April Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: May 8th 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, 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.

Once the speech is over, new gods are joined with the rest of the gods in a larger room, although it still has a raised stage and tatami mats. There are worried whispers that they might be given another questionnaire to fill out as was the case a month and a half ago, while others are wondering if this is an impromptu conclave to follow up on Suijin's findings on behalf of Amaterasu.

Well, after a few minutes, Fuujin arrives - with Kaede close behind him. "I hear you all plan on sticking around, so listen up." He crosses his arms and walks towards the front of the stage. "You want to prove we can trust you so much, you can pull your own weight. This whole time, we've been training you and your shinki. Time to show us what you've learned and just how much effort you're willing to put in off the battlefield. Kaede, explain." Fuujin steps back, and Kaede steps forward.

"What my Lord Fuujin means is that we will begin accepting volunteers for temples of the New Gods to host these training sessions. Training should continue to cater to the needs of God and Shinki alike. Prospective Hosts should contact me, Lord Fuujin, or one of the other Counselors Lady Suijin and Lord Raijin, if they are interested in opening up their temple, so that we might make recommendations based on your planned activities." Kaede bows to the crowd. "Lady Suijin and Our Lady Amaterasu also send their regards in this matter."

Although Fuujin harrumphs a little at that final remark, Kaede steps back. "Alright, that's it! Go on if you've got other business."

Shinki Training

There are stacks of informational pamphlets sitting out on tables around the dojo. There aren't very many of the white-robed shinki around, but the few who are present 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. Outside, in an area carefully roped off with red ribbons, are six animated training dummies, but they are damaged in a way that doesn't make them terribly useful as targets. A couple of shinki are trying to repair them on the fly without success, all by hand.

Physical Training

Amaterasu's shinki took the time to reassemble Bishamon's obstacle course on these grounds! Climb walls, crawl through mud, jump across randomly spaced stumps, find your way through a maze and collect one of each of five different-colored ribbons being handed out by shinki attendants for completing each section within the allotted time. Every so often, Amaterasu's shinki high-five each other for setting a good example for future training sessions and sound excited about being allowed to participate in trainings instead of managing them all the time.

There's another segment inside the hall though, away from the noisiness outside. There is a place set up to do low-strain stretching exercises called Rajio Taisou. Afterwards, this includes a duration exercise for practicing seiza sitting position. Those who succeed for at least 15 minutes are treated to an immaculately prepared hot drink of traditional green tea, or a similar sort of beverage upon request, then another at 30 minutes, and so forth. Don't worry, the drink cups are the traditional size - slightly smaller than a modern mug.

Rest and Refreshments

While the usual refreshments and snacks are available, for those who are still up for it, Amaterasu's shinki have one more session that everyone can participate in. They'd originally planned for it to be shinki songs only, but say they decided to make it more general singing practice. They'll sing a handful of kindergarten-age songs twice-through each as warm up, and then move on to some popular enka tunes as well. They have light koto accompaniment, a small piano, and a drum.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
  
• Discuss with your temple-mates if you'd like to volunteer to host training
  
• Choose your style of physical training: high- or low-impact
  
• Enjoy singing together
• Have fun~

Comments

[nopixiedust]

I mean, considering that these things happen every few weeks, we might need to rush depending on what you'd want to do.

[Honestly. Wendy presses a finger to her temple, as if that will stop the oncoming headache she's sure will happen.]

We should at least set up a place where people can train, right?

[priforprince]

A genius’s training arena and the common man’s training arena are different.

[ Hibiki looks out over the current surroundings pointedly. Truth be told, she doesn’t have a concrete idea. Not yet. Merely the spark of inspiration. But that suffices. She, alone, never fails herself.

The thought makes her smirk rather more villainously than necessary.]

The seeds of my plan shall sprout very soon.

[nopixiedust]

[They're so screwed. Still, as long as she's around, Wendy will make sure that this doesn't end up as just another concert. Or, at least, only another concert. So she taps her cheek a few times, thinking quickly.]

...Mm, then, if it's alright, do you think I could do a few things when that time comes, Hibiki? I want to play with guests too!

[Or, rather, do some obstacle courses, maybe, and other ways she can make this a possibly worthwhile endeavor.]

[priforprince]

Of course. Your enthusiasm shall be amply rewarded.

[ She’s such a generous god. And not at all opposed to a collaborative effort, when the other party is as worthy to stand by her side as Wendy! Her shinki may join her upon her pedestal. Above all others. ]

We’ll educate new and old alike as to the true nature of divine inspiration!

[nopixiedust]

Yaaay~.

[So she at least has some time to plan some things out now... She'll need equipment, too. Wendy gives a cheerful little skip.]

I can't wait to pick out a room in the castle to remodel for this! It'll be so fun~. Maybe I can show them some acrobatics!

[Shun, if he can even stomach approaching Hibiki's temple, would love that sort of stuff. Not to mention some more acrobatic type structures, such as bars or highwires, aren't often taught in the usual training sessions.]

I can borrow your wallet, right, Hibiki?

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods: this, too, is a certainty. ] My resources are yours.

Here.

[ ....It’s a separate wallet. With a ballet-shoe emblem embossed onto it, crowned by Hibiki’s, well, own personal crown mark. And from the feel of it, there’s bills and a card already inside of it.

Presents are also best given at the most suitable instant! ]

[nopixiedust]

[Honestly, Wendy is expecting either hard cash, or a checkbook she'll have to trick people into accepting, both of which are honestly acceptable and not a big deal. Yet when she's given the wallet and takes a good look at it... For a moment, Wendy only turns it around in her hands with her eyebrows raised in surprise. Hibiki's little crown means that this is definitely an original work, as much as it can be called that, so the ballet shoes...]

[She looks up at Hibiki and gestures at her.]

Hey, can you kneel down for a moment, Hibiki?

[priforprince]

....Me?

[ Asked to kneel? This does not happen to Shikyoin Hibiki!

Still, as Hibiki’s gesture demonstrated, Wendy has proven trustworthy. So Hibiki goes down on one knee, perplexed but intrigued.

This pose is the most splendid method of approximating Wendy’s height, you see. ]

[nopixiedust]

[Wendy height is in fact the perfect height, and the shinki in question gives an approving nod once she sees how well Hibiki has done. For all her flaws- of which there are many- her god really does make sure to do some things perfectly. At least when it comes to girls.]

Perfect, thank you.

[-and that's when she reaches over to pull Hibiki into a hug that she half-dives into herself, beaming.]

And thank you! I love it, Hibiki!

[priforprince]

Wh-

[ The request was a lead-up to an affectionate ambush?! Hibiki, completely unprepared, starts.

But this...is not unpleasant. Not in the slightest.

How about that. ]

[nopixiedust]

[How about that.]

[Wendy holds the hug for a moment, just to drive it in while she still has Hibiki trapped where she is, before she pulls away with a smile. She doesn't want to accidentally break her god, after all. Baby steps.]

I'll make sure to keep it safe. This really has me energized, now! I'm going to start making up plans immediately!

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki nods, similarly cheered. ] Show me the excellence befitting CelePara Talent Agency’s prima. And my exemplar.

[ Does “pride in someone other than oneself, albeit expressed entirely in terms of oneself” count as a baby step, or as marching in place? ]

[nopixiedust]

[Wendy is going to say that it's a baby step because at least she's acknowledging someone else's existence. It's not a lot, but sometimes that's just how it is with Hibiki. Wendy gives an exuberant spin around.]

I'm always perfect, so no worries!

[...Really, when one takes into account the kind of confidence Wendy displays, perhaps it's no surprise that she ended up wandering into Hibiki's care as she did.]

I'm going to run and do some research right away, okay? Don't get into trouble without me!

[priforprince]

Mm. [ Such an attitude does indeed seem....encouraged.....by the master of the temple. ]

None would dare.

[ Never Hibiki’s fault she gets into trouble, you see. Always the other guy. Or passing stupidity. Or the fabric of reality itself.

But never, ever Hibiki. ]