awoosh | Test Drive Meme 3.

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Test Drive Meme 3.


Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells, And cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.
Prompt 1: t's probably been at least a little while since you managed to climb out of the well, so hopefully you've dried off by now and are enjoying poking around the Town. But who cares about all of that? More importantly, the Town has a new feature this time, for reasons entirely unknown to everyone. The flowers...seem to be talking. They have no faces, but they will definitely turn to talk to you, and if they have had their color restored, they will very brightly and contentedly compliment you, or your clothing, or wish you well. If they haven't? Prepare yourself for all sorts of horrible, horrible insults, because that's all that's coming your way. Prompt 2: ow are you settling in? Is the Town treating you well? It's not as bad as it used to be; some of the houses have color, some of the food has color and taste as well. It's been polished up a bit since everyone first got here. Granted, when you wake up that morning to find yourself in full fancy wear of many different types (all colorless, and gender has nothing to do with which you might end up in), you'll find that the Town might not be as well put together as it seems. You can't get out of the formal wear. It just won't come off, no matter what you do. Which wouldn't be so bad, but... it seems like these clothes will snag on just about everything in the Town, which is far from smooth. Try not to trip over those loose cobblestones, or your dress snagging on a nail sticking out from a door frame. This is really not the place for this sort of clothing. Prompt 3: e loves me, he loves me not... that's a pretty familiar game, right? For some reason, the urge to pick one of those flowers and casually pluck the petals from it while playing that game is going to grow stronger and stronger the more flowers you see. Eventually? You're just going to have to cave to it. (Certainly it doesn't help that the flowers scream a bit when you pull their petals; they still can talk right now, after all!) She loves you, she loves you not...and by the time you've picked the last petal, you've forgotten who you were even thinking of originally -- instead, the very next person you see is going to be the victim of a very impassioned declaration of love. Don't worry, you'll come back to yourself...after you declare your undying love for everyone to hear. Prompt 4: ut no matter how many people tell you not to go into the forest, however, it's still rather enticing, isn't it? It's sitting right there, waiting for you to explore it, waiting for you to just step a little bit out of the Town... And soon, you're surrounded by the dark boughs of the trees, the twisty, turny paths of the woods, where it feels like you're wandering in circles for hours upon hours -- And then, after ages of tree branches yanking at your hair and roots tripping you up, you find a clearing. And in that clearing? There's a field of flowers. They're colorless -- strangely eerie because of it, but still distinctly recognizable to the flower familiar as Asphodel. And touching any single one of those flowers will suddenly give you vivid memories of one of your precious friends -- so long as they're dead. Anyone around you is going to experience that flash of memory too, so be careful! Extra: Got something in mind? Want to play with the setting more? The sky's the limit, so feel free and make up your own prompts to play with! Welcome to Awash's third Test Drive Meme! Please check out the FAQ and rules as you test your characters out. The setting is yours to play with, so be creative and have a good time with it! An important date to remember is September 1st, 9 PM EST, when Applications will open. There will be no reserves for this app round or any future app rounds, so it will be first come, first served applications. As a side note, TDM threads are not canon, so please feel free to assume established CR for the sake of the TDM if it will make threading or showing off your character's voice easier. If you have any questions about the TDM, feel free to ask us here. If there are any other questions, you can catch us via PM, the FAQ or the contact page. You are of course welcome to use prompts from the previous two test drives. Thank you for your interest in Awash!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You definitely can!

[Encouragement! Blind optimism! ENDURING FAITH. Hatoko overflows with these trademarks and more. She might never know the depth of tragedy he's referring to but second chances are allowable to a person who feels bad about what they did. He seems to be genuine in that, as far as she can tell. Maybe he's a great liar but she doesn't have those types of doubts, and she wouldn't see a reason to bother gaining her good opinion anyway.]

Kuchikawa Hatoko! I'm sixteen and I love to cook!

[She bows, introducing herself. She knows way too much about him not to ask his name now!]

[Nevermind all that shit. What's more important than anything else is she has a (normal) Japanese name. Thank God.]

Uchiha Sasuke.

[He's so....... old now, wtf. Sixteen. It feels like years ago. Had he really been that young, doing the things he did? She's too pure. Is this what normalcy is like? Loving to cook.

Why is he here? Is this purgatory? He misses Sarada.]

Why do you like cooking?

[Sudden realization that she wasted the opportunity to give herself a super-cool new name -- Drat!]

Tasty food makes people happy. Seeing my family and friends smile a real smile from the heart, nothing beats that feeling.

[Yep, this is purgatory. Listen to that cinnamon roll reply roll off her cheerful tongue that has probably never said a swear word nevermind hate and meant it.]

What do you like to eat, Uchiha-san?

I see. [It's wholesome, and he's going to vomit.

Oh... Not many people bother to ask what he likes to eat. Understandable, he doesn't exactly hang around long enough usually for people to get the chance.

There's a short, thoughtful pause. He didn't even have to consider it really.]

Onigiri. Preferably with skipjack tuna or bonito flakes. And tomatoes.

Oh! I can make that.

[Like, so can anyone, it's just balled up rice for heck's sake. But when Hatoko makes simple dishes they taste like ambrosia. The answer makes her like him more; an easy-to-eat food, uncomplicated and demanding nothing extra. Also, tomatoes are cute!]

Cooking maaay be more challenging here, this place is weird. But! If I can, will you eat my onigiri?

[He guesses it would be rude to decline after he went through the trouble of telling her what he likes to eat best. As long as it's not natto or something insanely sweet... it's doable.]

Alright. I'll try it.

[And not regret it, hopefully. She doesn't seem like the type to be sly... but he's Sasuke, so. Never Trust Anyone, Not Even Your Friends.]

There's a cafe here. There's a board in the middle of town with a map on it. A cafe is labeled, but I don't know who owns it.

[Don't worry, Hatoko's menu strictly follows the serenity of a balanced taste experience. Sasuke is in no danger of being presented with a cake buffet. But he doesn't know that, so really it's pretty brave to agree. She's overjoyed to have his promise.]

Really?

[She had no idea.]

Let's go!

[You wouldn't say no, would you, Uchiha-san? What kind of HORRIBLE MONSTER would do that, huh??]

[Wait a minute... He neither agreed to a cafe date or a cafe inspection...]

Typically, I'm hired for an escort.

[Weird, he seems to be following all on his own?? No contract, no money, no prestige. Okay, maybe a little prestige in helping a girl to a cafe.]

[Escort. Escargot?]

I don't have any money, haha. Do you like kanzashi? My friend taught me how to make them. Your hair wouldn't get in your eyes if you let me give you one as payment!

[She's an excellent talker, very healthy lungs. There's no telling how long this walk will take so she's determined to fill the silence before it becomes the awkward atmosphere of two people who don't know each other. She decides he really must be nice since he's using his free time for her benefit.]

[Jesus Christ.]

No thanks. [Unfortunately, if she just went ahead and stuck the kanzashi to his hair, he wouldn't even get mad. Maybe he'd be a little exasperated by the soft pastel beacon maring his Hot Topic aesthetic.

And the fact his eye wouldn't be hidden, but that's another can of worms.] There are some girls here, however, who might like them.

[Oh, don't worry Dadsuke. Once she's more comfortable, she'll braid your hair without asking first. Look forward to it!]

Really? Do you know them? Maybe you could introduce me.

[Shyly. She isn't the greatest at making friends. Look how much they have in common!]

I can point them out, but I don't know them very well.

[RIP. He doesn't spend much time talking to girls? Hell, he doesn't even hang around to talk to his own daughter!! HE WAS GONE FOR TEN YEARS! World's Semi-Okayest Dad.]

You would be able to talk to them easier than I would.

[Boo. It's nerve-wracking to meet kids her own age by herself. Their opinion of her counts for more than an adult's. Hatoko is lost in thought for a moment, until the faint disappointment fades.]

Uhm, are there more people somewhere...?

[If he can't offer personal introductions that's fine, but she'll fish for as much information as she can get. Maybe they can work together fighting crime! SUNSHINE GIRL AND DARKNESS MAN. Hehhehe perfect. An idiotic smile unrelated to what she'd said aloud, and she giggles to herself.]

Yes. If you explore a little, you'll find them. [Chroma already has enough disappointment. It doesn't need any more...]

What's so funny?

[He looks completely straight-faced when he glances over at her as she giggles. He doesn't understand. He hadn't said or done anything funny? He hadn't even made a joke, he didn't think...]

[Oh no, how embarrassing! He caught her laughing at her own imagination. She looks up at his Super Serious expression and starts laughing all over again.]

Hee. I was just thinking we would make a good crime-fighting team. Do you have fun working as a bodyguard? I don't know what I'll do here, so I could be your sidekick!

[She has no other understanding of the term 'escort'. And no other criteria for a future career here other than whether its fun or not, apparently.]

[The eyebrow over the visible eye raises curiously.] I'm a ninja. [It's a gentle correction, and, shockingly, he still has the same straight and level expression as before. Hm. Is he joking?

It sounds very earnest.]

I already have a student. [But he'll... humor her, he supposes.] Are you able to perform any jutsu? What makes you believe there's crime here to be fought?

[Footsteps slow down to a crawl at the word ninja. Was he playing along? Pretending, like she did with her friends. But the look on his face was the same! Hatoko looked up at him intently, trying to decipher the truth.]

Wouldn't there be crime anywhere?

[She begins at the end, and the most practical subject to tackle. Her tone is a bit bewildered, unsure if he was implying there weren't any criminals in need of capturing or if this was part of their story-telling game and she should go on with a dramatic enactment of a supposed rescue mission in progress.]

You won't be able to fight any enemies if they do not exist. [He still seems oddly genuine. Hm. He doesn't look like a traditional ninja, but he does have a suspicious cloaked jacket. It drapes over his shoulders and around his front, concealing whatever is beneath it.

He does seem to be wearing something like a pair of jika-tabi, though, only these are open toed. It's... as ninja-esque as it can get.] Before you can become a "crime fighter," you have to collect information.

Tell me later if you find anyone worth fighting.

[His face doesn't betray the teasing in his voice.]

[If only Juu-kun were here. He could tell at a glance if this were a genuine ninja. Hatoko has avoided thinking about him but she couldn't deny herself seeing his happy face in her mind. Juu-kun would proudly declare each point worth noting in that voice he uses when he wants praise for his nerdy expertise.

The easiest thing to do is accept Sasuke's claim. She nods, with as serious a demeanor as her small frame can manage.]

I-I will! You too!

[DETERMINATION. She poses like a dynamic Super Sentai fighter.]

Alright.

[She did a good job. She kept them from being Actual Strangers all the way to the cafe. It's surprisingly not as shabby as one would expect of this place? Amazing.

The edge of the cloak at his chest parts, and his right hand emerges to point in the direction ahead of them. There's an actual sign above one of the doors of the buildings that proudly proclaims, CHROMA CAFE.] There.

The door isn't locked.

[Whoa! Only a real ninja could possess the skill necessary to discern whether a door was locked or not without being anywhere near it.]

Do you think anyone's inside?

[She's eager to get in there but it's rude to rush ahead. Her enthusiasm quickens her pace until she's just barely ahead of her ninja bodyguard (hee), trying her best to mind her manners. When she can at least get a hand around the door knob her eyes are sparkling. Tea awaits!]

[It took a fully powered rinnegan to see the door was unlocked, and it didn't have absolutely anything to do with whether or not he had already been here earlier and checked. Skills.]

Open it and find out. Be ready for any crime.

[He's so mean. But it's in good fun. She's cute in a ridiculous way.

Unfortunately, when she opens the door, it's... empty of people. More importantly, Rin doesn't seem to be here. He must be at the church, the most ironic place of all for him to be.

They're left with a pretty cool, if devoid, cafe to inspect.]

Edited (missed an entire word) 2018-08-23 04:22 (UTC)

[She is SO READY. Her body tenses, ready to pounce. There could be a robbery in progress. A hold up. A stick 'em up. You never know, dude.]

...Aaw.

[Nope. Universe, you've disappointed. Hatoko enters, sincerely saddened by the lack of anyone else to talk to. Not that her current company is anything less than pleasant but she had hoped to make the acquaintance of as many people as possible before she was inevitably rescued.]

First, I'll prepare the tea.

[She recovers quickly, and the phrase passes her lips as if she were ready to conduct a routine meeting. Why not? They could talk about literature even if this wasn't the clubroom. Or this place... Aah, maybe she didn't want to think about it. She vaguely sighs, just a mouse of a noise, and begins looking around for what she needs.]

[Even if he's not aware of the abilities of the many different people here, he's at least currently aware he can't feel anyone inside. No one had been inside before either. So while he should've gone first "protectively," he's comforted in the fact he knows the cafe will likely be empty.

Plus, he's fast enough he could get in and fight if he had to do it.]

No crime. Isn't it a good thing? No crime means no one will be hurt.

[For a moment, he stands in front of the closed door and glances around. It doesn't seem as if anyone has come back since he was here previously. Then his eye follows her as she moves through the place, and he ventures in a little more.]

Are you going to work here with whoever owns it?

[What he said upon entering was endearing, and unexpected. Truthfully, Hatoko didn't want to encounter anything bad. She was only playing a game when pretended to want to find something exciting. It sounded as if he felt the same way; fighting for justice was fun, self-satisfying...but wasn't it better for everyone to have nothing to stand against in the first place?

Thankfully, he didn't really follow up and she was able to keep her thoughts to herself while looking at the contents of cupboards and opening drawers. She wasn't a fast thinker, and was still occupied by what Sasuke had first said when he spoke again. This time, a pretend-answer to keep up her image wasn't necessary.]

I haven't thought about a job yet.

[She had barely begun to look around the strange new world. Finally finding some teabags and a kettle, she hesitates a little but continues:]

Have you been here a long time?

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