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

[gonnarockyou]

Oh....

[That sounds...like a lot. Contacts, Illusionary World, realms... He more or less understands what Tsuzuki is saying but what he means is different. Hopefully things weren't that complicated. Gon wasn't sure he was cut out for this God thing but he would give it his best try.]

I think they mentioned something about fighting with the Shinki. So if you can find a Shinki then you could fight with them? I think its sort of the same? Maybe....?

[He really has no clue. Gon really wasn't too interested in that part. If there was a fight, he wanted to try to take whatever it was down himself.]

[sweetdeath]

... I thought they just meant, as partners.

[Using Hisoka as his shikigami just sounds really wrong. Hisoka'd be mad about it, for one thing. He wouldn't take any better than Suzaku to being summoned and dismissed just like that, and he's never liked going along with what Tsuzuki says even when Tsuzuki actually is right...

This might be a little less of a vacation than he'd been hoping.

He laughs, nervously, and scratches the back of his neck.]

We'll figure it out! Anyway, you shouldn't be getting into fights at your age. There are some dangerous guys out there.

[gonnarockyou]

[ Have a shrug. Gon is mostly playing everything by ear and guessing the rest. He hasn't been too worried about the details and still isn't. Everything will work itself out, he's sure of it. The only downside to this whole adventure so far is that he is still Nen-less. That alone does weigh in the back of his mind but he's trying not to think too much about it. He was going to keep going regardless.]

I've been in lots of fights though.

[It's actually one of the things he was excited about. He wanted to get his blood pumping again. Being back home at Whale Island was nice but it also left him a bit restless. If anything, Gon saw everything that was happening as a new adventure. A new challenge he could overcome.]

...but fighting dangerous and strong people is how you get stronger. I'm not worried about that. Asato! If you ever need any help, let me know!

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, it's how you get hurt, too...

[And while they do heal fast -- if gods here are as challenging to kill as Shinigami's corporeal forms are, then they probably don't have to worry about a quick death -- they're here in the positions of other gods, aren't they?

Gods who something happened to, and this is the first time tonight that Tsuzuki's stopped to wonder what it is. He frowns.]

Anyway, just be careful!

[Back home, he knows the ropes. Here... there might be different ropes, and he's going to have to figure it out fast. Hisoka's depending on him.]

Have you got a shinki yet?

[gonnarockyou]

Mmmm....you're right. It works both way.

[Tsuzuki is right. Can't fight that one. But that doesn't really change anything. Gon is still going to do what he wants. If something wants to fight him, he'll more then likely try his best to take it down.]

Not yet. I wasn't really in a rush too. What about you?

[sweetdeath]

I've got my partner here, so -- yeah.

[He's got to look after Hisoka. Not that Hisoka can't take care of himself, but Tsuzuki still has to, because Hisoka doesn't. He's too busy trying to be good at everything, and if he wound up working with somebody who took advantage of that then he really might get hurt.

Can shinki die? Tsuzuki doesn't know. What if they aren't as durable as gods?]

[gonnarockyou]

That's good then. I'm sure you'll do great. You and your partner.

[ Gon offers a reassuring smile. Honestly, he should probably be looking for a Shinki for himself but he really isn't in a rush to. He wants to enjoy what he has in front of him. Besides, it wasn't fun to really rush everything. If he was suppose to have a Shinki, he'd know then. Being solo isn't too bad. Still it'd be great if someone else was here with him.]

[sweetdeath]

Thanks! Hey, it's got to be easier than my last job.

Way less paperwork, for one thing....

[... he hopes. He's not actually reporting to anyone, though! He just has to do what major gods do, which is look after their area of responsibility, which for him is. Well. Desserts. So that'll be fun!

Maybe he can convince Hisoka that hitting all of the hot new dessert bars is actually a divine responsibility, if he describes it right.]

[gonnarockyou]

That's good though. I don't remember them saying anything about paperwork.

[Not that he had paid attention enough to be able to say that so surely]

I hope there isn't any of that here.... Sounds boring.

[He did enough homework to last him a life time back on Whale Island. Paperwork just sounded like more of that. No thanks! Acutally, if Paperwork was something that needed to be done, maybe Gon would need a Shinki after all...]

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, Hisoka might have to do mine if there's any! [He laughs cheerfully.] He's just better at it than me...

[That makes sense, right?

Sure.]

[1/3]

[gonnarockyou]

Hisoka...?

[gonnarockyou]

[Gon doesn't register much past the mention of 'Hisoka'. His eyes widen as he stares up at the other god in disbelief. How...when...? Hisoka was here? Why would he be here? Hisoka being a god or shinki sounded terrible..and kind of exciting. Crap. And without Nen... If he crossed paths or got in a fight with that clown now... it made his skin crawl.
Gon's attention is no longer on Tsuzuki but rather the rest of the room. He can't help but look around in search of the Hunter. Of course Gon can't sense him either. But Hisoka was near impossible to miss appearance wise. How did he not notice him?! He curses himself for being so careless.

But even then...there's not sight of him. ]

[gonnarockyou]

[After a few seconds of this, He slowly looks back to Tsuzuki. ]

Hisoka...is with you?

[sweetdeath]

[Tsuzuki blinks at the kid for a few seconds. He knows Hisoka?

He knows Hisoka and he's that shocked by hearing his name? Now that's really weird. Hisoka can be intimidating when he's mad enough, sure, but he's not dangerous. Tsuzuki's done more damage than he has, a thousand times over.

Cautiously, he replies.]

... Uh, yeah? He's my shinki. He's around here somewhere!

I guess you've met?

[gonnarockyou]

[Gon just smiles sheepishly, his hand reaching behind his head. Met was one word for it. He shouldn't of made it so obvious but it was just so unexpected. Hisoka was here....did that mean anyone else he knew was too? He would definitely need to take a better look around before everyone left.]

Yeah, I know him. I didn't expect you too.

[sweetdeath]

Well, yeah, sure! Hisoka and I have been partners for years.

[Gon's response still seems weird -- is it really the same Hisoka? But that's such an unusual name it almost has to be. Maybe they just really didn't get along, or something.

Tsuzuki shrugs, cheering up.]

Did you meet him here or something?

[It's more or less that, or Gon's someone Hisoka met from the mortal world at home, and wouldn't Tsuzuki know him, then? They don't spend all their time together, just a lot of it, but still.]

[gonnarockyou]

Really?

[That's hard to believe. He's pretty sure that he's never seen Tsuzuki. Inless he's been behind the scenes alot. Then again what did he know about Hisoka other then he was creepy and crazy strong. Still...it's hard to picture Tsuzuki and Hisoka working together for years. Maybe they're confusing Hisokas? It wasn't a common name was it?]

Uhm, no. I met him a while ago. I didn't think he had a partner... Why do you work with him?

[sweetdeath]

Well, we were both Summons division, and he agreed to work with me when he came in. They pulled the old "most experienced, strongest" line on him... boy, was he surprised!

[Tsuzuki laughs at the memory-- the look on Hisoka's face had been amazing when he found out that Tsuzuki was the longest-term employee because he was the biggest screw-up in the department....

But it's weird that this kid would've met Hisoka back home and never knew about Tsuzuki. Or even that Hisoka had a partner! Did they just get into a fight or something?]

Anyway, how'd you meet, then?

[gonnarockyou]

[Gon really has no idea what a summons division is or anything following. Going after the "most experienced, strongest" sounded like Hisoka's style but wouldn't he just challenge Tsuzuki rather then team up with him?]

At the Hunter Exam. [He doesn't miss a beat with that answer. It comes out almost instantly. Hisoka made a hell of a impression. on his face]

He was trying to get a Hunter licence like me and I got put against him during it.

[Of course there was Heaven's Arena and such after that but the Hunter Exam was the starting point.]

[sweetdeath]

Wait... what's a Hunter?

[Hisoka's not a hunter in the sense of trying to kill small woodland animals, Tsuzuki knows that much. Sure, he can handle a fake gun convincingly, but that's all.

And there aren't exams for being a hunter, either, so whatever the kid's talking about it's got to be something else Tsuzuki hasn't heard of.

Or there really are two different Hisokas.]

... Uh, we're talking about the same guy, right? Blond, about yeah tall... [He holds his hand out about five feet four inches off the ground.]

[gonnarockyou]

You don't know..?

[Gon frowns a little, looking up at Tsuzuki. He watches him describe Hisoka which is...pretty off from the one he knows.]

Uh....more like red hair and he's taller then that. Dresses like a clown sort of. [Two Hisokas...but he'll happily take Tsuzuki's Hisoka being here instead of the one from his own world. If anything that's a big relief.]

I guess they are different, oops. [He grins, laughing a little and relaxing. He doesn't know the other Hisoka but how bad could he be?]

[sweetdeath]

Haha, yeah, I guess so! That's an unusual name, I didn't think there'd be more than one.

[His relieved laugh joins Gon's, and he shrugs it off.]

But the Hisoka I know wouldn't dress like a clown for anything.

[Not even a job. Tsuzuki's way more likely to be the one undercover in greasepaint.]

Hey, I should introduce you to him later! I bet you'd get along.

[gonnarockyou]

[That's even more reassuring actually. Gon gives a quick nod. Without the Hisoka he knows here...his worries are pretty much gone. ]

Really? I'd like to meet him then. When I find my shiki, I'll introduce you too.

[sweetdeath]

Yeah, we can hang out! I know a couple great bakeries down in the mortal realm. How do you feel about donuts?

[With the Hisoka confusion over, Tsuzuki's relaxing back into tipsy cheer. He glances down as something catches his eye, and picks a last shard of broken glass out of a crack in the floorboards.]

Whoops! Good thing I saw that before anybody stepped on it. [Glancing curiously over at Gon's plate, he adds:] So how are those fried things on the stick? They look great!