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

[darkduelist]

[Perhaps Yuto would stop thinking this much about his death and memory loss if he only found something else to do. Right now however, he feels out of place at this party - he probably had never liked parties - and so, being able to only wait gives him too much time to think.]

...And I can't.

[He can't enjoy anything. He can't stop dwelling on things that can't be helped.]

[sleepingknight]

[Hmmm... She stares at him with a thoughtful look, chewing on another chunk of mochi. She'll take her time finishing it off before she answers.]

Then, what kinds of things would help? [If the food's no good...] Maybe playing a game? Or-- hey, I wonder if we can explore here at all, either?

[There's a thought. She'd been so occupied with the food, she hasn't really looked around too much.]

Being able to do anything is better than just sitting around, isn't it?

[darkduelist]

[He probably just needs time. A lot of time.]

Explore? [Yuto thinks about it for a moment.] Is there anything we can explore here?

[There doesn't seem to be much to see here. And they can't leave either, not for now, at least. But Yuto can agree with one thing - everything's better than just sitting around.

So he shrugs.]

...In any case, let's go and see for ourselves.

[sleepingknight]

[Well... on the bright side, they probably have a ton of time, what with being. Very, very permanently dead? She would assume, anyway.

Hearing that, she nods and raises a hand in a cheerful salute.]

Roger-♪

[And sets aside her bowl, having already finished plenty enough of it to be satisfied.]

I think I saw at least one unguarded door in the back. We can start there!

[darkduelist]

[Good point. They'll have the eternity to get used to their satiation, right? Probably.

But... unguarded door? Why does it suddenly sound like trouble? He can't help but frown.]

...Are you sure it's a good idea?

[sleepingknight]

Hm?

[She's already starting to walk, and she won't wait up - though she will at least tilt her head in his direction.]

Everything else is guarded really tightly. If they didn't want us to go in, I'm sure they'd guard this one, too.

[She's not about to break into anything she isn't supposed to. There's no reason to do something so drastic, in her eyes.]

[darkduelist]

[Good point.]

...Alright. [He's still a bit hesitant about this, but he follows her anyway. He catches up to her quickly and then matches her pace with ease.

After a moment he suddenly asks:]

By the way, what's your name?

[sleepingknight]

[Heyyy, that's one thing she remembers.]

Yuuki! Yuuki Konno. It's nice to meet you!

[Even though she's still walking along towards the door, the grin in her voice can easily be heard.]

[darkduelist]

[She seems like she's always enjoying herself, no matter what.]

Yuuki. [Yuto repeats the name.] ...And I'm Yuto.

[He gives her a very weak smile and then after a moment says:]

It's nice to meet you too.

[sleepingknight]

[It does seem that way, doesn't it?]

You're a shinki too, right? I know we're supposed to serve gods, but I think we should look out for each other too!

[darkduelist]

Yes.

[He nods.]

You're right. We're all in the same situation... [With no memories and no idea what the future holds.] ...So we should help each other.

[sleepingknight]

Right, right!

[She nods with each one.]

It's important to have people in the same situation that you can talk to. Otherwise, you just keep distancing yourself, and that's no good!

[Anyway, room reached! It... actually appears to be a huge game room. Wow!]

Ohhhh, they really went all the way, huh?

[She can't even count how many different games and types of games are sitting in this room. It's huge!]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto follows her and when he enters the room even he looks a little amazed at what he sees.]

They sure did.

[He takes a few steps towards some board games.]

First food and now all those games.

[From the board games he takes a look around the room.]

[sleepingknight]

Well, at least we have plenty to do!

[She starts nosing around herself, checking out what's there. Board games, card games, video games...]

...Hey, some of this stuff is really old, huh?

[darkduelist]

I guess.

[He's attention is drawn by cards games and he quickly finds himself staring at one deck of cards with a thoughtful expression, before putting it back down.]

[sleepingknight]

[Yuuki makes her way over to the video games, leaning over to inspect some famicom-era cartridges, gradually walking down along the shelves into the discs section...]

Whoa... It's like the history of video games over here!

[darkduelist]

[Yuto walks up and looks at the cartridges. His head tilts very slightly to the side as he asks:]

...What are those?

[sleepingknight]

Old games! ...I think?

[They look pretty clunky... She picks one up and wastes no time turning it over and about.]

Maaaaan, I wonder how they even work... Oh! There's a chip down here! ...Wow, it's huge!

[How the heck did anyone play with giant cartridges like this?]

[darkduelist]

[Yuto makes a thoughtful look as his gaze is fixed on the old cartridge.]

I don't know.

[He isn't familiar with such old technologies.]

[sleepingknight]

[She is admittedly making an educated guess, what with the room being obviously dedicated to games and there being shelves upon shelves of the evolution of console gaming lined up starting here.

Hm. Well, she's not too interested in it outside of perhaps its historical value, so she'll go ahead and return it to its proper place.]

I wonder if they have anything newer...? Let's see how deep it goes!

[And with an excited grin, she begins making her way down the rows, her pace a bit quicker than before. Apparently this is what happens when something catches her attention properly.]

[darkduelist]

[He nods and wordlessly follows her, trying to match her pace. He looks around as he's walking, searching for something that he would be familiar with.

Every now and then he stops in his tracks and casts a look in the direction of the table where he saw the deck of cards. For some odd reason they draw his attention more than all those video games.]

[sleepingknight]

[She notices the looks, tilting her own head curiously when she catches him doing it a second time.]

See something?

[darkduelist]

[He looks at her, then shakes his head.]

It's nothing...

[And again his gaze drifts to the deck.]

Just... cards.

[sleepingknight]

[She glances over at them. Yup, those are definitely cards alright.]

...Do you want to play with them?

[Not like anything's really caught her attention anyway.]

[darkduelist]

[He makes an uncertain look.]

I don't even know [Remember?] how to play.