The good news was that Konoka felt pretty similarly to Lobco about communication. She might not ever figure things out on her lonesome if she cooped things up. Setsuna had been... a work in progress when they were younger, but she's better about her feelings now!
"Not at all," Konoka answered her question. "Magic is currently still an unknown in the wider circle of things. I think Negi-kun was getting some of us involved in talks about finding a safe way to expose magic to the world. That's gonna be some years off though." They didn't want a repeat of the Chao situation they had a few years ago.
Konoka hadn't been there when Lobco had made the final decision, but she did know she'd been moving towards it. "Well, until and unless you find something more to your liking, maybe you could work as my familiar?" Konoka made herself mentally promise that she'd treat Lobco with more respect that Chlomaki apparently had, from what she'd heard about her.
Lobco's eyes went a little wide and her antennas perked up. Her heart soared at that question. Familiarhood was something very important to Lobco. She had always loved and been fascinated by magic, and she had always wanted to one day become a witch herself. Familiarhood in itself was in a way even more appealing for the trust and connections it fostered, as well as the happiness that came from being someone another could depend on.
She hadn't found what she had wanted with Chlomaki. There was no sense of kinship...of family there.
But with Konoka? It already was and this would only make it stronger.
Lobco's glow was positively infectious. Konoka lit up upon seeing her agree readily.
"Great!" Konoka pumped her fist. "I always wanted a cool familiar like Negi-kun! And way less inappropriately perverted to boot!" Any questions Lobco might have about that line might be interrupted, however, as she had to pause. "Though I dunno if there's any formal ceremony to it though. Just might be paperwork. I'll have to ask Chamo-kun..."
However, she quickly went back to her cheerful self. "But I'm looking forward to what we can do together, regardless of how it works!"
Lobco was ecstatic. She'd show Konoka that she could be a great a familiar as Negi---wait what? Before that comment had even fully processed Konoka was already moving the conversation along leaving Lobco feeling a little flummoxed.
"Oh, uh. Right!" Well. She was fine with not going into further detail about that. While she had certainly become a little less scared of intimacy while in Lunatia, that didn't changed that she wasn't much for vulgarity. Hopefully it wasn't anything too serious but she supposed she would learn in due time.
"As do I. Familiar contracts back home were pretty flexible. I'm not sure if the magic of your world allows them to be formed in the same way, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try?"
Having never seen much of the magic Lobco used at home, Konoka's curiosity--and excitement--were piqued.
"It won't hurt at all! I'd love to try it!" Konoka tried not to (and failed) bounce in excitement, but her enthusiasm was palpable anyway. "What do we need, either space-wise or magic-wise?"
That was a good question. Lobco had only participated in a binding ceremony once; but she was fortunate to see two others that let her know this was very much a personal sort of magic. With her and Chlomaki it had been incredibly formal, and in retrospect Lobco was certain that had all been for her benefit.
One she had seen between Wadanohara and Dolphi had been as simple asking a question and then shaking hands. The other, between Tetsuzora and Merol had been a bizarre series of swapping components that quite frankly she did not understand in the slightest, having been utterly tech illiterate back then.
"Hmm." which meant that no, they did not need anything in particular. It could be as big or as small an affair as they wanted. With that in mind, an idea formulated in Lobco's mind.
"Let's plan to go to the beach--are there any places you know where it's relatively private?"
Konoka looked thoughtful at that question. "Last time I went to the beach, it was with one of my classmates who had their own private beachfront. They'd... probably give it to us if we asked." Ayaka was a very giving sort of person, and that hadn't changed even as she had picked up awareness of the bigger magical world.
"I can do all the arrangin', so don't worry over it," Konoka gave a reassuring smile. "You just make sure we can approach this ceremony however you want."
"As long as it's not too much trouble." Her home world was do big and wild that it was fairly easy to find some private beach areas. Things seemed a little more complicated here from what she had learned.
Yet if Konoka said not to worry about it, Lobco wouldn't.
"Of course!" Konoka pumped her fists. "It'll just be us and Secchan, so take what you need! It'll be nice to see the beach again on my home world!"
And so, Konoka began making the necessary arrangements to set aside their mini-vacation, getting in contact with Ayaka and getting her permission to hold their small space. Discretion mattered, because if 3-A caught wind of it not only would the rumors never stop, a good third of the class would snoop in on them! Fortunately, no one she didn't want to know caught on to where she and her partners were going.
The beach villa was almost as pristine as she remembered it, since the last time Ayaka invited them there five plus years ago. The pavilion that stretched past the beach line was just as nice as it had been back then. She smiled at Lobco. "It's nice bein' back. You like it?"
Perhaps Lobco was a bit conceited in this regard, but she often found the 'public beaches' of land dwellers to be...well. It left a little to be desired. She was happy that they enjoyed it, and would rather that than the alternative of complete segregation buuut. Well, needless to say, the times she had seen it she usually had to do some cleaning up.
This was entirely different. She supposed that was to be expected of somewhere more private. Konoka's friend certainly kept this place in tip top shape.
"It's wonderful," She beamed brightly at her companions, "thank you for arranging this all." The sun was shining, the sand was bright, the waters a lush sapphire, and the pavilion warm to her feet. She breathed in deeply of the salt air before letting out a happy sigh. Whether on her home world or another, the sea was always reassuring.
"Should we get started? On wind down a little first?"
"You're welcome!" Konoka chirped. It had been a little tricky getting things worked out, especially in a way that wouldn't get Ayaka's curiosity piqued, but Konoka DID disappear from the world for several weeks, experienced almost two years away from everyone, and came back a changed woman with an additional friend. That had been enough for Ayaka to respect her.
Setsuna decided to take a seat in one of the chairs in the pavilion. For now, she was staying to the pavilion.
"I'm actually a little anxious and want to see what you have prepared, Lobco-han," Konoka answered. "We have some time to enjoy the beach for ourselves afterward!"
Lobco took another look out at the beautiful beach spread before them. It was hard not to. She could spend an entire day just seated back, looking out at it, letting memories of home wash over her. For all her time among demons, humans, insects and fae she was still a sea creature at heart.
But she could enjoy that luxury tomorrow or some other day. Right now it was time to make official something that she had wanted to for a long time.
She looked between Konoka and Setsuna, supremely grateful towards both women. Grateful to Konoka for having been there for her while they were in Lunatia. Grateful that she showed her the kindness and patience that let her trust again. Grateful to Setsuna for showing her no hostility for coming to this world as a partner of Konoka's, and welcoming them into their family.
"There's nothing to be anxious about, Konoka. This is something that we do together, there is no right or wrong way for it to go. I do have some things I'd like to set up but at the end of it all how you want to go about it matters just as much."
After everything Konoka had done to go about getting this beach reserved for them, Lobco wanted to put her effort in as well!
"I'll go get started, so you feel free to relax, ok? Just give me about two hours."
"You're right!" Konoka chirped. "It might be more accurate to say I'm excited."
But Konoka gave a firm nod toward Lobco. "Sure thing!" And she'd leave her to the preparations, rejoining Setsuna on the gazebo. She might have been mentally 'gone' for two years, but she just had an easier time catching up with Setsuna compared to everyone else. It might be why it didn't take long for Setsuna to accept Lobco, and even account for Konoka's increased libido.
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"Not at all," Konoka answered her question. "Magic is currently still an unknown in the wider circle of things. I think Negi-kun was getting some of us involved in talks about finding a safe way to expose magic to the world. That's gonna be some years off though." They didn't want a repeat of the Chao situation they had a few years ago.
Konoka hadn't been there when Lobco had made the final decision, but she did know she'd been moving towards it. "Well, until and unless you find something more to your liking, maybe you could work as my familiar?" Konoka made herself mentally promise that she'd treat Lobco with more respect that Chlomaki apparently had, from what she'd heard about her.
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Lobco's eyes went a little wide and her antennas perked up. Her heart soared at that question. Familiarhood was something very important to Lobco. She had always loved and been fascinated by magic, and she had always wanted to one day become a witch herself. Familiarhood in itself was in a way even more appealing for the trust and connections it fostered, as well as the happiness that came from being someone another could depend on.
She hadn't found what she had wanted with Chlomaki. There was no sense of kinship...of family there.
But with Konoka? It already was and this would only make it stronger.
"Yes. Yes, I would be so happy and honored."
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"Great!" Konoka pumped her fist. "I always wanted a cool familiar like Negi-kun! And way less inappropriately perverted to boot!" Any questions Lobco might have about that line might be interrupted, however, as she had to pause. "Though I dunno if there's any formal ceremony to it though. Just might be paperwork. I'll have to ask Chamo-kun..."
However, she quickly went back to her cheerful self. "But I'm looking forward to what we can do together, regardless of how it works!"
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"Oh, uh. Right!" Well. She was fine with not going into further detail about that. While she had certainly become a little less scared of intimacy while in Lunatia, that didn't changed that she wasn't much for vulgarity. Hopefully it wasn't anything too serious but she supposed she would learn in due time.
"As do I. Familiar contracts back home were pretty flexible. I'm not sure if the magic of your world allows them to be formed in the same way, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try?"
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"It won't hurt at all! I'd love to try it!" Konoka tried not to (and failed) bounce in excitement, but her enthusiasm was palpable anyway. "What do we need, either space-wise or magic-wise?"
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One she had seen between Wadanohara and Dolphi had been as simple asking a question and then shaking hands. The other, between Tetsuzora and Merol had been a bizarre series of swapping components that quite frankly she did not understand in the slightest, having been utterly tech illiterate back then.
"Hmm." which meant that no, they did not need anything in particular. It could be as big or as small an affair as they wanted. With that in mind, an idea formulated in Lobco's mind.
"Let's plan to go to the beach--are there any places you know where it's relatively private?"
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"I can do all the arrangin', so don't worry over it," Konoka gave a reassuring smile. "You just make sure we can approach this ceremony however you want."
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Yet if Konoka said not to worry about it, Lobco wouldn't.
"I look forward to it!"
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And so, Konoka began making the necessary arrangements to set aside their mini-vacation, getting in contact with Ayaka and getting her permission to hold their small space. Discretion mattered, because if 3-A caught wind of it not only would the rumors never stop, a good third of the class would snoop in on them! Fortunately, no one she didn't want to know caught on to where she and her partners were going.
The beach villa was almost as pristine as she remembered it, since the last time Ayaka invited them there five plus years ago. The pavilion that stretched past the beach line was just as nice as it had been back then. She smiled at Lobco. "It's nice bein' back. You like it?"
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Perhaps Lobco was a bit conceited in this regard, but she often found the 'public beaches' of land dwellers to be...well. It left a little to be desired. She was happy that they enjoyed it, and would rather that than the alternative of complete segregation buuut. Well, needless to say, the times she had seen it she usually had to do some cleaning up.
This was entirely different. She supposed that was to be expected of somewhere more private. Konoka's friend certainly kept this place in tip top shape.
"It's wonderful," She beamed brightly at her companions, "thank you for arranging this all." The sun was shining, the sand was bright, the waters a lush sapphire, and the pavilion warm to her feet. She breathed in deeply of the salt air before letting out a happy sigh. Whether on her home world or another, the sea was always reassuring.
"Should we get started? On wind down a little first?"
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Setsuna decided to take a seat in one of the chairs in the pavilion. For now, she was staying to the pavilion.
"I'm actually a little anxious and want to see what you have prepared, Lobco-han," Konoka answered. "We have some time to enjoy the beach for ourselves afterward!"
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But she could enjoy that luxury tomorrow or some other day. Right now it was time to make official something that she had wanted to for a long time.
She looked between Konoka and Setsuna, supremely grateful towards both women. Grateful to Konoka for having been there for her while they were in Lunatia. Grateful that she showed her the kindness and patience that let her trust again. Grateful to Setsuna for showing her no hostility for coming to this world as a partner of Konoka's, and welcoming them into their family.
"There's nothing to be anxious about, Konoka. This is something that we do together, there is no right or wrong way for it to go. I do have some things I'd like to set up but at the end of it all how you want to go about it matters just as much."
After everything Konoka had done to go about getting this beach reserved for them, Lobco wanted to put her effort in as well!
"I'll go get started, so you feel free to relax, ok? Just give me about two hours."
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But Konoka gave a firm nod toward Lobco. "Sure thing!" And she'd leave her to the preparations, rejoining Setsuna on the gazebo. She might have been mentally 'gone' for two years, but she just had an easier time catching up with Setsuna compared to everyone else. It might be why it didn't take long for Setsuna to accept Lobco, and even account for Konoka's increased libido.