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

[letteropener]

Most humans, in my experience, don't prefer to eat hay. What do you think of trying some sushi? That's rice and seaweed, and some sort of filling to go with them. I like the vegetable and mushroom ones, but you could get ones with fish if you prefer.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's opinion to sushi is just as neutral as anything else, but if it's something they can both eat, then it's fine. Her stomach quietly rumbles again. Okay, okay, anything will do.]

We can try sushi.

[Though one question remains. Ginia looks at Celestia, fingers tapping on her phone.]

How do you order food without drawing attention?

[letteropener]

If it's someplace where there's not much interaction, usually I can just rely on the fact that those of the Near Shore barely even register those of us from the Far. After all... [She motions gently with a wing to the crowds around them, none of whom have noticed or cared that a pony is strolling through their midst.] But I have another trick or two if I need it.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia nods. It's strange going by so unnoticed by everyone, but it feels natural for a reason she can't explain. She lightly taps a paper lantern hanging off a stand as she passes by, the lantern swaying gently from the interaction.]

What kind of tricks?

[letteropener]

I gained a power when I came here and received the mantle of a god. I will show you, but I wanted to prepare you before I did, since it can be a bit startling.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia nods and glances around as she stops walking. Should they move? No one's paying them any attention so it's probably fine to stay where they are, right? Even standing still, the crowd moves past her without a though. She'll follow Celestia's lead.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia raises a hoof, then makes a little motion around herself as her horn flares up with golden light. The light swells to engulf her like a shell -- then a slash of energy races around it as if something had just cleanly cut through the magic. As the light fades, it leaves behind a tall human woman, whose eyes and smile and flowing rainbow hair are all blatantly Celestia's.]

[unlucky7]

[She's a very beautiful woman. Ginia is struck by the sudden thought and her cheeks color just a little. But that does work for blending in. Even her beautifully flowing rainbow hair can be excused as an elaborate dye job, given some of the people with brightly colored hairstyles walking around.]

Can all gods change form or is that special to you?

[letteropener]

[Well. Honestly, that statement is true. If one likes tall women, Celestia is as beautiful as they come. She thinks very little of it, having long ago both accepted that she is considered the pinnacle of beauty and recognized that it truly means nothing.]

Every god gains a special ability. This one is mine. I don't know of anypony else who shares it.

[unlucky7]

[Beauty may mean nothing to Celestia, but Ginia's still going to be a bit awestruck and maybe a tiny bit more shy.]

You're not looking for a shinki, are you?

[Ginia is pretty sure Celestia isn't her god either, but it's worth checking, right?]

[letteropener]

I am not actively looking for one, no. [Oh dear. She missed hers at the training and introduction? That's troublesome...] But if you need a place to stay until you find yours, my temple is open to you, and there is a shelter for shinki in need that just recently opened as well. And if in the long term you still need a god, well, we can talk then.

[unlucky7]

I'll find my god.

[The words spill quick from her phone and Ginia's expression hardens just a little. She will find her god, or be found by her god. One or the other. Because the alternate is accepting she wasn't given one and that idea is too much to dwell on. Maybe this is a test put out by her god, to see how well she does on her own.

If the last thought is so, Ginia's not sure if she's doing well or failing miserably.

She swallows, forces a calming inhale.]

Thank you for the offer. Are there a lot of shinki without a god?

[letteropener]

Shinki often have trouble finding their gods at first. [She answers the question she thinks Ginia really needs answered, not the one she asked.] I'm afraid the Far Shore isn't very organized when it comes to getting the two together.

[unlucky7]

[The foresight is appreciated. Tension slips a little from Ginia's shoulders as she exhales slowly. More patience then. There's still plenty of light left in the day.]

I'll keep looking for them then, thank you. On to food?

[letteropener]

[Ah, that's better. She'll have to keep working on getting a smile out of Ginia, but she seems a little closer to that goal.]

Of course. Over here, there's a place. [She leads the way, effortlessly threading through the crowd with a grace and presence that her height belies but her composure demands. Up to a stand where a chef works diligently, putting together rolls from the ingredients laid out before him.]

[unlucky7]

[At 5'10" Ginia's not short, but in Celestia's presence it's hard not feeling small. She follows the god to the stand, peering curiously at the ingredients and admiring the dexterous way the chef prepares the rolls. Some remain easy to carry hand rolls while others are sliced up and arranged in small containers in sets of six and eight.

Ginia picks up one of the sets of eight pieces, a different ingredient on top of each bed of rice. She types out a message and looks hopefully at Celestia.]

Do you think this one is okay?

[letteropener]

[Human Celestia has a couple of inches on her, yes, and a body that is solid and powerful beneath its lines -- but more than that, she just has a sense of presence and conviction that makes her seem there.]

[Looking over her choice, Celestia nods.] I think it looks very good. Will that be enough for you, though?

[She's a tall girl and not without a certain amount of muscle, Celestia has noted.]

[unlucky7]

[No one's explained she'll never feel full as a shinki, but hunger was always a backdrop of her forgotten life. At Celestia's urging, she grabs one more assorted set and a tuna mayo hand roll because it's the closest. She totals the cost as she pulls out the envelope of money from inside her coat and pulls out two 1000 yen bills.

Setting the food on the counter, Ginia takes a deep breath before knocking loudly on the counter, willing herself to be more visible. The assistant startles a bit and blinks at her, but takes the money shoved at him, bags up the food, and hands over her change.

It's a simple, mundane, everyday transaction, but Ginia smiles as she takes the bag and change, staring at the food with light amazement.]

[letteropener]

[For her own purposes, Celestia picks up several vegetarian rolls -- avocado, cucumber, mushroom. Her human shape is doubtless capable of eating meat in a way that her pony body is biologically incapable of, but that doesn't mean she feels right about it.]

Shall we find someplace to sit and enjoy? Maybe a little ways out of the crowd. [The two of them take up a comparatively large amount of space, so grabbing a little corner on a bench is kind of out of the question.]

[unlucky7]

[She nods, clutching the bag of food tight. Getting out of the crowd sounds nice. Going unnoticed helps, but the constant press of people and endless noise is beginning to wear on her. How does everyone stand it?

Restaurants line the immediate area, but after another minute of walking, they come upon a small park with a small play area, a few benches, and a small lawn. Ginia follows Celestia's lead to whatever is most comfortable for her.]

[letteropener]

[The bench is easiest -- Celestia find sitting down on the ground quite burdensome as a human. Ponies have it so much easier when they can just lower their flanks and be done with it! Leaving ample space for Ginia, she spreads out her trays on the other side of her.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia sets her food in her lap, unconsciously trying to take up as little room as possible. She cracks the lid on the first sushi set, trying to decide which one to eat first. The colors of the fresh fish are vivid and bright, the oranges and red popping next to stark white.

She picks up a piece of sushi with an orange and white striped surface and bites it in half. The flavor is rich and delicious and she quickly pops the other half into her mouth. It's genuinely the first time her her past and present life she's ever had sushi and she descends onto the set with newfound hunger and joy, savoring each unique flavor and texture.

Tears begin to slide down her cheeks and she stops as they drip off the plastic container.]

[letteropener]

[Though Celestia thinks no ill of shinki in the slightest, she is glad not to be one. How troubling it must be to have no memories, to know so little about yourself.]

[She isn't certain if a gesture of comfort would be welcome here, but she can at least provide a little aid. Tugging a handkerchief out of one pocket, she offers it over, making no other sign that she notices the poor girl's discomfiture.]

[unlucky7]

[It's the kind of tears that come from overwhelming joy, but there's a sense of loss or loneliness or something Ginia can't explain and wouldn't be able to even with the best of her memories. She gently waves the handkerchief away, not because it isn't appreciated, but it's embarrassing enough crying, she doesn't want to make it worse by ruining a god's handkerchief.

Instead, she wipes her eyes and blows her nose on the napkin included in her bag of food and suck in a few deep breaths to calm down.]

Sorry. [Her phone says. A few seconds later, she adds:]

The sushi is really good. Thank you for suggesting it.

[letteropener]

[Mmm. That had to be rough on her poor nose.]

[Celestia gives her a moment to compose herself as she chews a sushi roll, before turning her attention fully back over to Ginia. Her voice is soft and utterly sympathetic.] This is all very rough on you, isn't it.