December Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: March 8, 2017
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 brought into small one-on-one meeting rooms as they appear, with a white-robed shinki offering them an explanation of their current role, the name of the god they will represent or the god they will serve, and directions to the temple that will be their new home.

They are cordially invited to a training session beginning in midafternoon, once they've had the chance to return to their homes, meet their new partners, and have their questions answered.



Morning/On the Road

New gods and shinki are being packed off to their new temples for the morning to settle in and meet their partners -- this is also a good time to visit with new neighbors or explore the area! What does your new temple look like? Are you headed straight there, or taking the scenic route to get a better sense of your new surroundings? The Western District is still scarred from the aftereffects of a recent volcanic eruption and earthquake, with fissures in some of the roads and burn scars in the wild landscape. The volcanic ash, though, seems to be serving as fertilizer for vast swaths of unfamiliar and colorful wildflowers, which are spreading out even further with the onset of Spring. Strangely, there are many fewer flowering trees than might be expected.

Shinki Training

A well-appointed dojo has been prepared for newcomers to practice the physical or magical arts. Outside, there are two impromptu target practice areas: one is for long-range weapons, with targets set up against hay bales at the other side of a wide, grassy area and a line drawn for the weapons' wielders to stand behind. The other is for borderlines, and a number of young children wearing short coats marked with Amaterasu's golden chrysanthemum on white are dashing around practicing their own borderlines against what look like old clothes and sheets rescued from the rag pile and hung from trees or stuffed with straw to serve as targets. Some of the children are trapping their straw-stuffed targets by dancing in circles around them, hands held as they sing the Kagome song; others are using cutting borderlines to bring sheets fluttering down.

Inside the dojo, there's room for several pairs to spar, and weapons are set up all along one wall, everything from polearms to rifles, chakrams to broadswords. They're all meant for practice, with edges dulled or padded to avoid any accidental deaths, but sparring partners will still have to be careful to avoid injury. Although there are many fewer white-robed shinki here than usual, except for the children, there is one adult shinki keeping an eye on things inside the dojo and one keeping an eye on things in the yard. They are willing to answer questions, help with borderlines or teach shinki new spells on request. Comment to the NPC REQUEST form to interact with one of them or if you have any questions about handwaving an interaction.

Physical Training

The cherry blossoms that had begun to bloom across the Meeting Hall grounds seem to have experienced a mysterious mishap. Buds and half-opened blossoms alike have rained down from the branches, carpeting the fresh spring grass below with soggy brown and black rot. Several gardener shinki, with their sleeves tied back and sensible heavy aprons to protect their white uniforms, are raking up the fallen blossoms and trying to coax the trees back to health with powders and straw wraps to protect the trees' trunks from nightly chill. They need help: climb the trees and sprinkle the knots along the branches with invigorating powders to encourage fresh buds, or help the gardeners hold the straw in place around the tree trunks while it's wrapped with cloth, or just help rake up the dead flowers.

Besides the cherry problems, the gardens are beautiful and just beginning to burst into spring bloom. Tulips, crocuses and daffodils are sprouting everywhere, and once the borderline game is done, the child shinki are quickly organizing a garden-wide game of hide-and-go-seek. Find the best hiding spot you can, and make a break for home base as soon as you're sure the seeker is too far away to catch you! But don't run into anyone on the way.

Rest and Refreshments

Gods and shinki who are finished with their training can step into a large room in the Meeting Hall that has been set up with comfortable cushions and low tables. A fresh springtime menu is available: lightly flower-scented teas, plum wine, and a variety of little savory or sweet snacks to nibble on while waiting for dinner. Dinner turns out to be okonomiyaki: bowls with mixed batter and a plate full of tasty add-ins are brought out, and griddles at the center of the table heated to let every guest set out their own favorite add-ins, pour batter over, and make a savory pancake. It's a little tricky to flip with the tiny spatulas provided, but it should only take a few pancake disasters to get the hang of it, probably!

After eating, a few doves will flutter into the room, dropping off scrolls to certain people, and the frazzled-looking adult shinki from the earlier training session dashes to the front of the room to try to keep everyone occupied. He's reading from a handful of printouts with corporate icebreaker ideas: pin a secret card to the back of everyone's shirt and ask whoever you meet for clues to figure out what it says! Fill out a bingo card with different skills or experiences your fellow gods and shinki have! Figure out how to stack every piece of furniture in the room onto just one table... play a game where you're only allowed to reply with questions... switch tables every five minutes and see how well you can get to know the other person there before your five minutes are up. Wait, isn't that speed dating? He seems to be running out of ideas.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Practice sparring or shinki magic
• Enjoy a buffet dinner and some icebreakers
• Have fun~

Comments

[trustheart]

... Yeah, but. You're acting like you can just go from never doing it at all to doing it all on your own. If not your shinki, at least let me help.

[At the second part, Chris's cheeks puffed out as she huffed at Tsubasa.]

You'd better. Only Miku's ever gotten that "honor" before.

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa clears her throat.] Well, if you insist. [She did not insist, Tsubasa.

Perhaps the next thing will distract her:] Don't be silly, you hug Tachibana all the time. [It's the other way around, but whether or not Tsubasa realizes that or not is up for debate.]

[trustheart]

...

No. The idiot hugs me all the time. I neither want nor ask for her to do that.

[beyondtheblade]

Hmmm... is that right?

Though if you truly hated it so much, I imagine she would actually stop.

[Tsubasa she literally beats Hibiki with her school bag.]

[trustheart]

...

L-Look. Senpai, it's just so hard to be mean to her! Like I yell at her and push her off, but when she acts upset and sad, it's like... kicking a puppy!

[The truth of the matter is, after everything Chris has been through that would make it hard for her to be comfortable with sudden touching, and her combat training, if Chris were really against it, Hibiki wouldn't get within five miles of her. But Chris has to save face somehow, hence the tsundere attitude.]

[beyondtheblade]

Hmmmm.

[She muses, and seeing how Chris is reacting, decides it's best to not tease her. She could definitely press this further, but she won't.

Others most assuredly would, but Tsubasa refrains.]

If you say so, Yukine.

That said, you mentioned an "Irisviel?" Your friend? [She says that with a somewhat surprised, but pleased, expression. You're making friends! Senpai is so proud.]

[trustheart]

Huh?

[Chris is thrown off by pressing deeper. It takes her a moment to catch up to where Tsubasa is.]

Oh! Uhm... yeah! She's someone I met here, actually. I've made a few friends since I've first gotten here, but she's definitely the nicest.

[Her face turns red as she recalls the fact she told Irisviel about her feelings for a certain blue-haired young woman. She doesn't think that Iri will blab, but... Tsubasa being here and right in front of her causes her to feel a bit embarrassed.]

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa observes Chris' face going red, and she leans forward a slight bit, curious but completely not knowing what it's from. Or at all. It's just a curiosity.]

Hm, I see. Well, it is good to know you can take care of yourself, Yukine.

[Better than Tsubasa expects of herself, at least.]

Perhaps I needn't worry as much.

[trustheart]

[Chris nodded.]

That's right! In four months I'll also be eighteen, too, so you know what that makes me? A proper adult!

[Chris, proper adults don't say they're "proper adults".

Nevertheless, she pouts a little.]

Besides... it's better when we look after and worry about each other, right? No reason to keep it one sided...

[beyondtheblade]

Less than four months.

[Tsubasa is perhaps surprisingly quick to correct that. Still, she gives her a look that says she's not really teasing, and is actually very genuine when she continues.]

No, you are right. It shouldn't be, and I will be counting on you. We need to look out for each other.

[trustheart]

... You've been paying attention?

[Chris was surprised, but... she didn't want to make it look too obvious. Tsubasa's genuine response to her causes her to smile slightly, and she nods.]

That's right. You should listen to me more, senpai. You know, age aside, I'm your senior as a god, so maybe we should change up how we refer to each other.

[beyondtheblade]

But of course. Do not think me so careless to not pay a little mind to such things with regards to my friends.

[She blinks at that last comment though, and shakes her head.]

Not that I don't doubt your ability, and I am sure to rely upon you but... it has only been two weeks for you, has it not?

[trustheart]

[Chris looks momentarily embarrassed that Tsubasa remembers her birthday with more accuracy than she does, but she forces past it.]

Y-Yeah, well, not that it'll matter much here, since we're in a different time of year than we are back home.

And two weeks is two weeks! That's still more experience than you've had, so that makes me the senior!

[beyondtheblade]

[She looks at Chris, looking completely nonplussed for several moments.]

Is that so?

[Her tone is flat, and she's suddenly giving Chris the most intense look in her eyes while not changing a single other thing about her now dulled expression.]

If you insist, I could probably oblige, Yukine-senpai.

[And she pauses, unflinching, just staring right at her.]

[trustheart]

...

[Chris stands there, looking stunned. A fair bit of redness fills her cheeks, before she swallows a gulp, and twitches in embarrassment.]

U-uhm.

Maybe we should stick to the normal way we refer to each other... after all...

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa continues to stare at her evenly for another few beats before letting out a small breath.]

Here I was wondering if we'd get to the other half of it.

[Because that would require you to actually use part of her name, Chris.

Ah well.

Eventually.

She shakes her head.

The whole... Furious blushing thing is perhaps not registering as maybe it should.

She just figures Chris must have felt like it sounded silly.]

I don't think there's need for us to necessarily act differently. It's... comforting to act as we were, I think. I am fairly certain you are my Yukine. That is enough.

[trustheart]

["My Yukine". Chris knows that's not the way Tsubasa meant it, but it does succeed in Chris feeling more flustered, and for her to work even harder to put a lid on it.]

Y-Yeah... I mean... we shouldn't have to change who we are for such arbitrary reasons...

[She forced herself to look up, and smile.]

I respect you a lot, senpai... I want to keep showing you that respect, all jokes aside.

[Because changing that would risk losing too much, she remarks to herself.]

[beyondtheblade]

...thank you. Like I said. It's comforting, and I'll be counting on you.

[She blinks, and perks up just slightly.] That said, it sounds as though you have been very busy the last couple weeks. I believe you have a lot to catch me up on that alone.

[trustheart]

Hm? Well, sure, I can do that.

[She smiles, bringing a finger to her chin.]

My first day, I met some nice people. There's Irisviel, she and I get along great, and she's helped me protect my shrine, just in case. And there's my shinki, Ginia, who I teamed up with not too long ago. She's a lot like you.

And then there's Iskandar... he's apparently Alexander the Great, or something. But he reminds me a lot of the commander. One of his shinki is Waver, and he and I get on pretty well too. Both they and Ginia helped me deal with some ayakashi that were plaguing the Tokyo Museum.

[beyondtheblade]

[Okay that's a lot to take in at once, and Tsubasa suddenly raises her hands.]

Ah, hold please, Yukine.

Two things.

Why does your shrine need protected?

And did you say Alexander the Great?

[trustheart]

[... Ah. She went too fast.]

Well, the protection thing is so I know if anyone tries to do anything to my shrine. If anyone tries to do anything magical there, I'll know about it, thanks to Irisviel's barrier. We thought it was a decent precaution to take, what with the cult I mentioned to you earlier.

As for Iskander... yeah, apparently? I asked him about the Tower of Babylon and everything to see if his world had anything like Curse of Balal, and he described everything as if he were there. He's not anything like the history books described, but as far as his world's concerned, he seems to be the real deal.

[beyondtheblade]

Hmm. I wonder if that is something I will have to be concerned about, as well. Just arriving I have not really ventured from here... I suppose we will have to see.

[Still, that other part actually sort of blows her mind.]

I realize we have dealt with quite a lot, Yukine, but that is ... quite a thing to consider.

[Wait did she say he reminded her of the Commander?]

[trustheart]

It couldn't hurt. I could ask Irisviel if she could do it for you too?

[Chris simply shrugs.]

You're right, it was really surprising for me too. But then you actually spend time with it and he feels like just another person, and you just accept it. Kind of like a lot of the weirdness in my life, I guess.

[beyondtheblade]

If you think there is a need for it, it may not hurt.

[She blinks, but nods.] Yes, I can understand that. We have handled numerous strange and fantastic things, down to what powers our Symphogears. I am just not used to treating them as common place, I suppose.

[trustheart]

It depends on if she's free or willing, honestly, so we'll have to see.

[She nods.]

Yeah, but I feel like this place changes what's "common place" even more. Like... we're actually gods now, senpai. I'm trying to compare it to what happened to Hibiki when she absorbed all that divine power, and it still seems so hard to comprehend.