August Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: January 6th, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore / the Ryukyu Islands
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 her welcome speech in the monotone of someone who's practiced it far too often. Hopefully no one's feeling sleepy! She adds that gods should be cautious of anyone on the Near Shore who might ask to use their shrines to visit the Heavens, and should instruct their shinki to be cautious as well. There is an unrecognized god who the Heavens believe to be attacking them. 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. Each of the shinki is wearing a brightly-colored sticky name tag reading HELLO, MY NAME IS ________, and all of their names appear to end with the syllable "mei."

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. The white-robed shinki appears to be a particular expert in magic, and will occasionally offer to help out anyone who's practicing a spell more challenging than the Borderline, especially if they look quite lost. His nametag reads HELLO, MY NAME IS SABIMEI. (To interact with Sabimei, please comment on the "NPC REQUEST" thread below! If you prefer, you may also handwave his assistance or advice with your character learning spells.)

Physical Training

Two of the white-robed shinki, whose nametags mark them as Toumei and Kimei, are standing off to one side of the training area near a pair of large, curtained tents. They each have an enormous wicker basket full of clean, folded beach towels, and a rack of what appear to be wetsuits and swimsuits in a variety of styles and sizes. Once suited and toweled, new and veteran residents of the Heavens alike will be handed a pretty white-and-gold cockade that can be pinned to their suit or tied around their wrist by its ribbons, and either Toumei or Kimei will escort them to a beautiful, but rocky, Near Shore beach. Tropical plants, palm trees and high grasses surround the area, and although the sounds of cars are audible from a road not too far away, the only sign of human presence on this beach is an ancient, rotting fishing boat pulled up well past the high tide mark.

It's quite chilly, with a brisk sea breeze, but there's room to run up and down the beach, a net set up for beach volleyball, younger shinki building sand castles, and showers for the brave souls who venture into the water. The surf is impressive today, so swimmers will get the chance for some serious exercise. There's also the chance to climb through the wreck of the old fishing boat; inside, piles of old seaweed and drifting sand host curious crabs, and a curious explorer could even find treasure... although nothing more valuable than large seashells, old one-yen or five-yen coins, and bits of weathered sea glass.

Rest and Refreshments

When sunset comes -- early, at this time of year -- the shinki bring giant picnic-sized bento boxes with five or seven layers of carefully packed foods, and pile wood for bonfires that leap with flames edged blue-green from the salt. The bento boxes contain a wide variety of traditional foods, many in the style of traditional New Year's dishes: sweet potato and chestnut, slivered carrot and burdock, whole fish, toasted mochi, sliced lotus root and more. A fireworks display starts over the ocean once full night falls, fountains and bursts in every color imaginable, some so ornate that it's hard to believe they're not helped along by a touch of magic. The display lasts half an hour.

After the last fireworks, the shinki will guide everyone back to the Meeting Hall to return to their homes. The wind is getting chillier, and gods or shinki who stay too much past the firework display will notice the tiny, creeping forms of glowing ayakashi no larger than a fist, looking like little jellyfish on land. They don't seem hostile; instead, they're fixated on the boat, and will climb on it and settle onto the rigging and wood of the boat, chirping quietly to themselves and snuggling in so that the whole boat seems to glow with an unearthly blue-white light. They can be fought and defeated, but if attacked, will fight back: and be careful! Those jellyfish tentacles spread blight instead of stinging, and they're longer than they look.

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 at a beach (isn't it winter?!)
• Relax and watch the fireworks
• Have fun~

Comments

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[For all his flaws, the ninja possesses a keen eye. He does indeed catch the shimmer in its momentary existence, and one hand reflexively goes up to push at the Borderline as if a physical test could reveal more.]

I'd make a comment on your personality infusing itself into the Borderline, but -- that is pretty different. Does it ever come back if you hold it, or it gets attacked?

[reloves]

I'm not sure.. [ She frowns a little, thinking about it. ] I don't think I've ever been able to hold it for long enough to see.

[ Minako looks back over to Edge, her facial expression softening again. ]

How about you come over here and hold my hand through it, huh? Give me that extra push of motivation I need to be able to do it? [ Is it just an excuse to hold his hand? Maybe. Probably. Certainly. But there's still the part of her that says it's worth the attempt to try and see if she can hold it. She's just making sure she gets an extra benefit out of the attempt even if it fails. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Probably because it really takes a lot of willpower to want to keep something on the other side of it. [Edge comes around, not needing any more of an invitation to take her hand. He can't help but notice the contrast between them, since his hand is callused and rough from what must have been years of weapon practice and training.]

[It's almost enough to make him wonder if he has any right to date this girl. That isn't the sort of thought he likes, so he pushes it away.]

And you're bigger on welcoming people closer than keeping them away.

[reloves]

[ When he does come over to hold her hand, Minako seems rather pleased. She even just stares at their hands for a moment, like she's admiring the sight, but then his words seem to fully dawn on her. ]

You think it could be because of that? [ She can't help but ponder it for a moment. Minako isn't entirely sure just how much of that is true, since there's definitely petty and insecure parts of herself she'd like to keep everyone away from forever if at all possible, even though that's never fully been a reason for her to push people away in general. ]

.. Well, I guess I do prefer hanging around people rather than being by myself. That just seems so sad and lonely.. It's why I don't like seeing people by themselves either. [ Hence her massive friendship forming efforts all over the place here. (And flirting, in Edge's particular case.)

She's also just.. casually delaying trying out to hold her Borderline.. This way she can hold his hand a little longer. ]

That always felt kind of natural to me though! It seems as if most people would think that, you know?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

A lot of people here are used to fighting and battle and things like that. Sometimes you start thinking you're all alone out there on the battlefield and that's how it needs to be, if you're not careful.

[That's as close as he cares to dance to a deeper truth -- there's always the chance someone could die out there. That's the sort of reality they already had to acknowledge, being shinki, but... tomorrow a prayer gone wrong could rip one of them away without any warning. Easy to understand how people would just hold themselves distant to avoid causing, or feeling, pain from that.]

[But it's really not worth it. A little daring, he slips her fingers between hers, then lifts his free hand to splay it like he's holding up a wall.]

But you can use that. Borderlines are all about what you want and how much you want it. So when you form one, think about how important it is to keep the people on this side safe. All those connections you're building with people, you're protecting with that wall.

[reloves]

[ At his words she stares at him, briefly wondering how much of that applies to him as well. Even though it seems like he doesn't remember much, if anything, of his time spent living either.. Edge is a ninja, that much is for sure. And you don't exactly use ninja in times of peace to run friendly errands, like grocery shopping or helping the elderly cross the street. Minako does at least remember that much from history.

In fact, it's true that a lot of people here seem like they've dealt with battle. And what has Minako done in her life? It's not like she remembers, but from the things she recognizes.. She went to school, probably. Followed news about teen idols, probably. She remembers Shun's word, and for a moment she does feel terribly inadequate - like a girl playing war games far beyond her capacities.

She shoves the feeling down as quickly as she can, smiling at him. ]

You explain it so well. I bet no one feels worried about not being protected enough around you. [ Since it does sound like he has all the right ideas and intentions, even if his Borderline forming didn't go too well just now. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[How much applies? Well. He wouldn't have asked her out if he felt that way. He understands why people would act in that manner, but hell if he'll live like that. What's the point of living, even after death, if you can't hold hands with a cute girl? He's going to let himself feel. Even if Minako does seem like she can't stand on a battlefield...]

[But she's been given the tools to learn how.]

I'll protect you if you need protection. But I think you're strong enough not to need it. You just need to find out how to make what you've got into what you need. I believe you can do it!

[reloves]

[ She laughs, something of the slight seriousness of her words seeming to slip away again for a moment. ]

Of course I'm strong! I have amazing potential too, you have a great eye! [ It's mostly bravado, since Minako hasn't remembered a thing about her powers yet. For all she knows, she's just a normal girl. She can't match all the people here with fancy powers beyond just Borderlines, or people who know how to actually fight with weapons. But none of that is going to keep her from saying this anyway. ]

I feel that I like being the one protecting more than the one being protected anyway. I mean-- it'd be super sweet and romantic if you protected me sometime, don't get me wrong! [ Minako's a sucker for romantic cliches, and Edge is very, very good at providing them so far, after all. ] But I don't want to see anyone getting hurt like an idiot for my sake. So don't think about doing anything too stupid!

[ She says it with a smile though, trying to keep the levity about it. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[That surprises him. He'd guessed, based on everything else, that she'd love being the damsel in distress, with a knight in shining armor to save her. Hearing that she'd prefer to be the protector...]

[...makes him happy, honestly. Because a girl you save is cute and fun, but a girl you fight beside is really the one worth knowing.]

Then let's develop your skills, so we can protect each other. And then the only thing in danger is my heart!

[reloves]

Isn't that the greatest danger of all? [ She smiles widely though. It's nice, knowing that he seems totally okay with the idea of not always having to be the one who's doing the saving - that he's not the kind of guy who'd die of shame at the thought of being helped out himself for once. Minako rather likes it. ]

Here, I'll try to hold it then this time. I think I'm going to have to focus real hard, so please watch it for me, okay?

[ Minako is true to her word. After creating the Borderline just fine again, holding it seems more difficult for her. She squeezes his hand a little, like she's trying to ground herself through it, and closes her eyes like she's trying to focus real hard on keeping it up. Even with those measures it still isn't perfect - it sputters a little, like an engine trying to come to life, except in this case it's more just trying to stay in existence.

There's definitely that hint of a golden twinkle in it again, appearing a few times but always vanishing the moment after. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[There it is again -- and again. That's so weird. Pretty, but very strange, something he can't begin to guess at the source of.]

[He squeezes back, gently, a reminder he's there.] Focus on protecting this side. This side is what you care about. The other is what will cause it harm.

[Are the flashes interfering with it somehow? That's the only real answer he has, now. So where do they come from? What's causing them? He frowns as he watches the trembling Borderline, as if staring hard enough will reveal some new information.]

[reloves]

[ Minako does look like she's trying really, really hard here. She frowns more, grits her teeth, tries as hard as she can to think of what he's saying, but the Borderline keeps faltering.

Until it disappears. And she lets out a very deep breath she must have subconsciously been holding during the attempt. It takes her a moment or two to gather herself a little again before she can properly look at him. ]

That was no good, huh..?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

If you were having trouble with it before, then it was better. [That's truth, and no matter how over the top he might flirt, he won't lie to her. Still -- could she really have some power that isn't showing otherwise, that she doesn't know about? It seems so hard to believe.]

[But he has an idea, at least.]

Why don't you try the offensive Borderlines? They might be more suited to you.

[reloves]

Okay. [ She easily accepts his suggestion. He's already been helping her plenty right here, after all. Minako does let out another deep breath though after she agrees, and she lets go of his hand for a moment to find a spot to sit down. ]

I just need a moment to catch my breath, that attempt was pretty intense! [ Even if it didn't exactly produce the best results. But the effort still matters. ] Can you show me your wall Borderline in the meantime? If you want to, I mean.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Oh, yes, I'd love to!

[But not just by popping it up in front of them, no. He'd said he wanted to impress her, so he's darn well going to do it. His fingers squeeze gently against her hand before he steps forward and they slide apart, and he walks a couple of paces forward before he turns to face her with a melodramatic snap of his cloak.]

Line!

[Two fingers and thumb extended, he slashes a mark through the air to trace out the floor between them, and from that spot a Borderline erupts between the two of them. Nothing special, as Borderlines go; it's solid and functional. Edge takes a moment to shift the balances of his focus in his mind -- then beckons her to come to him, his other hand stretched out to her like she can just step forward and take it through the wall.]

[Which she can. That's the trick.]

[reloves]

[ Minako watches him the whole time as he forms the Borderline. He does seem really good at making these, at least - it forms neatly and quickly, and the added dramatic flair is only a plus in Minako's eyes. How can you be a proper hero fighting ayakashi and all if you don't know how to present yourself?

But then he starts beckoning, and for a moment she looks a little confused. Is he really expecting her to move through it? It doesn't seem like a particularly good idea, but on the other hand, she trusts him. He wouldn't lead her into doing something clearly really dumb if he wasn't sure it'd be alright.

So after the momentary confusion, Minako stands up and wordlessly walks over towards the Borderline. It's a little like a trust fall, but she doesn't hesitate once she's right there - she just reaches out to take his hand. ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[When her hand passes through, he catches it -- then gives it a gentle tug, guiding her through the Borderline. The technique is easier than the last time he did it. Not surprising, given the circumstances.]

[One she's fully through it, he lets it fall, her hand still in his and his other one coming up to her back on one shoulder as he draws her close and in.]

[Then he let the Borderline fall, looking down at her with a smile in his eyes and his voice, no matter than his mouth can't be seen.]

There. I hope that impressed you a little!

[reloves]

[ It does seem to have impressed her. Minako looks pretty surprised for a moment even after it's done, like it's taking a moment to dawn upon her what just happened. She even has to let go of him after a moment and step back just to assure that she really is just fine and can just walk normally.

It's only after those moments that she regains herself enough to speak, laughing a little. ]

Yeah.. It sure did! I didn't even know that was possible to begin with!

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[He lets her go, a little rueful that she hadn't swooned at how amazing it all was, but she at least seemed legitimately impressed! He relaxes a little, lifting one hand like the whole stunt was no big deal.] It takes a lot of practice to get in just the right mindset to do it. You have to want to keep everything else out and at the same time want the person you're letting through to get close to you more than anything.

Which is probably why letting you through my Borderline was easier than anyone else I've ever tried it with.

[reloves]

[ Of course he just had to end it with a smooth line there. At least that's enough to pull Minako back to her senses and usual self fully - don't you know it's actually much more difficult to make her seem less ridiculous for a moment than it is to make her fangirl, Edge!! ]

Oh, you..! [ She seems flattered enough though, her usual smile reappearing on her face as she playfully shoves him just a little. ] I guess that means I still have a lot of practice to do!

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[No, he doesn't! Not yet anyway; he hasn't tapped quite deep enough into her psyche to understand that. Their discussion might have turned serious there for a bit, but it hadn't stayed too deep for too long.]

[Someday it might, but... he wants to keep her smiling.]

See, that's why I think you'll do better with the cutting ones. Instead of one solid wall, that's a flash of passion and power!