August Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: August 15
Where: Bishamon's temple, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



In anticipation of the latest round of new arrivals, Heaven has partnered with the new gods and shinki to organize a very helpful informational reception.

Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided kindly towards Bishamon's temple. In that vast complex they are brought to a traditional-style dojo. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the details of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki or from the many veteran new god and shinki volunteers.




God Training

Unfortunately, Bishamon is away on business today, but her shinki as well as Amaterasu's ever-present shinki and any volunteering gods will offer 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 receive as orientation 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 as well as offering a lecture on the basics of what is expected of a shinki and the importance of teamwork with other shinki and with gods. It is encouraged that shinki group up together to practice what they've learned and discuss their ideologies.

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.) This is vital for gods who, for example, find themselves with a sword shinki but are at risk of cutting off their own toes.
It's 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

[scratchitti]

Team mates is fine, especially if you end up with more shinki.

[He shrugs]

You're supposed to name me, right? So it's not like my name matters.

[korekara]

Noooooo, that's weird.

[ Honoka pulls a bit of a stinkface. ]

Yeah, I gotta give you another name, but if you've got a real one it'd be dumb not to actually use it! Don't you like your name? Is that it?

[scratchitti]

My name is fine.

It's Sakuraba Neku.

[... it's a very cute name for such a grumpypuss]

[korekara]

See? Was that so hard?

[ Her smile is almost disarmingly sunny. ]

Oh and don't think you've gotta be formal or anything just because of the goddess stuff. Just call me Honoka-chan and I'll call you Neku-kun and then we'll come up with one of those other names for you together! How's that?

[scratchitti]

['I feel like I need sunglasses'

He sighs, mostly is resignment]

You sure are assuming a lot.

[korekara]

Assuming a lot about what?

[ It's impossible to tell if she's playing dumb or if she really is that oblivious to the prickliness. ]

[scratchitti]

About our relationship. If we don't get along being formal would be easier, right? You don't know that we'll be friends, it's not as simple as just saying it's so.

[At least that leaves open the possibility of friendship]

[korekara]

But if we're just all weird and formal all the time then wouldn't that make it harder for us to actually be friends?

[ don't think you can logic your way out of this one, Neku ]

I'd rather try and be friendly right from the start and get along that way!

[scratchitti]

[... well he can't really argue that logic.]

Alright... Honoka-chan. But if it doesn't work out I'll just call you by your god name.

[He will full on un-name you girl, don't think he won't]

[korekara]

See? Way better! And the god name's a total mouthful so let's make sure we get along!

[ And then she sticks her hand out to shake, to seal the deal. Sorry Neku, you're stuck with this one. ]

[scratchitti]

Hm. Guess so.

[Is that a smile? Maybe. He even shakes her hand]

Speaking of names, let's get that taken care of.

[korekara]

Hmm, yeah! I guess it's better to get that done sooner in case we need it... it's kinda hard to come up with something on the spot though.

[ This is the girl who thought "Land, Sea and Air" was a good name for an idol group. ]

It's gonna have -ki at the end, right? So that kinda limits our options too. Got any ideas?

[scratchitti]

Yeah, I think so.

[He ponders- he's not amazing at naming things either]

Well, my name starts with Ne and the alternate reading of that is On. It means sound. That'd be easy to remember, right?

[korekara]

Hm! So that'd be Onki, wouldn't it?

[ She rolls the word over her tongue as she says it, trying it out for herself -- then she tilts her head at Neku. ]

How do you like it?

[scratchitti]

I don't dislike it. It doesn't feel like me exactly, but I doubt anything would.

[korekara]

Yeah. D'you get why I wanted your real name now? If that one feels weird now, imagine how it'd feel if I didn't have anything else to call you! That'd suck, right?

This way, we've only gotta use it if we really need to!

[scratchitti]

Fair enough.

So, let's make it official then.

[korekara]

Right!

[ a pause. ]

Uh, how do we do that?

[ AMAZING ]

[scratchitti]

Y-you don't know?! They told me that you were supposed to explain everything to me! Didn't you pay attention?!

[korekara]

I-- I do know, okay?! I just-- there was a whole lot of stuff to remember and you can't expect me to remember everything right off the bat!

[ she does not know ]

It'll be here in the pamphlet, right? So I just, uh-- gimme a sec!

[ And into the pamphlet her face disappears. Behold your god, Neku. ]

[scratchitti]

[He certainly doesn't feel very worship-y right now, that's for sure. Thankfully, since he's not named yet, she can't feel his vague annoyance and, under that, worry and slight fear]

[korekara]

Okay... okay! I think I've got it!

[ And up she pops, with a big smile. She still looks sort of uncertain, though. ]

I think I gotta hold my hand out and say some stuff so um... get ready!

[ She sticks her hand out and, in a tone that suggests she's remarkably uncomfortable with this level of ceremony: ]

My name is Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument. The name, Neku Saraba. The vessel, On. Come, Onki!

[scratchitti]

[Something about how awkward she is about it makes him smile- it's... comforting. That she's a person first, not a goddess.

Though all his ease vanishes when he transforms in a puff of light, reforming not as a weapon in her hands and instead as her new, admittedly very cute, outfit.

...though considering she just got the flashes of memory of his sudden death, odds are there's not time to appreciate the clothing choices. The memory is, blessedly, short at least- the car that took his life came out of nowhere, and his suffering was not long lasting. Just sudden shocking noise and numb surprise.

And one lingering thought: 'Is this... how it was for him back then?' And under the feelings of fear and shock, a feeling of... frustration and unfulfilled promise.]

[korekara]

Whoa--

[ WHOA. Okay, um. Honoka's not sure what she was expecting but it sure wasn't that. It hits, appropriately enough, like a runaway car and when the flash of memory fades Honoka has to blink several times to place herself back in the present, the real world. ]

Okay. I-- yeah. Um, okay--

[ She's barely even noticed how hella cute her new duds are. She's just very quietly having a bit of a freakout. ]

[scratchitti]

Honoka-chan, are you alright?!

[His distress is audible not only in his 'voice', but is strong enough to slightly echo through his bond to her- seems he has no issue using her name now that she's upset]