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

[pure_radiantics]

[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.

[purr_ince]

[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.

[pure_radiantics]

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.

[purr_ince]

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.

[pure_radiantics]

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?

[purr_ince]

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?

[pure_radiantics]

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.]

[purr_ince]

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]

[Kairi nods.]

She was really understanding about letting me go at my own pace recovering from the changes. And she's a bubbly person by nature, so I like her a lot.

[She smiles at his reassurance of her small successes, and enjoys the hug while it lasts. If he hangs around her long enough, he'll get used to hugs no problem. After that, she stands up to excuse herself.]

I should go and check on some other shinki now, but likewise - if you need anything else, let me know. It was great making a new friend, Adrien!

End

[purr_ince]

That's wonderful. I'm that that she's like that. She sounds like a really good goddess. I'd love to meet her sometime.

[Adrien smiles gently drawing back. He's watching her moving to reach for his pamphlet.]

Of course. I've kept you long enough. I'll absolutely do that. It really has been great. I'll see you again, Kairi!