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

OTA!

[leggierissimo]

[ banquet hall ]

[Parties were never really Joshua's thing. Granted, parties "downstairs" are a little different, in that they tended to be filled with drunk businessmen, and that he was always obligated to drink past a certain age. At least here, it's only being offered, and refusing the odd drink or two isn't being frowned upon, so he'll just continue to do that! The food, too. As hungry as he might be and as delicious as it looks and smells, he doesn't quite trust it. Who knows what might be in it? Not to mention, even though this isn't the underworld, he has something to get back to, and he'd rather not be stuck here if at all possible. He's read up on his mythology, thank you.

Heaven, though... Hm. The one place he never really wanted to go. Fancy that. It's about as official and stuffy as expected.

Nonetheless, he's content to stand by and observe. Mostly, to see if any of the food is having any ill effects, or if there are any spectacular breakdowns over the situation. He likes to think he's handling this rather nicely in comparison. ... even if his phone does seem to mysteriously be missing. Just how is he supposed to get a ride home?]


[ after midnight ]

[Even Heaven can't play host forever, it seems. Not all that surprising. It's that false sense of hospitality that is gone the instant there's an alternative, and his feelings aren't hurt in the slightest. The weather is pleasant, at least. The scenery may be different, but it's not terrible, either. Perfect night for a walk around the premises!]

Banquet hall

[grants_wishes]

[The food is delicious, and so enticing smelling, it's a wonder that there's anyone left at this point who could keep resisting it for so long. That's what Alluka thinks, anyway...!

So, to see someone standing around, simply watching the food and the people enjoying it rather than having any himself, that's really strange, isn't it?]

Is something wrong? [The question comes as something a little more than a thought being voiced out loud.] The food is really good. [He should try some!]

[leggierissimo]

[Ah. He's being addressed. Joshua glances down, eyes widening just a slight bit for a split second - oh. Hm. A child? Not exactly what he was expecting to run into up here, but he supposes that appearances can be deceiving! He'll just have to see.]

I'm not hungry, thank you.

[If he has his way, he'll get out of here without eating or drinking anything. Not to say it isn't tempting! But he's resisting.]

[grants_wishes]

[Really, trying to put a finger on what can be 'expected' up here might be tricky. But, that can be found out later.]

That's too bad... [Alluka's not about to try and push food on to someone who isn't hungry, but it's really tasty! Not wanting to enjoy it seems unfortunate.] There's a lot of really good things that I don't think I've had before! Does any of it look familiar to you...?

[There's a lot of it that, while Alluka doesn't really remember much of anything before showing up here, feels familiar, but a lot that doesn't. It's kind of strange!]

Banquet Hall

[sleepingknight]

[...Why does it feel like she's being watched?

It takes a little peering around, and she's still occupied with chewing on those dango, but eventually her eyes settle on the... teen? who's pretty blatantly watching everyone.

So, Yuuki will do the logical thing and just stare right back, chewing away on her snack and not suffering any obvious penalties for it.]

[leggierissimo]

[Funny, he's getting that feeling, too.

Glancing around the room, it isn't hard to hone right in on the source of that staring. A girl. A shinki, by the feel of it. He'd know the feel of another god. Rather blatantly staring, too! Hm.

Joshua lifts his hand and wiggles his fingers, smirking. He sees you.]

Can I help you?

[sleepingknight]

Mm, maybe.

[With a grin, she pulls another dango off of the stick and chews it through. You know, to keep her occupied while she actually approaches him.]

What's up? You aren't joining in?

banquet hall

[okitactless]

[Yamato isn't eating, either. But his reasons are much simpler. He has no reason to suspect nefarious purposes--and honestly, it's hard to say if he'd mind them even if he did.

But he doesn't want their hosts to be offended, either. So once he'd been politely informed that the leafy object in the center of the table was not a salad, he'd picked up a small plate of daifuku instead, and that's what he's holding when he approaches Joshua.]

Would you like something to eat? You're very skinny. [(Look, he has 'tactless' in his username for a reason.)]

[leggierissimo]

[Joshua has actually enjoyed watching earlier, when this one mistook the centerpiece for part of the food. Parties were never without entertainment, though usually it involves someone loud and drunk. He had only been halfway sure that this shinki hadn't been drunk.

... but seeing it all much closer now, either this shinki really is drunk and is just hiding it well, or he's just naturally this tactless.]

No thank you. I'm not hungry.

[okitactless]

[Door number two, Alex.

But his intentions are good, at least? He gives Joshua a worried look, lowering the plate. Maybe he's sick? For a minute, it seems like he's going to ask exactly that--but he doesn't.]

Well, if you're sure. But it's important to maintain your strength. [Eat your broccoli and drink plenty of water, Joshua! It's important!!

And so are introductions, he supposes. They're all comrades now, in a way, aren't they? So he smiles that odd, distant smile of his and bows a little.]

I'm Yamato no Kami Yasusada. It's nice to meet you.

after midnight

[soundsurfing]

[Josh isn't the only one out taking a walk. Beats out and about too but less to enjoy the scenery and more to figure out if there's things to do and vaguely where things are.

That is until he spots Josh. At first he's inclined to ignore him, but something niggles at him and he pauses to watch him for a moment. Well hell, why not, can't hurt to talk to more people. So he jogs over with a friendly grin.]

Sup dude? Enjoyin' shit?

[leggierissimo]

[Joshua had anticipated walking around out here by himself a bit, or at least with Neku in tow. Finding out where his residence is supposed to be is important, even if he has this faint idea telling him exactly where it is. Perhaps not having Neku around right away is for the best after all, since it will allow him to keep up appearances.

But then a voice is calling out to him, and his eyes are widening, because he recognizes it. Only because he recalls hearing it calling out to Neku, but it's recognizable enough. It can't be. He only has one shinki. He turns, glancing over his shoulder, and if he had his memories he knows Beat would recognize him...]

... I suppose.

[soundsurfing]

[The answer makes Beat snort a little, looking the other over with a touch of amusement. Was he a God or one of the Shinki?]

What yo, ain't enjoyin' the fact yer either dead an' servin' some God, or a God wid a new pet basically.

[Yeah sorry, Beat's a little sour over it and he's not entirely sure why. Something rubs him the wrong way about it. He scratches the back of his neck a little with a sigh.]

Sorry, ain't likin' the idea any still.

after midnight

[jyajyaaan]

[It takes a while - until their 'hosts estate' cannot be seen easily anymore - before a cloaked figure seems to materialize out of the shadows and falls into stride next to Joshua.

The uninvited companion waits a beat before he finally speaks.]

I've seen you watch everybody.

[leggierissimo]

[If Joshua claimed to be surprised by the sudden appearance, he'd be lying. At the very least, teleportation seems to work roughly the same here as it does in Shibuya. Not that he's all that surprised by that, either.

Nonetheless, the only acknowledgement his spontaneous company has in the silence before any words are spoken is a brief glance aside, and a slight slowing of pace. Hmm...]

Ah, have you? And here I thought I was being subtle about it.

[jyajyaaan]

[In turn Vector notes his lack of reaction and files it silently away as Joshua either having good enough senses to have noticed him before, already being used to it or possibly both. There is also a chance that the other simply didn't care about sudden company, but that seems an unlikely option at their current situation.]

You were. [A small noise escapes from the rough area of his mouth, half huff and half amused.] But half the room was doing the same, and that is really hard to miss.

[He pauses to give the other a curious glance.]

Did you see anything interesting?

[returnedfromtheline]

[While Yukine is standing and watching the new gods and shinki, he notices someone standing and watching too.

After a time of them both standing and watching and Yukine seeing a bit of how this other boy handles the people coming up to him and talking, he finds himself a touch indecisive. Part of him wants to go up directly to this guy, but part makes him want the boy to come to him.

Mm. Well, he'll wait a bit longer. It's not like anyone is going anywhere until Amaterasu says so, apparently.]

[leggierissimo]

[Standing and watching is what Joshua does best! But in his own standing and watching, he notices someone standing and watching him. Not out of the question, he supposes, but he'd been hoping to stay somewhat under the radar. Unfortunately, other new arrivals have been breaking his ability to blend in with the walls, so to speak.

But, after it's been a significant enough amount of time, and this boy is still watching, he moves a bit closer, under the guise of possibly finally finding something to eat in all of this.]

Something catch your eye?

[returnedfromtheline]

[It's true- if all those others hadn't approached the other boy, he might have not really noticed him until much later.
But, done is done.

He feels a bit of smug satisfaction when the other boy finally approaches him.

Running his eyes over the nearest foods to them he shrugs.]

When it comes to the food? Everything is good. [He returns his gaze to the other boy. Yukine's not too great at the subtly thing, so he just goes forward directly.]

But you caught my eye. Just watching everyone; I was wondering what you saw.

[sweetdeath]

Hey, if you don't want that one--

[Tsuzuki's reaching for the drink Joshua just turned away, slurping a mouthful through the straw before he speaks again. Something with rum -- and orange -- and something spicy, too. Anyway, it's good, and he picks up the garnish pick and downs a maraschino cherry.]

Great party, huh? So, which one are you? God or shinki?

[He's got a funny sense of recognition, but he doesn't know what it means or if it means anything at all other than his having had enough booze to muddle all of his senses. It'll take a while to get used to the things he can do around here, whatever those are. There seems to be a lot less paperwork.]

[leggierissimo]

[... what is it with all of these new arrivals being in such high spirits.

The drink being taken doesn't bother him at all, and Joshua simply watches with a vaguely bemused expression. He's surrounded by enthusiasm for a myriad of subjects, and it's a little exhausting. Or maybe he's just actually starting to feel his age. Or maybe just everyone but him is a varying degree of drunk.]

It's a party, I'll give it that.

[He waves a hand dismissively, leaning back slightly against the wall and slipping his hand into his pocket, only minutely twitching as he remembers his phone isn't there. Right. That's something he needs to track down...]

A bit forward, aren't you? Just how many of those drinks have you had?

[sweetdeath]

What, is it not your scene? [Tsuzuki winks at him, and tries the drink again. Really good. He's going to have to figure out what it's called: maybe one of those uniformed shinki can clue him in.]

Don't worry, I can hold my alcohol! You look like one of these would knock you right over, though. They've got soda -- um....

[He'd seen it earlier. He waves vaguely to the quadrant of the banquet room that probably had the soda in it, and shrugs off the brief confusion.]

I'm Tsuzuki, Asato Tsuzuki. You?

[ after midnight ]

[ijustwonthegame]

[Despite what Joshua had said about being the one to call on him rather than the other way around, he must've gotten held up with something since Neku's the one picking him out of the sparse remainder of stragglers and trotting until he falls into step with the... other kid? Guy? God? Whatever.]

[The annoying thing is that even if Joshua doesn't immediately acknowledge him, he gets a weird feeling he already knows Neku's right there.]

So I hear I'm shy and standoffish.

[leggierissimo]

[Oh, of course he knows that Neku is there! What kind of god would he be if he couldn't even sense his own shinki? Tsukuyomi can't take that level of embarrassment.

As Neku approaches and speaks, Joshua remains turned to face the opposite direction. But after a moment, he turns enough to glance over his shoulder, smirking just enough to be visible.]

Hmm~? You mean to say you aren't?

[ijustwonthegame]

[Neku wrinkles his nose the second there's eye contact - and then rolls them.] I think you were taking at least the standoffish bit less personally than it was meant.

[Yeah, no, he doesn't have the patience after a night like this to put up with more of Tsukuyomi's mysterious flair and bullshit, so another trot or two to walk side-by-side it is.] So. Sounds like we're heading back to your place now.