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

[swordofzero]

[He frowned a little at that though it was easy to see why Marionette would need some time. It was bound to be strange for her. At least she wasn't left without a shinki completely- she still had snake.] I'm not sure if you know Cho Hakkai. I met him when I first arrived. He used to be a shinki.

[He was the only person Suzslu knew that it had happened to. Except Mr. Spears but he was gone now.]

[swordofzero]

[A straightforward punch was good. Suzaku closed the distance, his foot went behind Edge's and he stood to the outside of Edge's attacking arm. He pushed Edge's arm into and across Edge.

It was a simple hold, mostly maintained by pushing Edge slightly off balance. Any further back and he would fall over Suzaku's legs. Forwards was blocked by the fact that Suzaku had his arm and was pushing on him.] Alright how might you escape me?

[He's happy to let Edge experiment. He specifically chose a simple hold where there was no danger of Edge hurting himself if he tried something wild to get out of it.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

I'd better. Don't let the enemy have a trick unopposed, after all.

[Can't have those shinki causing trouble, huh. Her fists ball up at her sides, shoulders tight, belying her measured words.]

[purr_ince]

It's fine. I understand and I need a bit of time myself. there's a lot to sort through. He smiled slightly before giving a little nod. I've met him, we had dinner together once and I have been meaning to go see him again.

Hopefully, he won't mind me making a social call. Especially for something like this.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia watches Nia tense up, not sure what to do. Things don't seem to be any better for her - after all, she's still here and that's the main problem - and Ginia knows her words haven't helped. But what is there to do besides share the reality of things? There are spells for shinki that are most effective against shinki. There is the possibility Nia will need to defend herself from another shinki at some point.

Better to know than not, right? But it doesn't make it any easier or right.

Ginia doesn't know what to say so she moves on.]

The spell itself is simple. The person's vessel name plus "ki", and the spell said out loud. So in my case, you would say "Shuuki, bind."

[sageprincess]

[This girl thinks herself lucky.

Zelda forces herself to swallow the sick, uneasy feeling she has upon hearing that.]

Before you say that, and before this partnership is made official, there are a few things I would like to discuss with you, Minako.

[If allowed, Zelda will guide the other girl towards the quieter area of the garden, where they don't have to speak over a shredding koto player in order to be heard. As they walk, Minako might notice that the princess' movements seem rather stiff, almost as though she's nervous about something but is putting on a brave face regardless. It's been a while since she's had to have this talk, and after losing the two shinki she's had it with, it's not something she regards with fondness.

Still. She swallows, and breathes, and speaks with a clear voice once she's ready.]

This world is not my own. My country exists far, far away from here, and for the time being, it seems any efforts to reach it will not be met with success. [It is possible, technically; Add's experiment did manage to break the boundary between this world and another. But with their bodies now tied to the belief of the humans that live here... actually trying to leave only results in death. But Minako has already been intimidated by talk of gods and so on - she doesn't need to know the details of that failure just yet.] For now, I have accepted acting the part of a god for the people of this world, to aid in protecting them from the threats that they cannot face themselves... but my duty, first and foremost, must always be to my own. The moment a way to return to them shows itself to me, I will take it.

[She'll hate herself a little for it, because she's grown quite fond of certain people here and quite enjoyed herself at times, but that alone won't be enough to dissuade her. But with this all said, she allows her expression to soften.]

If you do not wish to serve alongside such a person, I will understand. I will not begrudge you for it. We can part here on friendly terms, and you will be free to choose whoever you wish to fight alongside. Whatever you wish to do is your choice.

[After all that, she wouldn't blame such a energetic, bubbly personality if she didn't want to be stuck with someone so bound up in duty and responsibility. She thinks it would be fair enough, honestly.

... But having someone so bright around the temple would be nice.]

[bass_instincts]

Shin laughs a bit, "I meant with you, he made it pretty clear that he wasn't going to let me be anything less than that."

He hasn't gotten to see Adrien's temple yet, so he is a little surprised about the number of cats. Mostly surprised that it's not more with him being the latest incarnation of Bast.

[hellishrabbit]

[ Kamui looked up from one of many plates he was finishing off. There's a pause as he regards the blonde, a small smile on his face. ]

Depends who's asking.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin is impatient. Then let’s go. Right now.

He’s so hungry that he almost can’t take it. He needs energy. He needs to fight.

Nari, if you give me the ability to feed you will have no occasion to doubt my loyalty. If not...we might have a problem, mightn’t we?

[dredefulchilde]

Sorry, Romeo, but Joscelin is going to continue to laugh. Oh, this is precious. The other boy is entirely too easy to tease.

“And have you ever done it? Run up to an ayakashi and clawed its eyes out?”

[dredefulchilde]

[...Too late. The soup goes down the wrong pipe and Joss finds himself choking, his eyes watering. He glares at the woman like it’s her fault.]

...The least you can do is get me some water now.

[He says, between coughs.]

[dredefulchilde]

Joss catches the plane out of the air, scowling. He is nothing if not a sore loser and Shin’s offer does little to soothe his bruised ego.

“I’ll pass, thanks.” He shoves the plane back at Shin. “Give it to one of the idiots I stole most of this rubbish from.”

[dredefulchilde]

[She’s not very bright, is she?]

For stomping on my foot, you idiot.

[dredefulchilde]

“So the possibilities are seeing other shinki be sick on a merry-go-round, looking at dead leaf matter, and running around in circles? God’s wounds. Are you quite certain that this is Heaven we’re in? Because it sounds like my definition of hell.” He’s being dramatic, of course, and he’s too proud to admit that he thinks he might have really liked to go to the amusement park, but still.

“Hasn’t anyone here heard of video games?”

[bass_instincts]

Shin takes the plane, but hearing that he throws it back at Joss, this time looking angry, "Stole?" He hadn't been expecting to hear that, and it ticked him off a little. "Couldn't find enough of them yourself?" Okay, maybe he was being a little too harsh with the kid, but as far as Shin's concerned, Joss deserved it to steal something he didn't have to.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin just glares back.

“That’s right,” he says, setting his shoulders and ready for a fight. “I stole it. There wasn’t any challenge in finding the prizes; babies could’ve done it. So I made my own rules and I was smarter and faster and stronger than the others.”

[bass_instincts]

"Uh huh," Shin says, unimpressed, "and a cheat. You know some of them were pretty well hidden. You could have just waited on the trash to get collected before looking for the hard to find ones, instead of getting swept up with the garbage."

He leans back and settles in, "and did you take shit from kids younger than you, too, or did you at least have the honour to just try to get it from people older than yourself?"

[bass_instincts]

You sound so convinced of that, [His tone is joking, but he can feel that at least a part of him is really chiding Adrien for having such faith.]

[nolittlesecret]

"Calm down, child. Seriously. We ain't ever worked together, and you're expecting me to jump head first into something without testing the water? Gimme a few days and I'll find us a prayer to do. If not, we can go hunt down some strays in the Near Shore."

Does that sound like a good idea? Because Nari isn't risking anyone around here just to feed you.

[dredefulchilde]

“Honor, huh?” Joss’s voice is brittle, his tiny hands balled up into fists so tight that his fingernails are biting into his palms, drawing blood.

“What the fuck does honor mean, anyway? Yes, I stole from other children. I’m a cheat and a thief and a bully. Is that what you want me to say, O high and mighty one? You’re the one in the prison uniform, not me.”

It’s a low blow. He doesn’t care. Not when there’s a lump in his throat and his eyes are burning and he can’t figure out why.

With that comment he might not.

[silentscales]

[Snake blushes at that. It was almost like she knew. But that was impossible, so he just responds in a whisper,] Yes

[And then a little louder,] says Ayn. [Though the voice was decidedly not the one he used for her earlier.]

[dredefulchilde]

Calm down?

Joscelin bristles. I’m starving, Nari. ‘A few days’ won’t cut it.

[bass_instincts]

Shin stands, closing the distance between them in a stride. He roughly grabs Josslin's hand, opening it up to get him to stop hurting himself, even if it was accidental. "I'm not high, or mighty. I'm certain I've fucked up a lot of things, or I wouldn't have come here the way I did."

He tugs Joss a bit to get him to look at him, "Yeah, I'm a convict, but what does that mean if a convict is giving you a lecture on morals?" He sighs, "But doing something once doesn't mean that's who you are. This is a second chance at everything. A second life. Let's both try not to fuck it up."

[dredefulchilde]

Joss doesn’t want to look at Shin. Not when his eyes are burning and he feels weak, and stupid, and...

He lets out a breath and is surprised when it comes out as a ragged sob. This is ridiculous. Why is he crying? He’s angry, not sad.

“...damn it,” he swears softly, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.

[bass_instincts]

Oh shit, now Joss is crying. Shin looks at him with an awkward frown, uncertain what to do. His hand tightens around Joss's hand, but after a moment he drops to one knee so he could look in Joss's face. "Come on, let's get your hands cleaned up," he says with a sigh, putting his other hand on Joss's shoulder, curling his fingers to encourage him to move in for a hug if that's what he needed.