007 | Clean Up Your Act

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Spring cleaning
When: All day April 15
Where: All around the Heavens
Summary: The Heavens don't like things being cluttered, so it's time to clean up a little bit.







Main Hall

While the main hall of the Heavens seems spotlessly clean at all times, that's not the case at all. In fact, it's been at least a decade since the last time they actually cleaned everything out properly. There are a lot of hidden closets and back rooms that have layers of dust and dozens of boxes filled with nothing but junk. Who knows, though! You might find something interesting and useful in there along with all the garbage.

Suprises

Unfortunately, some of the older temples on the Far Shore seem to have some interesting surprises tucked away, ranging from cursed artifacts all the way to magical creatures locked up in long-forgotten rooms. You are free to be creative with this as a way to get your characters into trouble while cleaning.

Complimentary Dinner

After all of your hard work, you deserve to have some tasty food and refreshing beverages. So the Heavens have provided that for you, so that you can wind down after a long day. It's not as fancy as the banquets they often put on, but there is a nice array of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy.

Counselling

As usual, there is a white-robed shinki bearing the gold chrysanthemum of Amaterasu sitting at a table in the Main Hall. There is a small sign that denotes her as the counselling shinki. Anyone is welcome to approach her, and she will smile serenely at anyone passing by as well.



In Summary:

• Clean up your home
• Help clean others' homes
• Get the main hall clean too!
• Hope no hidden magic jumps out
• Seek counselling if you need it
• Enjoy your complimentary dinner
• Have fun~

Comments

[scrap_metal]

Ah, thank you. [ Genos takes the kitten, and has enough manner to thank for taking him into safety during a fight. Since his clothes are full of holes thanks to akaname, he decides against hiding Motoki in the pocket, and just keeps her in hand.

He then stands straight before King for a longer while, before breaking the silence ]

Are you going to name me or not?

[kingengine]

[As Genos just stands silently in front of him, King just stands silently in front of Genos. Staring at each other like two stoic statues or something, only the occasional meow of the kitten and the low thumping of his nervous heart breaking the silence.

That is, until Genos asks him that.]

Huh? You know your name is Genos, don't you?

[Stupid question, but he's so frazzled he doesn't even realize it.]

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos face falls flat immediately. Oh he gets, being confused at the arrival, Saitama didn't knew much things on their first meeting. But one would think that the Heavens and their employees would work harder, to ensure the new arrivals know what they are doing.

But no, they send them cleaning ]

You need to name a shinki to give them vessel form and claim them as your own. [ He explains annoyed. Not at King, just at the failing bureaucracy. ] From what I understand, process is partially instinctual for gods.

[kingengine]

Oh, right. My mind is just elsewhere. [Genos probably didn't mean it to be a jab, but saying it was supposed to be partially instinctual made it sound like he was already failing at this job. What else is new? he cleared his throat and drew himself up to full height, trying to put on the air of a king about to knight someone.

And he stares.

And stares.

What is he going to call him. he can't do Demon Cyborgki, it's stupid, for one, and for two, probably breaking rules.

He stares some more.

Genos stares back, looking as cold as he has been this entire time. It reminds him of something. A very specific trait...

Almost without his mind approving of this action, King declares:]

Tsunki.

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos is already used to that feeling: of changing form. He can feel the name appearing on side of his shoulder, carving itself in the black silicone, and that's it. But the vessel form he takes isn't a familiar one. It's completely different than one with Saitama. It's a-- ]

I'm a shield??

[ Now, isn't that a surprise. That might be form that fits his god best, but he still would prefer something more offensive-oriented ]

If you call my real name again, I will return to my original form.

[ He feels the need to inform about it. Just in case he won't get stuck as a shield.

Motoki the kitten is not included in the transformation and now sits at the ground very confused and wide-eyed. ]

[kingengine]

[He knew that when he said the name he would change into a weapon, but he didn't expect it to be, one: so sudden, and two: a heavy shield.]

Ah! Shoot--!

[He exclaims as he fumbles with the heavy, awkward weight that tried to attach to his arm, but, ultimately, it falls forward to the ground, crashing into the ground. Fortunately, Motoki got out of the way as it fell toward her.

King crouches down by the shield on the ground, heart now beating as hard as it would facing a monster.]

Ah, man, I'm so sorry, Genos! Are you okay??

[He really hopes shinki don't feel anything when in weapon form...]

[scrap_metal]

[ Being a shield feels definitely different than being a gauntlet. If the word "feel" is fitting to use here. To put it short, it's just weird, and only other shinki can relate.

But the moment Genos real name is mentioned, he turns back to his normal, cyborg form. So now King is crouching above him, holding hid forearm, instead of shield handle ]

I'm fine. [ he groans still bit dazed by sudden change back. ] We're going to need some practice.

[kingengine]

[Okay...It was going to be awkward every time Genos changed back if King was going to be holding a part of him. He immediately lets go and sits back on his heels, prepared to help Genos up if he needs.]

I can hold you up! I was just surprised.

[He said gruffly, putting on the bluff. But he's . . . relatively sure he can hold up Genos. Maybe, like, 46% sure.]

[scrap_metal]

It's the name thing. It usually triggers the change back. [ Keyword usually. With time Saitama somehow managed to make it work only when he wanted it to work. So no accidental change-backs mid-battle.

He knows he should approach King like any other new arrival. Provide with helpful information, preferably be patient and so on. Poor guy just happens to show up when Genos is in really sour mood ]

You'll get hang of it. [ But hey, he tries ]

[kingengine]

I see . . .

[He can feel his bluff face start to falter, so he stands up and turns, leaning one hand on the wall, the other going to his face. Hopefully, the view from behind that Genos has, it looks like he's just have a good, hard think and a chin rub, but he's truly scrubbing his lower face with his hand nervously, eyes wide and staring at the wall in front of him, which was...smoking from the previous battle. He hopes there isn't a fire going on in the bathroom, it was bad enough it was so roughed up when they were supposed to be cleaning it. He speaks, trying to keep the shakes out of his voice:]

Yes. Yes, I'm sure I will. But now what?

[This seemed like a big deal, but what do you do with it? Does he take Genos out for a beer like it was his birthday? Or maybe it wasn't a big deal. If he's been giving a living weapon, does this mean he'll actually have to go out and fight??? His legs almost collapse under him at the thought.]

[scrap_metal]

[ Oh right, they really haven't told him anything? Genos scoops Motoki from the ground, before she can escape, and stands up. ]

You get to your temple, and try to feel at home. Because that's what it's going to be for now. Aside from that... [ he looks around before from continuing ] You'll get assignment from Heavens like this current one. You also should start answering prayers of the living worshiping you. And you will protect them, by rending ayakashi with my help.

[ Pretty simple for a job description. You're so lucky to have such experienced shinki. ]

Word of warning, don't try to touch them with your bare hands. You will get blighted. Small injuries like that can be healed with purifying water.

[kingengine]

No, I know all that.

[He composes himself enough to look back at Genos, though Genos bringing up this fighting ayakashi thing makes him swallow hard in guilt and fear. He was going to be terrible at this job.]

I've already been to my temple, too. [It's almost too much for him.] I guess I meant, do . . . you do something special for this? Like you would a birthday party? Get cake or something?

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos blinks at him owlishly. Birthday? Cake? He taps his chin thoughtfully suddenly realizing from where the train of thoughts starts. Shinki don't know details, like their birthday. Celebrating anniversary of being named by their god would be closest to having birthday in these circumstances ]

...if that's what you think would be appropriate.

[ Would they buy the cake, go somewhere for the cake, or is he supposed to bake that cake? ]

[kingengine]

[he was hoping it would be confirmed that that was some sort of God-Shinki tradition, it only seemed polite, but seems like it wasn't. But he can't take back an offer of cake NOW, can he?]

Is there a place to get cake?

[A bakery definitely wasn't covered in the info given to him by the Heavens. And he isn't going to expect Genos to bake for them, and King certainly can't bake. So the only course of action is buying.]

[scrap_metal]

In the Near Shore there are plenty of places. I'm mostly familiar with Shibuya area and I'm sure I've seen some. [ He can always just check on the internet for specific locations too. But he's literally too baffled by the offer to even go for that. ]

[kingengine]

Shibuya? [They have such weird names for cities here. He pushes himself off the wall, now probably at 15% anxiety levels, which were tolerable levels.] Then let's go to Shibuya.

[scrap_metal]

Gods can transport themselves [ and accompanying shinki ] wherever they want on the Near Shore.

[ But he can't really explain how it works, since he's not a god ]

[kingengine]

Right, right. [A pause as he searches his memories.] We gotta go to a shrine--er, my...shrine... [He is so not used to this.] Can you teleport to the temple, or do you need my help here, too, for that? You won't want to walk to it.

[scrap_metal]

I think you just need to... want to take me with you? [ But he grabs onto the King sleeve, just to be sure. ]

I can use temples to travel, so it takes a bit more time.

[kingengine]

That's what they say. [But, yeah, maybe it's good he hang on anyway. Despite how it probably looked like Genos was a child holding onto an adults sleeve doing this.

He closes his eyes to help concentrate, thinking about the temple he had been told was his own and the shrine therein he had been told about. There's a vague sense of motion sickness and nausea that passes over him, and he thinks that's a good sign. Cracking one eye open, he breathes in relief. He wasn't sure if teleporting could lead to something horrible, like in movies like The Fly, but if it could it didn't happen this time.]

Welcome...home?

[The shrine is in the villa, but in an open air alcove, no roof over it and the walls low enough even Genos could see over them that there's nothing but wide, flat green plains around with some trees dotted here or there.]

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos blinks, yes that's very different to Radegast temple. But fitting for a probably greek or roman god. It's going to be strange to think of it as home for a while. But he'll get used to it, eventually ]

It's... impressive. [ The villa even more so. ] I'll just drop my things, somewhere. [ And cat things too. Not to mention cat herself. ]

[kingengine]

[He nods.] I don't care where you put it. [Considering how much trash he had laying around back home in his apartment, he probably won't care if Genos never moves his stuff from wherever he drops it at this moment.] You can pick out a room later. There's enough rooms the cat can have one, too.

[scrap_metal]

[ Genos nods, goes in and does exactly that. Drops his things, releases the kitten and... if they're going anywhere, then maybe it's better if he changes into clothes that are not acid-melted, right? Not that it takes him long to change. Soon, he's outside heading to the shrine at the temple, only to stop mid-step...

Because he realizes they're going to get a cake. ]

This is so surreal.

[kingengine]

[King just waits by the shrine entrance for Genos, spending part of the time crouched down and trying to lure the kitten to him, but she seems suspicious after the day's trials. He even tries to smile to make his face less harsh, but sometimes that makes it worse... Plus, King doesn't even know her name.

He hears Genos, and looks up, snorting.]

Tell me about it. At least you've been here longer...

[He didn't think this was about the cake, just...this whole thing in general.]

[scrap_metal]

A month. That's not that much longer. [ Genos shrugs. But yeah, for someone just dropped into this mess it's lifetime of experience. ] Let's go.

[ Cake or not cake, it's a peaceful gesture for the future partnership. Genos might be in foul mood, but that's not King's fault. And he shouldn't suffer for it. He once again grabs King by the sleeves and this time himself initiates the travel, wondering where Near Shore Averruncus temple might be.

They land near a small antique shop, and one of the "garden items" is the exact replica of shrine in the temple. Oh. Genos gets his phone and checks their location. It's definitely not Shibuya. ]

Looks like we're somewhere in Ikebukuro. [ At least it's still Tokyo ]