memecount | | test drive |

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| test drive |

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?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

Edited 2016-02-26 20:59 (UTC)

[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?]

[ 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...

[ 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/ ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

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.]

[ 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. ]

Edited 2016-02-27 04:57 (UTC)

[ 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...

[ 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. ]

[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.]

Edited 2016-02-27 06:56 (UTC)

[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.

Edited 2016-02-27 07:12 (UTC)

[Poor, defenseless transfer student?! Something about that just seemed off. As if in another life this kid was anything but vulnerable...! So, no. No! This kid was just as good of a target as anyone else. Besides, Gintoki's eyes are locked on that triple-tiered bento and his stomach nearly growls in response.

He blinks slowly as the other clears a spot for him. The albino blinks a few times, eyes never leaving that little beckon.

Ah. Ah, did this guy maybe want a fri-

Na, na, nah! Nah! Impossible! This kid had to be just as twisted as his braid. Those were the only types that wore braids in this day and age...! Who would abuse poor, innocent straight hair like that besides someone who was twisted?!

He needs to make a move to answer that motion...]

Ah? It's hardly been afternoon yet, you know. The afternoon's just begun. Maybe. Maybe it'll be good, huh? [And he moves to set his hand in that emptied spot - so that he may lean over the other's desk a bit.

Ha, there. Perfect. Now he can survey that food a little more closely...]

[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!]

[It seemed that he really planned to sit there. Arthur let out a very put-upon sigh, his shoulders heaving with the gesture. Well, he didn't need to give up on getting any reading done just yet; he had a talent for driving people away, and he planned to make good use of it.]

Thank you, but I don't need any help. I was given a very comprehensive introduction. [Though, of course, he was confident that he would have been able to figure everything out even without guidance. It was a tad embarrassing to be helped at all, really, but it would have seemed rude and presumptuous to turn down the offer.]

[Alfred's fingers shook as he dipped them into the can and scooped it's contents into his mouth. The rations slopped and slid against his skin, but he stuck his tongue out just in time to catch them and gulp them down without tasting whatever rancid flavor they contained.

Was he starving? Not at all - but food was food and finding it was rare at this point. He'd polished off his stock the day before. So finding this cache was a 'woo-hoo' moment that he couldn't resist. Victories came in ways other than killing your classmates, after all...

As for that whole directive-

He was doing his best not to think about it. Not to dwell on any splatters of red on his shirt or any muddy rust colored substance matted in his hair. His glasses sat askew on his face from a fight he'd barely escaped, but the boy wore them as if the busted wires were normal.

Even as tremors continued to run through his hands, Alfred focused on smiling.

Especially now that someone had stumbled on his location. M-maybe they wouldn't want to fight. Maybe he could talk his way to safety! Alfred always had been good at chatting his way out of trouble. So he'd pop his head around the corner with a tense smile, teeth gritting together.] Yo! [He didn't open his mouth to say it. His jaw ached, but managing even a portion of his usual chipper tone in his greeting had taken all of his effort.

So hopefully this person would be friendly-

If not, he had his fingers wrapped firmly around the handle of his splintered baseball bat for insurance.]

Edited 2016-02-27 07:35 (UTC)

[Ah! But that! Is another life! In this life he's... okay, so he's still not really vulnerable at all. And not even that defenseless. But he could be! What if he was? Then someone would feel pretty bad trying to steal his lunch, wouldn't they? They should. They really, really should.

A friend? Nah. He had plenty of friends already. Both here, and at his last school. He didn't need more, and really didn't need mooching albino losers in his friend circle. Nothing to do with being twisted! Or an antagonist in another life to this idiot's protagonist!

Ah, but he's leaning over, now. Hm. How to answer such a daring step.]

Maybe so! Or maybe not! That is all up to us, yes?

[And he'll just. Lean a little more over his food, put the pointy end of his chopsticks in Gintoki's field of vision. Is that a threat? It's totally a threat.]

[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.]

[For every ounce of talent Arthur had when it came to driving people away, Alfred had that much ability to keep people around. Not really because he was the sort of person people wanted to be around, he was just that persistent. So commence the battle of obnoxious talents!

Speaking of, another one of his talents was food sniping, so be careful. He hasn't forgotten, even if he's letting it slide for now.

The American shoved a fistful of chips into his mouth, chewing them only partially before replying.] Oh, really? You were? That's cool! [He swallowed.] Have you picked your club already, then?

[Plenty of friends already? That sounds exactly like something a guy without any friends would say! You don't have any real friends, do you?! Oh no... Oh no, that would've almost turned Gintoki away from stealing food more than any vulnerability ploy---

Almost.

But as a proper protag to this moron's antagonist - he stays and shifts his weight onto the arm that was planted on the other's desk. Even catches the pointy end of a chopstick in his vision, and he's made a mental note of it. He'll beat it away if he has to.

He's no longer a protagonist, but his luck stat must reflect what he once was in a universe far, far away...]

That's a lot of responsibility. You ever think about that? Sorta messed up to leave it all on us.

[Now he'll make his move against the threat and motion towards the other's bento.]

Oi. That peach looks like it might got a bruise. You see it?

[... And he's poking towards it with his free hand.]

Oh. Oh that's a nasty one. It might've gone bad. Maybe you should take that one to compost, don't 'cha think?

[See you at the end. He'd uttered those words to his fellow delinquent when they'd seen each other in passing on the first day. So what the hell was the guy doing here now?

It wasn't the end yet. Go away. Go weeding or something - surely there were a few worthless cases hiding away somewhere.

Takasugi frowned, Kamui's voice and the sight of water a conflict of distaste and immediate relief. He fell to the ground, open palm sliding across the bottle of water and knocking him off balance to dig an elbow into the dirt.

It didn't phase him. Not because of his 'too cool' posturing, but because he was busy scrambling for the water and gulping it down.

Only after a few cold rushes of liquid pouring down his throat chilled his chest did he pull the bottle away. Much more, and he'd throw it all up and waste the resource.] You've been fairing well, then. [Not a question.

He pulled himself up to hands and knees, keening his head to look at Kamui as he sat back and finally let his back thud against the tree, settled in a crouched position.] How many? [He'd been keeping score himself - habits were hard to break.]

[Arthur nearly jumped out of his skin when the person revealed himself, a jolt of fear spiking through him at the sudden voice. He whirled in the direction of the noise, knife held at the ready and a spark of panic in his eyes.

But after a moment, staring into the barest hint of light in the cave and lingering on the quality of the voice, Arthur realised who it was. Naturally, anyone would sound familiar, as all of his fellow combatants were also his classmates, but this particular person tended to stand out, voice and all.

His tone was venturing, wary and tentative as he squinted into the cave to try and better make out his unwitting companion.] Alfred?

[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.]

[He has plenty of real friends! In fact, he'd hazard a guess that he has more friends than some obnoxious nosepicker who lost his protagonist powers in a ~~galaxy~~ universe far, far away.

But that's neither here nor there, because friendship isn't what's at stake here.]

Is it? But who would you rather be responsible for your good afternoon? Is it me?

[Because you're going to have a bad time if it is.]

I did! I saw it when I was packing, in fact!

[No, no, that won't do. He'll catch that free hand in those threatening chopsticks and will proceed to... eat the peach. Because "compost" is not going to be code for "Gintoki's stomach." Not today.

But he will keep talking with his mouth full.]

Luckily for me, it hasn't gone bad! Aaa, but thank you for your concern, soap opera-san.

Edited 2016-02-27 08:04 (UTC)

[Alfred squinted through the darkness - his eyes were likely more adjusted to the cave's low light than Arthur's, but the awkward angle of his glasses curbed any advantage that gave him.

He stretched his neck out around the corner, the voice that echoed inside the cave's walls hardly hostile.] Arthur...?

[And for once Alfred's voice was soft, clearly unsure and laced with exhaustion. Adrenaline drained from him as his company was more 'friend' than 'foe'.]

You alright...? [Not because he thought Arthur sounded like shit, but he didn't want to come out there to a bloody mess because, honestly, he'd probably scream.]

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| test drive |

Sakata Gintoki | Gintama

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Genis Sage | Tales of Symphonia

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England | Axis Powers: Hetalia

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Takasugi Shinsuke | Gintama

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