[Hong Kong Sanctum] Mooncakes and Fireworks (Open)

- ”I don’t know much about the gods across the sea, but, did you ever consider you might be related to Amaterasu, after all? Maybe not directly, but somewhere down the line. Just thinking out loud, pay no mind to it.” - Jun listened to Sun Nao attentively, giggling inwardly as his nerves got the better of him and he retracted his theory. It was endearing, and it wasn’t a bad theory. ”It is possible, but it would have occurred millennia ago. It is as good a theory as any.” She’d respond, tone reassuring, the implication being their records went back over a thousand years at least.

- ”Still, she is supposed to be a benevolent goddess, so I could see her doing this to aid her followers, and Japan is one of the few places in the world that still actively have faith in their gods. It was very nice of her to aid you, all the same, and a valuable gift. I do know what it feels like, being connected to a higher power like that.” - Jun nodded in agreement, the gift of life is one she cherishes well, and that connection, as daunting as it is at times, is something she holds dear. - ”Thank you for telling your story. It’s a remarkable tale, and you tell it very well. Both of you tell your stories well. It’s a privilege and a blessing to have the two of you here.” - Her attention shifted to Bai, and she gave a slight bow of gratitude at the complement of her storytelling abilities, and as a sort of ‘the privilege is mine’.

- ”Few of us here at this Sanctum have such colorful and enchanting backgrounds. I mostly got to where I am through just study and practice, though I was privileged with great teachers. I have a hidden specialty, but that’s kept for special occasions, and not everyone approves of it anyway...” - Jun listened warmly, if those displays were anything to go by they were excellent teachers indeed. Though, her curiosity was piqued at the mention of a hidden specialty, moreso when he said some don’t approve of it, but she would not pry. It was his secret to keep. - ”I don’t have much experience with the divine, but I’ve heard many cautionary tales, even with some of the benevolent ones. Has Amaterasu ever asked for a service or action in exchange for your miracle?” -

Jun nodded at the mention of cautionary tales, the divine are not above their own wants and desires, and they are certainly fallible in their own right. ”Hmm.” Jun mulled over Bai’s question for a moment, bringing her right hand to her chin and left to cradle her right elbow. ”Not in any way I can confirm, but, for months I have been getting the occasional urge to travel in a specific direction. It is why I am here, well, why I am in Hong Kong, at least.” She’d offer honestly, shrugging a bit at her last statement. ”How about you, Sun Nao-sama?” Jun inquired, turning her gaze to Sun Nao. ”Has your father asked you to do anything? Other than training and attending parties, that is.” She’d finish with a light giggle.

From Sun Nao's stories, Sun Wukong sounded like a laid-back deity and father, for better or for worse. Aside from the training at the mountain, Sun Wukong seemed pretty hands-off in his approach to his own son. At least Sun Nao found guidance in Doctor Strange.

"So now what do the two of you plan on doing with your exemplary powers?" asked Bai, both to Jun and Sun Nao, now asking for something a bit deeper: purpose. It was similar to another favorite question of his for other sorcerers: why study sorcery? Every answer had been interesting so far; his peers certainly didn't think small.

"And where do you plan on going, Jun? Do you have any explanation for these urges to travel other than wanderlust?" Bai certainly had several places on Earth that he wanted to visit, that were supposedly great nexuses of powerful magic, but this was out of intellectual pursuits, not as personal as an innate feeling to travel.

"Yeah, suppose that's true," Sun Nao said, having not reflected much on it before, but it would make sense if it was difficult for a god to stray away from their nature, more than for a mortal... which in truth also seemed impossible at times. "If that is the case, I suppose it could have been worse. My father does value personal freedom a lot, and even if he likes fighting, he also likes to... live on his mountain."

Sun Nao looked at Bai. The question of what he would do was difficult, and he left it for Jun to reply first before he said anything. Her goal was noble: She wanted to help people. Was that what he also wanted? Sure, helping people felt nice, and he could see himself being a hero in some shape or form, but was that what he wanted to use his powers for?

"Fight demons-- I think," he replied slowly. "That's how I got my enchanted armour from Nai Nai; she made it from the pelt of a demonic beast I defeated. I like to help people, but I need to learn control if I want to do that." He looked at his hand, flexing it a few times before turning to the others. "I can easily harm someone by mistake just with a tap, and not to mention all the doors I have accidentally ripped open because I did not feel them locked when I tried opening. The world is made of glass, which is a little scary." He smiled slightly. "Everyone keeps telling me it comes with time, but that's not helpful."

- ”Yeah, suppose that’s true. If that is the case, I suppose it could have been worse. My father does value personal freedom a lot, and even if he likes fighting, he also likes to... live on his mountain.” - Jun offered an affirming nod, things could always be worse and she was grateful they weren't. - ”Fight demons— I think. That’s how I got my enchanted armour from Nai Nai; she made it from the pelt of a demonic beast I defeated. I like to help people, but I need to learn control if I want to do that.” - What demon? Jun wondered to herself. Perhaps she would have the chance to see this armor sometime. She thought about saying that fighting dark spirits was helping people, it was the way she helped people most, but she did not want to interrupt.

- ”Hmmm...” - ”I can easily harm someone by mistake just with a tap, and not to mention all the doors I have accidentally ripped open because I did not feel them locked when I tried opening. The world is made of glass, which is a little scary. Everyone keeps telling me it comes with time, but that’s not helpful.” - Jun’s eyes followed Nao’s to his hand as he flexed it. She had trouble minding her own strength at times, but nothing quite like that. Just how strong was he? - ”Yeah, I can imagine everyone telling you to just be patient can get frustrating, especially when you’re worried about damage right now. I wonder how people like Superman handled it when they were young.” - Jun nodded along with Bai’s response, a faint ‘mm’ of agreement escaping her lips.

- ”Hmm... Travel? I’ve never been to the London Sanctum or New York Sanctum, or Egypt. The Abbey at Salem, Massachusetts is also said to be a nexus of great magic. As for aspirations, Hong Kong is my home. I love this city and her people deeply, and can’t imagine defending any other city or Sanctum. I definitely can’t trust the Great Ten to act with the people’s best interests at heart.” - Jun listened to Bai attentively, part of her wondering if whatever force was guiding her would guide her to some of these areas, smiling warmly as he talked of his love for the city and its people. She was not all that familiar with the Great Ten. She’d seen their posters and merchandise, all she knew was they were some government team of heroes. But if the current State was anything reminiscent of the one she’d read about of the past century, it was wise not to trust them.

Jun watched with curiosity as Bai conjured a slowly rotating display of the Chinese zodiac, tilting her head in confusion as it flew into his chest and evoked an ethereal glow. - ”I’ve already accomplished what I’ve wanted to accomplish with magic, a great feat of spirit binding. So I have no further goals as far as my magical studies are concerned, though there are still many aspects of the mystic arts that I’ve yet to master.” - Jun shifted her attention back to Bai as he spoke. Though, her face would show a great deal of worry at the mention of spirit binding, gaze darting back and forth between where the zodiac wheel had flown into Bai’s chest and his face.

Did he bind the spirits of the zodiac? The spirits of the zodiac? All twelve of them!?! ‘Great feat’ felt a bit underwhelming a descriptor to her. How was he still sane? Or in one piece for that matter. ”I hope it is amicable.” She’d start, tone and face betraying a great deal of concern for Bai’s wellbeing. ”The harm even one displeased spirit can do is...” She’d drift off for a moment, face going slightly pale. The memory of a woman who sought to bind an Onibi to prolong her life only to go mad and start leeching the life from her neighbors sprung to mind, particularly the image of the desiccated corpses. ”...significant...”

Upon sensing their arguably reasonable worries over his "accomplishment", Bai raised his hands, palms facing outward as though in surrender, or to show that he wasn't a threat. Their reactions were one of the reasons why he didn't share much about his "specialty", even though he evoked the spirits often in his hero work.

"You're both right," said Bai, nodding at Jun first. "Managing the different desires of the twelve has been..." Bai glanced at a nearby bottle, his recent thoughts of the zodiac spirits making him want another shot. "...an evolving challenge. It was more than a little dangerous," he admitted. "There is no forbidden knowledge at Kamar-Taj, only certain practices. So when I went there to train under the Ancient One, and we found that I had an aptitude towards magic involving the dead, I was encouraged to explore, though my training with Necromancy was always under a steady hand and watchful eye. There are many warnings about the art that I still follow to this day."

"However, I never told the Ancient One that I had planned to spirit-bind the original zodiac to myself. They probably would have warned me away from such an act of hubris," admitted Bai honestly, shrugging somewhat. "Maybe that's why I didn't say anything at the time, because I anticipated a less than enthusiastic response."

"I'm fine now, though after the last spirit-binding, the twelfth spirit finally pushed me past my limits at the time. I lost control for a month, battling the other twelve spirits for control over my body the entire time. It took all my strength and wit to triumph over all of them and establish a pact between all of us," explained Bai, feeling like he owed them an explanation now. "We agreed to a time-sharing accord concerning my body. I, Bai, am only in control of my body for 9.6 hours out of the day, and I use most of that time to sleep. Any other time, it's not me in control."

"In exchange for all of that hassle, I can invoke the spirits for powers I cannot necessarily gain through sorcery alone. While they're not necessary for my hero work, I can't deny their sheer usefulness. Whether it's all worth it in the end, we'll see."

"As for Superman, I'm not sure someone like him even needs anything to maintain his strength," commented Bai after a thought. All he knew about Superman was that he was apparently an alien; as far as his powers worked, Bai's guess was as good as any. "Maybe he lifts container ships. That's what the Ox spirit likes to do occasionally."

Sun Nao was many things, reckless being one, but he was also observant. He could tell that the more Bai talked, the paler Jun was getting. Jun would find a glass being held for her and a chair for her to sit down on offered as the young demigod looked at her with visible concern. "I think you should sit down for a moment, Miss Jun," he said softly, giving her a friendly smile. "Drink some water, and take a deep breath; it'll be fine, you'll see."

He glanced at Bai. He was not sure how that kind of magic worked, but it sounded like a massive payment for a few hours... and most of which would be spent asleep anyway. Still, it made Jun uncomfortable.

"Maybe we should talk about something else." He suggested calmly, "Maybe there is a party favour Jun could have too?"