February Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: October 15th
Where: Meeting Hall, 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 the Meeting Hall, 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 traditional reception room within the Meeting Hall for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter. 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 in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's hosuehold 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 explanation 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.

A training game has been set up through a section of the Meeting Hall gardens, with little cut-outs of ayakashi hidden in the landscaping, tucked into bushes or taped under bridges. Prize ribbons are being offered for every ten "ayakashi" a shinki (or team) discovers.

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. Several magically animated straw-stuffed training dummies, many of which have been carefully mended and patched with neat black stitching, are set up on the lawn with a white-robed shinki hovering nearby to watch over them. They make good training partners, although anyone who comes too close risks being targeted for a sparring match whether they wanted one or not.

The pond behind the dojo has had dozens wooden poles sunk in it, spaced a few feet apart, with a bunch of brightly colored ribbons tied around the pole in the very center. Some of the white-robed shinki are practicing scaling the poles and leaping from one to the next, until they get close enough that they can snatch a ribbon from the center pole, and several have fallen in and are being teased by their fellows.

Rest and Refreshments

Instead of snacks being served at the training session, this week, white-robed shinki with little flags are conducting groups of newcomers and volunteers down to the Tokyo Daijingu shrine and into a street festival currently being held in Tokyo. Traditional dance troupes are performing on street corners, and vendors have every kind of fall street foods, from barbecue to takoyaki, chocolate-dipped bananas and red-bean pancakes. New arrivals will get a white-and-gold envelope with spending money for the fair, although gods and shinki who have had some time to settle in will have to handle their own lunch expenses.

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
• Go to a festival
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Shinki Training
[Among the group of newcomers, there's one in particular who seems to be putting quite a bit of extra time into pouring over the informational pamphlet offered to the new shinki. He's thorough, that's for certain, though there's a certain sort of sluggishness to Shinji's movements that suggests he might also be having to take extra care to actually parse all the information properly.

It all just feels too... surreal.

He's not making much of an effort to mingle, either, instead opting to find an open area to sit and continue looking over the handout while he... waits for his god, he supposes? If what the pamphlets are saying is correct, anyway, that's what he should be doing. Even as borderline practice starts getting into swing, he's still sitting out, but glances up occasionally out of curiosity to see just what's going on.]


R&R
[Shinji's wall-flowering doesn't seem to stop once everyone's been guided to the festival - if anything, it's probably gotten worse. It's all very impressive, for sure, but it's just so much, and he can't help but notice how chilly the October air feels.

At least, given how insistent the white-robed shinki were in offering up the extra spending money, he settles on getting something to eat. He doesn't have much of an appetite, but not trying something out feels like it would be a missed opportunity.

He is, however, having a tough time getting service from the chocolate-banana stand.]

Ah, um, e-excuse me... [There goes another patron, cutting in front of him like he's not even there or something. Maybe this was a futile idea after all.]

R&R

[unlucky7]

[Ginia watches from the side, her own indecision preventing her from getting in line, but she's noticed Shinji there too. When another person cuts in front of the teen, she steps into the line and waves at Shinji to join her. Harder for people to breeze past if there are two of them, right?]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Perhaps, perhaps! Though, with how little mind he's being paid by the rest of the crowd, having someone beckon him over like that is a little surprising. As such, he sort of... looks around a little, like there might be someone near him she's trying to get the attention of instead.

No such luck, it seems, so instead when he looks back to her he just sort of... points questioningly at himself. 'You mean me, right?']

[unlucky7]

[Yes, definitely you. Ginia nods and motions more firmly for him to come over again, even offers a bit of a friendly smile. The line moves and Ginia moves with it, making her presence known just enough to hold a spot and not let someone cut ahead while still remaining unforgettable.]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[That's enough prompting for him, at least. Quickly, he moves over to fill in the extra space next to her, and offering up a hasty,]

Thank you.

[Maybe this will give them a better chance of getting service? We'll see...!]

training!

[sanzohoshi]

[She's not a shinki, but the goddess breezes in through the training, the long watersleeves fluttering as she goes, all smiles and encouraging cheers for the training shinki.

It's a big, scary thing for a lot of shinki, so the most she can do right now is try to help them out, right? Which is probably why she zeros in on Shinji then. She makes her way over, smiling warmly, and gives a little wave]

It's a lot to take in, huh? You okay?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Expecting to be largely left to his own devices after being handed the required reading material for this place, Shinji startles a little when he realizes he's being spoken too.]

Ah! Y-yes, I'm fine.

[That is, probably, not the most convincing answer, but he's trying.]

Just... trying to make sure I get all of this.

[sanzohoshi]

[Sanzang nods sympathetically and moves unceremoniously to sit next to him]

Don't worry, everyone's a little overwhelmed at first! But it seems you've come in at a pretty tame time, so you're pretty lucky!

I'm not a shinki [Which, since they're at the shinki training, she's assuming he IS] but I can help you out if you've got any questions or anything! Or, well, I can try!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Overwhelming is definitely one way to put it - he's really not sure how others might be able to just take to this situation so naturally.

At least it seems like there are plenty of people around who are willing to be helpful and friendly, that much can put his mind at ease even a little bit. He still hesitates at her offer, but after a moment of deliberation, figures it wouldn't be such a bad idea to ask something that's on his mind through all this.]

Um, well, I was wondering... I'm supposed to be working with someone, right? [Quickly, he double-checks the pamphlet to make sure that was right.] How am I supposed to know who that is, exactly...?

R&R

[nopixiedust]

Hey, this is how you do it.

[Even as Shinji is fussing, what appears to a a very young girl- in her pre-adolescence of the look of her is anything to go by- steps up besides him and smacks her hand right there on the stand surface.]

HEY! [The server starts, surprised at the loud tone of her voice, and it's only when she's certain that she's gotten attention does Wendy relax and give an Aware Winning Smile.] Can we have two chocolate bananas, please?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Oh, yeah, that's definitely an effective method there. So effective that, even as he's watching all this happen, Shinji startles just the same as the server.

But it gives them service none the same, and when he recomposes himself, he starts digging out the payment for the treats.]

U-um, thank you. [He is... really not sure he'd be able to do something like that as readily as she seems to be, but it's good to know.]

[nopixiedust]

[As the server hands over a pair of bananas, exactly as ordered, Wendy hands one up to him.]

It's nothing. You have to get a bit more of a spine. Unless we directly make ourselves known, they'll ignore us like nothing.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

['Get a bit more of a spine' sure is one indelicate way of putting it, but he's in no mood to push back against the slight.]

R-right. Thank you.

[He'll take the offered treat, pulling out the payment he would have been using for it to reimburse her.]

I... guess I just wasn't expecting it to be quite this intense.

training

[artificialrose]

[It's become a little easy for Garry to spot people who feel a little confused, or lost. At one point, that was how he felt too, when everything was still being put together for days like these.]

[So he drifts towards the boy sitting to the side almost without thinking about it, a soft and friendly smile on his face as he raises up a hand to wave politely.]

Hi there. You just arrived, right?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[As kind as it is to provide everyone with the proper reading material and a quiet day to settle in, it is still an awful lot to get used to. Shinji's expecting to be left to his own devices for the most part, so when he is approached, he straightens up a little bit, as if to, possibly, give the impression that he's not quite as in need of help as he might actually be.]

Oh, yes, I did. [That much is probably pretty obvious, no point in trying to play it off otherwise. He does lift the pamphlet a little bit to show it off as he makes his next statement,] I'm just... trying to get through all of this.

[artificialrose]

It's a lot to take in, right? [Even with the pamphlets, which Garry read on his first day. Trying out a borderline on his own at least helped make everything seemed more real... So that's something.]

I've been here for a few months. If you have any questions, I could do my best to help. Sometimes a real person helps in ways paper can't, don't you think?

R&R

[sweetdeath]

[Aw, poor kid. It's tough getting used to the way that mortals seem to brush right past gods and shinki, especially for somebody who doesn't seem to be all that assertive to begin with.

(And just a kid, besides.)

Tsuzuki steps up next to him, reaching out to drop a friendly hand on his shoulder.]

The living don't notice us much. You have to be loud about it!

[He raises his voice to call to the guy who'd just cut in line.]

'Scuse me! We were here already!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[If he weren't starting to grow used to the idea of being overlooked, then maybe the hand on his shoulder wouldn't be such a huge shock. Alas, he was, it is, and he jumps a little in surprise before he can even try to downplay the idea of being too loud.]

I-it's okay! You don't have to-

[But the attention of the man's already been caught! He gives the pair a mildly bewildered look, before letting out a somewhat sheepish laugh.]

My mistake, I must not have seen you.

[And with that, he steps aside for the two of them. No harm done, right?]

[sweetdeath]

[No harm done at all. The kid's jumping, but Tsuzuki pushes him ahead into his rightful spot in line without worrying too much about the start.]

You wanted lunch, right? -- okay, so we don't really get full. If you're a shinki.

[He casts an uncertain glance at the kid.]

Are you a shinki? I am -- Tsuzuki Asato. Nice meeting you.

r&r

[handle]

[ Sorey can't help but blink a little when he sees how someone cut in front of Shinji - only for him to quietly protest and stop. He'll offer some of his soft serve in place of the chocolate banana. Hey, it's not what he was in line for - but it's better than nothing, right? And, he hasn't even touched his. ]

Here. Do you want mine?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[It's clear that his protest went unheeded, and Shinji gives a resigned sigh right before someone else speaks up.]

Ah, huh? [After all that, he definitely wasn't expecting someone to just... offer him something like this!] Oh, no, it's all right.

[He's not gonna take your food from you, stranger!]

[handle]

You sure? I don't mind getting another bowl.

[ Really, he'd be more happy if he took it.. ]

[royaltyloyalty]

[To say that Dokugakuji is disoriented is an understatement. He doesn't remember arriving in the Far Shore the first time or his two Soulless shinki, but he remembers having an argument with his brother in the midst of fighting ayakashi and using one of those Soulless shinki. He doesn't remember that he had other shinki before either. And yet, that tug echoes in his chest all the way from his temple, as he's pulled in the direction of the shinki practicing in Bishamon's shadow. It's a stronger sensation than that of his soulless shinki, but he recognizes it's a shinki nonetheless.

A part of him even hopes that that shinki will know more about what happened to him than he does.

So he wanders around for a bit before finally glancing in Shinji's direction and walking towards him, long white coat still in place and his two soulless shinki following behind him like obedient retainers.]

You, young man. What's your name then?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[When it comes to recognizing his assigned god, Shinji still has no clue what to really expect. A feeling of knowing, despite never having met before, seems a little too strange to really wrap his mind around, but it seems to be the general consensus from anyone who he's asked about it.

Even so, it's hard to tell if his feelings of anxiousness may be coming from the fact that someone looking for him may be around, or the general feeling of antsiness that comes with actually waiting for an unknown party. He takes a moment to look around himself again, just in time to catch sight of someone who... appears to be coming his way.

The first thing that really crosses his mind is just how much this guy looks the part of a god. Tall, imposing, the attire and entourage, all of it fits together so naturally, and Shinji finds himself straightening up his posture a little as he's approached.]

I-Ikari Shinji.

[Just as he had explained to him, there's a certain sort of... inkling he has about him, though asking outright if they're supposed to be working together feels a little out of place, and he wants to see where Dokugakuji might be taking this past introductions.]

[royaltyloyalty]

Hm.

[Dokugakuji stops a few paces away from Shinji, leaving some distance so that maybe the young man won't be too upset.]

Have you chosen a god yet, Shinji?

[The boy looks timid and Dokugakuji doesn't realize how he's coming off, apart from taking this seriously and not as capricious as some of the gods around here. There are those who just want to be friends. Meanwhile Dokugakuji sees his duty as much more that of a protector to shinki who are so lost without their memories.]