Tenya drops the lamp when a thick pink smoke begins billowing out of the top. Luckily for him and the lamp, it lands with barely a sound on the plush blue carpet of his bedroom floor. Not that he notices really, because he’s certain that he’s just doomed himself to a painful death by toxic mist. He just hopes it only affects those foolish enough to try using its powers. This is exactly what happens when one steps outside the rules, he thinks, berating himself while he covers his mouth with his embroidered handkerchief.
Rather than spreading outward to clog his airways and send him choking to meet his maker, though, the mist billows and builds into a column until it’s at least as tall as a person. Soon it’s not just moving to be as tall as one, but it begins to solidify into the shape of one too.
He blinks, bewildered as the newly-materialized woman exclaims excitedly before beginning to circle around him, and he’s so stunned by her unexpected appearance and mannerisms that he doesn’t object to the scrutiny. From what he’d been able to translate in the writings on the subject, the genie inhabiting the bottle had always been described as an ‘ancient, all-powerful being.’ In all his imaginings, he hadn’t once considered such an entity might be…this.
When she finally stops in front of him and begins her slew of questioning commentary, he stands at attention out of habit, shoulders back, chin tilted at a slight upward angle. Captain Aizawa would often line Tenya up with the rest of the students. The jaded warrior also had a similar disregard for decorum and Tenya’s station that he could never properly acclimate to. Although the captain had never done it with quite so much…energy.
And in any case what is ‘the usual type’ supposed to look like?
Either way, he would rather not offend the being he would soon be depending on, so he clears his throat, adopting the same respectful tone instilled in him since birth. “It is a pleasure to meet you…Your Benevolence,” Tenya stumbles over what form of address to use, scolding himself inwardly for not considering this beforehand. “I am Prince Tenya Iida, second in line to the Ingenium throne. I’ve summoned you here today to humbly request your assistance in a matter that could have major consequences for my people. But first, I believe it would be important to go over some ground rules, if you’ll allow it.” he said, untucking the carefully folded stack of parchment from the waterproof envelope in his vest.
The pages were filled with his neat handwriting outlining said rules in minute detail. Most of them concerned protections against interpretations of his wish that might hurt any innocents. He’d read genies were notorious for tricking their summoners, and he’d done his best to make sure no bad would befall the kingdom because of him.
@heretherebeadventure
She can’t stop the gleeful smile that spreads across her face as he addresses her. “Your Benevolence!” Ho, boy this one was laying it on really thick. Although she couldn’t remember the last time someone tried the soft hand approach to winning her over. Usually they were well aware of their station and authority over her, and treated her as such regardless of her wealth of abilities. After all, every ounce of magic she contained was leashed to their wishes, their desires-- she could do nothing without a master.
His posture is stiff and rigid like a soldier, which is curious to her as he introduces himself as a Prince. Surprise flashes over her features and she takes a cautionary step back. But she doesn’t let her suspicion show beyond that gesture, the smile quickly returning to her face bright and welcoming.
If he wants to play the friendly vibe, she’s more than happy to go that route. Hey, maybe she can even draw this out, keep him from using all his wishes too quickly and get to spend some much needed out-of-the-bottle time.
He takes a sheath of papers out and she can’t contain her laughter. How cute! He thinks he can write the rules! Oh, sweet sweet Mr. Formal, that is not how this works. The rules are bigger than him-- bigger than her. They are ingrained in the ether and magic, inscribed in her soul and the bottle and now feathered into his own as he has released her.
She doubles over in her laughter for a moment, the sound joyous and unbridled, before she steps into his personal space and plucks the set of papers from his hand.
She tilts her head to the side as she looks at the papers. “Tenya, is it?” She says. “You can just call me, Mina.” She shrugs.
“Or you can give me a new name. After all, I’m yours to command.”
She throws the pages of parchment into the air, each one disappearing in a puff of smoke.
“And we don’t need these. The rules are simple! Just some wishes and some magic between friends, right?”
She grins as she steps forward and presses him to sit in a chair. “Oh! Wait, wait… yeah… I haven’t gotten to do this in a while!”
She dances away from his place, arms twirling magic through the room to set the stage and before he can protest or react, she’s launched into song!
[If you’re interested, I recorded a version of her song in Smule :P
https://www.smule.com/p/695940378_3702983097].
She ends her dramatic magic number, draping herself across his lap and the chair he is in. “So what is it that you wish for, Master Tenya?... And remember… be specific.”
