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

[kagenonadeshiko]

[A walk to clear her head sounds like a good idea. She's dead. Ayumu knows that much. The how or why isn't important. There are more immediate concerns such as where she is now and where to go from here.

Ayumu nods slowly, looking vulnerable and lost. Maybe even a little scared. It makes her look younger somehow. She knows nothing - not about herself, this place, most of what she's seeing and somehow that bothers her . It makes her feel far more naked and exposed than her state of near undress did. She crosses her arms over her chest, hugging her arms a little for a moment looking like she might actually feel cold despite the summer warmth.]

'Kay. We can go for a walk.

[Her voice comes out small and almost young sounding and there's a faraway look in her good eye.]

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji gives her an encouraging nod, and then glances down a moment at the stuff in his arms, frowning slightly.]

Hold on a moment, okay?

[He hurries back quickly to the snacks table, setting down most of the things in his arms. But he comes back still holding a bottle of cold green tea and a small bag of mixed sweet and savory snacks. Twisting the cap off the bottle he takes a sip and then offers it to her.]

Do you want some? I thought it might be nice to have something to drink while we walk... and the rest will be here for later.

[He's trying to be calming, soothing, show her she's not trapped in this place or being denied anything she needs. Trying as hard as he can not to show how unsettled he feels to see her like this. Trying over and over not to ask himself what happened to her.]

Anyway, we can go practically anywhere in the Heavens from here, so taking a look around the place could be really useful for you later. You know, get the lay of the land, that sort of thing?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Ayumu takes the bottle sipping it gingerly. She glances at him briefly. Now that she's calming down she does notice he seems a little ill at ease somehow. But the idea that he might know who she is doesn't really occur to her. If Ayumu doesn't know herself or what this place is, why would anyone else? Prying without reason feels wrong to her somehow.]

I don't know what else is here. I didn't notice much on the way to Bishamon-sama's home.

[She'd been far too disoriented and confused to question much and simply let herself be led here. It wasn't as if she'd had any other place to go.]

Please show me around if it's not too much trouble.

[spes_phthisica]

[It's just as well that she doesn't, mostly for Souji's sake. He's never been much of a liar, mostly defaulting to pretending he hasn't heard or doesn't understand when confronted with anything he doesn't want to reveal. And he honestly doesn't know what to say about it right now. You were here before, as a Goddess, and you were my friend? The thought doesn't seem quite as repulsive and wrong as talking about their past lives, but still like dangerous ground.

He's going to need to ask Hijikata about what to do.

For now, he just nods understandingly.]

Honestly, it is better that they take you here for introduction, it was pretty abrupt when I first arrived. But on your first day, I think everyone can understand why you're disoriented. And I'd of course be happy to be your guide.

[Without really thinking about it, he reaches out his hand for her free one, impulsively tactile as ever, but he does hesitate with it mid-reach as he realizes that the gesture might be overly familiar. He smiles a bit awkwardly, looking like he's not sure what to do with his hand now.]

Ah, I'm sorry. That's a pretty weird thing to do if you've just met, huh?

[kagenonadeshiko]

[The gesture surprises Ayumu somehow but she's not sure why. For a moment, she looks at his hand a little warily. Her first impulse is to smack it away and withdraw but Ayumu stops herself. She's being irrational again. This man has been nothing but kind to her so far and now that she's calmed down enough to notice and think through his behavior, he's put a lot of effort into putting her at ease.

But she finally concedes, reaching over to take his hand. Ayumu doesn't mind it, not really. And there's something comforting, anchoring about having a warm hand to hold. For some reason, it feels like it's been a long time since anyone's thought to take her hand. Or like she just isn't used to it somehow. It's nice though.]

It's okay. I don't mind.

[spes_phthisica]

[It feels like a small but somehow significant victory. He's managed, then, to put her a bit more at her ease - or at least not presented any significant threat to her. His smile brightens, and he gives her hand a very gentle squeeze.]

I'm glad. Come, it's- ah!

[He starts walking, but a sudden realization brings whatever he was about to say up short. She doesn't know who he is, right? Which means he shouldn't know who she is either, at least for now. So even as he keeps walking at a leisurely pace down the sloping hill that the temple stands on, he turns and grins a bit sheepishly at her.]

I haven't even introduced myself, have I? I'm Okita Souji, and I'm Hachiman-sama's shinki.

[kagenonadeshiko]

[Reflexively, without really thinking about it, Ayumu squeezes his hand back in return. Her lips twitch up a little at the corners in an almost-smile when he grins at her. It's bright like the sun and strangely infectious somehow.]

Yamazaki Ayumu. I don't know yet who I serve.

[Now that her mind's starting to clear and her emotions are starting to recede and stabilize once more, Ayumu's starting to feel a little curious about who that might be.]

[spes_phthisica]

[He can't help but think that in a sense, this is the third introduction now. The first, with her perched above him while cleaning, Yamato's callused hand clutching his own tight, a faint bustling being heard from other rooms. And then again, after she'd been killed and she came back without memories... but it hadn't been like this. She'd still been a goddess. She hadn't been as vulnerable as this.

Then again, a sudden insight whispers, maybe as a goddess she was just a lot better at not showing her weaknesses. Maybe with at least some of her memories, she'd had more reason to.

Either way, he has to change how he talks to her a bit, but he can still show her the kindness she'd always shown him.]

I'm sure they'll find you soon, Ayu-nee. [And he'll keep at least part of the way he'd addressed her before.] And regardless of who it is, you'll always be welcome to our temple too, okay?

[kagenonadeshiko]

Ayu-nee?

[Something about that name makes Ayumu start, her grip on his hand loosen just a little. That name... What is it about that name... but before she can think about it too deeply, she's overcome with a sudden feeling of revulsion. No. No. She can't.

Without thinking, Ayumu slowly pulls her hand back out of Souji's grasp, looking almost pained, conflicted. She looks away, studying a rock laying on the side of the path.]

Please don't call me that. Just Ayumu is fine.

[spes_phthisica]

[The naked change in expression is new - Ayumu has never before been so painfully open with what she feels he's pretty sure. But without memories, wouldn't everyone be different in some ways?

Memories... It's not hard to imagine what she'd reacted to. It's happened to him a couple of times, little niggling hints followed only to find a sudden abyss opening up in front of his feet, a huge and terrifying NO resounding through his thoughts.

It makes him wonder if Ayumu as a god liked him calling her that because someone else had done the same before. But he can't ask now. Instead he sighs, lowering his head in apology.]

I'm sorry. I'll- I'll call you Ayumu like you said. It's not good to think about things that- that feel wrong in this place. [It's the best, if most halting warning he can give her, because he doesn't quite know how shape words around it.]

[kagenonadeshiko]

[She appreciates it, even if it bothers her a bit to have to say such a thing to someone who's been this kind to her. Her face falls a bit; she hadn't meant to push him away like that. It's just like he said - there was an overwhelming sense of wrong about that name. Being so cold doesn't feel right either so Ayumu tries to think of a good compromise, one that won't trigger such a violent internal response. Finally, she gives his hand a light, almost apologetic squeeze.]

Or you could just call me Ayu. Just Ayu. I think that'll be fine.

[At least, simply dropping the suffice feels okay enough to her.]