thenearshore | 007 | Clean Up Your Act

Entry tags:

007 | Clean Up Your Act

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~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's fine-- really. [ She repeats, this time a little exasperated from all of this embarrassment. Sitting on bed rather than the floor does help, though. Even if it's a simpler design, it still is comfortable. ] I'm sorry.

[ She wonders if he's heard that "the gods can do no wrong" mantra Amaterasu's shinki had spoken about. Does that mean she was right to walk into his room? Does this mean she shouldn't apologize for her action? Of course she doesn't believe that! It's nonsense, and thus she believes her apology is justly offered. ] T...to be honest, I didn't think your room was as close as it was to mine. [ Is that normal? She doesn't know. It almost seems inefficient. They could have shared a room together!! ]

[As a note, his bed is unfortunately not as fluffy as hers. Still comfortable, but not bounce-on-the-bed-and-roll-all-over-it fluffy.

Now he had heard that, but he's not too sure he wants to buy that thought. Weren't there stories of the gods making mistakes, with quite dire consequences? That kind of arrogance, that a god can do no wrong...well, he thinks the stories have proven otherwise. A god could grow in wisdom and knowledge, but they could definitely err along the way.

So he gives an apology and accepts one from her this time.] That's alright. We just need to establish some house rules and sort out our living arrangements.

[Which reminds him!! Bathtime. He casts a look back at the bathroom, the tap still running water. In fact, there's water on the floor now as the water had overrun the sink, and he makes watery footsteps across the bathroom floor, fumbling a little while he tries to figure out how to switch off the tap. When that's done he glances down at the mess on the floor and lets out a sigh.]

More cleaning. It looks like I'll need to drain the water out. [He looks back up to her.] My lady, please head back to your room. I'm sorry to have disturbed you after you've had a long day of work.

[ Hgggggg she still feels bad. "Sorry to have disturbed you"?? Nonsense! ] Oh, no, please-- let me help! [ She stands, carefully walking over. ] After cleaning temples all day, this will be a piece of cake!

Besides, you looked like you could use a little help with the faucets...? [ She adds delicately, not wanting to insult his obvious lack of knowledge of modern day technology. ] You might need help with the shower, too.

These little water pumps are called faucets? [The question is out of his mouth before he stops to realise how stupid that makes him sound. His cheeks turn a light red, and he clears his throat and busies himself with looking for something to clear the water towards the drain.]

[ She opens a closet door to find some towels. They'll have to be used! Carefully, she drops to her knees and begins to wipe up the floor. ] Mm, that's right.

[ She says, her tone non-judgmental. Although... she can't help but find it endearing in the man that he's embarrassed of not knowing these things. It's such a silly thing, really. No one should expect him to know what the 21st century is like, coming from the 2nd! ] Here... This one is for hot water, and this one is for cold water. You can adjust them to the desired temperature, and how much you turn them determines the force of the spout.

[ Now with part of the floor dried, she stands to demonstrate the use of the sink. ] ...See? It's not magic or anything like that.

[He watches the water flow turn on and off, his embarrassment turning to awe.] A well in your own home. [He remarks, amazed. Forgetting his quest for a mop he walks over and begins to twist and turn the faucet, completely transfixed. He experiments with the hot and cold taps in wonder.]

How does the water heat up on its own? Are there hot coals inside the wall?

Think of it like a furnace, but inside the house. Somewhere-- probably the basement of this place-- [ Or. Actually. With everything being on top of water, is there a basement? ] --or just some room, there is a machine that heats up the water. That water is pumped through pipes that go throughout the house, and right to this faucet!

[ She looks to the side, and then points towards the shower. ] It'll heat up the water for the shower and that bath, too. You'll always be able to treat yourself with nice, warm water! Steaming, too, if that's how you like your baths!

This is a lot more convenient than transporting water from a well.

[And how do the showers work? He heads over and is relieved to see the similar faucets installed; no need for more puzzling out of modern amenities. Still to be on the safe side he turns one on slowly. When the water turns from a trickle to a spray, he immediately turns the water power back down. Then...how about turning the shower head upright? Would that impact the water's flow?

To his continued amazement, the water still flows upright. He looks back to see Sanae watching him, and suddenly the self-consciousness hits him in full force and he quickly puts the shower head back in place. He is still in a towel, after all.]

Here, I'll clean the rest of the water up. You should rest, my lady. And thank you for teaching me how the water works here.

[ He's caught her staring again. Only this time, she's watching his expression, watching him work through the puzzle that is modern plumbing. She can't help but smile at him, a light giggle bubbling forth when he turns the shower head upward.

She's all but forgot about the towel, really. Instead, she's making mental notes to show him everything she can of the modern world and teach him all that she knows. ] Alright, alright... [ She brings her hands behind her, stepping back. ] ...And you should get a good sleep, too. Your room is actually very nice! It's the perfect size for a pillow fort.

If I could have a word before you leave, my lady.

[He speaks up right before she's left. All traces of awkwardness has disappeared, replaced again with that serious mask of his.]

There is much we need to sort out between us, and it's not just living arrangements.

The night is still young. If my lady is not too tired, we should discuss our current situation after I have finished here. I would also like to get to know the god that I will be serving.

Edited 2016-08-31 08:15 (UTC)

[ She looks over her shoulder at him, tilting her head to the side.

He wants to talk? And to get to know her more--? He may make it sound reasonable and useful. But to Sanae, well, doesn't this just sound like-- ]

Edited 2016-08-31 08:23 (UTC)

--A sleepover! [ She beams, her expression contrasting nicely with his stoic mask, and then steps back to him, only to reach for both of his hands excitedly. ] We'll have a sleepover, because that's the best way to get to know each other!

[ She's already planning for it. Should they have it in her room? His? Or maybe on those couches downstairs, with all of those extra blankets. ]

[That's definitely one of the things they'll have to clear up with each other: personal space and boundaries. This time he lets her take his hands, but his grip is light and barely responsive, and he's quick to withdraw from her grasp.]

A...sleepover? [Coming from her it sounds like an innocent concept...but who really knows?What if they're sleeping on the same bed? The thought causes him no small amount of discomfort, and he tentatively poses a question to her.]

I trust there is...nothing improper about a sleepover?

[ Anything improper about a sleepover goes right over her head because obviously there wouldn't be anything improper! ] A sleepover is when you sleep over at someone's place! And there are snacks and movies and pow-wows where we sit down and talk to each other and talk, and maybe there's a little gossip-- it's a perfect setting for getting to know someone!

[ Pocky. She hopes this house has pocky in it. She needs to show him the joys of pocky. ]

Ah, but even though we are in the same house-- maybe we should have it downstairs on the couches! It'll technically be a sleep-in this way, but that's okay, we'll just make up for it by staying up until four!

...so a sleepover is simply staying the night at a friend's house, only instead of sleeping you stay up and chat with them.

[That's basically what he could infer from her excited chatter. At the rate he's going he's going to need to carry a dictionary around him, he didn't get half of what she said.]

Add in some hair-braiding and popcorn, and you have the right idea! [ He's getting it, he's getting it!

She hums happily to herself. Ah, she hasn't had a sleep over in over seven years! ] ....I'll start get everything ready, okay? And you can take a shower in the meantime-- just call me if you need me. Any other questions?

[He would prefer no hair-braiding, actually. But he's still stuck in a towel and it's starting to get a bit chilly, so he'd better get to that shower.]

No further questions. I'll see you shortly, my lady.

[Thankfully there are no further bathroom shenanigans, and she'll hear his footsteps coming down the staircase soon enough. Dressed in a pair of white pyjamas, he looks and feels completely out of place without the armour.]

[ Once he's done with his shower and preparing himself for sleep, he'll find that the downstairs kitchen area and (one of the) living space(s) is completely prepared for a night up. There are snacks she happened to acquire out of no where, because food is one of her specialty miracles, although unfortunately it's probably food he doesn't recognize at all. Pocky, pop, pretzels, chips, pop, popcorn, candy, cotton candy, chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms, sour patch, hot chocolate brewing, and of course some mochi and onigiri for the "healthier" treats, but still. It's junk food, because sleep overs call for junk food.

When she hears him coming down the steps, she looks up towards him. And yes, she is rather surprised to see him without all of those heavy robes and armor. Briefly she wonders if she'll have to commission similar outfits for him, or if he'll be comfortable wearing modern clothes. Ah, that's another thing she'll have to do: go shopping. She can't wait. She wonders how the fashion has changed since she left the modern world for Gensokyo. ] Oh, Lu Meng, you're here!

[ She's also moved the couches to the side to build comfortable floor of pillows around the low table for them to sit upon. ] Everything's ready, so-- [ Pats to one plush pillow beside her. ] Please make yourself comfortable, and have some snacks!

[Where did all this food come from? Eyebrows go up at the spread that she's laid out for the both of them. This is a lot of food for two people. My lady should not have gone through so much effort.

[But to be polite he'll pick up the cup of what appears to be a thick, brown soup. Taking a seat at the spot she indicated, he thanks her for preparing all the food and takes a sip of the drink.

Eyebrows shoot up again, and he immediately pulls back and stares at the cup in shock.]

This is...very sweet. I had not expected it to be as such. [He takes another tentative sip again. Seems like someone's had their first hot chocolate!]

[ She'll opt for the hot chocolate as well, if only to share the moment with him. ] Oh... chocolate wasn't really known about back in your time, was it? [ She clears her throat, preparing to explain. ]

Well! This drink, Lu Meng, is called hot chocolate, because it's basically melted chocolate mixed with hot, steamed milk. Chocolate itself is actually very bitter, though, so this drink is mixed with sugar. [ Then she realizes she has to explain what sugar is. ] Sugar is a substance that's sweet like honey, except sugar grows tropically and you extract it from a bamboo-like plant.

Personally, I like my hot chocolate with a little cinnamon in it, if you'd like to try...?

Alright.

[Maybe it might have been better to know what cinnamon is in the first place before he goes popping new food into his mouth, but it must be tiring for his god, he thinks, to keep explaining every little thing to him.

He takes a sip and carefully considers the new taste.]

The flavor is enhanced with the cinnamon. [He concludes, and takes a second sip again.] This beverage is quite enjoyable; I've never had anything quite like it before.

[ She smiles. ] It makes everything feel all warm cozy, doesn't it? [ She says with a satisfied sigh, closing her eyes. ] The drink is not ususally meant for springtime, though-- more often it's after a snowy or rainy day, or in the winter or fall.

I'm glad that you have now enjoyed one of the delicious forms of chocolate. [ But! ]It's only the first step in your journey through all the wonders of chocolately desserts this modern world has to offer...!

"This modern world"...

[The words are turned around in his thoughts, expression thoughtful, and he takes one last sip before he places the cup down.]

Before we speak of that, there are other important matters that we need to speak off. Importantly, I do not know much about the god I will be serving from now on. If my lady would be willing to share, please tell me about yourself.

[ He wants her to... talk all about herself? She brings a hand to scratch at her cheek nervously. She can't remember the last time anyone has asked to learn more about her, even when she came to Gensokyo. Well, besides Aya, but that was for an interview! She supposes that this is more like an interview, too, and less like a getting-to-know you ice breaker. ] Well.... my name is Sanae Kochiya. [ That he already knows.

She coughs. ] I'm...22-- no, wait, 21! I'm 21 years old. [ She seems uncertain about her exact age. She looks up at him, trying to read him for what he wants to know. It's difficult to talk about herself without anything specific to answer. ] And, um, back in my world... I was a miko, a priestess, for a goddess of qi-- that is, wind and heaven-- named Kanako. I've been serving her ever since I could remember. [ She wonders if she should mention her ancestor Suwako, but in the end she shakes her head to herself.

What else, what else.... Oh! ] We lived in Tokyo as well, and as a miko I would perform exorcisms, rituals, purifications, and miracles for those in need. [ As she did not know that she was a god in her home world then, she doesn't mention this fact. ]Unfortunately, in this modern world... faith was declining. Kanako was beginning to fade away, and so in 2007 she decided to move her shrine to Gensokyo, which is another dimension. Although, it's perpetually set somewhere around the 1800s.

So when I say "modern world"-- me returning to this place is new to me, too, because it's been almost a decade! [ A short laugh, and then she continues. ]

A...anyway, I continued to carry out my duties as a miko in Gensokyo, although my duties focused more on exterminating the more powerful youkai there. [ She gives him a smile. ] Aaaaand, that's really all there is to me! I try to do my best with helping others and protecting them.

Hmm.

[He takes in this information carefully, his gaze drifting down idly towards the table in front of them as his mouth works into a thoughtful frown. He can't really place the 2007th year and the 1800s when compared with his time.

But her explanation of who she is opens up a couple of other questions. He looks up back to her.]

So my lady has been involved in religious affairs for quite some time then. Enough time spent serving a god, that it is but a simple matter to pour grain from your hands like water. [Just a neutral comment; he's trying to figure her out here.] Back then that miracle had come easily to you; have you always been able to cast such feats?

007 | Clean Up Your Act

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