| test drive |

[attribution]

Welcome to The Lottery’s test drive meme! Before we get to the prompts, here are a few things to note:

Though you may only have ONE active character per round, you are free to play as many characters you wish on the TDM. Later, you will have the opportunity to bench characters if you want to try another, but only after you’ve been accepted.

Please be sure to thoroughly look through our FAQ so that you have a good understanding of the game’s mechanics. Also be sure to browse the information provided on both The Attribution Study and Shiroiwa for a better idea of the setting.

The date for the next round of Reserves is: February 29th
The number of currently available character slots is: 25

Important Note: A thread of 9 comments in the TDM (with at least 5 comments from your character) will count towards both sample requirements in the application. Consider this a special bonus for getting your feet wet in our community!

If your thread does not reach the required amount of comments, it may still be used as the In-World Sample in your application.

Flashback/Background threads in the TDM may be reposted to Shiroiwa Academy’s Community if both players were accepted into the game.

Provided below are some sample scenarios, but please feel free to plot and play whatever you’d like!

Sample Scenarios:

Sample 1:

You’ve just transferred to one of the three grade levels in Shiroiwa Academy and have yet to make any friends. Sure, people showed you around, but nothing has quite stuck yet. So as the lunch bell goes off, you pull out your bento and prepare to eat alone when another student saddles up beside you. Perhaps they’re being friendly or perhaps they simply want to mooch off of your food. Whatever the reasoning, you’re now stuck in some form of communication whether you like it or not.

Sample 2:

Everyone just loves partner projects, don’t they? Your teacher has randomly assigned you a partner, and now you both must come up with a presentation to show the class. Are you the type who does all the work? Do you push for fair exchange? Or perhaps you have no plans to do any work at all. Whichever it is, your partner is now moving their stuff to sit at the desk next to you. Better gather your might and prepare to weather the oncoming storm…

Sample 3:

It’s March 14, 20XX. You have been kidnapped and taken to the island, given your randomized duffle bag, and are now either desperately seeking shelter or methodically preparing to hunt down your weaker classmates. Whatever it is, you stumble upon another student - whether you know them well or not doesn’t matter. The rules have already been made clear to both of you - only one person gets to win. You need to either escape, kill, or attempt to make a truce with this classmate. What will you do?

Sample 4:

Your weapon broke. Perhaps it snapped as you embedded it into the skull of one of your classmates, or perhaps it was simply a stroke of bad luck. You return to the hideout you created for yourself, seeking a weapon you’d taken from a fallen student. But as you near the space, you realize something is off. There is some telltale sign that another has been here… Are they still around? Will you investigate? What if your stockpile has been pilfered by another student?

Comments

Sakata Gintoki | Gintama

[boogerflinger]

1
[Lunch time was a time of thieves and mischief. The siren call of an abandoned side dish plagued the thought process of any moocher’s soul. The idea that each snot-nosed brat in the class had a plastic case containing the goods was enough to stir Gintoki’s lethargic soul.

So, instead of cracking into his own bento - which had mysteriously lost portions throughout the morning period - he’s strolling through the room as if he were genuinely interested in making conversation with his peers. Though his eyes are dull and resemble those of a dead fish’s, there is no doubt to the classmates that know Gintoki well - he’s on the prowl for free food.

And he is not above preying on any poor, unfortunate newbie.

Perhaps he’s approaching your desk with all the faked charisma of a host, or perhaps you catch his dim gaze lingering for just a little too long on your pre-packaged pudding…]

2
[A partner project?! Who in their right mind would make a class of gorillas participate together in any sort of academic setting? It was preposterous…! Utterly out of line…! Was Wada-sensei okay? Surely he’d noticed by now that the class he hosted was simply too stupid to function…

Or so Gintoki might think, if he were actually awake - but as fate would have it, he’s currently tucked behind an open textbook and drooling on his desk. This usually wouldn’t be any of your business but…

He so happens to be your partner this time around, so it may just be your business now. He snorts gently and shifts, though his drool pool remains undisturbed. It may start to feel like all eyes are drifting towards you, as if your classmates are anticipating your approach to this situation.]

3
[As if the world hadn't been cruel enough, it had granted Gintoki the power of a shamisen. The instrument had even made a muffled groan as it was thrown to Gintoki - fabric plucking at strings in the move. The albino had taken his bag and quickly made his retreat without so much as a glance back. His only intention in the face of all this was to put distance between himself and others in as deft a manner possible.

He moves in an arc around the school - heading north from the building towards an area that provided more tree cover. He wasn't the first to be dismissed, but he wanted to trust that no one would shoot him in the back as he was attempting to find a place where he could stop and sort his thoughts.

In fact, he's so focused on running that he doesn't realize until too late that he's approached another class member. His footfalls slow and he is slowly moving to grasp at the zipper of his duffle bag - just in case.]

4
[The end of the shamisen would have been a sad affair for any band nerd. Its pathetic snap as it parried another's attack echoed through the trees. Luckily, he'd been able to recover the bottom half of the instrument quickly and used it to knock the wind out of the opposing student before he made his retreat.

A retreat that would lead back to a nearby cave he'd discovered on the first day. His duffle bag was stored just beyond its mouth, along with some other supplies he had managed to pick up. With his little stockpile, it would prevent him from being a vulnerable little mess.

Though as he nears the familiar landmark, an unsettled feeling begins to form in his stomach. His eyes are scrutinizing the area as he approaches, though no one thing calls out to him. Nothing seems out of place, and yet...

It feels as if someone is near. He moves quietly as he approaches the mouth of the cave and his breath catches in his throat. His ears strain for any sort of clue that another person was around.]

1

[egaode]

[What's that? Gintoki is on the prowl again? And this time he's after some poor, defenseless transfer student's bento? When said poor, defenseless transfer student was good and avoided snacking on it all day?

For shame, Gintoki.

Still, that host's smile will be met with a warm, but not-quite welcoming smile of his own, as Kamui scoots his bento over just enough to make room on his desk for Gintoki's. Clearly, he just wanted some company and was feeling out who would be receptive to his presence before bringing his food over, right? How considerate! How very considerate indeed!]

Good afternoon, soap opera-san!

[And the first move is his. What will you do now, Gintoki?]

2

[twohares]

[ When Wada-sensei announced the pairings for the projects, that might have been the first time Genis genuinely disliked having the last name "Sage".

It probably was the most fair way to go about it, pairing everyone up by last name, but Genis couldn't help but wonder if he had done something wrong in another life to paired up with Gintoki. Or maybe Wada paired them up hoping Genis would be a better teacher than him. Honestly, of all the...

No, this was definitely some kind of retribution. Their classmates seemed to be thinking the same thing. Genis knew it as he tensely approached his sleeping classmate's desk.

He's pretty sure it's a miracle Gintoki made it into high school as lazy as he is.

Genis pulled up a chair beside Gintoki's desk and set his own books down alongside Gintoki's. How was he going to approach this? Genis wonders that too.

So he does the first thing that comes to mind and pinches Gintoki's nose from where he's hiding behind his book. It's only immature if other people can see it. ]

Sakata-kun, if you keep this up, you're going to end up getting locked in here overnight...

. two

[toukai]

[Imagine Takasugi and Gintoki working on a partner project. Huh? You can't? That's because no work will be getting done. Gintoki was asleep when the assignment was given, and Takasugi had cut class that day. So neither of them was even able to intentionally skip out on the work.

It never had a chance.

As luck would have it, however, Takasugi had been encouraged by an outside force to actually attend class today, so he was sitting in the back of the room, feet propped on his desk, when Wada-sensei called his and Gintoki's name to the front of class to present.

Ah-

Was this why he'd been told to attend? Was someone out there trying to teach him a lesson? Heh, probably. Takasugi rose slowly, a small smirk toying at his face as he crossed the room to stand in front of the class.

When Gintoki joined him, he gave the no-good shit a nod and began their introduction.] Alright - this is our presentation. We've worked hard, so please pay attention.

Gintoki will start us off, so everyone please give him your focus-

[Die.]

1!

[fivepoints]

[dead-fish-eyes, meet alive-fish-eyes]

[that is, big browns are looking up at his classmate with blatant inquiry. he knows who this is (he knows who everyone is, it's not a big class), and despite his rough exterior and seemingly predisposition for mischief (or perhaps because of it), he's popular. everyone likes him. people even rely on him.]

[masanosuke is green with envy always...]

[he follows that crimson gaze down to a lone green tea mochi nestled in the corner of his barely-eaten bento]

[...]

[scoots the entire thing out for him]

Help yourself, Sakata-Dono.

2

[lamortespoir]

[ It's no little sense of irony that two people with white hair were paired together. However, while Gintoki is an albino, Sanson simply had it due to genetics.

The Frenchman's ice blue eyes are currently delivering some sort of piercing stare, not that those stakes would have any effect on his drooling partner. ]

Wake up, Sakata. We don't have all day.

Genis Sage | Tales of Symphonia

[twohares]

[ one ]

[ Transferring in during the second half of the first year was a lot better than most of the alternatives, but it did nothing for Genis's social life. And thus far, Genis hadn't been doing anything for it either. He went to class with his eyes on the teacher the entire time. He got the tour, but he didn't try to cling to his guide once it was over. When he and his guide parted was, Genis was on his own.

And that was fine. It beat being teased about being shorter than half the girls in class or anything else they might come up with. So being alone wasn't the worst thing by far. He settled down with his lunch and started unpacking the homemade meal he had prepared-

-only to immediately tense up again at the sound of a chair scraping against the floor beside him. His head snaps up to stare at his new lunch buddy holding onto the chair like they're about to sit down.

...he really wasn't expecting to have company. Genis shifts awkwardly, nudging his box lunch away like he's making room. ]

...hi. [ Yeah, this isn't awkward at all. ]


[ two ]

[ Even before the pairings were announced, Genis was prepared. It was just a history presentation, and they only had around twenty options in total. In his notebook laid out on his desk, he already went ahead and jotted down a few notes for each choice, a few ideas...

If he had to do this himself, he would. Part of him honestly expected to do everything short of making the slides (and maybe he'd still end up making those).

Still, as his partner approached, he greeted them with a smile and waited for them to take a seat before piping up. ]

So, do you have any ideas for what we should do?

[ He's trying to be friendly, though maybe that comes across more condescending than not depending on who his partner is. ]


[ four ]

[ In the few times that Genis passed by the shack, he never actually saw anyone enter it or anything move around inside. He wasn't optimistic enough to honestly believe no-one had found it yet, but as the day drew on and the sun began to disappear, he was desperate enough to hope anyone who had found it before was...well, gone now.

As he crept into the house, eyes darting around to take in every feature he could in the fading light, it seemed like his guess was right: there were packets of food - open and unopened - sitting on the bed along with a wakizashi, but no-one else in sight.

It seemed too good to be true - which probably meant he should have gotten out while he could - but with the crossbow he had been given at the start discarded in pieces and his stomach about ready to eat itself after having nothing but ginger candy for two days straight, he let himself give into temptation. He hugged the sheathed sword under his arm and began packing the snacks into his bag.

Until the sound of heavy footfalls froze him in place. One step, another- Even if he tried to jump out one of the windows now, he wouldn't make it. And if he stayed where he was and tried to act tough, he'd regret it. He was consistently one of the slowest and weakest people in their class; what were the chances he'd run into someone less capable than him now?

But he couldn't die here, either. No way. Abandoning his open bag on the bed, he dove into the closet and hid behind the moth-bitten clothes inside. It was only after he tucked himself into the corner and watched the clothes sway behind him that he realized how bad this hiding place actually was. At least he still had the sword? ]


[ ???? ]

[ hmu with whatever \o/ ]

two

[dualitea]

[ The youth that sits himself down next to Genis is also a foreigner. Blond hair, green eyes, with a manner of speaking that is distinctively accented. It's not perfect, but he tries. ]

Hello. [ He has a leather-bound notebook in one hand, a slim pen in another. ] Is there any topic you'd like?

[ Ask for the other person's preferences first, that's how he works. He didn't want to force Genis to do something he didn't like, after all. ]

[one] - THEIR FIRST MEETING LET'S DO THIS

[boogerflinger]

You gonna eat all that?

[It would seem an albino vulture has saddled up to Genis more than a student. Gintoki's chin is resting against the back of his seat, Gintoki having pulled the chair up backwards before chose to sit down. A small bento is resting in his lap - though he hasn't even bothered to crack open the lid yet...

No, he was much more interested in whatever it was that this kid had - and so he'd at least be honest about his intentions.]

two!

[fivepoints]

[history...]

[it's one of the few things masanosuke can manage to look excited about. his face is a frown that holds a curious mixture of anxiety and excitement as he sits down next to genis, visibly trying to keep long limbs as close to his core as possible]

...um. I really like all the Bakumatsu Era options.

[great, another weird teenager with a samurai boner.]

B...but anything is fine. Maybe that's less interesting to a foreigner? [AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMES HE'S A FOREIGNER, how rude. but he doesn't seem to mean anything by it]

2

[psychokinesia]

[Add takes his sweet time moving over to his partner's desk. Before even bothering to make eye contact, he stares down to look at Genis' page of notes.]

... Hm.

You can do all the work, so pick whatever you want. [History is boring. He doesn't need good history grades to be an engineer...

At least he's upfront about it?]

no one has done four so here I go with four

[lamortespoir]

[ Sanson had made his base here after discovering it. He isn't the best at sneaking around, but it's sufficed to get him inside undetected and take out a few intruders. Anatomy studies did help even in this situation, after all.

The wakizashi on the bed had belonged to a student who had died before Sanson found him. So he still had no kills - something he preferred not to think about - but the fact that it was gone meant that he had company. ]

Show yourself.

[ He raises his voice, still as deadpan as ever - instantly recognisable by that very quality. He has his own switchblade tucked inside his trenchcoat, but it's not visible just yet. ]

England | Axis Powers: Hetalia

[keepscalm]

one ❧

[Generally, Arthur Kirkland is not in the business of making friends. Not always for lack of trying, but he has the sort of personality that most people are not eager to deal with. He's been through a few different phases of expression, but they've all been insufferable one way or another.

So he doesn't really bother with reaching out to people often any more. He's fine on his own! Even in a new country where the only people he really knows are his family. He doesn't need anyone to coddle him.

That being the case, he sits confidently on his own during lunch, dividing his attention between his food and a book. He hears someone nearby, but he doesn't give them his attention until he realises that they aren't moving on from his seat. Suspicious, Arthur gives them a sidelong glance, but he doesn't lift his head to properly look at them. His British Isles accent is sharp in his words.] Did you need something?

three ❧

[If there's one thing Arthur has, it's that he's clever. This has its pros and cons. He has a good strategic advantage over some of his simpler classmates, that's for certain. He knows how to plan and how to strategise, and he's tricky. He won't be caught easily. Unfortunately, cleverness also means he knows his own limitations, and so he realises how screwed he might be if he gets into an altercation. Not that he's never been in a fight! He grew up with five siblings, for heaven's sake.

But he's not the most physically imposing. Most of his muscle is in his legs, but on the whole he really rather fits the profile of someone who spends more time in libraries than in the gym. He's more suited to running than to fighting — or, god forbid, killing someone with his bare hands.

And he didn't even get a good weapon to compensate for his stature. He opened his duffel bag immediately to discover a megaphone. A megaphone! Useful only for clubbing someone in the head, at this rate, and even then it's rather unwieldy to consider using it for that purpose. Still, he holds it at the ready, hoping to adjust to its weight better so he can properly swing it if necessary...

And it's looking like he might have to. He was just running, trying to give himself as much distance to work with as possible, but there, he spots them, clearly between the sparse trees of the forest. It's one of his classmates.

He freezes, at first, his survival instincts unused to being put to such a test. Eventually he darts behind a nearby tree, but not quickly enough to ensure that he wasn't spotted in turn. In the meantime, he just tries not to make too much noise while he breathes.]

four ❧

[So he's adjusted to this whole horrible situation. Mostly. He can barely sleep a wink, and he's plagued with nightmares, and he still feels sick when he thinks of what he's done to his fellow students, but...he's surviving. And that's the goal.

He's found a cave close to the jungle, and though he doesn't like to spend too much time in it for fear of being cornered, it's a nice hiding spot for his stockpile. He keeps his weapons on his person, but carrying too much canned food makes it very difficult to run, so he keeps it in the cave. And he's starting to feel the pain of hunger gnawing at his stomach, so he ventures down into the cave system to replenish his energy.

He follows the path that he knows to lead to his hiding spot, and everything is the same until he finally reaches it and discovers that there are fewer cans here than when he left them. Considerably fewer. Someone has been here.

He brandishes his knife, examining the surrounding area with alarm. Arthur can't know when they found his food; they might still be here. And if that's the case, he's blocked in. Just as he feared! Imagine that.]

. one

[redrightandblue]

[Damn straight Arthur hears someone nearby. Alfred was one of the loudest students in the class - from his voice to his snoring in Japanese Literature to how he walked around hip-checking every other desk on his way to the restroom in the middle of a test - it was impossible NOT to notice him!

And he was content, no, pleased with that.

As if to make extra super sure he stood out, Alfred dragged the metal chair at the desk neighboring the new kid's across the floor with a definitive 'screee!' to announced his presence.

Don't fear, new guy, Alfred F. Jones was here to make sure your first day was insufferable smooth sailin'!

And maybe also to make sure you were gonna eat all of that.

The boy eyed the new kid's (Crickland? Kirkwood? whatever-) food with an eager gleam, but he'd control himself for now. Instead he'd just shift his ass in his chair, one final brief 'ee-' confirming his choice in seating.]

Huh? Me? [He laughed, loudly of course, before tearing into his plastic bag of food. There were some real meals in there, a few wrapped sandwiches and one thermos of soup, but more noticeably there was about too many bags of chips and an equal absurdity of candy bars.] I was sort of thinking you might be the one who needed something-

It's your first day, right? [He flashed the new guy his most charming smile, as if he deserved congratulations for knowing that information. And, without waiting for a response-] So, you can go ahead and ask me anything! [All this confidence and bravado, but really Alfred had only been a student for a few months. But that was okay! If he didn't know, he'd bullshit!]

Takasugi Shinsuke | Gintama

[toukai]

[1]

[It's his first day in class and Takasugi has no desire to make any friends. Everyone gave off a boring atmosphere on first inspection, and he didn't care to make a second one. Loitering around a group of kids content to let their impulses rise in the form of gossip or doodling on a test and nothing more exhausted him.

So the super edgy loner junior would be taking his lunch to the roof, fully anticipating eating alone.

Ah, but there's already someone else up there (it's you). He stops as soon as he opens the door, giving the student glazed over consideration.

But there's nothing to consider - Takasugi knows what he needs to do. And that is acting like he doesn't give a shit who is on the roof. So he crosses to a ledge and sits down, pulling out his 'bento': a Yakult and a pack of cigarettes. If this wasn't enough, he'd just cut afternoon classes to get some noodles.

Do you want to give this loner some company? Maybe you're really offended that someone is smoking on school property? Maybe you want to bum a cigarette off of him? Or maybe you're just blasted that he stared at you for so long, the atmosphere building, only to just walk away?

No matter what it is, don't let him get away with this 'cool kid' act, he'll start to think other people take him as seriously as he takes himself!]

[2]

[The list of important things for a delinquent is no shorter than the list of important things for anyone else - its contents are simply radically different. Instead of meals with the family or homework completed on time it's finding the right back alley to stand in with your gang or how many files you can get the police to complete on you without getting yourself arrested.

But one thing was universally important: recycling.

So this young terror on society is currently cutting his last class to loiter out back behind the main school building, smoking a cigarette and towering as much as a 5'7'' teen can over a toppled trash can. He's looking down at the contents like they've personally affronted him. Soon he'll be bending down and sifting through it. But not for a broken bottle to shiv someone with. Instead he's picking up the glass and...

putting it where it belongs. In the proper receptacle.

That's right, one of the baddest asses on campus is sorting the trash. Why? He makes no indication - really he's going about it in sort of a shifty manner. Like he's somehow committing a crime! In fact, from a distance, it may look like he's doing just that.

It's no small task, so Takasugi will still be at it when class ends and students are milling about on their way home.]

[3]

[A sharp chef's knife wasn't the worst weapon he could have pulled out of the bag. A bit short, but he'd made his point with less in the past, so it'd do. As his fingers wrapped around the handle, he could feel the adrenaline building in his joints.

It ached.

Just like his face. Takasugi had spent the whole time the message played smirking. Not out of any sort of eagerness - he enjoyed a fight, but on his own terms. Nor out of a desire to mask his true feelings. He'd have to know what those were to conceal them properly. If anything, it was a challenge forced into his hands.

He wouldn't be letting it get the better of him.

So when he heard another's footfalls crack a twig behind him Takasugi turned, throwing the knife directly at their face. It would miss - due to his own inaccuracy? or intentionally? He wasn't not about to let on.]

What are you doing? [His rampant display of arrogant confidence that began in abandoning his weapon continued as he shifted his stance towards the other with his hips swung forward and his head cocked to the side. Give him an answer worth his time.]

[4]

[Kicking ass is great and all - something at which Takasugi is relatively skilled. He tenses hands covered in dry blood, one wrapped white-knuckled around the remnants of his weapon. The handle of his knife broken and gone, the blade and small extension of metal is all that remains. His clothes are disheveled and his shoes are caked in dirt and mud. His hair clings to his neck - he's the portrait of a boy whose been hard at work out there, butchering his classmates.

Except for one fatal flaw.

He's panting, lips cracked and dry, slouched against a tree in one of the more sparsely populated areas of the forest. His map had long since been destroyed, and even someone with a decent sense of direction would get lost being chased around in a place like this.

He would go on. Just after his stomach settled, sick from dehydration to the point of wracking his entire body and making his vision swim. Passing out meant death. That wasn't an option.

Just regain your senses, and you can move on. Water was nearby. It had to be.

Except, for all the mental stubbornness on his part, the teen is slipping down the tree gradually, leaving trails of bark and moss on his shirt as he sinks lower and lower to the ground without noticing.]

4

[egaode]

[Kicking ass is great. This study is great, in fact, but the administrators really could have stood to give them more supplies to start out. It was no fun if the given opponents (most of them already woefully incapable) weakened themselves by exhausting food or water too quickly.

But there were a certain few Kamui hoped would make it to the end with him, who he hoped could give him a good final fight or three, and either he'd walk away the winner or die satisfied.

Shinsuke Takasugi was one of them.

Shinsuke Takasugi looked, at present, to be on his last leg, and that leg wasn't even his own, it was the goddamn tree he was leaning on.

Can't have that.

So, as Takasugi slides down the tree, Kamui reaches into his bag - and smears blood all over the opening to said bag, ah well, perils of not bothering to clean off after every kill - to fish out a half-empty bottle of water, clearly stolen from the dying hands of another student, but... supplies were supplies...

And he'll toss the bottle of water right at Takasugi's feet. No sense getting close enough to hand it to him, that's inviting a strike from that mangled knife. No sense in taking him out now, with a quick swing from his already bent, dented, and blood-splattered bat to leave him a smear of brains and gore on the tree when he wanted to save this one to the end.

So he'll be saving him now.

Rare kindnesses, or something like that.]

You look like shit.

Jasper | Steven Universe

[forcefuse]

((edit: here's a quick reference doodle I did of human Jasper, if you need a visual!))

[1]

[Jasper Nejem has never felt more out of place. She towers over many of the students at Shiroiwa, not just tall, but muscular, body built strong from years of both legal and illegal MMA fights. Her hair is bleached blonde and her skin is a deep, sun-kissed tan. Her face and arms are marred by scars, red and angry like burns that have never healed.

She sits on a chair that feels too small for her when it comes time to eat lunch, her back rigid and straight. There's a frown set into her features that looks almost as permanent as her scars. She doesn't mind eating alone -- prefers it, actually -- so when someone slides up next to her, she glares down at them over a pointed, sunburnt nose.]

What do you want?

[3]

[Jasper doesn't intend to die here. Not now, not like this, on some foreign island with a fucking fork as her designated "weapon." She has to get back to the Coalition, back to where she has a purpose. Back home. Escort on a reconaissance mission to the Republic of Greater East Asia... What a joke. She never should have agreed.

Not like she ever had a choice.

Jasper slows to a stop when she comes across another student. She tossed her fork away in disgust just as soon as she dug it out of her bag, so now she's empty-handed. Not that her hands are anything to shake a stick at, big as they are. She's athletic, not the type to get winded easily, but she's still panting as she locks eyes with her classmate.

Kill or be killed. The words ring through her memory like buzzing little flies. With a great roar, she slings her heavy bag toward the other student, intending to stun them long enough for her to get within punching range.]

[4]

[The longer the Study goes on, the more Jasper realizes she needs a weapon. She's confident in what she can do with her bare hands if it comes down to it, but when other students have scythes and guns and explosives, she's at a marked disadvantage. So she takes them whenever she kills a student, squirreling them away in a hideout she made under a rocky outcropping.

She knew her classmates were hard-headed, but she didn't expect her machete to actually break after connecting with one of their skulls. The kid died, of course, but that didn't stop the handle from coming away from the blade entirely. What sort of awful craftsmanship is the Republic working with?!

So she makes her way back to her camp with what's left of the boy's supplies, but not much else. He had it even worse than her, with a pot lid as a weapon. She takes it anyway, figuring she can use it to cut back on the smoke when she cooks, but...

Brown-gold eyes narrow when she looks down at her camp. The zipper on one of her pilfered duffle bags is partway open. She knows she didn't leave it like that. She stands perfectly still, listening for any sign of someone else still in the area.]

4

[crosscurrent]

[There's a small hiss and squeak of some kind of plastic, fractions of a second before Jasper is hit in the head by a small squirt of cold water from above. It's hard to tell where it comes from, but surely it must be from someone hiding on the rocks above Jasper's hiding place.]

izaya orihara / durarara

[uzai]

( 2 . )

( honestly, this was a little tedious. he's done all this before, several times over and he would have been much more satisfied sitting back and simply watching the class pass by in the same tandem as it has been, but instead, someone is shifting their seat closer to his. a glance, his withdrawn attitude rolling off slouched shoulders. nonetheless, he twists a smirk. ) So, ( a drawl, chin balanced against his palm.) - any ideas?

( he'd get this project done and over with quick, if he was on his own - if he would do it at all. but instead, his focus of interest is, for the brief moment, turned entirely to his unwitting partner. )

( 3 . )

( it had not taken a long time to adjust. it was a clear solution given, after all, however twisted. more so, the frustrating part was having to actually participate instead of watch the outcome on the sideline. he would have much preferred that. and yes, partially, it was because he didn't want to die. the other part, the constant part, was his inevitable obsession with humanity. the collar played a convincing weight in his participation though, and he's already seen what fondling the damn thing would get you (it may or may not have been done with his gentle persuasion, but those are details).

when he creeps into the shelter, he holds a small knife in one of his hands, and izaya already knows there is someone around the corner before he sees them. vermilion eyes narrow with some semblance of satisfaction, something that teeters between interest and boredom.

one hand is stuffed into his pocket, harmlessly, while the other gives the knife a lazy twirl and he simply asks - ) So, you feel like fighting? I'm a little tired, personally. ( it's kind of a lie. he certainly isn't the example of a powerhouse guy, but izaya orihara was never someone who should be underestimated, especially in circumstances such as these. )

(make your own adventure!) anything goes!

. two

[toukai]

[Disinterest was strong with these two. Takasugi didn't bother to move his desk; he didn't even bother to stop texting through the announcement of their groups. It was only after all the screeching of dragged desks stopped clamoring in the room that he moved. But not far - Takasugi simply scooted his chair a short distance closer to his assigned partner. It wasn't enough to provide any sort of functional platform of communication, but they didn't need that.

Instead he regarded the question with a returned smirk of his own and a subtle tilt of the head towards the door. His idea? Blow this whole thing off.

Brief eye contact broken, Takasugi keened his jaw back to look down his nose at the teacher and raised his hand, fingers lazily half-curled in a gesture of formality that was just so subtly mocking.]

Excuse me, sensei? May we be excused? We need supplies from our lockers. [This, of course, received very suspicious regard from the teacher, but with no grounds to deny them, permission was granted.

So Takasugi rose, gathering his school bag and letting it hang limply in his hand at his side. He didn't push his chair in on his way out the door.

As soon as he cleared the threshold of the classroom Takasugi produced a pack of cigarettes, pulling one from it for himself before offering one to his partner, provided Izaya had followed.

If he hadn't, Takasugi would linger by the windows lining the wall opposite their classroom until dismissal. Was he smoking inside? Not technically, since he was propped on his elbows hanging out of the window frame.]

V̶a̶a̶t̶i̶ Shimomori Fuu | The Legend of Zelda

[typhonic]

[1]

[At some point, you looked away from your bento. Maybe you were talking to a friend. Maybe you had to step away for a moment. Whatever the case may be, you're suddenly missing several key parts of your lunch. All of the best parts, most likely.

And what do you know, that kid who quietly sat down next to you today just so happens to have several very similar items in his lunch now. What a crazy coincidence!]

[3]

[Fuu quickly decides he doesn't want to stick around long enough to find out what his classmates plan to do. He hurries off into the nearby woods, trying not to make too much noise. He doesn't like the idea of killing people, but... if surviving is the goal, does he really need to? If that's what it's going to be, someone else can take care of the killing. He'll just make sure he's not in the middle of it.

Besides, his weapon turns out to be a duck-patterned umbrella. Not exactly the ideal tool of death. Maybe he'll be thankful for it if it rains...

But then he hears the nearby snap of someone approaching. He freezes up for a moment before ducking behind a tree, holding his breath even though the rustling of bushes should've been more than enough of a sign that he's there.]

[one]

[boogerflinger]

[With the life he's led, Gintoki deserved this. With all of his mooching over the course of his lifetime - it was only just that it would come down to this very moment.

To the moment of popping open his bento to find that Precious Pudding-tan had vanished. He blinked for a moment. Moves his head in different directions as if a new vantage point would reveal his beloved dessert side-item.

But, alas, not sign of pre-packaged pudding-tan or the promise of her elusive jiggle. He grit his teeth, and almost didn't notice that someone had sat down next to him. Almost.

Save for the familiar glint of orange that caught his eye. Gintoki's attention snapped to the other's lunch...

And never quite left. Now he's just staring in disbelief and shock at the dessert item sitting in this kid's lunch. He hasn't even noticed the other pieces of his lunch that have been integrated into this guy's meal. No, the gaping wound that Pre-packaged pudding-tan had left was enough to incapacitate him.]

Katsura Kotarou | Gintama

[wigout]

[One]

[Having a student suddenly slide up to anyone had to be off-putting for even the friendliest of people. Most people would ask “is this seat taken,” or give some kind of courtesy wave before invading someone's personal bubble. It was one of those unspoken rules of high school.

However, when this student slips into the seat next to you, it's with no pretext or warning. Or hardly any style.

Katsura Kotarou more or less slides into the seat out of nowhere (was he on the ground previously? no one knows), wearing what seems to be a red afro stolen from the theater department...and a completely mismatched mustache that was gently sliding off his face. All with a completely serious face.

His eyes dart around the room before he looks at his new table-mate, putting a finger to his lips in a shushing motion like he was somehow hidden from anyone.]

[Two]

[A group project?

Despite his usual shenanigans that had landed him with a list of offenses on his permanent record that were more ridiculous and outlandish than most schools had ever seen—Katsura was one of the more studious among his peers. Homework was always completed in a thorough and accurate manner, so if one could stomach the more unusual of his quirks that came with his wandering imagination and a fair dose of boredom, then working with him on a group project couldn't be the worst outcome.

He's calmly walked over to his partners desk, a notebook an a few folders in his hands, and offers his hand. A project on your favorite movie and the social reaction to it should be fairly harmless, right?]

Let's get along and work together.

[Three]

[If there was one thing Katsura had become extremely skilled at in his numerous run ins with the disciplinary committee at school, it was the art of running away.

He spared no time in slipping away from the dilapidated school after the video had explained his new reality, rummaging through his duffle bag on the way out. A jutte seemed to be his weapon—which suited his needs well enough. Not the best offense, but a good enough defense if he was to find someone face to face...which wouldn't be any time soon, if he could help it.

Jutte in his teeth, Katsura tied his long hair back with the rope he unwound from the handle as he headed deeper into the forest that had been right outside the school. Hopefully, hopefully he could find some kind of shelter so he could have the time and relative security to plan...oh no.

His teeth gritted against the metal of his weapon as his roaming eye caught those of a student on the other side of the trees, not 100 feet away from him. Katsura's first instinct was to stop in his tracks—but he fought against this. Instead he slowed his pace slightly as he watched the other warily, removing his weapon from his mouth. He didn't want to fight, not right now...

...but he wasn't sure if the other student would feel the same way.]

[Open!]

[Whatever you want!]

[WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOU SAY...]

[boogerflinger]

[Ah, the swimming unit. The most feared unit in all Phys. Ed. had finally reared its ugly head. A foolish and naive Gintoki thought that he would never have to face such a challenge in a public school setting, but here he was - standing in a loaner swimsuit and staring at the edge of the pool.

Today was 'free swim.' A day to get use to the water before they began their unit. It was a fun, relaxing take on the hour...

Or it would have been for those who knew how to swim. But instead Gintoki has been frozen here for the past ten minutes simply staring down into the water as if death had come for him in the form of 8 foot depths. He blinks slowly before awkwardly glancing around to make sure no one had taken notice to just how out of place he was. His mouth is drawn into a thin line and only one thing is on his mind...

How.

How was he going to get out of this? Maybe he could dislocate his own arm. Ah, yes! Then he would have a cool cast to sign and be out for the few weeks the unit required...! His hand twitches at the thought...

He's going to go through with it in about thirty seconds if someone doesn't step in.]

Akitsu Masanosuke | House Of Five Leaves

[fivepoints]

o1 : KENDO CLUB

[akitsu masanosuke, if anyone knows the name at all, is better rumored as a silent coward than any other characteristic he possesses. never mind that he's good with a bokuto -- as long as no one's looking at him, as long as he's doing the katas in sync with the rest of his group. never mind that he lived alone through all of middle school in Tokyo before coming to Shiroiwa and still works every night he can to send money back home to his family. never mind that he's one of the kindest souls one could ever meet (even if his accent is a little hick and archaic).]

[no, his social anxiety is what earns him a barely-existent-to-begin-with reputation. the kendo instructor has left bringing the young man out of his shell to his peers with rough apathy expected of a swordmaster, and there he is again, head out of his helmet and hearing his name get called for a one-on-one. his head ducks into raised shoulders and he swallows hard]

[maybe you're his opponent? a clubmate? a passerby? either way, you can see him make it all the way to the ring with knees shaking in dark hakama, sweaty fingers clenched on the hilt of his wooden sword. he's gonna... he's gonna -- ]

[nope. he's gonna flee out the door.]

o2 : PROJECT TEXT-YOUR-PARTNER

[it's the night before the presentation and he's lost the reference sheet. you were such a considerate project partner too, every source you referenced in the slideshow was numbered with an exact source reference and you gave it to him. didn't you? he remembers seeing it but he's not sure -- and just as he's sat down in front of the computer to compose the final slide, the works cited slide of utmost importance, he's stuck in a tizzy because where is it?]

[it's already after 10:00 on a school night because he got home late from work and he has at least two more hours of homework to do... that he can't get done because he's staring mindlessly at his flip phone, dark gazed locked on one contact number among only five ("work" and "home" included) and he has no idea how to even start this conversation.]

[a few characters get tapped out, erased. a few more, backspace backspace backspace. ...he's such a failure...]

Hello. This is Akitsu Masanosuke. Do you have a moment...?

[SEND.]

Probably asleep... [mumbles to himself in the quiet of his cramped, stuffy apartment]

o3 : EASY PICKIN'S

[he crossed your mind at some point. the tall, skinny kid with the downcast face who always keeps to himself in the back of the classroom. the one who never raises his hand and looks like he gets the shakes every time he has to go up in front of the class. he'll be easy to kill, easy to steal from, easy to eliminate]

[but it doesn't turn out like you expected. there's no one to watch him now, no audience to observe or judge him, and the darkness of his eyes is just charcoal that burns with embers after having dodged your attack. there's a pickaxe in his hand and you can see around his ripped uniform that he is, in actuality, incredibly toned]

I do not wish to hurt you. [but his voice is firm, unrelenting, and even if he doesn't move to attack, he's watching your every move]

Please move on. [crouching coward hidden badass]

o4 : YOUR CHOICE!

[got something else in mind? HMU]

2!

[bigwhenitmatters]

ooooo?

akitsu what?

[It seems someone isn't putting the face to the name. Sorry man, he really has horrible memory when it comes to remembering guys.]

U aint that guy from earlier are you? Oi! I said I'd get you your money as soon as I made some winnings!

[He obviously seems to think you're someone else too.]

Carrot Glace | Sorcerer Hunters

[bigwhenitmatters]

1. You sure you want to know this guy?

Waaah! Man I'm starving!

[Sure it may be his first day in a new school, and sure he has no idea who anyone is or even who the resident hotties are (boy will he be happy to find out that out though), but is he going to let that bother him? No way! No sir! New-school new-shmool right? So what if he was here because he was finally kicked out of his last one? Starting fresh and new is the best way to go! Especially when there's all these cute new faces to look at while your teacher droned away--]

[--What? He didn't' think anything. You have no proof.]

[Anyway, here's this looser delinquent lounging back in his seat, with his feet kicked up on his desk munching away at the bento his brother had packed for him earlier on. Dare you approach?]

2. Unlucky you. Look who you go partnered with.

[Guess who really wasn't much good at partner based projects. Well, he was not very good at projects in general. Actually, lets just say he's not very good at school in general. It wasn't that he wasn't that smart. Although let's admit it, he's really not. It's just that he doesn't care about the work. After all, you do good in school only to compete for a job and twiddle your way through life in disappointment right? What's the point in that when you simply can go about every day enjoying the pleasures that you already have full access too?]

Eyyyy. Are we done here yet?

[Which is why he's here now, the night before the assignment is due lounging back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling while you're stuck figuring out what to do.]

The new episode of Pretty Monoka Sparkle Blast is on in a half an hour. Been meaning to catch up on it.

[Partner projects suck.]

3. Harsh survival.

[Shit! Shit shit shit shit shit. This was not what he was expecting to wake up to upon another nap through class. What the hell was that? Where the hell is he!? He's still kind of freaking out over everything he found himself caught up in.

Who the hell just throws a bunch of kids in the middle of no where and expects them to what-- Kill people!? How fucked up is that!?

And so as the first opportunity became available, not sure whether anyone else would actually do it or not, he just ran. He grabbed his bag and he ran and he ran as far as he could until before he knew it he was sitting at the base of a cave, stark out of breath and shivering like crazy. Damn, did he really leave his coat back in the school building?]

[And then there was the rustling. He became alert at one. His head shooting up in surprise as he let out a large shout in reaction. Not like he was ever really one for stealth.]

Hey! Who's there!? Show your face before I go over there and force ya to myself!

[Like he actually had the balls to though. His hands were obviously shaking. After all, what if this person was going to attack him? Or worse, what if he was going to be forced to kill someone himself?]

4. You choose!

[Throw your ideas at me!]

. three

[toukai]

[Takasugi was not shaken. Of course, there was no way he'd expected the day to take this sort of turn, but hearing that only one of them would walk off of this island had given him a goal. Something to focus on, to expend every fiber of his mind on seeing this through to the end.

No chance to panic.

The rustling hadn't been him - an animal in the bushes scampering about. It was probably scared of this loud guy stomping his way through the forest. If that hadn't announced his presence to everyone, yelling had certainly finished the job.

Takasugi sighed. He had no intention of getting into a fight this early on, but this guy seemed just stupid enough to pilfer supplies off of. So he'd step closer, out from behind a tree several paces away from the rustling.] A rabbit, perhaps? I doubt you could catch it...

[There's nothing threatening about his body language, shoulders relaxed with duffle slung across his back.]

yuri lowell | tales of vesperia

[vesperian]

a

[Someone doesn't wanna go to class- so someone (this guy) is on the rooftop where all the cool kids go to watch the clouds and sleep. He may also wander down the hallways, skillfully avoiding hall monitors (or at least trying to).]

b

[He tears off a piece of his clothing, wrapping it around his arm as a makeshift tourniquet after a particularly nasty confrontation with one of his classmates. He's barely escaped, though he can't say the other person made it out cleanly, either. With a sigh, he puts his hair up in a ponytail, climbing up a tree to catch a breather among the branches.

But maybe he isn't the only one up here?]

2

[bigwhenitmatters]

[Far from the only one indeed. Carrot, as much of an idiot as he was at times, had managed to stay alive as long as he had because of his amazing durability. He had been spending most of the game thus far up in the forests trees, watching and remaining out of sight of all others who passed by. It was almost inevitable someone else would have ended up here eventually though.

But the kid looked hurt, not a good sign.

He didn't want to catch his attention initially, but the chance that this guy might have had food on him was as good of a reason as any to make allies, especially when his own stash was running dangerously low.]

Oi! How's it hanging over there?

[He was a few trees away, far enough that hopefully this guy couldn't get to him in his condition... Hopefully. And here Carrot was, grinning widely as if there wasn't a single thing wrong with the situation they were in.]

Pretty nice view from up here right?

kazuya miyuki | ace of diamond

[greedier]

a

[Kazuya isn't a delinquent or anything, but he'd much rather be out on the field than indoors and listening to old Japanese classics. So as soon as the bell rings, Kazuya's headed out the door, fully intending to head to the baseball field and find someone to pitch to him.

Oh, actually, this person looks good-- He claps a hand on their shoulder, a catcher's mitt on his other hand.] Hey, wanna catch a few with me?

b

Hey, I don't suppose you'd mind a temporary truce? [Kazuya laughs weakly, collapsing against the cavern wall with a sigh. He's had to run from a small group of classmates who've banded together in an alliance, and he doesn't think he has it in him to run from another.

He may be a piece of shit, but he keeps to his word. He won't reach for his weapon unless he's threatened first.]

[dualitea]

[ Henry practically jumps when Kazuya enters the cavern - he had been hiding here away from the rest of the class, praying frantically that they would leave him alone. And it seems he had company.

He doesn't look as worn as the other is, merely pale; with his hands drawn close to himself as if he was afraid Kazuya would hack them off. ]

As long as you don't hurt me...

[ He's a bit further inside the cavern, but his back is also against the wall. ]

Add "seriously though, he doesn't have a last name" Kim | Elsword

[psychokinesia]

[2]

[You know what's worse than partner projects? Lab partners. Because you're stuck with them for the whole damn semester, every single day, with no hope for salvation. Luckily, Add isn't the worst lab partner to have. He may be an intolerable ass, but he also has some of the highest science grades in the whole school. Although, that might not be immediately obvious, since he spent the whole explanation of the lab doodling cats in his notebook...

After Wada-sensei finishes, there's a bit of an awkward pause before Add decides to acknowledge his partner. He glances at them briefly before staring back at his notebook, scowling.]

What the hell are you sitting around for? Go get the supplies from the front.

[3]

[When he pulls out the machete, he doesn't expect there to be so much blood.

After the initial shock wears off, the only thought that he can process is how absolutely disgusting it is. He's soaked with blood, sticky red stains seeping in his sleeves and the front of his uniform, spatters of it smeared across his face. He might have overdone it a little, but they were screaming so loudly after the first stab he had to do something to keep them quiet. Human's can't scream if they don't have a windpipe. He's lucky to have such a useful weapon.

But now he's a mess. Add just keeps walking, almost forgetting to grab the second duffel bag before abandoning the still-warm corpse. Eventually the foliage opens up to a lake. He stumbles forward, dropping the bags and stabbing his weapon into the mud beside him before crouching down by the water's edge. The murky brown water gradually stains into a murky red as he rinses himself off.

No matter how much he tries, he still doesn't feel clean enough...]

[???]

[make up your own prompt DO YOUR WORST, NERDS]

a - WONDER TWIN POWERS..... ACTIVATE.

[boogerflinger]

[Wada-Sensei must have had a thing for symmetry, given to the faithful partnership that he has delegated. Gintoki pushes himself from the counter he had made himself comfortable on, crossing the classroom so that he may approach his new partner...

Only to stop six-feet shy of the other. He freezes, lips curving downward into an unimpressed frown. He's even baring his teeth! After making eye contact with Add, Gintoki begins to look around the room.]

Oi. Trade. Partner up for trade. Who wants to be with the cat guy, huh?!

[...He can't be with this guy! Why does he keep getting paired with the other albinos in this class?! Wasn't this categorizing him or something? Either way this would look too weird! They even looked similar...! No, no, no! People would snicker behind their backs for the rest of the quarter about how they were Twinsies or something terrible like that!

So, instead, he opts to make a bigger scene than necessary in hopes of someone taking pity on him. He motions to the other with an extended finger and a look of unbridled disgust on his face.]

C'mon! He's your man! Look at this guy, he just screams science! So who wants him? Gin-san will give him away for free, yeah?!

Data-Roxas | Kingdom Hearts

[cloak]

One

[Roxas has, for all intents and purposes, done a rather good job at keeping to himself at his old school. In a new environment this is no different, at least that's what he's given to think as much. He finds a vacant table in the corner of the cafeteria and claims it, plonking down in a chair and settling a book in front of himself.

Where is his lunch? That's...a very good question]

Two

[Lab-partners. Why aren't they too old for this yet? Roxas puffs out a resigned sigh and tucks his hands into his pockets as he gets up, shuffling over to the classmate he's been assigned to. Rather than say anything though, he just...stands there.

A kid stubbornly wearing his hoodie under his uniform, hood over his head, looming there and looking at you. He'd loom a little more effectively if he wasn't so intent on slouching but here he is caring not one bit about his posture. Shame]

Three

[A death-game, huh? Roxas isn't too sure what he wants to make of that, or whether he'll accept it. But he's certainly bringing his A-game in lurking, he's gotten an awful lot of practice in over the last eight years, and so that's what he opts to do first.

Rather than take immediate action he's instead observing what actions his peers are taking. And so if you get the feeling that you're being watched, well...you really might be]

???

[Much as one might not be able to imagine it, Roxas does have a job. Somebody like him might seem unlikely to fit into the customer service mold, but there's a little hipster coffee shop that just eats up the edgy brooding type, which is exactly how this kid comes across.

Black painted finger-nails and pulling his uniform hat down so far you can barely make out his eyes if you tip your head just a certain way? Absolutely. His voice barely comes up over a low mumble, what's more. But he's able to make cute designs in your coffee so at least there's that.

Just don't mind if he's not the friendliest employee in the world]

???

[lamortespoir]

[ Sanson rarely comes to this coffee place. He's only here because he's got an appointment at the hospital and it's a bit too late to go to the usual Moonbucks that he patronizes. Dressed in his usual black trenchcoat with white patterns, he could almost fit in.

He comes in and puts in an order for a mocha frappucino, ice blue eyes still on his planner. He'll probably only look up once the coffee's handed to him, so if Roxas wants to say something first... ]

Suwa Reiji | Prince of Stride

[heiring]

1;
[ Reiji is, for better or for worse, a popular guy. Coming from one of the most traditional families in Shiroiwa, their reputation for running a nationally-renowned dance school has certainly preceded him every step of the way. Sure, he dresses similarly to everyone else, but the expensive stationery and technology he owns is clearly enough to set him apart from the norm.

As is his food. He's seated himself in one of the corners of the cafeteria in a bid to not attract so much attention, but his bento is visibly lovingly crafted and looks very tempting. He hasn't started on it though, instead tapping away at his smartphone and idly stirring his drink.

Maybe you want some, or just came over to look or try to have a feel of his aura. He won't refuse most company, so that's that. ]

2;
[ So it's project time! Sure, he can handle it. It's a scientific presentation - while it's not his strongest subject, it's not that complicated. He's always been a diligent student and studies in advance, so he has a stack of notes in his hands that hopefully will be of use.

He'll come over to your desk with them, still with the same charming smile as ever. ]

Well, seems like we're paired together. Is there a topic you'd like to do?

3;
[ Reiji said only one sentence before he was forcibly removed from the debriefing room. He spits it out with a shocking amount of vitriol, a threat brought into the light with so much anger to be completely unexpected from a usually easygoing person like him. ]

My father will hear about this.

[ And then he's off, leaving the school straight away while fury boils through his blood. He can't stay calm anymore, not when people's lives are endangered like this. But he's just another student here. Without his family to back him up, he has no power. And that is more terrifying than the prospect of dying in the first place, because he can't protect anyone anymore.

He can be found in the clearing outside the school, duffel bag tossed onto the floor as if as an afterthought. For now, he'll stay - in case someone else comes this way. ]

wildcard;

[ Toss me anything and I'll work with it! ]

3

[backdrops]

[ That someone would be Shizuma himself, who is noticeably less than pleased about this whole situation that they were thrown into. Unlike Reiji, however, his anger was much more tempered and he did nothing but shoot the men a stern look when his name was called. There are very few things in the world that even garner that sort of stare from him and that is one of them.

What he does know, though, is that he has to find Reiji. He promised that he'd protect his life no matter the cost to him and he intends to follow through on that.

Relief washes over his face when he sees the heir's purple hair, however he is cautious. What if someone's hiding in the bushes, waiting to strike? It sickens him how people think that they need to be thrust into this situation when they've never done anything to anyone, especially Reiji. ]

Reiji-sama? Is... [ 'Is everything alright?', he wants to say. However, he knows quite well what the answer to that question is. ]

It's me, Shizuma.