Test Drive #29

[godsoffortune]

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!

Comments

You're good!

[koukai_kirai]

[Hijikata pauses, then turns to look down at Ichimura properly.]

Do you have a name now?

[Honestly, he's not sure he cares. It's hard enough to keep himself from naming Ayumu right under her new god's nose, but Ichimura? He's not fond of the idea of letting some other god look after Ichimura.]

[Still, it just seems ill-mannered not to bother asking.]

[lousypage]

[That's...actually a good question. Tetsu has the good sense to look a little embarrassed.]

I...don't, actually, but if you name me then it'll be fine! We'll beat the ayakashi and more people won't get hurt.

[Suddenly, he looks serious. He bows formally.]

Please. I ask you, give me a name.

[koukai_kirai]

[Later, he'll be angry that Tetsunosuke threw himself into danger without so much as a name to defend himself. Later, he'll be relieved that he found him before anyone else did, before he could get himself hurt.]

[Later.]

[For now, it's clear what he's got to do.]

If you're going to ask me like that, I don't have much of a choice.

[He raises his right hand, a pale blue light glowing from his fingertips as he begins to draw a symbol in the air.]

Thou, with nowhere to go and nowhere to return to... I grant thee a place to belong.

My name is Hachiman. Bearing a posthumous name, thou shalt remain here, and with this name, I make thee my servant. With this name, I use my life to make of thee a Shinki.

[The character hovers before him - 鉄. Not exactly creative, but it's always been a name that suited him, hasn't it? A flick of his wrist, and it flies towards Ichimura, seeking its rightful place on his skin.]

Thy name is Tetsu! As a weapon, Ken!

[As he holds out his hand, his voice softens, but doesn't weaken.]

...Come, Kenki.

[lousypage]

[So this is what it means to have a name.

Tetsu feels himself divide, forming into two separate but unified wholes: a katana and a rifle. He has a purpose now, beyond merely wanting to help protect others. As a weapon, a tool in a god’s hands, he can actually do it.]

Thank you, Hachiman-sama. I won’t let you down.

[koukai_kirai]

[The memories hit him hard, the way they always do.]

[They come in flashes -- a kind smile, gone too soon. Pitiless eyes, the cold of snow, Tatsu-nii's nervous smiles and work-worn hands. The blue of the uniform, the red of blood, the silver glint of moonlight in a blade held to his throat...]

[He follows the memories all the way to the end, in fits and starts. He sees himself through the boy's eyes, tired and grieving and still trying, every weary step of the way... He feels the sting of the tears he couldn't see back then, when Tetsu finally turned away and left him to his final battle.]

[The death itself isn't that bad, not compared to the others he's seen like this. That's a small kindness, one that allows him to keep his composure as he comes back to himself.]

[He grasps the handles of the weapons tightly, somehow unsurprised by the shape Ichimura has taken.]

I don't expect you will. Let's get to work.

[lousypage]

[The storm is enormous. Ayakashi roil in the blackness hovering over the apartment block, seeking more unhappiness to cling to. Even though he has no muscles to tense in this form, Tetsu feels a hint of uneasiness slip into his resolve. He’s untried, untested, and even though Hachiman said he didn’t think Tetsu would let him down, he wants so very much to prove himself.]

This can’t just be a single person. There have to be more people in the building attracting the ayakashi.

[Tetsu’s “voice” is quiet, thoughtful.]

[koukai_kirai]

[Hijikata feels that hint of uncertainty, and uses it to steel his own nerves. He's always fallen easily into the role of making himself into the symbol of steadfastness and conviction that others need to see -- that's one of a very few ways that being a god now makes sense to him.]

[He moves quickly for such a big man, taking the fire escape up towards the upper floors and avoiding direct confrontation with smaller ayakashi for now, because Ichimura's right. Either there's a larger number of people in danger, or...]

If it is only one, there's going to be something very wrong with them. Either way, you need to be prepared for whatever we see when we get in there.

[lousypage]

Understood.

[As they come to the roof, it becomes clear that it's one person after all. A young woman paces, listless, near the ledge with a massive bat-shaped ayakashi hanging over her, surrounded by a swarm of smaller bats. They are immediately attracted to the god's smell and rear up, ready to divebomb him.]

Hachiman-sama!

[koukai_kirai]

That’s it. Hungry, you bastards?

[That makes his job easier, not having to work at diverting their attention from their target. As the first ayakashi swoops down, he dodges it easily, then sidesteps the second, turns on his heel, and knocks it into the first with a swing of the sword in his left hand. Without missing a beat, he swings the rifle around and pulls the trigger to make sure they stay down until he has the time to Rend them properly.]

[Turning again, he takes a moment to really assess the young woman on the roof’s position. If he can draw all of the ayakashi a bit further from her...]

Listen carefully.

I’m going to need you to draw a Borderline. Do you know how in principle?

[lousypage]

[Tetsu is almost too busy focusing on the fight to pay attention, but listen he does.]

I...think so.

[He’s seen it done, at least, and he’s a quick study.]

[koukai_kirai]

Good.

[Hijikata adjusts his grip on the sword in his left hand, shifting his weight into a more flexible, defensive stance.]

As soon as we’ve drawn them all away from her side, I want a line there to keep it that way.