Test Drive #22

[godsoffortune]

TEST DRIVE # 22



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.



Buttered Buns

Things are tough for small bakeries in huge cities. It seems like there’s always a bigger chain offering less expensive breads around the corner. To compete, “Four Clover” bakery has gone all-in with a campaign to attract customers, and you’re here to help. They’ve put together a mascot costume for you (degree of cuteness up to player’s imagination), printed a zillion flyers, blown up bunches of balloons… and in praying for the success and prosperity of their store, they’ll certainly go along with whatever heaven-sent ideas come along.

Copious Copies

Outdoor art exhibitions take advantage of the best days of the start of fall. In one large park, a multitude of unique bronze and ceramic statues are on display. However, there’s way more of them than there actually should be. The artist and organizers are stumped by a plethora of near-perfect copies standing alongside the originals. Should a god or shinki get close enough they’ll be able to tell which are ayakashi pretending to be statues, but don’t get your nose bitten off. And don’t break an actual statue while hunting the ayakashi. Please.

Debt Diversion

Formula car races are huge draws for those who love speed, and those who love betting. Snake skeleton ayakashi are twining themselves around the necks of betters, whispering in their ears to seduce the humans into crippling debt.
While gods and shinki are in a human’s blind spot and generally go unnoticed, trying to remove an ayakashi from someone might draw attention, depending on how you go about it. And in a crowd this large, there just might be a human who will notice a strange pair trying to do something to someone else’s neck...

ESP and Extraterrestrials

A group approaches you. Some of them look relatively normal, if a bit on edge. Some of them look the very image of a nerd. And all of them are looking at you intently. This group of searchers of the paranormal have somehow (accurately) honed in on you, and are intent to find out everything about you. What planet are you from? What’s up with those clothes? That hair? Do you have any special powers?!
While they welcome you in peace, they are also very unwilling to let this interview end with your escape… Might need a friend to help you out (or throw you to the wolves).


Fashionable Frills

Fashion runway. Frills. Shirts, pants, dresses, underwear; the changing room is full of variety.
Go strut your stuff.
It’s for a good cause, honest.





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!

Comments

Shin-Ah | Akatsuki no Yona | Shinki

[farseen]

ESP and Extraterrestrials

Um... I...

[The attention that was suddenly cast upon him was making Shin-Ah's cheeks flush in embarrassment, and he instinctively moved to readjust the dark sunglasses he wore even in the dead of night-- for some things were not meant to be seen by the eyes of those who were supposed to be unaware.

Then came more questions-- why was he wearing glasses? Could they borrow the glasses for a minute??? Before he knew it one of the throng was reaching to take them from him--!!]

Fashionable Frills

[Shin-Ah found himself being ushered into the dressing room by some very vibrant but bossy people before he realized what was going on-- and when he finally found a voice to speak up, they weren't accepting 'no' for an answer. Thus it was that he found himself confronted with all of these garments, covered in frills tha would have made any teenage girl giddy with excitement.

And he stared, overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what was going on.]

Um. How...?

[How did people even wear these things, he wanted to know-- but again, he had found his voice too late. Someone banged on the door, demanding to know if he was ready yet.]

[iseeall]

[Leo had some choice Words to say with whatever bullshit the gods came up with to finally stick him in a place like this and say 'oh now he was a god, have fun', but that had to be put on hold when he saw a taller and peculiarly dressed guy being harrassed by passerby. that

He was short and ordinary looking enough without his eyes that the alien enthusiasts didn't bother him, but as soon as Leo saw them reaching for the poor guy's sunglasses, he stepped between them.]

Hey, don't you guys know anything about being rude? Leave him alone!

[farseen]

[The glasses had come off in that instant the young man called out-- and Shin-Ah's reaction was immediate:

Cover his face with his hands and freeze, silently praying to whatever gods even cared that this throng would leave him in peace soon enough.

'But he's obviously an alien,' the stranger said, waving around those glasses in a single hand. 'What's wrong with a little scientific curiosity?'.]

[iseeall]

Listen here, you assholes, whether or not you think he's an alien, he's a person first, and you don't steal stuff from people! Give those back!

[And then he was making a wild grasp for the glasses to try and get them back, his own eyes firmly closed.]

[farseen]

[The glasses were nothing he couldn't replace, not in this strange city with it's shops and equally strange customs that Shin-Ah didn't entirely grasp yet. The glasses were nothing... and yet they were everything to his sense of privacy and dignity.

And his heart went out to the young man, a stranger, who was trying to defend him.

'Ah- ah- ah~ Not now that I know how important these are,' the observer taunted, waving them high above his head.

Even with his hands over his eyes, he could see the openings.

Moving with precise reflexes, Shin-Ah stepped forth and deftly removed the glasses from the observer's hand and replaced them over his own closed eyes, taking solace in the fact that they weren't damaged by that person's curiosity.

He reached out and placed a hand on the quiet stranger's head, and nodded, hoping that was enough of a thanks, before addressing the lingering crowd.]

Please go home. There's nothing here.

[His voice was oddly firm for someone so easily bullied.]

[iseeall]

[These idiots just reminded him of all the middle and high school bullies he had to deal with, but Leo was slightly startled when the guy he was defending just reached over and plucked the glasses out of the 'curious' hands.

Well, that made him feel useless.

He felt the stranger's hand on his head and promptly tried to shake it off-he didn't like being treated like a little kid, thanks. Still, he could tell that the guy was at least a little bit grateful. They needed to get out of here.

Leo grabbed the hand and began tugging him in the opposite direction, not wanting to use his own eyes on innocent, if annoying people.]

Let's get out of here.

Frills

[priforprince]

Is this your first time modeling?

[ WHERE DID HIBIKI COME FROM

Either way, she's leaning in this far doorway that those idiots over at the other door haven't noticed yet. And looking generally like a million pollars.

If not more. ]

[farseen]

[The golden depths of his uncovered eyes, unworldly and piercing as they were vibrant like the rising sun, betrayed all of his nervousness and fear when he turned to stare wide-eyed at the young stranger who had suddenly appeared!

While he had noted the door earlier, he was still surprised that someone as vibrant as she would even deign to use it-- and slowly he nodded an affirmative reply to her question.

Yes, this was his first time.

Please save him.]

[priforprince]

[ Even this lowly a door may be visited by Shikyoin Hibiki if she needs a prop for posing. Let that be an inspiration for us all.

She turns and heads inside, towards the group. ] Move. You're picking his outfits wrong.

[ Oh, she'll save you, all right. From everyone else's incompetence!

Isn't that great? ]

[farseen]

[It was not great!

Shin-Ah stared at this young person, darkened lenses askew in his shock and dismay at hearing such words fall from her lips when he had hoped for salvation from this madness.

Abruptly he shook his head and backed away into a corner. This was not what he had expected....!]

[priforprince]

There's no need to be afraid.

[ Hibiki's tone shifts, becomes more mentorly, reassuring. But also slightly patronizing. ]

I'll completely transform you. Like a duckling shedding its feathers to discover a handsome swan.

[ Now! Someone show her some clothes! ]

ESP's. Saves Yona for later >.>

[thevanguard]

[ Yata had been wandering past when he heard the sudden rush of questions, people crowding close around one uncomfortable looking... was that another shinki? Skidding to a stop on his skateboard, Yata pauses to listen in and doesn't like any of what he hears.

Which is why he pushes off with one foot and sends himself skating right into their midst, putting himself between them and the guy who was looking very backed into a corner. Despite being considerably shorter than everyone else crowded around the guy, he's on a skateboard and a baseball bat over one shoulder and has a dangerous look on his face. ]

Oi, assholes, beat it! Pretty sure your crazy convention is another three blocks away. Leave him alone.

yay!

[farseen]

[With those words the crowd, with muttered complaints about muggles always ruining their fun, dispersed into the slow trickle of foot traffic on the streets.... and Shin-Ah, thoroughly overwhelmed by the sudden attention, sighed and allowed his shoulders to slump in sheer relief.

The roving eyes and the onslaught of questions had been exhausting-- he didn't know what to say, didn't know where to even begin to dissuade the crowd and convince them to leave him in peace... and the night wind was just cool enough to leave a shuddering chill in his bones. Burying his face in his hands, he seized a moment of solace before finding his voice to speak once again.]

...Thank you. [He said, peering at the stranger owlishly before bobbing his head.] The people were too much.

:D

[thevanguard]

Yeeeeah, people usually are. [ He gives an aggravated sigh before turning to study the guy he'd stumbled across. ] Although usually they don't notice us easily. Maybe it's because they were looking for something unusual. I guess shinki count, huh? [ He makes a face before tipping his head to the side. ] You hurt?

[farseen]

[To that, Shin-Ah shook his head. He wasn't physcally hurt by this debacle in the least. Shaken, yes, but not hurt.]

I guess so...

[He said uncertainly, unconsciously echoing this other Shinki's words nearly verbatim. Shin-Ah preferred going unnoticed, but incidents like this showed just how fragile such a cognitive state could be.]

[thevanguard]

[ Yata studies him for a moment before gesturing to him with a crooked smile. ]

Come on. A friend of mine runs a bar near here, we can go settle there until you're feeling more yourself. He makes really good hot chocolate. It helps.

frills

[eternalshield]

[Hmmm.

Dragon sense is quite useful. Zeno hears the banging in close proximity to Seiryuu and, well. He'll see what's what.]

What a silly question! Surely you have eyes, and can see the person inside there isn't done yet!

[The person who banged mumbles something and Zeno just smiles wider.]

That dressing room down there opened up! And it looks bigger, too! Here! [He snatches a downright Victorian-looking dress off a rack and bundles it into the person's arms-- if you need bossy and vibrant, Zeno has that on lock.]

Suits your complexion!

[He tosses a rather nice pink bonnet tied with a yellow silk ribbon on top.]

And this looks like something you can afford!

Oh gawd

[farseen]

[He saw the entire exchange through the darkened lenses of his sunglasses, even behind the closed door-- and Shin-Ah heaved a soft sigh of relief when the young person who had knocked flounced off with a huff to ostensibly deliver the dress and bonnet elsewhere. Shin-Ah himself hadn't even begun changing-- the colors and frills of the garment were overwhelming to his eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to simply leave.

Knowing this would be an excellent opening, he inched toward the door and cracked it open to solemnly regard the blond on the other side.

He lowered his head, with the gravitas of someone wanting to express their gratitude.]

Thank you, [he said in a tone that was barely above a whisper, silently praying that the stagehand wouldn't return.

This person had saved him... for now.]

Press E to Something Something Dragons

[justclaws]

No you can not 'borrow' someone's glasses while they are wearing them. That is not even a matter of courtesy, it is simple common sense. Have you quite lost your wits?

[Not to you, Shin-ah.

[That is, of course, addressed to the importuning youth who is - or was, at least, until Kija caught him by the wrist - reaching to pluck off his brother's glasses. Who now has rather more immediate concerns than a young man wearing sunglasses at night, seeing as his arm has been caught and held inhumanly tightly by a hand that feels not at all like that of a human. Let it never be said that Kija would be caught looking before he leapt.]

Are you all right, Shin-ah? They are not troubling you?

[farseen]

[Shin-Ah glanced over at Kija, brows lifted in surprise at the severity of such a reaction-- he could easily see the youth straining, how one wrong move would injure that person's wrist-- and, after sucking in a deep breath to still his nerves.... shook his head.

They were a bother, but they were also kids. He didn't like it, but he could forgive them over this slight.]

Let's go.

[He said quietly, turning his back to the throng. Then, thinking of that cute little cafe that was nearby, with it's cute servers and it's cute food, added:]

Cupcakes?

[justclaws]

[Shin-ah is right, of course. There is nothing to be gained from drawing this out.]

Well... as you wish.

[It rankles, though - the impudence and Shin-ah's simple resignation in the face of it both. Honestly. Treating one of the Heavens' chosen warriors with such disrespect! Kija's own eyes may be wholly ordinary, but that doesn't stop him giving the young man one lat glare as he lets go of his wrist and stalks off after Shin-ah.]

Oh, are you hungry? We can certainly stop for food.

[farseen]

[There was no reason to fight against ordinary people, even if they disrupted his very sense of privacy and comfort in traversing the streets of Tokyo unnoticed. While he was skillful with a blade, he knew that the only weapon these people carried were ultimately their words.

Words stung and left scars, but he could keep walking despite those wounds.

He cast a shy, almost innocent look at Kija with that question, uncertain if his reasons were even appropriate to speak aloud...]

The little cakes there are cute, [he explained, hoping that would clarify the reasons for his rescuer. Cute food was the best reason ever to go visit a cafe.]

[daydreamrealm]

HEY! BACK OFF!

[Nina can be loud when she wants to be. She can also appear out of nowhere when she wants to. After more yelling, she's able to get the crowd to disperse. She'd been tailing them, which had led her to Shin-ah. Not wanting to be presumptuous, she was willing to wait until they stopped being annoying and actually being threatening.

Maybe she'd stepped in too early, but it hadn't seemed like he was going to do anything.]

Are you okay?

[farseen]

[Shin-Ah had learned to trust his instincts, even when memory failed him-- and, for reasons he couldn't quite fathom, his instincts had told him to stay still. Be silent, and bear the torment of his aggressors... because people only ever acted for two reasons: interest or fear.

Both intentions were blameless, even when strangers violated his personal space. He could see what they were on the inside, and each one of them bore a beating heart.

Just like he did.

To the girl who had intervened on his behalf, he solemnly replaced his glasses and lowered his head in a show of gratitude.]

Mm. Thank you.

[daydreamrealm]

No problem!

[Tailing them had been fun! And there had been a few cute guys in the bunch. Losers, sure, but they wouldn't see each other as losers. Maybe they'd look into each other's eyes and forget about aliens. They would see that the only thing worth pursuing is the other guy. And then, later that night... oh, it would be wonderful.

...She's able to catch herself before it gets too far. Barely.]

Where are you off to?