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

[unlucky7]

[Emboldened by the lack of biting, though a little nervous from the attention of the kids, Ginia reaches out to pat the horse's cheek.

Oh, what a soft cheek. Such a smooth and glossy coat. Truly a magnificent animal.]

[priforprince]

[ This horse knows he's all that. He stands tall.

The kids, huddled together for bravery, start moving closer. ]

[unlucky7]

[As the children cluster and begin to descend on her and the horse, Ginia considers several key facts.

1) The horse belongs to someone in the Far Shore because no one else besides her and the children seem to notice the purple horse.

2) The horse's owner has not appeared.

3) Nothing seems to stop the children from wanting to pet the horse.

4) If the horse spooks, there's the chance more people will notice the purple horse from the possible destruction.

5) How do you deal with children???????

Well... children are just like smaller humans and can be reasoned with, right? Ginia pulls out her cellphone and types up a message, letting her phone read it out loud as she forces a smile and gestures at the children.]

Hello! Please come over this way if you would like to take a closer look at the horse!

[She plays the message several times as she gestures over to where she's standing by the horse's head.]

[priforprince]

[ WHOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAA

This is the best thing these kids have ever heard. And since this is the twenty-first century, they all have phones, or enough of them have phones, so they can mail, text, or LINE their friends en masse and tell them about The Horse.

The long and short of it is that once the kids start showing up, they don't stop.

The horse looks a bit put out by this, starting to paw the ground, but doesn't break and run. ]

[unlucky7]

[Horse, Ginia is truly sorry for the catastrophe she's caused. She does her best to wrangle the kids. No climbing the horse, no crawling under the horse, no standing directly behind the horse, please don't spook the horse. It doesn't help the sheer amount of kids are beginning to confuse the adults in the area. Horse? What horse?

The owner of a majestic purple horse, please return soon.]

[priforprince]

Maxie!

[ The horse's ears perk up, then go down, at the sound of this call above the hubbub the kids are creating. On the bright side: salvation. On the not so bright side: Hibiki will probably want to ride him somewhere stupid again.

Hibiki, meanwhile, is finding her path barred by an unforeseen obstacle. ]

What is this seething mass of preadolescents?!

[unlucky7]

[If Hibiki is looking for a detailed explanation for the cause of the commotion, it won't be coming from Ginia. Not now at least because she's still busy wrangling the kids. But at the sign of his owner returning, Ginia breaths a sigh of relief and begins gently shooing the kids away.

Seriously, you've all had you chance to take selfies with the purple horse, it's time to go.

They may leave reluctantly, a few kids lingering around, but at least enough clear out Hibiki can get back to Maxie.]

[priforprince]

Finally.

[ Hibiki frowns at Maxie. ] You've been keeping odd company lately.

[ Maxie is clearly repressing the urge to blow air in Hibiki's face. He lets it out off to the side when Hibiki turns, noticing Ginia for the first time. ]

Did he seek you out?

[ She isn't expecting that to be a "yes". He's only ever heeded one person aside from her, and that other person is......unique. Special.

Precious. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia quickly shakes her head as she types up a message, leaving it to the phone to read it out loud.]

No, I was standing nearby and I think he was bored. He's a very beautiful horse.

[priforprince]

[ The compliment makes Hibiki cop an expression somewhere between a smirk and a scoff. Hibiki is smoffing right now. ] He's the steed of divinity. No breed or pedigree can compare.

[ And you can see him clearly, and he you. Thus: ] You? God or shinki?

[ Hibiki manages to remember this part of the deal when she doesn't want something from the common folk. Then she has a bad habit of assuming they'll notice her.

She never catches on. ]

[unlucky7]

Shinki. And you?

[News of the purple horse at the festival has spread like wildfire. A few kids still look their way, inching toward them or at least taking pictures as they walk by.]

[priforprince]

Can there be any doubt?

[ Hibiki swings herself up into Maxie's saddle. She turns him around, coincidentally showing off that there's a little crown emblem emblazoned upon his saddle blanket. ] The God Apollo. Mortal name, Shikyoin Hibiki.

[ And then, just to show off - because the rest was just how she is always: ] Embed this encounter in the annals of your memory.

[unlucky7]

[Sure is a day for running into gods. Ginia gives a slight incline of her head in acknowledgement of her godly status.]

An honor. If you're busy, don't let me hold you back.

[priforprince]

Was there something you required?

[ She's...not especially busy. And pleasing fans is an important part of being both an idol and a god.

Plus, this person did rescue Maxie from small children. She supposes that's worth lingering long enough to see exactly what they're about. ]

[unlucky7]

[There isn't anything exactly, she was minding her own business until Maxie snorted at her, but... Ginia looks over at the stand she was at earlier and lightly waves at it.]

Do you know if taiyaki is any good?

[priforprince]

Tai....?

[ Wait. This person's question was...

Hibiki sniffs. ] It's hardly fare to tempt a Celebrity. Others find it pleasing, however.

[unlucky7]

I'm sorry.

[Ginia isn't sure what she's apologizing for, but she also has the vaguest sense she's offended Hibiki. Best to play it safe and apologize to the god.]

Is there anything around here you recommend trying?

[priforprince]

I only eat at three-Prichelin star restaurants.

[ Maxie flicks his tail at that. Hibiki looks down: what? This horse has started developing an awful lot of Opinions ever since spending more time with Fuwari....

Off to the side, a small cluster of children is beginning to re-form. Hibiki sits up straighter atop her horse. ]

Well, I was perusing the wares. Sail in my wake if you wish for inspiration.

[unlucky7]

[Without anything else going on at the moment, there's no harm following another god for a bit, right? Seems to be the trend of the day anyway.

Don't worry, Maxie, Ginia will keep the children away this time.]

Thank you. I'll follow your lead.

[priforprince]

If you insist.

[ Hibiki starts Maxie moving. The kids keep a respectful distance away but ooh and aah appreciatively, as if surprised a Horse can Move.

For her part, Hibiki is aware she is being Followed as an Example, and sits atop her steed with all the dignity befitting a god riding a horse through a pedestrian area. That's a lot of dignity!

She doesn't seem impressed by anything they're passing, though. ]

[unlucky7]

[So regal, so dignified. Truly a person who fits the presence godliness requires.

And it doesn't take long for Ginia to realize that maybe, just maybe</>i, with that kind of attitude and persona, everything here is beneath her. Which is fine and all, but doesn't quite help Ginia right now. She hesitates, not wanting to disturb the god, carefully choosing her words.]

Pardon for interrupting, but is there anything in the greater area you find notable?

[priforprince]

Beyond the festival?

[ Hibiki considers this. ] Not much. There's a patisserie a few blocks away with exquisite gateau chocolat.....

[ Perhaps she should go there instead. It won't be much of a trip since she has Maxie with her, and nothing could possible go awry with riding a horse on city streets. ]

[unlucky7]

[A bakery with good chocolate cake. Good to know. It's something specific enough to try, and if someone as distinguished as Hibiki speaks highly of it, it must be good.]

If it isn't be too much of a bother, will you give me directions there?

[What could go wrong? Certainly can't be any worse than riding a horse in a busy festival. Maxie's not the kind to spook to city noise, right?]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki sniffs. And lowers a hand. ] Take hold.

[ Come to think of it, if she's going there anyway....

May as well do this Magnificently. ]

[unlucky7]

[Oh...kay...? Confused, Ginia takes Hibiki's hand and effortlessly swings herself up onto Maxie's back. But once she's up there, she's at a bit of a loss at what to do next. She mimic's Hibiki's posture and squeezes tight with her legs for support and ultimately rests her hands on the god's shoulders.]