| 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

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. ]

[twohares]

[ Ah... That's some accent, but Genis is going to comment on it...even if he does wonder how good his Japanese is. Then again, some people hold onto their accents for years even when they're fluent. So he'll hold off on any judgment, even if he'll try to speak more clearly for him, too.

Genis shifts his notebook closer between them to let Henry read over his notes. The paper is nearly transparently thin, dark shadows of other notes peeking through from the other side. ]

Hm... [ He hums, scanning down the list, and when he speaks, there's not even a hint of an accent in his voice. ] They're all pretty good topics. I bet a lot of people are going to go for these ones, though. [ He forms a bracket around the topics listed under "current era". ] Since we just learned about them last year.

[dualitea]

[ Genis is very good for a gaijin. It almost makes him envious - almost, because Henry tries to think the best of everyone, and he doesn't want to upset his project partner. ]

I'm from the United Kingdom, so if you'd want to do something from there...

[ He waves one hand a little in a sort of half-gesture. ]

[twohares]

[ The United Kingdom... He wonders if he should speak English for him. His English is better than some of his classmates', but...

Maybe if Henry asked. As it is, mild surprise crosses Genis's face before he turns his attention back down to his notes. There were a few topics outlined, covering a few notable eras and events. It was Henry's history, though, so in the end, he just gives an enthusiastic nod and a friendly smile, fully intending to let Henry choose. ]

Yeah! We can do something for that. [ ...Can he read Japanese well enough to actually read what the topics are, though? Awkwardly, Genis glances down at his notes and reads off a few of the options. ] Ah, right, there's the Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses, the Industrial Revolution...

[dualitea]

[ Oh, he agreed. That was a good thing too - if it's something they both like, it'll be easier finishing the project. ]

I'm quite fond of the Nineteenth Century, actually... a lot of scientific things happened during that time.

[ If they shared any science classes, Genis might have noticed that Henry actually spoke up during them. Otherwise, he would have kept to himself. ]

[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.]

YEEEAH first lunch meeting go \o/

[twohares]

Huh?

[ Well, it was true that he had plenty for himself - he liked cooking, what could he say? - but he hadn't actually expected anyone to ask him to share. Especially when he could see Gintoki's own bento sitting right on his lap. His eyes flicker in confusion from Gintoki's face to his bento and back again.

...If this was Gintoki's way of bullying him, it was the nicest attempt he'd ever seen.

Genis doesn't shift his box closer, but he doesn't close the lid on all that food either. ]

Why? Did something happen to your lunch?

[boogerflinger]

[Gintoki the Vulture had taken immediate notice of just how the new kid had plenty of food. And it wasn't just food, but it was food that looked and smelled absolutely delicious. How could he turn down such an opportunity...?

And the albino is nearly touched when the transfer student doesn't clamp the lid back down on his bento in some defensive motion. That meant... That meant he still had a chance...!

Wait - this kid was talking to him.]

Huh?

[And Gintoki's gaze falls back down to his own bento before he grabs at it. Places it on the empty spot Genis had created on his desk.]

Uh. You could say that-

[Gintoki acts sheepish as he answers, idly scratching at his jaw. In fact, the only thing that happened to his lunch was that he had been sneaking bites out of it before lunch had even began. So really the only thing that had happened to his bento... was him.]

But wait. Wait! You didn't say no-

[There! He'd just be blunt and go for it...!]

[twohares]

...You're such a mooch.

[ He says it jokingly...thinking that Gintoki really doesn't have a lunch. He looks too embarrassed about it to actually be mooching off of him. Since he brought his lunch box up, Genis goes ahead and nudges his bento closer. ]

Here, we can share. Take some.

[ There's tofu rice, some sauteed vegetables, mushrooms... Actually there's no meat or seafood in there, but it's not like Gintoki can complain over it when he apparently doesn't have much of a lunch? Even though Gintoki was one of his classmates that really stood out - sharing a bright white hair color does that - Genis had entirely missed his snacking through class. He thinks you're an innocent victim of...lunchlessness? ]

[boogerflinger]

[He'll take that label of mooch if it means he gets some free food. Not ten seconds pass after Genis says "Take some" before a pair of chopsticks have found their way into Genis' bento and begin picking at the goods. Gintoki isn't a picky guy in the least - instead munching on whatever his little chopsticks can get a hold of.]

You're a good kid. A good kid with a good soul, huh? So you really must be a transfer student...!

[Gintoki speaks with his mouthful before he motions at the other with chopsticks.]

Your name. Is uh. Something. Gellard-kun? Sake-kun?

[... He was so busy sneaking his bento that he completely missed Genis' introduction. Hell, he noticed there was a new person solely because of this guy having white straight hair that threatened to turn him into an envious man.]

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]

[twohares]

[ Wow, super rude. For a second, he frowns, an unimpressed look crossing his face. Genis should really be used to being mistaken for a foreigner by now (it wasn't like he looked very Japanese), but he can't help but be sort of annoyed.

Though not too annoyed. In the end, everything about Masanosuke was pretty awkward; it's hard to take that much offense from a samurai nerd who looked like he was trying to disappear into himself. Genis shook his head. ]

No, the Bakumatsu Era is fine with me. Besides, I grew up here, too. [ JUST TO CLEAR THAT UP.

Though, hm. Genis looks down at the list again. There were a good half-dozen options, but... ] If we're going we do one of the Bakumatsu topics, we should pick one soon. You know everyone's going to want to do something with the Shinsengumi. [ ...like him? ]

[fivepoints]

[dark eyes light up when his classmate approves -- but the shimmer doesn't last long, slowly beginning to realize his transgression] Oh. ...sorry. [the mutter of the word may seem insincere, but the gaze fixed on his desk hints at its honesty]

[the shinsengumi... well, who wouldn't want to write about the wolves of mibu and of their glorious battles as well as their... well, their unique mix of courage and stupidity -- ]

[but genis is right. at least two other groups will be covering the exact same thing.]

Aa, you are correct... How about something more generalized? Perhaps breaking down the misconceptions that samurai were truly honorable and noble and addressing the fact that they were more like hired thugs that switched loyalties with ease. Or how they evolved into today's yakuza?

[twohares]

[ Genis lets the correction and apology slide without a word like he's entirely indifferent. He feels a little bad seeing that shimmer come and go, but it's not really that important in the end. It's not until Masanosuke begins his pitch that he shows any reaction at all.

And the more Masanosuke goes on, the brighter Genis's expression becomes. His eyes light up, and he leans forward in his seat. ]

Wow, you're actually pretty good! You have a whole topic together already! [ He is so impressed; he though their class is full of idiots. ] Yeah, that sounds good. We might need to pace ourselves so it doesn't go on too long, but talking about the history of samurai could be really fun. [ Given his smile, he's already having fun. ]

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?]

[twohares]

What?

[ It was really unfair. He gets paired with someone that's actually smart, but all the work still ends up getting pushed off onto him.

He sort of expected that, but there was a pretty high likelihood that he would have been paired with an idiot, too.

So he's not having it. He shakes his head before he continues, taking a more insistent tone. ]

If I do that, you'll fail. You can't just breeze by when it comes to presentations. It'll be really obvious that I did all the work when you have no idea what the presentation's even about.

[ Come on, you have good grades. Don't you care about them at all? ]

[psychokinesia]

[He leans back in his chair, sighing loudly once Genis starts lecturing him. It's so unfair that he gets paired with someone who can pull their own weight and they still expect him to do part of the work...]

If I have no idea what it's about, then it's a shit presentation anyway.

Make cue cards—there, problem solved. Any other simple concepts you need me to explain?

[twohares]

[ It's probably a good thing they've never worked together before, because Add is already managing to get on his nerves. What's with that attitude when he's just being lazy?! Genis frowns, dropping lecture mode. ]

Yeah. Why can't you just split the work with me like a normal partner? Even stupid partners usually do that much. This will be finished a lot faster if we both work on it, you know.

[psychokinesia]

[He cracks a grin, folding his arms behind his head.]

Because stupid partners need to work hard to learn anything. That's why I think it's better if you do it yourself.

[In other words, he's calling Genis an idiot.

And... ignoring the fact that, technically speaking, Genis probably does have better history grades than Add. That's not an important detail as long as his average is higher. Suck it, shorty.]

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. ]

thank u ;o;

[twohares]

[ Found. Genis had to know he would be, but he still tensed and fought the urge to shift further into the closet - as if his back would find a secret passage and get him out of here.

He bit the inside of his lip and fidgeted with the wakizashi in his hand. Despite his best effort to be quiet, there's an audible click as he draws the blade from its sheath and grips it in one hand. He could do this. His body was already trembling as he inches out from behind the clothes, blade-first, and locks eyes with Sanson. ]

Listen— We don't need to do this. This entire thing is insane.

[lamortespoir]

[ Sanson remains where he is, stance unmoving and expression set in its usual stone-cold unreadability. He doesn't appear to be armed, however, unlike the other. ]

I didn't say I was going to kill you. I dissect only lawfully acquired specimens.

[ Sure, he had been that anatomy freak in school, but all his work was done on animals. No humans (yet).

But jokes (no matter how deadpan they are) aside - ]

If you wanted the stuff, I'd appreciate at least asking for permission. I'm not going to refuse all requests.

[twohares]

[ Genis's blade wavers. While he's armed, it's clear he's not used to holding so much weight in one hand. Still, he doesn't move, and for a second, he just gives Sanson an unimpressed look, as if to say, "Gee, that makes me feel so much better."

But in the end, Sanson is his classmate, and he doesn't want to believe that he would kill anyone. So he drops the attitude soon enough. ]

... I'm sorry. I didn't know any of this was yours. I thought this entire place was just abandoned.

[ His eyes flicker over to the bed. ] Why don't we share? I know you can't want to live off of nothing but chocolate pretzels.

[lamortespoir]

[ Sanson had been shunned in class partially because of his somewhat creepy manner as well as his own lack of motivation to socialize; but he had never actually broken any rules through his stay. Always hardworking, turning in assignments on time, reminding people of responsibilities - all around a model student, if one discounted the social requirement of being a model student.

So he still has his hands in his trenchcoat like he always does, ice blue eyes alert. ]

It's fine. I wouldn't have a pen to label it, anyway. [ This he says with a slight shrug. ] We can share, as long as you don't ditch me afterwards.