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

1A

[saiyanhybrid]

Hm?

[Gohan looks over, recognizing him.]

Yeah, I don't mind.

[Hope Caster won't be surprised by the strange looking monkey tail swaying behind Gohan, though.]

[futhark]

[ The old man continues laughing but he does seem to have his mind elsewhere and seems to be preparing to leave. ]

What's more up your alley? Fixing? Or supplying? [ Caster stands up from the floor and dusts off his pants. That's when he notices the tail ] Huh..?

[saiyanhybrid]

I can help with fixing.

[The tail stops suddenly and then curls around Gohan's waist.

Gohan blinks at him.]

Hm?

[futhark]

[ You know, fixing can wait. Caster has try to peek around from his already squatting on the floor position ]

Did you always have that tail?

[saiyanhybrid]

Oh, this?

[The tail twitches a bit.]

No, I didn't. Not since I was a kid, anyway.

[futhark]

So you used to have one?

[ That's strange, sure, but not as strange as gaining one when never having it in the first place. ]

Guess it's a good thing that it finally grew back? Sounds like a kind of pain with pants though.

[saiyanhybrid]

Eh...hahaha.

[He laughs nervously.]

Not so sure if it's a good thing to have it back.

[futhark]

Why?

[ This can be read as both a question regarding "why wouldn't it be good to have back", but is probably more of a "why do you even have a tail in the first place" because it is important question. ]

[saiyanhybrid]

Why what?

[Please specify, Caster.]

[futhark]

Why is it not good to have it back?

[ How did you lost it? Why did you had it in first place - are other questions coming to mind. ]

[saiyanhybrid]

It can be a bit of a pain to have. And it gets in the way.

[That's...safe to say, right?]

[futhark]

Yeah, I can imagine how annoying it is when you gotta cut a hole for it in everything.

[ And with how some of the pants are made, it can ruin them permanently. But is it a deflection he senses? He's not someone to press the uncomfortable subjects so he drops it gracefully- ]

No worries, if you don't wanna talk about it, I won't ask. Might seem weird, asking a dude about his tail.

[ -or not ...very...gracefully.. ]

[saiyanhybrid]

To be honest, it's probably one of the more...mundane things about to ask.

[He shrugs.]

[futhark]

[ Shrugging right back at you. ]

Well, it is a noticeable change.