Test Drive #34

[godsoffortune]

TEST DRIVE # 34



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.



Jingle Jeans
The fresh new spring fashion trend is accessorized denim. Super-accessorized! Bells, chains, beads, zippers, belts and more drip from every inch of this season's hot styles, and the stores need someone to model their new stock -- and bring in the buyers. It's your job to convince the fashion-savvy residents of Tokyo that these new jeans are exactly what their wardrobe needs, without getting your five chain belts tangled.


Kitty Kibble
A huge, panther-shaped ayakashi is haunting the streets of Asakusa, and the pigeons at the local pigeon shrine have disappeared! Take care of this feline predator so the surviving sacred birds won't end up as dinner on the wing.


Lagging Laundry
The residents of an Ikebukuro high-rise have an unusual problem: no matter how sunny the day or how long it's been hanging, their laundry just won't dry! Do they have a moist microclimate? An ayakashi of mold and despair? Or do they just need someone to get all that wet laundry to the nearest laundromat with a dryer until the weather warms up?


Melon Mania
A gardener in Ueno has planted a brand-new strain of muskmelon in his window boxes, and this plant is going wild! Vines have taken over the exterior of his apartment building, and beach-ball-sized fruit are popping up all over. He needs help bringing in the harvest… but his neighbors are begging for this plant to wind up in the compost heap so their lives can go back to normal. Whose side will you take?


Nice & Neat
A community art project is being hosted at the Tokyo Art Museum! Jigsaw-shaped pieces of wood about the size of a hand have been handed out to artists and crafters throughout Japan, and the pieces have just been shipped back. Now, they have to be assembled into one giant jigsaw puzzle for display. There's just one problem: someone forgot to number the pieces before they were shipped! Now they've got a 20,000 piece puzzle whose pieces don't match, and it has to be finished this weekend for the grand opening. Help!



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

[holygrailed]

Oh? Would you like to cook together, Avenger?

[Irisviel knows very well it wasn't an offer, but why not seize upon it and turn it into a possible bonding moment?]

[frenchfried]

[ Avenger is right there along with her. if she knew more (read: anything) about her history and origins she would definitely assume that being sorted as a shinki was some sort of a clerical error. instead she has to settle for being an error brought on by the clergy and the rest, as they say, is history.

"history".

back to the question at hand, Avenger shrugs one shoulder casually. ]

So, what if they do? That is the point of accepting this assignment. If you did not want to be seen maybe you should have chosen someone else's prayer. Beg the owner for some work in the storehouse or with the seamstresses. [ those are some slightly dated ideals... ]

Since you've already gone through the trouble of dressing up, you could take some small comfort in the idea that no one will remember who you are once they've left.

[ is it really comforting though, Avenger? is it? ]

[frenchfried]

[ that was an opening so wide even Irisviel's driving could allow her clear passage through. Avenger notices that far too late. she isn't unwilling. there is no good solid reason to tell Iri off in line with her previous reasoning that they may as well discover what the other is capable of. cooking wasn't off-limits to that.

you couldn't pay her to look particularly happy about it, though. (or anything.)

embarrassed? absolutely. ]

Cooking for the three of us is a one person job. But... As I said, it is simple enough to do and I wouldn't mind leading you by example. [ ahem. ] Less risk of ruined meat that way.

Re: Melon Mania

[thetopofthefoodchain]

[As everybody started talking at once Da Qing folded his arms and frowned. This wasn't what one at a time meant.

Luckily he had a savior in someone louder and more authorative than him. Da Qing stepped back and grinned at the other man as the elder began his long winded story.

Da Qing still doesn't see the problem. Melons can be eaten. Rugs can be washed.] Seems like a lot of complaining about free food. [He's at least trying to keep his voice low enough that the residents don't hear.]

Avenger [Jeanne d'Arc (Alter)] | Fate/GRAND ORDER | Shinki

[frenchfried]

Melon (Pyro)Mania
[ it should be thankful that the woman who prefers to walk around in armored dress took the suggestion to wear appropriate attire to answer this house call. she thought she might look silly in overalls and flannel but she received a tip that it was "in" and wouldn't scare away the mundane folk.

after failing to properly negotiate a happy medium between the two residents each with their own side to the story, Avenger decided siding with the noisiest party would eliminate the struggle. maybe the other person won't be so careless the next time they plant such a large crop in an unsuitable space where it would interfere with others. plus, there are other neighbors to consider in the complex in the long term, as well as attracting animals coming to claim their share of fruit left out in the open, unprotected.

the whines of the many outweigh the whimper of the few. or something. Avenger wasn't going to make a big deal out of it any longer. she had come to her conclusion now it was time to enact the solution.

passing by the back side of the building, she took note of the overly organized waste disposal system. there were bins for everything, it seemed, including- ]

"Burnable trash", hm? Why take it somewhere else, when I can dispose of it in that manner right here and now.

[ she's rolling up her sleeves and moving toward the ladder. is she... drawing a sword? why is the carrying that in the first place?? please stop her. or don't. but be prepared to run - or call the fire department - if you don't. ]


Nice or Neat; Pick one* (*niceness is currently out of stock, pick another.)
[ Avenger was much more capable at fulfilling this request. not having a numbering system or written index was no hindrance, either, for she would be disregarded them both in favor of intuition. it's just a bunch of pictures; most people have two working eyes and half a functioning brain. this should be cake!

there is a nice ring around here where she has started and stopped at various stages of assembling images of items she may have recognized or concepts in favorable colors to hers. it's connecting the borders past a few pieces at a time that seems to be causing her a headache.

Avenger is now pacing around the work area she has claimed for herself, staring down at the pieces with her arms crossed as if staring down the pieces would intimidated them into making more sense. she brings up that same intense gaze up to level with whomever managed to get close enough to her in the process. ]

Who do you believe more responsible for this? The artisans or the bookkeepers?

[holygrailed]

I look forward to your tutelage. We'll have to go shopping for ingredients. Do you think Berserker would like to come along? We could make him carry everything.

[No, Irisviel already knows Berserker wouldn't "like" coming along in that he doesn't like anything. Like so many other things, he'd comment on how it's unnecessary and that he doesn't need to eat, but still allow it anyway. More effort to argue otherwise, perhaps.

A tiny huff escapes.]

[frenchfried]

[ oh, she heard that, Irisviel. loud and clear.

though the satisfaction of hearing there is at least one person with a personality just this side of irritating that can get under the other woman's skin after all, Avenger stamps down the victory posthaste given who the subject was. she straightened up as she made to come to Berserker's defense. ]

He is a God, not a pack mule. You'd be best not to incite his wrath. [ okay so "wrath" is a strong word but it's an opportunity to suck up indirectly. sue her. ] I could carry a whole cow back if I had to. Though I doubt we could fit it in such a small carriage.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Berserker picks up that stocking and ... throws it at Caster. Extremely petty payback.

He calmly sorts through the pile, though, with the same mechanical efficiency as the way he fights. There's no emotion whatsoever in him as he completes the task. ]

Some collateral damage should be expected. They'll get over it.

[ That's what he tells himself anyway. It's of no concern how the task gets done, just that it's done. ]

...It might keep them from asking the gods to do their laundry next time, though.

[curruid_coinchenn]

Then you should be more careful in who you push and how far you push them.

[ If he'd been in a fouler mood, this would've ended differently. The warning is nothing more than a courtesy. ]

I wasn't trying to drop it in the first place. It simply fell and I didn't notice.

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Many things are pointless for Berserker, you'll have to excuse him if he repeats that word a lot. ]

You'll burn yourself out trying to please others for nothing in return.

[ A warning...? It's hard to tell with the way he speaks. An indifferent look is all she gets beyond those words. ]

What should I call you?

[curruid_coinchenn]

When it's the easiest and benefits the most.

[ He answers simply, as if it were the most basic question how could be asked. Truth be told, he appreciates Irisviel's patience and want to understand him. There's no way he would ever voice this, but the fact he doesn't scorn her efforts speaks volumes. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ He very considerate of those things that are useful to him. Without a shinki to rend ayakashi with, he's not a very good god, is he? ]

Maybe it's because I prefer a lance, so you were given this vessel for my benefit. You suit my uses well and that's what matters.

Nice or Neat

[curruid_coinchenn]

The bookkeepers.

[ Berserker's answer is calm and indifferent as ever as he calmly sorts through the pieces. Seeing him do such fine work with his clawed hands is a little silly, if we're going to be honest. ]

I don't see artisans making such a mistake.

[ Being mindful of his armored tail, he starts to set a few of his pieces in Avenger's work. It's the same mechanical, emotionless efforts as he is in battle. No joy, no passion, just...what must be done. ]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ She definitely is, but Berserker is willing to humor her for the moment. ]

Don't be concerned for someone who doesn't need or want it.

[sing_for_me]

[ There was something funny about hearing him say that. It was almost ironic? Coming from a life where she was forced to please others for payment she herself didn’t get to keep to another where she still serves others.. But this was different. ]

This time..this time it’s worthwhile. [ She let’s out a small sigh as she gives him a small smile. She does appreciate the advice. ]

Oh, I haven’t— um, Alex. Alex is fine. [ Though now she’s realizing something else she hadn’t done. ]

By the way..are you okay? Your fight with the ayakashi..you didn’t get hurt, did you? [ She looks him over for any signs of inury or blight. ]

[holygrailed]

[Despite her warm and dignified exterior, more irritates Irisviel than she shows. Smartphones. Crowded trains. Ads that pop up before videos on YouTube. Their prickly and cold god, but irritation is often more in alignment with exasperation, and exasperation is a form of care and worry too. She'll huff about his personality all she wants, thank you very much.]

What a fierce and terrible wrath it would be.

[Irisviel murmurs in a tone fully aware of how unstoppable Berserker is, but also doubts he would turn it on her for something as petty as asking him to hold groceries. She's certain he would never turn on her without just cause and she does not intend to give him one.]

Do you think we could put it on top of the car?

[holygrailed]

[A light, sing-song hum escapes as Irisviel turns her face toward the sky.]

So if there was work to do that benefited people weighed against the same amount of work that benefited less people... you would pick the former because it's the most efficient and serves the most.

But if it was more work to serve more weighed against less work to serve less... [Her brow furrows. She kicks a rock in her path, a giggle escaping as it skips and rolls ahead.] Ah, is it better to do a large amount of work at once or smaller pieces that may add up to an equal or greater whole?

[She speaks mostly to herself as she parses out Berserker's logic, but turns to him with a smile for his opinion.]

[boneofsword]

You're welcome.

[It's surprising how well behaved this one is. At the second thought it fits well with general apathy, and is one of the details Archer can't help but notice.]

Melon (Pyro)Mania

[holygrailed]

[Irisviel can be thanked or blamed for Avenger's outfit. This will not be the first time she's picked out clothes for her fellow shinki and it won't be the last.

As it turns out, there is a limit to Irisviel's patience and the mess over melons has certainly strained it to its limit. With negotiations failing overall between neither side coming to a reasonable agreement and then one party eventually shouting the other down. The reasons weren't wrong in any means, but it could have been handled with much more tact.

Irisviel follows Avenger around back, taking note of how nicely organized the system is, balking as Avenger approaches with sword drawn.]

Avenger! If you're going to cut the plant down, please do so with care! It won't do to damage the building and cause more trouble!

[Her voice is level as always, but the tone is far firmer than usual.]

[sageprincess]

I admit, I do not know how much assistance I would truly be. Your physical fortitude seems to be much greater than mine.

[Much, much greater. Gosh dang Servants being OP. How's a squishy wizard/fragile speedster supposed to compete with that?]

But I do not wish for you to feel as though you are doing all the work here yourself, so... I thought I would ask regardless.

[It... does sound a little silly when she says it out loud though, yes.]

I'm sorry this man is a brat

[eluci]

Heavy enough.

...I guess it could always be worse. Like underwear modeling.

[eluci]

[Chrome no, that's unhealthy.]

Yeah...always kind of liked them, I think. Easier to deal with than people, sometimes.

[Now that he's less surrounded by kitties, he can sit down on the pavement. Some of the cats take the opportunity to climb into his lap.]

[alchemists]

Helping out and looking cute?

[trustheart]

[... Dammit. Chris can't be mad at Elfnein.] O-okay! Stop talking about that! I get it! You don't need to call me cute...

it's okay so is Chris

[trustheart]

... Yeah, I don't even want to think about the kind of weirdos we'd get with that!