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

I

[abgrund]

[ A very long dark... shadow hand extends from around a corner, plucks some pieces of confetti out from Hbiki's hair. The owner of said hand follows a few moments later, gaze mostly empty.

The hand retracts with accompanying confetti, vanishes not into his (human-shaped) arms but into the dark mist rolling under his feet. ]

[priforprince]

Hm?

[ Did Hibiki just...feel something? Frowning, she glances over. Just in time to witness these shenhandigans.

A piece of the candy slips out of her grip and shatters within its wrapper. ]

[abgrund]

[ His hollow gaze trails over to Hibiki, then at the candy on the floor. ]

You dropped something.

[priforprince]

[ Yes, thanks. She never would have known.

Still, he's never been deliberately obnoxious to Hibiki, so she shan't take him to task. ]

Your greeting methods are....unique.

[ Much. ]

[abgrund]

[ thinking... ]

You don't like it?

[priforprince]

Most people introduce themselves.

[ But that doesn't suffice. No, he must understand the insufficiency of what he has done. ]

Surprising people with a grandiose entrance is best left to me.

[abgrund]

[ Most unfortunately, it goes over his head. His entrance, or what she's calling it, doesn't seem too grandiose to him. ]

You don't remember how I am?

[priforprince]

...Never mind.

[ She remembers, all right. ]

[abgrund]

[ So she does.

He's a lot more acclimatized to socializing since the last time they've spoken, though. Hopefully, it'll make things easier.

To start with the basics: ]

How are you?

[priforprince]

[ Is he trying to remember how to hold a proper conversation now?

Well, no matter. He asked a question and shall receive an answer. Hibiki snorts. ] Unimpressed. Could I be anything else surrounded by such tedium?

[ While she says this, she pockets her remaining candy. ]

[abgrund]

[ But she's still taking the candy despite calling it tedious. ]

What are you impressed by, then?

[priforprince]

Someone of my refinement only permits top-class events in their environment.

[ Someone of her refinement also apparently doesn't use Japanese when English would sound more impressive.

Hibiki waves a decidedly unenthusiastic hand at the sight of everyone else running around for the scavenger hunt, prizes popping upon contact. ]

This commotion is too raucous.

[abgrund]

[ Refinement, top-class... what does she mean? ]

Something formal?

[ That brings another question, though. ]

Then why are you here?

[priforprince]

My reconnaissance tools keep being broken.

[ A sigh. She doesn't want to think about that, so she'll change the subject. ] And? Why did you approach me?

[ We know why she's here, now. What about you? What possessed you to, ah,

yeah, "approach" is a good word for how this interaction began. ]

[abgrund]

[ Reconnaissance means she wanted to spy on people. It makes sense to him in a roundabout way, given how he's also prone to using eyes to watch people. ]

You look like... you needed help.

[ The hand pops out from his fog again, holding out a piece of confetti ]

[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. ]

[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. ]

[priforprince]

[ ....Hibiki stares.

And coughs into that handkerchief. ]

Well, your inability to tear your eyes away from me is expected. I'll acknowledge your taste.

[abgrund]

[ There's a pause upon which he looks down at his hands, examines the eyes that sometimes bubble up upon his skin. ]

Okay.

[priforprince]

...Do you need that many eyes to do it?

[ Gulp. ]

[abgrund]

[ For her sake, he closes most of them. His face-eye remains open, though. ]

I usually look like this....?

[priforprince]

....So you do.

[ One might hope you'd be able to do something about your decidedly inelegant aura, but, that may be a lost cause. Hibiki reboots herself. ]

In any case, all is well. I'll be leaving shortly, so if you wish for service for becoming my fan, this is your last chance.

[abgrund]

[ He does have a question. ]

Why do you ask people if they want to be your fan?

[priforprince]

I'm not asking.

[ Hibiki smirks. On a roll, she doesn't have a problem with stepping closer. ] The seed of admiration has already sprouted in your heart. That's what drew you to me.

Here, to tide you over.

[ It's a bonus smirk: heh! Right in your face! Just for you!

HOW DAZZLING. ]

[abgrund]

[ ????????????

There's a few moments of pause as he just.... stares. And then, remembering what Sakura said a while back, he takes out the phone that Add gave him. ]

Can I take a picture?