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

[leggierissimo]

[Ah, Neku, you're asking too many questions.]

I can tell when someone is particularly talented. And you have great potential.

[But, to ease his mind... hmm.]

I did have one not long ago. But we didn't quite see eye-to-eye, so I let him go. He did try his very best, though, so I expect no less from you.

[ijustwonthegame]

[Good, you lying liar.]

Right. So it's just you and me, then. What're we supposed to do once the party breaks up? They didn't exactly go into the daily grind of your average salarygod or anything. [He's pretty sure that he never really believed gods or anything supernatural was even real, without proof like this whole mess in front of him. That's less a hunch and more just the slowly growing self-awareness he's got.]

[leggierissimo]

[He's not lying. He's dancing around the truth for your benefit.]

What do you do when any party breaks up, Neku-kun? You go home. And once you're settled in, we'll see about something a little more exciting. [He has no idea, actually. But! That will give him a little time to find out, or find a way home, one of the two. Preferably, finding a way home without damaging Neku's memories too badly.]

[ijustwonthegame]

[Lying liar liarface.]

[That... sounds a little awkward. Just, what, BAM, you live with a person you just met? It's better than not having anywhere to go, don't get him wrong, but it's going to be a while before he's gonna accept that as normal.]

[The whole sentiment's just coming out as a slight wrinkle of his nose after a long pause, though. Might as well keep playing it all by ear.] How you keep me in suspense.

[leggierissimo]

[Oh, believe him. He's used to not sharing a place. At all. A night, he might be able to manage, but he'll just have to see about any longer than that.]

Aww, why the sneer? Life is full of surprises, you know. Or the afterlife, in this case.

[ijustwonthegame]

[...As long as he gets his own room, he's tentatively sure he'll make do. Joshua's weirdness doesn't make him the most glowing ideal of a choice roommate, but he could be worse. Right now he's mostly just difficult, enough to make Neku sigh.]

That's kind of a package deal when your past is a blank slate dotted with giant question marks. But I guess at least one of us is having fun.

[leggierissimo]

[Well, of course, silly. Joshua wouldn't dare share a room. Wherever this residence is that's being prepared for him, he's sure that it has separate sleeping quarters for shinki. But hey, at least this gives him the opportunity to keep an eye on Neku. He's not under someone else's thumb.]

You can't have fun by making new memories? Really now, Neku-kun. Utilize that brain of yours.

[ijustwonthegame]

[Great.]

I'm not saying that; I'm saying it's easy for everything to be a surprise that way.

[leggierissimo]

[Waving a hand!]

We'll just fill in those surprises as we get to them! For now, you should make the best of your eternal youth~ I doubt it will be too often that you get to enjoy a party like this.

[ijustwonthegame]

[Joshua's getting a fantastic snort at that last remark.]

Good. I don't mind a couple people here and there, but I'm finding out that I'm not really a party person.

[leggierissimo]

[Ahh, it feels just like old times. ... just a couple of weeks ago, but shh.]

That makes two of us. The moment they let us leave, I think I'll take them up on their offer.

[ijustwonthegame]

[Amnesia and all! Only this time not by Joshua's machinations. (That must sting.) He's grumbling in agreement, though, and downing the rest of his drink.]

I know they said midnight but I definitely haven't seen a clock anywhere.

[leggierissimo]

[Everything here stings, actually. Not in the literal sense, though. At least, not yet.]

That is true. How do you suppose you tell time in a place where time doesn't matter?

[ijustwonthegame]

Better start counting. At least you'll know we should kinda maybe be free before you hit 86,400.

[leggierissimo]

It's a ruse, Neku-kun. An open-ended way of saying, "Please give us more time, we don't know what's going on either." They're scrambling, and it's just to save face.

[ijustwonthegame]

Uh, yeah, that was what the "kinda maybe" meant in the middle of all that sarcasm. [Really, he hadn't been sure if that was the case here, but it kind of smacked of it. And that was with him approaching the situation basically blind.]

[leggierissimo]

[Well, that was what was said, anyway. Even if it hadn't been, though, he would still think that they didn't know what they were doing. Some Districts might be a little scattered if they suddenly had a couple dozen errant Souls dumped on them, but even the most competent would still have to suffer through some bureaucracy. It's likely no different here.]

Even so, I'm not bothering to count. But you're welcome to, if it will help pass the time.

[ijustwonthegame]

[This guy was certainly cute, being so friggin' obnoxious himself and then ignoring any and all similar behavior from anyone else. Neku crossed his arms and huffed.] No, thanks.

[leggierissimo]

[Don't worry, he knows~]

Then don't offer that as a solution when you wouldn't do it yourself, hm?

[Now? Now, he's just kind of being an ass to be an ass.]

Go out, then. Socialize. See what you can see while we're being held captive! Once we've been given the all-clear, I'll call for you.

[ijustwonthegame]

[There's something irritating about being told to run off and play by a guy that looks basically the same age as you, there really is.]

So, what, I get the shinki angle and you go bug some gods and see what they think? [Call him optimistic for trying to completely ignore the condescension going on here.]

[leggierissimo]

[If you only knew! It's not his fault he looks like this, though. Optimism looks cute on you, by the way.]

Something like that. I doubt the shinki will know much more than the gods if even the gods don't know, but it never hurts to ask.

[ijustwonthegame]

Well you already admitted to the disproving of omniscience right there, so who knows. [That's his cue to get up and start moving, though, if only because he needs a breather from being intensely prodded at by someone who at least wants him to feel like they know more about him than he does. The situation's unsettling enough as it is.]

Catch you at midnight, then. Don't have too much fun.

[Considering what it seems like Joshua's definition of "fun" is.]