| 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

[boogerflinger]

[A miracle that he made it into the academy? Yes. Probably. Definitely. A miracle in the form of reason Gintoki's ass had being planted into Student Housing by his mentor figure in order to guarantee that Gintoki would make the transition from homeschooling to high school in one way or another.

Though just how far Gintoki would get in this high school was up for debate. He gives a gentle mumble as the other student nears him. A smile begins to twitch on his face. A good dream then?

A good dream that was instantly shattered by a pinching pressure on his nose. His brows furrow and he quickly shoots upward. His spine straightens, and his eyes are wide as he surveys his surroundings...

To find the culprit had scooted a chair up to his desk. His brow furrows.]

Whazzat? Huh? The hell are you doin' over here, huh? [His nose is beginning to run a bit. He sniffs.] If they locked me in, I'd be in on time tomorrow. Well. Probably. But. Wait. Wha-

[He had really missed the announcement of a group project in its entirety.]

[twohares]

[ Genis sits there innocently - as innocently as someone snickering behind their hand can. All eyes were on them once again, but, well, Gintoki was the one who made the scene. He waits for Gintoki to stop talking before he says anything. Gintoki might be a lazy idiot, but at least he wasn't boring. That counted for something. ]

You really slept through the whole thing? I can't believe you! You're lucky Wada-sensei hasn't written you up yet.

[ Genis sighs, shaking his head. If his mentor knew what Gintoki was like now, he might cry. Or, well, if their positions were reversed, Genis's sister would cry. Maybe his mentor would be used to this. ]

We have a group project. We're partners now. [ A meaningful pause. ] And if I do it all, the teacher's going to know.

[boogerflinger]

[The betrayal on his face from the cruel nose pinching has yet to leave his face. Gintoki's lips are curled, and his dead fish-eyes continue to blink as the other speaks. He's blinking in rapid succession in an attempt to better wake up.]

You. You can't believe it? Ahhh, you hold me in such high regard then, Sake-kun?

[Sake... kun? Gintoki absolutely had to be doing that on purpose. Was it his way of getting back at the other through minor petulance? Perhaps.... Perhaps.

Genis' sister would surely cry - though Gintoki's mentor would simply knock him upside the head as he properly deserved. Luckily state education prevent Wada-sensei's fist from ever connecting with Gintoki's skull.

... A failing of the system, perhaps - as it was one of the few ways the brat learned. So he sniffs once more before he places his finger in his nose at the near threat.]

So.

You want me to participate then, Sake-kun? Sure. Sure. I know a lot about... [A meaningful pause.] A lot of things.

[....... Nope, Gintoki had no idea what this project was for.]

[twohares]

"Sake...kun"?

[ He's not sure if he's even offended more than he is annoyed. What kind of shitty nickname is that?! He frowns, kicking Gintoki's desk lightly in repressed irritation.

Genis felt that if the teacher smacked him awake, Gintoki might learn something, too. It wasn't like there was anything in there to damage. Gintoki probably picked out and flicked off his brain a long time ago.

This partnership was definitely a rude joke by Wada-sensei. Or maybe fate. Things had been going so well before, too... ]

I'd be surprised if you knew what day it was... [ Genis folds his arms across his chest. Ok, enough picking on Gin. ] We're supposed do a presentation about what we learned this year for English class. That means the presentation has to be in English, too.

Since you know a lot, why don't you can pick the topic, Sakana-kun?*

[ ...ok, maybe still picking on Gin a little, but he's doing it with a smile? Also, at least letting Gintoki pick meant that he should be able to actually choose something he knows a little about. Hopefully. ]

[boogerflinger]

[The kick caused a smile to begin twitching onto his features. Gintoki couldn't help it - he always responded well to antagonism in any sort of communication he had. One could even venture to say he flourished in it.

And so he leans back, his chair groaning as he balances on the back two legs. His feet come up to rest on his desk and his attention is on Genis.

Though for a moment he does have to remind himself just what day it was. He blinks and blinks again before mentally confirming that it was, indeed, Wednesday. With that sorted out, he can finally address the oth--

Sakana-kun? His nose upturns a bit and now he's giving the other a suspicious look. Sure, sure he can mess up Genis' name, but where did this brat get off making fun of his name huh?! Tsk...! He lets out an irritated little huff before letting it slide.]

English? Oh, oh. My English is amazing! Super Good!, even. [... His little display of English. Oh no, his English... wasn't very good at all, was it?!] Okay, okay. Then. Then we will present on strawberry milk if it's up to me, Sake-kun. Are you ready for that?

[twohares]

[ Gintoki might be a delinquent, but getting that little rise out him from messing up his name is enough to make Genis smirk. Heh.

Though Gintoki's laziness really knows no bounds. When Gintoki leans back, Genis props his own elbow up on the desk and holds his head, looking back at Gintoki and his dead fish eyes. This project wasn't going to get anywhere, was it? No. No, it wasn't. Uuuuugh. ]

Lunch doesn't actually count as a class, Sakana-kun, even if it is the only period you're awake for... And the English you learn in commercials doesn't count, either. [ Genis can imagine...a presentation with Gintoki just tossing in a Nice! and So cool! every now and then while he does the rest. Maybe it's better that way... ] Come on, there has to be something you learned this year.

[boogerflinger]

[Delinquent?! Delinquent??? Have you seen the other people in this class? Gintoki is surely more upstanding than half of them...! He's a well-liked guy...! He's just real! True to his boyish heart......!]

[Though he is lazy. There's no excusing that.]

I learn more English than commercials. You'd be really surprised by it. Fresh! So you'll just have to wait an' see- [Fine, so this guy doesn't want to have a fun project. Then he'd think of something else. He squints for a moment before nodding.] I learned that the door to the girl's changing room doesn't make a noise if you push on it from the left most side. That could be a very informative presentation. Oh, yes! [...Was this idiot now just interjecting shit English into his speech to annoy this guy? Absolutely.]

[twohares]

[ ...Come to think, Genis could honestly say he'd rather work with Gintoki more than the most of the class. He's a good person, he's funny... He's just a lazy moron. ]

[ Trying to annoy Genis with shitty English now? Wow.

It absolutely works. Along with that presentation suggestion, Genis frowns with a look that says he's just about ready to kick Gintoki's chair over. ]

Seriously? Okay. Sure, that would be great. I bet the girls in class love to know how you found that out. Seeing what they do afterwards would be the real informative part.

[boogerflinger]

[Genis' perception of Gintoki's personality is, honestly, spot-on. Not even Gin would argue with it. He's well aware of the loser he truly is.]

[...And also acutely aware of just how easy Genis is to bait. He grins, brows arched at the other's disgust.]

Ah, come on Sake-san! Then how about We do what You Like!. [This bit is delivered with a bit of a hip-wiggle before Gintoki chuckles.] Since none of my suggestions are striking the right note with you, huh? What would you rather present on?

[twohares]

[ That's a good trait to have, too. No need to go into denial.

And even Genis is aware of just how much fun Gintoki is having at his expense. Jerk. Genis's foot nudges Gintoki's desk again - not enough to throw Gintoki off balance, but enough to make the leg creak - as he puts on an innocent face. ]

What, you don't want to see everyone's reaction to your idea? I think it'd be great. You could probably do it all on your own.

[ ...He doesn't actually have his own idea yet. ]

[boogerflinger]

[His chair had been kicked out from under him enough times by other short peers with ever shorter tempers that it was second nature for him to lean his weight forward to compensate for the motion of the desk. His eyes narrow, as if the other had betrayed him with this act of mischief before a smile twitches back onto his face.

Uh oh.

He must've caught that this Know-It-All had no clue!]

Ah, ah! You'd put your grade in my hands, huh? Genichiro you must really be in an academic block, hm? That is. OKAY. Then we can make our presentation about how you are just small enough to fit in a locker within the girl's locker room!

[twohares]

[ Aaaand there goes Genis's smile right along with his foot giving the desk more than just a playful nudge. The screech alone is enough to make at least a few classmates turn their eyes back to the amazingly dysfunctional pair. ]

Or maybe we should see if you can fit in one first. You can put your trick to the test. It won't be my fault if you get stuck, though.

[boogerflinger]

[Ha! That little tantrum kick was enough to signal that Gintoki had not only won but was also right. Success! And so he leans forward - his chair falling back onto four legs with a 'thump' to accompany that angry squeak. He rests his elbows on his desk, using his legs to scoot the piece of furniture back into place.]

No, no. It's a group project. So we have to combine what we're both good at, right? I wouldn't want to steal your thunder, you know.

[And then he takes in a deep breath. Since he won, he supposed he could now continue on. See. Nothing dysfunctional about this, right? Right! ]

So. Let's make a snack and give English instructions. Yes? What do. You. Thank? [That... was the wrong word, but close enough.]

[twohares]

It's "think".

[ He's blushing now, and he hopes his hair can hide some of it when he's leaning over his notebook. ]

Come on, we still need to pick a real topic before we can start eating or I can start tutoring you in how to speak actual English.

[ Even though he clearly had no idea? What was his sister's class learning right now? ]

Let's do a presentation about the Heian period.

[boogerflinger]

[Gintoki prickles a bit at the correction and color goes to his ears. Well it was that and his idea getting tossed away rather quickly... Had he been sincere with that suggestion?]

That's. That's what I said. "Thank". [... Oh. Maybe he's just mispronouncing it so it sounds like a completely different word. Who knows at this point. Best to just leave it lay.]

Huh? Oi, that was a real topic! Then it's interactive and still has a lot of talking. They want us to present something we learned, so let's make something they eat in the United Federation. Talk about it. Give instructions. And then everyone gets to eat!

Then no one will sleep through it.

[And he ends that with a huff.

Oh... He'd been actually suggesting something. It wasn't... just a ploy for food. Maybe if Gintoki didn't cry food wolf all the time, it would've sounded as genuine as he had meant it-]