takamagahara | Test Drive #20

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test drive

Test Drive #20

TEST DRIVE # 20

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.

Rope bridge Rumble

An adventure park that features several scary-exciting climbs and crossings between trees using only ropes has a huge problem. The ropes are getting unexpectedly tangled up. Even worse, it sometimes happens when a customer is trying to make a crossing, tripping them up in the midst of their course! While the safety ropes have been doing their job at keeping customers uninjured, the employees are fervently praying that whatever is doing this will go away, before something worse happens.

Steady Shave

It's the height of summer, and even men that treasure their beards, mustaches and sideburns dearly are driven to get it shaved off in the name of heat reduction. Small barbershops are being overrun with customers who want it all shaved off- some even going so far as to want their head shaved bare.
Answer the barber's pleas for a couple extra hands. May they be steady.

Toil and Trouble

A performance of Macbeth is being haunted by an ayakashi causing bad luck. Props getting misplaced or needing repairs, color gels for the lights getting torn, the microphones keep kicking up feedback- The customary wish of 'break a leg' feels dangerously close to becoming real. Rescue the Scottish Play from its curse before the curtain rises!

Ubiquitous U-turns

Elementary school children go home in groups for safety. However that measure isn't helping against some children getting home very late. And none of the kids can bring themselves to say why they end up taking so many wrong turns on the way. Take up a traffic flag and your best teacher voice, and help the children find their proper way home, keeping an eye out for anything - mundane or supernatural - that might be leading the kids astray.

Violet Veranda

Cheerful violets grew unusually well this year on the college dorm veranda, to the point where the whole perimeter of the veranda is full of containers holding them. But now the flowers are nearing the end of their life, and something strange is happening to the students at the same time. As the flowers wilt and fade, so does the energy of the students living in the dorm. While it would normally be impossible to draw a connection between the two, residents of the Far Shore can see the truth- tiny ladybug-like energy-hungry ayakashi are moving from flowers to students. Take care of this however you can before the last petal falls!

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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I. - Rope Bridge Rumble

[Goggles resting atop her head were pulled down and secured in place. She looked up; even from her position on the ground below, she could see the target clearly. A singular, squirming silhouette amidst an increasing tangle of rope, branches, twigs, and leaves, the latter of which continued to flutter and fall from above, only to end up trapped like a fly in a web.]

[Waves of panic broadcasted, indicating a sense of urgency. Although there was little in the way of danger--she'd already checked the safety nets below, and was satisfied with the results--she felt sympathy for the poor soul and hastened her movements accordingly.]

[One of the higher branches looked sturdy enough. She swung the weighted cord in her hand around several times, building up a solid momentum, before letting go. As always, her aim was perfect; it not only flew up to just the right height, but looped over the branch and began to fall back down on its other side in a single, smooth motion. From there, she allowed the rope to be pulled, guiding it with her gloved hands, until the weight had returned to her. It took less than ten seconds from there to secure the harness and pulley system, and with a few sharp pulls, she slowly began to rise into the air.]

Try to hold still! [She called up in a strong, but reassuring tone.] I'm on my way. We'll get you out of there in no time.

II. - Ubiquitous U-turns

[She'd seen the children walking home from school more than once before, sometimes even pausing in her routine to stare after those precious smiles. Reveling in the sense of innocence and wonder they still carried. Sometimes, one of the younger ones would notice her. And wave. She always waved back.]

[Today, however, those waves would come from a much closer proximity. The smiles were still there, though dimmer than usual. Fear overshadowed their eyes, and though her face was somewhat familiar, she couldn't help notice the way some of the smallest ones clung to their larger friends. Perhaps a bit of an overreaction to the mere idea of getting lost or delayed along the way...but she knew that, in their minds, the lack of certainty over what was to come could very well stir up feelings of anxiety.]

[Understanding the reason for their recoil, she purposely knelt down to better meet them at eye level, lightly tilting her head to one side and offering a smile of her own.]

I know this all seems really scary right now. It's alright to be scared sometimes. What's important is that you don't let being scared stop you.

We'll get you all home safely today. I promise.

III. - Wildcard!

[In case of Third, Un-Categorized Scenario, Tag Here!]

Edited 2017-09-06 00:43 (UTC)

[Good, she can be the noticeable one. Trunks has also noticed that tangle, and the incoming help. He's flying over anyways while trying to not get himself tangled in the snarl of branches and twigs and rope.]

Nice throw! I've got your back.

[Which right then was mostly standing by and trying to clear some twigs away so she and the rope-goer had a clearer-path. It also meant he was right there to catch or steady either of them.]

[She heard the voice call to her long before she saw him, initially focused on getting herself up as quickly and safely as possible. But there was something about it...]

[Memories were still a slight haze to her. She knew they were there, and if she focused for along enough, they would begin to take shape. With her mind so preoccupied, however, it was easy enough to dismiss a voice that might have sounded like one from her past.]

[Then she looked up and caught a glimpse of his face.]

[An image flashed in her mind, coupled with a small pang in her heart. This face...it was familiar. Almost. It didn't quite match up to the face in her mind. There were subtle differences, not the least of which being his hair. Enough to completely overshadow the fact that he was flying. Because that part, for some reason, barely registered. As if she were used to the sight.]

...not me.

[It dawned on her maybe half a second after she called to him that he would need more than that. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she tried again.]

I'm not the one who's caught right now. We need to figure out where the tangles are coming from. So we can put a stop to them once and for all.

[That would be why he's closer to the person caught in the snarl at the moment, just in case.]

Soon as you're up here then to help with this, I'll see what I can find out. Seems like whatever's doing it though is good at not being seen.

[There is a hint of frustration in his voice. It's a good thing he IS nearby though; one hand reaching out to steady the person at their shoulder, the other helping move the branch that had poked them aside.

As soon as Mai is up there though and secure, he'll back off enough to watch for anything suspicious. He, obviously, has no memories of her or really of himself.]

[Right. Yes. They needed to focus. Memories (or non!memories) could be sorted through later.]

[Whether or not the flying man would be able to see, Mai gave a curt nod before continuing in her path. The higher up she went, the more upper body strength it took. Yet, for someone like her, it came with an innate ease. Only a few seconds passed before she had reached the desired height, pausing long enough to secure the rope by tying it to a metal hook at her side. A tug to ensure its stability, and she called out again.]

I'm here.

[Maybe it was stating the obvious. Better to risk as much than keep her momentary partner in aid out of the loop. The sooner they were able to coordinate their efforts, the sooner their task would be completed.]

Alright, what I need from you... [She turned to the poor, trapped customer, who seemed to be alternating his gaze between the two with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.] Is to tell me which part feels the tightest. That's most likely going to be the center of the knot, and if I can follow it outward, I we should be able to figure out the easiest parts to cut to get you out.

[Despite their close proximity, she made sure to keep her volume up so that the flying man would hear as well.]

[Nono, communication is good. Especially since it's tricky enough and the person's attention has finally fully registered Trunks' presence. Including the flying--maybe he'll think he's hallucinating later?]

You focus on him, I'll keep watch on both of you and an eye out for our culprit.

Stay with me.

[Not wanting the flying man's presence to become too much of a hindrance on the rescue process, she did her best to draw the person's attention fully back to her. It worked, and he stared after her wide-eyed before turning back to the ropes. A bit of movement, a wince, and he indicated to a spot around his left ankle.]

[Mai nodded, and tilted her body back just enough to be able to reach. With one hand, she started grazing her fingers along the thick rope. Counting how many different sections converged on it, and also taking note of the design pattern of the knot. She frowned, though not too deeply.]

Yeah...this kind of thing doesn't normally happen on its own. Some of these look like they could've been tied by hand.

Did you hear anything while you were crossing? See anything overly peculiar?

[Hoping for any hints towards the culprit as she set to work following one of the ropes up to a lesser knot, which she began to undo. If nothing else, it would relieve a bit of pull pressure and make it easier for him to move his ankle around inside the jumbo knot.]

[To his credit, with Mai keeping him directly engaged, the man caught in the snarl of ropes is staying relatively calmer and still. His voice carrying a slight drawl~]

No ma'am. I was making my way steadily, and looked down at my feet for a moment. Then the ropes swayed, like there was a breeze but I didn't feel nothin'. That's when some twigs dropped on me, I went still, and the next thing I knew, I was caught up like this.

[Trunks is relieved she is working on the knot and on keeping the man calm (and from focusing on HIM) as he drifts up closer to where the leaves, one of the swaying branches, and the twigs that have been falling from it. Blue-eyes narrow carefully...

Then there was movement--just a hint of it.]

[Mai had always had a bit of a silver tongue. Sometimes, a few words of encouragement were all it took to ease the minds of those she spoke to. Sometimes, it took a little longer, but such conversations almost always ended with a shared smile.]

[This time was no different. Well--no, that wasn't exactly true. The man responded to her positively, but it almost seemed...a little too easily. As if her voice, rather than her specific words, were enough to ease his mind and heart.]

That's good. Your observations.

A breeze means something must have flown past you. The twigs could be brushed off, since they fall all the time, but from what you're saying, I'm positive that none of this is actually you're fault.

[She got the first knot undone. His foot was still trapped, but now it could move a little more, including pulling up just enough for her to see the underside of it. Which led her to another small knot to start working on.]

[The man gratefully moved his ankle with some of the pressure relieved from it, and smiled nervously.]

You mean like a bird or something? Had to be a small bird ma'am.

[More relieved though, not that he felt like it was his fault, but to have it confirmed was comforting.

Trunks is paying just enough attention to Mai and the tangled-up-man that if they need him, he can get there. Otherwise he is focused on that hint of movement he saw--especially when there's something there again. Leaves moving, and something small like a pebble or small stick, shot towards the two dealing with the mess of ropes.

Just was quickly intercepted and caught--and it's a small rock with some sticky sap on one side. Closer as he did so and further away from the pair.]

Found something. Tracking it. Focus on him.

[Called for Mai, so she would stay alert, but keep at what she was doing. Whatever shadowy-critter--and it was a creature of some kind--was scrambling back towards the large trunk of the tree now.]

[Having learned from her earlier mistake, Mai's only response to him was to curtly nod her head. The gesture was big enough to notice, but with her expression and eyes turned downward, it would be easy for the man to assume she was merely nodding to herself over the progress of untying.]

Some of these are...sticky. Like bits of tree sap got in here. These two here--[She motioned to two knots that appeared tied together]--aren't even looped. They're just stuck. It'll make untying a little harder, but not impossible.

[The tangled-up man looked confused.]

Tree sap? how the heck did tree sap get there?

[It was a good question, but they were closer to an answer. Especially since with Trunks floating closer, he got a good look at the shape. It wasn't quite solid, and shimmered a bit--but the long tail was obvious, as was the object in its hands. How and why a monkey had a sling shot though, and was causing trouble, would have to wait.]

[...well...]

Maybe from some of the twigs that fell from higher branches. The animals up there could have had some on their fur, transferring it to the twigs, which then fell down from the weight.

[It was weak, but maybe just enough that it could pass for an excuse. Better that than to explain what she noticed Trunks heading towards. A flicker of tail, and the shimmer of wet sap on a certain object in its hand, glinting under the light from above.]

[ There is a little girl with feathered wings on her back and a golden halo glinting over her head, zipping through the park with a worried frown. Strange things had been happening all over the park, either people almost falling or getting hopelessly tangled in the ropes that made up the crossings. Being airborne had given her a better vantage point so she had called on her power as a god to patrol the park and watch for anyone in trouble.

Catching sight of Mai, she changes course and zooms towards her, taking in the situation with a worried glance. ]

Do you need help?

[Mai paused just long enough in her journey upward to take in the new voice, looking up to see...what appeared to be a little girl with wings.]

Who are you?

[She made sure to keep her voice calm, with a hint of gentle sweetness to it. The question was one of curiosity, not suspicion.]

I'm Nanako! [ The little girl supplies this with a bright smile, coming to hover beside her. Because of course that answered everything, right? ]. Are you here to help make sure no one gets hurt, too?

[It certainly was...an answer.]

[Assessing the situation, Mai settled on a smile. There was no real immediate danger for the two of them, especially if Nanako was adept at flying, and little harm in allowing the young girl to offer a hand.]

That's right. The poor man up there got tangled in the ropes, so I'm on my way to get him free.

Is that what you were going to do?

I was patrolling over there, because someone fell earlier, so you saw him before I did. But I can help if you need it. [ She seems quite eager to be helpful, in fact. ] Although I'm not very good at untying knots, but I can try?

Of course.

[That wasn't even a question. In fact, Mai smiled warmly at the younger girl's initiative, indicating upwards with a small jerk of her head.]

It'll still take me about half a minute to reach him. You can fly faster than I can pull, so you should go to him first. Make sure he knows you mean him know harm and are there to help. Explain as best you can what you're doing to keep him from panicking. I'll be up as soon as I can.

Think you can manage all that?

[Her tone implied she was certain Nanako could.]

[ The little girl glances up to where the man is tangled above them, her expression thoughtful. ]

I can try, but a lot of time they don't see us very easily. But I can try and steady him until you get there, if he can't see me. I'll do my best! Be careful, okay?

[ Lifting one hand in a little wave, Nanako turns and her wings flutter as she lifts herself higher, zooming directly towards the tangled and distressed human above them. ]

[Ah. That answered a question she hadn't thought to ask. Although, in hindsight, she should have.]

I see.

Then if he can't see you, work discreetly. [Nanako was already heading up, so she called out to her as low as possible so the man wouldn't hear her exact words, but hopefully Nanako would be able to make out.] Again, the important part is to keep him calm so he doesn't jerk in a way that will hurt him.

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Test Drive #20

(Future) Mai ✪ Dragon Ball Super ✪ god

Scenario 1--Rope Bridge!

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