thenearshore | May Training

Entry tags:

May Training

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: July 15
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods (although there's none this time) and shinki

The product of many meetings and recommendations, at last it has taken shape. On this day, in anticipation of the new arrivals who appear in a recognized pattern, Heaven has partnered with the new gods and shinki to organize a very helpful informational reception.

The shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided kindly towards Bishamon's temple. And in that vast complex they are brought to a traditional-style dojo.
Here the newly arrived gods are gathered, so finding their partner is more simple. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the aspects of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki, or from the many veteran new god and shinki volunteers.

God Training

prayers

Shinki Training

informational pamphlets

borderline

Physical Training

Rest and Refreshments

In Summary:

Get all the information you can handle
Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
Get in some training
Don't get dehydrated
Spectate if you want
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The odd little device catches her interest immediately. It's definitely looks new, more new than a lot of things she's seen today. Then Hakkai pulls up the picture like magic. This staple remover looks like a very strange device indeed but Ayumu's hesitant to call it useless. Without thinking, she blurts out:]

That is small. But you might be able to dig out someone's eye or badly injure their nose with it.

[Maybe. If one was really determined or needed to.]

Or pierce a tongue! Really, I think it'd be less convenient to gouge an eye with that than with your fingers, though.

[Fingers work perfectly well: he should know.

He chuckles lightly, closes the phone and puts it away.]

Well -- would you like to stay here? Or take a look at our new home?

I haven't seen my temple yet. Let's hope it's not too terrible an eyesore.

We can go now.

[She beams. Ayumu's had plenty of time to mingle with other people while she's been waiting. Going to their new home together sounds like a nice conclusion to an eventful day and a little bit like an adventure of it's own. It's a little exciting somehow.

Then something occurs to her.]

But if you haven't seen it, how will you know it's yours?

I did get directions.

[It's one of the things he'd thought to ask, and he's glad he did; he can't begin to guess what Li's temple will look like. Perhaps it'll be like one of the temples back home? Or perhaps it'll be less temple and more apothecary?

Whatever it looks like, at least he knows where it is. He pauses for one last look around Bishamon's temple garden, and exhales.]

I'd renovated an old, abandoned temple into a small school before I left, as well. I'll have to check on it and make sure nothing's gone wrong since then.

[Hibari's probably been a little upset, for one thing. Hakkai is going to have to look him up and explain the situation.]

A school? Are you a teacher?

[Ayumu has a lot of questions but she doesn't want to seem too overbearing by asking them. This is their first meeting after all and she's a little wary of coming across as a burden to him. She fully intends to make good on her promise to be a good shinki but there's just so much she doesn't know.]

Is it a dojo like the one here? Or a temple school or a private academy?

[The idea of attending school sounds nice, like something she might enjoy and her interest is pretty easy to see as she waits for him to lead the way.]

You could say it's a "temple school"!

[Because they teach classes in an abandoned temple... he chuckles, and clarifies.]

There are some young shinki here, and plenty of people who don't yet read well. We mainly teach math, reading and languages, though a few people have asked to be tutored in other subjects. I teach math and reading myself.

It's not a dojo, though we've held a few martial-arts classes there for teachers who don't have their own venue yet.

I see...

[She has met a couple of shinki who've seemed fairly young so she can see why there'd be demand for a school. Martial-arts classes makes sense, too, given that shinki are supposed to be protectors. Chinatsu, while spirited, didn't look like that much of a fighter to her and there might be other shinki with little combat experience as well.]

Which languages do you teach? What other subjects have people studied?

[It's tempting to just pummel him with questions; interrogation feels like it comes naturally to her and now that she's more certain of her place here, Ayumu's curiosity about her new environment is well and truly piqued.]

I believe it's just English so far, and as for the other subjects -- they're mainly practical. Household money management, for example. Cooking.

We have quite a few young gods and shinki who haven't had to live on their own yet, too, you see.

[It's bad enough that temples are being set on fire on purpose; they don't need any accidental kitchen fires muddying the waters.]

I can make you a copy of the class schedule if you'd like?

Please do. I think I have a lot to learn.

[Maybe attending the school would be a good place to start. And if Hakkai's a teacher there, shouldn't she accompany him? Protecting him is her duty and it sounds as if it might be a good opportunity to meet other people. If she's to properly assist him in his work, forming contacts feels important as well as becoming better informed about all of this.]

Those are good things to teach. I saw a number of young people at Bishamon-sama's.

[Teaching's a nice thought, too. Does she know anything well enough to teach? It seems like such a lofty goal.]

There always are quite a few young people.

[He shakes his head.] Not to question the decisions of the Heavens, of course, but I'd think they'd want more experienced souls as gods....

[This is 100% to question the decisions of the Heavens, which are highly questionable on multiple fronts. He doesn't want to say that too openly at Bishamon's temple in front of all these unfamiliar shinki, though.

They're getting further away from her temple along the tree-lined path, but still. He flashes Ayumu a quick smile.]

When I arrived, learning to use the local technology was one of my priorities. I recommend that as a starting point.

[She smiles back.]

Like that device you used to show pictures?

[It's the best description she can give without knowing its name.]

It's strange to bring a lot of young people here unless it's deliberate.

[A thoughtful pause then a shrug.]

Maybe they're desperate.

[It's just a guess but she keeps her voice low anyway. Ayumu doesn't know enough about the situation here to judge for herself yet.]

Exactly like that. You'll get one too -- it's called a cellular phone.

[She'd said that she was from a time in the past, hadn't she? It won't be the only technological innovation to surprise her, he suspects. He'll definitely have to stick with her on her first trip to the mortal world.

As for the question of all of the children, though...]

Desperate, hoping for easily molded newcomers, or not in control of who arrives at all.

[Each of the options carries with it very different assumptions about Heaven's motives and competence. He has his own opinions, but no real evidence. Not yet.]

It'd be hard to know which it is without evidence. I see why you need more information.

[No wonder Hakkai's interested in reconnaissance. It'd be difficult to figure out how to proceed without knowing which is the case. All three circumstances call for a different approach to a solution.]

What do these cellular phones do? Besides show pictures, that is.

And it could be some other possibility entirely, of course... [He turns his hands palm-up in a tiny shrug, and moves briskly on to her other question.]

They make calls -- that is, you can talk to someone a long way away and clearly hear their replies, as long as you both have a phone with you. They can look up a variety of information and translate it into Japanese. There's a function to help you make schedules and remind you of appointments.

Oh, you can use them to play back music or movies, too.

[He pauses.]

... Do you know what a movie is?

[Ayumu shakes her head.]

Phones sound extremely useful, especially for something so small.

[And they even play music! She wonders what kind of music even exists in this place.]

They're remarkable! I wish I'd had one at home. It would have been quite helpful.

[Just imagine being able to convince both Goku and Gojyo to play phone games in the back seat instead of fighting with each other. Constantly.

He sighs with nostalgia.]

Ah, in any case, a movie is something like a play, except it's a moving image of the play that you can watch at any time.

Oh, that sounds amazing! What kinds of movies are there?

[It all sounds like magic to her somehow, so very strange but it's a little exciting, too. There's a clear sparkle in her good eye as she talks, her smile wide.]

It all sounds so fascinating.

All kinds. I'd been watching through a list of funny movies about space monsters before I left. I'll have to see if I still have it.

[Is his phone different? Does he have his old texts? Well, he can probably ask Davesprite to send the list again if he's lost it. The sprite had seemed thrilled by the chance to make it in the first place.]

What sort of stories do you like?

I don't know!

[Ayumu doesn't sound the least bit bothered by this. Whether she'd been a fan of stories in life, she doesn't know. Nor does she have an inkling of what she might like. It's a little exhiliarating somehow - this feeling of starting over anew. Maybe it's a little odd for her to look at all of this as a bit of an adventure but she does.]

I suppose that's something else I'll have to learn, too. I really don't know what I might like or dislike but those sound fun.

[Maybe. At least, they sound like something to explore.]

Of course. We can try out a variety, then.

[Had he been unsure of even the preferences he had in stories when he first arrived? He can't remember, although, thinking back, he does recall not being able to guess what kinds of food he would enjoy.

And yet, in many ways, the person he'd learned he was turned out to be the same as the person he'd always been. Not every way, of course. But many. He wonders if it's the same for other shinki.

His expression has grown distant, but he pulls himself back with a blink.]

And I'm sure you'll find some new things you enjoy!

I hope so. There's so many new things to discover...

[She giggles a bit, much more relaxed in the presence of her god than she'd been on her own earlier. It's sort of a safe, homey feeling, she thinks. And chatting like this is nice.]

I'd like to try all sorts of things when there's time. When we're not too busy with work, that is.

[Work takes priority, of course. Winning the trust of someone in such a high position will take a lot of time, planning, and dedicated effort. Being vigilant of opportunities to speed up the process will be important, too.]

Rest and relaxation is important in order to keep us in good condition for work!

[That's his story and he's sticking to it... and, besides, it's hard and stressful adjusting to a strange world with no memories to guide you. He knows. She's had a difficult life and a worse death, and he finds himself feeling oddly protective, despite her obvious competence.]

You should try all the things you'd like to.

I'm not sure where to begin!

[Ayumu confesses with another laugh. Was she this ignorant of these kinds of things in life? Maybe she was. Recreation feels like something that might be a little out of her depth but he's right about conserving strength and energy. Being in top condition in situations that call for it is very important.]

But I suppose I'll have some ideas once I'm more familiar with this place.

I'm sure you will. Ah!

[He points up ahead at a dusty brick wall, at least eight feet high and slightly dilapidated. A few treetops are visible over the wall, and, at the other end of it, a wooden balcony and some columns frame what seems to be a front door.]

I think that may be it.

[It doesn't look nearly as ornate as he'd been afraid it was going to. The compound is rather large, but the building itself, as far as he can see from here, is modest.

Perhaps he'll be able to find himself temporarily at home here, after all.]

Oh!

[It does look rather large and in need of some care but it isn't as fancy as Bishamon's temple or some of the other temples they'd passed along the way. The wall gets a nod of approval from her. It's not so high that it can't be scaled or overcome but it looks defensible. Ayumu will have to remember to ask him what he thinks about caltrops later. From the ground, they'd be pretty hard to see...]

It looks nice. Very well built.

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