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'm afraid of snakes too. Kind of. Don't like them definitely.

[Just throwing that out there as he begins to slowly rise up.]

I'm afraid of a lot of things really. Little things, big things... I've just learned I need to face them down in order to move on from them. Maybe it takes a lifetime, maybe getting through them is fucking messy, but I don't want to be chained by them, so face them I will.

[unlucky7]

Braver than I am.

[Though she's trying. Working through her feeling, her memories, learning to trust in people and to rely on them to cover her weaknesses. It's messy and unpleasant but she's trying.

Still hard.]

I'm afraid of ghosts.

[hypomeneo]

Maybe. There's all sorts of ways to be brave.

It's something you come into with time too. I was such a tearful [Bra-- stop, Velvet.] boy when I was younger. I had no idea where to even start. I had to be shown the way.

[Waver's lips tug up. Ghosts, huh?]

... so's my daugh-- apprentice. We met some real nasty ones in our time. Pretty reasonable thing to be wary of.

[unlucky7]

[There are a lot of things Ginia could comment on, but hold on. Hold on, that slip is not getting away.]

I'm sorry, did you say daughter?

[hypomeneo]

[GAH.]

... her name is Gray.

I was a Lord. Part of my duties include teaching. I had many students throughout the years. Two more that were... very close. Like... sons.

[He's having trouble spitting it out. Even though he's dead... even though he has to face the facts of his life.

Like sons. Were sons in Waver-ese. He their legal guardian.]

But I had only one apprentice. She was... a lot of things over the years. Bodyguard. Servant. ... caretaker.

[There's a wince about some of that.]

Heir to my magecraft.

[Something only reserved for a child, usually. The family secrets of top importance.]

...

...

...

... so yes, she was.

[unlucky7]

[It's a cruel thing memory loss. Forgetting the ones you love, your family. She'd ask if any of them were here, but Gray was never a name she saw and now Waver can keep an eye on any of his family that may appear here.

May they be gods, if they must. Ginia's not sure how Waver would see any of them as shinki. He'd probably tear the system apart to help them.

But can he see them again in any other way?]

Please tell me they all inherited their old man's sense of snark and fashion.

[hypomeneo]

Svin took after me most considering wit, though Gray can hold her own when she's comfortable. [She shrinks less over the years, but she still has her issues in self confidence.] Flat, is... Flat.

[A pain in his ass.]

They are all sharp dressers. Though Gray prefers to go much more gothic than I'd ever dare.

[unlucky7]

They sound like great kids.

[Not that they're necessarily kids in age, but they're Waver's kids. Maybe it's like how she see things with Ebisu. Even when Ebisu is an adult, he'll always be the small, bright-eyed god that named her on an active volcano.

She wants to ask if he'll see them again, but she can't bring herself to open that can of worms. Maybe when there's been more time. Right now it feels a little like they're starting over, navigating a new path of what's safe to talk about and what isn't.

It's why she hasn't touch what's bothering her. Won't touch it.]

How did they fall into your life?

[hypomeneo]

Svin and Flat were sent to the Clock Tower... er, think of that as both the head of government for the Mage Association and its university in one... when they were nine. Their family situations were bad for a number of reasons. Flat's family were trying to get rid of him after failing to assassinate him a number of times, and I won't speak of Svin's situation. They fell into my care after a while and I took legal guardianship of them.

...

Gray, I met in a graveyard at honestly the lowest point of my life. She used to be its keeper. Her situation... there's no easy way to talk of her situation, even with here I think of it quite a bit. Just that she needed out in whatever way she could take. She ended up coming with me back to London as my apprentice and bodyguard.

[Bitterness.]

Back then, I was incapable of defending myself directly.

[He needed someone to fight for him.]

... none of them had easy beginnings or will have easy lives. That's... just not in the cards for most of my kind. But I am so very proud of what they grew to be.

[unlucky7]

[No one ever seems to meet under normal circumstances, though what is normal in any of their lives? Their lives haven't sounded easy at all, but they found each other. Found Waver.]

They're lucky to have found you. You're lucky to have found them. I think most people who meet you are fortunate.

[Yes, Ginia includes herself in that category.]

[hypomeneo]

[He doesn't know about fortunate. It feels - Stop, Velvet. It feels like he could never do enough for them. That he - You did all you could..

... oh. That aches. His regrets. How he was in that depression and now looking at himself in death. Could he have been better? He had been a hard person to be around at times. Most of the time. He's trying to be better now - a better version of him - but...

It has to be enough. And he has to learn from that and carry on.]

You think so?

Honestly, I'm the one feeling blessed. But... I never quite looked at it that way... wasn't the easiest person to get to know back then, you see.

[unlucky7]

Wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.

[It's easier seeing the great things in other people, harder seeing it in herself, but she's learning how to. Everyone wants something from someone else, but it doesn't always mean it's done maliciously.]

It's easy to say things with hindsight. [The lesson she's had to learn again and again, followed by learning how to move on.] But people stayed, didn't they? Liked you for you, rough spots and all?