Thread 1: >>/youkai/22769
Thread 2: >>/youkai/23061
Thread 3: >>/youkai/23345
Thread 4: >>/youkai/23651

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"Well, this is just me," Hina speaks up, "But I think that some prayer wheels and prayer cylinders would make for a very nice shrine. I mean, yes I like the whole spinning thing," she shrugs in embarrassment, "But think about it! They're a perfectly valid addition to any shrine!"

"I'm fine with that," Minoriko comments, "Just put them out front for general meditation and prayer, maybe?"

"And on that note, auspicious architecture in general would be a good idea," Shizuha notes thoughtfully. "Various mystical sciences all specialize in constructing buildings so as to maximize the good fortune within them." She glances over at Hina. "That would work well not just for Hina, but for all of us. However, if Hina's wing was specially made to help in the absorption of misfortune..."

Yamame nods. "Yeah, I know somebody that I could consult with on that. So, great! Prayer wheels and specialized Feng Shui, can do!"

"I'd also like lots of space to display artwork," Shizuha puts in. "You know, spots for sculptures and paintings, scroll racks for original copies of poetry. That sort of thing."

"I can totally do that," Yamame nods, scribbling down notes. "With that said, should we build a full-on art gallery?"

Shizuha bites her lip. "Tempting... but not just yet. We should catch on first, and once the artists start cropping up and donations begin to flow in... maybe then we can build some additions like that. So perhaps leave some space for additional buildings in the future." Yamame nods her understanding, and I can't help but approve of Shizuha's thinking. She's planning for the future and thinking positively, thinking of 'when' the donation come in and not 'if.'

"So what I'm reading here is that there will be some commonalities throughout the shrine, but a specific focus in each of your wings," Yamame notes, looking over what she's written so far. "Hina's wing will be specially made to remove misfortune, while Shizuha would like an emphasis on artwork. What about you, Miss Minoriko?"

Minoriko thinks it over. "Honestly, a lot of what I do is harvest work, so things should reflect that. But beyond that, I'd like the shrine to have a nice, natural feel to it. I mean, Shizuha represents natural, progressive cycles, and I'm a harvest goddess. Heck, even Hina's spinning can represent the natural cycles in life."

"I do spin to get in touch with the natural flow of the world," Hina speaks up.

"Right," Mino nods. "So what I'm saying is that I'd like to see nature incorporated wherever it can be to the shrine. Wherever it would be feasible, or even just plain appealing. I'd really like our shrine to be a place where people can just gather and relax if they want to." The harvest goddess thinks over her words. "Yeah... I want the whole shrine to look comfortable and homey, you know? I mean, sure, the shrines themselves should look impressive... we need to impress worshipers after all," Minoriko laughs a bit in embarrassment, "But not to the degree that we put people off. I mean, one of our selling points is how close we are to people, so we should play that up. Make our shrine a place where people feel encouraged to meet up and just talk."

"Like say... a neutral ground between humans and youkai?" I suggest. "After all, we're practically equidistant between Youkai Mountain and the human village."

"That's a good idea," Yamame muses, "And would actually work in your favor. Heck, just make your shrine a popular place to meet for lunch or maybe do business, and you'll have people showing up and offering a prayer just for that! Good way to get converts, that's for sure. Hell, maybe people want to make a business deal with the kappa, but don't want to do it in the human village. This would make a great compromise."

"I never thought of that!" Hina exclaims. She beams at the harvest goddess, as does Shizuha. "Good thinking, Mino!" Minoriko just giggles, embarrassed but pleased that her suggestion went over so well.

Then Minoriko gets a glint in her eye and looks up. "I also want a full alcohol distillery and cellar, if you please. I think selling our own special brands of booze would really work in our favor." I can't help it. I burst into laughter as soon as Mino says it. The harvest goddess looks at me, affronted. "What?! I thought it was a good idea!"

"It is!" I get out between peals of laughter. "It's just... that's so you!" It takes me a moment to get my breath back. "But yeah, this is Gensokyo. Set up a quiet place where people can drink high-quality liquor with a nice view, and the petitioners will be beating down the door!"

"You might even get some Oni showing up," Yamame giggles. The thought freezes me in place, and makes my blood run cold. Also, I don't like the thoughtful look in the goddesses' eyes.

"Now, I'm going to assume that you want me to make this place fairly rugged, right? As in, incident-proof?" Yamame gives us a significant look as she says this.

"That's a good idea," I put in, shaking off my thoughts of the Oni. "It's also a good idea just in case a certain storm goddess decides we're too much competition and 'accidentally' lets a storm hit the shrine. Wouldn't put it past her." The three goddesses grumble at this, but no one questions it. We're pretty much on the Moriya shrine's doorstep, and Kanako isn't one to let perceived challenges pass without notice.

Yamame nods in agreement. "No worries, everything I build is pretty rugged. But just to bring this up... all of this won't be cheap. I'm going to have to bring in some work crews to get this done in any reasonable timeframe, and some of this stuff is going to be pricey."

"Just charge it to the tengu," I say simply. "Like I said, feel free to go all-out! No expenses spared! I mean, okay, keep it understated, but if you think something would make a nice addition, go ahead and add it! The more money we pour into this baby, the better!" I have a huge, feral grin on my face as I say this, and Yamame is staring at me blankly.

Hina coughs awkwardly. "Feeling a bit bitter, Aya?"

"...Maybe a bit," I allow. "But screw it. I've had issues with the elder for a long, long time. A little kick in the wallet is the least they deserve."

Hina mulls it over, then nods at Yamame. "She makes a good point. Spend away." The Akis snort in amusement.

Yamame grins broadly herself. "Bankrupt the tengu, gotcha. Okay, we have a pretty solid basis here. Anything else?"

"Actually, I have a few ideas for Hina," I put in, "Seeing as how I was originally sent to help her out and all. First of all, how about a series of indentations running into Hina's branch, ones that resemble the footprints of someone spinning as they walk. I want to convey that spinning is awesome, and everyone else should like it, too!" Hina turns bright red as I speak, but I'm not done yet. "Also, you want to tie Hina to natural processes? Then how about this? A spiral of water in her room, visible under glass, that runs from the egdes of the room to the center. That's Hina, sucking in misfortune. I dunno, build it into the floor or something." Hina looks at me in astonishment. She actually looks a bit... touched.

"I can do that, although I might need to get some help from a kappa or two," Yamame notes. "Although I probably want to bring a couple of them in anyway to connect electricity and plumbing."

"Hmm, we were pondering hiring the kappa to start with," Shizuha says pointedly. "What is the advantage of dealing with you over them directly?"

Yamame isn't offended. "Kappa have flashy stuff, but they don't do aesthetics well. I do, and I'm also good at keeping a couple of kappa under control. With me, you don't get all of the fancy stuff that a kappa might install... but you also don't have to be worried about all that fancy stuff either." Yamame winks, and Shizuha nods in acceptance.

"Contact Nitori Kawashiro," I suggest, "She's a follower of Hina's anyway. So, since we're on the subject of plumbing, how about installing a hot tub?"

Everyone stares at me blankly.

"...I don't think a hot tub is going to have the same religious impact as a natural hot spring," Minoriko says hesitantly.

"Religion, nothing," I snort. "You're getting the tengu to pay for this, so get a hot tub for your private use! It'll be sweet to soak in!" Specifically, it'll be sweet for me to soak in foamy water with a trio of hot deities!

"I can probably trick out your bathroom and set up a hot tub," Yamame says with a grin.

"Sounds fun. I say we do it!" Hina says cheerfully. Still looking a bit taken aback, Mino and Shizu slowly nod their acceptance.

YES!

Hina, you are truly, the sweetest of all women! Ahhh, to soak in a hot tub with my beloved misfortune goddess! And the Akis! And we can invite Yamame and Momiji, too! All those sexy women, soaking in foamy water! Now that's heaven, baby!

Oh wait, Yamame just asked if there were any other ideas.

"...So maybe set up decent-sized torii when you're putting things together," Shizuha comments. "Not gigantic, but enough to look impressive, at the very least."

A stroke of genius occurs to me. The Aki sisters' property line is pretty abrupt, to say the least. I mean, it's like a line in the ground with green grass on one side, and fall on the other. "Put the entry torii right on the property line," I speak up, "So it looks like you're stepping directly into autumn as you do so. Make it, like, the gateway into autumn or something." The goddesses look at me in surprise, and I swear that Mino and Shizu's eyes are gleaming.

Yamame gives a low whistle. "Nice! Okay, I can definitely work with all of this." She scribbles in her note book a little more. "Okay, anything else?"

I shrug. "Well, I was thinking that a library or something might be a good idea. Maybe a chemistry lab, to start studying physical change?"

Shizuha shakes her head. "A bit too ambitious starting out. We'll probably need to contract out the printing of any pamphlets, and I can already think of a couple of libraries that already have us beat. As for a chemistry lab, that's more a kappa thing, and If we get into that..." She winces. "That means stepping on the Moriyas' toes. I'd like to avoid that for now."

Ouch. Good point.

Still, we have a pretty solid start, here! Is there anything else we can think of?


[ ] Anything else?