March Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: October 25th
Where: Outside the 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 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 what looks like an old, large warehouse behind the Meeting Hall for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior. Several chairs have been moved in, but they're squeezed together between packed shelves and boxes of old ritual clothing, scrolls and rusty or chipped household goods. 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.

Back copies of the "From Ama" magazine, including puff pieces about new or rising gods or successful shinki, advice columns for resolving problems between gods and shinki, temple photographs and other articles of interest to gods and shinki, have been brought out in boxes and piled up next to a table holding a few remaining copies of the shinki questionnaire for any new shinki who want to keep one around until they can answer the included questions.


What is your name?

What is your god's name?

How do you see your duties as a shinki?

What is your favorite part of life with your god?

What is your least favorite part of life with your god?

What advice would you like to give your god?

Do you wish to be assigned to a different god? []Y []N

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 white-robed shinki are still busy cleaning and preparing the Meeting Hall for the big annual meeting of the gods. They'll recruit anyone who looks as though they're not too busy in order to help scrub floors, weed, sweep paths and walkways, and shoo away any unwelcome little spirits that are hiding away in dark corners of the hall. Heavy lifting is good exercise... right?

Rest and Refreshments

There are casks of fresh, cold water near the dojo to make sure no one gets dehydrated, but for those who've finished working, hot tea and enough seasonal treats are available to make it look as though the Heavens bought out an entire sweet shop. They're being distributed by a few shinki in indigo-blue and plain brown robes with the sleeves tied back, who aren't above teasing the newcomers a bit.

Young shinki are playing in the nicely manicured garden, trying to catch crayfish at the lake edge, dashing around playing tag and hide-and-seek. Just be careful you don't get caught in the middle of a game of "Kagome"! If you do, you'll really be stuck until you guess someone's name.

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
• Enjoy a traditional tea
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[festal]

( Well, she clearly smells like cherry blossoms even if it isn't the right season. Her temple is constantly in bloom with the blossoms so it's only natural she would smell like her home...

She's ready to feel the ground on her back but it never happens. Instead, she feels supporting her. She feels absolutely rigid in Kaden's arms but part of it is probably because she was really, really expecting to fall. But really, there's more to it than that now. Her anxiety is spiking and she wonders who it is. Is it a stranger? Someone she knows? Oh, please don't be a stranger, please don't be a-- She looks up.

Her eyes goes wide. It's most certainly not a stranger, at least, not in the traditional sense. She makes a sound that sounds something like a squeak and a gasp and she quickly tries to correct herself, trying to regain her composure and... Ah, let her step away and put some space between them. She's clearly nervous but all of her flustering can easily be attributed to some rather intense shyness and even embarrassment. )

I-I'm fine! ( She tries to smooth out her dress nervously and fold her hands neatly in front of her. She's skittish and she knows it and this won't do. If he recognizes her, there's no reason to be nervous and if he doesn't... then she needs to pull herself together for his sake. ) Uhm...

( She looks up for all of one moment before looking back down, bowing quickly and keeping her head down, )

Thank you f-for... saving me?

[foxrightsactivist]

[The more he inhales, the more he's certain. Yeah, it's cherry blossoms. That's why she smells so familiar! They're the best kind of trees to nap under, especially when they're blooming and they smell really nice. It's relaxing.

This girl, though, sure doesn't seem to be. Kaden lets her go once he's sure she has her balance back, watching and waiting just in case she seems about to topple over again. Luckily, it all seems to be okay. She just seems... tense. Did he scare her even more? Or maybe she's just inherently nervous. Since she's not running away screaming, he's assuming the latter. Besides, who could be scared of someone like him?]

It's no problem! I didn't want you to fall and hurt yourself.

[festal]

( Why isn't he saying anything? If he recognized her wouldn't... he be glad to see her? The selfishness of the thought makes her feel guilty and she seems to shrink within herself even more as he addresses her. She's always been a sensitive person and in her heart, she can feel it beginning to break at the realization of their situation. But now isn' the time to fall apart and she takes a moment to breath; exhale and inhale. She needs to keep herself together and...

She raises her head to meet his look. It's far from confident but it's considerably less nervous than she had been just one moment ago. )

Well... thank you. Though, I admit... I-I feel rather silly now. ( Her laugh is quiet and embarrassed, ) Screaming because of a dummy of a-all things...

I'm sorry to t-troubled you...

[foxrightsactivist]

[There's still something a little off as she tries to collect herself, something that Kaden can... sense? If that's the right word for it. But he's not sure what it is, other than a general sense of unease. Without a name to place to it, he files it away for later consideration. Right now, there's a girl with frazzled nerves, and he feels somewhat responsible.]

You're no trouble at all! [It's said with a bright smile.] If you're still feeling shaky, we could go sit down somewhere. I could get you some water?

[... wait. He doesn't even know if she's a god or a shinki. If she has her own shinki, that's probably overstepping.]

[festal]

(It's okay, Kaden. In time, you'll realize it's just all of her nerves and anxiety and shyness and everything.

Can something put her both at ease and make her heart hurt? Because his smile certainly does and she manages only the shakiest and smallest smile at him in return. A place to sit? Some water? Ah... she feels like she should decline. Something inside her is telling her to not get close. It must be that heavenly instinct.

But at the same time, she can't bring herself to run away. Even if he seems fine he's still new here. Won't he... need friends? Oh, he'll have no trouble making friends so he won't need her. But he's her friend and maybe it's selfish but she wants that back!)

Maybe.... maybe a little bit of water?

(Just a little bit. She won't push this feeling in her gut.)

[foxrightsactivist]

[Whether she has shinki or not, that agreement for water is at least something. Besides, if she does have shinki, they're not here to help. And if she's a fellow shinki, her god clearly isn't here to help, either.

He can clarify whether she's a god or not later, though.]

Water. Right! Stay right here, and I'll be right back!

[And with that, Kaden runs off toward the area where he'd seen the robed shinki earlier, tail bobbing behind him as he disappears around a corner. It isn't long before he reappears, either, cradling a cup of water in his hands as if it's a precious, life-saving medicine.]

Here you go! I made sure not to spill it.

[festal]

( It's a relief when Kaden leaves. Alone, she can have a moment to collect herself-- to catch her breath and figure out what she should do. She'd let her "true" self show for a moment there and she needs to hide it away. She needs to present a calmer self.

When Kaden returns, she's still terribly awkward. Her head is down and she seems to just generally be trying to take up as little space as possible right now. She hears him coming and she jumps. The difference is small-- barely noticeable, really-- but as nervous as she is, right now, she's at least ready to deal with the situation. She's able to steel herself and reach out for the cup, looking up at him briefly, )

Th-thank you. ( And she'll hold it in her hands for a moment, ) Uhm... Please f-forgive me for earlier. ( Looking down, she shifts a bit, ) I'm... I'm not very good with.... strangers.

[foxrightsactivist]

[With all of her reactions so far, Kaden has just decided that this girl is simply nervous for no particular reason. It's likely nothing that he's done... And once she speaks, he's convinced of the fact.]

It's okay. Don't worry about it, really.

[She's not taking a sip yet, but at least she's calming down a little. Maybe? Hm.]

I'm Kaden! I'm a shinki, but I don't know who my god is supposed to be just yet. What's your name?