008 | Sakura 2.0: You Can (Not) Have A Picnic

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Sakura picnic
When: Evening April 25
Where: The same sakura park as last time
Summary: Amaterasu has had a request to return to view the cherry blossoms one more time and she has decided to make it happen.



The cherry blossoms have yet to all fall from the trees, and so the Heavens have seen fit to hold another blossom viewing - this time with a picnic instead! The trees themselves do not have the ethereal glow they had last time, but there is a sweet scent that fills the air, drawing anyone inexorably towards the beautiful trees.

As a surprise, Amaterasu has sent her counselors to join the picnic as well. They can be found wandering around and enjoying the sights and foods just the same as anyone else.

All new arrivals will have been whisked away to the picnic by Amaterasu's shinki so that they can enjoy this escape just the same as everyone else. It seems Amaterasu doesn't want to leave anyone out this time, and so many of her shinki are milling around as well, clad in white with the golden chrysanthemum embroidered on their outfits.



Picnic

Dozens upon dozens of brightly colored picnic blankets have been provided for the guests to use. On top of that, pre-packed picnic boxes have been provided as well. They range from American-esque picnic baskets all the way to Japanese style bentos. Everyone is free to take as many boxes as they would like to and share among each other. Every picnic box has something different for everyone to enjoy.

Cherry Blossoms

The blossoms are falling freely now, showing that they are on their last leg of life. But the scent of the cherry blossoms has become so intense that it draws anyone who smells it towards the trees. You might find that if you breathe in too deeply or too long, it's like an intoxication equivalent to having drunk all night long. Good luck keeping up straight!

Performance

A performance stage has been erected in the park by the Heavens and there are a number of shinki who will sing and dance or perform in other ways whenever they have a spare moment. Gods and their shinki are encouraged to get up on the stage and perform as well, if they have anything that they would like to perform for their fellows.

Fire

Around sunset, the festivities will come to a screeching halt as a sudden burst of flames spreads through the trees, igniting them one by one. The spread of the fire is so rapid that it is very obviously unnatural. It will take a lot of teamwork and a large number of hands to put the fire out - or maybe you prefer to just run away. Either way, it will be hard to miss the pieces of paper that fly through the air, all bearing the same words: Down with the Heavens! Down with Amaterasu!



In Summary:

• Enjoy the cherry blossoms
• Enjoy the picnic food
• Meet Amaterasu's counselors
• View or participate in the performance
• Put out the fire
• Have fun~

Comments

Cherry Blossoms

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo has barely gotten near the cherry blossoms when someone comes over and tells him they had to leave.

He wants to protest, but it dies quickly once he realizes how it's starting to affect the people.

It's another thing when he notices something towards this person, a brief tug that he felt towards another person before until they just disappeared.

For now, he just nods.]

Sounds like a good idea.

[kissthegoddamncook]

[The moment he sees this man, there's a connection he feels immediately. He takes a look at the man... no one he knows. But he doesn't question it.

They're going to have problems if they stay here too long.

He moves away from the cherry blossoms until the feeling of drunkenness has left them and then he turns to look at him.]

What's your name?

[toremainbehind]

[It's Izumo's first time seeing him as well, but he remembers this feeling before back when he arrived.

Shame his former God was gone.

But as soon as they're away and this man is facing him, Izumo manages a smile in greeting.]

Izumo Kusanagi. And yours?

[kissthegoddamncook]

Kensei Muguruma.

[He looks at him closely.]

You're my shinki.

[Another weapon. He's proud of his current weapons, but another to learn can't hurt, right?]

[toremainbehind]

I am.

[Going from an adolescent redhead to a sterner-looking man... Izumo briefly wonders if this kind of thing happens a lot.]

Though, I'm afraid I'm still learning how to use my powers as a shinki.

[kissthegoddamncook]

It won't be for long.

[He seems almost more determined about that.]

What's your powers?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo will definitely need to pick up some slack at this rate.

He grins, almost shamefully.]

Not sure yet, sorry. [He hasn't actually gone out yet to experiment with his powers. And his former God didn't really stick around too long.] I haven't actually been used as a shinki yet to know that.

[kissthegoddamncook]

[Goddammit.]

I'm supposed to name you, right?

[He wanted to make this simple, but he supposes that's not going to happen.]

Alright, come on. We're going to find out what you can do.

[toremainbehind]

That's how it works, yes.

[He's sorry, Kensei. Not much use of a shinki who's fairly new and his God just up and disappeared.

When have things ever been simple, really?]

Alright.

[kissthegoddamncook]

I need you to transform.

[He's not sure how to do this, however.]

But the name comes first?

[toremainbehind]

Name comes first. [A new God and a rarely used shinki trying to figure things out. This should be fun.]

[kissthegoddamncook]

What name did you previously have? Let's just use that.

[He's not at all creative and if no one else is using it, he may as well.]

[toremainbehind]

Unfortunately, my previous god disappeared before he managed to give me a name.

[He really is sorry, Kensei. He and his former god barely managed to spend any time together before he left, leaving Izumo alone for a good while until you came.]

[kissthegoddamncook]

...Fine. We'll make this easy. Your name is Haiki.

[You'll be fine, Izumo. Just follow along and we'll make this work together.]

[toremainbehind]

Good enough for me.

[Indeed. Let's just get along right now.]

[kissthegoddamncook]

Alright.

[He turns to face him and nods.]

Haiki.

[toremainbehind]

[He stills when his name is called, feeling something burn from his left shoulder blade before he feels his physical form start to bleed out.

And then he slowly transforms into a lighter. Not much of a weapon, but hopefully the powers he possesses as a shinki will make up for that.]

[kissthegoddamncook]

[He snaps up the lighter in his hand as it he turns, looking it over.]

...Hm.

[He looks at it in his hand, turning it over with his fingers.]

Can you hear me?

[toremainbehind]

[A stillness before:]

I can. [It's strange, speaking to his God like this, but he figures it can't be too bad.]

[kissthegoddamncook]

Alright, good.

[He looks at it closely, narrowing his eyes.]

Now we just have to figure out what the hell you do.

[toremainbehind]

Would you happen to have any ideas?

[kissthegoddamncook]

[Moved here]