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

[As with many things since he was dubiously promoted to god-status, Kaneki is provided with the most sparse information possible. He's told that he has a new shinki, and he's quick to insist that he won't abandon Hana, and...well, that's all. A new shinki named Ion...it's not very much to go off of, is it? And Kaneki isn't the type to just raise his voice and ask, but that'd be pretty obtrusive...hm.

He's really got to wonder why the Heavens don't just introduce people to each other, instead of turning it into some guessing-game. Especially when there's work to be done. But being who he is, Kaneki won't complain directly. A little muttering to himself will have to do.

Hopefully he can find his shinki...

Meanwhile, he spots a girl who appears to be a little lost, so he thinks he can investigate further later. He knows what it's like to feel new and disoriented, and even if he's not the most outgoing guy, that point of relation spurs him to approach her]

Hey, do you need some help?

[He doesn't ask if she's new, it seems obvious that she is, and...it'd be pretty rude, wouldn't it?]

Hmmm? Oh, um... [Ion blinks owlishly back at KANEKIIIII, finally coming down to reality. Eventually there's a faint albeit confused smile on her face.] Yes, I'm looking for someone-- a god named Kuebiko. It felt like I was supposed to stay here, but I have no idea what they look like!

[Quite a mystery, this whole situation.]

Edited 2016-08-16 22:05 (UTC)

R-really?

[Forgive him for the owlish stare, he wasn't exactly sure what to expect from a name like Ion. Definitely hadn't imagined a pretty girl, and so for a good long moment he's no good for anything but shock. Belatedly he catches himself, straightening his posture and wondering whether he's just made the most unimpressive first impression a god can make.

Though what are the odds he would've walked right up to her like this? It's surprising, and something of a relief, since he doesn't have the first idea of how gods locate their shinki to begin with... He should say something more, shouldn't he?]

Well, that's- [Really?] That's me.

[Accompanied by pointing at himself as though she might need visual aid. Which she probably doesn't, huh...]

Edited 2016-08-16 22:26 (UTC)

[MORE BLINKING RESUMES! But after a second, Ion's smile brightens considerably as she claps her hands together. She hadn't expected to find him so soon, but here he is! Although she was almost expecting a bit more...grand. This is fine though, and it feels like she can be a little more casual since he looks close to her age. That in itself is a relief.]

Really? Thank goodness! I wasn't sure if I would find you this easily. [Her spacing out was helpful in the end!]

Then, it seems like we'll be partners together? [She gives a quick bow of her head:] I'm not really sure what I'm meant to do, but I hope we can get along, Kuebiko.

Edited 2016-08-16 22:43 (UTC)

[She's so polite... His natural reaction to that little bow is one in return, more a reflexive than conscious act. If they'll be working together, the formality does seem appropriate, doesn't it?]

Oh, you can call me Kaneki. I think most gods don't use their official names very much...

[At least none of the ones Kaneki has met so far. Kuebiko feels more like a title than a name for him, and there's a stiffness about it he isn't sure would be right to maintain with someone who's a shinki. Especially someone who went through what she did.

He really should've recognized her right away, shouldn't he...?]

Kaneki...It's nice to meet you. I'm Ionasal.kkll.Preciel. [The name flows surprisingly smooth despite the length, but she pauses a second.] Mn, but I think Ionasal or Ion is fine too. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

[It's best for them to start off on a good note and be comfortable together since the counselor had told her they would be together for awhile. And speaking of comfortable, there's a lot of things she still doesn't know. Questions can come later, though.]

Er, the woman I spoke to said I would be living with you as well. I'm sorry if this is too sudden. [Aaaaand Kaneki will be feeling some of Ion's apprehension about living with him. It's just...he's a guy. It would be nice if this was a dream, yet she knows (somehow) that that isn't the case.]

[That feeling washes over him, and Kaneki briefly wonders if that's what Roxas had meant about things being different with shinki who aren't "soulless". It's so new and unexpected that he takes a brief (though noticeable) pause to recover from it, wondering just how he'll adapt to someone else's emotions bleeding into him this way]

You're right, shinki and gods live together... [And he gets just this far into the conversation, brief as it has been, to think he knows where that trepidation might be coming from] But there's lots of space, so you'll have your own room of course.

[Even if there wasn't space, he'd rather vacate his own bedroom than be discourteous toward her. He should be a proper host, shouldn't he? Or, since they're assigned to each other, maybe it's more accurate to say it's a shared residence.

Strange, he hadn't fumbled so much about Hana. But with her it felt more like he was being followed about by a duckling, in a way...]

I don't think I'll need a lot of space since I didn't bring anything with me, but I'll be happy to have a room. Eheheh~ [At least he doesn't have to deal with that mental hangup anymore because it easily washes away with his reassurance. The almost nervous sort of giggle is just a byproduct about how odd this situation is. Although if she were to think on it longer, that would be different. Yet she'll go along with the flow for now, especially with Kaneki in mind.

She caught that pause and immediately tucked it as a mental note.]

I'm honestly not sure what to expect now. I heard there was some cleaning to do? But I still have a lot of questions...Could we talk for a little bit. [A beat.] Um, maybe find a place to sit too?

Yeah, they're...not the most thorough with information around here.

[An understatement, and perhaps the gentlest way Kaneki can possibly put it. He's full discussions on just how much the Heavens don't seem intent on telling them, but he hardly wants to be discouraging to Ion, especially when it's her first day on the job.

He can't even imagine what it's like, not remembering anything. Was that for the better...? Maybe there's no way to know for sure]

I may not have all the answers, but I'll tell you what I can. [And hopefully, that'll help, even a little] There's probably somewhere we can sit around here...

I'd appreciate it. And I think there may be chairs over there! [She points to one of the adjacent rooms before beginning to walk. It just seems like the kind of room where they may find some even if there's none visible from the open doorway.

And the reason why it's open? Because it's another room that's cluttered and dusty items thrown together, but hey! At least there's stools lying about.]

...Ah, I see now. [Why she was told that she would be helping to clean when she arrived.] Should we work while we talk?

[Kaneki trails after her, fairly sure that unlike the school this place should be much safer, but still wanting to keep an eye on Ion all the same. He's heard too many things to be entirely settled into their circumstances, and he wouldn't want to lose track of her before answering her questions (the ones he can), besides.

When they reach the room, he wastes no time picking the stools up from the floor and dusting them off himelf. Once he's set them upright he has to stifle a cough with his sleeve, marveling at just how dusty the place is...]

I think it should be alright if we talk for a little while first. When we get jobs like this, we're usually at it for some time.

[Aw, how sweet. There's even a spark of gratitude for it as Ion takes a seat.]

Okay. As long as we don't get in trouble. I have a lot of questions though-! L-like what I'm supposed to do here, what to expect... [Glancing down at her hands, an uncertain frown forms before she folds and presses them to her chest. She'd like to learn more about herself, but she doubts Kaneki would know anything since they only just met. Did she even have a "self" to begin with? It's scary.]

Umm, and I'd like to know about you too, if you're okay with that. I can't really say much about myself though... [Yet, knowing what she's involved in and understanding who her partner is helps to lower the sudden spike in anxiety to a more feasible level.]

[Kaneki sits down after she does, just in time for a couple of rather sizable questions... And one perhaps much simpler one. He takes a few moments to consider what she's asking, for all that he's been informed of so very little himself, with a soft hum as some immediate acknowledgement]

I guess the most basic way to explain is that we watch over the living world. We answer prayers and protect people from ayakashi, which are malevolent spirits of a sort. It probably all sounds fantastical, but my first big task here involved stopping something like that.

[And so, for that reason, he can attest to it]

...Although this time...I guess they've just got us on clean-up duty.

So I would be like a guardian spirit... [And while the idea sounds nice, protecting others that is, she's uncertain as to how capable that is. Her brow furrows as she scuffs her feet against the ground.]

I'm fine with listening and cleaning, but I don't think I would be very good at physically protecting someone. Do you think I can still be helpful?

Edited 2016-08-17 21:29 (UTC)

I'm sure you can. The first prayer I answered was someone who needed comfort, so there are lots of things people need help with.

[Granted, it resolved to him and Shun giving the man a pep-talk, but he thinks that'll be the most helpful in the long run. The man wanted hope, and they'd managed that much, surely]

I see...Then, I guess this isn't so bad. If I can help people and not be alone, I think I'll be okay even if I'm missing parts of myself. [Folding her hands in her lap, there's a mixture of feelings that pass through Ion: a wistful sort of sadness, tired resignation, and a sense of comfort that Kaneki seems like a nice partner to have. She's not the only one missing memories either. It will be difficult, of course, but she can't do much more than to stay as calm as possible.

Ion sits quietly with those thoughts for a moment before she remembers--]

You haven't said anything about yourself. How long have you been here? Do you still have your memories?

[Turning towards him, she leans forward enough to look at him more closely with a curious look. She wants to know more!]

[Under that attention, Kaneki sits up straighter. Not that he's all that tall or anything, and he doubts that he cuts an impressive figure, but the involuntary response is there all the same. It's a shame he's not really all that exciting for a god, it seems to him that it's vaguely humorous for someone as average as he is to get promoted to a deity.

Then again, he'd gone from perfectly average college student who likes to read to a half-ghoul, so wild transitions seem to be how things are for him this year. He honestly can't imagine anything stranger could happen to him where such developments are concerned.

Was there anything more unusual than a half-ghoul-god?]

Well, I- gods do keep their memories, yeah. [A solid start, right there - but still nothing about himself, oops] I spend a lot of time reading, when I'm not doing things like this. And just recently I got a job over in the near shore, since being a god doesn't actually pay wages. It'd probably be weird if it did, actually.

[Ion stiffles a giggle behind her hand as Kaneki straightens in place. She's nm 0not laughing at him though. Instead, it's rather cute despite the fact that HE'S the important person here. It's funny that way, and she can only guess that he'll become more comfortable once they get to know each other. He did just have a very sudden partnership forced onto him.

The notion that the divine need money is also funny (and strange) too.]

Mn, then I'll aim to get a job too. But is it okay if I see what I can do around the house first? It's probably best to learn my strengths beforehand.

[The idea of getting her hands on books is a great one too. Yet, there's a slight hesitation.]

W-would you be okay with taking me to a bookstore or a library? Maybe I'll be able to pick out topics that interest me. [Just to learn more about herself, but hopefully she's not asking for too much his time.]

[Now, Kaneki would answer that question about when to get a job, but his train of thought is effectively derailed by that last inquiry. Ion would like to go to the library or the bookstore... She's got a perfectly sound reason to want to go to these places, but still.

These are certainly places he wouldn't mind going, considering he practically haunts the local library and peruses bookstores on a fairly routine basis. Does this mean his new shinki would also like books, if that's the suggestion that she comes up with...?

Maybe their team-ups are a bit more thought-out than he'd first expected...]

I go to places like that all the time, so it wouldn't be a problem. [Far from it since he loves these places] If our job here doesn't run too late, we could go afterward if you'd want.

[They'd probably need to get some supplies soon anyway, since his needs are pretty different nowadays. He'll have to find a different place than the fridge in the kitchen for the...meat...the Heavens have been providing him too]

...Oh, for the job...it's up to you if you decide you'd like one for spending money.

[Sneaky meat times begin. But hey, at least she's visibly excited about the idea of book browsing so soon. Step-by-step. It's uncertain whether she'll pick up connections immediately, but at least she'll learn along the way. Both the area and maybe a little more about Kaneki's interests.]

Then let's do a good job so we can finish early! [At least Ion's perked up now, her voice turning singsong as she gets up from her chair and heads towards the cleaning supplies left to the room.] Dust bunnies, fly away~ So we can look at all the books today~

[Someone's excited already, although it may be just that spacey quality about her coming back.]

Edited 2016-08-19 03:08 (UTC)

[Ion seems so eager to check out books, and she has a pleasant temperament too. Kaneki can't quite put it to words, but he's really relieved that it seems they'll be able to get along well. He doesn't know how it is for other gods and their shinki in great detail, but he knows that some get along better than others, and he'd much rather they get along well.

After all, it seems they'll be spending quite a bit of time together.

Reassured by the prospect of getting along well with his new shinki ally, Kaneki picks himself up and moves the stools out of the way]

This shouldn't be too hard. It's just some dust and cobwebs.

[And a whole lot of clutter, but of all the things they could be faced with, it's something rather mundane]

Right! We'll have this all done in a jiffy~ [She picks up the feather duster in a somewhat dramatically triumphant fashion.

It's only during the process of cleaning and not quite minding her surroundings that Ion somehow manages to get lost. Shenanigans happen, both good and bad, new people are met, new friends are made, and after a few hours Ion manages to find her way back to the original room. She's covered in dust and also carrying what looks like a bag of junk (gears and wires and circuit boards). Ion whines her god's name while looking around for him:]

Kaneki? Kanekiiii... [Please be here. She wants to leave. She's had enough adventures for today and just wants to look at books.]

[Kaneki isn't too sure when he and Ion become separated, but one minute they're together and the next she's gone again. He supposes that things seem relatively safe around here, and he'll probably be able to find her as he keeps working, so he continues to clean up as he makes his way along. Every now and then he pauses to look around in case Ion passes by, but no such luck.

Eventually he hears his name being called, looking up from some crates he's been hefting about with mixed results (what's in some of these things?) to look for the source of the voice.

Perhaps fortunately, his enhanced senses give him a good idea of where the sound is coming from, and he sets a crate down to follow the sound]

Ion?

[Kaneki will find her sitting on one of the stools, her junk pile laid out on the floor as she's brushing herself off. He finally comes into view as she's picking pieces of lint out of her hair, and Ion gives a tired wave.]

Sorry for wandering off...Do you think we could go now? We've been working for awhile.

[Although most people would want a shower in her condition, but somehow she doesn't mind too much. Something tells her she's been in worse messes.]

[That's quite a collection she's got in front of her. Kaneki eyes it briefly, wondering where she found bits and pieces of machinery as he strolls closer]

It looks like most people around here are wrapping up, so... I think we can go.

[They're not faced with any monsters at least, which is a step up from the last mission. He'd rather not have to experience some kind of clutter-creature, after battling what seemed to be living, angry Jell-o]

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