren't precisely this kind of magic? ]

And with this whole store of yours, what brews are you talking about?

[betheirstrength]

What kind of fortune telling do you do? Palm reading? Tarot? Stones?

[spellspeak]

I primarily utilize a crystal BALL, but I also have dabbled in palm-readING.

[betheirstrength]

Maybe I'll come by for fortune, then.

[Why do you type like that.]

[kayssistant]

Woooow, it looks so amazing! [Kay is awed at this display.] So I'll be able to see you do more magic when I drop by?

[spellspeak]

Of COURSE, if that's what you would LIKE.

[kayssistant]

Oh boy! [She practically bounces in her seat.] Then I'm definitely coming over! Do you have anything that'll help me play tricks on people?

[strayknight]

[Watching the video he smirks as Natsume shows off his goods. He was impressed the other got the shop up and running so quickly...then again it might have been taking more time than he knows.]

Impressive, looks like you got it all together.

[spellspeak]

I have inDEED. Of course even though I was diligent in trying to cover my bases there could always be things I have misSED, but will have to wait to be SEEN. One can only gain experiences in life through trial and errOR, although I would certainly prefer this to not fall under the LATTER.

[strayknight]

Hmm, well you did seem happy about the results of your special tea. Still looks like a nice shop, I might need to come see it in person.

[amodelidol]

[Makoto enjoyed watching Natsume's video. Of course, his unit was about magic, and placing it in the video was an eye catcher. It was an entertaining video. He was happy that Natsume got his shop up and running. He couldn't wait to visit.]

Hi Natsume! Congratulations on your shop! I was wondering how many teas do you sell?

[spellspeak]

Thank YOU, Yuuki-kun. At this moment I have six preMADE, but with the ingredients I have on hand it would not be too difficult to create something more personalized on the SPOT.

[amodelidol]

What kind of teas are they? Or does someone have to drink them to see what happens?

[Natsume can be quite creative with his teas, he wouldn't mind trying one, since he'll be able to pick one.]

That's a cool option! Is that a special request? Wait, these teas don't make people do anything weird do they?

video;

[shinpai]

[ of course hajime couldn't help but be impressed by this--all of it honestly! practically spellbound before he finally gets a chance to reply ]

That was an amazing performance senpai, but I guess nothing less would be fitting of someone like you.

Congratulations on opening up your shop, it looks really nice! But with this kind of description, are you perhaps relying on herbs to help others out? That seems like such a great idea... I'm sure your business will flourish if that's the case!

[spellspeak]

[Oh look- a familiar face. Natsume grins a little.]

Thank YOU, but if I couldn't manage at least this much I would have to forfeit the right to call myself a magicIAN.

And you would be corRECT. For millenia sages and alchemists have understood the usefulness of herbs in healing one's body and spirIT, so while I might be a novice I endeavor to follow in their footSTEPS.

You are fond of TEA, am I corRECT?

[shinpai]

Eheheh... Yeah, I suppose that's right, but overall you have a very magnetic energy senpai. It's really nice to see you so excited about your craft.

[ oh, but the talk of herbs for healing the body and spirit... this is something hajime could understand a great deal, more than probably the more occult side of natsume's business ]

A-ah! Yes! Tea is something I take a lot of comfort and joy in, both drinking and serving. But along those lines, I also like making sachets, so I'm always willing to listen to others that use herbs to help with certain things.

I'm afraid that since I'm so partial to lavender it might be too much for Sakuma-senpai to handle around the apartment, he seems extremely sensitive to it. So it might be worth it to pay your shop a visit to look into alternatives.

walks in 3 days late with starbucks--

[dollorous]

Ah, you did have hobbies like this, didn't you.

[It's not really Shu's thing but what's he gonna do? NOT support Natsume in everything he does? Sounds fake.]

Still, be careful not to take on any requests you find especially suspicious. Though I understand the desire to inflict curses, or perhaps even to poison someone just to watch them writhe in agony...

[It's been 4 seconds so it's time to hatemail Eichi]

...if someone were to use you and the things you love for such foul activities, not even hell would be punishment enough for them.

When Shu is late he's fashionably late

[spellspeak]

I appreciate your conCERN, but as of yet I haven't even managed to obtain anything that would be considered poisonous or even mildly toxic unless someone happens to ingest too much or have a unique allerGY. And throwing curses is a risky businESS, as if one isn't careful they run the risk of the effects falling upon them insTEAD.

[Shu please...

Send Eichi some hatemail for him, too.]

There's no need to be so riled up on my accOUNT, Shu-niisan.

[dollorous]

Hmph. Perhaps not. Unlike most of the dullards here, you've a good head on your shoulders, so I'm sure you'll be a success.

[This is probably the nicest thing he's said to anyone since arriving.]

...As soon as I am able, I'll visit your shop. And when I do, I hope you will have crafted something truly exemplary. It can be anything, as long as it's your best work, but I expect only the highest quality from you, so don't bother presenting me with anything less...and, naturally, I will compensate you fairly for it. Do we have an agreement?

[So basically, in a roundabout way, he's promising his patronage as soon as possible in his patented Shundere method.]