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

[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?

[priforprince]

Very well.

[ She'll even. Strike a pose. For him. This is more like it! This is how a conversation is supposed to go!! ]

Immortalize me for your reverence!

[ There's some really cool light effects going on right now! Best not miss your chance for the best shot! ]

[abgrund]

[ takes a picture that's at a slant angle and probably only includes half of hibiki's body, because what is proportion ]

Thank you.

[ Time to put that phone back in his pocket. He'll look at it again later. Maybe print it out... ]

[priforprince]

[ And we're relaxing back out of the pose now. ] I rarely permit amateur photography. Treasure the incredible chance you were given.

[ Hibiki is saying this with an expression that implies she honestly believes she just bestowed a tremendous favor. ]

[abgrund]

[ He'll definitely have to ask someone how to interpret this rather strange chain of events. ]

Okay...?

[ does something that's vaguely a half-shrug ]

What... will you do now?

[priforprince]

I'll head back to my temple.

[ The more she thinks about this, the less this seems to be the place for her. The games are juvenile, and prone to disruptive explosions. ]

Genius flourishes best in the proper milieu, after all.

[abgrund]

Where is that?

[ Who is this person, anyway? ]

[priforprince]

You'll see very soon!

[ After all, it's almost Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas, you see, means Shikyoin Hibiki's Magnificent Christmas Dinner Show.

Oh boy! ]

[abgrund]

So you're not telling me?

[ Extravagance is lost on him. ]

[priforprince]

[ ...she's getting that impression. And yet he still managed to be sufficiently in awe to demand a picture! So she will not be deterred. ]

That would ruin the surprise.

[abgrund]

[ In awe, she says? ]

How strange.

[ He can't comprehend her actions... but maybe, that's just how humans are. ]

[priforprince]

[ That's. Not the reaction she was going for.

Who asks for a picture and then hides their joy? It's too late to go tsundere! ]

......Well, you'll understand when you witness it.

[abgrund]

I suppose I shall...

[ Probably not, though. But it's worth a try.

If that's all, maybe he should leave... ]

[priforprince]

Await the holiday season.

[ There. She got in a parting teaser. That is satisfactory.

Hibiki will take her leave, as well. Could she possibly have...jumped to conclusions about....?

No, that's impossible. She departs satisfied, secure in her printerpretation. ]