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

[reloves]

[ There's a few things Minako thinks she can expect from this seemingly very serious talk as they head off to a slightly more quiet corner. Maybe Zelda wants to talk about the nature of their relationship as a god and shinki and how she sees it. Maybe it's about something important Minako still has to learn about this place. There's a few possibilities at the very least.

She's not sure if this is one she saw coming. And her first instinctive reaction.. Well, she isn't too sure if she likes hearing this. Something feels a little sour about hearing that Zelda is just going to be gone the moment she can leave, while Minako is forever stuck here since she's dead. She can't have that opportunity Zelda has.

But that instinctive emotion in her gut fades a bit when she really looks at the other. Zelda looks almost nervous - even if she's trying to hide it, there's some telltale signs that somehow Minako instinctively recognizes. (Since it's the very same thing she has done before, even if she doesn't realise or remember.) Zelda doesn't like telling her this either.

And.. doesn't it make sense anyway? If their roles were swapped, wouldn't she feel the same way Zelda does? She has absolutely no idea of what was there for her when she was alive, whether she felt as passionately about anything as Zelda seems to feel for her country. But surely she would at least have family and friends, people she cared about. People she'd want to be with, given the chance. She can't try and dig for the memories, since something about the very thought of doing that makes her feel sick, but she figures she'd want to go back as well. And she didn't even have the fate of a whole country riding upon her shoulders. (Maybe? Probably?)

So even though it takes a good moment of silence and very thorough thinking, making Minako's expression drop for a moment, a smile starts to appear on her face again afterwards. Not as over the top as before, but a little more gentle instead. ]

No.. I understand. It must be difficult for you, constantly thinking of your country but having no way to be there.. Of course you'd take the first chance to go back there. Wouldn't anyone?

[ She laughs a little, like this isn't some incredibly serious heavy topic. Like she's trying to make it a little lighter. ]

But until then you need someone here with you, right? And I don't mind being that person. [ She spreads her arms a little. ] I mean, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon! [ Kind of a macabre joke, but Minako doesn't seem too bothered. ]

Besides, it must suck so much to be here all by yourself without a partner! Cute girls have to stick together!

[sageprincess]

[The smile falls from Minako's face and Zelda thinks, surely, the third time must be the charm. Twice over she has given this speech, twice over the shinki on the other side has accepted it, and twice over she has awoken to find the connection suddenly severed and all evidence of their presence in the Heavens gone. But this time will be different; Minako will decide she does not wish to serve a transient princess, and ask to be released, as any reasonable person would. Zelda tries to ignore the gnawing emptiness she feels at that thought, and grits her teeth in preparation for the answer she knows is coming.

Except... that's not what happens at all. Minako smiles again, gently, kindly, and says she understands. And Zelda stares at her with no small amount of surprise as she laughs and jokes and tries to make things lighter despite all the reasons saying she shouldn't.

Besides, it must suck so much to be here all by yourself without a partner! she says, irreverently, and suddenly Zelda's vision goes a bit blurry. She hastily wipes at her eyes before her tears can do more than threaten to fall, and finally offers Minako a watery smile of her own.]

I-- I do not know about "cute," exactly, but I can say I would appreciate your company for however long I am permitted to have it.

[She takes a steadying breath, her sudden upswell of emotion gradually receding.]

Thank you, Minako. Your words are kind, and I am grateful for your understanding. I know all this must hardly be what you were expecting.

[reloves]

Honestly, I'm not sure what I was expecting.. Some people I met were super rude! [ She smiles though, despite the complaint - since it's obvious what she's implying here. Zelda isn't like that at all, so of course she doesn't mind having her as her god.

Especially when she caught that glipse just now of Zelda wiping at her eyes. Was she about to cry, or.. at the very least emotional? Minako figures it can't have anything to do with her personally, so what must have happened to Zelda in this place to make her feel that way, even briefly?

It's something she can only guess at, but while she still doesn't know anything.. well, cheering people up by being an energetic idiot is Minako's speciality. That much she can do right now. ]

You weren't about to cry though because you have such a weird girl as your partner, right? [ It's an obvious joke - like she's trying to make even the subject of Zelda's emotional turmoil lighter. There's not a part of Minako that seems to suspect Zelda really thinks that. ]

[sageprincess]

You are not weird. [Zelda insists regardless, earnestly and immediately. While her reply is not quite serious enough to suggest actual concern for Minako thinking that's what Zelda thinks of her, one might get the sense that the princess not someone that's exactly used to joking around.

And a part of her is tempted to leave it there, let Minako wonder what got her so worked up so suddenly because that feels safer than telling the truth, but... she remembers sneaking back home after a night of roofhopping under another guise in order to physically run away from her troubled heart, and Samus just... accepted it. Does she have any reason to believe Minako will be any different, from what she's seen?]

I just... suppose-- [She fidgets a bit here, playing with the tips of her gloves.] It has been rather quiet and lonesome in the temple as of late. So your assumption about being by oneself here is not wholly inaccurate.

[ughhhh she feels so weird, being honest about feelings and junk sucks--]

[reloves]

[ Living by yourself in a temple does sound like it wouldn't be fun. And Minako - being an incredibly social creature - of course understands the need for some social contact. Just having people around you. And while Minako certainly understands not wanting to show certain weaker sides of yourself, this need feels a lot more natural to just show.. Zelda shouldn't have to fidget just over telling her she's felt a little lonely, right?

So Minako just musters up the most encouraging smile she can put on her face, like she's trying to take away the feeling behind Zelda's words that makes her fidget with her gloves like that as best as she can. ]

Well, I'd definitely like to help change that. It feels like I'm pretty good at it, in fact! [ It's much harder to tell things about herself without the memories of experiences to back it up - it's definitely weird, that's for sure - but she feels pretty certain of this one. ] We can do fun stuff there, if you'd like! I'm not sure what you're used to, being a princess and all, but we could do chores together since that's totally boring by yourself or play games or even have a pyjama party-- that'd be super fun! And--

[ It's only then that she seems to realise she was rambling on, and she smiles widely, but a bit more sheepishly. ]

Look, I'm getting way ahead of myself already. I guess I'm just trying to say.. hm.. if there's ever anything you want, just ask me!

[sageprincess]

[Minako's efforts appear to be effective, as Zelda stops in her fidgeting as the other girl goes on and on about all the things they can do together, her eyes wide and perhaps a little overwhelmed. And Minako doesn't seem to be lying - or at least she doesn't feel the sting of her guilt if she is. She seems to genuinely be looking forward to doing all these things she's talking about, and how can Zelda respond to that in any way other than with a smile? It's a little weak on one side, sure, but it appears sincere enough.]

I suppose... you can begin with explaining to me what a pyjama party is? [That's definitely not something she's used to, being a princess and all. Still--] But I would also like to extend the same offer to you. I may not be as good as banishing things like loneliness as I believe you to be, but it is only fair that I return the favor.

We are partners in this, after all.

[And, just a little bit, she allows herself to believe that.]

[reloves]

Oh, don't worry about it! [ Minako smiles widely at the returned offer, but is also quick to try and repel the other's doubts. It's not that she doesn't get where Zelda is coming from - if she was a princess, she probably didn't have the time to do normal girl things that feel plenty familiar to Minako, regardless of her own lack of memories. But it's not like Zelda's lack of knowledge about these things or perhaps possible stiffness is going to be a problem at all. ]

I'm sure you'll be great at it! I guess some people might say it's a little too quick to judge something like this, but I already feel like things will be plenty of fun right now! Or at the very least, I'm super happy to hear you call us partners.

[ Since Zelda is the perfect partner. Gorgeous, kind, a princess? Full score across the board. There's no part of Minako's outward happiness right now that's anything less than 100% genuine. ]

I can teach you all about the stuff you don't know about! Like pyjama parties-- it's when you all sit together in a bedroom at night in your pyjamas and you play games or watch movies or just.. well, talk about stuff! Like the boys you like or anything you want! It's pretty great.

[sageprincess]

[Her smile takes a turn for the bashful as Minako declares with such confidence her faith that their time together will be an enjoyable one. She certainly hopes she can live up to Minako's expectations, and so she listens carefully to her explanation of pyjama parties with all the intent of someone mentally taking notes.

... At least until the proposed conversation topic. That's when her eyes widen slightly and she glances aside like she might be worried someone could be listening. No one is, of course, so she returns to center and nods.]

I see. I suppose if we are to share a temple-- ah, that is, only if you want to share one. Then just about any night could turn into a pyjama party night.

[generally pyjama parties are more than two people but that's okay zel you're trying--]

What kind of games do you play?

[Never talking about boys, nope. All game all the time.]

[reloves]

[ It's probably a good thing - for Zelda, anyway - that Minako is completely unaware of what that surprised reaction from the other means. She's way too focused on how quickly Zelda is agreeing with her ideas.. especially since it makes her rather happy. Being stuck with a god who was way too stiff to go along with anything fun would be way too stifling for her. ]

What are you talking about? Of course I want to share one! [ Granted, Minako is a special case since she doesn't care about privacy in the slightest. So the thought some others might not be as eager to share as her doesn't even come to mind. ]

There's tons of games though! There's pillow fighting.. But that might be a little too much for a novice.

[ She doesn't want to go too hard on her new goddess-princess-friend! And Minako is literally incapable of not going hard during competitions. ]

But there's also truth or dare, giving each other makeovers.. Really, I doubt we'll run out of stuff to do before you find a way to go back home!

[sageprincess]

[It is fortunate for both of them that Minako has shown up when she has. A little earlier, and the princess might have indeed been too stiff and guarded to entertain frivolous ideas like pyjama parties. But for now she smiles and nods along, a little overwhelmed but not unpleasantly so.]

I see. In that case, I will trust you to gently ease me into the way of such things.

[Which may be a bad idea, but, well. A royal's pride can lead to a bit of a competitive streak as well, in the right circumstances. Though she pauses at the reminder of there being other Important Things to Do.]

Ah, though... there is one more thing we should talk about here. Has anyone informed you of the nature of a shinki's vessel form yet?

[reloves]

A little.

[ Thankfully it's in Minako's nature to be able to switch from acting carefree and sometimes even downright ditzy to serious in the blink of an eye - so she retains the ability to do so even without her memories of the things she had to actually be serious about during her life. ]

There was some information about it on that pamphlet they handed out, but it wasn't a lot.. Something about the vessel form being able to kill ayakashi. [ To be fair, she didn't read it super thoroughly.. ]