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

[priforprince]

Bonjour.

[ The girl squeaks something back that was probably also supposed to be Prench (not French, mind you; Hibiki speaks Prench.) Hibiki's only response to this is to smirk and lean perhaps a bit further over on the counter than is necessary. ]

You remember my order, don't you?

[ Nodding. Very pink nodding. ]

Thank you. Two portions today, s'il vous plaît.

[ "Two! Yes! Y-your total is..."

Hibiki pays and then hangs back, one hand in her pocket, to wait as the girl prepares the slices of cake. She says nothing about what just happened.

It's all second nature, really. ]

[unlucky7]

Does this happen every time?

[It may sound judgmental, but it's more curiosity. It's an interesting thing the way those of the Far navigate through the Near. While the employee certainly remembers Hibiki quite well, most everyone else is ignoring them in the way people generally pay little attention to things until it directly involves them.]

[priforprince]

If I have a follower at the store.

[ Quite calm about this. And answering for.....the entirety of the Near Shore, apparently.

Hibiki chooses not to think about all of those places where no one notices her. All of them are strange outliers. Every. Last. One.

"Oh," asks one of the people preparing a new display as the cashier hurries about to get the order ready, "do we have a customer?" ]

[unlucky7]

[It's good to be a god? Ginia wanders closer to the display case, admiring the pastries inside. The golden, flaky pastry shells, the swirls of whipped cream, the perfectly layered shells of chocolate, everything in the case looks delicious.

A couple of eclairs are taken out and set on a plate, the employee turning around to prepare a drink to go with the order. Ginia looks at the delicious looking pastries, just within arm's reach. No one would even notice if she snatched one off the plate.

But someone else ordered it and there's already food on the way. Ginia walks back to Hibiki's side.]

How much do I owe you for the cake?

[priforprince]

You wish to repay me?

[ Hibiki isn't troubled by such mercantile concerns. But she is also an opportunist. So she snorts and smirks. ]

Display your gratitude at my next concert. You'll gain an invaluable experience from it, as well.

[ Namely, you will realize that your afterlife truly was an empty and ethereal existence - before Shikyoin Hibiki entered it. ]

[unlucky7]

Concert? Sure, I can do that. When is it?

[I mean, sure, okay, there's not much going on in Ginia's life so going to a show to show gratitude is the least she can do. Should be fun, right?

Ginia. Ginia. You don't realize what you've agreed to.]

[priforprince]

I'll be announcing the date very soon.

[ She knew that repayment would be suitable! Why, it's almost like a second present. Such is the amazing generosity of the Prince. Shikyoin Hibiki truly deserves to be the deity in whose honor excellent performers are crowned with laurels. ]

Watch the PPS like a songbird awaiting the coming dawn.

[ The girl preparing their cakes notices this wink, thinks Hibiki had made eye contact with her, and has to pull her apron up over her face for a moment until she's composed. A-aaaah....aaah.... ]

[unlucky7]

['Are you okay? Do you need a break?' Asks one of the employees stocking the display case to Hibiki's fan, bewildered by her coworker's suddenly smitten state.]

I'll keep an eye out. Maybe my god will like to come too.

[Or maybe not. The thought occurs to Ginia and her expression falls a little with a sigh. Maybe she shouldn't make arrangements without discussing them with her god first.]

[priforprince]

They'd be more than welcome.

[ If they felt up to coming. Hibiki notes that change of expression but chooses not to inquire. Every household has their reasons. And anyone who sees her perform cannot help but admire it.

Hibiki's fan is very insistent that she does not need a break, please let her keep working. Just...has to get this ready....for the c-c-customer... ]

Who is your god?

[unlucky7]

I don't know yet. I haven't found them.

[Ginia shifts awkwardly on her feet. It's a process that can take time, right? It'll be fine, right?]

[priforprince]

Is that so.

[ That new. ]

Typical Heavenly bureaucracy....

[ But! More pleasantly!

THE GATEAU IS READY and so is the shopgirl (to faint - she is doing her best do stay upright, and be polite, and meet the customer's gaze, and - kyaa, no, she can't). Hibiki smirks. ]

Being served by someone sweet as you is a superior flavor to any sugar. Here, feel.

[ She sets the tray down and takes the girl's hand, holding it over her heart. ] It has my heart racing.

[ A small puff of steam rises off the girl's head. ]

[unlucky7]

[If this happens every time Hibiki visits this patisserie, that poor girl isn't going to live much longer. But dying struck by the charming gaze of your prince isn't a bad way to go?

Ginia takes the tray to get a better look at the gateau, but to also seem helpful. ooh, look at all that chocolate. Yum. When Hibiki's ready to find a place to sit, she'll follow along.]

[priforprince]

[ Yeah, Hibiki knows well when she's reached the dramatic climax of a scene. She withdraws her hand and takes the tray with a knowing smirk, then turns away to find a seat. (It will, of course, be the best seat in the place). This leaves the employee free to wander off towards the back in a daze. She'll....she'll take that break...now...

Hibiki is smiling as she sits down in the corner, as far from the counter as possible. The Best Seat is apparently the one that discourages mingling. ] Enjoy.

[ Here is your serving. ]

[unlucky7]

[Makes sense to Ginia; sometimes you want to eat in peace. But as Ginia takes a seat, she finds herself marking out the space. The doors, the windows, she takes everything in with a glance and adjusts the angle of her chair slightly before she eats.

And oh, what a first bite it is. The cake is perfectly moist and rich in flavor without being too sweet or cloying. It's delicious and divine and tears spring into Ginia's eyes as she takes a second bite.]

[priforprince]

[ An encouraging reaction. Hibiki sits back in her own seat, intending to eat her slice with the elegant languor it deserves. ]

Top-class, isn't it? Far more than any festival fare.

[ It's hard to tell whether this is showing off or just Hibiki stating the facts of the puniverse, as they appear to her. Why, she hasn't even taken a bite of her own, yet - anticipation is the finest condiment. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia will believe it. She wipes at her eyes as she takes a third bite, forcing herself to slow down and chew a bit more, but she can't help it. She's never had anything like that before. As she takes her fourth bite, she types out a message.]

Thank you. I'll have to come here again.

[priforprince]

I know many such gourmet spots.

[ This one is a particular favorite, however. As evidenced by the fact that in the time it's taken Ginia to get that message out to Hibiki, Hibiki has brought her fork - all the way to her lips.

She smiles to herself and slips the bite into her mouth. Exquisite.

Hibiki doesn't tear up, but she does look peacefully satisfied. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia wants to ask for the other locations, but that seems like an imposition. Besides from the money provided by the other shinki, Ginia doesn't have anything else besides the clothes on her back and a few personal belongings. So after this... hopefully her god is a generous one that can provide.

For now, she'll enjoy the cake. It doesn't take long for her to finish the piece of cake, scraping up every last crumb.]

[priforprince]

[ Ginia might be waiting a bit on Hibiki, then. Rushing is a behavior no celebrity would ever indulge in. When the world's timetable always adjusts for you, and your victory is guaranteed, what reason is there to do something as unseemly as hurry?

She does look very high-class as she enjoys her treat. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia doesn't mind. She sits back and observes everyone around them, though she never quite relaxes either. Whenever a door opens, she watches who comes in or exits. A few times she looks at the window to check on Maxie, but also to watch the people passing by. Cautious is a good word, jumpy too.]

[priforprince]

You can relax, you know.

[ This is a calm reassurance. You are here with Her, under Her Auspices. Therefore, everything is okay.

Look how placidly Maxie is waiting outside. He gets it. ]

[unlucky7]

[A near impossible task, but because Hibiki points it out, Ginia tries to sit still. It's probably the opposite effect as Ginia now sits too stiffly as she waits for Hibiki to finish.]

[priforprince]

[ ....That. Is not helping the atmosphere Hibiki's going for, here. You are no stranger to many things, it is obvious, but a relaxed, refined celebrity life is one of them.

She takes a slightly larger bite than usual and has to clear her throat afterwards. She won't let it bother her. She's fine. She's fine.

Why isn't Ginia relaxing. ]

[unlucky7]

[You can take the memories from an ex-operative, but it won't make her any more socially adjusted. At Hibiki's throat clearing, Ginia glances at her.]

Do you want something to drink?

[priforprince]

...It wouldn't go amiss.

[ Hibiki daubs her lips with a handkerchief and raises a hand. Service, please. (Whether this is the sort of shop that provides table-side service or not is immaterial. She's sitting here, so it is now. ]