November Training

[godsoffortune]

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



Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided to Bishamon's temple, where a reception area and a traditionally styled dojo and training ground have been made available for the day. 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

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a Western-styled reception hall within Bishamon's temple for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior, although the minor deity conducting the meeting is in too much of a rush to take questions afterwards. They are encouraged to discuss the information with each other and ask questions of more experienced gods, as well as instructed to guide their new shinki appropriately.

Shinki Training

Various shinki volunteers, both in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's shinki and in Bishamon's red-piped black uniforms, are stationed around the dojo, passing out helpful informational pamphlets. They will be happy to instruct the newcomers in the use of the borderline as well as offering an explanantion on the basics of what is expected of a shinki and the importance of teamwork with other shinki and with gods. Shinki are encouraged to work together to practice what they've learned and discuss their perspectives.

An area of the practice ground has been marked off for shinki to practice borderlines against one another. There are several big buckets filled with beanbags that have been generously dusted with colored chalk powder. Shinki can pair up and practice throwing beanbags at one another while trying to deflect the beanbags with a borderline.

Physical Training

The dojo is stocked with a wide variety of practice weapons, traditional and modern, to offer some practice opportunity to 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.

A table towards one side of the training area, manned by two of Amaterasu's shinki in white and gold, has a stack of big tote bags and a scavenger-hunt list taped down to the table. It's a chance for gods to practice teamwork with their new shinki, or just have a little fun while helping newcomers learn their way around the Heavens. The list reads:
• Rabbit Mask.
• Volcanic Stone.
• Sneakers, 21.5cm.
• Cloth Blindfold.
• Moon Cake.
• Badminton Paddle.
• Calligraphy Brush.
• Red Maple Leaf.
• Blue Teacup.
• Gray Shirt.
At the bottom of the list, someone has added a scribbled rule reading "You may not take items from a temple without asking!"

Rest and Refreshments

The weather is nice, but there are still plenty of tables of bottled water or bottled sports drinks provided to ensure that no one gets dehydrated. Plates of small snacks are also available, mostly seasonally appropriate ones like rice cakes, mikan oranges, roasted chestnuts and toasted crackers, but also candy and snack bars.

Some leftover party games from the moon viewing are set up in a grassy area of the gardens, and Bishamon's younger shinki are eagerly playing tag, blind-man's buff, badminton and flying kites there. They'll happily welcome anyone who wants to join in, although those who wander too far past the party games into the gardens may find themselves greeted by one of the adult shinki who will politely usher them back to the training area.

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
• Complete a scavenger hunt
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[demonsheath]

Shinki Training
[ Having been inspired a few days ago, Hannah could be seen with a bow at the range, with a few arrows in hand and a few set along a line in the ground. While her form is solid and effective, it's rather outdated- for example, the shinki was using a thumb draw and the style was more suited towards the old Turkish, or Arab archery. She wasn't shooting for the kind of accuracy that would split an arrow, however. It's one with the intention of reusing them, as each one is shot so that it lands as close to the other without making actual contact. After the selection in her hand and on the ground is spent, however, she goes to retreive them all once again without a worry about stray shots or sudden challenges.


Or perhaps you're on the scavenger hunt, and are trying to find a few of the items. After seeing the list herself, Hannah wasn't planning on participating but had breifly left the grounds to return with a golden bunny mask that she had gotten during the moon viewing. With the right charm, or other method, it was certainly possible to get that mask from her. Or perhaps this was an opportunity to gain a partner for your search. She had no qualms with keeping it out on display to be found. ]


R&R

[ It's in a rather public area, and while there is an unopened bottle of water beside her, Hannah wasn't there to recover. Even if there was the remains of debris and blood on her recently patched clothes, the woman was wholly focused on the phone. For now the camera was on the lower portion of her face, having no hesitation about sending this message around others. ]

Mister Spears, you must know that I'm disappointed, though understanding, to find out that you have lied to me previously. I now know that my lack of apettite or need to eat is not linked to being a shinki, but something else. You are likely elsewhere on Bishamon's grounds, so I'll remain here so that you may explain.

[ As she moves the camera up, it's to show one dark red eye as the other remained a bright and baby blue color. She's not impressed, and as the message is sent and the phone is pocketed, her gaze drifts over to the person in the area, who may or may not have been eavesdropping. ]

After all, while there are things that a shinki should not know, wouldn't you agree that lying can create quite a larger mess?


Wildcard
[ Make something up and go with it! Follow your heart, or stomach, or whatever else you may be guided by. ]

[death_glare]

[ It takes a bit of time, but William finally shows up. It's not as though he checks the BBS over and over all day. The whole internet thing is still new to him, after all. But eventually Hannah will feel him appearing behind her. ]

How did you find out?

[ He's been told that shinki can sometimes safely recover memories on their own. He was really hoping that was just a rumor. ]

[demonsheath]

[ It's why, while he may not be accustomed to the way technology worked, he would at least understand a direct message. Turning to face her god, it seems that she's not exerting any kind of power- that dark red eye held no glow in it. Whether it was luck or misfortune, she hadn't recovered anything- just learned it in an organic manner that kept her existence as a shinki in tact. ]

A talking book; it called me a 'true demon' and made other comments. It's the explanation for several things, is it not? My lack of interest in eating, the quirks in my borderline, as well as your disgust with my very existence.

[ Mind, she can recognize that William's been trying and has improved, but that didn't change his initial reaction and opinion of her. ]

I admit, I'm a touch peeved. What did you expect would happen, should I find this out about myself?

[death_glare]

Honestly, I tried to avoid thinking about it. That it would be better to deal with it if, and when, the time came.

[ A rather irritated sigh. ]

I suppose we are at that point, then.

[ He'd defend himself against lying to her but...well, perhaps he did. Slightly. ]

[demonsheath]

Yes, we are.

[ In fact, they barrelled past that point. Especially if you were hoping that this would be taken care of in a private manner. ]

Tell me, sir- were you afraid of me doing something to you, or others, the moment I understood?

[death_glare]

[ Silent for a moment, he looks her directly in the eyes. Green meeting Red. ]

Yes.

[ He opens his mouth to elaborate, but quickly closes it once more. As if he doesn't even feel he should have to explain himself. ]

[demonsheath]

I see.

[ She stands to turn around more properly- having more than her sights adjusted to keep contact. That lighter blue eye was still the same as ever- not a tinge of red touched it. Will would better hope that it never did change, either. ]

This is still your current fear then, I take it? Aside from my understanding and other feelings already described, there's no dramatic shift in how I feel or wish to act.

[death_glare]

You can tell me that all you wish, but I see no way I can trust those words of yours.

[demonsheath]

No, it wouldn't. You've never trusted words in the first place.

[ May as well keep Will up to date on everything. She wasn't one for being particularly shady or secretive- her offers weren't exactly given in private, either. ]

Your co-worker has been busy, though I imagine you were able to catch part of that spree at the moon viewing. Her attacks had started five days prior to that. As for my actions- I've offered my services as a shinki to a few people, and two have accepted thus far. One has named me, while the other is considering a name.

rrrrrrrrrr

[futhark]

[ It's not that he was eavesdropping on purpose. He just happened to be in the area, and happens to have working ears, and- okay maybe he did eavesdrop a little while admiring the views. Which is why he answers absolutely unabashedly as if this conversation was meant to happen ]

Sounds like it. But you could give him a benefit of doubt, maybe your god just honestly didn't know? [ --about whatever your issue is. It seems to relate to feeding habits and how they are not what they should be. Which might indicate the shinki is kind of a special case, but he is going to pretend he did not catch that. ]

But then you know, I wouldn't take my word of advice on marriage quarrels

[demonsheath]

[ Hannah alone had quite a few nice views. Especially now that she's taken to the more form-fitting modern style that was around. Even modest clothing couldn't hide some of the curves she had, but those jeans made the rest of her form more than clear enough. Well, just enough. ]

He was aware of what my existence was the moment he laid eyes on me.

[ She looks over to the blue-haired man with- red eyes? Peculiar. If only because of the single red eye she had, which made her think that at all. ]

We'll put advice to the side, then. Would you constantly jump through hoops and lie to keep your shinki from finding out what they were, if they weren't human?

[futhark]

[ She's definitely included in the "view", main part of it even. He's not a pervert to ogle random women, but he will appreciate a beauty when he sees one. The mismatched eyes add to the charm, even if they look a bit menacing- or maybe exactly because of that.

Too bad then she has to go and ask the question he'd rather not mull over. ]

Eh, lying is not really my style, if that's what you're asking. [ But dodging questions, evading answers, or straight up shutting up is totes allowed. Don't trust a Servant. ] But aren't all shinki not-human at this point?

[ He might not have the mental blockade when talking about this stuff with shinki not of his own, but it still feels wrong. How much do they know? Are they aware gods know about their deaths? If not, he doesn't want to be the one to give out that information ]

Is this revelation really that troubling?

[demonsheath]

They've certainly expired, and as shinki we're being used in our rawest of forms, but even in that case a human will still be human.

[ The lines were blurred, but there was a distinction between one and the other. They had a different sense compared to other kinds, though she hasn't figured out exactly what all of those kinds were. ]

It's not the revelation. I'm a demon, and that's just a fact of what I am, which I finally know. It's the loops my god had went through, along with his clear distaste for my very existence, that I am both vexed and disappointed in how they are likely connected. The fact that I am still sound and myself proves that it wasn't sensitive information that I shouldn't know.

[ So it wasn't about what or who she was- it was about the kind of person her god was. ]

[futhark]

[ Keeping facts away from shinki? That he can understand. God's Greatest Secret and all of that. That line is the most annoying place to dance on. It's the distaste she mentions that he could get some issue with, but then he might have been guilty of some bias against his own shinki too.

Then there is that "demon" thing. ]

You don't really get along with your master, huh? No chance for flowers, apology and "sorry for being a dick"-

[ Being displaced from reality puts things into a strange perspective- whatever she was and she had done during her life doesn't matter here. It's a god's burden to bear it the best they can. Or let the shinki go and allow them to find better-suited place. ]

Not to defend him, but maybe he's just afraid of you? [ Demons do come with certain, how to say, reputation ]

[demonsheath]

The relationship with my god, as he insists I not refer to him as a master or any such title, is actually to his choosing.

[ Meaning that there was no fondness there for her since the beginning. Now, for better or worse, she was going to have William face that and at least provide whatever answers he could.

Also, she has no clue about this reputation. Would you like to educate her? ]

It's not fear that he regards me with, sir. His contempt is calm, measured, and with something else that I can't quite describe just yet. Just as he was when he gave my vessel name.

[ When she cleaned his suit, he didn't burn it in a panic or with fear- he did so like it was nothing more than trash at this point. At the very least, she's regarding this as if it were stated fact, instead of colored with the taste of bitterness or anything of that sort. ]

[futhark]

Why doesn't he just release you? Wouldn't that be easier for both of you? I know we're kind of forced into these business assignments, but they're not permanent.

[ This is what baffles him in this whole situation the most. According to what she's saying, her god is kind of a cold asshole. Sure, demons and the whole thing- you can get biased against that. Creatures of darkness, dark forces and so on. But gods and shinki are not glued by their hip together-forever. ]

If I couldn't bear to work with my shinki, I'd rather let them go.

[ Caster shakes his head and throws the hood on for no good reason at all. There was someone asking on the network once, on exactly this dilemma. But what if the god doesn't want to let the shinki go? ]

A woman like you would have no problem in finding more compatible god. [ Demon or not - if he's not judging that part there will be others who won't as well. ]

[demonsheath]

You'll have to ask him that yourself. I suppose he refuses something like me to wander out of his control, as much as he would rather I not be anywhere here.

[ It's a very responsible hatred that William has. She just doesn't understand it properly.

There's something about this god, however. It's not just those eyes or overall appearance. It was something more, with a sense she has but doesn't completely understand. Perhaps he was another option, to set after some others. Though it's always possible he'd go higher up on that list if he proved to be more interesting. ]

No problem at all, that's true. I've already found a few.

Wildcard

[royaltyloyalty]

[ Dokugakuji sidles up next to Hannah at one point as she's between shinki training. ]

How's it going for you today, sparring with the other shinki?

[ It feels like a polite way to start off, considering they have no bond aside from a random chance meeting and his preoccupation with her appearance mirroring his own kind so strongly. ]

I could always be bothered for a spar as well, if you don't mind going up against a god.

[demonsheath]

More practice alongside than sparring with them. I'm quite comfortable with facing against gods.

[ She's had more opponents with the gods- either in her vessel form, or against something that another god could summon. Not that there have been signs of that at this point, having cleaned away traces of that battle. She's certainly taken a shift in presence, however. That opulent and victorian appearance had certainly changed to match the times, as she had recognized her need to adapt in their last meeting.

It's with an easy smile that she looks up to the youkai. She definitely appears more grounded and confident in her situation. Her speech remains about as measured and fashioned as ever, however. ]

Any preferences for this spar? I've found that I have some working ability with a variety of weapons provided for practice, though I'll be sure to keep firearms out of it.

[royaltyloyalty]

Firearms? What kind of a spar is it if there's firearms involved?

[His old-fashioned mindset and sliver of chivalry slip in there. He's ultimately a swordsman, and even if his prince isn't here, he still grew into the man he was through a military position. Firearms just aren't a thing you spar with - they don't start fights, they end them.

All the same, he summons his broadsword to give an inclination as to what his brand of sparring might look like.]

[demonsheath]

Some people are odd enough that they'd consider it fair game.

[ She already faced a book that summoned an army of soulless minions, so she seems to have accepted that 'sparring' means different things among people.

Watching the man summon the broadsword, however, it seems to have clicked a few more things into place at this point. Today has proven rather productive in figuring out more about what she was capable of. Which, while it seems to have come out of her hands more than having just appeared, like in Doku's summon, she holds up a pair of blades that were somewhere between short sword and dagger length. Sparing a glance to them before taking more of a readying stance. ]

I believe these will be appropriate for what you have in mind? Whenever you're ready.

[royaltyloyalty]

[ He watches her and... well he thinks it's slight of hand at first, but quickly figures out it's not. It's not a -poof- magically appearing set of knives either. ]

Whoa - nice! I thought you said you were a shinki?

[ That sure looked like a comparable sort of way that gods called their shinki, but he also realizes even soulless shinki need their name called so that's not right either. ]

Should be an interesting spar for sure.

[ He lowers his weapon and considers waiting for her to strike first, see what else she might have - almost literally - up her sleeves. ]

[demonsheath]

I am. There's no reason to lie about such a thing.

[ It's something new that she's been learning as of this current training day, in fact. Really, Hannah had the feeling that she's been more secure than she really was for most of her time here, but hadn't seen anything that would justify that. Between watching people and following her instinct, she's come to understand why.

However she doesn't explain how the weapons came to her hand, or the fact that they came out of her hand. ]

However, due to my lack of recollection and experience, I'm afraid that I'm not sure of the best ways to initiate these spars yet.

[royaltyloyalty]

[ He can't tell if that's her trying to bait him or if she's being sincere, but either way he figures that means he'd be waiting too long for something that's supposed to be practice. ]

Allow me to demonstrate.

[ And he runs forward with sword held low so that he can try to swing upwards with enough force to knock one of those weapons out of her hands -- whichever one she tries to block with. If no block, then he'd try to keep the momentum going with a slice back the other way across her body as she dodges. ]

[demonsheath]

[ Whether it's due to inexperience or for the fact that she was a demon meant for other things, what is clear is that direct combat wasn't the woman's forte. While she had the strength and speed, there were times when she'd opt to take hits. Sometimes because it was more work to get out of the way, or block, and other times for an opening and opportunity. She doesn't actually have the 'fire' that a lot of melee and hand to hand combatants have, though she has the strength and skills to deal with people that weren't so trained or at another demon's level.

It's when there's a lull, or when the god lets up, that Hannah is gathering her breath and person together once again. If anything, her recovery is pretty astounding. ]

From my past experiences and today, I'm starting to understand that my skills are better suited for support and distance combat. Though I seem to have some preparation for closer scenarios regardless.

[ Prepared for any circumstance, perhaps. ]