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]

...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. ]

[unlucky7]

[Hibiki's Number One Fan, having returned from her break, is about to retake her place at the counter when she sees Hibiki's hand raised. Practically running over the other staff member about to come and take their order, she comes over with a menu.]

"Y-yes? What can I get you?"

[Ginia waits for Hibiki to order before saying anything. Really, all she wants is a glass at water for herself.]

[priforprince]

Black tea. Your finest blend, no cream or sugar.

[ "I-is that one or...." ]

Two.

[ She either just ordered for Ginia again or else she's really thirsty. ]

[unlucky7]

[Unsure whether Hibiki ordered for the both of them or just herself, and not wanting to assume the drink was for her, Ginia quickly types up a message and holds it up.]

A glass of water as well? Thank you very much.

[The server blinks at the message, but writes down the order.

"I-I'll be right back with your drinks!"

Blushing and giggling, she hurries off.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods, satisfied, and turns back to Ginia. ]

I'll send you the directions here once you've found your god. They'll have to escort you to the Near Shore, but serve them well and they should oblige.

[ She doesn't ask things like "send me your god's name". When you find your god, she will Know. The hills have eyes.

Tiny eyes. Attached to patrolling purple stuffed goat plushies.

Everyone needs a hobby. ]

[unlucky7]

Should I message you once I find my god?

[Because even if Hibiki isn't going to say anything about, Ginia will because otherwise that's really confusing? Is it a god thing? Do they know? Is there some godly network the gods use to chat about their shinki?

The answer to these questions will have to wait as the server returns with a glass of water for Ginia, a teapot, and two cups. She begins pouring the tea, sneaking glances and blushing furiously at Hibiki.]

[priforprince]

No, I'll learn of it myself.

[ No shame here. No explanation, either. Ginia will just have to remain confused. For all she knows, it is a god thing, indeed! That will not make her future conversations with people awkward at all.

Hibiki notices those snuck glances and tries to freeze one of them in place by making her own askance eye contact and smirking. She's being petty. But this pleases her. ]

[unlucky7]

[THAT IS NOT REASSURING. That is the farthest thing from reassuring.

The girl makes eye contact with Hibiki and is frozen in place, tea still pouring into the cup, close to overflowing in fact. Ginia quickly reaches out and tips the teapot back up before the cup can overflow, sucking in a sharp breath as hot tea splashes onto the back of her hand. It hurts, but not that much and she calmly wipes her hand off, skin a bit red.]

[priforprince]

[ Ah. What an unfortunate exchange has just occurred. Yet Ginia seems to have the matter in hand, no pun intended, and thus Hibiki is not overly concerned.

The incident does snap the girl back to her senses, however. "Ah! I-I'm sorry! Can I get you a bandage? O-or....did you want anything more to put in the tea...." ]

Your smile is the only flavoring I need.

[ The girl barely keeps herself from upending the rest of the pot on the floor. ]

[unlucky7]

[Hibiki please. Ginia lightly waves a hand at the girl--it's not her fault, Hibiki's more than anything--as she pours some of the water onto a napkin and dabs it against her hand.

"Ifyouneedanythingelsejustask!!" she says in a rush, skittering off to Watch Intently from behind the counter.]

[priforprince]

[ Cute. Though, that move with the water....could something so gauche as actual pain have occurred in Shikyoin Hibiki's presence? Impossible! Best to eliminate that hypothetical and move on. ]

Are you injured?

[ Physical danger is one of the few things that brings out a decent human being. Halfway. ]

[unlucky7]

[Her skin will probably be a bit red for a bit longer, but the cold water takes off the sting and her nanomachines will handle the rest. Ginia quickly shakes her head and sets her hand down.]

How's the tea?

[priforprince]

No match for the gateau, but will do for emergencies.

[ Considering that she is sipping at selfsame tea now, "had cake but no tea" apparently qualifies as an Emergency. ]

[unlucky7]

Are you going to have the other cup too?

[Best to check than make a mistake by taking it.]

[priforprince]

[ Oh, had she thought...? That's easily remedied. ]

It's a present for you.

[unlucky7]

[Present? There's no reason, no occasion, Ginia's not her shinki, so why...?

But she still takes the teacup, looking at Hibiki uncertainly as she takes a sip. It's cooled slightly, a bit bitter for her tastes, but still good (by her definitions).]

Thank you?

[priforprince]

Think nothing of it.

[ Hibiki is just pleased her hospitality is appreciated.

She'll finish her cake alongside this tea. ]

[unlucky7]

[Her opinion may one day change, but right now Ginia considers what a nice, kind, slightly egotistical and eccentric god Hibiki is as she drinks her tea.

Once Ginia is out of drinks, the fidgeting resumes.]

[priforprince]

[ ....That's a. Quirk of yours, isn't it.

Hibiki drains her teacup after finishing her cake, then sets the cup down on the saucer with a slight clatter. (A faint sound, almost like a relieved sigh, might be heard to drift on the wind, but it didn't come from her.)

She begins preparing to push away from the table. ] Are you satisfied?

[ Last call to get the tab picked up on anything else. Hibiki's concluded her gateau break. ]

[unlucky7]

[It's the joys of being a very anxious individual slightly stressed out over not finding her god and the vaguely unsettled over sitting with her back exposed for reasons unremembered.

When Hibiki prepares to leave, Ginia nods.]

Yes, thank you very much. Everything was delicious.

[priforprince]

The shops in PriParis are superior, but as a convenient substitute, this suffices nicely.

[ Hibiki stands. And apparently cannot do anything without 1) making it about herself 2) giving orders. ] Let's return.

[unlucky7]

[It's a good thing Ginia's used to following orders then. She pushes her chair in before she leaves and follows Hibiki back out.

When they're back outside, she'll gently scratch Maxie's nose. Hope you weren't bored out here.]

[priforprince]

[ Maxie is used to this sort of thing, but also will not say no to a nose scratch. Hibiki has trained him to be stoic, though, so he'll just stand here and receive his scritchings.

Hibiki unties the reins where she left her horse hitched up at this particular watering hole. ] You like horses?

[ Or just her horse? She'd understand. He is, because he is her horse, the best horse. ]

[unlucky7]

[Does she like horses? Did she like horses? Ginia gives Maxie another light scratch as she considers the question.]

I think I do. I like Maxie at least.

[priforprince]

Then your taste is sound.

[ Back astride she goes. Here is her palm, offered once more. ] Your hand.