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

B

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai is not fully clothed, but, luckily, he's also not naked; the outdoor baths are far enough away from the buildings that he's wearing a white-and-blue striped cotton robe and plastic sandals to walk to the one he'd planned to soak in.

He hadn't expected to see someone in a heavy purple cloak putting their shoes in the water.

Why shoes?

He hesitates for a long moment before stepping forward, out of the shadows of the path into the starlight. The boy isn't anyone he knows; he's much too young, and yet, something about his face is familiar.]

... Add?

[Surely not.]

[subtract]

[He looks up with a start, a little bit spooked by hearing his name out of nowhere... ah, but it's Hakkai. He stares at the man warily for a few moments before turning away again, deciding, for now, not to run away.

The water feels warm. It'd certainly be more comfortable if he just took a few layers off, but... he's not quite ready yet to risk revealing what's underneath. Damp shoes aren't a big deal.]

Hakkai. Long time no see.

[Younger, perhaps, but it's still Add.]

[reformedsinner]

Indeed.

["I thought you were dead" is probably a little more blunt than he needs to be. It's hard, though, to come up with anything else to say for several seconds. At last, he shakes his head.]

You've changed.

[And the oddest thing is not that he looks younger, but that, even though he looks years younger, he recognizes Hakkai. His memory is intact.]

[subtract]

Oh? How observant of you, keke. [He tilts his head back a bit, observing Hakkai from under the edge of his hood. The light in his left eye flickers unsteadily.] ... Mm. You look the same as ever.

[He turns his attention back to the sky, seemingly content with that exchange. Of course Hakkai would look the same. It's only been a few weeks in this world, after all.]

Is that brat of a shinki of yours still around?

[reformedsinner]

More or less.

[Physically, no, he hasn't changed much. Mentally... it's been a long few weeks.]

As for Chikusa-- if you're back, I want to talk to you about that. I've already talked to him; I want this fight to be done.

[subtract]

What a shame. [Add sighs, though he doesn't seem too upset beyond that. It's been two years and a timeless eternity on his end. There's no point in getting mad about a failed murder attempt that happened so long ago.

That doesn't mean he can't still be petty, though.]

Not interested. There's nothing to talk about. [he's not in the mood right now, but if he needs something to take his frustration out on Chikusa would make a good target...]

[reformedsinner]

Isn't there? I think our households can get far more accomplished as allies than enemies....

[And, at least, if he can smooth things over to a less murderous state between the two of them, Hakkai won't find himself undermined by any murder attempts.]

[subtract]

There are too many irritating people in your household. I won't consider someone like that an "ally".

Why stop now? I haven't had my fun yet. I think it's time he learned a lesson about what happens when you mess with someone more powerful than you. If you get on your knees and beg, I'll consider letting him live after I'm done with him, kekekekeke...

[There's a certain hollowness to his laugh, like he doesn't really care what happens one way or another. It would amuse him to see Chikusa suffer, though. He might feel a little better after. That, for now, seems like more than enough of a reason.]

[reformedsinner]

If you want me to beg on my knees, you'll have to promise more than that.

[It's Add, of course. Hakkai smiles at him, spreading his hands.]

Not to doubt your power, of course, but I think that if we were not allies, we could cause quite a bit of trouble for one another.

[subtract]

Is that so? Perhaps I'm looking for trouble, kukuku...

[... but it's true, that it would be troublesome to make an enemy of Hakkai. Even if he's not so worried about himself anymore, he wouldn't put it past Hakkai to target his shinki if it came to it. They'd no doubt try to protect Add whether he asked for it or not as well. Keeping them out of harm's way would become a chore if things continued to escalate like this.

Add mulls over that thought for awhile longer before he tilts his head back again, peering over his shoulder at the other god.]

What are your conditions?

[reformedsinner]

No unprovoked attacks, and if you have any future problems with any of my shinki, talk to me about restitution.

In return, you can call on me if you or your shinki need medical help, and I'll order my household to take no action against you and yours.

As for other help -- for instance, being your spokesperson if you need to convince people who won't trust you -- that's not part of this deal, but you would be able to consider me open to future negotiations.

[subtract]

[He falls silent again for a long time. It's a good offer. Really, it's something he already asked Hakkai for prior to his departure... but it's missing something. Just one tiny little addendum.]

Your shinki still tried to kill me. I'll agree to your proposed truce, but only if you can prove it's worth my consideration.

An apology. Spoken, in person. His own words. I want him to beg for my mercy and forgiveness himself. If you can't make him do that much, obviously you won't be any use in controlling him anyway.

[turns out there's still a way to get his revenge on Chikusa without murdering him.]

[reformedsinner]

Done -- if you agree that you'll accept his apology in its initial form, whatever that is. Obviously, I can ask him to apologize to you, but if you insist it be in his own words, I can't control what he says.

[He's also quite sure that if Add responds to Chikusa attempting a sullen apology by demanding that he get on his knees and beg for mercy, there will be another attempted murder.]

[subtract]

That's not going to work. If I'm agreeing to accept it in advance, then he'll just half-ass it and you'll have proven nothing to me. It has to be an acceptable apology.

Basically, prove to me that he'll actually listen to you when it counts. Otherwise the deal's off.

[reformedsinner]

Ah, but if I allow you to force him to continue to amend his apology until it's "acceptable," then I don't have any control over what you will consider acceptable, do I? For instance, you tried to order me to get on my knees and beg just now. I don't plan to order Chikusa to go so far.

[He spreads his hands.]

Perhaps we could agree on some parameters he has to meet in advance. He may listen to me, but I doubt he'll listen to you. Otherwise we wouldn't have this problem, would we?

[subtract]

[He wasn't not already considering that... Add sighs, feeling a little disappointed.]

You're as particular as ever. Fine, I suppose I won't ask for that much...

But I do want him to bow. [it's good manners!! that means it's fair game don't you dare try to take this from him]

[reformedsinner]

I can accept a bow. And an explicit apology -- that is, the words "I apologize" or "I'm sorry"?

[And as long as he doesn't let Add decide what Chikusa has to apologize for, that should be doable, too.]

[subtract]

Mm. And I want those words to be audible. It doesn't count if he's mumbling it so quiet you can't tell what he's saying.

Is that acceptable, then?

[reformedsinner]

It is.

[Hakkai holds out his hand to Add, smile firmly in place.]

Then we have a deal.

[subtract]

[Add stares at the hand, seeming to hesitate... but it passes a moment later, and he scoots himself around just enough to reach over and accept it. It's the weak-gripped, slightly awkward handshake you'd expect from someone who hasn't interacted with another human for almost two years, but whatever.]

Deal. [And that's that.

... well, except this means he has to actually go out of his way to meet with Chikusa at some point. And as much as he wants to see that idiot grovel for him...]

I have some other business that needs sorting out first... see to it that your shinki is prepared. [will it make Chikusa squirm even more to have to sit with the knowledge that he'll be forced to apologize days in advance?? Add can only hope.]

[reformedsinner]

Certainly. We'll see you later, Add.

[His own handshake isn't particularly firm, but he's done it enough that it's no longer awkward.

And a verbal deal isn't quite as ironclad as Hakkai would usually like. In this case, though, it should do. They're each under the threat of the other, should they choose to break it.

Now, he just has to find a way to convince Chikusa to play along.]