July Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: December 22nd
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 more experienced god and shinki volunteers.




Meeting Hall

God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into a small meeting room, with tatami floors and a stage 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. Paper and pens are provided to all the attendees as an unsubtle suggestion to take notes on the information they're given.

The speaker delivers his welcome speech in a rather bored tone, occasionally stumbling and checking his own notecards. He particularly dwells, towards the end of the speech, on the fact that an unauthorized god has recently tried to access the Heavens, and any contact from other gods asking to access the Heavens through their temples should be immediately reported. 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.

A variety of weapons are available in the dojo for shinki and their gods to practice with, and a row of straw targets are set up along one wall. Outside, in an area carefully roped off with red ribbons, are six animated training dummies, also made of straw and dressed in plain cotton jackets and trousers. They will immediately engage anyone who enters the area marked with the ribbon, but will not pursue opponents outside it. A white-robed shinki nearby keeps a sharp eye on the animated dummies, and will intervene if anyone tries to destroy one.

Physical Training

A race track has been laid out, winding through the gardens to a towering pole, 9 meters in height, planted in the center of a pond with a cluster of pretty ribbons tied at the top. White-robed shinki are standing by with stopwatches: anyone who wants can race their friends along the path, with the first one to return to the starting point with a ribbon winning the challenge, or solitary racers can recruit a shinki to time them and try to beat their own speed. But be careful not to fall off the pole! The pond isn't dangerously deep, but the bottom is very muddy, and in late December, it's also very, very cold.

On the lawn near the dojo, a wide circle has been marked out in white paint, and big baskets set around the circle are filled with sachets full of chalk dust in a rainbow of colors. Pick your color, grab a handful of sachets, and join the fray! Anyone inside the circle is a fair target to have one of the sachets thrown at them, and on impact, they splash out enough brightly colored dust to mark the spot they strike. Head or torso hits are an automatic out, leg hits mean the target isn't allowed to move from their position, and arm hits mean they can't use that arm. Borderlines -- and any other magic -- are allowed, and the game can get intense.

Rest and Refreshments

The weather outside, although not freezing, is quite chilly, and in the middle of the afternoon, the shinki will invite everyone into a prepared banquet hall for food and to warm back up. Charcoal braziers set in the center of square tables radiate warmth, and are covered by grates; other shinki bring trays of fresh ingredients, both meat and vegetable, that can be grilled over the hot coals.

After the meal is finished, one of the white-robed shinki, a middle-aged woman with her hair cut in a fashionable modern bob, enters the room with an expression of great, if restrained, delight, pushing a cart with a portable karaoke machine and speaker on it. She sets up the karaoke machine at one end of the room, and begins encouraging others -- both her fellow shinki and the newcomer guests -- to join in with a song. Whenever there's a break, she puts in music selections of her own; she has a trained, jazzy voice and a great fondness for midcentury enka.

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, sing and barbecue
• Have fun~

Comments

[deathmetalist]

A.) ShinkiTraining

[Here she was, back at it again. Since her arrival, she had tried to practice on her own. With an ominous warning that things tended to go wrong in this place, Yui didn't want to find herself alone or unable to defend herself. She wasn't exactly a skilled fighter, but she did return back here to try and practice again alongside the new shinki. The problem she increasingly fell into, however, was this:]

Isn't there a way to make this more fun?

B.) Karaoke

[Since the last time Yui was here, she had become more prepared. From the moment she realized she could play guitar and got her hands on one of her own, she barely wanted to part ways with the newly beloved instrument. Maybe that was why she had it with her now, along with the hope that there'd be an opportunity to play. The past couple of days she dedicated to writing down all the songs she knew. There were a number of different songs, a few ballads, and each one sent a thrill down her spine to play and expand on. She didn't question how she knew them, simply that they were a part of her very soul, in the same way, that her fingers fell naturally over the strings and cords of the guitar.

When the karaoke machine wheeled out, Yui's eyes widened in excitement. She just knew there would be another opportunity for music! A ball of excitement and nerves, she flung herself at the opportunity to play. It didn't have to be a huge crowd, and she had yet to play for anyone outside of a few private practices with friends. She just wanted to play and to have someone hear her.]

I don't need a song! I can play my own. I just need a hook up for the guitar-- [And fortunately that wasn't a problem. When she was finally set up, she gently strummed the guitar as a test to assure that she was situated. Good-- everything was just fine and in place. Since a few people had introduced themselves before, did that mean she should, to?]

Yo-ho~! Good evening, everyone! I'm Yui-nyan ☆~!

[Guitar ready, she situated the mic as she winked]

I want to play something I've been practicing on my own, so please listen! It's called My Soul, Your Beats!

[It wouldn't sound as awesome as it would with a full band, but she had really practiced this one. So here it went. The guitar started, the electric sound buzzed before she took a breath, and--]

Morning at last,

So I open my eyes like any other day,
A tie around my neck and that's the last step

Time passes by and I'm at my homeroom class
Holding my head up high, I take in a deep breath
And with it I'm all set

It's just your typical day
That's carried in on the wind

I think I hear it calling me
I think I feel it waiting to be heard
But can I answer, I feel my heart is trembling
But then I feel it once again
And like a million stars it fills the sky
It flickers in your mind
So I wish them well and wave them farewell
Till' we meet again

Taking a break while in the middle of chores
Sweeping the corridors
Alone in the hallway, why does this feel strange
I'm unaware that time will never resume
For the clock with my name
But somehow everyday
I feel there's been a change

The dust I sweep turns to snow
It's slowly melting away

I think I hear it calling me
I think I feel it waiting to be heard
But can I answer, I feel my chance is fleeting
I feel as if I've finally found
All of the missing days so dear to me
And all the memories
So can we pretend that it's not the end
My story goes on ...

I don't remember why

It caught me by surprise
You took me by the hand, pulling me along

Yesterday's far away, but we still have today
Did you feel my heart just, skip a beat
As we greet this brand new day

I think I hear it calling me
I think I feel it waiting to be heard
But can I answer, I feel my heart is shaking
But then I feel it once again
Then like a thousand mornings yet to rise
They tumble before my eyes

I think I hear it calling me
I think I feel it waiting to be heard
But can I answer, I feel my soul is trembling
I finally found my missing piece
Lost in these days that mean the world to me
The finish line I dream

So I wish them well
And wave them farewell
Till' we meet again

Karaoke

[dredefulchilde]

[Between the obnoxiously perky wannabe rock star and those butchering perfectly good music, Joss has to say he prefers the wannabe rock star. The music isn't to his taste, but at least she can carry a tune. That's more than can be said about the others, the older white-robed shinki lounge singer aside.

When she finishes he finds himself walking up to her.]

You're not terrible.

[Congratulations, Yui, that is possibly as close to praise as you will ever get from this brat.]

1/2

[deathmetalist]

[When done and finally off the stage, Yui lifts a hand to her heart. If it could pound it would be racing. She got to perform! It was exciting and a rush, even if it was only her and her guitar. But... she did it! Everyone got to see her play, right? What kind of impression would it have left with people, she wonders.

With her guitar strung across her back, her head perks up when she hears someone approaching. A kid, probably a bit younger than her. At his words, she blinks. That's... a compliment, right? It's totally a compliment. She's taking it as a compliment.]

2/2

[deathmetalist]

Ahahaha, right!? I'm totally awesome!

[DEFINITELY A COMPLIMENT. So proud of herself she puffs up, words spilling out in excitement.]

That was so much fun! [She spins on her toes, excessive energy tumbling forth now that her nerves are dying down. She wants to do it again except that wouldn't be fair to the other singers.]

I can't wait to put on a real performance! It'll be totally rockin' and rad! I can give you my autograph now, kid, if you like! Maybe it'll be worth money someday!

[dredefulchilde]

[Joscelin stares.

And stares.

Then he opens his mouth like he's going to say something, shuts it...

...And starts to walk away.]

[deathmetalist]

What!? WAIT-!

[WHY IS HE SUDDENLY LEAVING!? Grasping his arm she can't let him escape yet, especially if he watched her perform!]

You don't have to leave yet, let's talk more!

Training

[replicatedform]

[Yamanbagiri is here, both to meet new shinki and to help with training. Hearing a familiar voice, he looks over and see Yui. He raise a brow at her.]

You want this to be more fun?

[Which part, the borderlines? Or just training in general...]

[deathmetalist]

Yama-san! [His name's too long...] Hello again!

[Seeing a familiar face is always welcome. She waves to him with a smile and bounces over.]

Yeah! That's right. Training like this is kind of boring, isn't it? It's not exciting at all!

[replicatedform]

Yama-san?

[He gets that people are free to pick whichever part of his name to call him by. It actually sinks in that Yui's probably the first one to actually... go for "Yama".]

Hm... [He thinks about it for a moment.] Training's training, and it's important to brush up on the basics. But... I sometimes see people make a game or competition out of it.

Karaoke

[bass_instincts]

Shin's whooping for Yui at the end of her song, clapping cheerfully. He'd brought his bass with him, mainly so he could bring it with him to work later more easily, since he's got a change of clothes in his case too now. Her bold choice to take over the performance space for a song gives him an idea too, so when she's done he's catching up to her, his bass case in hand, "Yuichan! You were really great!"

[deathmetalist]

"Shin-senpai!"

She didn't know if he was here or not, so she was glad to see him. And even more elated that he was able to see her performance. The fact that he had been there to watch set a nervous butterfly off in her stomach, and she hoped she had performed at her best. He was really talented, so she wanted to impress him.

"Really? Do you think so?"

Now that she was off stage, she lifted a hand up to her chest.

"I'm relieved! It was so so fun but then I felt nervous after the fact!"

[bass_instincts]

Shin smiles, "There was nothing to be nervous about, you were great!" Shin can play guitar, but his focus is the bass. He didn't really have much in the way of suggestions for improvement, at least not from that one performance.

He puts a hand on her shoulder, "If you have a bass part, I'd be happy to back you up next time."

karaoke

[reloves]

[ Karaoke is definitely the best part about this day to Minako. Even when she isn't the one singing, it's fun watching other people perform - Yui too, since the other seems to be having a lot of fun with it. So Minako loudly cheers for her, not even worried about someone giving her weird looks for being way too enthusiastic.

And once Yui is done with the song and someone else takes up the stage, she's quick to move over to the other girl, smiling widely at her. ]

Wow.. You're really good! And you can play an instrument too, that's extra cool!

[deathmetalist]

[Excited is Yui's middle name! So no matter how much Minako might bounce around, she doesn't really find it strange at all. She's surprised at first, to be approached. Her eyes open wide... before a beaming smile lights her face.]

Really!? Thanks a lot! [It feels so nice to be praised.] I wasn't sure if that was allowed, but eh-- no one stopped me!

[reloves]

Nonsense! Why wouldn't it be allowed? There's no stopping creative spirit!

[ Even though Minako can logically kind of get why it might not be allowed.. Last time around the music sure was a lot more calm and traditional at the training sessions, after all. But this kind of music suits Minako personally a lot more too. ]

And even if they tried to stop you, you just have to fight against it! Express yourself in the way you want to! [ Minako sure is getting extra passionate and worked up about a fairly trivial subject, but.. you know. It's just kind of how things work with her. ]

karaoke

[creepface]

[ Rasu is really ecstatic to see her perform on her own and not just with the karaoke set, and he particularly loves rock and metal, things like that, and this is pretty nice. Not metal, but kind of rock, and he appreciates it.

He even claps his hands when she's done, even though it's done quite shyly, and after a while when someone else takes the stage with music he has no interest in, he awkwardly comes closer to her, towering over her with his near 2 meters of height. ]

H-h-hi. You were g-g-good. At guitar and s...singing. D-d-did you... write it?

1/2; I'm so sorry Rasu...

[deathmetalist]

[STRANGER DANGER!!!

There's a strange guy watching her with really wide eyes. AND HE'S COMING CLOSER!!!

Shoot! Borderlines? Or wait-- what is she supposed to do in an event like this!? Please don't try and make off with her she knows she's cute she's already died once though, let her live...!1!!]

2/2

[deathmetalist]

[ . . . . . .

And yet, all he does, once upon her, is congratulate her. She peeks up... and up. At her own height, she's only about 4'11, and so the man before her is like a giant. She blinks.]

Uh--

[Wait. He asked her question.]

Oh--! Thank you.

[A little embarrassed that she had been nervous a moment ago, she lifts a hand to scratch her cheek.]

I'm not really sure. I just knew the song and how to play, so I started practicing it, along with a few other songs, recently! [It's about now that she draws herself up proudly, however.] But I have started working on some lyrics and notes...! I want to write a super rockin' jam, one that will blow the roof off a building someday! So I'll definitely write something original.

[If the one she just played isn't. She really can't say how she knows it, and the band that would have originally played it remains a mystery to her, too. For some reason or other, lingering on it is uncomfortable, so she doesn't think about it much.]

cracking up XD

[creepface]

[ She's so small! Well, Rasu has taken care of talking birds that were a decimetre or so in height, so she's definitely not THAT small.

He looks at her with a smile (sorry that it's creepy too, he can't help it), listening. He really likes when people talk about music, so he he's curious to hear more about it. ]

Y-you didn't have any sheet m-music b-before on the song? Th-that's really im...impressing. [ He nods to emphasise how impressive he things it is. ] Y-you like rock? A-are you planning on st-starting a b-band?

B - Because it was bound to happen this way

[purr_ince]

[Adrien had stopped observing the karaoke fun. Contemplating on if he should give it a shot or not. But seeing Yui he knew who it was instantly even without her introduction. Nope he hadn't needed it at all. Shin had only been talking to him about her for a while. That and how many girls were there on this side of the Shore with guitars? Just one that he knew of. He waited for her to be done before making his way over to her with a smile.] I'm so glad to finally get to really meet you since I feel like I know you already. Shin talks about you a lot. I'm Adrien. you were.. That was really good up there, I'm impressed.

YES GOOD <3

[deathmetalist]

Adrien?

[This guy is. . . ]

AH! [Excited, she points at him.] You're the cat god! [She knows him, the name recognized especially in conjunction with Shin's name. A moment later she beams.]

Thanks for the compliment! [And then-- a slight blush, fiddling with her fingers.] I- I didn't know he spoke about me, but-- [A-Ahem!] But he's spoken about you before too! [She winks and lifts an elbow up] All good things, I promise. He's super amazing and great at the bass! He told me you knew a little about instruments, too!

[purr_ince]

[That reaction gets a loud laugh; happy and real.] Well, that's true. Also, Shin is my shinki. I thought that would be what you knew me better as but cat god works just a well. [On the whole it amuses him that this is going to be his identifier. Cat god.] You're welcome. [A little smile settled into place. Oh that reaction is cute. Gee, what could it mean? That smile turns into a grin.] He does from time to time. He wasn't wrong when he said you were good with a guitar. [The blond shrugs.] I'm not really worried. He is. I'm proud of him not that I can take any credit for that. I do. I know a fair bit. I can play piano, keyboard, and drums. He told me you guys want to make a band.

[disciprined]

[APPLAUSE

[Mirei, of course, has gravitated to the karaoke box. This place does not, absolutely not have enough places for girls to go and sing, it's a disgrace, pri~! So when Yui shows every sign of inclining toward going there too Mirei is there to encourage it, there to encourage her (though Yui, marvellously, does not need much convincing) to trry it for herself, and there to burst into rapturous applause when she's done.

[Yui?

[Yui is good. Sion-good. Sophy-good. This is fantastic!]

Aaaah, Yui-pri~! That was amazing, pri!

[Hugs incoming?

[Hugs incoming. Right around the neck.]

[deathmetalist]

Mirei! [Aha--! She hugs the other girl in return. Her non-existent heart is hammering, but it was fun! A rush of fear and excitement. One she's positive she'd love to do again and again and again. Knowing how talented Mirei is, however, and hearing that kind of encouragement from her means a lot!]

Do you think so? [Ahh!]

I was nervous but that was so much fun!

[disciprined]

Isn't it? Getting up and singing, pri... there's nothing like it, pri!

[Stepping back a bit.

[Just a bit, mind. Beaming (she's so good!) Mirei rests her hands on Yui's upper arms. Yui's riding a high right now, one she knows in her blood and her bones: she doesn't want to get in the way of that. But she doesn't want to be anywhere else but right here.]

I meant it, though, pri. You're super good! I'd probably be chasing you back home, pri!