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

[welcome_home]

[ She hums at this logic. ]

Maybe. But I need to find a way to be able to rend them, too, so they don't hurt anyone. That's what Suou and I have been trying to figure out when we practice.

[kokuyoyo]

....So.... Use him as a whip?

[It's really all Chikusa can think to offer, since his "choke them to death" option was clearly shot down.]

[welcome_home]

Can a scarf really work as a whip?

[ She glances down at Suou's vessel form uncertainly. ]

[kokuyoyo]

....The end isn't weighted, so not... properly... but you can still twirl it around.... I guess.

[He pecked straight through an ayakashi's wing, he's pretty sure there's some leniency when it comes to that.]

[welcome_home]

[ She hums and slides her fingers against her scarf again. ]

I don't know if the end being weighted matters, when it's Suou. He can do lots of cool things!

[kokuyoyo]

Then.... It's probably worth a shot.

[It's certainly the best idea he has.]

[junkyarddog]

[It's about this time that the pair will spot Ken, scribbling on his survey paper with his tongue sticking out as though it's taking him great effort and concentration. It probably is; reading and writing have always been rather distant interests, rarely practiced, compared to his partner.]

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako spots him right away and finally releases her grip on Chikusa's hand to bounce over and tackle Ken from behind, throwing her arms around his shoulders as she leans against his back and hugs him. ]

Ken! Hi!

[kokuyoyo]

[Well, there's the dog they've been looking for. It's pretty easy to let go of Chikusa's hand, and he just slides it back into his pocket to slouch distantly after her.]

[Ken looks like he could use a distraction from all of this anyway.]

Ken.... You like Nanako, right...?

[junkyarddog]

[Ken isn't surprised by Nanako, exactly - he was aware of her and Chikusa approaching on some level, through his senses, especially since they weren't exactly trying to conceal themselves - but the hug from behind catches him off guard, and he cranes his head to look over his shoulder down at her in surprise.

Chikusa's question just confuses him further.] Hah?

[welcome_home]

Chikusa is confusing.

[ Nanako pets Ken's shoulder consolingly, huffing out a small sigh at how Chikusa had chosen to start this conversation. She's still draped against his back, though, leaning against him as she glances between the pair of them. ]

He's worrying. Because my big brother and my shinki left.

[junkyarddog]

Both of them? [Ken blinks, then frowns.] So who's looking after you, byon? You're still just a kid...

[In his own way, Ken's immediately started worrying too.]

[welcome_home]

Well, Suou's still here! [ She's quick to supply, not wanting to worry him, too. ] Homura was onii-chan's shinki but she let me Name her too, when none of my shinki ever stayed very long so I never had one. But Suou's been here for a little while now so maybe... it will be okay?

[ She hopes so. She doesn't want to think about Suou disappearing on her too, her happy expression faltering a bit. ]

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa doesn't say "probably not", but it's in his general demeanor as he comes to a stop besides the two of them.]

So... Since she's on her own like that... I said I'd be fine with noraing for her... if you were there too.

[Since it was never really in question.]

I already asked Hakkai, and he said it would be fine for Nanako...

[junkyarddog]

Oh. [Ken blinks, then looks down at Nanako.] Yeah, I don't mind. She's nice and she's fed us, byon. Plus we'll stick around more than her other shinki did; we've been here awhile.

[He looks over at Nanako.] Kakipi's a good shinki, byon. And I'm getting better at borderlines.

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako pats his shoulder lightly when he glances back at her. ] I know you're both good shinki. You're nice, too.

[ She's got a totally unbiased opinion of this, of course.

Glancing between them, she chews on her lower lip for a moment. ] Well. Okay. If you're both sure? And Hakkai doesn't mind. And I don't think Suou would mind either. [ Because more people to help protect her seems like it would be something he would approve of - she knows he worries about that. ] I can give you both Names.

[kokuyoyo]

[That's probably the most innocent compliment anyone has ever given to either of them. Amazing. With his hands in his pockets, Chikusa just nods.]

Then... ready whenever, I guess...

[...Oh yeah-]

Hakkai said you can come to dinner tonight, so he wanted to know what you would want.

[welcome_home]

Okay. Ummm. I've never done two at once before. Do I just.... name you one at a time? [ And now she's trying to quickly come up with a name for them. Hmmm..... ]

Oh! I can come to dinner? That sounds like fun! Is it okay if I bring Suou along, too? Have you met him yet? And anything would be fine! Uhh.... as long as it's not spicey, please?

[junkyarddog]

I dunno how it works, byon. [Ken scratches his cheek.] Kakipi and I haven't been named by the same god at the same time before...

[He stays out of the dinner discussion, since Chikusa's the informed one here.]

[welcome_home]

You haven't? [ She sounds a little surprised by that, because they almost seemed to do everything together for almost as long as she's known them. Well. Chikusa, at least, even if she'd met Ken later. Even she'd been aware they were sorta a package deal before that.

She reaches out to pat Ken's head lightly, since she can reach it at the moment, and smiles at him warmly. ] Don't worry. I think if I just do it one at a time, it'll be alright. Umm. Who should go first, though?

[ Since she thinks she has what she feels are the right names for both of them. ]

[kokuyoyo]

No....

[Things were Happening when they were named by two separate gods, that's all that needs to be said. Chikusa won't go into much detail on it, instead just shuffling forward.]

Anyway... I'll go first. Let's just get it over with....

[junkyarddog]

[Ken nods.] Do Kakipi first, byon. Kakipi's always been named first. [Apparently Ken either feels no need to change this, or he actually think that because this is the way it's always happened before, it's the way it always needs to happen.]

[welcome_home]

Kakipi? [ Nanako giggles at this nickname, glancing up at Chikusa in amusement. She's heard Ken call him this a couple times now, but it still amuses her. ] Okay, I will start with Chikusa. Umm... what were the words again...?

[ She closes her eyes a moment to focus on the spell she'd learned, carefully reciting the words Souji had taught her all those months ago. She's said them several times now, but they're still a little tricky for the little girl to get right, especially when she's so focused on doing it well. ]

My name is Nanako. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument. The name, Chikusa. The vessel, In. Come, Inki!

[kokuyoyo]

[It's not like they're going anywhere; Chikusa waits patiently while Nanako recalls the words. They're a familiar cadence when she says them, a strange weight that curls tight into his being, and he's familiar with the pull that dissolves his body, whisking it away...]

[The purple cat-eared hat which settles on Nanako's head seems to bring with it a dark memory that is thankfully short.]

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako had braced herself for the memory - the worst part about giving shinki a name, in her opinion. Having to see those last few moments without being able to do anything about them. It's always too sad, too scary, and her eyes are clenched tightly shut as Chikusa's new name etches itself on his being and his last moments flash before her eyes.

Seeing Ken there in the memory with him, his face hovering over Chikusa's at the last.... that made it even harder.

Fingers curl into tight fists as she presses them against her eyes, giving a soft sniffle as she tries not to cry. Thankfully short or not, Chikusa is still an important person to her, and to see that still hurts deeply.

But she still manages to reach up a moment later to pat a hand against the sudden new weight atop her head. A.... hat?

Of course he would be a hat. She can't even be that surprised. ]

Chikusa? Are you okay?