001 | The Welcoming Feast

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: A little bit of explanation, thank goodness.
When: Early morning. (February 15, 2016)
Where: The Heavens. Specifically in the Meeting Hall.
Warnings: Exposition is coming your way, sit back and enjoy the show!



The Heavens have summoned you. And there is no way to turn down a summons from the Heavens. Of course, some of you know where you are and what you are probably doing here, but most of you might be completely confused as to what is going on. All gods have been ushered into the meeting hall, where every person suddenly becomes anonymous and obscured, while every shinki has been gathered up outside in the hallway, both sets to listen to the same message sent by Amaterasu herself. And while you cannot see her properly or really figure out what her voice sounds like, you definitely know that it's her speaking:

'Welcome, one and all, to Takamagahara. There are many new gods and shinki here today, and I hope you all find your stay pleasant. I wish that I could explain to you exactly why you find yourselves here now, but I am unsure of the details myself. Please make use of the shinki dedicated to our services in order to make yourself more acquainted with your new position. You can find them by looking for my golden insignia.

As compensation for the trouble you are all being put through, I have had a wonderful feast prepared. I only hope that it is to your liking. Feel free to eat and drink as much as you would like, though please do not leave before the clock chimes midnight, for that is when your homes will be prepared.

I ask that all pre-existing gods please help those new to our ways. Let them know what is and is not acceptable and what duties will be expected of them. I am counting on your all to support the Heavens in this confusing time as we attempt to sort things out.

Thank you all for your time. And I am truly sorry that you have found yourselves in this situation.

With that, the figure that is Amaterasu bows deeply and disappears from their sights. The gods are released from their chamber and the shinki are allowed to roam. All exits are manned by a white-clad shinki, bearing a golden, embroidered Chrysanthemum on their chests. So, technically, there is no way out. You can't even seem to teleport out by any means.

All that's really left to do is enjoy the food and hope that you'll actually be able to leave after the clock chimes midnight. Though the clock doesn't seem to work on a minute-by-minute basis either...



Banquet Hall

There is food from literally every culture and walk of life here. Everything is prepared gorgeously and deliciously, no expenses spared. There are shinki bearing the Chrysanthemum carrying out new platters of everything as it's eaten up and nothing seems to go hot or cold as time passes - it always at the perfect temperature for eating and it never tastes anything but delicious. Maybe there's a little magic making it taste so good...

On top of the delectable dinner, there are plenty of desserts and every kind of alcohol available and constantly being refilled. The liquor is being offered to gods and shinki alike, no matter how old they are/look. Let's hope that you can hold your alcohol.

Counselling

In the main hallway, there is an innocuous door with a small, nicely written sign that reads "Gentle Counselling". Inside the door is a small room with a few sweetly smiling shinki inside who are willing to listen to your problems and answer any questions you might have. They are also here to help out any gods that are having a hard time dealing with knowing about how their shinki died and also any shinki that is having trouble coming to terms with the fact that they are dead.

Did Someone Say Games?

A large room connected to the back of the banquet hall has a wide variety of games set up for everyone to enjoy. There are old-fashioned board games (like chess and Othello) as well as newer ones (like Candy Land and Sorry!). On top of that, there is every kind of console available with every video game ever made - and plenty of handheld devices for everyone to be able to play. The devices don't seem to work outside of this room, though, so you'll have to stay there if you want to keep playing. Gaming is, after all, a great way to get to know new people!

After Midnight

Finally, the clock starts to chime. It seems like it's been days and yet only minutes at the same time. Time seems to work so strangely here in Takamagahara and it's hard to keep up with what's going on. But now that the shinki guarding the doors have left their posts, you are more than welcome to leave. In fact, the Heavens seem to want you to leave because all of the food has disappeared, none of the games work anymore (including the board games, which keep flipping over when you try to play...), and the friendly shinki are smiling as they usher you out the doors.

You are welcome to start wandering around Takamagahara, but it's an ambiguous sort of place and might just take you straight home anyway. Feel free to go home and start bonding with your partner. Or sneak home with someone else because your partner is a meanie-pants. It's up to you!



In Summary:

• Amaterasu says you're stuck here and she doesn't know why. Sorry!
• There's lots of food to eat, though! Eat your fill.
• Oh, and there's booze too. Try not to get TOO drunk.
• Guidance/Grief counselling is available, if you need it.
• Use gaming to get close to others!
• Try to start bonding with your god/shinki. Or just form new friendships. Whatever you feel best doing!
• Have fun!

Comments

[spacedog]

[His eyes glaze over and then close as she scratches behind his ears. That feels... so good.... OH! She's got the ball again! His tail wags as he watches the ball intently, and then spins and goes chasing after it!

Something is familiar about wriggling underneath the chairs with such speed and skill, and that is good, because it means he can get to the ball faster! Except now that he has the ball in his mouth, he is kind of stuck underneath the chairs. He pushes one onto its side as he stands up, and then lifts his head and looks around.

Noooo.... trapped over here... but he has the ball, which is good. But he can't return it to her because he's stuck in the middle of a tangle of chair legs. Oh the confusion... it's causing him a bit of anxiety. But he has the ball! But what is he supposed to do....

He stares at her and whines anxiously, wagging his tail because he has the ball. Heeeelllppp.]

[sleepingknight]

Oops!

[Poor dog! She hurries to lift the chairs so he's no longer trapped, kneeling once that's done to give him a fond and comforting pet.]

Good boy! Sorry, that was an awful throw, huh?

[spacedog]

[When she pets him he drops the ball at her feet and leans into the petting. It was kind of scary but now everything is okay. He bumps his nose against her cheek, and then gives her a lick. Yes yes everything is okay now. Just keep snuggling and all is forgiven and forgotten.

Careful or he might just crawl all over her in his eagerness to show affection! Love from a human is better than even a ball, after all.]

[sleepingknight]

Heheheh!

[She can't help but laugh - that tickles. Since he seems to be enjoying this even more than the game of fetch, she'll go ahead and vigorously scrub her hands through the fur on his back and neck.]

How'd you end up in here, anyway? I didn't know they brought in dogs, too!

[spacedog]

[He is enjoying the scratching almost too much to realize that she's talking. Not that he can understand what she's saying since she's talking the way humans just like to ramble and make noise. But she might be able to see that he's got what looks like a brand or a tattoo on his left shoulder, one rather similar to some of the other shinki running around.

But she'd have to look quick, because now he's down on the ground rolling over because the one thing that's better than being scratched behind the ears is a belly rub.

You know you want to, happy little human.]

[sleepingknight]

[-? Is that a...]

--Oh! You want tummy rubs?

[Yeah, she can do that! Scritch scritch scritch alllllll over his tummy, Coal is such a lucky dog right now.]

[spacedog]

[Coal is indeed the luckiest dog right now. You might even say he's in Dog Heaven? But a perfectly free belly scratch! One of his legs starts twitching and his eyes glaze over as his tongue lols out. Best... day... ever....]

[sleepingknight]

[What a good doge. But is he really just a dog?

She'll keep scritching away, but maybe she can get around him and push him up a bit with one hand so she can get a look at his back again? She could've sworn...]

[spacedog]

[He rolls over and yes, yes there is a shinki mark on his left shoulder. He swallows and watches her intently. What game does she want to play now?]

[sleepingknight]

[Huh.

Well how about that.]

Hey... you're a shinki too, huh?

[He'll get another fond, if short pat on the head.]

Do you know who your god is, boy?

1/2 sorry in advance?

[spacedog]

[She keeps talking, and it seems like she wants to do talking instead of playing games, but dogs don't do the talking thing--that's a human thing--so maybe she wants him to understand her. Maybe he shouldn't be a dog anymore.

He huffs a little and licks his lips, and then, in the space of a blink, becomes something else.]

2/2

[spacedog]

[That something else is a human boy, late teens, sitting in the exact same position as he'd been as a dog. Also, entirely naked as he'd been as a dog. The floor is not as comfortable against his bare ass as it had been before. His expression falters.]

This is awkward, isn't it.

[sleepingknight]

[Yuuki's reaction is almost immediate as she hurriedly scrambles away - and quickly, too, she's extremely fast for a. Fairy? Whatever she is.]

Wh-wh-wh--?!!

[She can't even get a proper word out, staring-- oh god she's staring better avert her eyes, one hand flying up as she ducks her head down to avoid looking at him at all costs.]

I thought you were a dog!

[WAS SHE PETTING A PERSON THIS WHOLE TIME.]

[spacedog]

[Coal avoids meeting her eyes, because, yeah, this is pretty awkward. Being naked in front of a younger girl? Yep. He hurriedly grabs one of the board games from a nearby table to cover himself.]

But I was a dog. But now I'm not. Sorry. I thought you were trying to tell me something, or ask me something.

[His eyes wander around the room--still avoiding looking at her--as he tries to remember where his clothes might be. He shook out of them pretty quick when he first became a dog....]

[sleepingknight]

I did ask you something, b-but...

I didn't think you were human!

[Her hand is still firmly over her eyes and not likely to budge until she's completely sure it's safe.]

[spacedog]

But I wasn't human. Sorry, I'll just.... [He's remembering where he shrugged out of his clothes and spies a pant leg in the corner by the door. She might be able to hear the sound of him awkwardly standing--board game in place--and then dashing towards the corner. He hurriedly puts on his boxers and is stuffing a foot into his pants when he calls back.]

It's okay, I found my clothes!

[sleepingknight]

[She sloooowly lets her hand drop, her cheeks quite red from all of this. She doesn't actually look in his direction, though.]

So what, you didn't get what I meant?

[It only occurs to her after she says it that for all she knows, maybe that is how it works for people who transform into animals and vice versa.]

[spacedog]

It's hard to...um, to get meanings from words. For a dog. [He explains this as he pulls on his tshirt and comes back over to her, totally barefoot but hell if he can remember where shoes and socks went. They definitely got lost first.] But now that I'm human, I can talk.

But yes, you'll have to repeat yourself because I can't remember what you said.

[He pads over to her, and sits down in the same place he'd been sitting before. This time he's sitting cross-legged, and also has clothing.]

...And, um, sorry for not wearing clothes. They're not comfortable for a dog.

[sleepingknight]

[This is weird this is weird this is so weird.]

So... are you a shinki?

[spacedog]

[Coal nods.] Yeah. I work for Omoikane.

What about you?

[sleepingknight]

[Ahaha, about that...]

...I haven't met my god yet.

[She miiiight sorta kinda be putting it off.]