takamagahara | TEST DRIVE # 23

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test drive

TEST DRIVE # 23

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.

Gross Garbage

Waste removal has become an intense process in many cities in Japan. Because the sorting of different trash can be very complicated, some residents just end up saying to heck with it. However, the neighbours are vigilant, and heap curses upon those who break the rules. Putting out the wrong thing on the wrong day, mixing plastics with the burnables, putting out the biodegradables the night before, which attracts crows that scatter the rotting food all over the place… the infractions are many.
Will you join in cursing the ones who can’t follow the rules, or perhaps instead gracefully try to mend their ways?

Honoured Helper

For the last 20 years, Hanako has worked faithfully at her cleaning job, 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, without a single day off.
The momentous achievement was celebrated with her coworkers, but it was unanimous among them that Hanako really should take some time off! But the woman is stubborn, and is completely unwilling to take the time offered. (What would she do with herself, even?)
All her friends and coworkers can do is pray that someone can convince her to take a well-earned rest… It might take some heavenly intervention.

Ingenious Insects

While crows are famous for being clever, there seems to be an insect following in their footsteps. Rhinoceros beetles have been getting in everywhere. It’s late in their lifespan and people are generally hoping the lot of them die off soon, but in the meantime people have been coming home to find the large beetles getting into every room, even when they’re carefully closed up. Probably the only ones thrilled with this are kids who like to collect the bugs for fighting matches.
Residents of the Far Shore will be able to see that there are beetle-like ayakashi running with the mundane ones, and they seem to be on the hunt for something.
Try to figure it out, protect the kids who might mistake an ayakashi for a real rhinoceros beetle, or kill every bug ~~with fire~~?

Jilted John

John’s girlfriend Julie says she loves him, but she’s up and left for another guy named Gordon. Julie is cruel, heartless, a slut and a bitch! Gordon thinks he’s tough (so what if he’s bigger, better looking and more trendy than John) but he’s actually a moron, a cheap creep and a puff!
John is now desperately wanting someone to deck Gordon the moron good. Preferably smashing his face in. Help Jilted John out?

King’s Keeper

King Koopa, a stout, shorthaired two-year-old tabby, is headed straight for YouTube fame as a video-game-playing cat. Or he was, until, just last week, he completely lost interest in the keyboard. His desperate owner has been trying everything: bird screensavers, a catnip mouse, even treats hidden in the keys... but nothing brings back Koopa's love of the game. Is he just camera shy? Feeling blue? His owner needs divine intervention to help teach a young cat his old trick!

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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[ Her enthusiasm takes a little stumble after that. Even though they're on the same team, according to Orihime, his stature is just a bit intimidating. Everything he says is completely at odds with her optimism though, and she knows she needs to stand her ground.

Even if she does it with a half step backward and a somewhat self-conscious smile. ]

I don't think so. I think a lot of people accomplish what they want before they die, right?

[ Otherwise, what would be the point in trying? ]

[ Meanwhile, Rikku's just casually sauntering along behind her. Yeah, she's a little amused by how seriously Rei is taking it, but at the same time, it feels kind of like a waste of time. ]

Y'know, I'm kind of starting to think it's not gonna do anything. Maybe we should keep looking, yeah?

[ A good place to start might be the strange buzzing from somewhere behind them. There's nothing really in sight, but it does sound like it's coming closer. ]

[Futaba is completely starstruck. She's not giving up on this easily.]

It can't be that hard, right? We just need some paint or something!

Hmmmm...

[Futaba actually sets her laptop aside to consider this one, adjusting her glasses and humming thoughtfully.]

Well, I suppose there's no rule that says a cat can't play basketball. But I feel like this kind of thing's been done before.

[Koopa helpfully grooms himself.]

[Futaba just happens to be sitting nearby while Adrien is giving this guy the business. She didn't really appreciate his tone when discussing his girlfriend, either, but she's hardly the type to start in on this kind of lecture herself. She has been listening from behind her laptop screen to the whole exchange, though, and when Adrien finishes, she slams it shut and jumps up all of a sudden to point at John.]

Ohhhhhh, and there it is! Adrien off the turnbuckle with a flying cat leap! There's no coming back from that!

You were simply trying to help.

[So, you didn't mess up too badly.

But he does get the thought of something watching them, causing him to roll his head back in an almost lazy manner as he eyes their surrounding curiously.]

Well yes but...

[But what Adrien? If she's happy isn't that what matters most? Even if that's not what the prayer is for, people rarely pray for what is truly needed but rather what they want.

It it works it works he supposes.]

Okay, but what did you do to her? She looks like you made her a zombie or something.

[He's caught one and hearing that sound he's peering into his hand arching a brow. What was this even? Who is this girl?]

[Adrien jumps slightly like a startled cat wide bright green eyes fixing on the strange girl. Then he relaxes his posture easing into something lease tense and more laid back - well laid back for mister-perfect-posture-model anyway. He flashes a grin and rubs at the back of his neck.]

Oh this? Uh this was nothing. Just the truth really. Sometimes a guy needs to hear from another guy that he's being major jerk. Don't know why but that's how it is sometimes. Even if I'm sure his girlfriend told him a few dozen times.

[He gives a helpless shrug before laughing.] Flying Cat Leap huh?

[King Koopa]

[ Koumyou knew better than to ask too many questions. For all that he's not cut out for this "god" thing, it's fine to go along with it. People were counting on him, so it'd be unfair to let them down. Ultimately, that's the real reason there's a grown man in full priestly regalia in a park, reclining entirely too casually in the grass.

To be fair, he's got a kitty companion settled comfortably on his chest. It's not like it's that weird that he just borrowed a someone's cat and decided to have an outing with it. ]

Sometimes, it's important to take life as it is. You can't be there for your partner if you don't.

[ Is he actively counselling a house cat? Well, yes, probably. Sometimes these things just work out that way. ]

[Gross Garbage]

[ Cursing people strikes Koumyou as entirely too much effort.

Somehow, that very desire to take the easy route has him trying to sort out the different categories of trash for one particularly recalcitrant old lady. She'd scolded him for trying to explain how aggravated her neighbors were.

One thing led to another, and now he's doing it all for her because she swatted him with a broom.

This doesn't seem like less work at all anymore. ]

Ahhh, this is no good. Is that plastic, or...

It's styrofoam.

[What an un-environmentally conscious old lady they're helping today. Well, Koumyou's helping. Sharak is too old for this shit and has given herself the role of supervisor, perched on a nearby wall and watching Koumyou work. Those are just the kind of responsibilities a senior Sanzo has to deal with.]

By the way, I think the food waste was supposed to go yesterday but she's left the bag right...Oi.

[Sharak glares at a crow creeping along the wall next to her, eyeing the trash hungrily. After a solid minute of glaring, it flies away.]

[ Koumyou really ought to be too old for this kind of thing, too, yet there they are. ]

But if I take the food bag to her door, she'll hit me with a broom again. [ He's whining now, but is a rather perfunctory form of fussing. He already knows Sharak isn't going to save him from a little old lady. ]

[Who wouldn't expect to see a young priest lying down in the grass having a serious conversation with a housecat? This seems...

... no, in fact, it doesn't seem all that normal. Hakkai settles a few paces away, folding his hands on one knee and stretching the other leg out. He hopes he won't wind up with grass stains on his slacks.]

Are cats usually there for their partners?

[He sounds dubious. His cats - all right, the cats who he's found himself feeding - are there for laps, mealtime and occasionally pouncing on feet at unexpected moments, but there for him doesn't seem to be on the priority list.

That's more of a dog thing. And dragon, of course.]

Hmm? I've never really been good at "usually." [ Taking the interruption in stride, he looks at the cat in askance. King Koopa isn't particularly forthcoming. ]

But that's a choice everyone has to make for themselves. [ Only then does he properly turn his attention to Hakkai, offering an open, friendly smile. ]

So dodge. [Sanzos don't get saved. They do the saving. Man up, Koumyou.] It was your decision to help her, after all.

[Really- this is the famous Koumyou Sanzo? She's not exactly disappointed, since she wasn't expecting much, but after meeting his successor first... Well, she's interested to get to know him better anyway.]

You could take it to the next neighbourhood over and leave it to be collected with their rubbish.

[That won't be a huge hassle or anything.]

[ It wouldn't get nearly as interesting to him if he went around being reasonable. ]

But it's not in my nature to take responsibility for that kind of thing.

[ He may just be having a bit of fun while getting to know Sharak. It has to be good for her to deal with someone less serious than herself. Luckily, that bar was not difficult to clear. ]

[Well, no one should be accepting reasonable behaviour from any Sanzo...]

And yet here you are. [Gestures with one hand at the impressive spread of garbage before him.] Everyone will be so proud of you.

I'm flattered.

[If she hadn't picked up on the fact that he thinks this guy is a creep maybe he'd doing a decent job of hiding it from the guy least that cause more trouble.]

If you say so. I'll take your word for it, Marinette.

[Leading her away he's purchasing them each a drink offering one to her.]

Right. Maybe not watch him then. But maybe check in every now and again. I don't like how that guy acts. Especially when it comes to that girl. I honestly don't blame her for bolting. He's super disrespectful.

And I do not think either of them are. [Which may be the most important takeaway from this, as Celestia gently ushers the girl away through serenity and force of personality.] Was that what you were looking for?

Good. But I really wasn't trying to flatter you. I meant it.

[No, he's definitely not the only one who thought John was a creeper, but she was not going to bring that up for obvious reasons.]

Would I lie to you, Adrien?

[Well, maybe not technically. But wasn't an omission of the truth just as bad? Still, she couldn't even feel badly about that because it was much better than the alternative. If that ever happened, she was sure it would kill her.]

That sounds like a reasonable plan. I feel like he's probably not emotionally mature enough to be with someone. And yea, his attitude just rubs me the wrong way.

[Which was, simply put, amusing, coming from a fifteen year old, but maybe let's not dwell too hard on that.]

Cat by cat, hmm?

[Hakkai returns the smile, his own expression perhaps a little brighter and less open-- but who's counting?

(Probably both of them, he thinks.)]

Cho Hakkai, incidentally. [He inclines his head.] A pleasure.

Maybe, but it still needs taken care of. [ Yata just grins at him, not caring about the look he gets from the other shinki. ] So let's get on with it.

[ A pause, before Yata gives him a skeptical look. ]

You do know how to throw a punch, right?

My allure has simply stolen her away.

[ Hibiki smirks. Just as planned! Everyone is always so charmed by her charisma but they cannot help but enjoy themselves in her presence. There is no better vacation than having Shikyoin Hibiki by one's side, no finer detox than the celebrity sound of Shikyoin Hibiki's voice... ]

[ Except then Hanako-san speaks. And...pats Hibiki companionably on the upper arm.

"Why, aren't you a well-brought up young man! You'll make great contributions to society one day."

Hibiki's one eyebrow quirks of its own accord. ]

[[ ooc: also, there's a little bit of borked coding in your last alan tag to hibiki. i didn't want to reply to it before you had a chance to edit! ]]

The children would say otherwise, don't you think?

[It hadn't looked like Kagaho had had any other ideas.]

I'd hope you weren't relying on a stand-off against them.

[From across the street, sitting idly on a bench, Rand watches the goings on with just a little hint of a frown. Oh he understood...somewhat...what had occurred, of course. Whatever this girl had done had blocked the woman's key from working on whatever made that lock work. This place was strange and the technology that seemed to govern everyone's lives was bizarre, but that wouldn't really stop a truly determined worker now would it?

Hopping down, he strode over and slipped around both the woman and the girl...]

You know she can just wait for another worker to let her in, yes?

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TEST DRIVE # 23

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Jilted John

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I don't know who she is but I love her already.

Koumyou Sanzo | Saiyuki Ibun | God

Gross

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King

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1/2

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Honored Helper