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

[hypomeneo]

I think you're on to something there. They sure are tasty.

[This is why he's so damn open about fears like this. Can't be used to make him lose face if he admits to it, right? The thing about weakness and battle, he's found over his years as a politician, is if he presents some obvious ones, most opponents grab on tight and stop looking for the real ones.

Okay. UP WE GO.

Just... don't look down. DON'T LOOK DOWN.

... oops.

... okay, climbing and dealing with vertigo at the same time. This is doable. Come on, Velvet, you took on Goldie again and won. You conquered your PTSD enough to throw down with the King of Heroes, you can do this.]

Right. [Or in a serious gym, and Waver thinks it's really good for most of the crowd here to work on conditioning in general.] There's no challenge in those things for you.

I'm the scholarly type, so you're probably going to end up showing me how it's done.

[roundtablerebel]

[ Someone frank about their enjoyment of food is immensely more tolerable in Mordred's eyes, so she cracks a smile at his agreement that chicken is delicious.

Mordred waits for him to get a little way up before she begins ascending the ladder. While Waver fights vertigo, Mordred seems thrilled by their ever-increasing distance from the ground. This is likely because she's leaped from similar heights while on patrol with her goddess and come away unscathed. Still, those had been deliberate jumps instead of accidental falls and the shinki can't help but wonder how much a drop from up here might hurt.

Her attention seems to have wandered a bit so she almost doesn't catch the rest of what Waver says to her. ]

Huh, a scholar? Like a professor or something?

[ She can't help but find that a little strange. What's brings an academic type out to physical training exercises? Circus-themed training exercises no less. ]

What the hell are you doing here then?

[ That might sound like she's telling him that he doesn't belong here but it's really just genuine curiosity. ]

[hypomeneo]

Yes. I was a teacher among other things before I died. Researcher too.

[He's not out and out saying he's a Mage yet, but he is saying that yes, he comes from that humble nerd-ly stock. Ahaha... right. Why is he here? ... well... about that.]

Honestly, I hear I can fly. Or hover. Or something bloody well like that.

[Uuuugh. So high. Stomach's still turning. Waver blinks, trying to stop the world from swimming.]

Besides, ayakashi aren't choosy who they consider dinner, so here I am.

[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.

[hypomeneo]

Newly minted.

Besides, I sadly need no training in the ways of tea. And ayakashi have a taste for me, not scones, so I'd rather do something a little more practica---l.

[Squint. He sees that smirk.]

Oi.

If you're planning to toss me out of the nest, better prepare to spread your wings as well.

[roundtablerebel]

Relax! Relax! I'm not going to do that.

[ She's being honest about that— in the sense that there will be no tossing anyway. That doesn't mean she doesn't have something nefarious in mind provided he makes it at least halfway across the tightrope.

Once they've reached the top she gives him a "light" shove toward the edge. ]

Enough blathering, it's time to show your stuff, Mr.Teacher. Or would you like me to go first?

[hypomeneo]

Oh, maybe not that, but come on. I taught for decades. I know that bloody look. You're acting just like my students.

[There's no fooling him! He wrangled teenagers for decades!]

By all means. Lead on. I'll be right after.

[You're coming with him, Saber, if you make him go down.]

[roundtablerebel]

If you're that concerned you can always go back down.

[ If anything that reaction just causes her grin to grow wider. She might not even have to do anything at all when watching him be paranoid could be just as amusing. He might even get so distracted that he'll fall all by himself!

Mordred puts one foot out to test the rope causing it to dip slightly. She'd been expecting it to deform a bit more but given her petite size coupled with her natural shinki-brand weightlessness perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising.

Without further hesitation, she begins to take a few wobbly steps across the rope. With only the wire beneath her feet, staring at the ground makes her stomach lurch but that just makes her more excited. Her steps become a bit more deliberate and steady the further she goes but she's already thinking of ways to make this more interesting. Should she try running the rest of the way? Or perhaps she could leap across to the platform on the other side?

Mordred gets just over halfway to the other side before she throws a glance over her shoulder. ]

Heh, I don't see why you're so scared of! This is—!

[ Before she can finish the momentary break in focus causes her to lose her balance. She instinctively reaches out to grab the rope, but narrowly misses it before she goes plummeting into the net below. ]

1/?

[hypomeneo]

I said I'd be following, didn't I?

[GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. But no, not playing your game... goddamn it, now he's jealous. Look at that. She's making it look easy. He supposes it's the difference between...

uh oh.

UH OH.

NO, DON'T LOOK AT HIM, YOU'LL LO---]

[hypomeneo]

[oh shit.]

[hypomeneo]

[there she goes.]

[hypomeneo]

[Oooooooooh... nearly got the rope.








Nope.





HMPH! Karma for teasing an old man! Still... owwww...]

Done

[hypomeneo]

... not so easy. You okay?

[CLEARLY MAKING HER GO FIRST WAS A SOUND STRATEGY.

now.

He needs to learn how to fly now.

Because he's up. And now she'll really want him in the net.]