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

[priforprince]

[ God Training ]

[ There is only one empty-ish corner in this overcrowded space, and it's being occupied by someone who saw fit to bring a large, fully upholstered armchair to this event and make use of it despite the close quarters.

She listens to the introductory speech, occasionally pulling a judgmental face or a knowing smirk. By the end of the talk, however, she's grown bored and is reading a script for something called Six-Shot Sheriff II: The Seventh Shot.



This reading continues even after the meeting has concluded and everyone is being ushered away. All attempts to catch her attention have ended in failure. She is camped in this corner. Taking up too much space.

The shinki trying to get her to move seem at their wits' end.... ]

[ Physical Training ]

[ Someone has moved Hibiki's chair out of the meeting room - but now she's in this hallway, and everyone is having to clean around her. She doesn't seem to care. In fact, she has added a small round red rug with gold tassel fringe and a side table upon which to rest a saucer of hot cocoa, thick and rich with a glittery spun-sugar rose on top. It's getting cold outside.

The chair has been set up indoors, yes, but with a window nearby that permits a view of the training lawn. Hibiki peers out said window, nursing her chocolat chaud. Vastly superior to being out in the chill, this. And there's no way anyone would possibly disturb her...

Except something's prickling the back of her neck. ]



Skulkling around bends isn't smart.

[ The bird spirit that'd been observing Hibiki panics and, with a squawk, turns to try and flee. Except there was someone trying to work right where it's making its exit.

Gangway! Bird in the face! Hibiki around the corner, not caring! ]

[ Rest and Refreshments ]

[ Hibiki sighs as the bird spirit wraps a heavy scarf around her neck, offsetting the starkness of her dark sweater. That's....surprisingly convenient. ] How much weight can you carry?

[ The bird twits off to show off. Hibiki watches, then turns to go. Ridiculous. She doesn't need such a -

"Who is behind you now?"

A child shinki pauses and points. "I know her! She threw a party! God Apollo!" ]



---Eh?

God Training

[unlucky7]

[First you want the trunk in the storage room, then you want it out, and now you want it back in? Make up your mind! Ginia grumbles silent to herself as she enters the warehouse hauling a large wood chest. She carries it off to the corner, stopping when the corner the chest was previously in is now occupied by a giant, purple armchair and its owner.

Ah. Ginia sets the chest against the wall and peers at the script in Hibiki's hands. Ah!]

You're doing another movie?

[priforprince]

I am. [ Hibiki lowers the script, smirking. For you to phrase it that way.... ] You looked into the first one?

[ On the one hand, of course you would. But given that the general reception to that film is - baffling - and the director is making the second only because his daughter became Hibiki's fan (no one else on set, even said director, can seem to remember Hibiki's name), this is a pleasant conversation to be having. ]

[unlucky7]

I saw your post on the BBS.

[Actually see the movie? Oh no. Ginia's exposure to movies has solely been through Netflix and since it isn't on there, sorry Hibiki.]

What's the new movie about?

[priforprince]

The sheriff travels to a different town.

[ Hibiki flicks through a few more pages to confirm her suspicions about this plot are correct. ] And uncovers a secret from his past. It's an exciting sequel.

[ And yet, there's something.....lacking. It's exactly the kind of film she enjoys starring in, but - what is it? What has her restless?

The budget is lower than she's used to. That's irritating, yes, but not....

Why is she dissatisfied? What new idea is budding within her breast that makes all other movies seem pale shams? ]

[unlucky7]

[Any piece of media can be summarized into a single sentence that can be absolutely factual while also very boring, but even that feels incredibly reductive.]

What's the secret?

[Hey, it's not like anyone would notice spoilers coming from the Far Shore.]

[priforprince]

I haven't reached it yet.

[ Hibiki lowers said script. Why? She's memorized countless scripts in the past. Why can't she focus properly on this one? Even before the interruption, her mind had wandered.... ] I'm still in the middle of absorbing it, after all.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's head tilts slightly, her fingers tapping lightly against the phone. She doesn't pretend she knows Hibiki well at all, but compared to their other conversations, the god certainly seems subdued.]

Are you okay?

[priforprince]

Why wouldn't I be?

[ There's that slight edge of pride that usually laces her words. Hibiki adjusts herself in her chair, the better to occupy its entirety like a throne in which she has every right to sit. ] Once I make my mind up to do something, it's as good as executed perfectly.

[ Asking her if she's okay. Ridiculous! What quirk of fate could have caused that...?

....why is this script so unsatisfying, arghgghghghghgh... ]

rest and refreshments;

[handle]

[ How much weight can you carry?

Sorey turns at that pointing to himself. ]

Me?

[priforprince]

Were you looking for employment?

[ She'd meant the bird spirit, but she can roll with this. Or give him grief. However he chooses to take that.

There is a bird hovering around a cup of tea, now, trying to figure out these logistics. ]

[handle]

Not really. [ PLEASE DON'T GIVE HIM GRIEF HE'S PURE AND INNOCENT... ]

But, I can offer you help if you need it.

1/2 i want icons

[priforprince]

Our prior encounters haven't been encouraging.

[ She considers this anyway, though. The wandering spirits she'd gotten to help her earlier today have, true to their name...wandered. And it's much nicer out here, even with the cold, than it is indoors.

So be it. ] There's a chair in the hallway. Move i--

2/2

[priforprince]

[ She tries to step in the direction of the building and. Can't. From the look on her face, this was unexpected.

The shinki kids are in a huddle, waiting for God Apollo to get with the program and join the game, already. A few of them are even looking expectantly at Sorey. You too? ]

[handle]

They haven't? [ Hey, they were able to finish answering to the prayer, weren't they?

Still, when the kids look to Sorey and Hibiki, he tilts his head slightly, pointing to him and then at Hibiki with a questioning look before tilting his head. ]

Sure, what kind of game?

[priforprince]

[ The kids are eager to explain, gathering in a circle around Hibiki. It's "Kagome Kagome"! And God Apollo is the "demon"! ]

What?

[ Here. You can get in the circle too. A few of the kids try to guide Sorey into the proper position to begin the game. ]

I haven't agreed---

[ Hibiki struggles against her invisible bonds. The kids, unaware just how compulsory their game is, grin. ]

[handle]

[ Ah, before he realizes it, they're both in the circle... Sorey laughs a little, rubbing the back of his head. Hibiki looks pretty annoyed, but all of this is harmless, isn't it? ]

Come on, it's just a game, isn't it? Let's just play along with them for a little while.

rnr

[nopixiedust]

It's Kagome, Hibiki!

[And, blending right in with the group of child shinki, is Wendy. Hey, she gets along with the kid shinki under Amaterasu!]

Do you know how to play~?

[priforprince]

I want no part in children's games!

[ But her feet are. Glued to the ground. By some force.

Hibiki hasn't felt like this since the time Tsubasa pinned her next to a puddle she'd been staring into with ninja powers....She struggles against the hold, clearly conflicted.

The shinki children are all staring, confused. Is the God okay? ]

[nopixiedust]

[The God is fine, kids, she's just herself. Wendy sighs.]

You're stuck there until you win.

1/2

[priforprince]

What unpleasant coercion....

[ It gives her a sick feeling in her mouth. Hibiki lowers her head, thinking over what Wendy has said. Stuck until...

Until she... ]

2/2

[priforprince]

--But, victory in literal child's play shall come instantly.

[ TWINKLE

Let's get this over with! ]

[nopixiedust]

That's the spirit!

[Whatever makes her god stop being needlessly dramatic over kids playing a game. Honestly, Wendy worries where she would be without her.]

So do you know the name of the person behind you?

[priforprince]

My information network---

[ No, no, objects one of the other kids, coming up to Wendy to be a Helpful Explainer. They have to sing the song together first! That's half the fun of the game!

The kids all take their places around Hibiki, ready to do the game Right. Following the rules is important. ]

[nopixiedust]

Oh, right. I forgot that part.

[It is her god, after all. She tends to be a lot more lax with her than she should be.... said even as she takes her place too, grinning broadly and bursting into song along with the other kids in hopes this might cool her god's head a little.]

[Sometimes you just need to be humiliated by small children.]