July Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: August 5
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

[reformedsinner]

We'd only met briefly, before her return. Still....

[Slowly, he shakes his head.]

That is difficult.

[Glancing back to her face to check her expression -- she seems calm, but numb calm rather than relaxed -- he continues.]

You'll need a place to stay while you find a new god, if you don't have one in mind.

[genkireaper]

I guess she won't have to be afraid anymore. Not of whomever is here that she was scared of.

[ Botan did her best to not take advantage of her mind reading powers, but when Jennifer is constantly looking around, as if expecting someone to be there... Well, that was a moot point now, wasn't it?

But yes, she can pick up that there was an offer there more than easily enough. Though glancing down for a moment, she gives a grateful smile. ]

That's much appreciated, Hakkai. I do have a couple of gods that I've gotten to become friends with since I've arrived. I'll probably be seeing if they have a spare room until things are sorted.

[reformedsinner]

Was there someone here she feared? [His tone is only mildly curious, but his gaze, for a moment, is sharp with interest. There are a few gods here who he's found reason to distrust, and Jennifer had seemed timid by nature... but he's always interested in possible danger. He's not a shinki anymore, but there's still Gojyo to worry about, whether or not he's speaking to Hakkai. Goku. And Ayumu, for that matter.]

-- In any case. It sounds as though you may be set, but consider the offer open. I lost several gods when I was here as a shinki. I understand how disorienting it can be.

[genkireaper]

Someone that she'd known for a while from her previous time here. Not that she'd ever explain or say anything that would have anyone worry, but it's easy enough to pick up the way she always looked around for 'him', though that's all that was on the surface...

[ Honestly, Botan was trying to keep the mind reading thing at a 'need to know' basis, but it's hard to not divulge information. Botan had already seen Hakkai when he was 'vulnerable,' and it's not like he was a stranger. Not really. Which made it easy to explain without too much of a filter. Botan always was a bit of a blabbermouth. It would always be hard for her to hold back information. ]

I'll keep it in mind. Hopefully this doesn't turn into an unfortunate pattern.

[reformedsinner]

["All that was on the surface" is an odd way to put it, but Hakkai just nods. It's... interesting. He's not sure who Jennifer might have feared, but whoever it is, well: he knows of a few dangerous types himself, and he's a little more dangerous than she was. He isn't excessively concerned.]

I see. I do hope it doesn't; most of us have lost at least one god if we've been here a while, though.

[He isn't thinking too carefully about the sentence. Us still feels, to him, more like shinki than like gods.]

[genkireaper]

[ Really, this person that Jennifer feared could be just as normal as the girl was. Or it could be the very person that people usually warn you against, and she was unlucky enough to have first-hand experience. The goddess was quite unlucky, it seemed/ ]

Maybe after a while, but I wasn't expecting it to happen by the next day of communal training. Her other shinki, Diana, had disappeared rather quickly as well, but I still didn't expect this.

Then again, I suppose no one ever really expects this happening to any specific person.

[reformedsinner]

No. Some people disappear quickly, some stick around no matter what they do -- some die and come back, whereas some die and do not return.

[He shakes his head.]

It's best not to allow yourself to have... too many expectations.

[genkireaper]

I suppose I'll just have to keep that in mind from now on...

[ Did that mean she'll have to expect, or anticipate, anyone and everyone else she's met to disappear at any moment? How sad. ]

Though I guess it's possible that 'from now on' is in as much flux as anything else. I'll just have to be grateful, then. This is all 'extra time' for me in the first place.

[reformedsinner]

[That's exactly what it means, although Hakkai doesn't always keep that in mind himself. It's difficult to live without making close connections once you've got into the habit of having them.]

I suppose so.

... and I hope it proves to be a pleasant extra time for you.

[Politely, he offers her a small bow.]

[genkireaper]

[ It's a shame that she's already gotten into that habit, isn't it? She takes a few moments to stare and regard the god and his gesture. ]

It's definitely been something interesting so far. Of course, I'll just have to hope I stay around. Unlike most people, those that were spirits don't have an afterlife or judgement to continue on to after they die.

[ With her theory all but confirmed by another reaper, they would just cease to exist. Which is why she had to be grateful for this extra time. However, that was just her sharing information. Botan wasn't about to hold the man up. ]

Thanks for the offer again, Hakkai. I should probably contact and inform one of Jennifer's friends. I'm not sure how Sharak will take it, but she should know.

[reformedsinner]

She was a friend of Sharak's?

[Hakkai's eyebrows shoot up as he straightens from his bow. None of them have escaped losing friends they made here, but he's surprised to hear that quiet Jennifer had been close to Sharak. Particularly close enough that Sharak is the first one her shinki thinks to tell.]

I see. You should, then; she'll want to know.

[genkireaper]

You're surprised.

[ That's not a question- she can recognize the signs that came up that showed it was genuine, and not something of disbelief or anything like that in particular. Of course, using Botan as a litmus test for how close was Hakkai's sole flaw in it.

It simply came to mind that quickly because she met Sharak just earlier today. Which is why she's working on the text while still talking to Hakkai. ]

Ah, I get it. It's because Sharak has that scary and serious expression all the time, and looks like she's ready to strike out at you. Right? Apparently they're close enough that Jennifer asked for Sharak's help with another of her shinki, though she wasn't told of Diana disappearing.

[reformedsinner]

Hmm? No, no.

[Scary and serious? Really? Hakkai waves one hand in vague negation. Serious he'll grant, although less often than Genjo. She certainly doesn't act as though she's about to hit everyone.

It might look that way to people less accustomed to dealing with Sanzos.]

It's just that I'm surprised she hadn't mentioned it.

[genkireaper]

Oh. You're friends with her, then.

[ That made some kind of sense. Which meant that Sharak was probably not quite the kind of person that Botan thought, and more along the reckless, hopeless lines that Hakkai has shown that he could be.

You know. Like sticks with like, or something like that. ]

Honestly, I didn't know that Jennifer and Sharak were even acquainted, until I mentioned her name earlier today. Though I'm not surprised on Jennifer's part, as she's quite a private young lady.

[reformedsinner]

I suppose you could say that, yes. We've worked together.

[And once you've worked with someone, gone drinking with them, and shared a few of your deepest hopes and fears... well, that's close enough to friendship that he supposes he can use the word.

He's not surprised that Jennifer had been quiet about it, though.]

Jennifer did seem very quiet.

[He sighs, and adds:] I disappeared for about a week before becoming a god. If it helps -- I don't remember a thing about it. It seems to be painless.

[genkireaper]

Before being here as gods?

[ What? It seemed like enough of a possibility. It wouldn't be so strange for someone that had an awareness of youkai, but not an understanding of how the relations between them and religious groups could be. Not exactly. ]

I'm not going to be too worried about her. Jennifer may have been quiet, but I can tell that she was strong enough to be fine, whether she was here or where she belonged.

[reformedsinner]

In a way. I was here as a shinki before I was here as a god, you see, and we knew each other then.

[Also before. Gojyo's past is implicated in that, too, though; and the less Hakkai lets slip to anyone about that, especially people he doesn't know well, the better.]

I'm sure she will be.

[genkireaper]

Ah, that's right. You mentioned being here as a shinki for months beforehand.

[ Did that mean Sharak was his god back then, and now they were on the same terms? That must've been an interesting development, though she couldn't imagine the woman letting it get awkward.

It was hard to imagine she'd 'let' anything happen that she didn't want. ]

Thank you for trying to provide some comfort. It's appreciated.

[reformedsinner]

[He smiles wryly.]

It's not easy to take comfort in anything that starts, I'm sure, I know.

But please take care, regardless.

[genkireaper]

It's not that you're bad at comforting people. I'm not sure how I feel at the moment, if I'm to be completely honest.

[ Was she even in a state to need some kind of comfort? There was a good level of shock, but was she broken up about this loss? Was it wrong not to be? They had gotten along, after all. ]

[reformedsinner]

I am, but regardless.

[He eyes her.] You do have somewhere to go, you said. Would you like any help? Moving your belongings, for instance...?

[It does sound like shock. Perhaps it'll be easier for her to guess how she feels about it once she's had the chance to adjust to the idea.]

[genkireaper]

Will my things still be there? How much remains when the god disappears?

[ She has people she can ask, for where to go, but the idea of her things went to the back of her mind until that had come up. ]

I mean, I didn't really have all that much. With how recently I had shown up, I just have some clothes.

[reformedsinner]

Sometimes things remain, and sometimes they don't. I found myself in another temple with many of my belongings the first time I lost a goddess, but that was overnight; and when my next god's temple disappeared midday, only a few items and his other shinki remained.

It's at least worth a look.

[genkireaper]

You're right, it is.

[ Creating the oar and sitting on it, there's an unfortunate reason why she's not delaying it for too long. ]

I don't exactly have anything shinki-related to train anymore, after all. I'll just have to work on it the next time I'm here with a name again.

[reformedsinner]

... Yes, I suppose that's true.

[He tilts his head back a little to watch her; she's a bit taller on her floating oar. What a bizarre traveling method.]

If you want to stop by the school, there's plenty of free space there to train. And, ah... make up your lost time.