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

[reloves]

That's just the level of generosity I extend to all my students! [ Of which she has.. one now. Maybe she's making this seem like a much bigger deal than it really is, huh. ]

So if you ever find yourself in an awkward situation and don't know what to do, just send me a message over the phones asking for advice!

[fortunesmiles]

Ah, thank you! That definitely could be useful!

[And Komaeda pulls out his phone, handing it over to her.] I should probably get your number, then...

[reloves]

Yup!

[ She's already used these things to give someone her number before, so it's definitely easy to do it again now. She types in her number and saves it under "Minako-sensei" before handing it back to him with a smile. ]

Here you go! Just send me a quick message if you want me to have your number as well. And then you can contact me anytime!

[fortunesmiles]

I'll do that, thank you. [He pauses, blinks, and then laughs.] Actually, as well as phone numbers, we should probably introduce ourselves...

I'm Nagito Komaeda. Or the god Averruncus, if you'd prefer.

[reloves]

You're a god?! That's so cool! [ Of course she knows he must mean within the context of this place, but it's still pretty cool to her, okay. Especially since she wouldn't have expected it from him, judging by his.. everything.. ]

I'm Minako, nice to meet you! I'm Zelda's shinki.

[fortunesmiles]

Is it? I really can't take credit for it, since I just woke up as a god one day... [He laughs lightly.] I'm just lucky, I guess.

It's nice to meet you, Minako. I don't believe I've met Zelda...which goddess is she?

[reloves]

Metis!

[ Thankfully she did at least make sure to know that name by heart, despite only hearing about it for the first time here. (Most likely - it wasn't stored anywhere in her default knowledge stash, anyway. ]

You'd immediately recognize Zelda if you met her, really. She's super pretty, and she also seems so super regal.. You know she's royalty the moment you meet her!

[fortunesmiles]

Really? I've already met the Ultimate Princess from my own world...I wonder if this Zelda would be considered the Ultimate Princess of her own world, too?

[Komaeda will persist in dividing the world between those who have ultimate talents and those who don't, and no force in the heavens will stop him.]

[reloves]

[ Thankfully Minako has already written off him categorizing people like that as just one of those Komaeda Quirks (tm). Hence why she just happily nods at that description of Zelda. ]

Oh, I'm 100% sure she is! I can't imagine anyone more princess-like than her! [ Sorry, Sonia, but Minako doesn't even know you.. ] I'm sure there are plenty of people who can just be born princesses, but to become a true princess on top of that you need to have certain qualities!

[fortunesmiles]

[That is absolutely the healthiest way to cope with knowing Komaeda; just accept that he has a lot of questionable quirks and largely ignore them.]

Oh, I'm sure Sonia would agree with you if she was here. You'd probably like her. I wonder how she'd handle getting to know another Ultimate Princess... [Komaeda muses over this for a moment, then smiles.] Gracefully, I expect. That's probably one of the requirements for being an Ultimate Princess.

You must really like her, though. [Minako seems so happy talking about her. Komaeda can't help but wonder if Garry is as happy with him, or talks to other people about him like this. Probably not...]

[reloves]

Of course I like her! She's my goddess, after all.

[ Not.. that said fact makes it certain that all shinki and gods like each other as much as Minako likes Zelda. She's well aware of it, even, after having heard some cautionary tales from others on her first day here. But she chooses to view things optimistically regardless. ]

It'd suck if the two of us didn't get along. Having a good bond between gods and shinki is important-- at least, I think so! And it's not hard to like Zelda when she's so amazing.