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

[lionhearrt]

i. Physical Training

[ He didn't attend the god training. Why would he? Instead he pours his energy into the physical training, needing to release even a little of the pressure building up inside him. So, he used the enchanted figures fighting against them without holding back, without needing to curb his power in fear of hurting them. They weren't real, didn't feel pain, and when the red flames finally engulfed them in a sea of fire nothing was left behind, not even the ash. ]


ii. Rest and Refreshments

[ He rests alone, back to a tree while a white cleansing fire eats away, not at blight, but at the black ash beneath his skin. He's used to it by now and easily takes care of it. The white flame soon disappears and his hand falls revealing smooth skin. He lights a cigarette then, letting his thoughts drift along with the smoke while his body slowly grows lethargic. He falls asleep as he is, cigarette still burning, tucked between his lips, eyes closed as he takes a much needed nap. ]

ii

[toremainbehind]

[It doesn't take very long to find Mikoto even if Izumo wasn't actively looking for him. It hasn't even been long since Izumo's returned, but it didn't matter.

So, by the time he finds him, he doesn't say anything and simply sits beside him, the familiar tendrils of smoke curling around them as he basks in the silence.]

[lionhearrt]

[ His shoulders tense before his mind wakes to the smell of smoke. He doesn't open his eyes, not immediately. It's not until his shoulders relax again that they finally see the light of day. He says nothing, his only movement to indicate he's awake is tapping off the cigarette to remove the ash. ]

[toremainbehind]

Have I ever told you how much of a pain in the ass you can be?

[He speaks calmly, but there's anger simmering beneath the words. Izumo doesn't turn to look at him, not yet. But there's a chance if he does, he might not hold back what's been bothering him ever since Mikoto's death.]

[lionhearrt]

[ A small grunt in response as if he already knows before that cigarette goes right back in his mouth. He doesn't feel like talking. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When does Mikoto ever feel like talking?

Izumo finally moves though, reaching over to grab Mikoto's shirt and pulling him up.]

[lionhearrt]

[ He doesn't stop him, merely looks up at him as he's dragged up. ]

i

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun is prone to pay attention to any particularly impressive displays of power at these training gatherings, and Mikoto is no exception even if Shun is well aware already that he's powerful. He hasn't really seen Mikoto use his power offensively before - outside of that out-of-control moment in the video from the other day, his experiences with it have either been use as protection or as show, like scaring those kids from the graveyard.

Aware of the potential risk, Shun observes from a safe enough distance, but still close by enough to be noticed. He particularly pays attention to the way Mikoto moves, though at the very least, it seems like he wasn't permanently damaged by his incident the other day.

He still manages to look typically unperturbed as the dummies vanish under the onslaught of fire, watching until it clears.]

I suppose that's one way to fix their problem of going after the wrong people. [His tone is dry, since he knows full well that's definitely not the intent here.]

[lionhearrt]

[ Mikoto is a brawler. He fights with nothing but his fists. Yet, watching him twist through the air like a dancer, it almost seems like the fight might be staged, yet there's too much force behind his blows, his targets vanishing one after the other amid the destructive red flame that burns them into nothing. Here is the Red King in his element, fighting to let some of the pressure out, fighting because that's all he knows how to do, all that comes naturally. Yet, engrossed as he is he in his need to attack he's not such a novice to let the god nearby go unnoticed. But he doesn't stop. Not yet, he still needs to let out more and fightings the only out he has. When he finally comes to a stop, it's not because he's satisfied but because there's nothing left to destroy. ]

.....

[ He turns to face the god then, and an idea sparks to life as he smirks. ]

Want to take their spot.

[ Because right now, he needs the outlet, right now there's nothing but red waiting for him. ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[It's an interesting style - not entirely dissimilar from Shun's own, honestly, though he doesn't remark on that just yet. There's that sense about it of someone who didn't just learn to fight, but needed to fight to survive, and Shun's seen a lot of people coming from that kind of experience in both this world and his own.

Almost as soon as Mikoto smirks at him, he can see what's coming next, but he doesn't look troubled by it, merely observing the man across from him. It's a risky thing to do, he knows, and Mikoto clearly isn't in the mood to hold back...but he can learn from a fight even if he loses it, and it's not as if his godly abilities haven't equipped him with the capacity to teleport out of it if he needs to. And he knows a few healers if he needs that, too.

With a slight shrug, Shun steps forward. There's always a subtle wariness about him, but it becomes more acute in that moment, and his posture dips naturally into one more prepared for combat.]

As long as you don't expect me to go down as easily.

[lionhearrt]

[ He grins, pleased. ]

I don't expect anything.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Unperturbed, Shun watches Mikoto's reaction and shifts on his feet. His stance is light - the kind meant to allow for easy movement rather than firmly holding ground.]

Then come at me if you're going to. [Mikoto seems like the type to attack first, whereas Shun's a reactive fighter anyway. He doesn't have a problem starting, but if Mikoto wants to vent something, it seems more likely he'll want to.]

[lionhearrt]

[ Red covers his fist as Mikoto pulls back a fist and charges without preamble. ]

i

[nibelungvalesti]

You seem to require a battle greater than these training dummies can provide.

[Shizuo, this is your fault.]

[The Valkyrie regards his incinerated faux-foes dispassionately, one hand idly tapping the hilt of her sword.]

[lionhearrt]

[ Mikoto is a brawler. He fights with nothing but his fists. Yet, watching him twist through the air like a dancer, it almost seems like the fight might be staged, yet there's too much force behind his blows, his targets vanishing one after the other amid the destructive red flame that burns them into nothing. Here is the Red King in his element, fighting to let some of the pressure out, fighting because that's all he knows how to do, all that comes naturally. Yet, engrossed as he is he in his need to attack he's not such a novice to let the god nearby go unnoticed. But he doesn't stop. Not yet, he still needs to let out more and fightings the only out he has. When he finally comes to a stop, it's not because he's satisfied but because there's nothing left to destroy. ]

.....

[ He turns to face the god then, and an idea sparks to life as he smirks. ]

Want to take their spot.

[ Because right now, he needs the outlet, right now there's nothing but red waiting for him. ]

[nibelungvalesti]

This was my suggestion, presuming we can battle in a way that does not endanger the temple.

[Since the last time she'd sparred with someone, well.]

[Having observed him, she believes he will not be an excessive challenge if he uses only the power evinced against the dummies -- but then, she also suspects he has more to draw on, as the dummies simply are not resilient enough to endure more than a blow or two. He strikes with greater speed than most foes she is used to, which will make him an excellent opportunity to learn herself. Yes, she can work with this.]

[lionhearrt]

[ He's destroyed his temple three times already, so he knows what she means, though he makes no move to agree. ]

Come at me.

[nibelungvalesti]

[She takes his assent as implicit (and if they get in trouble, will simply state that her terms had been clear to begin with).]

[The Valkyrie draws her sword, and from nowhere two shields appear in midair, one guarding her front and the other her back. Her grip shifts on the blade slightly as she considers her choice -- but no, she can deploy the bow later, if he proves it necessary. Given his speed, she expects she will be taking hits, but her form is one of will and energy; it will not yield to him the way ordinary mortal objects do. ]

[She is ready. At least for the power she intends to face him with at the start. But given her choice... she delays, hoping to provoke him into the first move.]

[lionhearrt]

[ He watches as that sword is drawn and smirks, lifting a hand that is suddenly covered in red. He makes a fist and charges without preamble. ]

ii

[heartshutter]

[ He’s awake.

That’s all Tatara needs to know. Beyond that, he won’t say a thing. Not yet, at least. Give Mikoto a chance to come to, maybe, and then he’ll speak. But for now, he simply sits beside his king beneath that tree, enjoying the warmth the redhead inherently provides, simply by existing. ]

[lionhearrt]

[ His shoulders tense before his mind wakes to the smell of smoke. After a moment, his shoulders relax again and his eyes open to the light of day. He says nothing, doesn't need too. He knows who sits beside him and the notion has him frowning, only then distinctly remembering the last words he told him - Don't follow. And yet... he pulls the cigarette from his mouth, tapping off the end saying nothing. He has nothing to say. ]

[heartshutter]

[ That’s right -- the last words they exchanged were Mikoto’s insistent “don’t follow”, just before he disappeared. And, apparently, fell into a coma. Tatara has been sinking in a sea of his own guilt since, but... he did honor his king’s request. This time.

Maybe he should try being a little less compliant in the future, if this is how things are going to go.

That’s for later, however. Tatara can only assume he’s got a short window to relay information before Mikoto withdraws or tries to send him away again, so it’d behoove him to use it wisely. ]

Kusanagi-san is back. With all his memories, this time.

[lionhearrt]

[ He cigarette keeps burning straight into nothing. He knows. ]

Hmn.

[ He grunts. Saying nothing. ]

[heartshutter]

[ Of course there's no real response. Tatara expected nothing more, honestly. Almost wistfully, he looks on, somewhere else. ]

...He told me what happened.

[ He told me what you did. ]

[lionhearrt]

[ The cigarette keeps burning. He has nothing to add. ]