takamagahara | Test Drive #25

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test drive

Test Drive #25

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!

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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?

[ 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. ]

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?

[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.

[ His smile’s still the same as it ever was. There’s this strange heaviness in his chest that Tatara can only describe as heartache as he realizes, his hand still feels the same, too. It’s his Johan, alright.

Or, the one that he would have called ‘his’, if he hadn’t been such a fool.

It’s strange, being directly confronted with his mistakes like this. The worst kind of retribution possible. Still, he smiles on. ]

It’s good to meet you too, Johan. [ Again. More than you’ll ever know.

He has to glance away momentarily and force himself to swallow down a lump in his throat. And here Sorey had put so much work into healing Tatara... what a way to cut him wide open all over again. Jeez.

But, it’s fine. It’s all fine. Chin up, eyes forward. ]

...S-so you seemed to need help with the leaves, right? [ He sputters, something that in and of itself is wholly uncommon for someone as self-assured as Tatara, but glances to the rake and back to Johan. ] I can help, if you want! Unless it’s something your god wants you to do yourself, of course.

[ He’ll settle for basking in this person’s presence for a little while, if that’s the case. ]

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. ]

[There’s something about this man that makes Johan almost uneasy. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Ruby seem to slump down, her usual chipperness gone for whatever reason. It makes him worried, his attention shifting to his shoulder briefly, but Ruby only peeks up and snuggles his cheek.

Though it confuses him, he turns back to Tatara.]

Some help would be great if you’re willing. I think some mischievous little thing decided it wanted to play.

[A pause as a particular word stands out.

He rubs the back of his head, a sheepish laugh escaping from him.]

And I don’t have a god.

[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.]

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.

Hmmmmn... Maybe you're right. His sudden death might spark even more fear among the masses.

[For which the ayakashi would probably take all the credit, those irksome pests.]

Perhaps I could simply remove his eyes so he cannot see the ayakashi.

You got it!

[ Finally, an answer something more like normal from Tatara, though he pauses for a moment afterward. That momentary glance to his shoulder... could it be?

It very well could.

Ah, Ruby... Tatara still thinks back on her excitement over the two of them as nearly the best part of it all: The way she’d hopped from shoulder-to-shoulder on them when they were side-by-side, and made such an adorable fuss...

He can’t see her anymore, of course, but it would only make sense that she’s still with him. They are bound to him, after all, aren’t they? So, the god leans his head slightly to one side. ]

Do you have a friend with you, Johan?

[ Without any context, and with the last comment being about his godlessness, he could be talking about a human companion... or maybe he’s speaking of something completely different. ]

[Johan looks at Tatara I’m surprise, blinking wide eyes at him.]

No—umm...

[This is awkward. But Ruby only encourages him, hopping from Johan’s shoulder and to Tatara’s, the action surprising the shinki and confusing him even further.]

Yeah, I do. Can you see her?

[He’s come to terms that he’s the only one so far who could. Even if seeing ghosts in general seems to be a thing, but this is almost different. Not everyone seems to possess the skill and Johan doesn’t really talk about it with anyone else.]

I think we’d traumatize him too much and his pain might attract more, too.

[Johan quickly thinks.]

Isn’t there a way to block him from seeing them other than removing his eyes? He can still probably hear them, too.

[ The surprise is expected. And of course, Tatara has no idea he has a shoulder guest once again. ]

I can't, no. [ He says with his smile quickly turning wry. ]

Can you tell me where she is?

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.]

[...Why are you confusing?

Johan doesn't say, his eyes fixated on Tatara's shoulder.]

Your right shoulder.

[The way Ruby seems to be perfectly at ease continues to strike him odd.]

[ His right shoulder.

So this, too, is just as he remembers it.

By now, Tatara's eyes are most definitely misty, so he closes them. Gently and carefully, he'll bring a curled hand to that shoulder, right about where he thinks she should be. Granted, he can't see her, hear her, or feel her -- and for that matter, he probably looks like a loon to just about anyone who passes, smiling serenely and all-but petting the air this way -- but he takes Johan at his word, like always.

A gentle murmur: ] Hello, Ruby.

[ I've missed you, too. ]

...You mean place him in a tomb?

[Well, he'll at least keep his eyes.]

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.]

[ 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!

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! ]

[Oh my god is that an ayakashi??]

[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.

[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!

[An ayakashi with the sentience of an ornery old grandpa sums Aku up quite nicely.]

Pathetic human. You would do better to rake those leaves with your bare teeth.

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Test Drive #25

Johan Anderson | Yu-Gi-Oh GX | Shinki

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

tilting windmill

Ouch

buckle up, it's gonna get worse.

QQ

;A;

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

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just leaf me be

Falulu | PriPara | God

rake recall

1/2

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