Test Drive #25

[godsoffortune]

TEST DRIVE # 25



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.

Quavering Quixote

A high school student in Shinjuku can see ayakashi, and he's started trying to convince other people they're real. Some people think he's making it up, but enough of his classmates believe him that their fear is drawing in even more ayakashi! Help clear up the infestation, and stop the student from tilting at windmills.


Rake Recall

The fall colours are extravagantly beautiful, but their time as vibrant foliage is fleeting. It doesn’t take long for those same leaves to be littering the pathways, which must be kept clear for the health and safety of those visiting to enjoy the view.
Rakes and bags have been supplied for the task, but it seems a mischievous (or malicious, depending on your point of view) spirit has taken to enchanting the rakes. They are now either very easy to use and the leaves seem to jump into the tines, or extremely difficult to the point where you might be working the same patch of ground for an hour.
Try to clean up some pathways, try to get rid of the enchanted rakes, or try to get to the bottom of what this spirit is doing.

Syllabub Setter

If one is going to start a unique restaurant, Tokyo is the place to do it.
Ms. Sato has poured all of her heart, soul, and money into this venture- a restaurant that serves the most exquisite English cuisine from past centuries. Patrons can eat royal dishes like the English nobles of old. She even has authentic antiques to serve the dishes on!
As the crowning jewel of the desert line, she wants to recreate the syllabub. One problem. Neither her nor her staff can figure out how to properly make it. Thus have their prayers have reached your ears.
Welcome to her kitchen full of antiques. There is cream and alcohol involved. What can possibly go wrong?


Toadstool Tromp

In the Edo period, going to the countryside hills with a bento lunch and a basket in which to collect wild mushrooms was the stylish way to welcome fall.
This tradition is now being revived! But some people decide to do it on their own rather than going with a guided tour. Protect those who might stray to pick the wrong kind of mushroom - or do you know any better?


Uxorious Undertakings

Uxorious: excessively fond of one’s wife. A word you didn’t know you needed, until you met this guy. Mr. Hiusu is all about his wife, all the time. And even the slightest detail is up for discussion. “The way she blinked when she woke up this morning was the best! And then she stretched out- she’s cuter than a kitten!” He’s got pictures, too. “Look at how the sun shines in her hair! But when she wears a hat it’s also gorgeous!”
The people around him get it already, and have been praying for someone to come along who can finally dial this guy back.
Will you try to talk Hiusu down from buying some sky writing to declare his affection, or maybe you’ll get caught up in it all?




PLEASE NOTE: February’s app cycle will be a shinki only app cycle. But you are still free to test drive gods AND shinki.

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

Johan Anderson | Yu-Gi-Oh GX | Shinki

[rainbowmaster]

Quavering Quixote

[Johan rubs the back of his head, almost in a sheepish manner as he watches the students begin to fear the ayakashi.]

Well, this got out of hand. [He mutters mostly under his breath.

A nudge on his shoulder has him glancing over to see Ruby Carbuncle gesturing to something, and he follows it to see some ayakashi gathering.

Johan pauses briefly before looking around.]

We need to find a god.

Rake Recall

Come on, don’t be difficult. [The spirit seems to giggle while Johan leans against a rake, his expression one of exasperated amusement.]

We got to clear this up.

[The spirit doesn’t care, not that Johan expected it to. He shakes his head, trying to rake some leaves that only seem to grow instead of lessening.

When someone approaches, he stops and waves at them.]

Mind helping a guy out clearing up these leaves?

heeeeeere we go... (heartb)rake recall, I guess??

[heartshutter]

[ Autumn is beautiful in this place, isn’t it? Tatara’s come to take photos of the leaves, all bathed in the gentle, warm tones he loves -- red, most especially. So today, he’s got his trusty camera on his person, held in one hand with the other tucked into his old navy blue coat. Alone, (so far as he knows), he’s humming to himself as he smiles at the scenery, in search of that perfect vantage point, until--

...is there someone else here?

Tatara pauses sharply when he thinks he sees a crop of teal hair, heart coming to a full stop at the sound of that voice. He’d never mistake it, no matter how long it’s been since he’s heard it.

Eyes widen. His camera falls to the ground.

Johan...?

The hand in his pocket balls into a fist, nails digging into a palm. He can feel that, so he’s not dreaming. Not this could ever be misconstrued with his dreams anyway. Johan always recognizes him in those, they embrace, Tatara says all the things that he should have said long ago, and he wakes alone in his bed, coiled around a pillow. Business as usual.

It’s him. Even from a good distance away, he knows. But that’s not the only thing he knows, either. Heart seemingly behind his teeth, he swallows down a mouthful of hot sand that seems to cling to his throat as he realizes... he’s a shinki. Johan’s lack of recognition as Tatara approaches tells him that. That means he won’t remember a thing -- not racing each other with socked feet through his temple, trying not to slide and fall; not naming that fish he still has, to this very day--

...and not that night on the bridge where this silly god realized far too late that he once fell in love with his sweet smile and innocent eyes.

None of it. It’s all gone. Blank slate. And in this moment, Tatara tosses all of that out. He doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter.

It’ll be fine. It’s all fine. Everything will work out. We’ll just do it all again. We’ll start over.

And it all starts here.

He’s walking toward him then without knowing it. Words vanish. Reality seems to smack back into him rudely a moment after, and he pulls that fist from the pocket of his coat, unfurled, chuckling sheepishly. ]

Sorry! [ Where are his manners?? ] I’m Tatara Totsuka. Or Minerva, but...

[ Ignore the flash of colors on his face in places they shouldn’t be, and the growing shine to his hazel eyes as he extends a hand that trembles slightly in greeting, trying his hardest to smile like nothing is broken inside. ]

...Just call me Tatara, please.

[ We can begin the story all over again. ]

Ouch

[rainbowmaster]

[He wasn’t expecting anyone to really come help — for some reason, it oddly feels like a part of himself has been disconnected after finding himself here. Even upon awakening, surrounded by these animals he realized quickly only he can see, it feels like he’s in his own world most of the time.

Until the one that called itself Sapphire Pegasus gently nudged him when another person comes over.

Johan looks over, confusion evident in teal eyes and he can’t help but study him curiously. Then a blink and he smiles at him.]

It’s nice to meet you, Tatara! I’m Johan.

[But even as a shinki, as someone who’s lost everything of who they were before, he notices how the god’s hand seem to shake. His smile softens, reaching up to gently take his hand.]

It really is good to meet you.

tilting windmill

[unspeakablyevil]

Look no further, for a god has arrived. [comes a raspy yet powerful voice.

Behind Johan stands the towering god of darkness, Set AKU. At 8 feet tall (not including his horns) he's mighty imposing to behold, but he's here to help... or something. Aku is not pleased about these ayakashi spreading fear among humankind. If anyone should be spreading fear and darkness across the land of mortals, it should be him.

Aku curls his claws into fists and rests them on his hips as he looks here and there.]

Now where is this wayward youth so I can smite him and put an end to this nonsense?

[rainbowmaster]

[No, Aku. Why???

Johan quickly turns to face the god.]

No need to smite the poor guy! [Even if he is the reason why people are panicking.]

QQ

[roundtablerebel]

Tch. We should have just knocked that kid out when he started flapping his gums.

[ Although Mordred initially thought that people would just ignore the boy since he sounded crazy when he began telling everyone he could see ghosts. ]

What? No, we don't need a god for this rabble!

[ She needs to prove she can do some stuff without Yuna's help. Mordred knows she can't kill Ayakashi without her god being present but she can at least drive them away.

She reaches out and a massive silver sword flashes into her grip. ]

Come on, if we find that kid and shut him up they'll stop gathering, right?

[ Although some of the bolder Ayakashi are already moving into the school. ]

[rainbowmaster]

How long can we hold them off without a god, though?

[Just pointing out the obvious.

A glance at her before he shifts his attention to the ayakashi.

A pause.]

It should. As long as the fear stops gathering and drawing their attention at least.

Shinji Ikari | Evangelion | more like SHINKI ikari haha am i right

[hedgehogsdilemma]

Rake Recall
[Cleaning up fallen leaves is an easy enough task, in all honesty, and one Shinji finds himself a little drawn to. There's something downright enchanting, unusually special, about the sights of the trees flaring up in such brilliant colors before the winter. Even with so much foliage already on the ground, he can't deny there's a certain allure to it regardless...

Or, at least, there would be, if the clean up task at hand didn't feel so impossible.]

There has to be an easier way to do this...

[Maybe there's some trick to raking he's missing? It feels like he's not getting anywhere, though watching other's doesn't seem to be yielding any clues as to what he's doing wrong. Surely the problem couldn't be with the rake, that's absurd.]


Uxorious Undertakings
[Getting accustomed to being almost completely ignored by Near Shore dwellers took a bit of getting used to - maybe not an awful not in the end, but it was still an adjustment for sure.

So once that change is recognized and dealt with, someone not only actually noticing Far Shore residents but actively following one around and pestering them sure is. Something.]

I-I saw the pictures already. ["Ah, but this one was from the vacation we took last month! She went and had her hair cut short just for the trip, it's so stylish! Ah, but she looks good no matter what she does with her hair, see, this one is from when we just started dating and-"] That's - very nice, and all, but...! [He is not listening.

Anyone passing by who looks like they might spot the commotion will be subject to a utterly helpless look, please help get him out of this situation!]


Wildcard
[Hit me up here/via PM/at sandshrew with something else if it strikes your fancy! I'll roll with anything tbh.]

just leaf me be

[unspeakablyevil]

YOU THERE! [screamed Aku.] Enough dallying! You have more leaves now than what you started with!

[For his part, Aku was doing absolutely nothing at all to clean up the area. Instead, he sat beneath a tree while admiring the fall colors and sipping hot tea.]

1/2

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Oh my god is that an ayakashi??]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Ah... no, they aren't the kinds of creatures to dish out a coherent order like that, are they?

So what is that? And more importantly, the knowledge that he's not necessarily about to be chased down while completely defenseless doesn't really do much to bring tensions down here.]

I'm - [You're what?] S-sorry? [Ah, okay.] It's my first time doing anything like this... I think.

rake recall

[priforprincess]

Wheee!

[ Shinji got one of the trouble rakes. Falulu got....not that.

Here she comes, running to keep up with the rake that's....raking leaves of its own accord. ] So exciting! Falulu can't stop!

[ She's headed right for Shinji! ]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[At least she has the foresight (dumb luck?) to announce her unstoppable momentum, making avoiding a collision easy enough.]

Whoa-!!

[It's only by about a hair, though, and in his scramble to dodge the one-two-combo of rake and girl, ends up stumbling over his own rake. At least the stubborn bed of leaves that refuse to be piled up cushion his backward fall? Even by a little?

He lets out a small hiss and winces as he sits up, finding it the be a painful tumble regardless. Good job.] H-hey!

Falulu | PriPara | God

[priforprincess]

[ Quavering Quixote ]

Everyone, calm down!

[ This is so sad. Falulu finally got to visit a "high school", but it's not sparkling at all. Instead, it's full of bad feelings and scary things. She feels kind of faint and fuzzy, but she has to be strong. She has to try to help everybody! ]

Listen to Falulu's song.

[ She folds her hands in front of herself and, yeah. Right here, in the middle of the hallway, just. Starts singing. ]

The end of loneliness comes
In the middle of the night...

[ Syllabub Setter ]

Falulu is ready.

[ She is your helper today, you see. And she is following the proper food preparing procedure that she heard about and tucked her hair away beneath a hat.

A huge, bulging hat. She has a lot of hair. Beneath it, she watches expectantly. ] What's first?

[ Toadstool Tromp ]

Wow~ This one looks so friendly!

[ Falulu picks a brightly-colored toadstool and adds it to her basket. ] This one, too....Oh! Here's a little family!

[ The kids she's guiding gather around to look at the cluster of small fungi. Falulu beams proudly. ]

This is fun!

[Toadstool Tromp]

[unlucky7]

[As bright and cheery as the red mushroom looks, something about it sets off a warning bell in Ginia's mind. The dutiful shinki flips through the pamphlet the tour guides were handing out--or rather, lifted from the pile of pamphlets, but it's not stealing if they're being given out for free--as she follows after her god and the group of kids.

Red... red... red...

...Oh, that's not good.

Ginia waves a hand at Falulu to catch her attention, already typing out a message on her phone. Not wanting to embarrass her god in front of the children, she steps in closer to show the message.]

The red ones are deadly when eaten. Let me take them.

The small cluster is fine.

[priforprincess]

Dead...ly?

[ That is not a word Falulu runs across very often. But she's pretty sure it means she did something wrong.

Fortunately, Ginia caught her! ] Okay! Thank you, Ginia.

[ Here. Have the red ones. ] That's too bad. Because they're pretty.

Yukimura Sanada | Gate 7 | Shinki | Will match format

[moonsandclassrooms]

[ QUAVERING QUIXOTE ]

[Well... this definitely wasn't what Sanada was looking forward to today. This is some mess to clean up. Sure, it's a Shinki's job to help clean up said messes, but even this is overkill.

If he could make the child causing this clean up his own mess, he would. But he can't so... that leaves him to do what he can until help arrives. He takes his stance and performs a Borderline to stop a coming onslaught of Ayakashi. Of course, there are too many for him to just keep doing this on his own.

So when he notices you? Well...]

If you're just standing there, I could use your assistance.

[His voice isn't harsh, but it is intensely serious. He has every intention of trying to prevent the Ayakashi from spreading further. Hopefully you're a God, or else you're both going to really have your work cut out for you trying to play round them up with Sanada.]


[ RAKE RECALL ]

[Sanada is used to doing chores and generally has no problem cleaning up. It's when someone messes up his hard work that he has a problem. He had just raked those leaves into a neat pile. He had done his job thoroughly and effectively. And his calm demeanour is trading for one of frustration as the rake undoes all of the work he just put in. ALL of it. Every last leaf is flushed out of place back into the paths.

Unfortunately, he's traded to like three different rakes and the same thing keeps happening to varying degrees and methods. This stopped being funny a long time ago. In fact, it isn't funny at all. His voice rises in high temper when he sees you. He doesn't have a direct culprit so he's going to assume you at least have something to do with it.]

It is very RUDE to erase someone's efforts like that! I have cleaned this space time and again myself! If you want to destroy someone's hard work, then destroy your own! Now get over here and clean up your mess!

[Because he's not cleaning this up a fifth time. You can't make him. Especially if he suspects you will only continue to mess it right back up.

Well? Get on it.]


[ TOADSTOOL TROMP ]

[Defending the lost? No problem, this should be easy. Though, why they would want to go off the guided path is a bit inconvenient, he's got a familiarity of having dealt with children before. And his personality changes a bit depending on who he's dealing with. This time it's a group of children.]

N-no, wait. I don't think you should--

[And he's cut off abrubtly as one of the children tells him to shut up.

...Right. Yea, okay. He's suddenly a massive pushover.

Okay, round two.]

I h-have a much better idea. We can... make something! Yes!

[The kids don't look impressed at all by the idea. They're here to do mushroom picking. Why on earth would they want to do arts and crafts now? He's trying so hard to distract them from the passages they're going on. Sigh. But the kids seem much more intent on ignoring him, or worse.

One actually sticks a note onto Sanada's back, a classic kick me sign. And a student decides to take on the full duty of the note by giving him a swift kick to his behind. And Sanada falls over with a yelp. The kids laugh, of course. Honestly, Sanada is looking pretty helpless against a small group of gradeschoolers.

But when one of those kids picks a mushroom and moves to eat it, he's quick into action. His hand wraps around theirs, completely covering the mushroom. Despite that clear act of intense precision, his face gives something more of a shocked and meek look.]

Y... y-you really shouldn't eat that...


[ UXORIOUS UNDERTAKINGS ]

[Normally, Sanada wouldn't bother with this type of person. At least, not unless it was something much more necessary. But this guy is just gushing about his wife and being overly extravant about it. Let him spend his own money and do what he wants. He's not hurting anyone. But, well, he's not about to side with the guy, and the prayers are stronger anyway. That's like a contract, isn't it? So, then, here goes nothing.

He approaches the guy and, just as he starts going into the blurb of how fantastically amazing his wife is, Sanada calmly speaks up.]

Instead of gushing about how amazing your wife is, perhaps you should go spend your time with her. Isn't that more important than displaying it to the world?

[Mr. Hiutsu gives a puzzled look, as if contemplating the suggestion. It does seem perfectly valid for one moment, but then Mr. Hiutsu exclaims that the world must absolutely know his love for his wife and all of her amazing, enticing, flawless qualities. And, next thing Sanada knows, he's trying to hold Mr. Hiutsu back from his latest flight of fancy. No, really. Physically trying to hold him back from making a massively broad display that... now seems to be catching the attention of a crowd.

Sanada doesn't seem to be that particularly bothered about all of it, but... it does seem to be more than he can handle outside of just full-on flooring the man. He doesn't need to cause the poor guy any physical harm, so... a hand would probably be appreciated, if you would.]

Rake Recall

[moonlitknight]

[ Zero stops long enough to stare at the newcomer, giving them an impressed look at the unfounded accusation. ]

No thanks.

[moonsandclassrooms]

[Excuse you, Zero? Sanada's eyebrows raise up, unamused by Zero's stance.]

Oh, I suppose I must have stuttered. [NOT!

He wields his rake and points it at Zero.]

Do you deny your responsibility in this?

Uxurious Undertakings

[altergeist]

[This guy's showers of affection for his wife are way too loud for any normal person to miss, though Ema's mostly been trying to ignore it up until now. But if it's supposed to be part of the job to stop him, then...well, there's one way to try.

Offering a wink to the beleagured shinki as she approaches, Ema comes up altogether too close to the man raving about his wife. With her shoulders rolled back, arms crossed under her chest, and her practically skintight biking outfit, she's aiming to get as much of herself as uncomfortably close to him as possible without outright being indecent.]

Oh, what a wonderful husband you must be! I'm a little bit jealous. Someone like you is quite a catch. [Her tone is honeyed, but not quite sickly. The man is still going somewhat enthusiastically, but Ema's efforts are making him falter a little out of sheer discomfort and distraction.

Her gaze slips rather pointedly to the other shinki, seeing if he has any other ideas to speed this along.]

[moonsandclassrooms]

[Sanada just observes the display for a moment, feeling the need to hold Mr. Hiutsu back less and less as he seems to be... just outright getting uncomfortable with the situation. And, after a moment, he realizes this is a tactic.]

Oh! Yes, absolutely. Anyone would be lucky to have you.

[He does it fluidly, but he can't believe he's going along with this. Despite his feminine appearance, using flirtation as a weapon has never been in his scheme of tactics.

Just... try to make this as awkward as possible. It's not like he means any of it seriously.]

I bet you can attract all of the ladies and men.

[He does his best to give an innocent, helpless look (he's not going seductive, you can't make him).]

A strong, loving man like you, why, it's infatuating.

[For a moment, he's sure all colour has dropped from Mr. Hiutsu's face and the other man has full-on began to stammer. Looks like they've got him on the ropes.]

[ TOADSTOOL TROMP ]

[utsuhoreiuji]

Being a Goddess had one very important downside... boredom.

And Utusho Reiuji was very much that.

It didn't help that those in the Outside just didn't even fully see her and even if they did they didn't have magic or even fly! She wasn't even sure if any of the other gods and goddesses even knew how to danmaku much alone want to have match with her.

But time to try and get unbored for a bit.

In her hell raven form Utsuho flew, the three legged raven lazily flying over the countryside, red eyes looking at the gathered humans. Nothing interesting there, how did Kanako and Suwako not go crazy from boredom?!

A flap of her wings and she climbs more. Maybe she should protect the humans but she didn't need to be with them directly and most of the time when she tried to directly intervene it would get her in trouble, especially since the humans here were so fragile. Still there was nice tree to land on. She just flew under the canopy and that limb right there. Three legs down and the raven stood sentinel for a bit but there was this person who... not a youkai or possible rival. Oh it's a someone's Shikigami or whatever they were called here.

And humans are mocking him? Now kicking him? The raven shook her head before she leaped down and assuming her humanoid form. No need to manifest her power yet... and really, if they were regular humans it'd be even more overkill than she thought.

Her boot covered feet softly walked through the hillside, her rather ridiculous looking outfit on full display as she put her hand to the side of her head.

"Hey leave Mister Shikigami alone. He's really weak but you shouldn't beat him up. If you want to beat someone up try and beat me up," Okuu challenged as she stood there with a big smile, this will be a fun distraction.

Don't mind the woman with large crow wings on her back and a rather nice figure. She means well.

Picking fights is perfectly divine action right?

Symmetra | Overwatch | Shinki

[defensivematrix]

Quavering Quixote

[ Symmetra watches from a side as the boy keeps convincing yet another person about what he sees. There is no fear, there is a strong conviction of doing The Right Thing. ]

Honesty is a virtue, a truly admirable quality to have. [ She says plainly, without much emotion. As a shinki it is simply one of her roles. Understanding human morals and relaying them to her god in a way it would be easy to understand. ]

But here, telling the truth brings more harm and disruption than good.

[ There's a hint of sadness when she admits that. As much as "being honest" is a good quality to have and just a good thing in general- here it might have disastrous consequences. The ayakashi feeding on fear will get attracted to the place, making everything progressively worse and worse- until a tragedy might occur.

Order of things trumps truth in this case ]

They are not ready to know. This truth lies beyond their ability to comprehend it. You do understand what it is that we have to do.

[ That's not even a question, it's a statement, she cannot comprehend someone would not understand that simple fact... ]


Uxorious Undertakings

[ Symmetra always considered herself a patient individual. Patience is required for learning, for crafting, not to mention, taking care of her god requires a never-ending well of patience, that she surely must have- since she's up for that task.

But this man, this man right here, seems to be able to test that patience She stops him mid-sentence with barely contained annoyance ]

Sir, this is your sixth metaphor for your wife's eyelashes, and if usual pattern is followed, you will move to her eyes, cheeks, and forehead right next. I have no time for this, I imagine no one does.

[ And with this she turns around and walks away with a cranky expression she tries to mask. What a waste of breath her face seems to say.

Yeah, she doesn't know how to people. ]


Toadstool Tromp

[ Instead of acting as a guide or a guard to the mushroom foragers, Symmetra joins their ranks instead. Armed with a very traditional basket, bento and even clothes she joins the expedition!

One thing not fitting that image is a very high-end tablet that has some kind of mushroom encyclopedia open as she investigates and compares if the mushrooms she intends to pick are edible. When she notices someone looking at her - someone like her, a shinki, or maybe a god, either way, someone not from here - she offers a small smile and says ]

Tradition and modernity are the strongest when they work together.

[ Don't forget the old, but upgrade it along the way if needed to. Using the wonders of technology to not accidentally cause an upset stomach sounds like a good idea in her book. ]

Re: Symmetra | Overwatch | Shinki

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar joins Symmetra in observing the spectacle. It's difficult to say if he's more worried or irritated]

Honesty, yeah...

[He's not entirely with her on the "being honest" thing. Too many fools masquerade their idiocy as just being honest. This ruckus here being a prime example.]

It's a good to have it. Even better to know when to use it. But this kid here? I find his dedication laudable but he's wielding his honesty like a blunt machete. So little effect for such a commotion. Not to mention he's actually making things worse.

[Still he could use some exercise and those ayakashi look like a nice sparring material]

Well...

[He stretches his arms with audible crack counting the closest group of ayakashi. Five, no ten, maybe fifteen... Oh, who cares! Unless it's forty to one they don't really stand a chance]

Let's go do some housekeeping.
Then will see what to do with Mr Honest.

Uxorious Undertakings

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's never met anyone as verbose as that man and frankly, it's a bit confusing. She looks between the man and fellow shinki, hesistates, then bows her head and holds up a hand before following after Symmetra. Thank goodness for typing fast and on the go.]

He wants everyone to know how much he loves his wife. Is such devotion bad?

[The text-to-speech program reads Ginia's message as she catches up.]