takamagahara | (no subject)

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test drive

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TEST DRIVE # 01

What's that? You're interested in testing out what it would be like to join the wonderful world that is The Far Shore? Well then you have come to the right place! The Test Drive is here to make your life easy by letting you see how you would fare in our game 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.

Alleviating Ayakashi
The age-old quest of destroying ayakashi is something that most gods and shinki participate in at some point or another. Lucky for you, there are a lot of the nasty things around. Unlucky for you, they kind of think that eating you would be a lot of fun. So let's hope you're experienced enough at combat to kill them! Or at least avoid them long enough for someone else to…

Broken Bonds
A request has come in from someone who is missing a person who was in their life a long time ago. They want you to find that person and bring them back, no matter what it takes! Unfortunately, the only description you're getting of the person is from when they were seven, and they're likely in their fifties now. But that little picture the requester gave you might help you in your search if you ask enough people! That is, if you can get their attention long enough to ask…

Couple Complaining
There are a lot of couples around lately and certain followers are so jealous of them that they are praying for certain couples to be torn apart. That might not be your cup of tea, but then again it might be, who knows! All you know is that the lovers you're following around are a couple of the most nauseatingly cute people you've ever seen in a relationship. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to break them up after all, just for the sanity of everyone around them…

Darling Dearest
Of course, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, there are plenty of young Japanese boys praying that they will receive chocolates from the girls that they like. Are you willing to play a little game of match-making? And how exactly are you supposed to push two people together when neither of them tends to notice you for long? Ah well, love is in the air and you might as well help it along!

Exchanging Endowments
Valentine's Day isn't only celebrated by the people of the Near Shore, though. Those of the Far Shore are often placed in positions where they have to exchange chocolates. So what exactly are you going to do? This can be obligation chocolate, friendship chocolate, chocolate to express your love, or anything else you can think of.

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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Do you think we'd have any better luck there?

[After all, nobody's going to notice them at the schools, either, at least not for more than a few seconds. Mournfully, Tsuzuki eats another chocolate. They really are amazing. Mouth full, he continues.] Hey, you should show me how to make these!

[He swallows, and steps out into the path of a teenage girl, offering the tray. Her eyes skate past him and land on the chocolates, which seem to do a much better job of lingering in her mind, because she takes one and nibbles it.]

They're gonna need these more than these guys, right? Looks like it's mostly adults out here right now.

[ Kanji's hand tightens into a fist, and then he shoves it into his pocket, turning his glare out towards the crowd.

It probably isn't helping the matter. ]

Besides, there isn't going to be anything left for them if you keep eating them all.

Aww, but I just can't resist your cooking!

[Tsuzuki winks at him cheerfully, but doesn't go for a third chocolate after all. He's pretty sure Tatsumi might punch him.

Maybe he's related to the Tatsumi that Tsuzuki knows? They've sure got the same temper, even if this kid's a lot grumpier at first sight.... he smiles at the thought, and meekly offers Tatsumi the tray.]

Maybe you should try? She's the only one I've gotten to take one yet.

[The girl already seems to have forgotten they're there, and is pressing her nose up against the shop window, cooing about some cute display of panda-shaped cookies.]

[ Kanji takes the tray, careful even through his irritation at Tsuzuki. They need these chocolates to get more followers, even if Tsuzuki keeps forgetting the goal. ]

Stop tryin' ta break the damn game. We've only got so many to work with, here, and we ain't going to get any more followers if you keep eating the goods.

[ Ignoring the fact that he keeps calling their prayers 'games', Kanji steps up to the girl again, offering her the tray.

He doesn't bother trying to smile, instead just settling on trying to get her attention the easiest way possible. ]

Handmade chocolate? Samples are free.

[She seems to notice the tray again, brightens all over again, and takes another chocolate. Her gaze wanders away from Kanji and Tsuzuki, though, back to the shop display, and she heads inside with a suddenly decisive step. Tsuzuki cheers.]

That's one! You're better at this than me.

[He crosses his arms and frowns, deep in thought. Tatsumi's good at this, but he's really not as good as they're gonna need to be to get enough customers into that shop. The big problem is that nobody can see either of them long enough for the advertising to sink in.]

Hey, I know, I'll make a sign.

[With, um. He looks around. There's got to be something to make a sign on somewhere around here, right?]

Maybe you just gotta be more direct? They ain't going to hear you if yer being polite.

[ He steps into the crowd again while Tsuzuki thinks, using his height to bring the tray to eye level.

Maybe he can be ignored, but chocolate- good chocolate, can't.

At least. That's his plan, anyway. It's not doing too well when Tsuzuki speaks up. ]

They've probably got shit inside, right? At least paper and pens, anyway.

Yeah, that's a good idea! I'll be right back!

[Tsuzuki vanishes into the shop, humming a cheerful little tune. It's almost rush hour! They've got to get more noticeable before the real crowds show up. After all, no one wants Valentine's chocolates after Valentine's Day. This prayer has a time limit.

He emerges waving a couple of big pieces of cardboard from a broken-down box and a permanent marker.]

Hey, are you any good at drawing?

[He can probably do stick figures himself....]

[ Kanji looks at the cardboard.

He looks back up at Tsuzuki. ]

Uh, maybe?

[ The doubt he's feeling is clear in his voice, he doesn't think he's even tried writing since he'd woken up here.

He knows he can read, obviously, but- ]

Can't be much different from sewing, right?

[Well, okay, Tsuzuki's occasionally had to fix his own buttons. It's pretty different. He's not nearly as good at crafts as Tatsumi's proven to be, though, so he only hesitates for a few seconds before:] Sure!

[And hands over the marker.]

Let me know if you want me to help!

[ Kanji looks a the marker blankly for a couple seconds, before shifting the tray to one hand, offering it to Tsuzuki while he takes the marker with his now free hand. ]

Here, try gettin' more people's attention while I work on the sign.

[ This can only turn out well. ]

[It'll turn out great! It can't possibly turn out worse than it would with Tsuzuki working on it, anyway. His handwriting's all old-fashioned.

He takes the tray and forges back out into the crowds. They're getting thicker as the afternoon wears on, and Tsuzuki manages to put himself physically in the way of enough people that the chocolate gets their attention where his presence slides away from their conscious mind. He's even gotten a few people to take them by the time he makes his way back to Tatsumi, hopping a little on one foot. The lady who stepped on it was pretty petite, but she was wearing really sharp heels.]

Hey, is it ready? They're gonna eat me alive out there, haha!

[ By the time Tsuzuki's come back, Kanji had gone through two of the broken down boxes, and was carefully drawing something on the last one, in small, short lines.

Occasionally, he glances at one of the first two boxes for reference. ]

What? Yeah, sure, give me a minute.

[ He's intent on whatever final touches he's giving the thing for a couple seconds longer, and then sets down the marker to the side, holding the sign up.

In large, clear letters, it spells out the sale, that there are free samples, and at the bottom there are what looks like small, cartoon chocolates. ]

[Tsuzuki stares.]

Whoa, you can draw! I knew it! Those look great! Come on, let's set that up with the sample tray--

[He ducks into the shop and comes out a moment later with a bar stool. The tray he deposits ceremonially on top of it, and waves Kanji over.]

C'mon, put the sign next to it! Then I've got an idea.

[As soon as the sign is out of Kanji's hands, Tsuzuki's grabbing the kid by the elbow and steering him out into the crowd again.]

They might not be able to remember us, but they're not gonna walk right into us. Let's block the sidewalk off!

[Grinning broadly, he adds:] Then they have to go see the sign.

[ Now that sounds like something Kanji can do.

He spends some time fussing with the sign, making sure the angle is perfect to catch the attention of most of the crowd before he joins Tsuzuki on the sidewalk, back straight, arms crossed over his chest.

Even if the crowd couldn't see him, it'd be hard for them to move around his six feet of punk attitude and determination, not if he's deliberately trying to funnel them towards the shop. ]

Don't worry, they ain't getting past us.

We can do this! [It's practically a cheer. Tsuzuki stretches his arms out as far as they'll go, windmilling them in order to block off as much of the sidewalk as one man reasonably can. It's kind of weird watching people stop, glare at him, and then have the expression of annoyance slide off their face in favor of a blank, confused look as they forget.

They're moving towards the store, though. When the first person notices the samples and picks one up, Tsuzuki really does cheer.]

[ Between Tsuzuki's windmilling and Kanji's staredown- the pedestrians really have no choice.

That doesn't mean that Kanji doesn't break into a grin as soon as that first person enters the building, not bothering to hide it in the least. He'd been out here for too long, and finally their work is getting some payback. ]

There we go, now that's more like it! It's about time people started paying attention!

[ Then, louder, trying to catch the attention of the people on the street- ]

Free samples of handmade chocolate! Just in time for Valentines!

Delicious, handmade chocolates! Thrill your boyfriend! Make your husband's day special!

[He winks at a girl in a navy-blue high school uniform.] Snag your crush--

[She actually starts to blush before looking away and scooting to the side, pausing at the chocolates tray. They're going pretty fast now. Tsuzuki beams in Kanji's direction.]

That's a great sign!

Damn straight it is!

[ Kanji sidesteps into the path of a business woman while he talks, and even though she gives him a foul look, she still turns towards the store when her attention slides off of him, and then off of Tsuzaki, towards the shop to their left.

He eyes the amount of chocolate left, where more than half the tray is gone already. ]

We're going ta have to get more from inside, soon.

You made enough, right?

[This is great! Tsuzuki's bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement. They're going to make the shop owner's day! They're going to answer a prayer!]

-- I think this is a success, partner!

Yeah, there's another batch inside.

[ Kanji shoots a glance over at Tsuzuki, before turning to look at the crowd, taking another step to get in someone else's way.

Maybe the whole thing wasn't as much bullshit as he'd thought. ]

Don't know that until the day's over, but it sure as hell looks like we're winnin'.

[ Partner. That's- huh. ]

So it's a little early. We can still celebrate! [Tsuzuki holds his arms wide, shuffling a group of giggling high schoolers towards the chocolate display.

And while he's over there anyway, he's snagging another chocolate for himself and grinning unrepentantly at Kanji.]

Hey, you sure you don't want one? C'mon, this batch is all gonna be gone soon.

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