May Training

[godsoffortune]

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

Bishamon herself, as well as Amaterasu's ever-present shinki and any volunteering gods, will be the foremost source of information regarding being a god and what is expected of them, such as prayers. It is encouraged that gods group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.
Newly arrived gods are still expected to communicate to their shinki the information* they themselves get oriented with when they arrive.

Shinki Training

Various volunteers are stationed around the building, passing out helpful informational pamphlets. There are many shinki, including Bishamon's and Amaterasu's, who will be more than happy to train in using the borderline and some of the basics of what is expected of a shinki. It is encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.
Bishamon's lead shinki Kazuma offers a lecture to new arrivals that will thoroughly cover some essential points about teamwork with both shinki and other gods.

Physical Training

The dojo is stocked with a wide variety of practice weapons, traditional and modern. There are volunteers here as well, willing to assist in basic training. (Or even more advanced sparring, depending on the volunteer.) Essential for gods who, for example, find themselves with a sword shinki but are at risk of cutting off their own toes.
Also useful for veteran new gods wishing to train with their current partner shinki.

Rest and Refreshments

There is a garden off the dojo that is free to be used for rest and conversation.
Should anyone wander outside the designated area, some shinki of Bishamon's will attach themselves to them and not leave them be until they return to the dojo.

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 just taking a quick break to cool down. Even hand towels are provided by Bishamon's helpful shinki. The Heavens wants everyone to stay in good condition!

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~

Comments

[thethunderbeast]

Hm?

[Wasn’t expecting what? He doesn’t move from his comfortable spot when she removes the towel from his face, but he does size her up with narrowed eyes when he can finally look at her. He first notices the vibrant red hair and the dark circles beneath her eyes, like she’d been crying. He looks away from her then, and up at the speckles of sunlight poking through the branches.]

You’re tiny for a god. [How tactful. Might as well get right to it.] Do you have a name?

[darkestbefore]

Am I? [ She manages to smile brightly at him, keeping her tone light as she lays the towel aside and peers at him, words carefully chosen as she ventures into this completely unfamiliar territory. ] What did you expect in a god, exactly?

I do. My name is Yona. Although I'm here as the goddess Áine, I tend to prefer the name I came here with.

[ Which prompts a moment of hesitant surprise in her because... Hak never calls her Yona. He alone has maintained her title of Princess. Out of everyone, she had wanted him to remember who she had been...

She blinks quickly, smiling all the brighter to try and hide the complicated emotions she was struggling with. ]

I'm very happy to have you as my shinki. Even if I'm not what you expected, I hope we'll be able to work well together.

[thethunderbeast]

Someone without giant circles under their eyes, for one.

[To be fair, he isn’t sure what he expected from his god, or any god, at all. He pushes himself up into a sitting position, and he reaches a hand up to rub at his throbbing temple.]

Yona... [Hak repeats her name under his breath softly, committing it to memory as he peers through his fingers at her.] Alright, Yona. What is it you expect of me as your shinki?

[darkestbefore]

[ A flicker of surprise flashes across her face as she lifts fingertips to her cheek, as if she'd find the evidence of his words there. Then she looks slightly embarrassed. ]

Oops? I thought I'd hidden that better. [ Which is... really not denying it either. ]

As for that... I'm still a rather new god myself here, but Áine is a goddess of sun and summer, among some other notable things. Much of what I do is seeing to answering the prayers directed to her. Although the world I came from before this was very different from this one, so I am also working to learn more about this one as I do so.

[ Which... he may have a problem with as well, now that she comes to think of it. Lost memories aside, how did that work for shinki? Perhaps she should find a way to ask Yoon? ]

I'm not going to direct your every move. My biggest desire is that you can find a way to be happy here. But I'd also like to ask you to lend me your strength - not because you feel you have to, either. The way the Heavens have this arrangement set up still doesn't sit easy with me, but I have no interest in trying to force anything. Not with you, not with anyone.

[thethunderbeast]

[Look, he really doesn't care if there are giant bags or dark shadows under her eyes, and he just watches her in silence for a while as she touches her cheek. All he cares about is getting an explanation of what it'll mean to be a shinki - her shinki.

There's no denying the certain pull he feels towards her, and has since she appeared over him. It's a nuisance that he doesn't dwell upon for long, and yet he finds himself continuing to stare, unable to turn his gaze elsewhere.

When they talked about a connection, is this what they meant?

... After combing his fingers through his hair, he'll just take that towel back and drop it over his face again before resting the back of his head against the tree.]

Stop looking so sad.

[darkestbefore]

[ She stares at him in surprise for a moment when he promptly drags the towel back over his face and orders that of her and Yona can only blink as she absorbs it. It's such a Hak thing to say that she can only start to laugh, bright and warm. And if there are tears mixed in with the laughter, well she can blame that on her mirth, right? ]

I'll do my best. Do we have an agreement then, Hak?

[thethunderbeast]

[Her laugh grabs his full attention again, and when the towel slides from his face, it reveals an intense look in his eyes. What a strange girl. He isn’t sure what to make of her yet, but he can at least agree with some of her sentiments, and appreciate that she won’t force anything of him – those ideals sit well with Hak.

So, when he leans forward to close the distance between them, there’s a hint of a teasing smile curling one side of his lips.]

What if I said no?

[darkestbefore]

[ Surprise once more flickers across his face because while she'd said those things, she hadn't for a moment thought he might actually tell her no. He was Hak. he was supposed to be beside her, no matter what.

But she takes his question with utmost seriousness, completely missing the teasing smile as she gives the matter thought, lips pursed in pensiveness. ]

Well... You're allowed to say no. I guess I would help you find someone you liked working with better, then.

[ Even if she wondered if she had it in her to do that. but she'd given her word. If that's what Hak wanted... ]

1/2

[thethunderbeast]

[ .... Why did that sting his ego?]

[thethunderbeast]

[He slinks away again, his smile fading.]

I don't want anyone else. [A beat.] You're my god. I'm here to serve you. That's what the Heavens want, right?

[darkestbefore]

[ She has no idea. She probably should. But she doesn't.

Instead, she just leans into the space he'd just slunk out of, peering up into his face. ]

What do you want?

[ She tries not to focus on how having him say he didn't want anyone else made her heart race and her stomach flutter nervously. ]

[thethunderbeast]

[He looks her dead in the eyes.]

You. [A short pause...] To use me as you see fit.

[It feels strange, saying it out loud, but there's also something about it that feels comfortable. Right. It's hard to put something like that into words, especially when you don't know why it's even there in the first place, or don't even come to question it at all. He's only just met her and yet, he has this innate desire to protect her and remain loyal to her until the end... whatever "the end" is.

Is this the power that the gods had over their shinki? Or is this just him?]

[darkestbefore]

[ Color sweeps over her cheeks at his bold declaration but she doesn't tear her gaze away from his, meeting his look evenly and unflinching.

There's something reminiscent in those words, a statement he'd given her on a dark night as they'd fled her father's palace. To use him as a tool, and live. Despite his words, she could never see him like that - wouldn't - but the irony of this exchange is not lost on her

It prompts a hint of a smile to tug at the corner of her lips as she searches his face. Well, there was only one answer to that, wasn't there? The same request (demand?) she had given him outside Fuuga. ]

Then give yourself to me, Hak. I want you.

[ It's perhaps not said with the same note of desperation as the first demand, but she's just as determined about it ]

asdafafadg

[thethunderbeast]

[Don’t say things like that.

He doesn’t break his gaze away either, and there’s a long, lingering moment where he stares back at her without a word after her strong affirmation. At least she’s got fire. He breaks the silence at last with a casual sigh, and he rests both of his hands behind his head, quickly killing the intensity of the exchange.]

So what now?

[He’s read the brochure and listened to the lectures, and remembers hearing something about vessel forms...]

you're welcome

[darkestbefore]

[ She gives a soft laugh when he leans back once more, something shifting to where it feels like it almost should be between them.

At his question, she inclines her head. ] I believe now I give you a vessel name to make everything official. If you're ready?

[thethunderbeast]

[He casts her a look through the side of his eye, and his lips curl up into a smirk again. He doesn’t make a move though, waiting for her to do it first... whatever it’ll be.]

Are you?

[darkestbefore]

[ She's not sure.

But she doesn't let that show, just nodding her head to show she is. She'll make sure she is, for him. ]

Yes. Very well then, [ Yona takes a deep breath, settling her own nerves as she recalls the words she'd learned upon first arriving, even if she'd never anticipated using them like this.

She even knew just the right name that would be perfect for him. ]

Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. Hak answers, Rai to sound. Come, Raiki.

[thethunderbeast]

[Raiki... Good name. His smile hitches wider, and before he has time to say it or anything out loud, Hak feels his entire body stiffen as the kanji etches itself onto the left side of his chest like a tattoo, and he opens his robe enough to reveal it before he takes on his vessel form, disappearing into a bright flash of light.

Into Yona's hands falls a bow - it's a simple one, nothing too intricate, carved of fine yew. The string is as taut as it should be, and attached to the top of the bow are three blue feathers that rustle in the wind.]

Not bad... for a god.

[When he opens his eyes at last, he finds himself in a giant, seemingly infinite white space. He feels energized, more awake and alert than before, like electricity is coursing through him. It's kind of exhilarating.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She catches the bow as it falls into her hands, fingers clutching automatically to steady it before holding it up, testing the weight and the balance of it. It resembles the bow she'd had at home, the one he'd given her, but already she can tell this one is much lighter and finer.

She smiles as she reaches out to brush her fingertips against the feather adornment, recognizing them easily, even if it's been years since Hak wore them. ]

Oh, this will be perfect. Thank you, Hak.

[ The use of his name is the word that break the transformation, reversing the spell that summons his shinki form, but with his name given and his form confirmed, she'd rather have him back at her side at the moment instead. ]

[thethunderbeast]

[Well, it's not like he wouldn't have minded staying there a little longer, but when he returns to normal, he rolls his head side to side to stretch out his neck. His hand wraps around his robe and he moves it aside to get a better look at the kanji on his chest - odd place for it but whatever.

He smiles wide at Yona.]

Looks pretty cool.

[darkestbefore]

[ She laughs, leaning in to peer at the kanji engraved in his flesh now, cheeks flushed slightly. ]

It does. I think it fits you perfectly. [ Which has her straightening again to glance up at him, meeting his gaze with a smile. ]

There's one more matter I have to see to before we can leave, another shinki that will potentially be joining us, but then, if you're ready, I can escort you back to my temple, where you'll be staying,

[thethunderbeast]

[He falls silent again, lowering his head in a slow, curt nod. The sparkle in his eyes darkens into something more serious... protective.]

Do you need me to come with you?

[darkestbefore]

[ There's a flicker of surprise before she breaks into a smile once more, this one more genuine than the others. She reaches out, laying a hand on his arm as she shakes her head. ]

No. Not just now. I think this is something I need to approach him alone for. But thank you. In the meantime, you can finish your nap or train with some of the other shinki here, if you like. Some of them are quite talented, from what I've seen.

[thethunderbeast]

I've had enough for one day. Come get me when you're done.

[He nudges his arm away from her hand and lowers himself back into his spot on the grass, resting his head comfortably against his arms again beneath the tree. If going at it alone was what she wanted, who was he to stop her?]

Try not to cause too much trouble without me.

[darkestbefore]

[ She smiles brightly at his warning, laughing. ]

I'll try my best, but I'm making no promises. I'll come find you when I'm finished, so we can go home.