DECEMBER EVENT PART ONE: ALL IS CALM

[sailmods]

early morning on the 23rd, Friday makes an announcement over the speaker system, cheerfully asking everyone who signed up for the excursion to gather in the atrium. when they arrive, they will find Friday, very seasonally dressed, who takes them down to the tender, which it appears she will be “driving” this time. during this particular trip, none of them lose consciousness, nor suffer any sort of physical aftereffects. however, it does feel like the trip takes about five hours of just. sitting in the tender in utter silence, with little light and still air. so maybe stop being little babies about the anesthesia???

when Friday opens the tender door for them, they find themselves stepping out into the lobby of a hotel - though, if they turn around, they’ll find there was no door at all, and any passengers they see after that will appear as if they are appearing out of the ether.

there is a clone Friday manning the front desk, and though, like the others, she isn’t much for conversation, she is very snappily dressed! she helpfully hands out keys to everyone who approaches her; they aren’t numbered, and are actually entirely physically indistinguishable from each other, but they seem to open up whatever room you want easily enough, and don’t seem to work for any others. weird. the dressers and closets in the rooms also contain suitably sized winter clothing, enough to last the few days they’ll spend there, and then some. weird.

once they’ve situated themselves, they’ll find that what lies before them is a realm much larger than others they’ve encountered; the land extends for miles in any direction, including upwards, though you’re more likely to hit a cliff before the hard barrier. there’s about a foot and a half of snow on the ground, and it continues to fall steadily. the forests lack all signs of life, but the foliage is rather attractive, as long as you don’t examine it too closely; coniferous trees are just easier.

all of the amenities are seemingly staffed by ghosts, though they give off even less of a presence than the ones aboard the ship do. there is also an industrial kitchen attached to one of the dining areas, though the meals served don’t seem to come from it, and it has a distinctly different feel than everything else around it, as if added in slapdash at the very last second.

there is one last oddity, however. every night, at about 2AM, the entire reality goes mute. voices don’t sound. snow doesn’t crunch under footsteps. even the winds are quiet. the effect ends at about 6AM. it’s probably fine.

happy holidays.

Comments

II

[winepouring]

[ And his shot has hit a target! He's piqued Shi Qingxuan's interest, and now he has to wander over. Before, he had thought that Castor and Pollux were awfully bold in freely announcing themselves as gods, but now here's this guy, very literally boldly announcing his status!

The gods of other worlds really have much fewer restrictions! he thinks with some astonishment—but, that's beside the point! More importantly, he wants to chat! ]

Lord Yato!

[ He calls out as he makes his way over with a carefree smile, fanning himself idly despite the cold weather. The word wind is scrawled across the front of the fan (in English, even!), and it does, in fact, seem to be creating a breeze that ruffles his hair. ]

I hadn't heard of the God of Fortune Yato before. What kind of fortune do you preside over?

[tossmealifeline]

[ There certainly are a great deal of restrictions on gods in his world one way or another but no one has ever stopped him from announcing himself and it has his own purpose when it comes to Yato. Perhaps it was just part of everything else surrounding his mysterious nature.

He turns his attention to Shi Qingxuan and offers him a bright smile, after all he's in his customer service mode. ]

That's me!

[ The question isn't too surprising, a lot of people haven't heard of him he's pretty minor but the latter question makes him tilt his head. ]

Huh, you know, I've never been asked that before? I'm one of the minor gods...just general fortune really. People ask me for help and I do my best to provide it. [ That's his story and he's sticking to it. After all, Hiyori sanctified it. ]

[winepouring]

[ That's good enough for him, frankly! He muses aloud: ]

I see! You're a helping hand when one needs it, so meeting you is like good fortune in itself. Even as a minor god, you must get a lot of work with that attitude.

[ His tone takes on a warm quality, genuinely admiring this straightforward approach to bringing fortune, even if (or because?) he can't imagine most gods would have thick enough face to actually do that. ]

So, how's it been going here? There can't be a shortage of people in need of help here, either.

[tossmealifeline]

I usually do okay, I think. I try anyway.

[ It's a bit of a complicated thing to be such a minor god as he is, but he's been at it a long time. ]

Uh, well, so far I'm working on a couple of wishes. [ His record so far is 1 for 3, but he hasn't given up hope. ]

I can always help with more.

[winepouring]

[ He tilts his head. ]

What are you working on now that you're taking on more wishes at the same time?

[ He might be a god, but both minor and major gods can only do so much at a time. They all have their natural limits. ]

[tossmealifeline]

I've been asking around to try and find Valdis a romantic connection, and Erin is looking for a successor to an armor piece.

[ So nothing incredibly labour intensive as far his role goes. ]

People tend to forget me, and that would be a problem.

[winepouring]

[ Huh... Yeah, those aren't something one can just pursue and finish. Putting them off does make good sense now.

But, beyond that—

Shi Qingxuan frowns in sympathy. ]

That's an even bigger problem. Even if you work hard, if people don't remember you, your base will never grow.

[ Looking at Yato, he doesn't have a face that's easy to forget; with eyes that bright, he should be able to at least stay in people's memories when they see him. Is that why he's out here boldly announcing his title and services? That won't do. ]

Have you made your own charms before? Then, the people who take them should remember you when they see them, and they'll call on you for help.

[tossmealifeline]

Tell me about it.

[ He sighs, yep, but he's really really grateful for his one follower at home, but she's not there and if he's forgotten and unneeded, so it goes that he would vanish altogether. ]

I made one for Yukine. [ Not that it seems to have helped much, as far as he knows. Things were kind of a disaster. ] I'm not sure what effect that would have on people. So far, most people I've met don't seem like believers.

[winepouring]

One is already a good start.

[ So he says, not unkindly. He doesn't know who Yukine is, but he figures it must be another passenger. Surely he's given more than one charm in his entire lifetime as a god? ]

Even if others aren't believers now, then your deeds will eventually reach them. There are people who need some kind of grand upheaval to happen before you gain their faith, but little personal things like you're doing now are also good. [ Just. Slower. ] If they can call on you with a charm of your temple, though, then their wishes are sure to reach you.

[tossmealifeline]

[ Unfortunately not. ]

I'm okay with it...besides, I like helping people. [ He smiles, this is true he does. He's always felt some kind of need to do so. ]

I don't have a shrine here for them to draw upon. [ He sighs. ] Well they have the phone I guess.

[winepouring]

[ That response...makes Shi Qingxuan cock his head to the side, rising his fan to his lips. ]

The phone?? May I ask, how do you usually hear prayers? Perhaps it's different for the two of us?

[tossmealifeline]

Usually it's when people tell me. I only have one shrine at home and one worshipper so...she usually comes and tells me to my face.

[ He has a really strange set up. ]

Mostly I have a business phone so I put my phone number out there and anyone who's in trouble and in need of divine intervention can see it and they call. Then I go over and see what they want.

[winepouring]

[ ...

Shi Qingxuan is now questioning if Yato is an actual god or if this is more like poetic wording on his part... Smiling, he sighs and snaps his fan shut, tapping it against his head in a self-reprimanding way. Well, it's not a bad thing if it is the latter; if Yato wants to help people, that's commendable on its own. ]

I misunderstood, I hadn't realized it was like that for you. In that case, maybe it's better to give your name and room number to others? If usual prayers don't reach you, then sharing those will work just as well. It won't be so different from the way you worked back home?

[tossmealifeline]

[ Rude. He considers that for a moment. ]

I'm sure they would if I had somewhere for people to send them but... [ Even at home his shrine was with him, until he returned custody of it to Hiyori. ]

I can try that, maybe I'll get lucky and some people will remember me. [ He's kind of cursed for some reason. ]

[winepouring]

[ Sorry bro, never heard of a god with a business line. Shi Qingxuan, meanwhile, continues on like he hadn't just tentatively slotted Yato into the "kindhearted mortal" category, holding his fan to his chin now. ]

Why should they forget you? God or mortal, people shouldn't forget a good deed done in their favor.

[ Hm. Since he's bothered by his lack of "shrine," then— ]

When we're on the ship itself again, perhaps you can set up your own shrine? That ship certainly has the space to house one. Then people will have another way for people to remember you.

[tossmealifeline]

Mm, denizens of the Far Shore have difficulty connecting with those of the Near Shore by design. Most humans don't meet gods, so it's kind of weird if they do. At least, that's probably the reason.

[ Who really knows? It's just that kind of thing that he feels intrinsically. ]

We kind of blend into the background and are easily forgotten. [ Now that he's had a shrine he slumps a little bit. ] I don't think it works that way. Shrines are a representation of how humans feel about you.

[winepouring]

[ He sighs. ]

Your situation isn't easy...

[ For a lesser known god, creating your own temple isn't out of line; shrines are vital to worship, after all. But for Yato, he really isn't making this easier for himself... ]

In that case, how do gods such as yourself usually gain believers? If you're easily forgotten by nature, doesn't that make it hard for minor gods to gain any standing?

[ He already went on about the ways one gains believers, but if that doesn't work for him, well, then he's curious what usually does! ]

[tossmealifeline]

No, but it's always been that way.

[ He's old and he's managed to survive so far so whatever he's doing must work. ]

Most people I do favours for remember me for a little bit, which kind of helps I think. Then they forget, and hopefully I've done more favours. I really only have one follower and she's...just different. [ A little sigh. ] Also I had a lifeline. He's not here.

[winepouring]

[ Ah... Shi Qingxuan rubs the space between his brow. ]

That sounds tenuous...

[ But, not one to just despair (and still not sure if he actually believes Yato is a literal god, he keeps on going—! ]

What's this follower and lifeline of yours like? You said she was a little different?

[tossmealifeline]

I met her because she happened to notice me and she was trying to save my life. Wholly unnecessary, but I've never been saved by a human before. It was incredibly unique. Over the past year, I've gotten to know her pretty well.

[ Know her, but he doesn't always understand her and she's probably upset with him at the moment, like everyone else. Things had been a mess when he hopped out of them. ]

With any luck I can also use her as a lifeline so that if I die, I'll reincarnate. The one who actually is, supposedly, is my father. [ And the less said about him, the better. ]

[winepouring]

[ That brings a smile to his face. ]

She sounds like a good friend. If she was willing to save you once, then surely she'd be willing to be your lifeline, too.

[ He'd ask if being away from her might prevent that lifeline bond from working properly, but considering he hasn't had a decrease in power despite being away from his followers, he's choosing to believe that it would, in fact, work.

Instead, he tilts his head to the side, asking curiously: ]

"Supposedly" your father? Have you not met him before?

[tossmealifeline]

[ He snorts at the question. ]

Oh, we've met. I wish we didn't. It's complicated with him. It's because of his wish that I exist at all.

[ A fact he has had to hear about for over a thousand years. ]

[winepouring]

[ Oh, sounds intense. He has Shi Qingxuan's curiosity again. ]

What kind of person is he that you wish you had never met? Is he the overly demanding type that's hard to please?

[tossmealifeline]

The kind of person who wouldn't hesitate to strike down anyone. God, shinki, human. He doesn't care. He wishes to have complete control over me, except he doesn't. He's just delusional.

[winepouring]

[ Shi Qingxuan folds his arms into his sleeves, shaking his head. ]

He sounds like the last person you'd want your life attached to... Someone like that is hard to reason with.

[ What a sad relationship... ]

Are things better now that you have your friend there as a possible lifeline?