thenearshore | June Training

June Training

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

Shinki Training

informational pamphlets

borderline

Physical Training

Rest and Refreshments

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~

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ooc: both bracket tagging and prose tagging are A-okay by me!]

Shinki Training

Joss blinks down at the pamphlet in his hands. It isn't very helpful, as far as pamphlets go. Some of it is insultingly basic--who the hell doesn't know how Google works?--and the rest utterly mystifying. The boy doesn't know much, but he knows that he doesn't like being spoken down to and he would dearly love to punch the smug smile off the face of the teenager who won't shut up about these borderline things.

He needs to get away, or there will be violence. And soon. Especially because he's currently being told that it's okay if he can't get it on the first try and that a lot of shinki are just as bad as Joss's feeble attempt had been at first. Joscelin is backed into a corner, listening to this obnoxiously chipper person lecture him on something he'd just failed at. He's quite certain that he hates failing almost as much as he hates being spoken down to.

All right, there's going to be violence.

Joss smiles sweetly up at the teenager, a dangerous gleam in his eye. "Well then. Shall we try again?"

Physical training

Games? Games Joss can do.

And he wants to do them better than anyone else. This may or may not lead to Joscelin shoving other shinki out of the way or flat-out stealing prizes once they've been found. He's surprisingly fast and strong for one so small. This could end in tears.

Rest and Refreshments

Joscelin is starving. Every few moments he finds his attention straying to the necks of those around him, but instead he gets himself a large bowl of noodles instead. Trying to figure out how to use chopsticks is distracting enough that he momentarily forgets his fascination with fascia. The slippery udon noodles keep eluding him and he frowns at it, too proud to give it up as a bad job and find something less challenging. Or get a fork.

[ I. Physical Training ]

This is today's childishness?

[ Shikyoin Hibiki, being perfect at absolutely everything, has easily located a scavenger hunt ball. She leans over to fetch it. ] It doesn't seem to merit much excitemen---

[ POP!

Hibiki is left with confetti streamers draped over her face, holding a handful of colorfully-wrapped hard candy.

Nobody say anything. ]

[ II. Rest and Refreshments ]

[ Someone is sitting in a plush purple chair off to one side of the revelry, enjoying it with a cup of tea at their side. They have apparently also enjoyed the repast too much, as they're looking....stuffed.

Hibiki usually isn't one to miss a party, but she has something on her mind today. So she has left an Extremely Convincing Substitute in her place.

Except there's a trail of ripped-up paper scraps leading away from it. Piecing the scraps together, any curious individuals will be left with - pages from what appear to be several different scripts. All feature, however, a dashing hero and a spitfire young lady. The sort of role only a real firebrand could perform. ]

[ III. And Now, For Something Completely Different (Apollo's Temple) ]

[ Following the paper scraps noted above leads you to Apollo's temple, also in the Central District - but about as far stylistically from the Meeting Hall as one can get, being a giant white castle with too many turrets and a purple roof. The door is unlocked, and the paper continues until you reach a study with the door slightly ajar.

More ripping-paper sounds can be heard from within. ]

Rgh! Why?!

[ There is the sound of something clattering to the floor as Hibiki tries to swipe a stack of papers off her desk and takes a few pens out with it. She grits her teeth, snapping the piece of hard candy she'd been sucking on in half. ]

Why does a part for her keep surfacing?!

Usually one to avoid confrontation just for the fact Nari really prefers not to get involved in things unless he has to, eventually he does decide that meeting the one he had a rather vivid vision about should be done. Just his luck that this one, just like Urashima, looked like a kid... but from the vibes he's getting probably isn't. Eh. As long as they can work together.

Joscelin will find a fork being held out for him. "That dish is a pain in the ass to eat with chopsticks if ya ain't used to it." Introductions can happen later. If Nari even remembers.

Joss grabs the fork without so much as a thank you and gets to work on his noodles. They're surprisingly good now that he can finally eat them.

After a moment, he looks back over at the interloper.

"Who are you?"

"Just the dude who's assigned as your god."

The one with the luck to get shinki who look like kids, but are far from kids. Except the one who was actually a kid, but we don't talk about Goro Akechi. "But I ain't about formalities, so please don't call me 'sir' or any of that."

"Good. I don't care for formalities either. So what's your name, O Godly One? Or am I supposed to invent something to call Your Holiness?" The boy shoots his god a rather nasty-looking grin, showing off the fangs he doesn't yet know he has.

"I'm Joss. Or at least that's what I assume my friends would call me if I had any."

"Nari Reno. Or Neptune. That's the god I'm supposed to be, but don't expect me on any boats. Hate the damn things." Huh. Those are some damn pointy teeth. Note to self: don't give a reason to get bitten. Bites are something he hates treating.

"Eh. You might try and avoid making them, but people around here can be bad about letting you stay friendless. Believe me, I was a hermit back home, and now? ..... well, actually, I got one friend. But that's more than back home. And ya gotta add 'boy' in front of 'friend'. Totally counts. Unless pets count. Then I got a dozen of those."

[A: Physical Training I]

[Shun isn't much for the scavenger hunt idea, especially since he's already had his frivolity for the morning by way of making that BBS post, but the fact that there's actual shinki around to spar with is a welcome change of pace. He's currently sparring with a younger male shinki using naginata, and the shinki seems to be becoming a little overconfident in his moves once he notices the fact that Shun is still lacking experience with this specific weapon.

The man thrusts his blade forward and Shun slips to one side, catching it on the shaft of his own weapon. But rather than follow through using that, he takes one hand off his own weapon and grabs his opponent's, twisting and dragging it harshly from his hands. It's a powerful enough retaliation for the shinki to stumble, and Shun drives the shaft of the weapon he just stole hard into the shinki's stomach, knocking him backwards and over.

By the time the man has fallen, Shun is standing over him with one blade at his stomach, and one at his neck.]

Honour doesn't have a place in a real fight. [Point made, he casts the shinki's practice weapon back to him and begins to stride off, out of the area. Some of the younger, prouder shinki look a bit scandalised, but there are some looks of amusement among the others.]

--

[B: Physical Training II]

[The fact that the animated straw dummies are back now gives Shun a useful opportunity that he didn't have last time, and would have very much liked to. As soon as he steps into the marked area, not visibly armed, two of the animated targets turn their heads towards him and begin to head towards him at an identical pace.

After a moment of gauging, Shun takes a half step back and reaches underneath his coat, several plain silver throwing knives visible in his hand when he withdraws it.

The first shinki takes three blades to the head, chest and stomach. The second takes the same to the neck, one shoulder and the opposite knee. Now that he's familiar with the particular weighting of throwing knives, Shun's existing aiming and projectile skills have taken over, and the straw targets wobble for a moment before dropping backwards.

Shun gives a faint hum, as if of approval.] Easy enough.

--

[C: Rest and Refreshments (except not really)]

[Once it comes time for a break, Shun takes a bottle of water from the food area like he usually deigns to do, but immediately heads off into the garden rather than linger around the table. He has other things to practice today, and he'd rather not do it too openly.

Somewhere near the very back of the garden, Shun takes up a seat on the edge of a fountain and focuses his attention. It takes a few moments to get it quite right, but one by one, three round robotic birds appear, their maroon and gold bodies effortlessly hovering in the air as they begin to circle Shun's head in a seemingly cheerful manner.

After a few moments of holding that, though, Shun lets them vanish, and the white light they dissolve into begins to reform into something else. Again, one-by-one, the three birds are replaced by three red and silver birds with a multitude of blades sprouting from them. The timing of this change happening to match with the timing of anyone approaching is purely coincidental. Especially considering they all turn to face any newcomers at the same time Shun himself does.]

I picked somewhere out of the way for a reason. [i.e. He didn't want an audience.]

--

[D: Wildcard (Sparring)]

[[As per usual, Shun is willing to spar with other characters who offer, or give them pointers in general combative movements. He's best and hand-to-hand, acrobatics, and dagger fighting or knife throwing, but he's also passable at using swords, naginata or tessen.]]

Joss looks rather less than impressed by all this. "A pleasure, I'm sure," he replies, smiling that mocking little smile of his. He chooses to ignore the pets and boyfriend for now, but he files it away for later. It might make good blackmail material, should he need it. He's not entirely certain that it will, but something tells him that it pays to be prepared.

"Right. Nari Reno. Neptune. Are you going to name me or what?"

Have fun trying to blackmail a guy who feels no shame about anything he does. All those things are public knowledge already anyways. Besides, said boyfriend might not appreciate it, but that's for later. "I should, shouldn't I. Thing is, I am not Japanese, so it takes me a bit to figure all that out. My last two shinki understood the language and the writing so they helped me with that."

Urashima especially was very helpful in that regard. "Don't suppose you know any Japanese?"

“My goodness, how disappointing. Aren’t you supposed to be all-knowing, Your Godliness?” Joscelin’s being his usual, charming self outwardly, but inwardly he’s panicking. He needs a name. That’s already been impressed upon him multiple times in the brief time since he found himself in heaven. He’s a shinki. His whole reason for existence is to be partnered with a god.

He’s clenching his fists so hard that his nails are beginning to cut into his palms.

“We need to make this work, Nari, because I need a name. So we’ll have to think of a solution together, since evidently you’re entirely too bloody thick to do it on your own. How does it work on your end? I’m rather new to being a dead child, you see.”

He sighs.

“I think I may know a bit of basic Chinese. Not sure how much that helps.”

Edited 2018-06-17 05:07 (UTC)

[God Meeting]

[ Yui stares at the pamphlet shoved into her hands, ushered forward in a daze. Her feet naturally trail after the individuals in white. So she's dead. She gets that. It's strange because even while she lifts a hand to her chest to feel for a heartbeat there isn't one, which is kind of creepy and weird. There is nothing she can do about that, but. . . isn't there something wrong with this setup!?

A pamphlet of all things?

Shouldn't there be a pearly gate or cherubs? Halos? Harps...? Not that those sound all that exciting. Maybe wings! At least she can do something with those. Or what about reincarnation? There has to be something more than just a pamphlet. It's so uncool and anticlimactic. She stares at the back of the tall woman who prompts her forward.

Lacking! This whole place is totally lacking. The woman said something about training, but--]

Ya know- instead of a pamphlet I could really do with a change of clothes.

[She's in a hospital gown. It isn't like that provides a lot of protection, you know!? That's when she notices the eyes of someone else upon her, a girl around her own age with glasses and long hair. Moving forward Yui abandons the guide, hands clasping either side of the new girl's shoulders.]

AH! I'm not alone! [Oh thank god there's someone else her own age here too!

. . . Or maybe that isn't a good thing for the other girl either, but nonetheless...!] Where did you find a change of clothes!? [Everyone else is dressed decently except for her!]

[Shinki Training]

ALRIGHT MAGGOTS! Listen up-!

[Standing atop a table Yui puffs up proud, hands on hips.]

It's boring to just shoot lines around! We should make teams and practice! The winners get bragging rights! So what lucky individuals want to join my team? [She's tiny! Pink! And at least she seems... energetic? The point is she wants to do something more fun than just throw her hands out a million times and then repeat. At least make a game of it.]

Who's with me?

[Physical Training]

Ahahaha~ I found another one!!

[Okay in contrast to before the ridiculous pink girl is dancing around the grounds, bouncing around like a ball with each new prize she finds. Another ball pops confetti and this time reveals candy. Wow, this is her kind of game! Lifting a hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she searches the area around her, she lifts onto her tiptoes and debates where to look next. The water probably isn't practical, but...]

Do you think they hid some in the trees?

[Rest and Refreshments]

[However strange the situation is, Yui-- is taking it rather well, all things considered. If she's tired after running around all day it doesn't show. Not yet. Her eneregy is one of her strong points. Instead, she has acquired an instrument-- and she hasn't stollen it, honest. The player had said she could borrow it for a bit. Something called a shamisen...? A guitar would be way cooler in her eyes, but she wants to try her hand out.

Situating herself up in a corner, she holds the plectrum in hand and strums the instrument off stage. The sounds are sure unique. It's kind of fun playing around with the cords and different sounds it can produce. Given enough time, she even manages to produce a short, simple tune.]

And the audience goes wild-

[Okay-- well maybe she's a little ahead of herself there, but it isn't meant to be heard. She doesn't realize anyone might be watching. She doesn't know how to professional play this instrument, of that she is sure. For whatever the reason though, the general shape and weight feel good in her arms. Eyes closed she smiles while she slowly listens to the sounds it produces and does what she can try to play a few chords.]

Encore, Encore~

Edited 2018-06-17 06:25 (UTC)

[--and that's one less thing to worry about.

[As the kind of girl who reads and memorizes explanatory pamphlets, Mirei thinks she has a fairly good idea what the nagging feeling that she ought to be at training to greet any new arrivals might mean. It's a new sensation, and far from a welcome one, yet the only real surprise about it all was that it took such an unusually long time about making itself known to her. That, by the laws of the world she has found herself in, a God alone is vulnerable... well, Mirei knows that only too well. The alternative, though, isn't something that a girl who thinks in terms of friends and partnerships is entirely comfortable with.

[Okay. Presume her calculations are accurate. How, Mirei wonders, is she supposed to know exactly who she is here for? Do they have signs, like people have in airports? It's a ridiculous idea, but hardly less so than simply wandering around in the hope that--]

Excuse me?

[--and, just like that, she knows.

[The details announce themselves straight after. Mirei is looking at a girl of about her own age, a girl who would remind her a little more of Sophy, if she was perhaps just a little less like Dorothy. Nobody she knows, and she isn't sure if she's disappointed or relieved, barefoot and bewildered and dressed, of all things, in a hospital gown--]

Oh, good lord...

[--and what are the people in charge here thinking of to bring a girl here like that? She's in public, there are boys here! Quick, almost unthinking, Mirei shrugs off her blazer and drapes it round the girl's shoulders. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. It will do, at least until she can find her something better.]

I presume you're new?

Edited 2018-06-18 02:00 (UTC)

[ 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. ]

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. ]

[ god training ]

[It's just a bit too much to take in.

Even long after all the information and the speeches end Alisaie sits there feeling dazed. She has her head bowed and her hand to her temples, staring in silent disbelief at her feet. She hasn't moved since she was ushered in here and urged to sit down. As everyone moves around her, chattering and introducing themselves, she sits there stone still. Honestly this feels like a bad dream but no amount of pinching her arm seems to work.

'You've become a god' are words enough to make her blood run cold when she thinks about it too hard. There are many reasons but the larger one is because there is only one type of god she's familiar from home and she is quite certain she doesn't want to be like them. But this is a different world all together, from what she gathers. Gods are probably very different and yet...

There's just no way she can believe it. She can hardly even pronounce her supposed god name. This is stupid.]

[ physical training ]

[There's no better way to take out your upset than with aggression, really.

Regardless of this whole situation Alisaie finds her rapier still at her side and her magic in working order so that, at least, brings some comfort. She has located a striking dummy here and has decided it will be her first victim. A few of the figures in white robes try to approach her but she can be observed sending them away rather harshly. Afterwards she attacks the dummy, lashing out with swift but powerful strokes of her rapier. She draws plenty of attention to herself when she occasionally casts a spell, striking it first with a dark lightning bolt and then setting it on fire immediately afterwards.

By the time she's finished the dummy collapses into pieces, completely destroyed. However sitting among the remains is a bright yellow ball.

Regardless of why you might be staring--either because you've noted the yellow ball or because she has been making a scene ever since she stepped in here--she notices you.]

Take it if you want it. I've no need. [She knows the ball is related to some kind of scavenger hunt and so she assumes you are staring because you want it.]

[ wildcard! ]

[[Feel free to tag in with a different prompt if you have one in mind! Alisaie will also be eating many sweets at the party so she can be found there too. Although she will not be actively socializing much. But honestly anything is game here!]]

i. shinki & physical training

[ Ryoma is not going to do the scavenger hunt of his own volition, thank you kindly. He's not wearing the armor, at least, though someday soon the lobster-tank will ride again. He did, however, bring Raijinto... just in case. He's hoping to not need to use the strange lightning blade; it is highly effective at what it does, and leaving it in its sheathe is a sign that things have gone well for once, right?

Right.

He picks a training katana when he finds his way to the animated dummies, because straw is flammable and Ryoma's magic stat is modest-to-low with regards to replacing the dummies. It feels good to practice again; he was out of commission for a while after the incident in the forest, and he's usually being swung around as a sword instead of doing the swinging. He'll warm up on a dummy with the sword, intense and well-practiced in the art of kicking something's ass with a piece of sharpened metal. Sparring is familiar and meditative, and he'll eventually work his way over to crossing swords with the white-robed shinki.

Unleash lobster. It's a perfectly viable strategy. He'll also content himself with watching a few of the practice matches in between participating, because every day is an opportunity to better learn a new way to absolutely rake an opponent over the coals of a battlefield. Even old lobsters can learn new tricks. ]

ii. rest and refreshments

[ When the ~~madness~~ day's events begin to wind down, Ryoma will partake of a cup of tea and something portable and edible and immediate advance in the opposite direction of the higher occupancy areas. He lingers by the musicians a while as he eats his food, though when he's finished eating he'll excuse himself to go wander the gardens instead.

He spends time listening to the distant sounds of music and the murmur of chatter, enjoying the sights of the garden for a while until he decides to settle for a minute of rest, sitting seiza as he ~~takes a nap in the world's most awkward position~~ tries to clear his head for a bit of meditation. Two hours before the sun isn't enough meditation; there's a lot of mental cobwebs that need a'clearing. ]

iii. wildcard

[ Hire a sammerguy, find him wandering around doing stuff. Make him get a scavenger hunt piece on a high shelf. ]

[Okay, that certainly looks like Alphinaud, but given that the boy shown up last month and hadn't vanished it's highly unlikely that this is Alphinaud. (The fact that this Alphinaud is wearing a skirt doesn't faze him at all. He's not going to judge.)

Leo approaches the young Elezen, pamphlets tucked under his arm.]

Alphinaud has a twin?

Edited 2018-06-17 19:45 (UTC)

[Normally he would be at the meeting where new gods would be shown the ropes but he was running late due to other matters. He's pretty sure either Leo or Izumo would be there to help out while he was gone but he did manage to arrive later with Naegling strapped at his hip. Physical training was always a good thing for him but one of the dummies suddenly being destroyed gets his attention.

As well as the young elezen standing beside it, holding some kind of ball. So the Heavens found a way to ensnare her as well...]

Nay, I am quite alright without...what is that if I may ask?

[He certainly looks like the lord speaker but not in his usual armored attire. That outfit is more than likely gathering dust in his bedchambers than anything else. There's also a reason why he doesn't address her: he is unsure if she is a god or shinki. Let's hope it's the first otherwise Alphinaud would have a shit fit.]

Edited 2018-06-17 19:52 (UTC)

The scavenger hunt is a nice change of pace from her usual training. While Ginia doesn't take it as seriously as others, she's gathered up a collection of prizes herself. The candy she keeps, the toys and accessories she's mostly passing off to younger shinki.

When Joss steals a prize ball out from under her as she's scaling a tree, she doesn't mind. He's young, possibly new. Good climbing skills. Even the second time doesn't get much more than a blink and willing surrender of the prize.

When Ginia sees him approach a plastic capsule nestled in a support beam after pushing some other shinki out of the way, her temper flares a little.

Line!

Ginia strikes her hand through the air. A barrier pops up a few feet in front of him, cutting off his path to the prize. Hopefully he noticed in time to not run into the borderline.

[She glances up when he name drops her brother. She looks confused. She definitely doesn't recognize him as anyone from home.]

What? [is all she can manage to say in her confusion. Then after a brief pause she sits up straighter in her seat, brow furrowing.]

If you know him than I'd hope that would be obvious. Are you saying he is here?

Edited 2018-06-17 21:35 (UTC)

He's been here all of a month and I've been too busy to have conversations about siblings here or otherwise. But yes, he's here.

[Now that is a familiar voice with an equally familiar face. She looks surprised even so when she lifts her gaze to him.] Ser Aymeric! [It's definitely a surprise but she can't help the sense of relief that washes over her. So... she wasn't alone. After all that she had dealt with upon arriving here this was a comforting revelation.

But the instant recognition will surely answer his worry about which she is.

Oh... right. She looks back at the yellow ball and shrugs.] I haven't the faintest idea beyond that it was being sought by those participating in the scavenger hunt. [But it isn't important anymore!

Her gaze returns to him.] Full glad am I to see a familiar face.

I God Training

[Adrien sat through the lecture and suddenly so much made sense. Why Marinette never told him she knew him, sometimes the way she looked at him that was kind of sad. So he'd died? Or come close to it and that was why he was here - or nearest he can assume. When all is said and done he's still a tiny bit confused as he so he's taking a minute or two to sort through his phone.

He's making a mental note to text his friends and tell them about his own temple and everything. Even if his temple did join to Marinette's he didn't want anyone to go looking for him and disturb her. He also might be looking up about his god assignment. What surprises him is how suddenly there's a purring Plagg perched on his shoulder.]

What's gotten into you?

'This is so much better no secrets.'

II. Meeting & Naming {Shin Only}

[Seeing as he knows from experience how difficult it could be waiting for your god, hoping you'll be found. He doesn't want to make his Shinki wait. But figuring out which one is his is going to be a bit tricky he suspects. But maybe - just like becoming Chat it's something he just will know? Yeah he's going to go with that.

Worse to worst he's going to end up with a soulless one. Which is fine by him for now. Either way, he's moving his way through the new arrivals, scanning the crowd here and there. Surely there's something or someone that'll stick on to him in such a way that he can't ignore it or them. Then he finds him.

He sticks out like a sore thumb in the sea of people. Adrien slips past the people between them to Shin. It's not just the drab uniform with the numbers on his chest or the chains - thought those were enough to grab his attention on their own - but there's a skittish air to this guy, a creeping panic in his eyes... Adrien can't ignore that, his shinki or not someone should help him.]

"Come here. I'll get you out of these chains."

III. R&R

[Shinki found and named, Adrien is settling down feeding Plagg a bit of something and watching everyone move and interact. It's nice. The music is definitely something different. He likes it - the variety of music is something that has Adrien's interest as he idly snacks and reflects about the sudden new changes]

IV. Wildcard
[Exactly what it says anything you want to do lay it on me.]

Edited 2018-06-17 21:56 (UTC)

[Anyone else here would probably be incredibly shaken to see an exact mirror of themselves, but Alphinaud is shaken for an entirely different reason. He'd not come in expecting to see anyone else - in fact, he'd been hoping he wouldn't see any more familiar faces, unsettled by their sudden and supposed godhood himself - but the moment he spots hair like his own, his heart sinks into the pit of his stomach.

If Alisaie is here, where all of the gods had come for briefing, it at least means that she isn't a shinki. It at least means that she isn't dead. But if they are naught but primals, is it really that much of a boon?

Very gently, he places a hand on her shoulder.]

Alisaie...?

[It's almost whispered, as if he wishes this were some sort of hallucination or a terrible dream, but he knows it isn't. She looks as distraught as he had been upon arriving here only a couple of weeks before, though in her own way, but distraught was distraught nonetheless.]

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