June Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: December 7th
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 rear of 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.

Once they've had a chance to have things explained, they'll have the chance to relax and enjoy an afternoon party.




Meeting Hall

God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a much nicer room than the warehouse where the last set of new gods got their informational speech. It's a smaller meeting room, with tatami floors and a small dais at the front of the room where the speaker stands. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter.

The speaker delivers her welcome speech with the intonation of someone who's practiced it many times. Newly arrived gods 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. They are allowed to remain in the room as long as they wish, should they want to discuss questions with each other or with more experienced gods who are here to help out.

Shinki Training

Various shinki in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's hosuehold are stationed around the dojo, passing out informational pamphlets that have been freshly printed. They will be happy to answer any questions or instruct the newcomers in the use of the borderline. They also accompany their answers, or lessons, with 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.

The dojo is back to its old, fully functional self; a set of motionless straw targets line one wall, to be used by people practicing with any of the weapons spread out on tables or hanging in racks on the walls. Outside, six animated straw targets wait in an area marked off with red ribbons and warning signs. Anyone entering the marked area may find themselves in combat with one (or more) of the magical training dummies. Those who leave the marked area, though, won't be chased.

Physical Training

Beyond the dojo, a scavenger hunt has been set up throughout the grounds of the Meeting Hall. Brightly colored plastic balls are hidden in shrubbery, tucked into support beams, floating among reeds in the ponds, and lurking in even cleverer hiding places. When a god or shinki gets their hand on one of them, they will burst open to reveal a hidden prize, such as candy, small toys, or accessories. How many can you find?

As well as the scavenger hunt, the white-robed shinki are engaging in more serious physical training and will be happy to let new gods or shinki join them. Sparring matches with practice weapons from the dojo, jogging laps around the hall, sit-ups, push-ups... or, for the younger shinki, competing to see who's the fastest to climb a tree.

Rest and Refreshments

Midafternoon, once the last of the scavenger-hunt prizes have been found, the white-robed shinki will turn their hands to clearing away the training equipment and laying out a lovely buffet table. Bright lanterns are hung from the trees, and a few shinki even take up a station on one side of the training area and begin playing shamisen, koto, wooden flute and drum. Although their instruments are traditional, their music selection ranges from some very classic Japanese tunes to others that sound surprisingly modern. The koto player can really rock!

Old and new gods and shinki alike are welcome to circulate, socialize with their friends, partake of the buffet food and enjoy the music. There's even room for those who feel inspired to dance, and plenty of privacy offered by the extensive garden for those who would rather retreat with their new partners to have a serious conversation.

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
• Relax at a party
• Have fun~

Comments

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki blinks at the hand's sudden reappearance, then snorts at the idea of her needing unordered-for assistance. ] That was it?

[ Wait, is it - is it still in her hair?

She pulls out a handkerchief to try and nonchalantly pat her hair free of confetti and (non-Hibiki-induced) glitter. She is missing a spot. ]

[disciprined]

You've never considered branching out a bit, pri?

[Mirei sets her hands on her hips. She huffs. Honestly. Sure, it's great to know yourself, to be sure what you're into - but how boring it would be to spend your entire life in Candy Alamode and never even get to try doing things a little differently.]

Perhaps we should perform together sometime, pri~! Have you ever had the chance to try a pop-type coord, pri?

[abgrund]

[ Snort or not, there's a piece of paper in her hair, so he'll use one of his shadow hands to pick it out.

The hand adds that piece of paper to the others it's holding. ]

Re: R&R

[lookingforhead]

[There's another nod, but this one is a bit more emphatic. She gives her bike a pat of appreciation and that's where things get a touch more weird.

A ghostly, somewhat warped whinny emanates from the bike. A sound of a horse, clearly, but perhaps a more ghostly one? By the sound of it the bike-horse seems to appreciate the compliment as well.]

[deathmetalist]

[She's being rained on. Is this guy even aware? Although it's not as though she hasn't become familiar with the confetti. With her candy collection, she's opened a few herself. Her eyes drop down to his outstretched hands.

. . . hand. And claw!? It distracts her for a moment before she really pays attention to what he's holding.]

Wha-- wow, really!? [They're actually cute!] Thank you! [She glances to either side for a moment and. Ah-- no pockets. She doesn't really have anywhere to hold the loot she's already gathered.]

Um... [She holds her hands up, trying not to drop any of what she already has.] Do you think you could just place it on top?

[swordofzero]

[This was his god then? Since arriving in the heavens over a month ago Suzaku had met a lot of people, but he had not met this god before. Suzaku smiled at him though it faded a little at the apology. Why was he apologising?

It confuses him and he blinks, not sure what to say or do. Why the apology? Was he apologising for the fact he was his god, or was he about to inform Suzaku he wasn't needed? Did that happen? Suzaku saw no reason why not. After all gods were humans who had been brought here, many might not wish to be partnered with a person they had never met before. Just because the heavens told them to.] Pleased to meet you Hakuryuu Kija. [A pause at the name, because the expectations of politeness and honorifics fluctuated so much between gods that it was confusing to say the least.

I'm Kururugi Suzaku. [He probably already knew that. But it felt rude not to introduce himself. He gave a shallow bow, still uncertain.]

[unlucky7]

[Every weapon has its pros and cons. The urumi wouldn't have come to be if it wasn't effective. What's more notable about this conversation is he's a man familiar with combat - though his sheer size and build betrays that much - and tactically astute. Ginia finds a second urumi hanging on the rack and feels the weight and tests how the blade coils on itself. She nods to herself as she puts it back.]

It would work well as a secondary weapon too. Given its light weight and flexibility, it wouldn't be difficult carrying one or concealing it in some way.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin decides it might be best to shift the topic away from whatever it was that just happened, at least until it wasn't so fresh.] So, I'm your first shinki, then?

You must really know how to pick 'em.

[bass_instincts]

That wasn't all that reassuring. He's pretty sure it wasn't meant to be, and while it wasn't comfortable, it was fine. It was at least something that felt a little familiar, though that just worried him more.

"Are you friends with Adrien, then?" He didn't really want to dwell too long on something he couldn't get answers for. There wasn't really any reason to keep focusing on it. Maybe if Suzaku was friends with Adrien he could get a better sense of what he's like. He'd only seen what he's already is pretty sure is just one side of Adrien. A side that was treating him just a little bit like glass, even if Adrien also seemed to be trying not to.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun shrugs slightly at that, turning his head to survey the area. They seem to have had a bit of a dearth in shinki recently, considering the number of soulless running around, so he wouldn't think Suzaku would be hurting for options.]

Might just be them wanting to avoid the crowding. It's rare that anyone goes unassigned for long unless they're specifically trying to avoid it.

[Obviously there's cases of that, but otherwise people tend to cycle pretty quickly after their gods vanish.]

[defensivematrix]

[ Nothing boosts confidence like a success. Especially when it was kind of a wild guess in a sense- no matter how many people she crossed out as possible "gods" this could have always been a miss. ]

To my understanding, we do not have to eat, but that means little. I will gladly take on your offer. [ There are foods and drinks so while the dead won't die of starvation, it still must be something they enjoy to do. Besides, she is a bit hungry. ]

I am- was Satya Vaswani. [ She will wait and see what kind of name she will get from him ] What kind of god are you?

[reloves]

[ Minako sure is getting a "take care of it" vibe from it, almost instinctively.. Which is kind of more of an intense and extreme thought than she'd like to have right now in this situation, so she tries to shove it aside as quickly as possible.

Maybe it's better to take a lighter approach. Especially when he's already not looking very happy. ]

Are you saying that because you're one of those types? [ For a moment she almost sounds serious, like that "those" is referring to something important, but then-- ] .. Tsundere?

[reloves]

Well, I can see why they made you a god.

[ She smiles as she says that, so it does seem to be genuine rather than just empty flattery. Minako has no idea what criteria there are for someone to be a shinki or a god - come on, wouldn't she have made the most gorgeous goddess? - but there's something about the other that does make her seem a little like what you'd expect a god to be like. Beautiful, something formal and elegant or.. well, almost regal about her? Sure seems fitting to Minako.

(She's still winking as she says it, but it just seems to be a good-spirited sort of thing.) ]

But as for being told anything.. Hmm, nope! I was already thinking I should go out to look for my god myself if no one turns up soon, but it's not like I have a lot to go on.

[swordofzero]

Were they friends? Suzaku supposed they were. Adrien was very friendly and seemed to see him as a friend. So perhaps they were. He nodded.

"I am. He has helped me a lot in the last weak since Lady Grell disappeared. He's been looking after my kitten for me."

Adrien was just a bundle of kindness and Suzaku still wasn't too sure what to make of that. But he was glad for his help and could only hope that one day he would be able to repay him. Though of course he didn't wish such a situation where Adrien needed so much help on him.

[swordofzero]

That's reassuring. [He had thought that here would be public enough that he could be found but perhaps it was that whoever his new god was avoiding the crowds of the training.] I am sure it won't be long.

[He hoped not, it was an off feeling this purposlessness he had felt since Grell disappeared. Not quite feeling like he should be here in the heavens anymore.]

[purr_ince]

Yep. You are. That makes you my exemplar which means if I were to get any others you'd be kind of my second in command.

[Adrien laughed.] Maybe but I think I've picked perfectly well.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien sent his message and settled let Rosalie lay in front of him reaching to scratch behind her ears.] Spoiled little kitten.

[yoshinocherry]

Right!

[And so, off they go!]

All the ones I've found so far have been in pretty sneaky spots, so make sure to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious.

[purr_ince]

I did. Much to my absolute shock. I mean I guess it's more than that? I don't understand the technical stuff but my name is gone from my wrist and Marinette didn't take it off - I even woke up in a new temple.

[He's confused about it to. It's okay thought because everything worked out for the best. He knows so many things and now Marinette doesn't have to scared for him or anything like that.]

Uh, kind of confusing. But I'm sure once it all kind of evens out and I get my head straightened out I'll be fine.

[purr_ince]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Suzaku. [And he means that there isn't a trace of sarcasm to his words at all. It's nice to know that someone thins so highly of him and that he can do this. He laughs softly.]

I have to admit it's purrty purrfect, yeah.

[thevanguard]

[ It has been a while, but she's always seemed pretty helpful, so he hopes what he heard was right. His hands still shoved deep in his pockets, he gives her a rueful smile, looking a little self-conscious. ]

Uhh. Someone said you sometimes teach other shinki the more advanced spells and that you were the person to talk to if I wanted to learn some of them.

[lookingforhead]

[There's a somber nod from the helmeted woman before she types up another response.]

I guess it's not much of a comfort to having died, but at least it's nice to know that there's something to give some deaths meaning? Not that we know I guess.

[She still doesn't know very much at all about her own previous life, let alone her passing, but she's happy for the deep feelings and muscle memory she's retained. At least she has a sense of self if not a precise picture.]

I'm Celty, by the way.

[pure_radiantics]

[ That makes her shoulders straighten and her expression break into a big smile. ]

Ah-? Yeah, absolutely! I've done that loads of times now!

[ She relaxes a little as she steps a little bit closer, trying to lower her voice again to stave off his anxious mood. ]

Did you have a particular spell in mind...? Or maybe you can just tell me what you've learned.

[myblueskies]

I will! [Brightly coloured balls looked pretty suspicious on their own but he will take extra care to look carefully.

He skipped ahead looking around. Stopping every so often to check under a rock or in a bush. He didn't think they would be in plain sight at all.]

Have you seen anything yet?

Re: R&R

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar claps his hands with a wide grin.]

Ha! I knew it! It's a horse! It felt too alive for a machine!

[His definition of alive maybe a bit unconventional.]

Say, girl, when I get my horse back let's race! I'm sure they have a good, straight road somewhere around here.