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

[purr_ince]

Okay, you can't dis my jokes. That's just totally not cool?

[bass_instincts]

What if I say the only thing funnier than your jokes is how bad they are? [He's just teasing. Mostly.]

[purr_ince]

Ohhhh Ohh that's a low, low blow! How dare you. You're sleeping out on the steps tonight. [ Hopefully Shin can tell he's teasing because really like he'd ever make someone sleep outside. He's much more likely to give up his bed and sleep on the floor... ]

[bass_instincts]

[Shin plays along, shrugging,] I'll just have to find a cute girl to share a warm bed with.

[purr_ince]

Right. Well, I supppose you could if you wanted to but I would ask you not to try that with the pig-tailed goddess in the temple next to ours. You can do as you like.. for the most part when it comes to interacting with others. Aside from not flirting with Marinette I'd only ask you to not invite a woman by the name of Hibiki back to our temple. I mean unless I'm there. She's a bit difficult to deal with but I've managed. She's got some kind of superiority complex.

[bass_instincts]

Is Marinette your girlfriend, then? [He gives another shrug,] That Hibiki person sounds more like the kind of person I'd get in a fight with than try to take home.

[purr_ince]

I .. my... [ He's silent a moment. a heartbeat really his expression which had been laid back and calm cracks, shoulders slump a frown tugging at his mouth - suddenly he looks so tired when he finally answers. ] No. No she's not my girlfriend. She's a friend from back home and she likes someone else. Can we... [ His voice cracks slightly. ] Can we just not talk about how I screwed stuff up?

[bass_instincts]

[Shin frowns a little at that. It's been how many minutes since they met and already Shin hates to see that look on his face. Maybe it was because how kind and good Adrien had been in even just the short time he's known him.

He moves to put a hand on Adrien's shoulder, tilting his head as he looks in Adrien's eyes,] Hey. I don't think you screwed up anything. You'll just have to prove that you're better than whoever she likes back home. Because I've only just met you and I'm already pretty sure you have to be.

[purr_ince]

I wish that was the only problem? It's not though. See.. She saw me die.. .a couple times I guess and the most recent one I might have told her and um... and [ His voice drops kind of to a whisper because he doesn't know how people around here feel about this kind of thing. He only knows his father would be furious. ] her Shinki, Snake, that - [ He next words come out as a rush and all in on breath trailing off into nervous, panicked laughter. ] I'mkindofinlovewiththembothsothere.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin takes a minute, a little surprised, but then shrugs, patting Adrien's shoulder] Wouldn't things be easier if you could just have them both? [He frowns a little,] I mean, as a God does it matter what anyone else thinks? If they'll have you just have both of them.

[purr_ince]

It would be yes. Absolutely. But I don't know if they feel the same way exactly. [ He sighed and shook his head. ] I don't want to push or anything like rush them so... I'm giving them some time.

[bass_instincts]

It doesn't sound like you even got close to messing up.

[He leans aside and in a little again, offering Adrien a sympathetic smile,] So don't act like they already rejected you. You seem like the kind of person that would have friends that wouldn't get too hung up on things like that.

[purr_ince]

I just... I can't help but feel like I did, Shin. [ He rubbed at the back of his neck then sighed. ] I'll try not to? It's just really hard. I take feeling like I messed up rough. I always feel like if -- if something isn't perfect it's not enough. [ It's never enough. 'Good going, Father,' he mused to himself in a bitter mental tone. ]

[bass_instincts]

[Shin gives Adrien a piercing look over the food he's picking at. He puts his fork back down to look Adrien in the eyes.] Yeah, you're not going to go easy on me and do that to yourself. That's bullshit.

[purr_ince]

[ What is that look for? What'd he do? He's not sure. Maybe he shouldn't have told? Heck if he knows, this is why he kept quiet. That and the feeling of 'but you have so much people have it worse, Adrien. Buckup buttercup' that rested in his chest. ] Wait what? I can't help it? I mean it's just.. .it's how everything has always been. [ He's learning but dying and regaining memories was a massive step back in the wrong direction. Because now he hears Gabriel's voice in his head.... ]

[bass_instincts]

Sure you can. Whoever it was that put the thought in your head that you had to always be perfect isn't here. And if they are, they don't have control over you anymore. You're a god. Even if they're another god, they can't do anything to you that you don't let them do now. You don't have the excuse of needing a house or food to let someone control you anymore. So stop thinking you have to be perfect. [He leans against the table, frowning at Adrien,] If you don't ease up on yourself, then I'm going to hold myself to your stupid standards even if you don't want to hold me to them too.

[purr_ince]

That - Those are all very true points. [ They are. Really, they are and Adrien should take them to heart but... His expression turned shocked and he's staring at Shin his eyes wide as cold be his mouth falling open.] Would you really do that? I mean... Why would you do that to yourself? [ That is his life it almost always has been but why would someone do that to themselves if they didn't have to? ]

[bass_instincts]

[Shin wears a soft, smug smile.] We're supposed to be a team, right?

Besides, what's a shinki to do if their God isn't taking care of themselves?

[purr_ince]

Yes of course... [ Are his words really coming back to bite him in the butt? They are. Holy cats! ] Fair enough. I'll try.

[bass_instincts]

Asking for anything more would be asking for perfection.

[purr_ince]

.... You got me there. [He's clearly met his match when it comes to stubborn Shinki.]

[bass_instincts]

[If Adrien was going out on a limb to help Shin like this, he just felt it was natural to return it. They were dependant on each other, after all. Maybe Shin more on Adrien than the other way around, but Adrien's the one that put them on at least relatively even footing.

Shin laughs softly, patting Adrien's shoulder again,] I think you were right. We will make a good team.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien sighed softly. Then he's gesturing with a finger.] I think so to but you're going to have to be patient with me. I've never had a Shinki before even if I've been one. [Then again he's had an entire city depend on him. Just one person couldn't be nearly as bad, right?] Did you figure out what you needed?

[bass_instincts]

[He sighs, a pang of anxiety coming through.] I think it's nicotine. Cigarettes.

[purr_ince]

Oh. Oh. I've never smoked before but I know plenty of people that do. Other models and whatever... So If we can find you a place to get some over where the living are that would be fine. Just like crack your window or do it outside?