October Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: February 6th, 2017
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore (and optionally, the slopes of a recently erupting volcano)
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 at least one unrecognized god who the Heavens believe to be attacking them, and another recent incursion by an unrecognized god ended in his defeat and the extinguishing of the volcano he had caused to erupt. 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

There are stacks of informational pamphlets sitting out on tables around the dojo. There are five or six white-robed shinki present, who will willingly answer any questions or instruct newcomers in the use of the borderline. They accompany their answers, or their 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. Both Sabimei and his animated straw training dummies are absent from this training session, but standard, inanimate straw targets have been lined up outside, and a few rings are laid out on the frozen ground for friendly sparring matches. (Shinki characters who are interested in learning more about the borderlines or want to learn new shinki spells or songs may approach any of the training shinki for advice or instruction. Please remember to comment on the Shinki Spells page when your character begins to learn a new spell, excluding the borderline.)

Physical Training

There is still clean-up left to work on from the volcano's eruption. Two tengu (one of whom characters might recognize as the hot springs' proprietor) have volunteered to help transport any gods or shinki who are willing to help clear trees, dig or wash away ash on roads and roofs, and repair damage to occupied temples. The abandoned temples that were damaged by the earthquake and volcano are being left to decay, although anyone who's curious about them could take the offer of a free ride to explore some of those abandoned and damaged buildings as well. Some might contain old books or mementos of the long-vanished owners; others have nothing left inside but dust, mold, and curious spirits.

Back at the training ground, characters who aren't helping clean up the Western district have the option of playing sparring games to test their reflexes. The white-robed shinki are organizing them into pairs in the marked circles and explaining the rules: each participant is given 10 seconds on offense to score a hit with any weapon of their choice, from bare hands to sparring weaponry to shinki magic, while their partner is only allowed to dodge or defend. After five rounds, the person with more points gets to declare a penalty for their partner: drawing on their face with a marker, ordering them to do something silly or embarrassing, making them fetch tea... it's up to the winner!

Rest and Refreshments

After the gods' training lecture is finished, a few of the white-robed shinki bustle back in to set up craft tables and a buffet area. This time, the theme seems to be a sweet English tea: little cakes, scones, jams, cookies, tiny finger sandwiches and a vast array of chocolates are available, as well as many different teapots, with hot water dispensers and loose tea available to let everyone brew to their own tastes as they venture in to rest or talk to their new partners.

Over on the craft tables, there's all kinds of art and craft supplies available, from construction paper to calligraphy brushes, glitter to gouache. Signs on the tables encourage gods and shinki to show their appreciation for each other with a valentine letter or card. It's a bonding exercise! There is a lot of glitter. And glue. Hopefully, no one's wearing their nice clothes.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Explore damaged temples or practice sparring
• Enjoy a tea and make some valentines
• Have fun~

Comments

[nonsenseprince]

[Shinki Training]

[Izuku is going to be spending most of his time here figuring out this "borderline" business. He's got a pamphlet on him, of course, but he hasn't really read it yet.

[He's making small motions with his hands, trying to figure out exactly where he wants to make this borderline. After a moment of looking like he's measuring something, he tries it.]

Line.

[But nothing happens. Confused, he tries to remember what the shinki teaching him were saying. He has to want to keep something out. Right.

[So he takes the pamphlet out, sets it on the ground in front of him, and takes a deep breath.]

Line.

[This time, it works. The line appears on the ground the way he draws it, and the wall raises. Izuku jumps, and his excitement shows visibly. He's wide-eyed and amazed, and perhaps a little too happy about this, because his focus has shifted from "make the wall" to "I MADE A WALL!!!" and the borderline dissipates.]

AH! L-Line! [He goes again, and the wall reappears. This time, he decides to focus on how long he can hold it.]

[Physical Training]

[He defaults.

[When he hears the words "volunteer" and "help," Izuku can be found staring at the tengu who are offering escorts. He wants to go. He wants to help. But instead of actually moving to do that, he ends up just watching, and choking on his own words.

[He winds up, at the end of it, just going to the edge of the circle to watch the sparring matches. He sees how fit some of the people are, and anyone watching him will eventually see him lift his shirt to just...look at himself.

[Yeah, he's kinda ripped for a teenager. Huh. So he should be fine fighting.

[He steps up to the ring without a weapon, and takes a stance that feels natural to him. The form's not great.]

[Rest]

[After getting his ass thoroughly handed to him, Izuku can be found sitting at one of the craft tables finally looking through the shinki pamphlet with a bottle of water next to him. He looks like he's worn out, but not tired. He's had a long day so far.

[Someone should probably keep him from drinking the bottle of glue he just picked up next to his water, though. He's not looking.]

Rest

[lostinshadows]

...Izuku?

[That...That is Izuku, right?

However, Lavi's also wary. Izuku's been gone for a while and Lavi's been here long enough to know what that can mean. Either he's come back as a god or as a shinki. Regardless, that doesn't mean he'll remember everything from his time here either.

So he's torn as he approaches him.]

[nonsenseprince]

[Well, at least he isn't about to drink glue anymore.

[He jumps, and looks over at the person calling his name.]

Yes? [There's no recognition in his eyes.]

[Training]

[cleansingstrike]

[Agrias steps inside as well, wanting to stay busy while also keeping herself sharp and ready. She immediately takes notice of the boy standing inside with her, taking in the sight.

There's a bit of experience here, at least.

And he looks to be in decent fighting condition.]

Greetings to you, Ser. My name is Agrias Oaks, knight of the Lionsguard.

[It was only proper to at least introduce oneself.]

[nonsenseprince]

[Oh! He wasn't expecting conversation. It throws off his whole air, and he rubs the back of his neck, dropping his stance to bow to her politely.]

N-nice to meet you! My name is Midoriya Izuku.

Shinki Training

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako had slipped into the shinki training area looking for her own shinki, but she spots a familiar face and... freezes for a moment, confusion flickering across her face.

And then Izuku casts a Borderline and... well. That answers that, doesn't it? her expression falls for the shortest of moments before she dons a bright smile and approaches where he is practicing, giggling a little and clapping her hands as she gives him a proud look. ]

Good job! You learned that one fast!

[nonsenseprince]

[The clapping gets his attention, and the borderline fades as he turns to face this... oh my god, she's so cute. Help him.]

Oh! Th--thank you! They were giving lessons, so I thought I would try it...

[He rubs the back of his neck. He's all flattered now, what with getting praised by an adorable little girl. There's nothing more uplifting than a kid's faith and encouragement, apparently.]

Physical Training (I'm so sorry....)

[thevanguard]

[ Yata is slouched opposite of him in the ring, a lazy expression on his face and hands shoved deep in his pockets. He arches an eyebrow when the new guy steps into the ring and sinks into... well, no, he has no idea what kind of stance that is, but... ]

You know what you're doing, kid?

never be sorry, ever

[nonsenseprince]

[Izuku blinks, and thinks for a moment. Does he know what he's doing? Is he gonna get his ass kicked? Well, only one way to find out.

[The smile he gets on his face is nervous, but there's something a little determined in there.]

I have no idea. [But for some reason, it sounds like that's fun to him in this case.]

Shinki Training

[wildguardian]

Not bad, kid!

[Not bad indeed. Was that his first try? Zhao isn't asking, because, frankly, he'd tried for about an hour on his first day with no luck at all.

(To be fair, he also hadn't been named until afterwards. He's heard that makes a difference.)

Impressive mastery or not, his borderline did go down right away; Zhao raises a hand with a grin.]

So -- first one whose borderline falls loses?

[nonsenseprince]

[Izuku jumps a little, turning his head to look up at the newcomer. His borderline fades with his distraction.

[And then, before he can figure out what he wants to say in response, he's being challenged, and he starts wildly gesturing.]

W-wait, I mean, I couldn't--I'm very new! At this, I mean!--w-well, in general, too, but--!

[Good luck, Zhao.]

physical training

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun likes to keep an eye on things around the sparring areas - it helps him identify who's capable and who isn't, who might be worth giving a match. It's of particular interest to him to see a familiar face amongst the newcomers, but Shun's been here too long to assume Izuku's returned as he once was.

Though it's not as if Izuku hadn't already forgotten before he left the last time anyway.

It's not until Izuku attempts to take a stance for hand-to-hand fighting that Shun approaches, from somewhere behind and with a very blunt, direct tone.]

Someone's going to push you over, with a stance that weak.

[nonsenseprince]

[Izuku isn't paying attention to behind him (which is a flaw on its own), so the voice startles him. He jumps and maybe "eep"s a little, whirling around to face the person.]

... Huh? My stance? [His voice is a little high; Shun caught him off guard.]

rest

[ofnovalue]

Ah, Ser... Good Ser, that is... [ Ovelia was honestly a little too meek to get his attention too boldly, but by the time he almost has the glue to his lips, she has to do something or he'll definitely be sucking down paste. ]

Ser! That is not water! [ She cried before literally reaching across the table to slap the glue out of his hands. ]

[nonsenseprince]

[With his spacing out, Izuku very easily misses her trying to talk to him. That is, until she actually slaps the glue away from him. He yelps, and stares, wide-eyed, at the glue in front of him on the table. It starts to pour out. He panics again, shouting in surprise as he tries to pick it up before it makes too much of a mess.]

AAAHHH! I'm sorry!! [Why is he apologizing? He's the one who tried to drink glue.]

Shinki Training

[hakingitup]

[Hak is watching slightly from a distance. As he's gone through a number of Shinki, it certainly doesn't hurt to find out exactly if he has any more coming in.

He wonders about this one, though. Pausing and looking at him. Hm.

Waiting, waiting... ah, perfect, he has concentration.]

Any luck?

[The 'boo' of kindness.]

[nonsenseprince]

[A 'boo' of any caliber is enough to startle a kid like Izuku.

[He jumps, and whirls around to face Hak, eyes wide. The borderline falls immediately.]

W-what?! Oh! Uhm... I think I--oh. It fell.

Physical Training

[kolus]

[ Stan greets his challenger with a grin. He was hoping he'd get to fight someone unarmed. His fists raised and knees slightly bent, he assumes a comfortable boxing stance. ]

Oh, you are goin' down, kid. I'll gladly punch a teenager.

[nonsenseprince]

[Well, that ridiculousness very much gets his stance even more weakened. He looks confused, and a touch concerned.]

You'd gladly..? Isn't that bad?!

Rest

[bakusatsuo]

[Deku's not dead.

Ever since he'd been informed of the existence and assignment of his new shinki, ever since he'd had his first violent reaction to it and managed to wind down from it, he's been clinging to those three words like a mantra. Deku's not dead. Goku told Bakugou that they don't really know for sure what's up with shinki, that the death visions they get aren't necessarily accurate, that Goku's shinki friend definitely didn't die the way Goku's vision said he did...so, being a shinki doesn't mean Deku's dead. It means that the heavens think he's dead, that Bakugou is expected - and is being explicitly encouraged - to think he's dead, but there's no concrete proof it's true.

Deku's not dead.

He can't be dead. For any number of reasons, really. For Bakugou, Deku's always been almost as constant and inescapable as his own shadow, ever since they were toddlers. Deku's a fact of life at this point, whether he likes it or not(and oftentimes he hasn't). So, on the one hand, that makes his appearance in the heavens...totally logical, really. But the idea that he died to get there? That he can't go back to their own world with Bakugou, that he's permanently gone from the place Bakugou belongs? No fucking way. Besides, Deku die? Deku's the most stubborn person Bakugou knows that he doesn't have to look at in a mirror. Deku's too stupid, too persistent, too single-minded to die.

And...Deku has One For All. More than just the power of All Might, Deku carries the hope All Might represented, the legacy of over half a dozen people. Is Bakugou supposed to believe that just got wiped out of the world? That Deku bought the farm and took everything All Might and all the heroes before him did down with him? Deku would rise from the fucking grave first.

Bakugou isn't generally a reluctant person - he usually charges headlong into any challenge or course of action put in front of him - but this, finding Deku now, is the most reluctant he's ever been about anything. He's dreading it. Having to face a supposedly dead Deku, having to name him and see how he died, having to talk to a Deku who doesn't remember him and pretend he doesn't know him in turn...it's all so fucked up. He's got more history with Deku, for better or worse, than anyone else but his own parents. They understood each other - at least on some levels, and more levels than before ever since their fight. They shared the same goals. They'd become rivals. They're supposed to be fucking competing, learning from each other. And all of that's been kicked out from under them, things he thought were set in stone wiped away with the ease of a wet rag over a chalkboard, to the point where Deku won't even feel the loss because he won't remember he had anything to lose.

For years, Deku was behind him. Then he'd ended up in front of him. Recently, they've finally reached a point where they were roughly side by side. But now, Bakugou's standing alone.

At least Deku isn't hard to find. Bakugou almost wishes he was harder to find than he is. And if it's a little late in the day for Bakugou to appear to him, well...he'd needed time. All this shit...it was a lot.

He approaches Deku from behind, and he spots that bottle of glue Deku's lifting without looking to drink from. Back home, under better circumstances, he'd probably let him go through with it and laugh his ass off at him. Today, though...shit's not as funny as it could be.

He catches Deku's wrist. The instinct to say something like I guess if you glue your mouth shut maybe you'd finally shut up rises in him, the kind of thing he'd say back home. But they're not home, and nothing is right here, and he can't act like he normally would.]

You gonna chase that with a scrapbook?

[nonsenseprince]

[Izuku doesn't realize he's doing anything wrong until he's stopped, at which point he stares down at the hand on his wrist, and then up at the teenager it's attached to. There's something like disdain in that tone and in that expression, and Izuku feels like he might have already messed up with whoever this is. He doesn't know what he did to get on the guy's bad side, other than try to drink glue.

[... Wait, shit, he was trying to drink glue.

[Very delayed, Izuku startles, and he drops the bottle of glue.]

S-sorry!

shinki training

[kokuyoyo]

[Unfortunately for Izuku, there's something a certain someone thinks every shinki should experience...]

[And that's the sensation of having one's borderline barrier smashed through.]

[Chikusa's own offensive line snaps out with pure sharp force, holding nothing back. While he's not aiming at the other shinki directly, there's no doubt that his line will break through.... unless Izuku's line drops first, anyway.]

[In the meanwhile, the teenager in the knit blue and green beanie just watches for a reaction with an utterly impassive expression.]

[nonsenseprince]

[Izuku actually jumps back, despite not being in any danger, and looks around for the person responsible. When he notices Chikusa, he freezes, and just kind of stares at him with a hefty sense of alarm. He doesn't know if Chikusa wants to attack him... so he just holds still and gets ready to run.]

... What was that for..?

physical

[nopixiedust]

[It's not great, but that doesn't seem to be the concern of what looks like pre-adolescent girl as she hops into the ring as well. Instead of immediately going at it, however, she casts an unimpressed look at the poor nerd before her.]

...Are you going to be okay?

rest

[artificialrose]

Ah, no-!

[Garry nearly trips over himself, making a sudden twist turn from how he'd just been walking by. It makes the table dig into his hip a little uncomfortably, but he'll take that if it means being able to reach over and grab Izuku's hand.]

Glue-!