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

[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."

[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."

[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."

[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."

[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."

[reloves]

"I mean, there are some things I'd tell other people.."

As long as they're still talking about serious topics, Minako doesn't want to totally deny being a gossip. She's well aware of the worst parts of her. There's no way she can keep her mouth shut about people's relationships and stuff like that.

"But I wouldn't give away people's secrets. Especially if they're important." And what Ginia told her just now is way up in that category. It could have catastrophic effects if she just ran her mouth about that. So Minako is smart enough to keep it to herself.

[unlucky7]

"Harmless gossip does keep the world interesting."

A smile returns. It will still take time to shake off all the ill feelings and uncertainty, but Ginia feels a little better. Maybe it'll go better when she finds the words to tell her gods.

"Come on, let's enjoy some rides before training begins."