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]

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.

[unlucky7]

[This time Ginia does not make the same mistake and simply places her hand in Hibiki's.

And just in case, a hand on Maxie too.]

[priforprince]

[ Heh.

This time, they materialize outside a closed-down movie theater. A group of high schoolers is just leaving it, giggling to each other. "What did you leave?" "I left a Purple-Square Cat! The box office god-sama did get me the Blue-Star one I wanted..." "I hope box office god-sama can answer my prayer...."

Hibiki watches them go, then glances down at Ginia. Maxie continues to just stand here, docile for a horse. If you were Hibiki's horse, you'd be Over everything too. ] Near or Far Shore?

[ Where would you like to be dropped off? ]

[unlucky7]

[Huh. All sorts of gods, Ginia supposes. At the question, Ginia considers the options. Back to the Meeting Hall to wait for her god, or back to the festival? The decision is slightly paralyzing and she shifts on her feet.]

Near, please. Close to the festival?

[Because from there, if she needs to go back to the Far Shore, there's an easy shrine to use.]

[priforprince]

As you wish.

[ She doesn't teleport this time, however. You'd said you think you may enjoy horses. And thus....

Hibiki tugs on their joined hands, trying to get Ginia up on the horse with her. They'll ride back. Through the city. She's done it before.

And it should be a nice final treat for a new shinki. Hibiki doubts any god will ever suffice now that she has sampled Hibiki's hospitality first. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia hesitates, but after the second hand tug, she swings herself back onto Maxie's back, hands resting on Hibiki's shoulders as she had before.

She's met a lot of interesting gods--will continue to meet interesting gods--but so far, Hibiki's definitely made a lasting impression.]

[priforprince]

Haah!

[ One does not actually start a horse by saying that, but it's part of the Aesthetic, especially in movies. So say it Hibiki does.

Maxie sets off down the street at a brisk clip, Hibiki urging him faster gradually. ] You're used to an exciting time, I gather.

[ You seemed to be always on the verge of expecting something to happen in the restaurant. So, very well. She shall excite you.

This horse is fast. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia holds on with her legs, but as Maxie picks up speed, her grip on Hibiki's shoulders tighten too. Hibiki isn't wrong, though it's not as if Ginia can remember what she likes and doesn't like. Still, the speed is nice and she smiles naturally as Maxie runs.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki smirks, watching, but then turns her attention back to the road. Without realizing it, she may have made "decoding shinki" into a hobby. Knowing more about people than they know about themselves is such a pleasing sensation.

...Some idiot has left their bicycle parked right where Hibiki wants to run her horse. What nerve. Hibiki doesn't falter. ] Clasp me tightly!

[ WE'RE LEAPING THIS THING. ]

[unlucky7]

[Wha--Oh god. Ginia looks ahead and sees the bicycle and hears Hibiki's warning and she latches on, bracing for the jump.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki hunches low over the horse and gives the signal. Maxie, used to this, leaps a mighty leap.

They soar majestically over the bicycle. Over quite a bit of pavement, too. Fortunately this stretch wasn't too crowded, but Maxie gets enough air beneath him to probably manage to jump some shorter people, if necessary.

Landing is a jostle, but not enough to upset Hibiki's seat. And then it's full speed ahead. ]

[unlucky7]

[Never having ridden on a horse, much less been on one jumping, Ginia pitches forward slightly on the landing, but remains seated. Her grip loosens around on Hibiki as they continue on, giving an airy chuffing laugh as she looks behind her.

Okay, that was pretty cool. Good job Maxie, Hibiki.]

[priforprince]

[ Nothing but the Best Steed for the Best Prince. It's a logical turn of events.

Was there a little laugh from up here, too? Perhaps you imagined it. And the horse thunders on.

They sure are going to arrive back at this festival in Style. ]