takamagahara | (no subject)

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test drive

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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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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...

[ 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?

Tch! [And does Youmu hate having to be wrong, AND having to face that smug smirk from Saw. She half wants to bark at her to wipe it off...but the balance of power has shifted clearly in her shinki's favor. Youmu needs Saw's cooperation, and that means having to swallow her pride. Finally her hands are free, the palms reddened and raw from the fight. Two fingers pressed together and glowing blue, Youmu begins to chant. How she knows what to say, she doesn't know. It just seems...inate.]

You, with nowhere to go and nowhere to return...I grant you a place to belong. [Drawing strokes on the air itself, a character begins to form.] My name is Youmu. [Her eyes flash as she completes her chosen name for her shinki.] Lingering here gripping thine true name, I make thee my servant with thine alias.

Thy name is Saw, thy vessel is Oni! Obey my order and become my shinki!

[The completed character shines brightly and flies towards Saw. There's light, so much of it that Youmu can barely keep her eyes open. But somehow she has it in mind to keep her hands extended, and a dark red streak of light suddenly shoots out towards her hand. Youmu gasps as something forms in her palm.]

[ This is all quite the experience for Saw. First being blighted. Then not holding a body at all. Yet somehow she's filled with a sense of rightness, invigorated with the new name given to her. "Oni", huh? It's appropriate. Perhaps she should think about just what made Youmu grant her that name, if the phantom thinks of her as an oni for her looks, personality, or strength. But Saw isn't going to think too deeply about it. As the light fades a sense of weightlessness overcomes her. Her perspective shifts as well to accomodate the shift. She now stands in a blank space of the soul, yet she feels as if she's being held at the same time. ]

Let us see what you can do.

[ Her form is her own greatsaw, and it now rests in Youmu's hands. She'll find it's much heavier than how heavy it already looks.... and it's also probably three times her size. Yet the sword buzzes with power in her hands, a powerful blade that can shred the reality before her in two. ]

[Youmu feels the power of her shinki's vessel form before she even fully realises what that form actually is. But-!!

...any badass slaying will need to wait a bit.] W-waaaauugghhh!!!

[And people stare at her for using Roukanken, a sword that's long enough to be nearly as tall as she is. But at least Roukanken didn't weigh as much as she did!! Tired out by her fight, in pain from the blight and not accustomed to carrying a freaking huge saw that's three time her size and more than three times her weight, she's not going to be able to keep her balance!]

You...You're too heavy--agh!

[After a bit of wobbling she's fallen backwards. Not a very impressive first start!!]

[ ...Figures.

Saw can't help but curse at the gods who paired them together. Who ever thought they'd be a good match. ] Are you calling me fat?

Yes! You're a big, fat, chain-saw...thing! And, and you look ugly too!

[No more time for trading preschool insults though. Youmu picks herself off the ground and limps towards the hulking chain-saw sword. This time, with both hands wrapped around the hilt of the weapon that Saw's become and bracing herself properly for the heavy weight, Youmu is able to finally bring Saw up and wield her, though she has to keep her centre of gravity low. Now that she's somewhat ready to get back into the fight, she's able to see where the ayakashi are. And it's not good.

The ayakashi horde is going to reach the first couple of unsuspecting humans! Her movement is hindered too, unaccustomed to using such a heavy weapon like Saw. This isn't good!! ]

Sword skill: Cherry Blossom Flashing!

[A technique that has her quickly cover the distance, even with lugging such a humongous weapon around. ~~Really, she's such a nerd to call out her attack names like that.~~

She's not as fast as she used to be, but she just about manages to slash through the ranks of the mini-ayakashi till she's at the front, putting herself in between them and the humans. Her knees almost buckle there and then, the stress of the battle taking its toll on them, but she grits her teeth and wills herself to remain standing. The crowd of ayakashi freeze, and then begin to chitter and squeak and shake, slowly merging and melding together as one yet again. As the ayakashi begins to build its mass to tower over her, Youmu's grip tightens on Saw. Again, she begins to chant an incantation she has never heard off, yet it comes to her so naturally that it's almost as if she's memorised it by heart.]

You, who would desecrate this land of the rising sun! [Her hands begin to glow, and light creeps upwards from the hilt to the sharp tip of Saw's vessel form.] With my advent, I, [Insert God Name here] lay waste with this Oniki...

...and expel thy vast defilement!!

[With the remaining strength in her legs, she kicks herself upwards, higher and higher till she's looking down on the ayakashi. With a loud yell she begins her sharp descent, plunging Saw straight into what might be the ayakashi's head.]

Rend!!!

Edited 2016-10-03 05:05 (UTC)

[ It's a strange experience to be taking the back seat in a battle-- or at least, that's how she views it. Perhaps a native shinki would consider themselves right at the forefront, being a weapon that actually comes in contact with the ayakashi, but Saw sees herself in this situation as simply being used. A weapon, rather than a partner. Although, she's not one to have a inferiority complex. She sees herself using this god as much as the god is using her to destroy the ayakashi.

Cutting through the beast is easy as the monster tenses, impodues, and then disperses into light.

However, removing Saw from her place now lodged in the ground will be very, very difficult. ] It looks like you do know what to do..

[ That's the barest amount of praise Saw will give the girl, but the remainder of her thoughts are quiet. She's not used to not having a physical human form or being in charge of her own body. ]

Of...of course! [Welp, she's just going to collapse right next to Saw. Without the battle to distract her, Youmu's finally feeling the full impact of all her blight, and right now all she feels like doing is laying on the ground and not doing anything. Saw is going to have to wait a bit before Youmu's able to yank her out of the ground.]

I've slashed ghosts and phantoms before. Even celestials! That ayakashi was no problem for me at all. [The rain begins to roll in, and she hasn't the energy to get up and seek shelter. So she's just...going to enjoy all this cooling rain. Hopefully Saw doesn't mind as much.]

[ Of course she doesn't mind. She is a sword now. What can the rain do to her? ] ....On your own, apparently.

Most of my battles are on my own. Yuyuko-sama is too lazy, and she'll make up all sorts of excuses to get out of any hard work. Even when she comes out with me she'll say strange things and get distracted easily.

[Ah, but the mention of her mistress gets her down pretty quickly. Youmu quietens, allowing the rain to fill in the silence.]

[ "You miss her"... is probably something her human counterpart would helpfully empathize.

But Saw is not her human counterpart, and so she challenges: ] Is this Yuyuko as weak as you?

[ And yet, perhaps both Saw and her human self would agree that getting her to open up and talk about her is a good, therapeutic thing. Saw just always goes about it in a twisted way. ]

Absolutely not!! [And just like that, the fire sparks back into Youmu.] Sure, Yuyuko-sama is a sloth that doesn't lift a finger to help, and sometimes she eats all the treats and leaves nothing for me. And she doesn't go for her sword exercises and, and sometimes I end up having to leave the Netherworld and do her duties instead--!!

[Urgh why is she bad-mouthing her mistress? All this pent-up frustration she's feeling isn't aimed at Yuyuko. Which is...surprising, because for so long it's Yuyuko that's aggravating her.]

...a-anyway, what I'm trying to say is that my mistress is very strong.

[ She's not really painting a perfect picture of this Yuyuko. She sounds kind of lazy. ]

A shame her work ethic hasn't rubbed off on you.

Eh!? [Saw certainly knows how to push Youmu's buttons. She's indignant enough to sit up and glare at her shinki.] Shouldn't you be saying it the other way around!?

[ Meanwhile, Saw is only marginally invested in this argument. She still can't get over the fact that she is now a literal sword. How does this work? How can she see without eyes? How does she feel the rain?

These are questions she shouldn't be asking as a psychological, shadowy other version of her human self with giant horns and claws for hands. ] No.

I'm just saying. If you're doing someone else's job, you're doing something wrong.

Hmph. What do you know about my job anyway.

[But speaking about her job...Youmu's tone loses all the argumentative bite in it when she asks Saw a question softly.]

Do you...think we'll ever see our world again? Or are we going to be stuck here forever?

[She draws her knees up, hugging them close.] I...I need to go home. I need to prepare Yuyuko-sama's meals. And patrol the grounds, in case there's another incident. She must be so angry at me, I've...never been away from my duties for so long.

[She's glad Saw can't see her face right now. Or how she's getting slightly teary.

Or at least, she thinks Saw can't see her face because it's not like the giant chain-saw sword has eyes, right? So...so it's OK if her eyes are starting to prickle and sting a little.]

And if I'm not there, who's going to take care of the garden? Who's going to take care of Yuyuko-sama?

I'm dead. I won't ever see my world, so no. [ She doesn't seem too bothered by it, for whatever reason.

But oh no a young girl with insecurities and feeling down. Her human side's profession can't help but want to listen and care from the depths of her memories.

And so there's a flash of discomfort, and her tone is almost begrudging at herself to offer her own strange sort of reassurance: ] Think of it this way. Without you, she'll finally do her own job. If and when you return, she should be thanking you for the lesson in responsibility.

But...you could be a spirit in your own world. Isn't that better than being spirited away without warning?

[And hey, technically Youmu is half-dead herself. Her phantom half bobs down, and she pulls it closer for a hug. Again, technically hugging herself there, but she needs something to hug right now and it's not like she's going to go to Saw for comfort.]

I think...Yuyuko-sama would probably make me shovel all the snow from the gardens during winter as punishment. [She mummers into her phantom-half.] I bet the manor will be in a mess when I get back too. Just to spite me and give me more work. Honestly, sometimes I have to be the adult in the house, eventhough Yuyuko-sama is so much older than me.

[It's strange, sharing about all these old aggravations to Saw of all people. She could've gone to any of the other Gensokyo girls that were stuck here too...but what if they ended up thinking she isn't the loyal servant of the Saigyouji family that she's supposed to be? What if they told her mistress when they returned?? No, she definitely, definitely cannot talk about any of the private ongoings in the Netherworld with them.

Still, it's unbecoming anyway to be such an emotional, blubbering mess. Youmu sniffs and secretly tries to rub her eyes, ducking her head behind phantom half.]

...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have burdened you with my problems. And...and I'm sorry I called you fat. You're not fat or ugly. [Might as well go for broke then, since all these apologies are bubbling up.]

I'm sorry I didn't listen to you from the start. I...I can't slash ayakashi on my own. I know that. I just didn't want to admit it.

[ There's only so much she can do as a literal sword stuck in the ground. Talking is one thing she can do, and that's enough. Saying the right things and asking the right questions is just enough to have the girl realize her mistakes. But. Is she hugging her in her sword form. Really.

Uuuuugh. ] Apology accepted. [ She says at last, although she mentally tucks away various bits of information to ask about later. Even if this Yuyuko is lazy, she's piqued Saw's interest. She wants to know what sort of relationship she has with her god, and how much she influences her. Obviously a lot, but it seems bizarre that this young half-phantom need to take care of an irresponsible adult.

In Saw's opinion--- what a waste of talent; the girl could be working for someone a lot better. Maybe the girl has been brainwashed? Whatever, these are questions to ask at a later time. ] Working with others may be the most difficult hurdle you will have to overcome. [ Understatement, since ya know. She's working with Saw. ] Are you truly crying over this? It simply takes practice.

E-eh!? I'm n-not crying!! It's, it's just the rain!!!

[Just gonna quickly smush those tears out of the way, thanks. And stiffle those sniffles.] Besides, you don't have eyes! How do y-you know--I mean, you can't see anything, right?

[ Saw's just going to cut her off. ] Don't ask about it.

I don't want an headache.

[ She doesn't want to think any harder of how she "sees" or feels right now than she currently is doing! ]

R...right.

[Hoping that her eyes aren't red, Youmu finally gets to her feet.] Sorry. It must be uncomfortable to be left like that for so long. I'll get you out.

[It takes a little tugging and grunting, but eventually Youmu pries her free from the ground, nearly stumbling backwards into a puddle. This rain sure isn't letting up.] I need to call your name to turn you back right?

"Black Gold Saw".

[ She's back into her regular form, stretching out her arms casually.

She takes a moment to look around at the scene, noting the destruction, as well as a couple of people caught in the disaster lying on the ground. ] Are we done here?

Yes, we are--...

[Oh. Wow. She's following Saw's gaze and that's...quite a lot of destruction she left behind. Great. Now she feels even more awful. And to top it all off--]

Ah-choo!

[It seems that gods aren't immune to colds. Two more sneezes follow that one in quick succession.] I...I think we need to get out of this rain.

Edited 2016-10-03 07:45 (UTC)