takamagahara | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hakkai considers the little ladybug on the increasingly tired-looking young woman's finger, and the spreading purple stain under its tiny feet.]

That's very kind of you, but sometimes the right response to pests is to exterminate them.

[ Fuwari's head had started to nod again, but she snaps back to attention upon being addressed. Oh - oh dear. ] That would be so sad, though....

I'm sure I can find a nice place for them all to stay.

[ The other ayakashi are starting to pay attention to the luck their brethren is having. ]

They'll cause a great deal of trouble wherever you put them, you know. Even if it's only on plants.

[He waves one hand at the wilting violets.]

Then, perhaps, with me....

[ She tries a little smile to show how she's doing just fine!

....That turns into a yawn. ]

I'm afraid even one might be a little too much to take home with you, miss.

[He sighs, and reaches out firmly to pick the little ayakashi off of her fingertips. It's already left a spot of blight that's only growing larger, and she doesn't need to grow any wearier on top of that.]

Oh...?

[ Fuwari doesn't quite follow as the bug is lifted off her finger. But then, and only then, does she notice the blight - and since she's noticed, now it stings a little.

Her response to this is to clap her unaffected hand against her cheek and bleat like a goat.

Hibiki's teammate, everyone. ] Maa maa!!

[What is she doing. Hakkai's polite smile stays intact as he deposits the tiny ayakashi back on the violet, where it burrows down against a swiftly wilting leaf.

He produces a small flask and opens it, holding it out.]

Please hold your hand out, miss. This should take care of the blight.

[And he has his own blighted fingertips to worry about after that, but he hadn't let it go nearly as deep as she had.]

Thank you...

[ Fuwari offers her hand, with a slightly self-conscious laugh. Animals don't usually poison (or bite, or scratch, or otherwise injure) her, so... ] He must have been feeling scared.

I'm afraid just touching them is enough to cause that. Ayakashi can pollute gods or other souls on contact, you see.

[He tips water from the flask over her fingertips to wash the blight away.]

...That's so sad.

[ Fuwari seems honestly troubled by this, though the blight on her fingers clears up nicely. ] They can't get to know anybody....and always have to be careful.....

They can get to know each other.

[He tips a bit of water over his own fingertips; the blight there is lighter, and washes away with ease before he recaps the flask and tucks it away, glancing at Fuwari.]

When it comes to us, and to humans, they seem to prefer to treat us as dinner rather than comrades.

So they're predators, then.

[ Fuwari nods: she is no stranger to carnivores. ] I'll remember that. Thank you, truly, for helping me out!

Yes. Even the small ones should be treated with caution.

[That's a surprisingly calm response, but Hakkai doesn't show surprise; he beams cheerfully at Fuwari instead.]

You're welcome!

I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner.

[ But she can fix this now. Fuwari smiles. ] My name is Midorikaze Fuwari! It's been very nice to meet you.

[ As her smile lights her face, birds in the trees turn to look at her. A rabbit hops out of a non-infested nearby bush. A gopher pops its head out of a hole.

Are there even supposed to be gophers in Japan? ]

Cho Hakkai. It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Miss Midorikaze.

[He's fairly sure there aren't gophers in Japan. Nor should there be rabbits and birds circling around just because a cute girl is smiling.

Perhaps she's an animal goddess?]

Ah....just "Fuwari" is fine. I'm nobody special.

[ Fuwari looks down bashfully. She looks pleased at the formality, but also self-conscious. There is a little bit of a blush. ]

Just a country girl from the Palps...

[ Whom the animals are now approaching, all but bearing little hearts in their eyes. ]

Please, if so, call me Hakkai. I'm not certain I know your country.

[Palps? Well, that sounds unfortunate. Like palpate, or pedipalp.]

But you must be a goddess.

So they've said. I'm not sure that suits me, though.

[ Fuwari fiddles with her skirt. ]

It's better-suited to my teammates....almost like a dream.

I'm sure you'll settle into the role.

[So, it seems, is the row of adoring squirrels that's forming up behind her. Hakkai eyes them dubiously.]

You should still be careful around ayakashi, though. They can hurt gods too.

[ Fuwari nods. ] I'll keep that in mind.....

Ah, squirrel-sans! Did you come to say hello?

[ A beatific smile for the squirrel-sans. ] Stay out of the flowers, okay? Chitter-chitter. Chee-chee-chee.

[ She's talking squirrel. ]

[She's... she is talking squirrel. Why? Well, that's a better question. Hakkai maintains his blankly cheerful smile for a few more seconds before commenting.]

Ah, I'll leave you to your friends here, then...?

[ Why, naturally, she's talking squirrel! If she talked horse or sheep to the squirrel-sans, they wouldn't know what she was saying. ]

All right. Thank you again! Be careful around the bug-sans, okay?

[ She wouldn't want him to get stung too. Especially not after he was so kind as to help her.

What a good person. ]

Of course. And you should as well, miss.

[He bows, quite correctly, and turns to go.]

I will!

[ Fuwari will wave as he takes his leave, then return to her other conversation.

She is deeply absorbed in conversing with these animals as Hakkai leaves. He may hear some bird or rabbit mixed in, too. ]

Test Drive #20

Violet Veranda

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pictured: the character-assessment skills of someone dating shikyoin hibiki

skills truly unmatched...

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