takamagahara | Test Drive #29

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test drive

Test Drive #29

TEST DRIVE # 29

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.

Keepsake Knots
There has been a trend of knotted friendship bracelets sweeping through junior high schools. Making the bracelets is a quaint pastime, but it is also becoming something more. The superstition of making wishes while knotting the bracelet has an unusual effect. Amazingly, those who wish particularly strongly have made a tiny, piglet-like protective spirit appear when the bracelet is finished. Of course, the humans can’t see it, but ayakashi do. Knock out the ayakashi trying to get at the good spirits and encourage the positive atmosphere of friendship at school.

Listless Lions and Leopards
The big cats at the famous Ueno Zoo are listless. And while it’s normal for cats to rest for a large part of the day, this behaviour has been going on so long it’s downright worrying.
Answer the prayers of both the zookeepers, who are at a complete loss of what’s wrong with their cats, and the visitors, who want to see the lions and leopards being their big, powerful selves. Just be careful- you might need to get up close and personal with them to find out what the matter is.

Monkey Matsuri Makeup
Wild monkeys are revered and catered to in many areas. One small city has a festival honouring the monkeys that come and grace the local hot springs with their presence. The main feature of the shrine-carrying procession is that everyone is done up with elaborate face paint to make them look monkey-like. Indeed, many residents and tourists also get their faces done up.
Many hands makes light work, so do your best to lend a brush and emulate the style. (Or not. That’s how things go.) If you do a good job, perhaps you will receive some hot spring passes as a thanks!

Necktie Noose
It is a low time in Japan’s hiring season. The desperation of young graduates who have been looking for a job since April has finally reached critical levels, causing an outbreak of ayakashi. These ones have a penchant for curling around neckties, slowly becoming tighter and tighter as they whisper words of despair.
Save these people from giving in to their dark desires and slay the ayakashi.
If your shinki hasn’t been practicing how to cut only what they want to cut, some other creative methods might have to be used to ensure the safety of the human. (Or go with the Spartan method. That works too.)

Onion Overdrive
People at a festival are subjecting themselves to a world record onion chopping race. Organizers are going for “most onions being cut in one place at one time”, and “most onions peeled and sliced in one minute”. (The record is 615 grams, by the way.) Whether you are a spectator taking in the cloud of onion vapor, a participant due to the prayers of your follower, or someone who has to clean up all these chopped onions in the end, there will be tears.

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Adrien relaxes as the blight started to wash away the pain he's been dealing with easing up almost instantly. It took it a while to fade but once it does he's slowly getting back to his normal skin-tone. Once it's gone he's drying off before tugging on his own gloves

"I get that. I do. I've been there. People hurt each other but as long as you're honest with me you'll be fine."

Moving he's taking the water from Shin and circling him to look him over. There's a frown on his lips. At the state of Shin's back he's using the water to clean it.Thankfully they're getting to it before it developed eyes. The blond's gaze drifted to the mirror to meet Shin's through the reflection.

"Now listen to me and listen really good. As long as you do your best and don't give up we'll get along. No matter how bad something is we'll get through it together." His expression gentles. "If you're willing to try, you deserve a second chance or third.."

Even with the guilt fading, Shin has a strong streak of pain wrapped in the tightness in his torso. "You're too good of a person, Adrien." He closes his eyes, not able to keep looking at those kind green eyes, "a better person than I deserve. Falling into smoking, both the cigarettes and pot just felt so natural. Like breathing."

He covers his face, remembering the warnings about blight, "this isn't a long-term fix, is it?" It was really more of a statement, "I'm going to need a purification, won't I?" He doesn't remember hearing about pain, but knowing he was causing Adrien such problems was enough to make him regret turning against his kindness.

"I'm just a person who does his best. You're my shinki. It's in both of our best interests to look after each other." That's a simple fact. But then again it's a life because even if Shin wasn't his Shinki he would do his best to take care of him if he needed it. "So we'll work on stopping it. We'll start with getting off the pot for now. And ease off on that - bit by bit. We all have our vices and flaws.."

Adrien bathed the blight gently washing most of it away. "Likely so. If anything just to be absolutely certain. I'll need to ask around but we can probably do it together. Okay? You're not alone anymore so stop acting like it. You're my shinki and we're facing this together. And yeah, I know I've said that like three times I'm just hoping one'll stick."

Shin watches Adrien's hands and arms in the mirror. He watches as Adrien cares for his back. "I'm going to try. It feels like I don't know how." More guilt bubbles up, but this one is more like a sting, "I just want to run. Every time you try to help me, I want to start running, or push you away." He didn't know why. Adrien didn't deserve to be treated like that. It was as good as spitting in his face.

Adrien laughed softly, peeling his gloves off after drying and applying a patch over his back just in case the blight came back before he could look at it in the morning - it would help or so they said some weird herb blend nonsense. Adrien just accepted it as fact rather than ask questions.

"Maybe that's because you don't think you deserve help." But Adrien is moving and reaching with now bare hands to grip Shin's chin. "Let me make it clear. You run, I'm chasing you. You push? I'm not moving an inch. Until the name I gave you comes off of your skin or something else takes you from me I'm not giving you up. Not even when you're a stubborn coward."

He's drawing his hand away. "So get used to this face. You'll be seeing it a lot. Because you're stuck here with me." Which isn't exactly true. If Shin really wanted he could request a different god and they both knew that but Shin hadn't tried that yet - and likely wouldn't.

Shin tries not to tear up, but ultimately fails. He doesn't turn into a mess, but it hurts to be made to look at the face of his god, knowing more than anything, he disappointed him.

When Adrien takes his hand away Shin looks down again, "I am a coward. I don't understand why you're spending so much time and effort on me."

Adrien sighed softly, gently. His eyes fluttered closed before he reached to ruffle Shin's hair. That hadn't been what he wanted right now but maybe it's best to get it all out right now rather than later.

"I can be a coward, too. Lots of people are but there's a line between being a coward and someone that gives up. I'm not giving up and you're not either." He considered. "I have my reasons..." .

Shin offers a nervous little smile, "I don't have a choice, then?" It was a joke, even if it was a lame one. Adrien meant that to be the implication, but Shin just wanted to make a little dig to try to lighten the mood. "I hope that's not a challenge."

He waits nervously to see how his comment is received, worried he pushed it too far.

"Not purrticularly, no." He's teasing back with a slightly incline of his head. "But something tells me you don't really mind having someone as stubborn as me around. Try running and I'll hunt you down - that's a thing cats are good at."

Edited 2018-06-03 22:26 (UTC)

Shin laughs a little, but he's still shaken up. "I don't know yet. I want to be a good shinki to you, but...." Even now part of him wants to scream at Adrien that he shouldn't control him like this. "Besides, I don't have any ground to rebel against you, as much as I want to. You are my God, and you're forgiving me despite what I did." So why did he want so bad to throw everything in Adrien's face? He didn't understand it at all, but he just wanted to be mean to him.

"We'll work through it together. We'll do this." He's closing his eyes. "You could. I mean technically. I don't own you, Shin." He's leaning toward him. "Of course I'm giving you a second chance. You deserve it. You're only human, Shin. We make mistake. Mistakes are forgivable."

Shin can feel his heart aching again. "Maybe it would be better if you did." He looks back at Adrien, "If you refuse to give up my name, no matter how much I demand it." He knows just how stubborn he can be about ruining his own life. He can feel it gnawing at him, egging him on to just blow up in the face of forgiveness and leave scorched earth behind.

He looks away, "If I just wholly belonged to you, then I couldn't burn every bridge we built." Because he honestly didn't trust himself to not repeat his mistakes, even if he is truly sorry. His will is weak, and the things he'd already found made everything feel so much better. A bit of guilt starts to build again, but it eases as he admits, "Even now I can't stop thinking about going out for a cigarette."

"And let you get into trouble? No. Let you self-destruct? No." He's gripping Shin's shoulders. "We're straightening this out and we're getting to the to bottom of these issues if it's the last thing I do. There's something at the heart of all this running away and burying whatever you're feeling."

Adrien shook his head. "If you wholly belonged to me for a reason as silly as a name then you wouldn't be yourself and we both know that." Adrien sighed. "My issue isn't the cigarettes. Not that I'm fond of them. I'm not sure if Shinki or Gods can get things like cancer but you don't illegal things while you're in my temple, as my exemplar is bad thing. It puts a bad image out to other gods and shinki and even followers."

"I need you to think of the consequences of you actions before you act. I won't abandon you but I won't have you representing - "

And he chokes back a sound before shaking his head. "It's just not healthy or good. I don't have anything against you doing whatever you like as long as it's safe and doesn't set a bad example. There are younger impressionable shinki and gods here."

Shin hangs his head, "if I try to get you to release my name so I can run...." He feels another pang of guilt as he has to admit to himself that it's already crossed his mind. "If I ask you release me, don't let me run away, I need help...." He's back to feeling guilty for causing problems, for wanting to make things more difficult.

He can feel the tears starting to roll down his cheeks. "I don't know why I'm such a mess. I don't know why you picked me. I'm scared of being alone, but I think I might be more scared of having someone actually care." He stares at his hands shaking in front of him. He didn't even know who he was, he didn't know why he hurt, and it made everything more confusing and frustrating.

Adrien reaches out taking Shin's face in between his hands. "That's good. That's very good. That's a good first step." He's brushing his tears away with his thumbs. "We're humans. We are messy. We make messes and mistakes. We're just people - you and me. Don't get hung up on God or Shinki. No one is perfect."

He draws Shin to him. "I'm here. I've got you. I'll help you. I will." Why did he pick Shin? There was an easy answer then there waas the real answer. "You're not alone. You're never alone and even if you are scared? That won't make me stop." He's gathering him close rubbing at Shin's back. "I've been there. It's scary."

Shin reaches out to grab onto Adrien's shirt, holding it as he lets Adrien comfort him. "Why is it so damn terrifying to think someone might actually care?" Because everything was telling him to run away and keep running. Or to hurt Adrien to make him retreat. Everything inside of him was screaming at him that this is danger, and there was no way that Adrien couldn't feel that panic at being comforted like this.

Adrien hums and folds him up into his arms gently, but his hold is firm - not too tight but solidly there. He's putting just enough pressure into it that Shin knows it's real rather than not and that he won't let go easily. "Because no one really has before," his voice is soft but there's a heaviness to the words; emotion weighing them down. "Not without getting something out of it or wanting something from you - there were always strings and yo're not used to the thought that someone might actually care about you because you're you - not what you can do for or give them. It's pretty freaking terrifying."

Even if Shin is panicking and there's a slight sting he's brushing it aside. Soon he's letting out a soft purr, seeking to help Shin calm down a bit or at least shock him out of this spiral he's in. Something anything that can help them both in the moment.

Shin rests his head against Adrien as he holds him and lets himself cry instead of forcing Adrien away. He's shaking, still feeling lost and confused. "You're such a dumb god, taking me as your shinki. For keeping me. I just keep stinging you, and I can't help it," but he doesn't let go of Adrien's shirt.

The purr starts to calm him down, though. It's hard to stay upset when something like that is rumbling through you. At least it's getting him to breathe more easily.

"Never said I was the smartest cat in the room." He laughed softly before moving a hand to rub along Shin's spine. Just a slow steady caress up and down his back. "And I have ample holy water. I should be fine. We'll learn along the way how to help each other."

That purr gets louder and stronger as it seems to actually help. Now that he knows Shin will have a good reaction to it he doesn't hold back like he had been before. He wants to help Shin - if the only thing he can do right now is purr at him - That's what he'll do.

Shin slowly calms down, his tears slowing to a stop. He eventually gently pulls away, wiping his eyes and feeling his face. Between the crying and the weed it feels strange and the touch is helping him ground himself some more. His eyes are bright red as well from a mixture of the marijuana and tears. He has a impulse to eat as well, unsurprisingly. It seemed to be the closest he got to getting hungry.

Still, there's a lot of thoughts swimming in his head, and he finds himself feeling the need for nicotine to help him cope. He keeps his eyes down, "Can I have a cigarette?" If Adrien said no right now, he'd feel bad for even asking, but he knew better than try to somehow hide it.

"That's better. You feel better don't you? Now that you've gotten all that out? That's why honesty is important." He smiled gently ranking a hand through his own hair. He'll get some eye drops down for Shin later. Now he's just watching him before considering the question.

"I do want you to stop but I know you can't do it just like that. So.." He pats his shoulder. "Have one. Open a window and blow your smoke outside if you don't mind." As long as he stayed away from pot Adrien is willing to let him ease off the cigarettes.

Shin sighs with a bit of relief. He starts getting out his pack of cigarettes and his lighter, "I can go outside, if you want me to." He would understand if Adrien wanted him inside where he could keep a closer eye on him, though.

"It does feel better. A little, at least," he adds, letting his eyes close for a moment. They were burning from the tears, still.

"It's fine. Just do it at the window." He's moving picking up the remote and pushing a button and one of the large panels of his window opens and he pushes it open more a breeze coming into the room. "There."

He smiled, "Glad to hear it. I'll be right back." He's moving toward the bathroom and rummaging around. Soon he's coming back with a bottle of eye drops offering them to Shin. "Here. You'll need these for your eyes. I always get kind of irritated when I cry or my allergies kick in hard."

Shin goes to the window and lights up, doing this little motion where he looks for something at his chest height first before going into his pockets for his lighter.

He stands next to the window, almost leaning out and looking out at the night sky. He tries to let his chaotic thoughts settle as he takes one long drag after another. The act of smoking seemed to be doing at least half as much to calm him as Adrien's comforting had. Shin could still feel an ache in his chest, but somehow that just felt old hat. Like it belonged there, even if it was uncomfortable, even painful.

He lets his eyes droop closed, warding off the dancing shadows outside the window. He still couldn't feel his face, either, and he generally felt vaguely like he was going to float away. And he would do a lot of things right now for some potato chips and beer. Still, the giddiness and real relaxing sensation of the high was gone. Instead he was feeling a distinct sense of anxiety and trouble stopping his mind from jumping back to paranoid thoughts, like that somehow this was all a trick. He knew it was the drug, but it didn't help all that much with the anxiety.

When Adrien gets back he jumps, and then lets out a sigh seeing that he was just offering him some eye drops. "Thanks," he mutters with a weak smile. Keeping his cigarette in his mouth he gets the eye drops in effortlessly and hands the bottle back to Adrien.

He turns back out the window, breathing out into the open air. "So, the part that really bothers you is that it's illegal? I don't really understand why that matters, though. It's not like we're part of their world anymore."

"Well, I mean that's a big part of it." He murmurs taking the bottle back and setting it aside on his desk. "It's illegal which bothers me because I used to be a - I guess you'd call it a public servant? I mean I guess that's what you'd consider it fighting crime and all. But it's a more complex issue."

He's moving to sit at his desk typing at the keyboard, pulling up some music. Nothing he turned up too loud he just needed background noise it helped him sometimes when he was stressed, maybe it would help Shin, too. "As an illegal substance it's not regulated which means it could be dangerous. Sure I'm certain it's like tobacco on it's own harvested safely and everything but it isn't."

Turning in his chair he's facing Shin gesturing with a hand. "It's not monitored and there are some people out there that do terrible things. If you got a bad batch or pissed off some dealer and they wanted to get even with you they could wreck you and you'd never know and I don't have the knowledge to help you. I know nothing about drugs or stuff like that."

Fingers raked through blond hair. "I don't want you to hurt yourself like that. I don't like the thought of you taking your life in your hands just for a cheap thrill. You deserve better than that. Does that make sense.? People... people have their vices and addictions; obsessions some healthy some not - some seem healthy but aren't. Point is... You're my Shinki it's my duty as your god to keep you safe as best I can."

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