thenearshore | December Training

Entry tags:

December Training

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: September 25th
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

the basics of proper god behavior

Shinki Training

informational pamphlets

borderline

From Ama,

Physical Training

Rest and Refreshments

Twister

Kubb

lawn Jenga

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
Play some games
Spectate if you want
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I try?

[He rubs at the back off his neck offering a shy smile. The boy isn't good at knowing how to handle compliments.]

I'm sure my goddess or god will be a good person, too! That way we get along and work together really well. I mean how could the assign me to someone I wouldn't be able to get along with? Seems kind of a bad idea to me.

[He's glancing down at his hands toying with the silver ring on his right ring finger.]

They're all just cared and unsure. I'm sure once they settle in it will be better for them. Their mindset will have changed.

[He gestures to the pamphlet.]

It says guilt and those monster things - the ayakashi? - make it happen. But I'm not sure what it is exactly? What does it look like? How would I know if my god or goddess had it?

[Adrien shakes his head.] I didn't get that far.

[Kairi shakes her head.]

It's not something that starts with our gods, not really. I've only ever heard of it happening in one of two ways - transferring from one person to another, or from touching an ayakashi. That's one way. Another is feeling bad about things and hiding it, without washing it off.

[She gestures to the back of her hand by way of explaining, even though nothing's there.]

A little blight... that kind of thing can happen. One time, one of my friends got hurt and I felt like it was my fault. A little blight cropped up and my god could feel it. It was bad, but it wasn't incurable. I had to wash the area as soon as possible so I didn't transfer it to someone else.

[That story used to make her feel the guilt crop up again. Now she's dealt with it a little better.]

The important thing is to not cover it up or ignore it, especially to your god or goddess since they can feel it anyway. For all we know, the blight could be on our backs where it's harder to see, so we shouldn't be ashamed of washing in holy water just to be safe sometimes.

[Then she shifts her tone.]

But you're right, ayakashi are something we have to fight sometimes. We just have to be careful when we do. We don't actually have to get up close most of the time to use our Rend spell, at least not until the last second. The longer we stay away from the ayakashi, the less likely it is we'll accidentally touch them and catch the blight that way.

Well, that's good but if I get it I could give it to them right? I don't want that. So I need to understand a little better.

[Confused Adrien is watching her hand peering at well it's just her hand so he's not sure what he's supposed to be seeing here.]

Oh. Oh! That's not good. But it couldn't have been your fault. You must have done your best to help.

[But he's biting his lower lip. His god or goddess would feel anytime he gave himself blight? Well, he'll just have to be extra careful.]

Right. Be open and honest about it. It seems kind of pointless to try and hide something like that. So even if we doing have the blight we should do that? The holy water bath?

[He rubs at his shoulder gently.]

So keep a foot or two between myself and the ayakashi if it's at all possible. Ranged attack - nothing like hand to hand combat. I think I can follow that. I seem to like staffs and swords better than anything at a close hand-to-hand range.

[Kairi nods.]

See, you've got this no problem! I kind of wish I'd been as adept as you seem to be.

[But she can't be jealous.]

Here I was just a normal girl being asked to learn how to fight when I didn't know a thing about it! That's why I focused on spells early on. Do you have any more questions for me, Adrien?

[She doesn't mind them. She's just looking for direction since he seemed to grasp that topic and she didn't like making a habit of repeating herself to someone who understood. If it was someone like Goten or Nanako, very young, then that was different.]

I'm kind of stubborn and a quick learner. Either it sticks or I work at it til I'm confident with it.

[He shrugs a little.]

I think I know how to fight at least a little but I don't know anything about magic or spells. At least I don't think. Do they have classes or something for that kind of thing? The better I am at it and the more I learn of it the better I'll be able to protect my partner right?

[His head tilts to the side and he's peering up at her.]

I'll start to remember things right? I don't like not really knowing much about myself. It feels a bit like I'm lost or something is missing I can't put a finger on.

[Kairi gestures around them.]

We do something like this pretty often, where we all get together at Lady Bishamon's temple to train together. This is your best bet to train with a lot of different kinds of people, but we also have a school for shinki who want to catch up on things and learn new stuff. The yard is where I'll sometimes practice spellwork with other shinki when it's not here, but you're right that better practice with Borderlines especially will help you protect your partner. It's the #1 most versatile tool in a shinki's arsenal.

[But she puts her hand on his shoulder at his other question.]

It might take some time - it was over a month before I remembered anything. Even then I thought it was just a dream, since it came to me while I was sleeping and included the two gods I was living with at the time. But I can tell you this much - you don't want to push it. I know it's hard. Bad things happen to shinki who go looking for answers, though - some of them have become ayakashi themselves.

[Adrien nods listening intently.]

So people always get together to train? I'll have to just come to all of those. Because you do have a good point. A very good one. I can't improve if I don't work hard at it.

[He's glancing to her before touching the tips of his fingers together.] Can you let me know the next time you come out for practicing spellwork? Magic isn't really in my bag of tricks I don't think and I'd hate to flub it up when my partner needs it the most.

[That hand on his shoulder tells him to brace himself. Or at least that's the instant signal that goes to his brain and he does so inhaling softly.]

So I can expect little bits after sometime passes? That's good. I mean That's better than what I was thinking. I'll just have to wait - something tells me I can be very patient so I'm not worried. I just - I don't want to be a burden to whoever takes me as their Shinki. [Adrien gives a little roll of his shoulders at this, his usual cherry expression grim.] Right. I don't want to become one of those. Best to let it all just be natural.

[Just like that the seriousness is gone the grim air that had settled vanishing like a rain cloud dries out on a sunny day.] Thanks, Kairi.

[She has to laugh a little.]

Come out for practicing? If you don't want to be a burden, then let's work on spells now!

[She grabs both of his hands and drags him to his feet before jogging over to a training area with dummies set up.]

Come on, we'll do Rend first. That's the one that gods need us to do the most often. There's three ways you can cast this.

[She holds up her hand like a blade, angled upwards across her chest towards the opposite shoulder.]

Do you know any of them already?

Well, I didn't want to assume you were going to do it now. That's kind of rude so...

[He gives a little squeak but he's used to this kind of treatment he thinks because it's instinct to come to his feet and fall into step with her.]

Let's then. [He gives a little nod at that.] That's the one that gets rid of the bad spirits, right?

[He's taking in her stance then moves to mimic it.]

Not yet. I haven't tried anything like this yet.

Oh no, listen to me! I said Rend when I meant Line, I'm sorry! I can tell you a little bit what Rend feels like, but we can't practice it without your god around, so Line it is.

Anyway, three ways: as a wall, as a long-ranged attack, and as a kind of weapon you keep in your hand to attack with. If that doesn't make sense, I can try to explain more.

[Adrien seems nice and is picking up a lot, but maybe - like her - he's just a normal boy, so saying something like long-ranged attack and weapon may not make sense yet. Okay maybe if he's played a lot of video games in his old life, or watched a lot of TV... never mind, this is why she had to just ask and see.]

It's okay. Don't worry too much about specifics. It's all new to me anyway.

[He's listening and nodding. Blinking green eyes at her as he rubs at the back of his neck. Mulling it over and breaking the words down to their barest basics all he's coming to is -]

So it can be used like a shield, a blast, and er a sword? Is that right?

[Kairi nods.]

That's right. It all comes down to what you need - the shinki saying the words. I've used the wall as offense before too, though. So it's just a form, not a requirement for how you're going to use it.

[She starts moving her hands, one to represent herself and one for her opponent in a mock battle as she recounts how it went down.]

One time, I was fighting a friend who can fly, right? So I was closer to the ground and he was above me. [One of her hands rises higher above the ground than the other.] And so I threw out a wall-like Line in front of me--

[Her hand representing herself turns sideways, perpendicular to the ground, and comes racing upwards towards her balled hand, right up under it and knocking it to the side.]

That ended up hitting him because I made it so fast. He said it felt like a major uppercut! [And she grins proudly at that.]

Oh good!

[Clearly he's pleased that he's understanding this properly. It shows in his face as he listens to her story. Green eyes following the movements of her hands intently.]

So if you make it fast enough it can be used as a weapon instead of just a barrier shield. [Makes sense and that's more Adrien's style - he'd want to take care of whatever problem he crossed before it became a threat to his partner.

That's just how it he is though. He's a Shinki and it's his duty. Protect. But it's more than that. It's almost an instinct that settles deep down in his chest.]

That's really impressive, Kairi! I best you were thrilled.

Ah... you know me that well already, Adrien.

[She flushes and smiles happily at the compliment.]

I'm just a normal girl but I've been able to pick all of this up on the fly. It doesn't feel all that impressive sometimes, but then when I talk to newer shinki, I get all excited about how far I've come all over again.

[Which she hopes he doesn't take as a slight. It's just when you're going up against people like Lavi or Goten in practice all the time, you feel pretty easily outmatched.]

And of course making it fast enough just comes down to muscle memory, I think. So getting a start on practice now should really help that!

Haha, Not really? It's just that would be how I felt if I managed something like that. It's only natural to assume you'd be the same way.

[He smiles giving a little nod.]

Yeah. We all start off like that but it's really encouraging to know what we can do with a lot of hardwork. I mean knowing it can be accomplished is a pretty good motivator.

[Nope. He doesn't and even if she had intended it to be it would have likely had to have been much more aggressive and in your face. The boy is kind of oblivious.]

So get the basics down then work on speed. Makes sense. [He pauses rubbing at his chin.] So what about weapons? How exactly does that work if you're using say a sword or something?

[She smiles and nods back at his observations. Him feeling similarly makes sense, as does the motivation getting driven by the knowledge someone else has done it.]

About weapons... hmm... I haven't done nearly as much with that. Normal weapons don't work that well against ayakashi. Even special weapons don't always help do more than drive them back. But, just to double-check...

[She summons her keyblade in her right hand and just holds it prepped there in a normal stance.]

Okay, so now if I make a Line...

[Using her left hand, she tries to put up a border to one side, leaving the both of them on the same side of the Borderline.]

BORDERLINE!

[... And lo, it works. Kairi looks satisfied.]

I mean my first instinct would probably to pick up something just in case things went bad. Using magic would likely be a secondary thought until I get used to it.

[He nods. He'd read that in the pamphlets they gave them hadn't he? Either way he knows that.]

Sometimes you need to drive them back and get more space between you, your good or the people you're protecting and them. Less of a risk of getting hurt or blighted right?

[Holy! What is that even? How did she do that? That was clearly not a normal weapon and some kind of giant ... was that a key? His jaw just drops slightly and he's staring on in awed confusion.]

Uh... Is that some kind of magic, too?

Edited 2018-03-01 04:42 (UTC)

[Kairi lets the Borderline wall drop so they can talk easier. She holds up the key so he can see it better, resting it in both of her hands.]

Some kind of magic... yeah, that's about all I know about it. It's just not shinki magic.

[Her expression gets softer.]

One day I hope I'll understand more about it. For now, it's a gift left behind to me by friends who aren't here anymore and a way for me to remember them fondly when I need some extra help defending myself.

[Curiously, he's moving closer, leaning down to get a better look at it.]

That's really neat! You have your own special magic. Even if you don't know much about it you can learn, right? Just like you told me - I can learn and some of the things I knew before will come back. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to figure this out in time.

[He's lightly reaching out to touch it - cautiously poking at one of the flowers. Smiling he's straightening up.]

It suits you. [And it does. Kairi is, by his limited experience, kind and gentle but not afraid to fight. His expression softens.] I think that that is beautiful in a bittersweet kind of way.

I'm not sure how special it is to me, in the end. It could be special to anyone who comes from the same place as Roxas and Sora and Riku. Still... I guess it's special to me in this place, the Far Shore, since they aren't here anymore.

[But she gives him back a soft smile as she makes the weapon disappear again.]

I see it the same way. I've been collecting mementos of my lost friends since I got here, but this one's probably the one I never truly want to lose.

[She gives him a thumbs up.]

Little by little you'll probably experience prayers and battles that show you more of what you're capable of too. No need to rush it all on your first day.

Well yes but didn't they give it to you? That alone makes it special to you. You don't need to worry about if it's important to anyone else. It's special and important to you right here, right now. It's not a small thing, it's actually pretty powerful.

[He's watching it vanish his eyes widening just a bit. He's never going to get used to magic. At least he doesn't think so.]

I can't say I blame you. I would want to keep everything that reminded me of my friends if they ever went away - whatever that one thing was.

[That's good to hear - very comforting really. He grins.]. I'll try not to rush. You're right I should take my time to learn things.

I was so worried I'd lost them when the temples disappeared... I had to look for a long time to find my other mementos.

[There was practically nothing left of the temples, not really rubble, more like sand and dirt that had been swept around in piles. So she had to 'dig' and 'sweep' around all of it, but also carefully in an effort not to damage her belongings that might've already been damaged.]

Sorry for bringing things down. Anything else I can help you with that won't feel too overwhelming?

Temples disappear? That's... that's sad. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Is that how you ended up needing a new god?

[That worries him a little, the thought of coming to depend on someone; bond with someone and then they're gone. That would hurt and he kind of wants to give her a hug for having been through something so awful. So he's moving and doing just that. It's light and just his arms slipping around her shoulders.]

You didn't. It seems like something I needed to know and you needed to get off of your chest. I don't mind. What're friends for? [He draws back flashing a smile.] I'm not sure really but you've done a good job of not overwhelming me so far. So, good job?

Remember when I said that Sora and Roxas disappeared? The temples disappear at the same time as the gods do. After that, Roxas stopped being considered Artemis's incarnation, so I had to transfer to a new god. That's when I picked Hajime, the current incarnation of Neith.

[She's still pretty quiet as she explains that, but again - it's been awhile.]

Thanks. I'm glad I was able to help even a little - and to get a new friend out of it.

[She's certainly in better spirits with him smiling like that. She even opens her arms to invite him for a hug, trying to figure out if he's the type.]

Oh. I guess that makes sense? I just sort of thought that they just went vacant or something? And you're doing good with her? You're happy?

[He's understandably concerned for his new friend.]

Don't sweat it, Kairi. You did on both counts.

[As she opens her arms he's moving in for a hug. Granted, it's a little tense and kind of awkward as if Adrien isn't completely used to this kind of thing.] If you need anything let me know okay?

Wrap for me

pure_radiantics - 2018-03-12 02:02 (UTC) - Expand

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purr_ince - 2018-03-12 22:58 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

December Training

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Wrap for me

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