thenearshore | 013 | Down To Business

Entry tags:

013 | Down To Business

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~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well then. Maria's certainly no stranger to that style of dodging herself, but the question in this case is of how smoothly Hibiki can transition from the landing back into the fight. Turning sharply on one foot, Maria shifts her stance back in the direction of where Hibiki is about to land, thrusting her sword towards either her stomach or back depending on which way she lands facing.

It's a controlled hit, one she's prepared to stop at the very point of actual contact if necessary, but the look on her face is still one of pure, battle-honed focus.]

[ Hibiki lands with her back facing Maria and twirls into a parry, hoping to slide her "blade" down the length of Maria's to maybe score a touch that way. Maria has done this for real. She's beginning to get that idea. She's requiring Hibiki's very best in a way hardly anyone has before.

But Hibiki's sword, frankly,

is still bigger. ]

[Maria seems to recognise the aim of the movement, and remains in motion, shifting her stance and twisting her blade to let the parry skim off it where it's no longer in danger of touching her. By this point, she's rather close to Hibiki, and rather than keep herself in a position vulnerable to a potential recovery strike when she hadn't deflected the sword particularly powerfully, she flips sideways, bounces off the recoil, and charges towards Hibiki's side, sword held in a position that allows for a quick shift to offensive or defensive depending on which she needs.

Hibiki is good, Maria will give her that, but she has a suspicion that she hasn't been in true combat before. Flipping over her, for example, could have ended much worse if this hadn't been a fight with rules.]

Wha--

[ Where did that come from?! Hibiki is put on the defensive, barely bringing up her sword in time to keep Maria from scoring a touch. She tries to hold Maria there, blades pressed together, to give herself time to concoct a plan to deal with this opoonent.

And to have a Dramatic Mid-Battle Conversation. Seems about that time. ] I see your resumé extends beyond the stage.

[This is where Maria's shorter sword gives her somewhat of an advantage - their blades might be pressed together, but if she chooses to make a move, she needs less space to do it. Including freeing herself from the stalemate.

Though Maria is still clearly focused on the battle, she does give a very faint laugh in answer to Hibiki's observation.]

Quite far, I'm afraid. It doesn't need to be a secret so much here, but old habits die hard.

[Right before she actually finishes that sentence, Maria shifts her sword slightly to lock hers against Hibiki's as well as she can. It's immediately followed up by Maria going for a brutal twist downwards and to the side - an attempt to rip Hibiki's blade out of her hands.]

[ How unusual. Hibiki tries to smirk. ] A Valky--

[ oh shoot what was that -

Hibiki's sword is successfully yanked from her grip and goes spiraling away (even if the momentum from the rip wouldn't have made it spiral; Hibiki has that effect on things). She gasps. Action lines fill the frame. The camera shifts to a dramatic angle as the sword sticks in the ground.

All of this is how it looks in her mind, of course. Perhaps even in pastel still shots. ]

Edited 2017-02-26 02:52 (UTC)

[Maria almost smiles at Hibiki's unfinished word, because it does feel somewhat appropriate in the situation. Unfortunately, though, she's not quite as distracted by the dramatized matter of the disarmed sword as Hibiki is, and she'll be taking the first opportunity she has to bring her own sword up and, if Hibiki elects not to move, tap her on the chest with it.]

You have good groundwork, but I have to ask whether you've been in a fight without those rules or structure before.

[From her tone, it's somewhat clear she's already reached certain assumptions here, she'd just like some confirmation.]

[ Yeah, there's no point in continuing to fight once the outcome no longer seems in doubt. Hibiki closes her eyes when she's tapped on the chest, nose going into the air. She doesn't mind being bested fair and square, but...

Feeling inexperienced is something else. So she snorts, proving her ego is still plenty intact. ] Would a star ever go off-script?

Edited 2017-02-26 19:33 (UTC)

[That's the confirmation Maria was expecting, but the attitude that comes with it is...honestly, a little disappointing. Maria drops her arm, letting the sword fall to her side with it, and lets out a soft sigh.]

We're already off-script. Being in this place makes that certain, and we're lucky to be having a quiet period this long. You have skill with the sword, but the nature of combat is unscripted and unpredictable, and if you rely on there always being a "script" to commit to, you sacrifice your ability to defend yourself, your shinki, your followers and your friends.

[Her tone is firm and serious - she may get on with Hibiki, even worry for her, but she has no time for dangerous egotism.]

You make it sound like we've been drafted.

[ Also, she's not in the business of being a war god. Or of making "friends". She's less averse than she used to be, but...

Given the choice between fighting an ayakashi and calling someone here a "friend", Hibiki would

probably pick the ayakashi. ]

Not drafted, exactly, but we've been brought somewhere with a presence of monsters that we alone have the capabilities to fight. There's an expectation that we do it to defend the humans who can't, and I know I've never been able to live with that kind of power and not wield it to defend life.

[There's something about the way Maria says those words that's utterly, completely familiar with this being her situation, and her conviction rings loud and clear. As things are here now, Maria wouldn't consider them brought to "war", but they've certainly been brought to combat, and ignorance of that fact is dangerous to everyone involved.]

[ "We alone". Drat.

Hibiki is weak to "we alone".

Rather than show any trepidation at this monster-fighting business, however, she snorts confidently. ] Sounds like preventing their formation would be more effective.

[ Her head tips back, tossing her bangs out of her face. ] Leave that to me.

[ This is the face of a god with a capital-P Plan. ]

[There's a moment where Maria doesn't seem sure how to react to that, because while Hibiki isn't lacking confidence in any manner, this isn't the first time Maria has suspected she's lacking common sense. And for her to decide she has a plan so soon after hearing that is in no way reassuring.

On the other hand, she's not sure she wants to completely crush the notion, because in theory, she's not wrong that preventing their formation would work better. After a moment of looking Hibiki over seriously, Maria's expression inches somewhere between serious and curious.]

If it was really that simple, then somebody would have discovered a way to do it by now. But if you have an idea, then I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

It should prove very satisfying.

[ For you. Specifically. As she meets your eyes and smirks in a cryptic manner.

The most trustworthy. ]

[Given Hibiki's general openness level, Maria wasn't expecting much better than that in terms of an answer, and she gives a quick but challenging smile as if to affirm the idea. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it might do something to ground Hibiki without the risk of collateral damage or something worse happening because of it.

In any case, Maria turns her own sword in her hand with brief, thoughtful hum.]

I might switch weapons again. I've been trying not to use just the same one for too long today.

...how many can you use?

[ Surprising Hibiki makes her talk like a normal person.

It's kind of weird, honestly. ]

[The fact that Maria has to think about that for a moment might imply that the follow-up isn't going to be the shortest of lists, though thankfully it's nowhere near exhaustive either.]

Swords and daggers, obviously, bladed whips, and most polearm-style weapons like spears or lances since those share techniques in many cases. [And given its size and design, the "spear" she used previously was more of a mix of polearm styles.] Against normal humans, though, I only use hand-to-hand.

[ That last bit gets a smirk. You used a knife against her. Heh.

It sticks around in general, though. ] Quite the resume.

[ Hibiki heads back to the equipment area to return her sword. If she thought there'd be any merit to keeping it, she would ~~even after training day was over~~, but that's enough effort for now, thanks. ] I look forward to seeing your talents fully unsheathed.

[Well, this is Heaven and everyone is gods and shinki as opposed to normal humans...

Maria can't exactly argue with that brief summation of her "resume", and she smiles somewhat enigmatically as she turns her sword in her hand. However, she does decide ultimately that she'd be better served taking up something else after that little bout, and Maria heads towards the equipment area as well. However, when she returns her sword, she immediately starts looking for a different weapon.]

I wouldn't say that so easily. Think of the situations talents like that have to be demonstrated in.

[ What, danger? Won't they just clean it up and then there'll be no problem? Hibiki don't see the issue, here.

But rather than debate the point, she just makes a musing sound in the back of her throat and watches Maria look over the weapons. She's curious which the other woman will pick next.

As for her, though, she doesn't select anything. Shikyoin Hibiki may be a performer, yes, but she is also a consummate observer. She never misses a show.

Should Maria pick something: ] Why that one?

[ If not, she'll remain silent. ]

[The weapon Maria ends up picking appears to be of the bladed whip variety - the sections are much bulkier than Maria's used to, rather than the smooth separation of Airgetlam, but it's similar enough for her purposes. The blades of it appear to be dulled for the purposes of the practice, but it could probably still do somebody some damage just by hitting them in the head.

The question from Hibiki gets a curious glance, as if Maria hasn't really been questioned on that kind of thing before, but nonetheless, the answer comes quickly and with a slight smile.]

It goes with the sword, you might say. I'm used to moving to this one after I use a full blade.

A combination...

[ Hibiki studies Maria. She is clearly imagining Something. She is generating for herself a vision of your homeworld, and your history, that makes sense to her.

It looks an awful lot like that movie offer she turned down because it'd involve getting dust all over herself. Mad Pax: Pury Road. ]

In a manner of speaking. [That manner of speaking being that it's probably much more of a combination than Hibiki might be imagining, since most swords don't turn into bladed whips.

Checking over the whip to ensure there's no damage to the body of it that might make it dangerous to practice with, Maria glances over at Hibiki in answer to the at-length study.]

Is there something wrong?

[ Hibiki blinks away a searing-white vision of Maria standing backlit atop a golden dune, urging on the troops of Revolution. ]

Simply appreciating your talents.

[ Read: she's so done with all this practice nonsense for today. Hibiki takes a step backwards. ] May your preparations prove unnecessary.

[It's an...interesting sentiment, but one Maria appreciates well enough, and she smiles slightly as she finishes her inspection of the whip and heads over to one of the targets. Even if Hibiki wants to watch, Maria ensures she's a little way clear so she stands no risk of getting hit.]

Well, most preparations are those you hope prove unnecessary until the time they aren't. Then you're just grateful you made them.

[With that, she stirs up the whip with one hand and lashes it toward the target, the blades carving across it with deadly accuracy.]

013 | Down To Business

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you're a mean one, miss shikyoin

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okay, THIS one i made up

are u sure

unless it's somewhere on the bits of her ic wiki i have yet to translate

you never know

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