TEST DRIVE # 23

[godsoffortune]

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!

Comments

[all_seeing_eye]

Yup! I'm counting on you, leader! I'm more of a support type character anyway.

[Futaba laughs a little at her own private joke, eagerly following along behind Ema. She knows exactly what to do with that keycard, tucking it into her pocket for safekeeping for the time being.]

Smart. Almost sounds like you've done this before.

[all_seeing_eye]

Yeah. Your face says it all.

[Futaba snickers a little, standing up from the table.]

Okay, then! Where's the paint!

King

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ This guy hardly seemed like the leading or head position type, much less a god. It really rubbed against Judar in some way, though as a shinki he couldn't question why. So he reasoned that the it's the priest's attitude that was at fault for it all. It certainly left them as a pair of unusually dressed individuals set up in a park. ]

You can't be serious... Is it the cat you're seriously giving advice to?

[ Is it even serious? He hardly believed that it was. This god was too aloof to do anything seriously. Man, it was really frustrating. This is who he was meant to lead into being a successful god? Give him a break. ]

[altergeist]

Ah well, there's nothing wrong with being a support type. Working in the background always has its uses.

[Ema tucks her card away once she's done with it, heading through the foyer with a confident stride on the off chance any of the workers actually do notice her. Her amused smile strains a bit at Futaba's remark, though, and she taps the side of her head.]

Couldn't remember it if I did, I'm afraid. It's all very inconvenient, being a shinki...

[finalfeliz]

A little ineffective, maybe, but I'm a fast learner. [ Not with technology he isn't. ] No worries no worries.

I can't say that I understand that.

[priforprince]

Certainly.

[ Hibiki puts a hand to her chin, musing. ] Should I offer her a resort package in Monte Parlo....?

[ She's giving this Very Deep Thought. ]

[risingdarkness]

Why should I? I don't take orders from you.

[Or anyone else for that matter. And if Albafica is going to lord it over him, he can do his own dirty work.]

I told you I didn't need your help, so don't think I owe you anything for it.

[risingdarkness]

Anger is the only feeling I have left. If you think different, you're fooling yourself.

[He hates the thought of someone else poking around in his head and he hates it even more that Nona will admit it when she's doing it. Usually he prefers honesty in people, but this is one time when he'd rather she keep it to herself.]

Are we done here?

[altergeist]

That's a very useful trait in a place like this. [Ema winks, still seeming faintly amused by something. Or maybe that's just how she is about everything.]

Ah, well, it's not something most people want to understand. Underhanded people will be underhanded, after all. [Like her, to some degree.]

[projectsilvergaze]

The subject feels that as well. Not without choice mind you. Although I do have a question: at what? As your goddess, I have been charged with you as my vessel. I should see how my tools are, Kagaho.

[Kagaho and other humans really do take their emotions and the fact they can show them for granted. Nona is stuck with many emotions, but no way to show them.]

But yes, we are.

[thevanguard]

'Someone like me' is the person who is getting you a completed prayer under your belt so our god doesn't have to stress about it.

[ Yata doesn't look inclined to care either way if Judar is inclined or not. If the other shinki isn't going to cooperate, he'll get it done for them.

Which is why he ends up using Judar's entire arm as a bludgeon, fish-floppy though it might still be when the guy can't even make a fist for him. Whatever. Yata can compensate, although Judar might come out of it a little worse for wear because he was stubborn over it. A bitch slap with the force of the Red Aura behind it - channeled through it, actually - is still enough to knock the peacock-guy out cold when Yata uses Judar to hit him with it.

The guy drops like a rock and Yata nudges him with a toe. ]

There. See? Easy. Let's go home.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Except now Judar's less likely to follow his orders before, but for a completely different reason. He can name a bunch of combinations in magic for that kind of effect, but someone like this shouldn't. With his other hand, he grabs at Yata's chin and seems to study him with a look Yata hasn't seen in those red eyes before.

It was probably the first time he'd seen Yata use the aura. From someone in the position of a god, Judar can accept him having access. ]

How the fuck can you use something like that?

[thevanguard]

Hah? [ Judar. Let go of his face. ] I've always been able to.

[kuroi_taiyo]

There's no way that someone like you has a magician's bone in their body.

[ Give him a bit, he needs to scrutinize and judge you more before roughly shoving that face away. ]

Which means you've probably got something else on you to do it. I don't accept it being just your own power.

[ ... What is that 'something' though? Man, there's too much damn information in his head, it's giving him a headache. ]

[thevanguard]

Hah? I don't have anything on me! It's just something I can do. I have since day one. I tried to cast a Borderline and made a wall of fire instead. It took me a couple weeks to figure out how to tell the difference between what I was trying to summon.

[kuroi_taiyo]

That's not how it's supposed to work. Are you using someone else's power or something? There should be some...

[ Yata, watch out. He's trying to figure this out and your decency doesn't matter to him. He'll pat down and lift up clothes if he's gotta.

Hey, he's not touching your face anymore.]

[reformedsinner]

["Sanzo" isn't, and, Hakkai thinks, "Koumyou" can't be all that common, either. He searches the man's carelessly cheerful expression for a long moment.

It's not what he'd imagined.

Smiling, he gives the cat a little inclination of his head too.]

Oh, well, hello to you too, King. [And, glancing back up at Koumyou:]

So what is it that leaves him in need of pastoral advice?

[risingdarkness]

Maybe I knew when I still had memories.

[He gives a one-shouldered shrug and waits for her to lead the way. If they're leaving, he follows her. He may not show her the most respect, but he is at least mindful of his position as a shinki.]

Maybe I didn't.

[finalfeliz]

Yes! It is! [ And he's happy to learn, too! ]

There is no need to be underhanded at all, I think.

Charlotte | Fire Emblem Fates | Shinki

[appealingdame]

Honored Helper

Ugh, come on, you deserve this! [Charlotte sits on top of a counter, one knee propped up, watching Hanako scrub the floors and struggling to ignore the scantily dressed soldier bugging her as she works.] Even your dumb boss thinks so, and I bet he's never scrubbed a floor in his life. Rich guys like that never have to work hard like you.

[There's a moments silence as Charlotte briefly fantasizes about what it must be like to be wealthy and never have to work. Sounds nice. The silence is broken by a frustrated sigh.]

Anyway, if you keep scrubbing floors now it's all you'll do for the rest of your life! What's the point in working hard if you don't get to enjoy the results? Go spoil yourself, you've earned it! Oh, you could buy a fancy new dress- something skimpy, you've absolutely got the figure for it- and go out on the town! Find yourself some cutie with a ton of cash and the next time you're here it'll be to tell these guys to go to hell-

[Charlotte freezes when she realises that while is Hanako ignoring her, someone else may still be within earshot. After a second she presses her hands against her cheeks and her voice is suddenly much cuter and childish.]

... Oh, honey, we're all just so worried about you! You poor sweetie, working so hard! Let's go get you some sweets and- and pet some kitties! Doesn't that just sound like so much fun? Hee hee!


Jilted John

[Okay, clearly Charlotte isn't going to hunt down some random guy and punch him for falling prey to a pretty girl's charms. Julie wanted an upgrade, batted her eyelashes and got one. That's how the world works. Sure, it's rough on John, but that's how the game is played and he'll just have to accept it. Really, it's the best case for him.

But that doesn't mean Charlotte is completely heartless. She can still try and make the heartbreak less than what it is. For a girl she'd supply icecream and take them on a shopping trip, a girl's day where they could happily trash every guy they knew as a form of therapy, but for a guy... Well, everyone knows the best way to get over someone is to fall for someone else, right?]

Ooh, that Julie just doesn't know what she's missing! [Charlotte bats her eyelashes and scootches over to sit entirely too close to John on this bench she's found him on. He had been stalking Julie's social media to hopefully prove how miserable she was with Gordon, something that didn't appear to be working as well as he'd hoped. Charlotte presses her chest against his shoulder and leans in close.] A handsome guy like you... I just don't know what she was thinking, hee hee! And you're so strong! I think I can feel muscles here... and here...

[John blushes but awkwardly pushes Charlotte's hand away from where she's prodding him, shaking his head. Charlotte bites her lip to keep her frustration at bay.]

Oh, sweetie, I swear I mean it! You don't need to worry about him! Here, Johnny, let me show you- [Charlotte delicately snatches John's phone out of his hands and starts scrolling through Julie's feed.] See, he's not even that handsome- ... I mean, he's not bad looking, but you're definitely above him. She's totally faking a smile there, you can tell by- ... wow, is that his car? Oh my god, look at that necklace he got her!

[Charlotte sits upright, pushing John away so she can properly focus on the phone.] And matching earrings? Are those diamonds? After they've been dating for a week? Holy crap, way to go, girl! Oh, man, and he's taking her on vacation next month! I wonder if his family owns that house or they're just staying there...

[John tries to reach for his phone but Charlotte just pushes him away, not paying him any mind now. She's fixated on these photos.]

Ugh, she's totally got him on a string too, I can't believe it! She won the fucking lottery! Some girls have all the luck. [She looks as disgusted as she does impressed. John just looks depressed.] I wonder if he has a brother...

[purr_ince]

Maybe she doesn't have any of those things?

[It's a sad thought but why else would she throw herself into work like this? There's a spark of recognition - he knows a man just like this after all.]

Maybe there's something she's trying to keep her mind off of. Something deeper and hard to face. Work is a good method of avoidance.

[Boy, does he know all about that.]

[purr_ince]

Sometimes being quiet lets you have an advantage you know?

Ah? Oh! I'm sorry!

[He's drawing his hand away reaching to rub at the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.]

I shouldn't have done that. I should have asked. That was rude of me.

[Adrien nods in agreement with this.]

Yes, you do. So uh.. why do you do that? The narrating thing? I've never met anyone that does that so I'm curious.

[purr_ince]

Honesty is important. I mean we all have some secrets but I'd never lie unless I absolutely had to, like life or death kind of stuff.

[A wide smile tugs at his lips, happy and warm.]

I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it with my whole heart, Marinette. You know that.

[He follows her gaze and nods.]

Oh no, girls do it, too. No doubt about it. I'm sure we know one at the very least like that.

[Eyes widening he's reaching out to pat her back lightly, concern etching itself onto his features; tension thrumming through him. And when he speaks there might be a hint of fear there and it's a tiny bit louder than it should be.]

Are you okay? What happened?

[Thought she's speaking again and Adrien exhales the pent up breath he'd been holding in a soft huff. His hand rubs along her back gently then comes to rest against his chest. It's on the tip of his tongue to tell her not to scare him like that. That he can't lose her. That she's his everything.

Which is true, to a Shinki a god is literally where things start and stop. Their wishes their command gospel and Adrien isn't the kind to have more than one or be disloyal. Marinette's temple is his home, she feeds him, clothes him - but it's more than that she cares about him, is warm and caring.

He'll cling to her, protect her, do anything she needs or wants just so he can keep that. he as no way of know that it's more than this that it started back home and isn't any less true there.]

I will never be like that. I- It seems wrong to try and force someone to love me.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki, by contrast, cannot understand this line of reasoning at all. Working to avoid involves....involves working. Entertainment is superior. ]

In that case, relieving her stress will answer the prayer.

[ NOW MENTALLY CATALOGING EVERY SPA SHE HAS EVER BEEN TO

IT'S A LONG LIST ]

[purr_ince]

I don't think it's stress we have to be concerned with. If there's some kind of underlying issue that needs to be confronted and she needs closure with it before she can move on to bigger and better things.

[He pauses, rubbing at his shoulder; toying with his ring with his thumb.]

If a wound isn't cleaned, it festers - even if it may close it doesn't heal. Infection and sickness rest under the surface taking hold inside under the skin.