December Training

[godsoffortune]

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

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.

Someone has brought two overflowing boxes of back issues of From Ama, the Heavenly magazine, which includes profiles of successful shinki and gods, historical tidbits, and the occasional magazine quiz to help shinki determine how well they're currently working with their god or what their greatest strength might be.

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.

This month, a clever shinki magician has created a dozen straw-stuffed training dummies, some with sword-length sticks and some with polearm-length sticks, that have been enchanted to really fight back. Unfortunately, the spell isn't perfect yet! They're good training partners, but sometimes they might go a little haywire and try to smack passersby.

Rest and Refreshments

Along with bottled water, there are several large boxes of energy drinks and vitamin drinks in small amber glass bottles, and an array of protein bars and meal bars. One particular shinki in white, a bespectacled twentysomething man, is explaining the health benefits of everything on the table (even the water!) with great enthusiasm to any guest who looks even a little confused. It takes great tact to discourage him.

Party games have been set up on the lawn near the refreshments table: Twister, Kubb, lawn Jenga, and more.

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~

Comments

[papillonprincess]

I take it you know a thing or two about cooking?

[ She does pause as she pulls the scrunchie from her ponytail, letting her hair loose with a shake of her head. Man, these training sessions never get any easier. ]

Wait until you're invited to your first party. They have quite the spread.

[doodlebuginette]

I grew up in a bakery. My parents taught me everything I know.

[It seemed safe enough to admit that much because it was Marinette's life and not anyone else's.]

Are there many parties? [She was only asking because of the way she'd worded it.]

I'm looking forward to it!

[And then.]

What about you? Do you know anything about cooking?

[papillonprincess]

You'd be surprised. They used to hold parties here quite often. Though I suspect by the time the next holiday rolls along, we'll be invited to another one.

[ There's a momentary pause when she's asked about cooking, almost like her heart catches in her throat for a moment. Her eyes slide away from the other girl for a moment as she looks to the hairtie in her fingers. ]

...someone I knew... tried to teach me once.

[ There's a small sad smile as she fidgets with the tie. ]

...he... always insisted on eating healthy. And he was very good at it.

[doodlebuginette]

That sounds like a lot of fun. They don't hold them as often anymore?

[She wanted to ask why, but something told her it might not be the best idea. But when the subject shifted to cooking, she was immediately interested. She did notice the other girl's reaction to that question, though, and couldn't help feeling a little bad. Had she said something wrong?]

I could try to show you, if you want?

[She'd never really attempted to teach someone to cook before, but she liked to think she was good enough that she'd be able to if the need arose.]

Eating healthy is important. But I'm a firm believer in everything in moderation.

[It was right on the tip of her tongue to ask about this person of hers, but she supposed it might do more harm than good, especially if he was someone she didn't remember clearly, or if it was painful for her.]

[papillonprincess]

They still do on occasion. I can imagine they probably will during the next festival.

[ She couldn't help but chuckle slightly, vaguely reminded of the times she'd tried to help Rei in the kitchen. ]

He always tried to make sure anything he served me and his god was nutritious down to the calorie count and vitamins and whatever components we seemed to be missing. It was... endearing if not a little bit obsessive.

[ But she does brighten up, whatever worry she had gone for now. ]

I wouldn't mind learning if you have the patience to teach.

[doodlebuginette]

[It made sense that the parties wouldn't be all the time. That would get old after a while. Not to mention how complicated it would be to just have parties whenever.]

That sounds great. I can't wait!

[Mari is smiling happily, clearly pleased to be talking about cooking.]

That's admirable! But I'm not sure I have that kind of ambition. [A soft laugh.] Maybe it's because of the way my parents taught me, but I usually just try to make sure that the meals I make are balanced.

[Not that that other way didn't sound like fun, but...]

Of course! If you really want to learn, I'd love to teach you. Cooking is one of those things that's easy to learn, but somewhat difficult to master.

[She's tilting her head curiously now.]

Have you made anything before?

[papillonprincess]

The last thing I tried to make was stew... and that was with his help.

[ There's a chuckle there though. ]

I'm... actually quite helpless in the kitchen. All my god and I have been doing since he... left... was going on convenience store runs. They're actually pretty good once you know where to look.

[ The 7-11 in a certain prefecture of Tokyo has become her favorite, really and she'd be more than happy to show people the beauty of convenience store chow. ]

[doodlebuginette]

The first thing I learned to make was hot chocolate. My maman chose it because it's pretty simple. [She's smiling fondly at the memory, and then nodding.]

I don't think I've ever made stew. Was it good?

[Or if she had, it hadn't been memorable enough to stick with her. Huh.]

How about this? You show me where to find the best convenience stores, and in return, I'll help you learn to cook? [It seemed like a fair enough arrangement, at least in Marinette's opinion.] We can even start with something simple!

[papillonprincess]

It was... passable. Did you know ketchup doesn't go in beef stew just because it tastes good on a burger?

[ Apparently she didn't until that day... talk about a disaster in the kitchen. But she does consider the offer before offering her hand out for a handshake. ]

I'd say you have a deal. That sounds like a more than reasonable exchange.

[doodlebuginette]

[Marinette's eyes widened and she giggled softly at that.] Did you try putting in ketchup? [Her tone was curious, and she's just smiling.] That's good though. You're not afraid to experiment, which is a big part of cooking sometimes.

It's tricky though. Sometimes you'd think that certain things would mix well together and you're wrong. Or other times you're almost certain that two things shouldn't be combined, but doing so only makes them better. That's part of the fun.

[She's still smiling when she shakes the offered hand.]

Great! It'll be fun.

[papillonprincess]

No... but he did stop me before I decided to put any sliced banana in.

[ She did say she was terrible though. But she does offer a smile back as she withdraws her hand. ]

And who do I have to thank for this cultural exchange? I apologize for not having introduced myself sooner. You may call me Kuroyukihime. My god is the Baron Samedi.

[doodlebuginette]

[The look on her face just then was worth a thousand words.]

I think banana slices would be too sweet for beef stew. It's better to save them for banana pudding~

[Even still, she's smiling.]

Oh! My name's Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Or Fortuna, if you prefer.

[papillonprincess]

[ See what you have to work with...?

But she does nod back, that same smile never leaving her. ]

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Marinette-kun. If you ever need assistance, allow me to offer my god as someone who can help. The Baron has been here a while so he might have answers if you have problems settling in.

[doodlebuginette]

[Could've been worse. She was sure she'd heard of stranger combinations.]

It's lovely to meet you! And that's very kind of you. I might have to keep that in mind.

[If her god had been here for a while, he might have answers to some of the questions she still had.]

The Baron? He sounds very fancy.

[papillonprincess]

He's... the furthest from fancy than you can imagine. The title is only for show.

[ Really. Take one look at Ron, nay, have him speak ONCE and fancy is probably the last thing on your mind. ]

I only call him that since that's what his god was. It seemed like a fitting nickname.

[doodlebuginette]

[She's just nodding at that. Really she supposed it was silly to make an assumption about someone based on a name, anyway.]

Maybe he's secretly fancy?

[It was possible, right? Mari's just nodding as the other girl speaks up. That did make sense.]

I think it's nice that you're close enough to have a nickname for him. What's he like?

[papillonprincess]

He... thinks he's fancy.

[ There's a laugh there. But she does think, taking the time to take a drink to collect her thoughts. ]

The baron is... more of a protective older brother to me, if I would ever hazard a guess as to what having an older brother feels like. Given the circumstances of our meeting, he always makes sure to know where I am and that I don't stay out too late. But he means well... and knows how to have a good time.

[doodlebuginette]

It could be worse, right?

[She's just smiling, because it seemed a little cute.]

It's nice that you were able to find someone like that here. I don't have any siblings either, so I couldn't tell you what that would be like.

[Marinette is curious, but for the time being she's going to resist the urge to ask how she'd met him.]

It sounds like he really cares about you. [Another smile.] That's a good thing.

[papillonprincess]

I wouldn't know if I had siblings to begin with but I suppose that's how it felt like.

[ Her smile is a little sad though. ]

...He... lost his shinki in an unfortunate manner so I can imagine his overprotective nature came from that particular incident. I really can't blame him for wanting to make sure I don't suffer the same fate were he ever negligent.

[doodlebuginette]

Even if you don't remember if you had blood relatives, you have him. Family isn't just one thing.

[Did that sound as cheesy as she thought?]

Oh no. I'm sorry to hear that. I can understand why he'd want to be very protective of you.

[Of course that was always a possibility here, losing a shinki, or a god. But it wasn't something she ever wanted to consider.]

[papillonprincess]

[ Somehow, the thought of family brings a pang to her chest - and the telltale warning that this isn't something she should think about too deeply so she chooses not to dwell on it. ]

I'm sure you'd be the same if you lost your shinki suddenly.

[ The line is cheesy.. but it's nice to hear. ]

I apologize. I didn't mean to drag down the conversation on the first day... I'm sure it'll be fine. The culprit has been caught and it isn't likely they'll be back.

[doodlebuginette]

[Hime was right about that. But she was sure that anyone would be that way if they suffered through losing someone that close to them so suddenly.]

I would.

[Mari just nods, mainly because she's not sure what else to say to that.]

There's no need to apologize, really. And I'm sure you're right. If the one responsible has already been caught, there's probably no reason to worry anymore. Right?

[papillonprincess]

I can't blame him for being protective of whoever he has left.

[ A beat. ]

But I think it's best if I left you with a warning. As friendly and cooperative as everyone seems to be.. there is the possibility not everyone brought here has good intentions from the get-go. Please be cautious.

[doodlebuginette]

I don't think anyone could.

[That just seemed like the logical way to be. Hime's warning catches her slightly off-guard, but only because she hadn't thought of that.]

Thanks for the warning. I'll definitely keep that in mind. I suppose it never occurred to me that there could be bad people here, too.