June Training

[priforprince]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: June 7th, 2017
Where: Apollo's Temple, The Far Shore
Summary: FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINME---er, training for extant gods and shinki



Determining which temple to visit for today's training is not difficult. For one thing, Apollo's Temple is setting off fireworks periodically to entice newcomers through its high, Hibiki-statue-flanked doors. For another, anyone leaving their own temples will find themselves immediately confronted with an adorable purple goat robot wearing sunglasses and a bow tie. The goat has a silver platform suspended above it, atop which has been set a single purple rose and a brief note:

I shall be maa-ttending you today. Follow me.

Said goat will continue to follow your character until they give in and do as the note suggests. In fact, even once they do, the goat shall accompany them for the duration of today's log, seeing to their every need. Ask the goat to fetch something, and it shall be fetched. Ask the goat for directions within Hibiki's castle - "Where is the god training?", "Isn't there an amusement park in here?" - and guidance shall be provided maa-ccordingly.

It seems, today, everyone will receive a full Celebrity Maa-xperience.



Introductions

Incidentally, Hibiki's temple does indeed contain an amusement park. Everyone shall be directed there first, to enjoy the roller coasters, spinny teacups, and merry-go-round to their hearts' content until all the TVs in the area switch on at once. (Should your character not be positioned by one of the many televisions scattered throughout the area, have no fear. Your maa-ttendant has just rolled away and come back with one.)

"CelePara Prince Hour!"

Hibiki's face appears on the screen. She's a decent amount of space back from the screen, for once, and seated upon her throne. There's a brilliant sun motif on the wall behind her - or is it a crown? It's both, perhaps.

"Everyone, it's been a while. Shikyoin Hibiki here. Have your hearts been astonished by the peerless excellence I've delivered to you today?"

The maa-ttendants all nod. Which is hard for robots without neck joints to do, so they rock in place on their wheeled platforms instead. Clatter, clatter. Hibiki, for her part, nods back as if she's witnessed this occurrance.

"Splendid. The three characteristics of divinity are - Majestic. Unparalleled. And...Possessing great love." A smirk. "It's as if the position exists just for me. But those of you tasked with a duty you're currently incapable of fulfilling need not despair. I've arranged a variety of beneficial exercises for gods and shinki alike. Engaging in them is best, so we can create it."

She raises an arm, as if showing everyone ascending from her beneficial guidance. "Together with me - the ultimate puniverse!"

The TVs switch off. Those closest to gods display, on a map, where the god training is. Those closest to shinki display the shinki training. All indicate the physical training and the refreshments. The refreshments seem to be.....outside? With a time marked for dinner?

Pay that no mind. It's probably fine.

God Training

Hibiki isn't at the god training, either, which is taking place in a banquet hall. And which appears to be, ah....a swanky tea party. With a sign indicating there's a sauna next door. She does, however, appear on a large TV a bevy of spygoats push into position once any new gods have entered the room. Behold!

"So-called gods, glad you could make it. Yours is the tremendous task of assisting me, the God of Fortune Apollo, to bring radiance to the scrap-heap puniverse known as the Near Shore. As satisfying your followers with anything less than a Top-Class showing is insufficient, I'll give this chance to steep in a celebrity atmosphere to you. The chosen deities require no throat-drying or sweat-inducing hardship. Open the new celeb world."

And, with that, the tea party begins. Those not wishing to enjoy the top-class light sweets or delicious first flush teas may rid themselves of their average-person cares in Hibiki's special detoxing sauna. Those seeking an example to follow may take in a movie (in a theater featuring opulent reclining seats) starring Shikyoin Hibiki, or enjoy that the Shikyoin Hibiki History Exhibit has returned for a limited time only to this wing of the temple. Learn all about her many accomplishments, and be inspired!

If you're looking for Hibiki, however.....Well. Your maa-ttendant is willing to show you the way, especially if you're a shinki or a god seeking suggestions for a matchup. But there are two obstacles to reaching her. First, you have to successfully kick a soccer ball past a spygoat goalie. Second, you have to read from a college history textbook provided by a spygoat in a pasteboard hat - and get all the kanji right.

Or you could force your way through, or raise a fuss until Hibiki emerges, but who'd conceive of that?! Clearly everything will go as Hibiki intends!

Shinki Training

The good news for the shinki in attendance- or any gods who ran away from Hibiki’s tea party to see what else is happening- is that they don’t have to further deal with Hibiki. Or being proper. Instead, everyone’s maa-tendants will guide them to a large indoor space that has been purposefully, uh, repurposed for today. As there are a lot of big extravagant rooms in Hibiki’s castle, it wasn’t very hard to change it into what is essentially the inside of an acrobatic circus. Wendy will already be waiting for everyone to arrive, seated happily on top of some push up bars. “That’s everyone, isn’t it? Alright then!”

Since there are no newcomers as far as Wendy can tell, she gladly skips over “how to shinki” issues and instead offers some quick explanations and instructions to everyone in attendance. People are more than welcome to do the usual borderline practicing, of course, and Wendy will give a quick instruction for those who somehow missed that particular lesson. But that’s the boring way, and she didn’t set up all of this to be boring. In fact, there’s a particular shinki trait that she feels not a lot of people have really utilized: the strange shared trait that they’re all extremely light and can do things like leap ridiculous distances.

So everyone will be encouraged to use the various pieces of equipment that are around. People who are unsure of themselves can use basic things such as monkey bars, low balancing beams, and the other sorts of things that they’ve seen Heaven use in their training sessions such as jumping from stump-like platforms to another. There are even some trampolines for those who want to see how high a shinki can go before their head cracks into the very high ceiling. (And an almost extravagantly large bouncy castle for the kids and kids-at-heart.) But they’re really encouraged to use things that are a little more… high skill. Such as the tightrope extended high above the ground, or the swinging trapeze set. For those who want a bit of a challenge, Wendy even has a route set up where they have to go through just about everything that’s set up in the space… while she has another person practicing throwing borderlines at them to either dodge or deflect. Also the goats might get in the way. Is that part of the training, or is that just how the goats how?

Any random god that comes in will hardly get a blink besides Wendy ushering them in with an off-handed, “Sick of the tea, huh?”

Self-Improvement Training

Those looking for something less...extreme...than Wendy's contribution will find it in Hibiki's gaming arcade, which has been newly restocked with a row of PriPara arcade machines. These machines encourage you to create a customizable character and dress them up, then perform a rhythm game with the character dancing in the background. Successful completion earns you a ticket with more clothes that can be used on your character. It seems that a sense of rhythm improves intuition, which is useful for gods and shinki alike.

Also of use to all: the ability to ad-lib with a partner in an unusual environment! Which is what anyone who ventures into this concert hall will find. It looks like there's an improv contest going on. Grab a partner and be assigned a random scenario. You now have to act out that scenario in hopes of getting perfect 10s from a row of extremely Judge-Looking spygoats (they are wearing berets and glasses, to look Artsy, except for one who got the kind of judge wrong and showed up in a powdered wig instead.)

Now, pick your chosen field of battle! No sparring prompt is required to hone one's competitive urges and divine might.

Rest and Refreshments

Anyone desiring a change of scenery, as well as everyone once the sun begins to set, will be guided out the back of the temple by their maa-ttendant. A splendid dinner table has been set out upon the pirate ship in Hibiki's backyard, and everyone has a place reserved just for them. Why, their favorite drink is already awaiting them in their glass!

Food is available from a variety of sources. For those who prefer self service, a buffet table has been laid out next to one railing, arranged with a variety of high-class, gourmet foods. Filet mignon? Caviar? Lobster? Fugu? Vegetable delicacies? All are available (though none come with instructions - do have fun with the lobster). The maa-tendants are also happy to double as waiters and fetch food, for those who prefer the full service celebrity treatment.

Those seeking a more low-key, though no less eclectic, dining experience can find it along the other side of the deck, set up on a nice table with a tablecloth and some flowers for decoration. It seems one of Hibiki's shinki has decided to grace everyone with a bountiful spread! Poke, acai bowls, salad, malasalada, chocolate macademia, strawberry mochi, and manapua are all available, with placards indicating what each dish is and any potential allergens. This entire temple devotes itself to hospitality.

Still missing, however: the host, though there's a throne awaiting her at the head of the table, a cup of tea already in place. Music is also being provided by goats in the corners, who seem to have full stereo systems hooked up where the maa-ttendants have trays. Baroque classical music recordings softly waft over the diners, lending the entire experience a distinctly elegant air.

This aura of peaceful refinement shall remain until everyone who seems inclined to go aboard has done so (the goats do seem to maa-ccomend you board, but it is not enforced - sit this out, if you wish). At that point, all goats will roll up to their gods or shinki, carrying another sign - Please take care. The music dies down. So do the lights.

And beneath everyone, the Starship PriPirates's...rocket engines...rumble to life. And a triumphant peal of laughter, high above everyone - rings out!

In Summary:

• Delight in your precious new robot BFF (maa-ttendants are OK to NPC & adopt!)
  
• Learn absolutely nothing from anybody actually charged with hosting this informational session
  
• Engage in various "training" activities with no ulterior motives behind them whatsoever
  
• Be kidnapped by pirates?????
  
• Have fun~

Comments

[reloves]

"I don't know. It's hard." Especially since she feels like she doesn't want to act like some great moral authority on that. She doesn't even know how she'd deal with it herself if it happened to her - the one memory she did recover was confusing, but didn't seem evil in any way. And most other shinki she's met here seemed nice, but..

"I guess it depends on the person. No one should have to do it, but.. I think it's the intention that matters. If someone is secretly mean or even evil and is hiding it just to be able to keep projecting some innocent front to other people while hurting them, then that's obviously bad."

But that doesn't seem to fit anyone here, as far as Minako knows. (And honestly, she doesn't have any idea to begin with that Ginia might have remembered anything bad, but either way there's no way Ginia is slotted into the "evil" category in her mind.)

"But if someone is just normal and nice.. Then it should be fine if they want to keep it to themselves. Maybe they just want to be judged by who they are now, not who they were, or they feel too bad about it to want to talk about it. And there could have been a reason for it during their life even if they did do something bad or negative."

[roundtablerebel]

Fair enough.

[ Ayakashi, for the most part, are mindlessly hungry and spiritual beings are their preferred food source so it pays to be in shape when facing them. Even if Waver were just training to outrun them Mordred could see the sense in it.

But hold on... what's this about flying and remembering being a teacher? This guy is... ]

Wait, you're a god?

[ She's only known him for a few minutes, not nearly enough time to really gauge his capabilities or character, but given their present location she'd assumed he was a shinki like her. Heh, they really do come in all shapes and sizes. ]

You know there's usually separate training for gods? Of course, this is would be the fun way to train, given what you're trying to learn.

[ There's something wicked in the smirk forming on her lips. ]

You can learn the way birds do.

[priforprince]

For the chosen geniuses, sweat-inducing and throat-drying lessons are unnecessary.

[ Not to mention vulgar. Besides, despite her earlier talk of dross....

Could she....possibly....trust Elfnein?! ]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki blinks. Seam - it contained no such - did it? - of course not, it contained only what she willed. So, then, his aim is to...

She sniffs. You didn’t see her almost be tricked. She’s the one who tricks people. Hah. ] Such bluffs require improvement.

[ A half-sigh. ] Goodness. No wonder you seek to improve your mettle.

[revolutionfalcon]

Would definitely need some advance planning on handling the numbers. [Especially if they wanted somewhere for people to come back to if they ended up injured or tired, like with the last hunt the Heavens organised.]

I'd say that would've been a bad time, with how focused everyone was on cleaning it out. But with the crystal, not hearing word could mean either nobody's found it or someone has it and just doesn't want to tell anyone.

[Neither option being particularly promising, really, though Shun can somewhat understand the latter if it's one of the new gods or shinki.]

[unlucky7]

Is she normal and nice or has she put on an innocent front to trick anyone? No, plenty of people know what she can do and that in itself feels like the problem. The moral compass skews grey and towards 'the means justify the ends' around here and maybe that's the problem.

Is she different from who she was? Can the two be separated? Ginia stops moving with the line, hands balling together. She looks out at the rides, at the glitzy rides and the world Hibiki has in her temple castle. Does she belong here? Does she deserve any of this?

"Hey, Minako?" Ginia forces herself to sign as she looks back at the other shinki, unable to force a smile. "I've done some really bad things in my life. And here."

[nopixiedust]

I mean, sure, that too, if you want. But I think it would be true even if you were a regular person who wasn't dead. I mean, I know a whole lot about this without ever having had to take lessons here in the Far Shore.

[Which is to say that, somehow, she knew a whole lot about various acrobatics when she was alive. Wendy doesn't say that out loud. She knows things are fine among shinki like them, but still. She'd rather not test it.]

It's more the, hmm... Physics of it, I guess? [Wendy doesn't really know anything about physics, but that sounds right.] For example, while you're swinging, you'll naturally end up in a moment of not really weighing anything. You need to understand the timing of moments like that more than anything.

Want me to show you?

[artificialrose]

I haven't really remembered anything yet... Sometimes I wonder if that's for the better or worse. Either way, I don't have any insight onto the whole... mystery of it all.

Although that makes me wonder who has remembered the most out of all of us... Whether they're here any longer or not. That sort of thing would make a lot of things change, wouldn't it?

Either way, in the end... All we can do is move forward. Time doesn't really stop, no matter what happens.

[reloves]

Although the conversation was already pretty serious, Minako didn't think that would be the next line to follow. She looks at Ginia too the moment the other calls her name, which means she fully notices the other's facial expression as she says the next part.

For a moment all Minako can do is just stare. First in surprise, and then it turns into an expression that betrays she has to look for the right words in her mind for a moment, trying her best to not go with her usual impulsive nature. Ginia looks so serious, after all. And it can't have been easy to just say that after what Minako said just now too. (For a brief moment Minako considers if this is what it would be like to be a god, to constantly take in people's private wishes and confessions.)

"Why?" Minako's expression is hard to decypher, but her tone sounds fairly neutral rather than accusatory. Ginia doesn't seem like a terrible person, after all, so Minako should hear her out before making any judgement. Even though the fact that Ginia adds 'here' is pretty worrying.

CW: references to murder, child harm

[unlucky7]

Ginia's breath catches in her chest as she searches for an answer. There isn't one that can encompass everything, not when so much context is missing from her life. But her memories are hers and there are things she can't deny.

{'You think you've never hurt a kid before? All the cars you've taken out, people you've shot while they were minding their own business, you think there wasn't some kid in the backseat, some poor kid finding their poor mommy or daddy with their head blown out?' Erika's hands unclench from Ginia's shirt as she shoves back, rubbing at the blood trickling from her swollen lip with the back of her hand. She looks away, mumbling, 'We're monsters, Ginia. Don't pretend you're innocent because you looked a baby in the eyes and couldn't pull the fucking trigger.'}

Erika's words echo in her mind, residual anger flaring and fading. Ginia knows she didn't personally kill Danny Cortez and baby Devon, but her action and indecision meant she might as well activated the detonator. Her shoulders slump, a helpless expression crossing her face.

"Here? I thought I was doing the right thing." What's done is done. The vice-principal can't hurt children any more. That she can't regret, but if she'd known about severing links, if there had been any other way... maybe things would have gone differently if someone else was there. But he ran into Shun and her.

"I can't justify what I did in my life." Her signs are halting as Ginia tries to keep herself together. "People died because of me. I can't change that."

[unlucky7]

"Like you're home?" Zhao's words on the beach come to mind; she misses him a lot these days. If there anyone she wished was still around, it was him. It'd be nice having another shinki adult to talk to. Her temple is great most days, but not with anything to do with memories.

"A friend once told me being in love felt like that."

[unlucky7]

It's a double-edged wish. Memories can answer questions and raise just as many. If you feel happy and content without memories, you're maybe better off.

[There's no rolling back her memories. As much as she wishes she could, maybe the lack of context would have pulled her down eventually.]

I wonder if that shinki would become a god if they stuck around? Or maybe move on in other ways.

[Who can tell. Ginia tries to think which shinki have been around the longest. Chikusa and Kairi are the ones she thinks of, but she's not sure what they know. At the very least, Chikusa knows Ken. Maybe vice-versa too.]

So true. It's one of the hardest lessons I've had here, learning to move forward.

[hypomeneo]

I'm going up to where the high wire is eventually, so why not a few more feet.

It's a good day for facing fears.

[reloves]

It's easy to see how distressed Ginia feels as she tries to explain. Even without hearing a voice or its tone, just the way her eyes look, and the way she slowly signs a bit less steady.. That's enough in itself. And even without details, even with just Ginia saying 'people died because of me' and leaving it at that - and Minako not being insensitive enough to ask her to further dig into that - it's obvious this isn't just some small bad thing. It's big. Just listening to it makes it feel like her stomach is sinking inside of her.

But that feeling isn't just due to the realisation of the scope of the bad things Ginia has been involved in. It's also just due to the other's emotion. Minako isn't the type of person who can see someone feeling so helpless and be totally unaffected by it.

".. It must've been hard, right? Living with those memories." She has no idea for how long Ginia has already known about those things, but even a small time of knowing you caused people's deaths can't be easy. Especially if you seem to regret it, or at the very least aren't okay with it - which is why Minako doesn't seem angry with Ginia, more just thoughtful with some sympathy in her eyes.

[unlucky7]

In some way, Minako is a gauge for how well this conversation would go well with others. Minako is good and kind and understanding and if she runs from this, it's a good indication of how poorly this conversation will likely go with anyone else. When Minako doesn't seem angry or disgusted, Ginia is relived but also surprised.

"It's like only having a blurry mirror to look into everyday and one day you replace it with a new mirror." Her skills, her knowledge, her insecurities and doubts, they're so much sharper now. She can understand them better and yet it hurts so much more now.

"I know I should tell my gods. I haven't figured out what to say yet."

And even more so, Ginia is afraid of losing her temples.

She smiles weakly and shakes her head, dragging her hand over her face.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make this about me. You were here to have fun."

[unlucky7]

[Ginia uses the obstacle course to move herself up several more feet, this time increasing the gap. Another borderline is set down for herself to use as a platform to sit on.]

No judgment, but I'm surprised you're afraid of height. Don't know why I'm surprised either.

[artificialrose]

I can only imagine...

[What are some of the questions he's had about his own life? Garry can't imagine too many, standing where he is with lights shining distantly below them and the moon reflecting along bodies of water. He has no special powers besides being a shinki, and there's nothing so peculiar about his body that he has a problem with. Maybe if he knew what he thought of his gender and such as a living person- that would certainly be a handy shortcut if he'd made a decision before he lost all his memories.]

[But for now... Garry shakes his head. Maybe it's fine as it is.]

It's certainly easier for some than others. What everyone gets up to can only help so much, right?

[unlucky7]

A post on the network could gauge interest and who can help with logistics.

[Their number of healers are lower, but a few are around. Chris and Tsubasa would probably help out. Even if she ends up managing things, she could wrangle her temple into helping. Ebisu has enough shrines of varying sizes to serve as a safe area to use as a base camp, she could ask the shinki that already work at the shrines.]

True enough. And if it falls back into Heaven's hands, I doubt we'd hear anything about it again.

[Heaven does fall into a "need to know" basis and it feels like most times, Heaven feels like no one needs to know anything.]

[unlucky7]

I'd appreciate a demonstration.

[There's nothing in her known memories that indicate she knows how to move on a trapeze specifically. However, with a known tested good sense of balance, no fear of heights, and strong climbing skills, Ginia wouldn't be surprised if she trained on a trapeze in some way.

Watching someone in person wouldn't point her toward in whether she knows or not, but in case she doesn't, watching someone who knows what she's doing s a good way to learn.]

[reloves]

The fact Ginia hadn't even told her gods yet is slightly surprising to Minako. Not that she can't understand why the other would be reluctant to do so, but she just figured that they'd know before Minako would ever know.

Briefly she wonders how many shinki Ginia told about this so far. Surely she at least told her boyfriend, right? Then again, if he'd heard it and accepted it, then why would Ginia still be worried to talk about it? Would she think he's just biased?

"Oh.. No, don't worry about it!" That answer comes out quickly, at least, since it requires much less thought. "I can always ride Hibiki's rides some other day. I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Besides, it'd be a good excuse to visit the other. "I'd rather talk about this with you. I.. maybe it's too bold of me to say this, but I think your gods would understand. It's obvious how bad you feel about all of it.."

And what god could turn away their shinki if they were in that much distress? It's unimaginable to Minako.

"So in case you were wondering, I don't think you're a bad person for that. Like I said, people can have reasons for why they did something bad. That's what separates good people from bad people. And, um.."

Her voice trails off for a moment. She's not good at having these long stretches of seriousness - or rather, she likes to at least lighten them up a little. It's why she gives Ginia a thin smile.

"I mean, you're not planning on getting me killed right now, right?" At least her tone makes it obvious that's meant as a joke, despite the dark subject. "So I guess that makes it okay."

[unlucky7]

Minako is one of the first. As much as she knows she can turn to the other shinki at Ebisu's temple with her problems, this one is trickier. With memories involved, she's afraid to say anything. If one of them turned ayakashi, she'd never forgive this herself.

It's why she hasn't told Kimi. Maybe she can't ever tell Kimi. She hates the idea of hiding something so important, but until she knows for certain there's a way to tell him without risking him falling, she'll keep it to herself.

Eventually she'll tell her gods. She has to once she knows what to say.

Talking to the ones that matter the most to her is hard. The fear of rejection from the ones who matter the most is real hard.

Ginia returns the thin smile, a held breath escaping.

"Of course not. You're my friend." Though if it was the question of whether Ginia would ever kill anyone... it's not one she can easily answer. Not without good purpose, not without evaluating other options, but she can't say with any honesty she would never kill again.

"I'm trying to be a better person. For my temple, but myself too. It's hard work."

[reloves]

"It is." Not that she could fully relate. Minako has no memories of murder or even somewhat directly or indirectly causing someone's death - not during her life, nor in this place. But she's making her own effort in turn to try and be mature and be someone others can rely on even when she herself is having a difficult time, and that's hard enough already. So she can imagine. "But it'll be worth it. Besides.. I'd say you're already getting there."

Since she honestly never would even have imagined Ginia being the type to begin with.

"And if there's anything you need help with.. You can totally ask me, alright? It's the least I can do to show my appreciation for you trusting me like this." After all, Minako could have run off with this information and just told everyone about it before Ginia herself could if she was a worse person. "That means a lot."

[nopixiedust]

Then get ready for the show of a lifetime!

[Even if it's only one person, with no one to even hype up her act, or some bright spotlights... Something in Wendy can't help but feel how awkward it all is, even if the words come to her naturally.]

[Turning to the ladder, she immediately hops up and begins to climb with quite a bit of agility that's very clearly well used. Halfway up, she turns to look down at Ginia.]

Oh yeah! Do you want to watch from down there or up here?

[unlucky7]

Minako's words are kind, but Ginia knows she has a long way to go. She may look like a functional adult on the outside, but there's a lot of glue and hasty welding keeping her together on the inside. The new memory may have formed new cracks and chipped down some walls, but she'll survive this. Surviving is what she's good at.

But repairing herself is not a one person job. It takes the support of friends and family and time on top of that. She smiles and nods at Minako's offer, truly taking it to heart and appreciating it... but finding herself reluctant in some ways still as she doesn't want to burden Minako too much. Minako is mature, but she's still a teen.

"You don't strike me as the kind to run off and tell other people things," rather, not important things like this, "but if you did, I suppose I had it coming."

[unlucky7]

[Ginia turns up the volume on her phone as she moves toward the ladder.]

I'll join you up there, it'll be easier to see.

[There's no hesitation as Ginia follows Wendy up the ladder, moving fast and smoothly. Up on the platform, she doesn't seem any more phased by the height. Actually, it's nice being so high up.]