Test Drive Meme #36

[godsoffortune]

TEST DRIVE # 36



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.



Testy Testers
Welcome to being part of the test market! Here, in this small room filled with other volunteers, you will be asked your honest and unfiltered opinion on any number of products. Potato chips made only from the peel (clearly the best part), candy themed after the latest fashion trend (zippers), gloves made from 100% recycled paper (just because we can)... the list of odd and fabulous items goes on.
Conversation brings out more opinions, so you’re free to discuss your thoughts with other testers, but just don’t get in a fight over it, okay?

(Real-world inspiration for items can be found here!)


Umpire Usurp
Recently, one baseball umpire has been making headlines for an unfortunate reason. His calls at the plate have been getting progressively worse, calling obvious balls strikes and vice versa, to the point where the fans are livid and ready to riot.
Protect this umpire and get to the root of his problem? Join the side of the raging fans? Or maybe dig a little deeper and find out that someone stands to benefit from this umpire’s fall from grace.


Violence vs. Violin
After the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in East Japan, a violin maker made a violin from the driftwood. The sound of that violin is incredibly beautiful and soothing, touching the hearts of all who hear it.
Turns out, the power of the “tsunami violin” extends to the Far Shore as well.
At this concert, a grouping of small chick-like spirits that resonate with positive wishes have gathered. Unfortunately, that group attracts a pack of snake-like ayakashi that would love to devour those positive spirits.
It’s an unseen battle that will hopefully go unnoticed by the concert-goers and performers, if you do your job of dispatching the ayakashi well!


Wandering Whippoorwills
Traditionally, the Whippoorwill bird isn’t found outside of the Southeastern United States, but now astute birdwatchers are reporting seeing them in the vicinity of temples and shrines to Amenohiwashi-no-kami. Nature professors, veterinarians, auguries, and many others curious about the event have flocked (!) to the area to see for themselves if this is true.
The congestion around such a minor god’s temples and shrines is a little much for the caretakers to handle, though - from birds and people both - if you’d care to help out. For starters, there’s garbage collection, crowd control, rinsing off the sidewalks, or restocking some of the temple and shrine supplies that visitors want to take with them.


Xièxie
There are plenty of Chinese restaurants all over the globe, and they draw in crowds for many reasons. A less common one growing in popularity is young students trying to practice their language skills by reading the menu and ordering in their clipped Mandarin.
At the threshold of some Chinese restaurants, small pig-faced ayakashi are loitering, waiting to catch a ride in on a student’s shoulder. Then, no matter the student’s natural personality, they become progressively more brash and insulting as the ayakashi affects them.
The ayakashi are nimble despite their pig-like look, and if threatened will run around between people’s feet, making them difficult to catch.




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

Yaone | Saiyuki | God

[medicinemaster]

A. Testy Testers

[Honest and unfiltered opinions don't slip easily past Yaone's lips, not when she's been raised to be polite, formal, and respectful of others at all times and it's a sentiment she tends to agree with far more often than not. Many of the testers have been incredibly, um, forthcoming with their opinions of the rather creative items before them. In fact, all of this forthrightness is starting to give Yaone a slight headache so she calmly stands up, bowing to the group.]

I am sorry. Excuse me. I must take a break and get some fresh air. Please carry on without me.

[And with that, Yaone starts scurrying, mouselike, toward the exit.]

B. Violence vs. Violin

[It's a beautiful concert and the story behind the instrument remarkably touched Yaone. After a period of just listening and slightly swaying in time to the music while watching the little chick spirits gather, the youkai woman catches a glimpse of something dark and serpentine moving toward their newfound prey. She inclines her head toward the nearest Far Shore resident, softly murmuring.]

There are ayakashi present here.

[That gentle tone masks the steel of determination as Yaone's eyes narrow at the gathering enemy. To disrupt a special event meant to heal the hearts and minds of those who've lost loved ones in the recent disasters is despicable and unforgivable. She will not let this stand.

Without another word, Yaone bends down to reach for one of the snakes, intent on gripping it behind its head so it can't easily bite her. If she's unaware it'll blight her if she touches it, if she's not thinking through the action, or if she simply isn't concerned about her own safety at the moment is anyone's guess.]

Would you please help me dispose of these?

[Stop her, help, or intervene?]

C. Wandering Whippoorwills

[It's busy. Very busy. Too busy. Softspoken, gentle Yaone probably isn't the best choice for crowd control but she'd been free to receive the prayer so here she was regardless. There's just so many people! A very flustered and flushed, seemingly human woman is running interference at the temple entrance. Her voice barely rises above the din of the crowd as she speaks in a frantic, almost desperate tone.]

Please wait your turn. There will be an opportunity for all of you to see the birds. I ask that you are patient and stay back behind the line.

[To punctuate her statement, Yaone picks up a nearby broom and draws a thick line in the dirt with the tip of the handle.]

Please do not come any further.

[Yaone may need some reinforcements.]

D. Wildcard

Testy Testers

[blancslate]

[Blake is polite and fair in his criticism and compliments, a people-person through and through, a callback to his forgotten life as the face and manager of a non-profit organization. Charm comes easy as does laughter and even the most absurd and impractical item gets a compliment (even if he has dig real deep for it).

As Yaone excuses herself, Blake smiles and claps his hands together, rising and bowing.]

Pardon me, as she says, carry on without us. Explore and critique away.

[They'll be forgotten as soon as they leave the table anyway. Blake follows after Yaone, easily catching up to his god. His smile fades into worry.]

Everything okay, ma'am? Want me to get you water or anything?

[medicinemaster]

[Even during Yaone's time at Houten Castle, she never was able to get used to being addressed with a title. After spending so many years being an attendant herself, Yaone is still getting used to having one of her own. At Blake's inquiry, she smiles gently, shaking her head slightly.]

I am fine. Thank you.

[After a quick glance back toward the group of testers to make certain they're no longer being noticed, she adds quietly:]

I felt a little overwhelmed. I am not fond of arguments.

[Her dislike of it it isn't enough to hinder her from defending others who need it but the natural aversion is still there under the surface.]

But you seemed at ease among them.

[Yaone sounds faintly impressed by his people skills, honestly.]

[blancslate]

I wouldn't trust anyone who likes arguments.

[Blake smiles and winks. Already the table is starting on the next presentation. Some kind of new candy flavor? Hmm, the food ones are interesting, though what is with the obsession with savory sweets? Fish and cream do not belong in jelly beans.]

I guess. Talking is easy, so's trying to help people out and make others feel good.

[That is what they're trying ultimately, right? Sure, some of the ideas are bad, but that only means there's space to improve. Blake crosses his arms and huffs, voice dropping to a stage whisper.]

Though between you and me, ma'am? I'm ready for a nap.

[medicinemaster]

[Blake's certainly managing to make her feel better. Yaone's not exactly shy but she does tend to be quiet and cautious around most people. She is rather sensitive to the moods of others in some ways; it is easy for her quickly become uncomfortable in the midst of large groups of loud, disorderly people. The atmosphere among the testers had become progressively uncivil. Yaone never knows what to say or do in situations like that. All too often she freezes up until a shock snaps her back to her senses.]

Perhaps we should both rest then. I am certain there is something relaxing and enjoyable for us to do.

[A calm, peaceful interlude might be just what they both need before taking on the rest of the tasks for today.]

[blancslate]

[It's a shinki's job to take care of their god, right? Blake's also sensitive to the needs of others while keeping calm, weathering crowds well. But even his mood is slightly frayed on the edges.

Blake pulls out his phone and looks at a map app to study the area.]

Some restaurants around, looks like there's a riverwalk and park nearby.

[He gives a playful bow and offers his arm to her.]

Shall I escort you, ma'am?

Violence vs. Violin

[royaltyloyalty]

Yaone, wait--

[ Dokugakuji reaches forward to pull her back by her shoulder, so that hopefully it doesn't wrench her arm, just stops her before she can hurt self. ]

Never touch an ayakashi with your bare hands. This is where the shinki come in.

[ He's holding a lantern in his other hand and lifts it by way of explanation. ]

[medicinemaster]

[Yaone stops, midreach, turning to give Dokugakuji a questioning look.]

Is it? Are they the ones that handle matters like this?

[She'd listened very diligently to the shinki's lecture about the roles of gods and shinki and how they all fit into Heaven but hasn't had time to completely absorb the information just yet. The thought of risking personal injury doesn't seem to enter her mind at all but she trusts Dokugakuji's word more than anyone's in this place. If he says she should never touch an ayakashi barehanded then she won't.]

How do you propose we handle it then? If there are no shinki...

[The snakes are continuing to slither in as they speak. They haven't reached the chicks yet but it's evident they'll be devoured quickly if they fail to act soon. It's also clear from the underlying steel in Yaone's tone that not handling it is not going to be an option.]

[royaltyloyalty]

I'll explain in a bit, but first-

[ He appreciates Yaone so much, especially now that she's here, but if her primary concern is the ayakashi NOT getting to its victims, then he'll "explain" to her by way of demonstration. ]

Kanki - Rend!

[ And he slams the lantern hard, down on top of the head of an ayakashi snake. The white light explodes for a few seconds, but Dokugakuji is very familiar at this point. He realizes she didn't know that one of his two Soulless shinki was the lantern.

It doesn't destroy more than one of them, it makes the rest retreat several feet, but that gives Doku enough time to give Yaone some more details. ]

It's a joint effort. Gods use their power to start the Rend spell, but need a shinki to receive that power and finish the spell when their vessel hits the ayakashi target.

[medicinemaster]

I see... So that is how it is done.

[Yaone's not sure how she feels about depending on someone that isn't Dokugakuji in a combat situation but if neither of them are shinki, she's going to have to, isn't she? If neither of them can kill an ayakashi without a shinki, then they'll need to rely on outside assistance.

However, since Yaone is without a shinki at present, her mind races quickly to figure out what she can do in this situation. After a second or two, Yaone reaches down again only this time she's reaching down to scoop up the chicks instead. They're not ayakashi so this should be safe enough, right?]

You seem experienced at this, Dokugaku.

[royaltyloyalty]

[ He chuckles. ]

I'll take that as a compliment.

[ Then he rubs at his neck. ]

I've had... 6 shinki in the time I've been here.

[ Since he's not trying to distinguish between the Soulless and the ones like Shinji. ]

Had to learn a lot about what I could do for them.

[ 'Since I'm never going back,' he thinks as he watches her move the chicks out of the way. ]

Violence vs. Violin

[notafruit]

Wait--! You mustn't...!

[Tohru hasn't been here long, but she's learned how dangerous it is to touch the ayakashi. She doesn't want to hurt the woman or push her aside, and there's little time to think. Which is why Tohru makes a grab for the snake first, to stop the beautiful older girl from harming her own hands.

At once the blight burns and the snake twists in her hands. Its head moves up and abruptly its fangs bury into her arm. With a welp, Tohru releases it.

O-ouch...

She grits her teeth, but after a second her head lifts to look at the other woman worriedly.]

You didn't touch it, right? It didn't blight you?

[medicinemaster]

No... No, it didn't... Thank you.

[The swift appearance of the girl takes her off-guard. At the sight of the the girl's hand, ugly purple blotches already mottling the fair skin, Yaone's eyes soften with sympathy, even as her expression hardens with determination. She quickly kicks the dropped snake away from the girl, its blight eating into the leather but not through it given the brief contact.

Yaone hastily fumbles through a fanny pack at her waist for a bottle of holy water.]

Here. Pour this on your hand. It will heal the blight. I will open it for you.

[Yaone twists open the bottle, holding it out to her.]

[dredefulchilde]

Don’t touch it!

[Joscelin pushes the god out of the way of the snakelike ayakashi, wincing when he brushes against it. Blight immediately travels up his forearm to the elbow and he wheels on the strange goddess, waving the blackened limb accusingly.]

Are you thick?! This is what happens when you touch them. Line.

[His spell casting continues to be weak and mostly inefficient, but at least there’s some sort of barrier between them and the snakes.]

Christ, what an idiot you are. I really don’t care if you want to kill yourself, but I’d sooner not be collateral damage while you do so.

[medicinemaster]

[Yaone topples sideways as the small figure barrels into her side, mildly taken aback by such a venomous outburst at first. For a moment, she just stares at the boy, brow slowly furrowing, head slightly tilting to the side inquisitively as if being presented with a puzzle. Then she finally smiles, just a bit, then starts speaking as if he hadn't just screamed at her.]

Thank you for saving me. If it is not too much to ask, won't you hold on a little longer? These spirits are in danger. I wish to move them to safety.

[Those chicks are awfully cute and fluffy. A certain other goddess he'd once known might have tried to rescue them, too.]

[dredefulchilde]

[A certain fondness for small, adorable creatures seems to be a constant in almost all of the goddesses Joscelin comes across. He’s used to it by now and just rolls his eyes at this new one. The borderline isn’t going to last much longer.]

Name me. It’s a more permanent solution. We’ll take out the ayakashi and then you can unname me.

[medicinemaster]

[Yaone's mind becomes calm and clear, her thought processes cooling as all traces of emotional reasoning slowly wash away. The boy is right. Destroying the ayakashi completely is a more permanent solution than simply rescuing the spirits. After all, the snakes would linger on to prey on the concert attendants and that would also be an unacceptable outcome.

Finally, Yaone gives a slight nod of acquiescence and uprights herself.]

Very well. I shall name you - but only for this battle. Do you understand?

[Her proper place is by Lord Kougaiji's side but if she must find new allies during this interlude of being away, she will.]

testy testers

[snowywolf]

[ She may have heard Gralat be quite brutal on occasion. He left for air a while ago, but it's not out of being tired of honesty. Gralat is generally honest, unless he's forced not to be for diplomatic reasons. They did manage to make him angry, though.

He glances over at her with an almost impassive expression when he notes someone stepping outside. His irritation with what's going on inside has not entirely settled. ]

I assume the madness is showing no inclination to abate.

[medicinemaster]

[Yaone had noticed. Her own opinions had been phrased far more diplomatically, every word chosen carefully to be as inoffensive as possible, when she'd given them at all. For the most part, she had been more intent on bringing the focus back to the task at hand or requesting another product if fights became too heated and unproductive. She'd been doing fairly well at it but her nerves are a little worn down after working at it all day.]

I am afraid not. Some parties do not seem interested in improving the quality of their work.

[snowywolf]

[ Nobody said Gralat had to be a diplomat. He's not in this world or time or whatever willingly, it does not benefit Ellvaldez, and he may be a capable diplomat when he wants to be but- he doesn't want to be.

He lets out a huff at the confirmation. ]

Which is moronic. As is keeping up things that simply ought to be abandoned. The waste is baffling.

[medicinemaster]

Their work means a great deal to them. It is clear that they put a lot of heart and passion into it.

[Being an earnest, young woman who tries very hard at a task that others prefer that she stop, Yaone can relate to those trying to get their products to market. However, those who refuse to listen or consider any advice at all are simply making matters harder for themselves.]

But I fear their dreams will be crushed by the marketplace if they do not heed the warnings they have been given.

Wandering Whippoorwills

[mysticadventure]

Windy!

[A pale, yellow woman flies between Yaone and the crowd, created a rather strong gust that gently pushes the crowd back. Of course, it also scatters the birds for the time being. The gust was not harmful in the slightest, merely pushing this way and that without ruffling too many feathers.

Soon, a young girl joins the harried woman and she smiles up at her.]

Oh no! It looks like the birds have all gone away! [While the crowd hardly took notice of Sakura, who was doing her best to act surprised, it became apparent that they felt the same way and soon began to disperse.]

[medicinemaster]

[The reinforcements are not what Yaone expected. She gasps at the sudden appearance of the yellow woman and her accompanying gust of wind, dropping her broom in surprise. Once it registers that the wind isn't strong enough to cause any damage, Yaone relaxes quickly.

Within a few moments, both the crowd and the birds are gone, leaving Yaone alone with an unfamiliar young girl. She turns to her with a friendly smile, not having made the connection between Sakura, the yellow woman, or the gust just yet.]

I am certain they will return sometime and you will be able to see them then if you wish.

[mysticadventure]

Mmhm!

[She nodded in agreement, not at all realizing that her acting had even fulled Yaone. She hadn't meant to lie! But, naturally, it might be revealed now as the gusts wind down and soon, the yellow figure reverted to a pink card, floating back into Sakura's hand.

She pocketed the card and looked around.]

Still, I didn't really mean to make the birds fly away. But if they liked this place so much, I'm sure they'll come back. Anyway, are you okay, miss? You looked like you could use a hand!

Violence vs. Violin

[icecreamchampion]

[The shinki Yaone ends up addressing is an unusual one, in that she's actually a foot-taller-than-an-adult, shark-like dragon. Her god had been suspicious of this event, and thus, she'd been dispatched in her vessel form, enjoying the lack of attention received by denizens of the Far Shore in order to move freely.

The fact that Yaone was talking to her at all was more than enough for her to realize she was talking to someone else who lived in mortals' blindspots. The so-called dragon nodded.]

It looks like we weren't the only one with this sort of thought. Sure, I'll work together with you.