takamagahara | (no subject)

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TEST DRIVE # 03

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.

Keening Karaoke
For some reason, karaoke clubs have suddenly popped up all over the Heavens. Not only that, but they are the big new hotspot for residents of the Far Shore to hang out at and everyone around you has been pressuring you to join them. Do you continue to fight back or give in to the peer pressure weighing you down?

Little Lies
Everyone believes that white lies do no harm, so the people of the Near Shore are happy to use small lies whenever they need to. Tiny ayakashi have been springing from these little lies and are now teaming up to form into a huge ayakashi, and it keeps getting bigger with every passing moment!

Marriage Madness
With spring in the air, the season of weddings is upon the Near Shore, and boy do the people of Japan seem eager to get married this year. In fact, it's so crazy trying to book anything that there are literally hundreds of prayers being sent up asking for monetary deals as well as luck with finding the right place to marry. Help some poor people out.

Necklace Nuisance
A cursed necklace has sprung up in the city and there are a lot of people dying because of it. The weird thing is that no one who has actually worn the necklace has died, just everyone around them. This cursed necklace has fallen into the hands of a depraved young man who is more than happy to use its bad luck in order to start 'taking out the trash' of the world...

Overt Ogling
As the temperature rises, so do the skirts of teenage girls. Unfortunately, there are a lot of pubescent boys who are more than happy to take a gander whenever they can. Catching some peeping toms, how is a resident of the Far Shore supposed to react? Or even warn the poor girl who's being spied on?

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

Or we'll have another death--

[There's a metallic groan, and the handrail suddenly sags as the suited man places his hand on it. Hakkai's lips thin, and he glances from side to side, possible paths illuminating themselves in his mind. Here, to there, to-- that'll work.]

Please handle the man with the necklace!

[The young man has a determined air, and he could see Hakkai, unlike most of the people in the crowd around them. Another shinki? A god? Hakkai's not sure, but he has something more important to do right now. He flings himself into a leap, flipping to kick off a concrete post supporting the railing, and dives at the suited man's legs just as he loses his balance and begins to fall.]

[It takes Yukine a moment longer to grasp the situation and that the suited-man's death is a lot more imminent that he thought.
Being told to take care of the man with the necklace- well, he was going to do that anyways! Somehow.

Yukine is distracted for an instant when the other man (shinki? god?) pulls of such an acrobatic feat, but the guy in the hoodie is also watching his target.

Now, Yukine is honed in on the necklace. Forming his hand into a halberd shape he makes a quick motion towards it. The borderline flashes, cutting the necklace without cutting anything else. Yukine's satisfaction at that is short-lived, however, as the necklace doesn't fall from the man's neck.
Geh-- well, sure it would have been better to cut the necklace at the back of the neck, but he can't see that! And now it's just hanging there like a tiny stole.

He's not sure if the curse will be broken by just breaking the necklace. He has to recover it. So he barrels towards the guy in the blue hoodie, intending to knock him down.]

[He's barely in time, but barely is close enough: the suited man goes down hard on his back in the middle of the sidewalk, starts swearing, and aims a punch at Hakkai's head.

Hakkai catches the punch, giving it enough of a twist to leave the man's wrist aching, and drops his hand again.

(He may not agree with the strategy, but most of the people that man has used his necklace against have had remarkably unpleasant backgrounds.)]

Please don't try that again. In fact, you may want to leave!

[He shoots the man a smile and gets back to his feet, dashing after the younger shinki. Definitely a shinki; he's sure he saw him cast something like a borderline just now.

If he doesn't manage to get the necklace away from the killer, well, Hakkai will be right there to provide other options....]

[The guy in the blue hoodie, seeing his 'murder' attempt being thwarted (in a really outlandish way- where did that guy come from?!), turns quickly to walk away. With all the other people milling around and pausing to be distracted by the fallen man in the suit, Yukine is hard-pressed to follow, let alone get a running start to push his target down.

But he is small, and it's about damn time it's good for something. Shifting through the crowd he gets close to blue-hoodie and when there's a break in the crowd- he flings himself at the guy's legs.

At the sudden appearance of a body low before him, the man in the blue hoodie stumbles over it and falls heavily, cursing.

Yukine is ready for it, his hand darting for the guy's neck, intending to pull the necklace away.
Surprisingly, he finds his wrist being clasped by blue-hoodie's hand, his fingers stopped just short of the dangling broken necklace.]

Damn it-!

[Hakkai elbows a few gawking high-schoolers out of his way and grabs the back of the man's hoodie, giving it a neat twist as he glances down.]

Let go of his hand, and don't move. There's no reason for this to be too hard, is there?

[There's an edge to his cheerful smile, and as he finishes speaking, he gives the hoodie another twist, pulling the fabric tight around the man's forehead. It's stretchy, so it shouldn't be too painful, but the pressure reinforces his threat.]

Please get the necklace, ah... I didn't get your name earlier?

[There is something a bit... scary about this guy, despite his smile. It seems that blue-hoodie can sense it too because he lets go of Yukine's hand with another growled curse and then he starts talking about 'justice' and 'taking out the trash'... Yukine pays him zero attention.

Slipping the gold chain from the guy's neck, he nods a confirmation to the guy who came to help.]

I was going to meet you eventually. [It's his heaven-imposed job, after all.

He doesn't want to give his name out so casually in front of this sack of crazy though, so he stands and says instead,]

Do we have to just let him go?

[Yukine's expression says that he'd like nothing better than to give the guy a kick in the ass at the very least for all the trouble he's caused.
Turning him over to the police would be nice, but they can't prove that the necklace was the murder weapon.]

Do we? I wasn't thinking of letting him go.

[The necklace has been safely recovered. Hakkai stands up, yanking the man to his feet by his hoodie. He makes a choking noise, and Hakkai spins him to face the broken railing, overhanging a twenty foot drop to train tracks.]

We could just drop him off here.

[Yukine blinks at the man, not quite sure how serious he is. Blue-hoodie is taking it seriously though, trying to scramble back from the edge although he's being held firmly in place.
Despite their natural ability to avoid notice, they are attracting some attention too.

Yukine shrugs dismissively.]

You know, that's not a completely bad idea. 'Taking out the trash'; I'm sure this guy would even agree. [He ignores the yelps of blue-hoodie as he continues,] But you know, isn't this one of those 'then we'd be brought down to his level' kind of things? I don't wanna go there. Besides- [he comes a bit closer so he doesn't have to say it so loudly in front of so many people] shinki are not meant to kill humans.

Aren't we? What a shame. I suppose I'll let him go for now, then.

[He suits action to words, taking one step back and releasing the murderer's hoodie. If the man has good reflexes, surely he won't stumble forward! It's up to him now, though. Hakkai adds, to him, with a perfectly pleasant smile:] But if we have to come deal with you again then I think I'll break a ... rule or two.

['We'. So he is a shinki after all. Yukine hadn't been sure, although if the guy had been a god he might very well have just pushed blue-hoodie off and said it was righteous.

Well, it's over with now. Hopefully blue-hoodie will take the threat seriously. He seems scared enough, but who knows what resentment he might harbour.
To drive the point home Yukine backs the other shinki up by glaring daggers at blue-hoodie as he beats his retreat.

Once blue-hoodie is out of sight Yukine lets out a long, slow breath.]

Thanks. [For not killing the guy, for helping him get the necklace... take it as you will.]

And my name is Yukine. I just didn't want to say it in front of that turd.

Hakkai. [He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his eyes, and sighs. He'd harbored a faint hope that their target would stumble through the broken railing. Perhaps he'll have learned his lesson, but Hakkai doesn't trust that anyone who thinks it's his job to murder the 'trash' of the world will stop so easily.

It's not an easy mindset to shake.

Well, they'll find him again if he starts up again, no doubt.]

It's a pleasure to meet you. Er, shouldn't we do something with that necklace before another passersby has an accident?

[It's broken, but would that stop the curse? Hakkai has no idea, but with the crowd around them of people staring at the broken railing and murmuring, it wouldn't take much magic to cause a problem.]

Right.

[Stuffing the broken chain into his pocket he glances back and forth before deciding on a direction.]

There should be a map over here. We can check the location of the nearest shrine.

[Even though it's Shibuya there will for sure be a shrine somewhere nearby.

As he walks he looks over at Hakkai-san curiously.]

Say, if you were so ready to let the guy using the necklace die, why did you try so hard to save the guy in the suit? He had a pretty rotten record too, you know.

Maybe he did, but in this situation, he was the victim....

[Hakkai trails off, and shades his eyes with one hand, looking up at the sky. It's sunny today, with only a few wisps of cloud hanging around the horizon.]

Really, I don't know why.

[He speeds up, pulling ahead so that he's already leaning close to investigate the map when Yukine catches up. He's not sure he can explain the impulse. It's just that-- he'd felt as though he had to act.]

...

[Maybe it was a dumb question in the end. After all, there were things about himself he didn't know the 'why' of either, although his mind never dwelled long on it.

Coming up behind Hakkai-san to also look at the map he glances at him and murmurs,] Sorry.

[Then he points at the map. Just east of the station there are two shines.]

I was thinking dunking it in purifying water could work, but we might also be able to ask to use their shine to return to Takamagahara.

[Well, he hadn't expected an apology. Hakkai straightens up, blinking.]

Really, it's no problem-- [Ah. They're both shinki; of course the boy would know what it's like to respond to a situation without knowing why.]

I think bringing it back to Takamagahara would be a good idea! The longer it spends on the Near Shore the worse for the living.

[Don't react so weirdly to being apologized to. It only makes it more embarrassing.

Checking the map once more to make sure he understands the route Yukine nods confidently.]

Right. Well, no harm in trying both while we're there. Just about every shrine has water for purification.

[And starting to walk in that direction he sticks his hands in his pockets in a relaxed posture.]

Mm. Anyway, like I said, I was going to meet you anyway. I'm supposed to be checking on you new shinki. So I usually ask first, how are you getting along with your god?

Does that mean you're a veteran? My my, I'm honored to meet you! I don't suppose you have any tips for a brand-new shinki, do you?

[Hakkai falls into step with the boy -- how old is he, really, if he's been a shinki for a while? Surely they don't continue to age once they're already dead.]

About my god, well, I can't complain. We're still just learning how to work together.

Heh. Although I'm more 'veteran' than you, there are other shinki more deserving of that title. Think of me more as a 'senpai'.

[He nods at being told that they are learning to work together.]

As long as you're working at it, that's fine. As for other tips, sure, I have lots.
Have you learned how to make a borderline yet?

Ah, senpai it is, then. [He smiles.]

I haven't! Let's see, I'm sure that was described to me -- it's like this, isn't it?

[He presses his fingers together, tucking his thumb in to form a knife-hand, and slashes it at a temporarily empty square of sidewalk. Nothing happens.]

Or maybe there's more to it than that.

[Yukine grins back. Heh. Gotta say, that sounds damn nice.]

[He watches Hakkai-san try the borderline, nodding slightly.]

Yep, just like that. And there's not really much more to it, but it is easier to draw when there's something you're scared or disgusted of on the other side. Like... where's a tiny ayakashi when you need one?

[Yukine looks around. This near the train station with so many people around there's bound to be...
It takes him a few long moments, but he does spot one waddling along a wall, looking like some sort of penguin. Moving his sleeve up to protect his hand Yukine sneaks up on it and picks it up by the neck.]

Ug- gross. How did Yato do it so easily? [But he turns around to brandish his catch at Hakkai confidently.]

How about now? Think you can draw one against this thing? [He drops it back on the ground, where it waddles around in frantic circles.]

Do I have to?

[He crouches, considering the poor little thing. Yes, it's weirdly gelatinous and transparent, with yellow eyes that roll lidlessly around in their sockets. But--]

It's rather cute, isn't it?

[He dodges as its waddle turns into an attempt to lunge at his face and peck out his eye.] Ah-ah, now, behave yourself...

...
If you can call a mass of negative and potentially deadly curses 'cute'...

[Yukine frowns down at the ayakashi, and his hand twitches when it makes its lunge towards Hakkai. This guy makes dodging look so easy though...]

Hey, you know talking to them does zero good.

[Hakkai dodges again as the creature makes another lunge.]

Is that what they're made of? It doesn't seem to be a very good listener, you're right.

[He straightens up, the smile slipping away from his face as he considers the little thing. So, then, the trick to creating the borderline is to draw on your own revulsion for the creature on the other side of it? The ayakashi Yukine caught for him is small and unthreatening, but surely Hakkai can find something about it to revile.

Its yellow eyes roll again and focus on him, and his hand lashes out as a shock of familiarity rocks him to the core. White light springs up from the line his hand described across the concrete. The creature bounces off the wall of light midair and collapses backwards with a high-pitched shriek.

Hakkai holds his hand up in front of his face, and blinks at it.]

Ah.

Whoa-!

[Yukine blinks in surprise as the border flashes into being, then he grins at Hakkai.]

Nice job, Hakkai-san! Ahh, see, having an ayakashi to practice on really does make a difference, huh. You're the first one to draw it in front of me!

[The feeling of being a successful teacher is pretty damn sweet to boot.]

I think it does make a difference!

[Hakkai takes a deep breath and looks back at the creature. That instinctive flash of hatred seems to have faded, leaving no hint of its inspiration, and the ayakashi looks rather cute and harmless again.

He rubs his forehead, pushing away an incipient headache.]

Can a borderline be used to attack?

[Yukine had used something to cut the necklace from a distance, hadn't he?]

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"looks like a cinnamon roll but will kill you", eh.

actual mass murderer Cho Hakkai reporting

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