30 - Deep Clean

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: The Heavens have issued everyone invitations to a relaxing hot spring vacation.
When: Dec 14 - 16
Where: A traditional onsen hotel on the Far Shore
Summary: The invitations might have looked like an opportunity for a pampered getaway, but this onsen seems a little run down. And shouldn't there be a bigger staff? Is this an excuse to get the new gods and shinki to clean up an old building, or is it an opportunity for a rustic getaway? It's all in how you look at it....






Rustic Baths

Heaven's messenger doves drop invitations off by the doorways of temples throughout the Far Shore in the second week of December. Ornamented with a calligraphed swirl of steam, they invite the residents of each temple to relax at a recently re-opened hot spring in the safety and comfort of the Far Shore's southern fields.

Upon arrival, visitors will discover that the hot spring itself is heavenly. Cloudy waters in every shade from nearly white to turquoise fill pools that are cut cleanly into stone. The hottest baths are filled from pipes ten feet up, with steaming waters cascading down, cooled enough by the fall not to burn. Outdoors, fences cleverly masked with bushes and vines provide privacy for bathers. The indoor baths are set into the floor in solid wooden buildings, for those who would prefer not to brave the elements for their relaxing soak. Other wooden buildings are airier, with traditional sliding paper doors and tatami rooms within for visitors to sleep.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look all that ready to "re-open." The buildings are worn down by time and neglect; sliding doors are off their tracks, paper screens are torn, tatami is worn out, and the landscaping is badly overgrown. This looks more like a haunted house than a luxurious getaway. At least the baths are nice.

Cooking & Cleaning

There's a noticeable lack of staff around the hot spring; the only caretakers for the place appear to be two elderly shinki in plain indigo robes, one man and one woman. The man can be spotted here and there around the place over the few days that their guests are present, industriously scrubbing floors, patching screens, repairing tatami and cutting back bushes. It's far more work than just one person can do, and he'll be eager to explain the tasks and accept any help that's offered.

The other shinki is a slight, stooped old woman who bustles about with fresh towels and robes, lays out futons and pillows for the guests, and cooks three meals a day. She, too, is terribly overworked, and help with the laundry or the cooking will be gratefully accepted! Surely, if everyone works together, they'll be able to make this a wonderful.... vacation?

Spooky Sleepover

For those who take the two shinki up on their offer of hospitality, they will find that the rooms are comfortable, the futon are soft and warm, the stars are beautiful far from the lights of more densely populated areas of the Heavens... and as soon as the lanterns are all snuffed for bedtime, the remote resort starts to feel a little creepy. Strange creaking noises resound overhead. Is that the wind, or someone walking on the roof? What about the shadows cast through the paper screens by the moonlight? Is the flicker of light outside someone taking a flashlight as they go for a late-night walk, or a will-o'-the-wisp beckoning the unwary to their doom? And what about those distant animal howls in the forest?!

Investigate the mysterious noises, or pull the covers up and try to get some sleep. Extra-brave guests could even take the opportunity to light some candles and tell ghost stories.

The Bath's Master Returns

On the 16th, the two shinki will wake all of their guests up promptly at dawn by ringing a big brass bell in front of the dining building. Bursting with pride, they introduce the bath's proprietor, home at last from a long flight: he's a man in his thirties, tall, heavy-set and wearing a trailing feathery cloak, with a red face and a very large nose. (Or is that really a cloak? It could be wings....) He fans himself vigorously with a white feather fan, and welcomes the remaining guests in a booming voice, before inviting them to enjoy a lavish breakfast spread and come back soon!

Guests who have stayed until the final day will find a gift at their place setting when they go inside, especially if they helped the proprietor's poor overworked shinki with their tasks. Comment below on the "Gift" thread to learn what your character found in their package.

In Summary:

• Vacation at a run-down hot spring
• Help the staff get things in order
• Try not to get scared by the spooky surroundings
• Get a present from the bath's proprietor
• Have fun~

Comments

haunting

[festal]

( Sakura steps out into the courtyard nervously, venturing a few steps in the garden and looking around. She's dressed in one of the inn's yukata and has a red shawl over her shoulders. Holding her shawl tighter, she calls out into the night quietly, )

Hello? I-is anyone here?

( Nothing but the winter air and she shivers, muttering to herself, )

I could have sworn... Was I m-maybe imagining things...?

[abgrund]

[ Ain hears Sakura's voice from below. A little strange, he thinks - she should already be asleep. Is something wrong?

He's not about to forget his manners, though - a single step forward lets him float downward from the roof... like a ghost. ]

I'm here.......

[festal]

(She should be asleep and she'll probably be exhausted in the morning but for now, she's awake! She hears something in the wind-- something moving but what? It sounds smooth and soft, like the wind or a stream.

And then from the darkness there's a voice. She jumps!)

Eep!

(And turning around, holding her shawl close to her and definitely looking like she's seen a ghost,)

O-oh, it's just you, Ain.

(What a relief.)

[abgrund]

[ Her expression of surprise isn't missed, but he supposes it can't be helped. It's just how he is.

(The fact that he looks a bit like a ghost seems to have completely escaped him...)

He'll peer at her more closely once they're within speaking distance. It seems rude to shout, so he'll float closer so that they can talk normally. ]

It's me.

[ He can be sure of this, at least. ]

You... don't sleep?

[festal]

Don't....?

( What a strange choice of words. Of course she sleeps! She's human, after all. )

Well... i-it's more like I can't right now. ( She fidgets a bit, turning her hands nervously as she glances back at some stone lanterns, ) I, uhm.... ( Keep hearing things but she doesn't want to admit that she's afraid of the dark. So instead, she tries to change the topic, ) Did you see anything out here?

[abgrund]

[ Right, insomnia then. It seems like she looks a little afraid, from the nervousness of her countenance. ]

I haven't, [ he offers tentatively. ] I was alone here.

[ Surely if there were spirits, he would have been able to sense them. ]

[festal]

( That doesn't help her at all and she tenses, looking around nervously at their surroundings again. )

Really? I could have sworn... Oh, I'm not calling you a liar.

( Sorry. )

I just... I thought I heard someone come outside but m-maybe I was mistaken...

[abgrund]

[ Human hallucinations, he supposes - he remembers now, of that time in Feita where the group of people he traveled with were half afraid of ghosts. He had not been back then, if only because he was sure he could kill them if they ever appeared.

Now, not so much. ]

Maybe you're just tired...

[ He suggests with a wave of his hand. ]

I can, bring you back to your room, if you want?

[festal]

If I'm completely honest... I am.

( She's tired. She's so tired. )

But I don't think I can sleep.

[abgrund]

[ Now that's a slight surprise. People usually can't sleep because.... because.... hmm. He can't remember. ]

Is something bothering you?

[ He's good at listening, if anything else. ]

[festal]

( She's quiet for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to explain, )

... I... ( There's a long pause and very quietly, she explains, ) I'm too afraid.

( Oh! That was embarrassing. )

[abgrund]

[ Afraid.... hmm. Possibly of the ghost she saw? ]

Does it help if, I stay with you?

[ That's what people do when they're afraid, right? Stay together.... ]

[festal]

( ...!

The offer catches her off guard and she blushes, )

Ah... ( Fidgeting. If she's honest? ) ... I-if it's all right with you... O-only for a little while, of coruse!

[abgrund]

It's okay.

[ He has time. He would have otherwise spent it looking up the moon, so he doesn't mind.

Ain holds out a hand. His skin is cool and smooth to the touch, like plastic. ]

Where to?

[festal]

( She looks at his hand. Ah, is it really okay? This feels intimate! But she knows he doesn't mean it that way so... surely, it'll be fine. After some hesitation, she reaches out and feels a chill go down her spin. This isn't a feeling she'd associate with someone living and yet... )

M-maybe the kitchen? Some tea might help.

[abgrund]

[ His only reply is a hum of acknowledgement before he moves to where he knows the kitchen is - having worked in it before, he's memorized not only the position but also where the commonly-used objects are. Making tea sounds like something simple enough to do. ]

What kind of tea?

[festal]

( Likewise, Sakura has also been in the kitchen quite a bit and she knows where things are as well as what the have to choose from. It takes her a moment to decide, )

... Jasmine?

[abgrund]

Okay.

[ He'll look for the kettle and bring it out so they can have some hot water. Ordinarily he would just... extend his arm to pick up everything else, but he figures that's probably something that scares Sakura at night. ]

Do you like it a lot?