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]

One of the rare cases. [...] It makes me no less dead, though.

And us?

How to conduct ourselves at tea.

[Beat.]

Seriously.

[Waver makes a face and it's clear what he thinks about that.]

But normally it's how to navigate Heaven's politics, the ins and outs of being a god, dealing with followers, dealing with innate powers, weapons training... not too different from shinki training but with more of a focus on leadership.

[disregardeddagger]

[It must be strange, does that mean he's somehow regained the memories he lost when he died, or does being dead negate them even if he is now a god?

Before she can ask though he continues and she laughs.] Oh I'm sure Noctis is loving that. [She has no doubt he is skilled in politics and leadership. She also has no doubt he will have little patience for lessons about tea.]

[hypomeneo]

[There's an amused snort.]

There is much eye rolling in there. [And here comes an answer to that.] Granted, I'm used to politics over tea, but I very much doubt they'd conduct that quite the way Hibiki's got it set up. They are very much traditionalists over here.

[disregardeddagger]

Traditionalists? And Hibiki is not?

[Hibiki was a mystery. Nesir had enjoyed their game of chess, but this training was bizarre to say the least. Not that she had much to compare it to, her first had been strange as well.

Nesir wasn't surprised to hear that Hibiki's form of training was politics and tea but she is surprised there are different ways to conduct politics over tea.

She got the feeling politics wasn't a skill of hers, she feels tired just thinking about it.]

[hypomeneo]

Not at all.

[Hmmm. Now how does he put this.]

Hibiki grew up in modernity and is the God Apollo, from the Greek pantheon, even though her current incarnation is a Japanese woman. The tea party she's putting on is in the Western mode, specifically running by British rules. Which is fine if the old gods were modern people and not minding of things not being done the way that's been done over the years and developed in this land. Modern Japanese like Western style tea parties.

But they're not modern for a good part. Deities and shinki here can live for millennia, so you can expect older ways of thinking that are not in tune with the modern perceptions of those living on the Near Shore at this time. Japan, this land, has been historically not so tolerant of outsiders and their customs. Also, getting back to the tea for a second, they have centuries of their own custom and tradition developed for it and are very proud of it.

Thus traditionalist. Old mindset, protective of their ways and very set firmly in it. That has to be minded if you want to influence them.

[disregardeddagger]

[That's... A lot of information. A lot of information with no context, it rings no bells. She is aware at least that Japan is the country of the humans, where the shrines they can teleport to are. But Greek? Western? Is that the West of the Heavens? West of Japan? What is British?

A different land it seems, Japan didn't like outsiders and these British with their different tea drinking ways were not welcome to those of the heavens who were perhaps also from Japan?]

So she is... Doing a tea party wrong. Or at least it is perceived as wrong by those here because they think their way is better?

[She gets it. She thinks. They won't manage to get the upper hand in any political talks if they insult their culture or are seen to not be able to follow their culture correctly, because they have been taught the wrong ways.]

Has anyone told her this? Or is she also set in her ways?

[hypomeneo]

More the latter. Which is the root of a good number of conflicts here behind this or that. Old and modern values and cultures clashing and nobody really wanting to bend. That and Heaven and the new have very strained trust.

[Waver sucks in a breath as he puts one foot on the tightrope.]

Her? She's convinced of her own superiority and only listens to people she considers worthy of her. It'd have to be the right person to budge her on anything.

[disregardeddagger]

[A strained trust? Had something happened? Or was it just a fear of change? Of those who were different?

She is quiet, partly because she is thinking and partly because he is stepping onto the tightrope.

But he continues and so he is probably fine to talk and balance at the same time.] Yes she came across that way when we met.

[hypomeneo]

[Another step, and he wobbles as he slowly inches forward his foot, arms outstretched for balance. He concentrates on lightness, on floating, approaching his newly godly powers as he would his shinki ones.

His heart hammers madly as he sucks in a breath.]

Anyway, there's not much teaching going on there regarding anything, so I expect more gods to be filing in here soon.

[disregardeddagger]

I am sure that will please her no end, if everyone abandons her tea party.

[She watches him, he's doing well so far for someone who was so unsure. She doesn't follow, there had definitely been more than one person on the wire in the moving picture he had shown her but they had been professionals. It was probably best to wait.]

[hypomeneo]

[Agility Rank D. Supposed to be superhuman... reality... umm...

That's a little better, a little lighter and going lighter still... and WOOOOAAAH----!!! Much wobbling, such hissing.

He stills to regain his balance.]

Her face if it happens would probably be amusing, but knowing her, she has other things planned for us. It's not a Hibiki experience without something crazy and full of drama.

[disregardeddagger]

[Is he going to fall? She's not too worried, there's a net and falling might help him in the long run. If the thing he fears comes to pass and doesn't kill him.]

Well that is good to know, so that I can be prepared.

[Crazy and full of drama sounds exhausting, but the idea of the unpredictable is also thrilling.]

[hypomeneo]

That's the thing about Hibiki, you think you are prepaaaaaaaaa-[shit]-aaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

[NERD DOWN!

Down he goes, slowing down until he stops mid air for a moment and hangs--

-beat-

-- and then the hovering stops and he slams face first into the net.]

... and you're not.

[his heart.]

[disregardeddagger]

[Oh. There he goes. Nesir stifles a laugh as he hovers. Just like she told him, there was no real danger in falling...

Except then he does fall and she winces. His voice drifts up, continuing his sentence. He's fine. At least somewhat.]

Nothing broken?

[hypomeneo]

Just my pride.

[GROAN.

... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... next time he'll make it across. Heart attack doing so or not.

Yeah, he's not bothering to climb the ladder. He'll just teleport straight up and rub his face. Ouch.]

Your turn.

[disregardeddagger]

[Pride is easily broken and bruised. But at least he seemed to be fine. Then he was next to her. Of course, he was a god, they could do that.

She grinned at him and took a breath before stepping out onto the wire. One foot, then another. She was aware of how precarious her footing was but the height gave her a thrill. One foot in front of the other, arms out. Slowly, eyes fixed on the other side. She was silent as she walked.

She got half way across before she fell, balance swaying and going all at once. She plummeted into the net, not actually bothering to slow herself and rolled onto her back, letting out an adrenaline fuelled laugh.]

[hypomeneo]

[... okay, that cautious impression now is juxtaposed with thrill seeker. She didn't even try to slow down. Nerves of steel that one.

And judging by that laugh, she's fine. No need to call down to ask. Excuse him as he keeps peering over the edge until Nesir clears the net. He doesn't want to walk out and come down on top of her.]

You have really good balance.

Don't think many have gotten as far as you first time.

[He may have been... watching others beforehand. Gathering up his courage.

Speaking of. It's his turn. Okay, time to concentrate on lightness again, weightlessness... one foot out...]

[disregardeddagger]

Thank you. [She called back up. She's not sure if that's true or if he's trying to flatter her in some way but she feels she did alright for a first time so she's willing to take him on face value.

She rolls off the net and makes her way to the ladder to start climbing again, she is planning on mastering this. She watches as he begins to walk once more, not talking again in case she distracts him.]

[hypomeneo]

[He's being sincere. He's capable of empty flattery - what politician isn't? - but Waver has an air of preferring saying it as it is, even if he has to couch it in diplomatic terms.

The wire bends less under his weight as he walks painstakingly along it, until it smooths out as Waver's weight presses down less and less as he increasingly hovers in the air. He's wobbling a little, but since gravity isn't dragging at him much, he isn't toppling.

...

Until he does, losing his balance, and staggering a few steps into the air. Waver's spine locks instinctively.]

Shit.

[But he's... still up here...

KEEP CONCENTRATING.

There's an audible blink as he very pointedly looks at Nesir and very pointedly doesn't look down, with an expression that doesn't know whether to be relieved or panicked at floating god knows how high above everything. Not looking down... no...

... going to try walking to the other side and not looking down...

... not going to have a literal heart attack, no...

... breathe... one, two, three... one, two, three...]

[disregardeddagger]

[For a moment it looks like he's going to fall but then he doesn't. He stays up. She knows he is using his powers as a god to do so but it is still impressive. She grins at him when he looks over, trying to look encouraging. He looks panicked but he continues. That's admirable, to keep going even when he is clearly scared.]

Almost there, I think about four more steps and you've done it.

[It's an estimate, she doesn't have the best vantage point. But he's almost there and he's still in the air.]

[hypomeneo]

[That's it... just keep looking at her face as you walk over, Waver Velvet... resist the urge to bolt to the other side. Four more steps...

Solid platform under his feet never felt so good. Haa... he made it!]

Thank everything. [He manfully resists the urge to do more than wipe his brow.] I think I've figured out the trick of it. Now... to get myself over this phobia...

[disregardeddagger]

Well done. [She grins at him though her face became more serious as she heard his quieter words.] The only way to get over fear is to face it so many times that it no longer has a hold on you.

[How or why she believes that to be true she doesn't know, but she figures advice was advice even if it's from someone with no context as to why they held that belief.]

[hypomeneo]

[Waver nods. That's been very true in his experience. Face the fear over and over again and it'll just burn out after a while. Assassination attempts, for example, don't phase him anymore.

The same works with the dread. Being constantly on the knife edge of the fall burnt that out of him so much, dread just felt like pressure on his mental barriers in shinki state. Not an emotion; a sensation.

One always adapts if one doesn't break...]

That's been my experience with it. It wears itself out with time if you chose to keep facing it. [He looks down. The world swims; Waver forces it into clarity.] So will this eventually.

[disregardeddagger]

It will. [He seems to understand already. That was good. For now though it was her turn once more. No fear, just balance. She stared straight ahead to where Waver was stood at the other platform. That was her goal. One foot. Then another foot. Then repeat. Slow. Steady. Balance.]

[hypomeneo]

[One can only go so light as a shinki, so Waver holds his breath to see how far she'll make it across this time before gravity tries to tug her over if she unbalances even slightly. He doesn't want to distract her in the slightest.

One step. Then another. Then another. Slow. Steady.

She has really good balance. Waver has no doubt she'll make it across - if not this attempt, then a future attempt will be a success.]