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]

Well, where I'm from it's not that big a deal to smoke cigarettes. I mean it's not my personal choice but - [He shrugs his shoulders.] you do you. Nope. We can go get some for you. No one'll even know we were gone.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin smiles at that, standing. He'd eaten only some of it, feeling too nauseous to actually eat.]

How do you get there, anyway? [So he'd missed a few details at the orientation. No big deal, right?]

[purr_ince]

Oh we teleport! It's pretty simple. As long as there's a temple or altar over there for which ever god you are or you're assigned to - you'll be able to cross. [Adrien is coming to his feet slowly before extending his hand to Shin.] I'll take you over. The first couple of times it's kind of wild and Shinki really shouldn't make he trip solo because of ayakashi.

[bass_instincts]

So shinki without a god can't leave? [He takes Adrien's hand so Adrien could help him. He hadn't really said much about problems of shinki, or how they're made out as subservient yet, but for some reason that restriction bothered him more than having to face a cruel world. Even if there was some basis for it, like travelling between was reliant on a God's power.] How do you do this, then?

[purr_ince]

I didn't say that. I mean I'm sure they can? I mean maybe? I didn't think to ask when I was a Shinki and I got Marinette as my goddess almost immediately after we both decided on it so I never had to worry about it. But honestly it's safer to go with a god... But yes you can use my Shrine or the shrine of another god as long as you have permission from them or their Shinki.

[He's holding tight to Shin's hand] That part is easy! You just will yourself there. But it made me kind of disoriented my first time so we're going together and I'm going to keep hold of you for a first few minutes here, between then there. Now close your eyes and think of people and shops and what you need we'll be there in no time at all.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin didn't dwell on the issues that must cause for unnamed shinki. He hoped he wouldn't have to worry about it himself.

He grips Adrien's hand back, not wanting to risk getting separated or something. If it was disorienting he's sure he'd appreciate the anchor as well.] Convenience store. Got it.

[He closes his eyes, thinking. He couldn't be sure of how easily the image of a convenience store popped to mind, or if it was a real place, or just an amalgamation of the things he expected, but it was easy enough to imagine. It would make sense, he supposed, since his uniform was Japanese too.

But then he realizes a problem and his eyes snap open. The uniform. He'd kept it on all day, and if someone from the Near Shore found it, surely there would be problems, right? But had they already started teleporting before he could bring it up?]

[purr_ince]

Right! [Adrien grins at that and laughs softly at him.] Right! We'll be fine. [He squeezes Shin's hand firmly. he closes his eyes but a moment later Plagg is kicking at him firmly and making him open them.]

What the heck?

'His clothes.'

Well I mean no one'd really focus or remember...

'Still people are bound to notice some guy looking like he just left a cell, Adrien.'

[The blond groaned.] A trip home first. I'll loan him something from my closet. I've got enough jeans and I should have a couple Jagged Stone shirts or something...

[bass_instincts]

[Shin sighs,] sorry. [He deflates, but then something occurs to him.] Hold on, let me just have that white shirt. [Adrien's much taller than Shin, and even widered shouldered. If not for their faces, Adrien would be the one that actually looked older.] I'll just leave this one here.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien blinks then he's drawing back shrugging out of his over shirt and holding it out.] I honestly forget I'm wearing this thing most of the time.

[He doesn't even remember why he wears it to be honest. But he just does. It's like a deeply ingrained habit by now.] Sure here. Let's just put this on you. We'll get you a couple shirts and jeans while we're out or something.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin unbuttons his own shirt. It's pretty obvious that he's not a brawling type, since the only scars on his hairless abdomen are fairly recent to his death, all along the edges of where the belt had been too tight on his body. Even now there's some bruising left behind.

He puts on Adrien's and it's unsurprisingly just a bit too large on him. Somehow he still manages to make it look like it was made for him.] All right. This should be good enough.

[purr_ince]

[Adrien watches him with a little smile. Even if he's flinching seeing those scars and bruising. It worries him even if he's sure it will heal he hates that it was even there in the first place.]

If all else you can always borrow some of my clothes if need be. Yeah you'll be fine. [And the pants and shoes wouldn't stand out much either. He's smiling reaching out to take Shin's hand again.] Now we can go. Ready?

[bass_instincts]

[Shin nods, taking Adrien's hand and closing his eyes again. At least they won't have any cops called on them now.]

[purr_ince]

[Holding tight to Shin's hands, his eyes are closing, Shin might feel a rush of air as if they're flying or falling and energy all around then but then they're still. Adrien is speaking softly once they're appearing on the other Shore.]

Take a few deep breaths it helped my first time. Don't open your eyes until your stomach settles. You're fine and I've got you.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin keeps hold of Adrien's hands, letting his whole body settle back down. He focuses on his breathing until he feels like things aren't still spinning. He slowly opens his eyes to see the streets of Tokyo under his feet.]

That wasn't too bad.

[purr_ince]

[He's just letting Shin adjust, rubbing at his back lightly with a hand.] Some people handle it better than others. As long as you're feeling alright we'll find a shop. [He's digging his phone from his pocket and pulling up a map to search for a place to pick up some spare clothes for Shin - just a couple seats of jeans and shirts to start him off to make the trip a quick one. The first one can be kind of overwhelming. At least that was his experience.] Ah so we'll go get you some clothes right fast. It's just there. Then a bit away there's a convenience store or heck there might even be a vending machine - they have them for everythng else.

[bass_instincts]

[Shin takes his time to recover, taking a few experimental steps before finding his confidence.]

Ah, I still feel sick, but I can't tell if it's the teleporting or the lack of nicotine.

[purr_ince]

Likely both but don't worry. Getting you clothes will be a quick in and out. We can just eye sizes, no trying stuff on. I'm good at stuff like that then we'll get you a pack or however those things are sold here. Cartons? Packs.. Whatever.. We'll get you a lighter and ashtray, too. We'll get you what you need.

[bass_instincts]

A portable ashtray might be a good idea, too. [He's keeping an eye out in the vending machines. Finally he notices one that offers cigarettes. Unlike in his Japan they've started requiring people to scan a card meant to restrict underage purchases, so they might run into some problems trying to actually make use of it as Shin walks up to it.]

[purr_ince]

Oh. Didn't think of that but yeah that might be a good call if we go some place where they don't have one like another temple or something like that. And you don't want to litter or anything like that either.

[Adrien is following him over arching a brow a bit.] I don't have an id card - a legitimate one or a fake one. You know if we were in Paris this wouldn't be a problem.

[bass_instincts]

Uuuugh! [Shin's kicking the machine, but nowhere near hard enough to actually do anything to it. It seems to solidly just be an expression of frustration rather than an attempt to do any damage.]

Too bad we can't just teleport there or... [He stops, looking up surprised,] Wait, can we?

[purr_ince]

Uh.. well about that--- [Adrien smiled at him, feeling a little sheepish rubbing at the back of his neck.] We can even if it's a longer trip. I just didn't want to make your first trip too intense since I didn't know how you'd react. We can get everything there just as easily as we can here.

[bass_instincts]

Makes sense. But it sounds like it might actually be easier. Are the laws on buying cigarettes less strict? [Of course, Shin doesn't know that convenience store clerks won't check for his ID like the machines do.]

[purr_ince]

Yeah the age is actually lower there and the shops don't check as much? As long as you can convince them and don't fidget like you're doing something wrong you'll be fine. I know a lot of the other models and some of the other kids my age smoke. You just can't do it in like buildings like schools and stuff.

[bass_instincts]

Well that makes things easier. We can figure out how to deal with that in Japan later. [He reaches out his hand to teleport again.] Now, I just have to imagine Paris?

[purr_ince]

Well, I mean we can always go to Paris. It's not like travel is limited. As long as there might be a shrine there we can go. [Adrien is gently taking his hands.] It might be best to leave that to me since you don't exactly know Paris to well - at least I don't think you do? [He certainly hadn't. He'd had to rely on Marinette.] Just focus on me and I'll focus on there and we'll just pop off to Paris and be there in no time flat.