013 | Down To Business

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Training
When: Morning June 16
Where: Bishamon's temple
Summary: Training sessions for everyone to learn more about their abilities and jobs!



Many people have been wanting to know more about their abilities and what they are required to do here in the Far Shore. So, in conjunction with Bishamonten, the Heavens have seen fit to offer an open training session for everyone to participate in. Here you will be able to learn anything and everything about what you should be able to do and what is expected of you in your new positions.

Bishamon's temple is sweeping and gorgeous, having previously been home to hundreds of shinki. She has graciously offered to hold this training session and will be available to help anyone who needs it.



Equipment

Various kinds of mannequins and dummies have been provided for practice, as well as targets that are either stationary or move, depending on your will. Punching bags, jumping blocks, and a large pool area have also been provided for your use, so that you can find a tool for pretty much anything that you might need to practice. Plenty of practice weapons of various weights, sizes, and shapes are also available upon request from any of the many white-clad shinki that are also attending today.

God Training

Bishamon herself will be the foremost source of information regarding being a god and what is expected of you. It is also encouraged that gods group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies. Random groupings can be provided by the mods or you may come up with your own groupings together.

Shinki Training

Various shinki are available to help with shinki training, including Kazuma and all of Bishamon's shinki. Additionally, the white-clad shinki will be more than happy to train you on using the borderline and some of the basics of what is expected of a shinki. It is also encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies. Random groupings can be provided by the mods or you may come up with your own groupings together.

Refreshments

There is a refreshments table provided. It is covered with light snacks and various kinds of hydrating drinks. There is a little sitting area set up for people to relax in after they have finished their training or if they're even just taking a quick break to cool down. The Heavens want you to stay in good condition!

In Summary:

• Use the state of the art equipment
• Learn about your job
• Form groups to practice
• Don't get dehydrated
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[reformedsinner]

Interesting! I've never seen anything like that before.

[He smiles briefly.] I'm a shinki myself. I'm afraid that you're not going to be able to do much to an ayakashi if you're not in your shinki vessel form, though. They'll blight you too badly.

[junkyarddog]

That kappa guy said something about the blight too, byon. [Ken scratches a cheek with one finger.] How's it work, anyway? Are ayakashi just poisonous or something?

[Why Ken associates Chikusa with a kappa, probably not even Ken himself could articulate.]

[reformedsinner]

[Kappa guy-- It's not Chikusa who Hakkai thinks of first at that comment. It's someone who's not here. Someone who he remembers, now.

Someone who he had thought wasn't here, but the sudden intensity of his gaze suggests that he might be, for just a moment, hoping otherwise.]

They are corrupted souls. It's contagious.

What does the "kappa guy" look like?

[junkyarddog]

[Ken either doesn't note the sharpening of Hakkai's gaze - a solid possibility, he's not the quickest on the uptake - or he isn't perturbed by it. He simply jams his hands in his pockets and scoffs, head thrown back and tone dismissive.]

He's too tall and he wears a dumb hat and glasses and he's boring, byon. He just keeps telling me stuff I can't do! [A pause.] Or stuff I have to do. Either way it sucks.

[reformedsinner]

[A dumb hat and glasses, and boring? Well. All right. The temporary spark of hope gutters, and Hakkai nods, his gaze sliding away to focus on a few other shinki practicing borderlines together at the other side of the courtyard.]

It sounds to me as though he's trying to help you! There's quite a lot to remember about this place, after all.

You don't happen to recall his name, do you?

[junkyarddog]

He said his name's Chikusa. [Ken huffs a little, like calling him by name is aggravating. But then Ken's easily aggravated.] We serve the same god, byon.

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai is startled into a single ha! of laughter. He folds his hands, raising his eyebrows thoughtfully as he glances back at Ken.]

I wouldn't have called him a 'kappa'! Although I suppose he does have rather long limbs.

[The better to drown you with.]

... You're Axel's shinki, then, too?

[junkyarddog]

He's dumb and tall and he smells like water, byon. He's a shitty water sprite. [Ken huffs. Chikusa doesn't smell like water, Ken, he smells like someone who bathes. At least you're too freshly dead to stink yourself. Yet.] He's probably hiding his head under that stupid hat. It's not even winter!

[Okay, a very tiny amount of thought has gone into this argument. Which is more than the 'none at all' that might have been previously, and understandably, assumed.

He relaxes a touch when Hakkai recognizes who he's talking about. If Hakkai already knows about Axel, then Ken doesn't have to only mention Hestia, right?] Yeah. You know Axel-sama, byon? Chikusa said to call him Hestia 'cause people might not like him.

[reformedsinner]

Yes, we've met a few times. It's always safer not to use your god's name with strangers, though!

[Not that he thinks Axel's any more likely to have enemies than any other god around here, but as one of the few who's died and returned, he might be a target. Hakkai nods thoughtfully.

(As for the shitty kappa accusation... well. Hakkai's going to leave that one well alone. It's surprisingly sensitive.)]

[junkyarddog]

It is? [Ken all but pricks up his ears. His reactions to things tend to be so obvious. He's an open book.] I thought Axel-sama pissed people off and that's why it wasn't safe, byon. Does that mean a lot of gods have pissed people off?

[reformedsinner]

It's certainly possible he has! But also, it's possible gods may be blamed for the actions of their shinki, or shinki for the actions of their gods. It's best to avoid being too open.

[His smile turns, for an instant, very cold.]

[junkyarddog]

[If Hakkai thought that Ken might be oblivious enough to miss that shift in demeanor, he's mistaken. Ken misses a lot of things, but menace is something he's attuned to. His whole body tenses, teeth baring instinctively as he gathers himself as though he anticipates either having to fight or flee. His hand darts into the pocket that contains his cartridges, gripping one in preparation for potentially having to snap it in.] What? You wanna fight, byon?!

[He doesn't understand why Hakkai would suddenly turn hostile, but clearly Hakkai's smile was icy enough to completely raise his hackles. And, just as clearly, he's ready to fight regardless of whether or not he knows why he should have to.

The fact that Axel might wind up blamed for things Ken does is an uncomfortable thought that, for now, is taking a back seat.]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai blinks, straightening up, the anger on his face melting away into a moment of genuine confusion before he realizes and raises his hands in an open-palmed, calming gesture.]

Ah -- no, I'm sorry -- it's just that I think it's a little unfair!

[And perhaps it's not even true... but Hakkai was never punished for what he and Elsa had done to try to free Goku, and Elsa disappeared only a day later.

He lets his hands fall back to his side, and adopts an innocuous demeanor.]

It's not your fault.

[junkyarddog]

[Ken relaxes again, slowly, but there's a wary air about him now; he appears to be watching Hakkai as though expecting whatever threat he'd sensed before to be lurking just out of sight.]

...I guess it makes sense when it's shinki getting blamed for stuff their gods do, doesn't it? We're supposed to be helping our gods with stuff anyway, right? [He frowns.] But Axel-sama shouldn't be blamed for stuff I do, byon... [That's a serious concern for him. He knows some of the stuff he does is dangerous or stupid or makes people mad. If that comes back to hurt Axel...]

[reformedsinner]

[He's not wrong, and Hakkai's not taking offense at the wariness. He shrugs slightly.]

We're expected to guide our gods, but it seems the god is the representative of the household. If they don't cast us out, they can be held responsible.

So we just have to be careful!

[And not get caught.]

Congratulations on giving Ken nightmares

[junkyarddog]

...they can cast us out? [Ken's voice seems somehow smaller, as though he's cringing from the idea in every possible respect. Upon consideration, it only makes sense that gods can do whatever they like with their shinki, but since he'd seemed to be just kind of assigned to Axel, he'd never considered the possibility that the arrangement is only as permanent as Axel chooses to make it.

What would he do if Axel cast him out? Where would he go?]

Sorry, Ken....

[reformedsinner]

Yes. [It's blunt and unsympathetic, but Hakkai doesn't see the point in softening that truth. He considers Ken for a moment, and then offers, more gently:]

Which doesn't mean that they will, of course. It's rare.

[junkyarddog]

What makes gods do that, byon? [Ken's anxiousness barely seems mollified by Hakkai's reassurance, which isn't too surprising. Ken likes to get into fights, he's not very smart, he's smelly and messy, and he knows all of these things. And he's good at fighting with his Channels, but apparently that doesn't even matter much now that he's a shinki. There's a lot of reasons for a god not to keep him, and he's not sure if there any benefits to outweigh those.]

[reformedsinner]

If their shinki asks to be set free, if their shinki hurts or betrays them...

[There are gods who will release shinki for stinging them, of course. Hakkai can only be grateful that he's never been assigned to one of them.]

... Or perhaps if they just can't work together, for some reason.

[junkyarddog]

What if a shinki screws up on accident, byon? [Asking for a friend. Ken is utterly transparent here, and just as clearly uneasy.]

[reformedsinner]

[He's really worrying about this, isn't he? Hakkai clears his throat, taking pity on the boy.]

I don't think any god who is worth serving would turn you away for a mistake.

[junkyarddog]

[That does relax Ken a bit. He doesn't know Axel that well yet, but Ken's instinct to follow him faithfully - both in his innate desire to serve someone and his inclinations as a shinki - have him simply taking it as a read that Axel's a god worth serving. And for what it's worth, what he's seen of Axel does make him think Axel's nice almost to the point of it being weird.]

How long have you been a shinki, anyway? You know a lot of stuff, byon. [The question's a bit out of the blue, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left to discuss with the last topic and Ken's belatedly realizing just how much Hakkai has been informing him of.]

[reformedsinner]

Mm? Oh, not very long. [Hakkai's mouth quirks in a small, lopsided smile, and he glances away.]

It's been about four months now.

[Said aloud, it seems like such a short time. In other ways, it still feels like most of his life. It's certainly all of his life that he remembers clearly and completely.]

[junkyarddog]

I guess that's not really a long time when you're dead, huh? [Ken looks a little thoughtful - a rarity that Hakkai should treasure while it lasts.] Do shinki just serve our gods forever, byon? I mean...we aren't gonna grow old and stuff, right?

[reformedsinner]

Theoretically, yes, we could serve our gods forever.

... Really, though, it's just until one of us disappears. It's been about a month per god for me so far.