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

[sweetdeath]

Huh? Repeat that?

[Tournament rules what huh? Tsuzuki doesn't have bad aim, but he's tipsy enough that he wouldn't remember the complexities of a game he hasn't played in years, even if he ever did know them. And those don't sound familiar.

He takes the darts, though, hefting one thoughtfully.]

What's doubling in?

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua snorts. Geez, this guy must either be drunker than he looks or dumber than he looks, either one works.]

We start with 301 points. We hit points on the board until we get down to zero exactly. Doubling in is when you hit the double point spots.

[He goes up to the dart board and points to the outer ring.]

These ones. See?

[sweetdeath]

So in and out means I have to hit one to start and the other to end....

[Tsuzuki nods seriously, trying to put together all of that information. And he has to take points away from 301, so he has to do that math in his head.]

That's harder than I thought!

[Those spots are pretty tiny. He squints at the board. Hey, it could be worse. He hasn't had enough to be seeing two boards!]

[idkmybffgon]

Ha! It's not that hard. I mean, I can do it! And I'm like... what? A quarter your age?

[Killua, why are you SUCH a little shit? He is busy smirking at Tsuzuki squinting at the board, that's hilarious.]

You still think you can do it?

[sweetdeath]

[Tsuzuki laughs behind his hand. A quarter his age?]

I dunno, what are you? Fifteen?

[Maybe even younger than that -- he looks younger, but he has the confidence of an older teenager. Tsuzuki shrugs it off, and grins.]

Okay, let's try! Who goes first?

[idkmybffgon]

Fourteen! I mean, you look like you're at LEAST fifty.

[Only by your standards, Killua, wow. But he brightens up at the agreement.]

You can if you want! I'm really good at this, I've already tried a couple of times! So you might want a head start!

[sweetdeath]

[Yeah, that's a real laugh right out loud.] I'm seven times older than you!

[He hefts the dart, stilling and suddenly seeming much more serious. He even looks a little taller as he draws himself up with concentration and weighs the tiny missile in his hand, takes it between two fingers.... and throws.]

... How many points is it for the wall?

[It's stuck firmly in the plaster three feet to the left of the target.]

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua has to actually stifle a laugh, oh my god that was horrible, and after all that build-up too!!]

Zero! And it definitely doesn't count as a double-in!

[He grins.]

You've got two more shots, at least.

[sweetdeath]

If I hit the wall twice it's a double, right?

[Yeah, that probably won't fly, but Tsuzuki is taking much more careful aim this time, closing one eye. He's gotta at least hit the target this time.

The dart soars across the room and lands at an angle in the outer ring. He cheers.]

-- Wait, how many points is that...?

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua is laughing again.]

Nuh-uh, no way. Don't even try it.

[Ah! He actually hit the board this time! Impressive.]

Just look at the number, and double it. I'm not keeping track of your score on top of mine.

[He probably will anyway, but he's not gonna tell Tsuzuki that!]

[sweetdeath]

[Tsuzuki has to go over and check, leaning in close and squinting at the number. Okay, so it's 22.

301 minus 22 is... uh...

280? No, 279. He's muttering all of this under his breath, and counting on his fingers occasionally, but he nods earnestly as he treks back to the other boy.]

So do I still get one more shot or does it stop when you hit the board?

[...it's like he's not even thinking about the fact that most people probably don't miss the board at all.

Definitely drunker than he looks.]

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua laughs.]

You've got one more dart. Then it'll be my turn.

[It's pretty entertaining to see this drunk guy trying to do math. It feels... a little nostalgic for some reason... huh.]

[sweetdeath]

Great! [This throw is even more casual. Somehow, it lands on the board anyway, and Tsuzuki has to make another trek over and count on his fingers again, returning with the three darts in hand.]

Here! Your turn. So, you play this a lot, right?

[He's certainly good with the rules, Tsuzuki thinks, and leans back against the wall to sip his drink again.]

[idkmybffgon]

I guess I do! I don't remember playing it, but all the rules just seem really natural.

[Killua takes the darts, weighing each of them in his hand before taking one and just very languidly throwing it at the board. It hits a double spot on the outside of the ring, letting him double in.]

It feels pretty normal to throw the darts too. So I guess I must've played it all the time or something.

[The next two darts follow after, both scoring high numbers with ease. In fact, Killua barely seems to be looking at the board.]

I guess that's the weird thing about being dead, huh?

[Grin~]

[sweetdeath]

[Tsuzuki stares at the board. Yeah, he's gonna get totally crushed. At least it's his first game, though, right? So it doesn't count.

Absently, he nods.]

You mean the not remembering thing? Yeah, it's pretty weird. None of the dead where I'm from lose their memories, so maybe it's just a part of being a shinki here.

[He heads over to collect the three darts and take his turn. The first dart hits the board at an awkward angle on a low number, and he groans. Number two hits the wall again and number three lands on an 11.]

Hey, not too bad for my first game!

[idkmybffgon]

[Letting out an idle snicker, Killua goes to grab the darts again once Tsuzuki is done.]

You're not too awful, especially since you're drunk.

[He twirls one of the darts absently between his fingers.]

...do you talk to a lot of dead people or something, then? Weird...

[sweetdeath]

I'm great at holding my liquor! I've got a stomach like a python.

[Tsuzuki grins smugly and leans back against the table, picking up his drink again now that he's been reminded of it. He'll do just fine... or, anyway, he won't be any worse at this darts thing than he would be sober.]

And sure, I talk to lots of dead people. I'm a god of death. Or was, anyway, now I'm the god of sweets. It's a nice upgrade!

[idkmybffgon]

Yeah right~ You're barely hitting the board, dummy.

[Killua is okay with it though? This is actually fun. Which somehow seems weird. Huh.]

Haaah? So you've been a god for a while? Tch...

[He's still not sure he believes in this god stuff. Rather than get into that, he tosses the darts at the board, racking up quite a few more points.]

[sweetdeath]

Seventy years! You're looking at the most senior member of the Summons department.

[He waves a grandiose hand at himself, squints at the board, and sends another dart straight into the wall.]

They throw better parties here, though.

[Somehow, darts two and three land on the board again, one of them hitting eleven again.]

[idkmybffgon]

I gotta admit, this really is a pretty great party. I mean, just all those sweets were enough to make it great!

[When Killua pulls the dart out of the wall, he stares at the hole for a moment before snickering and grabbing the other darts.]

Being a god's nice, huh? At least you remember who you were and what you did before you got here.

[sweetdeath]

That dessert bar! I'll be seeing it in my dreams! [Tsuzuki clasps his hands together worshipfully.]

Yeah... it's not bad. I guess all the shinki have forgotten.

[idkmybffgon]

I KNOW!! It's the best thing they have here!

[Aha! This guy is actually very much endearing himself to Killua. This is great!]

Yeah. I don't remember anything but my name. And like, you know... darts and stuff.

[Speaking of which, he takes his turn, smirking afterward.]

Looks like I'm gonna win unless I screw up next turn~

[sweetdeath]

W-whoa, are we that close to the end of the game?!

[Look, he's doing okay on the "not wobbling or slurring too bad" front, but his higher brain functions are in no shape for complicated math. He hasn't even been paying attention to Killua's point spread.]

You are good at this! Damn, you need to teach my boss.

[He leans back against the nearest table, finishing off his drink in a last gulp before he wanders over to pick the darts out of the target for his own turn.] The desserts are good, the place is gorgeous, the drinks are free... you're way too young to appreciate that, but believe me, it's a great perk.

[idkmybffgon]

[Killua wins. Always winning.]

Eeeh? Is your boss bad or something? I dunno if it's something I can teach though.

[He lets out a snort at the last comment, tucking his hands in his pockets.]

I've tried some drinks before. I don't see what's so good about 'em.

[sweetdeath]

See, he picks the office vacation spot by throwing darts at a map, and there was this one year we ended up treading water in the ocean....

[He sighs, with something like reverse nostalgia, and blinks at Killua.] Whoa, you are way too young to drink!

[Recently dead and, what, thirteen? Fourteen?] Maybe you'll appreciate alcohol more later.