takamagahara | (no subject)

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test drive

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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

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?]

Yes, it can.

[Without hesitation Yukine attacks and cuts the ayakashi with two swift lines. The thing screeches, parts of it falling off and fading. It gets a bit smaller and seems weaker, but it is clearly not destroyed.]

Against larger ayakashi it's better to use the borderline as a wall. Even with these small ones, as you can see, it can't kill them. No matter how much I cut at it.

[(The fact that he's used it more against other shinki than anything should... probably not be mentioned right now.) He then looks up at Hakkai, a realization dawning.]

The borderline can be used to cut things of the Near Shore too, though. Did you see me cut the necklace?

Yes. You're very precise. I didn't see him bleeding at all.

[Cutting through a chain lying against a man's skin without drawing blood... yes, Hakkai will have to practice before he can make an attempt like that.

He considers the shrunken ayakashi, flexing his fingers. There is a distant look in his eyes. He could practice attacking it again, of course, but he's not sure he can muster the necessary revulsion.

If there are larger ayakashi somewhere... perhaps it would be easier to start with them.]

If we can't destroy them with the borderline, how can they be destroyed?

'Course you didn't see him bleeding. I cut only the necklace. [He shrugs slightly.] It's not a big deal- you just have to concentrate on cutting only what you want to cut.

[He then puts on a serious expression-] But it's better to practice that before really trying it. It's dangerous to do it on the fly!

[Stupid Yato putting him in a pinch all the time. At least it's always worked out. So far.]

As for destroying ayakashi... [With a frown Yukine sends one more borderline after the little ayakashi, sending it scurrying away as fast as it could waddle.]

The only way to destroy them is with a god-wielded shinki.

Oh, I'll practice first. I wouldn't want to take anyone's head off! [Hakkai pulls one finger across his throat in graphic illustration of the idea, and laughs.

Well, it is funny.

He watches the little phantom disappearing into the crowd, probably to cause more havoc, and makes a thoughtful noise as his laughter dies away.]

And I'll have to work with my god, then.

[Yukine grins (only a little awkwardly) at the joke.]

Heh- yah, take it easy on the Near Shore.

[His expression also gets a touch more serious with that topic.]

It's - I think - one of the most important things, for shinki and god to work together well. Are you worried about it?

Do you find it difficult being a weapon for a stranger to wield? I think I may.

[His tone stays light and conversational, but the expression on his face has faded into a deliberately neutral mask.

It would be easier if he knew his god... if he knew anyone, even himself, but with no memory to guide him the world is filled with strangers.]

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

actual mass murderer Cho Hakkai reporting

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