010 | Relief and Rescue

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Cleanup and moral support
When: All day May 16
Where: Just outside of Tokyo
Summary: It's time to get rid of the mess that that demon made!



The attack by the demon recently has left the surrounding area in a very sorry state. Not only are some people still hospitalized or slowly recovering from the affects of the draining of their life force, but a lot of nasty accidents happened during the time that people were walking around like they were dead to the world. It's been attributed to an odd natural disaster, and many think it may have been an illness that caused it.

The Heavens have decided to send any available gods and shinki down to help out in the relief efforts. If they try hard enough, they should be easily seen for the times when they are helping people out, so it shouldn't be a problem.

On top of that, some new arrivals have suddenly appeared. Amaterasu has left them little handwritten notes pinned to their shirts:

'These people need your help! I'm sorry to throw you into things like this, but please do what you can.

☼ Amaterasu ☼'

And yes, she has doodled little suns next to her name.



Care

There are a lot of people who were left hurt because of the incident with the demon and they are still trying to recover from it. From broken bones all the way to mental trauma, these people have seen a lot of crazy stuff and they aren't feeling so hot. Any kind of care is viable, but you might also want to just be an errand-runner in order to help the qualified people who are already doing a pretty good job of helping these poor folks out.

Food

A fair number of homes and stores managed to get destroyed amidst everything going on with the demon, so there's a lot of work for the neighborhood to do in helping them out. Whether by helping to rebuild what has been broken or by just handing out some free food to the people who need it. Of course, you might also take some food for yourself. Hopefully you're not a horrible enough person to just steal from the homeless~

Literal Cleaning

And here's where the fun comes in. The buildings that need to be rebuilt and the streets that need to be cleaned up are all under works and you can help in any way you deem worthy. You might carry loads or actually put forth the effort to help rebuild some lost homes, it's up to you. Of course, if you set about helping out in this way, you might notice little fairy-like spirits flitting around each of the Near Shore residents who are working hard to help each other out. The little spirits shine brightly and seem to shy away if approached, but they titter happily anytime the person they're following does something nice.

Banquet

After the day is done, the Heavens have a special treat set up for anyone who helped out - a large banquet in the Meeting Hall back on the Far Shore. Just like any other banquet, there is food and booze of every kind available. But also, the small tittering bright white spirits are in attendance, following around any Far Shore resident who helped out today. You might find yourself with a new friend or two who won't leave you alone, who keep giggling anytime you're kind, and who don't seem to be able to talk and only exude delight and good feelings.



In Summary:

• Help out the people affected by the demon
• Give out food to people who need it
• Clean up the messes
• Eat some good food, drink some good booze
• Have fun~

Comments

[galactically]

[Sheryl's eyes instantly light up at the sight of the children, her smile only growing more and more as she watches. Despite the troubling scenario, she's genuinely relieved at seeing some of them being able to smile, laugh, cheer, and clap in glee. This does it: she must give them one hell of a show.

Turning to glance at Maria, she gives her a determined look.]

In that case... [She pulls out a golden microphone from her purse, then grins at everyone in this room.] Everyone! Listen to my song!

[Sheryl positions herself, shifting her feet into elaborate dance moves that she's long since memorized from constant practicing. No matter where she goes, she's still a performer, making sure her voice is as top-notch as ever, too. Her song is very catchy, even the lyrics convey love. Though her power can't heal wounds, she at least tries to make sure the spirits of the children are uplifted during times of despair, their strength increasing bit by bit. Maybe she can make some of them dance!]

Darlin', come! I'll hold you, got it?
No you, no life, I'm really serious!
Need your heart and need your love
Oh, yes! Give me a sweet kiss!

Even if this love is false, just go!
You only get one shot, be happy!
No more chance! No rules!
I'll get you! Lalala, I'll give it all to you~

[declamando]

[Maria doesn't want to interrupt the music as it's happening, but when some of the children start to move and a few of the more active ones stand up to attempt dancing, she stands herself and walks over to the more injured ones. With careful movements, she helps them to their feet and with a hand for each of them, leads them around in a circle and back, then moves them into a slow twirl one after the other.

A few of the braver children move closer to Sheryl, one or two even trying to imitate her dance routine before giggling and moving away to watch again. Others hang further back, but are rapt with attention, and some link hands to dance together rather than alone.

The sight of it all brings another smile to Maria's face - this is the true beauty of music, the one she has to always keep in her heart. Even if some things are beyond its power, others are much more receptive to it.]

[galactically]

[There's a certain sense of rush coursing through her as she sings, but it's a happy energy. Sheryl feels right within her element, watching the children dance to the music no matter what situation they were in. Even Maria is joining in, too! This is the kind of effect that Sheryl wants to leave behind, for her music to be the cause of great memories for people of all ages to bask in. As she once said to Alto, "if it's a pilot's job to fly, then it's my job to sing!"

Gazing upon some of the kids try to imitate her dance moves prompts a larger grin on her lips as she keeps singing till the very end. She reaches for a child's hand and gently holds it, twirling him around.]

Let me know what you want, I would give you!
How fantastic to be with you... my love!

[It takes a while but finally, the song ends. Sheryl steps back and releases her hold on that hand, feeling a bit tired but otherwise very elated.]

[declamando]

[The energy in the song is infectious, and even the sadder faces are more at ease now, some of the kids even trying to involve them in the dancing too. Maria remains with the more injured ones for the moment, helping them enjoy things to their fullest until they sit down again willingly and watch with excitement instead.

At the end of the song, the children break out into applause, and Maria adds a more polite strain of clapping to the chorus.]

That was wonderful. Music holds its power no matter what world you're in, doesn't it?

[As much as she's been avoiding too much thought about what being called to the heavens means, that much has been made clear to her.]

[galactically]

[A happy audience means a happy pop idol, that much Sheryl knows from experience. No sooner does the sounds of applause reach her ears that she laughs and brightens up, putting her microphone back in her purse and smoothing her hair. All that dancing around is making those pink strands fly over the place.]

Thank you so much! [A grin.] I'm so glad that you all enjoyed my performance. It was a pleasure.

[Maria's words resonate with her. Coming from a world where music can influence an entire galaxy, Sheryl knows this too well — from stopping wars to uniting different races. Either way she nods in agreement, flicking some strands off her shoulders.]

Naturally. Music makes the world go around. [A pause as she points at Maria, confidence oozing from her tone.] A pro, right? I can tell from how you sang earlier.

[declamando]

[As the children break off into excited chatter about the songs they've heard today, Maria allows herself to focus more on Sheryl for the moment. If she is here for more than just the day, getting to know people is important, and others who take the power of song as seriously as she does seems like as good a start as any.

At Sheryl's guess, Maria gives a slight smile, though there's an undertone to it that's difficult to read.]

For better or worse, yes. Music has carried me through many things, not all of them good, but now I've returned to it as a true professional rather than whatever I was doing before.

[Shaking her head for a moment to brush off the sad thought, she tucks a little of her own hair back over her shoulder and assumes a more curious expression.]

It's good that we're helping so many people, but I can't say I've learnt much about this situation beyond what I was told about "gods" before being sent down here.

[galactically]

[The "for better or worse" part catches Sheryl's attention, a curious look plastered all over her face at Maria's comments as she frowns in concern. The music industry, for all the love she has for it, can be a fickle and cruel beast.]

Did you have management problems? Creative differences with a record label?

[The common problems that most idols goes through. She can only hope that whoever Maria had as a manager isn't a megalomaniac sociopath like Grace.]

At least you had the opportunity to improve yourself into becoming a real pro, that's good.

[An undertone of relief as a gentle sigh, though it's short lived. Sheryl crinkles her brows in annoyance, folding her arms across her bust.]

Were those gods at the Heavens being vague as usual? Their management is really bad. They still haven't figured how we all arrived here in the first place.

[declamando]

[It's not that Maria wants to lie, but it's not exactly easy to be open with her past this quickly, and she bites her lip a little at the questions. Rather than completely try to avoid it, she considers the best way to be honest, but not invite too much probing into it before she's ready.]

Management problems is one way of putting it, I suppose. I've been singing for ideals I never really believed in, or ones I thought I did but turned out to be a cruel lie. It's just recently I've been able to free myself from that and sing to bring joy and connect hearts.

[As she reaches the end of that, her tone is almost one of relief. Her past has been a mess, and nobody knows that better than her, but reminding herself of where she's managed to reach despite that helps a lot.

It's less relieving to hear that the bare-bones explanation she received before being rushed here was normal rather than an anomaly caused by the situation, and Maria's brow furrows in concern.]

I thought it was just because of all this, but yes. I woke up in a temple and was told a few things about this place, but I haven't really had time to think about it since then.

[galactically]

[A soft hum emits in the back of Sheryl's throat after listening to all of that, and her frown twists a little like she felt a sudden stomachache. Ideals that morph into terrible lies, not quite the same as her own past "management problems", but she's dealt with her own share of such lies from a two-faced manager. That part is something she'll keep to herself, but...]

I have a friend who wanted more than anything to sing. [A quiet admittance.] She'd never want to be a tool.

[A tool for the Vajra, that is; Ranka made that very clear. Sheryl glances away for a moment before looking back at Maria with a chortle.]

Management can be so irritating at times, don't they? Not being able to have enough freedom to sing what you want is such a pain. [A huff.] I had my own share of those problems, too, when I first started out, but it's good that you can finally sing whatever you like!

[Now as for that little debacle involving being trapped in an unknown planet and the Heavens... she watches Maria's brows knit in concern before shaking her head with a sigh.]

I wish I could be surprised, but this is their lame MO unfortunately.

[declamando]

[That first sentiment is one Maria shares, and she grits her teeth a little and glances to one side as if pained.]

I watched my own friends become tools, merely because they wanted to see the ones who had shown them kindness safe and not because they truly wanted to walk that path. I'm glad we've all grown beyond that.

[Herself in particular, since she was the one Kirika and Shirabe had followed into that darkness. Their "Mum" had been the one Maria had followed there, even if she had given all three of them a home.

When Sheryl becomes more upbeat about it, though, Maria takes the hint and gives a light laugh in response.]

It's a blessing that I became so popular so quickly, even if it was back when I sang for the wrong things. It gave me the chance to sing with some remarkable people, who stayed with me even after all those problems.

[Speaking of problems, this being a frequent one is something Maria hadn't seen enough of this place to realise yet, and she blinks in slight surprise at the comment.]

This is normal for this world, then? People being brought here to be told they're standing in for gods?

[galactically]

[Sheryl's expression remains grim for a moment, remembering Grace using her for nefarious uses until doing the same to Ranka. If she hadn't asked Alto to save her... no, she can't think too much on it. Ranka is alive and well, that's what is important. To hear that Maria's friends went through something similar, it's tough for Sheryl to swallow.]

A shame that they experienced it, too, but as long as all of you are safe, that's what matters. [She perks up.] Even better that they've stayed with you for the bad and the good.

[Every singer should be able to sing freely, after all. She nods in response to the other goddess's question.]

Yes, and they'll make sure we have to do all of the clean-up — literally and metaphorically. We're all sent here to protect the people of the Near Shore from those ugly monsters.

[declamando]

[That's something Maria's grateful for as well, and a soft smile lights her face at the reminder of it. While she still considers herself weak in body and will, it's hard to forget the way her friends had so recently refused to let her fall by herself in battle, and it hadn't been the first time, either.]

That's true. And now I have others who saw me at my worst and decided I was also worth saving. That's something I can be grateful for as well.

["Ugly monsters", though. Maria opens her mouth in what seems to be an automatic response to that concept before closing it again - she remembers this, it was mentioned back at "her" temple.]

They're called "ayakashi", aren't they? I'm so used to the Noise I almost thought they were here for a moment.

[galactically]

[Another similarity that Sheryl is able to discover: Maria had been saved by her friends. One of her hands subconsciously drifts to her stomach, keeping it there as if to remind herself of what Ranka was able to do for her after being rescued by Alto.]

Treasure these people forever. If they can handle you at your worst, they will also care for you at your best.

[Despite the confidence projected in her tone, Sheryl actually feels a bit relieved to find someone she can relate to, even if the differences between them are vast.

She nods at first, but her mouth gapes a bit.]

Right, that's what they are called. "Noise"?

[declamando]

[Treasuring those people is something that isn't even a question for Maria, and there's a confident nod as answer. Even when she'd been prepared to die for her atonement, they'd stood by her. Those weren't people to be parted with lightly.]

They have done, and I can only hope they'll keep on doing so in future. I'll be sure to return the favour, too.

[The unfamiliarity with Noise makes Maria blink for a moment before she closes her eyes and shakes her head like she's reprimanding herself.]

Sorry, they were so common in my world until just recently...they're alien-like beasts that turn living matter into carbon compounds with a touch. Conventional weapons are almost useless against them.

[galactically]

I like the way you think.

[Those words come out so easily without any hesitation on Sheryl's end. It's what she says often to the people whose beliefs intertwine with hers, and that's something she doesn't take for granted being who she is.

A flicker of confusion emerges in her eyes as she blinks, lifting up an eyebrow.]

All living matter? Even people? That sounds awful! But how do you deal with those monsters if weapons don't work?

[declamando]

[With a suitably grim look, Maria nods in confirmation. It's never enjoyable to think about the damage Noise can do too long, especially since she's been party to absolute horrors committed with control of them.

While this information would be confidential in her own world, in this one it doesn't matter nearly as much, and Maria's done with lying her way out of things.]

Even people. They can be fought with what the people of my world call heretical technology - ancient relics with power or abilities that shouldn't have been possible in that time. Even if that power has waned over the years, modern science can be combined to make them viable weapons again.