takamagahara | Test Drive Meme #36

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That is exactly the sentiment Ravine feared since she got to this world... and it's more reason why she maintains her demeanor. Atem may not recall everything now, but that won't be permanent. Will it? No use in fretting about it all, now.

His question both alarms and amuses her. An airy laugh escapes her then. He should know that he doesn't need to ask, but Ravine appreciates the sentiment all the same. While she still does not feel much, pain is very real in this world.

"Whether they like it or not, you are free as a bird to do what you please."

Pun absolutely intended.

If Atem had lips in that right moment, he'd be absolutely smirking at that pun, it's absolutely perfect. It might be noticeable in his demeanor either way, pretty sure she can feel that bubbly feeling coming from him. He flaps his wings quickly, and leaves her hand and zooms towards the visitors. He chooses his victims wisely, leaving alone those who actually seem to be working and going for those who are merely stalling or making a bit of a racket and some young people that surely were expected back home after their classes, and Atem started turning off devices here and there, taking out the battery of some if there was the chance, allowing it to fall to the ground without much care. People fast enough to turn on their phones again, he'd simply turn them off again.

The desired effect wasn't immediate, everything worth doing takes time, isn't it what they say? But a few minutes later, the passerby started getting a little annoyed and some realized they had spent more time trying to keep their phones working that doing anything else, eventually growing tired or bored. Some left, others opted to simply stare at the birds or listen to their song. The word that phones wouldn't really work inside the temple grounds spread fast among recent arrivals and people were reduced to those truly interested to enjoy the rare sighting or those who were there to pray or make a wish without the crowd's chatter interrupting their thoughts. It would probably be easier to handle less of them.

How unfortunate it is that this connection of theirs only seems to go one way, because Atem would feel how proud Ravine is right now. There he goes. That's her regalia. Isn't his ingenuity so lovely? It's not like she can even talk about it to anyone else, as people seem to already be dispersing bit by bit in a matter of minutes. When the phones stop working, the disgruntled handful leave to fix their seemingly malfunctioning devices, unaware of the little falcon flitting from person to person and tampering with their electronics.

All she can do is just smile after Atem seems to have made work with the crowd. Once he's finished, she gives a few muffled claps with her gloved hands.

"Pretty clever. I could not have done better, myself."

Perhaps she's giving him too much credit.

Or not enough? That would be her most humble opinion.

He eventually returns to her side, perching on her shoulder. She's totally giving him too much credit, but he takes the compliment either way. His little feathery chest puffs with pride and he cannot really hide that.

"I was starting to think I went overboard... But it worked. I should go get the birds some seeds..." Or maybe he's the hungry one.

Maybe she does give him more credit... but that's why she withholds her praises.

A smirk on her visage as Atem returns to her shoulder, Ravine turns her head slightly to award him with a gentle pat over his feathery head with her index finger.

"Seeds for the birds... or yourself?"

"For the birds!" How dare—! How a bird manages to look offended is beyond reason, he just does.

"...I'd prefer a burger if I'm honest."

Let's be real, it's not that difficult for certain birds to look affronted -- especially this little guy.

"Very well, I suppose we could procure you some after this. You did the difficult work, after all."

And regalias got to eat. So do gods, really, but Ravine doesn't feel that pang of hunger.

"Ah. It's fine. I've been saving up..."

She doesn't have to get him anything! At least he doesn't feel she should, that she does enough for him already. Keep him by her side, giving him a reason to exist is more than enough for him.

There is also some sudden hesitance coming from him, a little bit of conflict.

Her expression is warm and empathetic.

"It is of no burden to me. I do not crave the same things you do."

Something one might think would be advantageous, until you realize that she's literally incapable of experiencing enjoyment in the same pleasures of food and drink as even the other gods do.

"Somehow, I guess it fits you." It'd probably be weird for a goddess of the underworld to feast everyday, right? But he's not her, that's for sure.

"Would you still go with me?"

Well, you know how some gods of the underworld are about food in their realms... Ravine of course would never resort to such cruelty.

"If you would like. I would hate to make the situation awkward." People tend to feel weird when eating around someone who isn't, but she's never minded.

"It'd be more awkward if you weren't there." Eating alone is worse! Probably not that much but when no one else can really see you, not if you don't put some extra effort, it's even a little depressing. "I'd love the company... If you don't mind."

There isn't even a moment of hesitation before she responds-- "Not at all."

Perhaps she could assuage her own misgivings by pretending to drink something, even. It would not be the first time she made an attempt.

Her eyes cast towards the crowds of people dispersing. It'll be a few hours before they leave entirely, but for now it would seem that their work here is done.

"Well, now. Shall we depart?"

If birds could smile, this one would surely be doing so, but Atem does anyway.

"Yeah..." There is that hesitation again.

"Could you... say my name?" As lovely as it is to perch on her shoulder, he enjoys walking much more.

Pause. "Hm--? Oh! Yes, yes. Now, what was it again...?"

She may or may not be messing with him a bit when she pretends to have forgotten for only a moment.

And then it (seemingly) dings.

"That's right -- Anki."

Go, be free, cute little bird!

It's immediate, the change doesn't even really register to him, just to be perched on her shoulder he becomes a beam of light and is now standing on her side, all human and wild hair which he promptly run as hand through.

"Thank you."

( she should have called him atem to turn him into human, but it's fine!! it's confusing orz )

Test Drive Meme #36

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