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TEST DRIVE # 09

Whether you're trying to figure out how your character would fare in this setting, trying to get some samples together, or just dipping your toes in the water, you've come to the right place! The Test Drive is here to make your life easy by letting you see what the game is like without actually joining it first. So here is how it works:

1: Post a starter with your character, including whether they are a god or shinki in the subject line.
2: Act like your character is established enough in the setting to allow your thread to go places.
3: Take on any god/shinki of your choosing, as long as they're not already in the game!
4: Comment around to the other people on the meme.
5: Have lots of fun!

To get you started, here are some ideas for thread-starters! Feel free to come up with your own ideas if these don't strike your fancy, though.

Old Officials

There's a business that is desperately wishing the older members of their workforce would bow out. They've been sitting on death's door for so long and are doing little to help the company. The younger managers only want to step up and take their place! Help convince these ancient businessmen to step down.

Peanut Party

A celebration for peanuts is sweeping through the city. Peanut butter, peanut cookies, even just plain peanuts are being sold, thrown, and praised all over. It's your job to help spread the peanut love, either by helping to make the tasty treats or by buying more peanuts from the next town over.

Quiet Quail

Oddly enough, a request has come in from a quail, of all creatures. It thinks very highly of itself and knows that it's super mega important, but it has such a hard time being anything but quiet. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to draw attention to this quail - make it stand out like not other quail has done before.

Roaring Riders

A rowdy motorcycle gang has been plaguing the streets for a few weeks. Every night, at midnight, they make their engines roar out in unison, waking everybody in town. The riders themselves are good guys, they just have this one nasty habit that they refuse to give up because it pays tribute to their patron god. Do you have the heart to get them to quiet down?

Slick Sevens

The newest tourist stop is a large casino. It's said that everyone who enters the casino has their luck stolen from them at the door. That might just be silly superstitions and bad gamblers talking, but there is definitely an ayakashi there who seems to feed on people's luck. Maybe that's what's causing everyone to lose so much.

If you're uncertain about anything, feel free to check out the Premise, Rules, and FAQ posts. And don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have on the FAQ!
When and if you're ready to join the game, check out the Taken Characters before throwing in a Reserve and starting on your Application
Have fun!

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...how long would that have to be, anyway?

Let's take a break so I don't get sick from the smell, yeah?

[ Yamato nods solemnly. ] The "heart" of the matter... [ She repeats aloud, pondering the term. They can investigate all the ayakashi they want, but the true "heart" of the matter is the darkness within their humans hearts. She can't help but wonder if that same sort of darkness remains within the gods who were once human. She knows they can be blighted, but can they become corrupted, too?

But it's more than simple negative emotions harbored within humans hearts. One their own, emotions are simply emotions, even if they're anger or hate or jealously. In short they're harmless. It's the ayakashi's work that is something greater, feeding off of the sum of hearts and pushing their animosity and desperation to an extreme. The ayakashi is messy in its feedings, leaving a trail of where it siphons that evil towards itself.

She can see it, a swirl of dark energy trailing over the heads of the tables, leading towards the ayakashi. The table that just had a new winner-- and subsequently a new spike in envy-- has the highest concentration of that dark energy. Quietly, she begins to move opening the door to reveal the true culprit of the casino. As they approach, the dark shadow begins to condense further as if it knows they are there. The revealed monster has no definite solid shape, but as they move closer tentacle-like limbs begins to stretch out of its bulbous form. ] My lo--- Yamanami-san. [ She'll be stepping in front of him, stretching out an arm to stop him from moving forward.

The ayakashi bubbles, is tendrils turning sharp like a sea urchin's. Beneath it, the animosity grows among the crowd. A few begin to yell at each other. ] There are too many people here. They could become hurt.

Holy crap! [Kuwabara jumps as the Stand appears, tripping over his own feet and going down to the ground in a heap.] What the heck is that? That's not a ghost, is it?

[It doesn't feel like a ghost, anyway. It almost feels more like an extension of Dio. Besides, he's kind of like a ghost himself, so it's probably fine???]

[He accepts the paper from the Stand with a frown of uncertainty, but his expression quickly brightens up when he reads what's on it.] Oh yeah! I'm taking these to a food stall on West Plum St! It's uh... [he squints at the paper, reading the instructions] 'bout half a mile up the road here, then hang a left on Orange St.

[OH NO, HE KNOCKED OVER A CUTE GIRL, THIS IS THE GREATEST TRAVESTY, but also a perfect opportunity for some flirting]

No, no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have been carrying so many boxes I couldn't see! [He hastily starts picking peanuts from Masaki's hair, then he offers her his hand, his expression going serious - seriously starry-eyed] Please, if there's anything else I can do to make this up to a princess like yourself.

[ Complaining about a better way to do something while also doing it the hard way is kind of Mao's trademark, but this time he's glad to help. After all, he heard the prayer from the little bird too, and seeing it in person, well. It's kind of cute. Why not help it out?

Of course, all that's forgotten when the other shinki comes up and is... floating?? He can't help but stare down at her feet as he hands over the quail (he can't tell if the quail is as impressed as he is). ]

Is that--am I supposed to be able to do that too?

[ If it's a shinki thing then he definitely needs to get his god to teach him that. On the other hand, though. ]

If you can fly and the quail can fly, what did you need help for?

[ Mao's not upset, just deeply confused. Everybody can fly and is just refusing to; this makes no sense. This is as he finally looks away and starts to judge the jump for the pole. ]

[For a moment there's no response other than the squishy pittar patter of ayakashi guts splattering around. But then a larger chunk of the ayakashi lying on the ground suddenly falls to even more pieces, and carving her way into a gory victory is Youmu herself. It's hard for her to maintain the stoic front she normally holds; that look of pride, the glee of being able to finally win with her swords is sending her on a giddy high.

Even if she's in pain everywhere and everything burns when you're covered in ayakashi remains. The purple discoloration could be mistaken for blood splotches, given how the ayakashi is leaking maroon fluids everywhere. But it hurts. It hurts so damn much and for that first moment after she succeeded in cutting down the ayakashi she had nearly collapsed from the pain. But she forces herself to remain on her own two feet as she limps away from the battle scene. Her swords are giving her that determination to prove her point, and the proud smile remains even with the blight staining her face.]

S-see? I...I told you I didn't n-need you! My...--haa, haa-- s-swords aren't...useless. [That word bubbles out of her mouth with emotion and force. She's proved her point! She's done it! She's killed--

--and the truth is, the ayakashi isn't dead either. Those bits and pieces that Youmu's cut up all begin to twitch before arms and legs sprout out violently, and like spiders they're all scurrying off. Youmu stares around her, panicked as the entire horde begin to sound the retreat. Instead of dealing with one ayakashi, she's now sent off a crowd, and they're making for the exit where a whole bunch of nice, juicy humans remain. Reporters, policemen, a couple of ambulances to take on a few of the injured. Youmu feels the pit of her stomach hollow; there were injured people?]

W-wait! Don't you dare-!!!

[Her arms are shaking with pain and exhaustion, but her hands find themselves to the hilts of her swords. If only she could have the strength to pull the blades out! Frustration boils within her, and a strangled outburst of temple claws its way out of her.]

Why! Why can't these things just die! Why can't my swords stop them!?

[A portion of the casino's roof collapses behind her, startling her. Now that she's removed from her tunnel vision, she finally sees the chaos she's left behind. And the guilt hits harder than a sledgehammer, almost hard enough to get her to drop her hands to her side. But no! She can't stop now!! Those innocent people are going to became an unknowing feast for the horde! Her voice softens to a whimper and a whisper.]

I...I have to stop all those ayakashi. But how? How can I do that when my swords can't do anything? What can I do!?

[And then, the words come unbidden to her. They had crept up to her tongue when she'd first met Saw, but Youmu had clamped down her mouth and stalked off, unwilling to have Saw as her shinki, unwilling to accept that her swords couldn't do anything.

Unwilling to have anyone else to guide her ways.

But now she turns to Saw, eyes downcast with humiliation, bottom lip trembling, feeling every much like the rotten child Saw claims her to be. She's done it again, allowed her temper and emotions to take over. If her mistress saw her now...well, there are rare moments that Yuyuko gets angry and disappointed with her. But Youmu doesn't have much doubt that this might be one of them.

So as much as it pains her to beg, she has to. She has to fix this.]

I-I...I need to give you a name...

[Flirting with peanuts? It's flirting with peanuts.]

Well, you were trying to do your job so....

[She shrugs, smiling, and takes his hand to pull herself up. Though the last bit does leave her bemused, and blinking at him. Enough that she doesn't let go right away.]

Princess?

[Dio laughed inwardly at the reaction, but a chuckle didn't manage to rise from his chest, and instead his face just screwed into a wider grin as he suppressed laughter. He kind of liked that reaction. It'd been some time since he'd seen anyone do something like that over his Stand of all things.]

Let's just call it 'something I do' for now, unless you wanted to be sitting here for awhile listening to the explanation drone on. [He'd probably be happy enough to talk about it some other time, when they were not supposed to be running a delivery, but he didn't much care for making the effort to talk and walk while carrying things.]

It's a useful extra set of hands. [And legs, among other things.] Anyway, we should probably move along. I'm sure these need some prompt delivery. It's more impressive if you get there with little effort, right?

[His eyes widen with shock as their target makes itself known. There it is, with all its nasty yellow eyes bulging and swivelling around, happy to soak in all the negative energies. It's latched itself to the ceiling, a sticky dark mass that's growing fatter with every passing second.

Yamanami doesn't move forward; between the two of them, it's been established that Yamato is the better fighter. His gaze remains fixed on the ayakashi, eyes narrowed, trying to figure out exactly how big it is and how it's got itself stuck up there. What a terrible creature. He looks back to Yamato and nods.]

We're not going to be able to get these people to leave either. I suppose we're going to have to lure it out.

[He rises smoothly as he helps her to her feet, a smoldering grin upon his face]

Of course! A girl as pretty as you could only be called a princess. And I, Kazuma Kuwabara, am fully prepared to be your knight in shining armor! [Check out that gleaming smile as he poses, one hand on his hip, flexing his other arm. Oh yeah, he's such a stud, there's no way a girl could resist this display of manliness, right?]

[She listens, brows furrowing as she does. Flight or being carried? Well the being carried might be fun but...could he carry her one armed?

She has to take a moment to glance between herself, then back to him. No, he could. She's pretty light already, and he looks strong.]

...Flight might be a better idea. If you carry us, there's a chance you might catch yourself on something and hurt yourself.

[Or they'd be dropped. She can catch herself, but with a bird in her arms? It might not go so well. Birds are delicate creatures after all.]

Right! [Just like that, Kuwabara's on his feet, boxes of peanuts in his arms, ready to move on]

[Unfortunately(?) for Dio, Kuwabara doesn't mind talking as he walks, especially since he's got less in his arms, and doesn't need to concentrate on navigation as much] That's a pretty neat trick, is it a manifestation of your spiritual energy? I can make a sword with my spiritual energy, it's really cool, but not nearly as, uh... handy.

[huehuehue, he's so clever, that was such a good pun]

[This wasn't what she expected. Peanuts drop from her person as she stands up, and when he flexes, she can't help herself. She laughs, her other hand going to her mouth to cover it briefly.]

You're pretty cute, Kazuma Kuwabara. Why don't you call me Masaki instead of princess? And I'll help you with your boxes.

[And with cleaning up. He's a big guy, more muscles then she has, but he does need to see where he's going. It's kind of important.]

[ And he'll hug her just a little tighter. Let it never be said that the only time Ronald Knox held a woman was because he wanted something else in exchange. He'd grown fond of the girl, after all. Or perhaps it could be chalked up to friend-by-proxy. Either way, he does offer her a smile before loosening the hug. The arm never leaves though. It stays around her shoulders instead just in case she needed to burrow into his shirt again.

Good thing he'd used the good cologne today, too. ]

Listen, sweetheart, you'll do a world of good too here. M'sure of it. Nothing weak about needing help, little bird. Why, a friend of mine from back home was the same. Sweetest reaper you'd ever meet... always looking out for someone. Always there when you needed it. You're just the same, I'd wager. Make a name for yourself as a god'n everything.

[ And another half hug with that arm around her shoulders. ]

I'd love your help! It's easier going about and trying to get intel when you've got someone else looking for the same thing. As for me arm, well... [ grin. ] Would you believe I lost it for Yuki's sake? It's a badge of pride, it is! A battle scar!

[ ...Ron, that's more than just a scar. ]

[Well...it's not wrong?]

Oh! I can try to help then!

[She brightens up, and claps her hands together, before starting to scamper off.]

There's a cheap one this way!

[She's happy because the markets were, surprisingly, one of the things she figured out right away. She didn't know why, but she didn't question it too closely.]

[Did you really just...??? Dio couldn't even bring himself to feel disgust at the pun. The man almost reminded him of a few people from...??? It wasn't home, but the place he'd been before. He seemed easy to get along with, in any case.]

Mh, yes, that's more or less it. [It's kind of how he'd explained it once before. A manifestation of one's spiritual strength. His just happened to be a full humanoid figure that could travel up to 10 meters away from his body.]

It certainly gives me a leg up on the competition. [Don't mind him trying to return a pun, though it might be more of a stretch than the 'hand' one.]

You should show me the sword sometime.

[He's just all over points. Or pointy. Ah well. But anyway, she shakes her head at him before folding her arms under her chest.]

Who knows? There might be a lot of reasons why we're dead.

[And. Sighs. Well....]

If you think that'll work, then let's give it a shot. How do you want to do it? Make their workstations all messy?

[Unplug their computers? Play annoying songs over and over? Here's Masaki, the wet blanket, ready to annoy someone else.]

Eyyyyyy, nice one! [It might be more of a stretch than "handy," but actual clever puns aren't really Kuwabara's strong suit. Like most teenage boys, though, he's perfectly capable of being a cheeky little shit, and the worse the pun, the better he can appreciate it.]

Yeah, no problem! Once we're done delivering these boxes, I got time! [He hefts the boxes in demonstration, grinning widely. He's pretty proud of his spirit sword, he'll happily take a chance to show off.] Uh, unless you're busy, of course. But I'm not really doing anything today, I'm mostly just delivering packages for pocket money, yanno? Then tonight, my god and I are headed to the casino to check out an ayakashi that's supposed to be hanging around, stealing people's luck.

[ Saw watches as the globs of ayakashi scurry off, no doubt running to conglomerate back into one ferocious beast. She pays them no mind, only watching the silver-haired girl tremble from the pain and grimace from having to suck in her pride.

Damn, does it feel good to be right, and the small, satisfied smile shows it.

She begins to step towards the girl, dragging her greatsaw behind her lazily. It doesn't seem that she minds that she's not being careful with her own weapon. She has only one question for the half-phantom, getting straight to the point. If Youmu hasn't noticed by now, Saw is tall-- and quite the monster herself as she outstretches a oversized, skeletal claw towards her. ] What is... my name, girl?

[If Dio were cooler, maybe he'd give Kuwabara some finger guns with his Stand, but he is still a lame old man somewhere deep inside and does not know the finger gun thing yet. Give him some time and internet access, and he'll be caught up with the Cool Kids in no time.]

Sounds exciting. [He could probably also stand to check out the ayakashi, but in all honesty, he was still taking time off after the stress that had been his past year or so. He'll make sure to fight all of the 'baddies' soon, just give him a little bit to be a layabout first.]

I'm not really doing anything today though, so if you're free, I'd be happy to stick around for a bit. [He had to satisfy his curiosity, after all.]

[Hey, it's not entirely a bad thing! Plus, well. The quail is adorable. Who doesn't want to give it some attention!

...even if she's floating like a ghost.]

Eh? Do what?

[It takes her a second to realize what he means and...she ends up wobbling, and lands back on the ground, back on her feet.]

Sorry! It's...I don't know? I've been able to do that for a little bit, and I think it's a...spiritual power? I've been able to do it for a bit, but it's nothing like when I'm being used by my god.

[She peers back up. She's silly, isn't she.]

I'll get back up in a moment, I just have to get in that mind set of...being able to walk on air again. it's kind of hard.

[What she wouldn't give to have her memories. But she knows something terrible would happen if she knew them too.]

[It's easier to play off the hurt of going unrecognized this time--he's had practice with Yusuke, after all--but that doesn't make it any more pleasant to realize that Kuwabara is dead and so doesn't know him anymore. Kurama slaps on a believable but false smile for Kuwabara's benefit.]

It's alright. If it is and the Heavens don't replace it for me, I can figure something out.

[Translation: he'll just steal a new one and do nerdy shit to it until it works. Now, what would be the most likely angle...? These bushes on the other side of the sidewalk. Much safer than the street, but if his phone's there it must have fallen in. He stares at it, trying to decide whether it's more effort to use his powers or just dive in.]

"We're kind of helping that along." She retorted, but she was smiling. But while there was a lot to consider about...well, all of it, maybe she shouldn't think about it too much. No one was getting killed (today) and helping them with their family life wasn't their business-until there was a prayer that was.

It was a strange system to live by, and she still had to get used to it. Not too much, she thought, otherwise she wouldn't do her job right.

Or so she thought.

"I guess we could spook them...but how?" She glanced up at Joseph, wondering. She didn't want to just run around with a bedsheet on, but...there were some good things about being invisible.

What she didn't remember was how she was basically giving him an opening to do what he did best: pull pranks.

Or some ice cream to go with it.

[ He suggests. Either way, he knows hat he could likely make better cookies than this... ]

Or, it's possible that they weren't made to eat after all. Anyone used to baking sweets would know how to not make those cookies dry.

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