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

[grants_wishes]

[And here we have one small child, peeking curiously at all the different kinds of food, trying to figure out which ones would be the best ones to try. As if to answer the unspoken thought, Coal's suggestion reaches Alluka's ears.]

Is it...? What's it like?

[Without really waiting for an answer, she reaches toward the food that he motioned to, fully intending to give it a taste regardless of how he answers.]

[spacedog]

Deli... cious.... [The pause is because he realized she was already trying the food so maybe she doesn't really need his opinion anyway?

He gives her a moment to appreciate the taste. And then he does his best to make polite conversation with the kid.]

Are you new here too?

[grants_wishes]

[It's polite to ask for an opinion, right? She hasn't seemed to really nail the concept of waiting for/i> the opinion before moving to form her own, but. Details. Alluka's still young, it shouldn't be that unusual.

The food is sampled, and...] Mmmmh! It is really good...! [It earns a big smile - what a good suggestion you've made, Coal!]

I'm new, yes! I'm not really sure how I got here, though. What about you? [New 'too' makes his unfamiliarity obvious, but is his arrival just as mysterious, she wonders.]

[spacedog]

I can't remember getting here, either. Or maybe we were already here before we forgot? [There's really no way of knowing, right? He smiles at her anyway.] You must be a shinki, too. [Because only the gods seem to have memories. The shinki can only remember one thing, it would seem.]

My name is Coal. Do you know yours?

[grants_wishes]

[Maybe they were here before...! That is a valid point, and one Alluka hadn't considered, and is answered with a slow nod of understanding. As for the shinki question,] That's what this means, right? [And, here, she holds up her left palm to display the '軽' kanji that's been placed there.]

I'm Alluka!

[spacedog]

[Coal shrugs. He has no idea what her hand means. It's not like he can read kanji so easily?]

Nice to meet you, Alluka. [You adorable fellow shinki, you.] Have you tried out any of the drinks?

[grants_wishes]

[Alluka honestly has no idea that it has some sort of word equivalent attached to it, just that it's some unusual symbol that she's pretty sure signifies something unusual! What even is kanji, so weird and mysterious.]

It's nice to meet you too, Coal! [Have a cheerful smile!] Only some of the fruit juice, so far. [It's hard to tell what some of it is, and this kid is apparently not adventurous enough to try it without some suggestions.]

[spacedog]

[Coal ponders the refreshments area.] I had some soda earlier. Maybe if we mix the soda with the fruit juice...?

[It's a bit complicated, but at least it will give them something to do? He can't shake the feeling that he's supposed to be looking out for her. Maybe it's just normal for an older-looking person to look out for a younger-looking one. That must be it.]

[grants_wishes]

[Alluka's eyes widen a little in interest at the suggestion,] That sounds like it would be really good...! Let's try it!

[To the refreshments table! Considering there's pretty much anything they could possibly want to try available, that means lots of options, especially when it comes to mixing things together.]

Hm...! [What to try?] The cherry juice was tasty. [What would be good with that?]

this thread is making me so thirsty???

[spacedog]

With lime soda?

[He holds up a can of Heaven-brand lime soda, pops it open, and gives it a small sniff. Yeah, that would go well with some cherry juice. He pours some into a cup and then hunts for the cherry juice.]

Or maybe some pineapple juice and orange soda? [Whichever one she wants, he'll mix up the other kind.]

I wanna mix a bunch of fun drinks now gosh :T

[grants_wishes]

[So many options...! And he seems like he knows what he's doing, too, it's a little hard not to just let him decide, it's not as if Alluka has any room to be too finicky in the first place.]

Hmmm...!! [But! She will do her best! To help come up with the best sounding beverage!] Maybe... what if we did cherry, orange, and lime? [You can do that many at once, right? That should be okay...!]

Well I wanna drink a bunch of fun drinks now....

[spacedog]

[Three at once! Great idea and he appreciates the enthusiasm! His eyes light up.] That sounds like it'd be good!

[And so he passes her a glass of equal parts cherry, orange, and lime... soda. All of it is soda. Because why not? Enjoy the sugar rush little girl.]

I'll try pineapple, cherry, and... whatever this green juice is? [Trying new things is exciting! And he has no idea what he's doing, which is why her drink is basically sugar and he ended up adding melon soda to pineapple juice and cherry soda. It's... not bad but it might not really be "good," either....]

I'll mix and you can taste test. We'll make a perfect team.

[grants_wishes]

[Fill this kid full of sugar before returning her to her god. What a flawless plan. It's a good thing Zoldycks are prone to absurd sweet tooths, so as long as the drink has that going for it, it's going to be palatable. For whatever that's worth.]

Ohh, it's really sweet...! [It doesn't sound like Alluka thinks it's particularly bad, either. Mostly just different, which makes it exciting!] How's yours? The colors look like they mixed into something murky... [Must be the pineapple juice's doing.]