As ATP looms on the horizon once again...

[these_guys]

TEST DRIVE MEME


➞ Post with a character you wish to test drive in this game's setting.
➞ Tag other people's starters and thread out shenanigans!
➞ Invite your friends! Try out new characters! Come play with us!
➞ Have fun!


✭ ✭ ✭

Also, for the purposes of ENABLING, here's our gamewide comment on ATP!


We've created a Google Doc so you can submit your wanted characters for a big Route game ad on ATP!
FIND IT HERE
CUTOFF FOR ADDING CHARACTER WANT ADS TO THE GDOC IS:
7:00 PM, EST, ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26!

Comments

[gentlechild]

[That's an awful lot to digest. That he's been here before and somehow forgotten -- that's one thing. But for her to casually drop that she's from the future, that she's very close to Sasuke's age...

He doesn't respond immediately. The look in his eyes says that he's thinking it over for a couple minutes before he nods.]

I see. [It makes no sense. He sees that. But her tone tells him that arguing is pointless. If that is the strange rule of this world, then he'll go with it for now. So he focuses on something else instead.]

You were close with him?

[That's important. If she is precious to Sasuke...]

[usedswift]

[She'll let him take some time, instead focusing her attention on the Growlithe, running her fingers through his fur, playing with his ears, playfully moving his head from side to side and making faces at him.

She looks up when he speaks again, her own eyes a little wary. She knows what this guy did -- will do? she doesn't know how far back he's from -- but...]

Yeah. We took the Chuunin Exams together back home. Here? We were rivals. And -- he was my boyfriend.

[For a few months, anyway. Yougan turns to her and licks her cheek with a soft whine.]

[gentlechild]

[The wariness in her eyes is expected, although it still plucks a twinge of pain in his heart. Oh yes -- if she's telling the truth, if she's really from the future of his world, then things have gone as he expected. Sasuke has grown up (grown up!) hating him, and rightfully so.

Does it mean he'll have to wear the face of a monster with her, too? It will be harder, with her showing such confidence about playing with his new Pokémon, but he has done many hard things in his life.

He lets his features go still and cool. It's a mask, yes, but a mask he has prepared himself to wear for the rest of his life. It shouldn't dismay him that that is as true here as it would be in their own world.]

I see.

[usedswift]

Do you?

[She kind of doubts it, keeping her hands on the Growlithe as she looks up at him. Talking about Sasuke still kind of hurts; as much as she tries to pretend she isn't, she's still a little heartbroken about his disappearance in December. She hasn't yet developed the reflex of avoiding Sharingan eyes -- here, there's no point -- so it doesn't even occur to her to look away.

That coolness of his face is something she's definitely seen before though. Not just on him, but on Sasuke, too.]

What's the last thing you remember from back home? [she asks finally.] And don't try to lie, I'll know if you do.

[gentlechild]

[She'll know if he tries to lie? That kind of statement begs to be challenged. He gives her a studiously blank look, daring her to call him out, unimpressed by the threat.]

I was walking in the forest.

[It's a mild lie -- running, not walking -- but otherwise valid. And still calling her out, all the same.]

[usedswift]

Don't give me shit.

[Seriously, don't fuck with her, she doesn't have that kind of patience. She sits back on her heels and lets go of his Growlithe, crossing her arms at her knees and giving him a scowl.]

The last major event.

[gentlechild]

I answered your question.

[Because, frankly, he doesn't want to say it. It's enough that he did it, enough that he took that blood on his hands. Calmly discussing it with a stranger -- with Sasuke's girlfriend, apparently -- is just a bit too much for him.]

[usedswift]

You dodged my question. You don't have any idea who I am, don't push me.

[She flicks a hand in the air again, only to have Yougan lick her cheek again. Amazing. She's so intimidating with this huge firepuppy next to her.]

I just don't wanna spoil your future for you. [And as someone who's used to being the one the furthest back on the literal timeline, it's not something she gets to say often.] 'Cause I know what happens, and I know why. So don't try it.

[A lot of her frustration isn't even directed at him, though; it's all stuff she wishes she could have said to Sasuke. Itachi looks at once so much like him, and nothing like him at all.]

[gentlechild]

[And I know why. Those words catch his interest far more than anything else. How much does she know? It's supposed to all be deeply secret.]

Am I supposed to feel threatened? [Don't push her, she says. But he's being who he is -- who he has to be. His new self, a missing-nin, a murderer and traitor and all sorts of other things. And all of this at an age where few have even reached chuunin yet.]

I don't believe my future is any great concern of yours. Nor my knowledge of it.

[usedswift]

Oh, yeah. [Her voice heavy with sarcasm, she scowls at him again.] 'Cause your future didn't impact Sasuke at all. There's no reason for me to be concerned, you're right.

[She's never been the best with patience, when it comes right down to it. And her time spent battling Pokémon hasn't exactly helped her hone it, really.]

I'm trying to tell you that you don't have to act like a bad guy. If you wanna be a jerk, that's your own business. Maybe it's just how you guys are.

[gentlechild]

[How can he believe this? Even if he wants to. Even if he really wants to, because acting the part of a cold-hearted villain is something he dreads. She's claiming she knows -- but how much does she, really?]

Maybe I am a bad guy. [You are truly a gentle child, his father had said not too long ago.] Do you make a habit of being friendly with wanted criminals?

[usedswift]

I make a habit've being friendly to people who protect the village, [she retorts, nostrils flaring. That's it, then. He does know. The idea that he might just be using her own words to pretend he knows more than he actually does doesn't even occur to her.]

Doesn't mean we're friends, [she continues, crossing her arms,] But it does mean that we're comrades.

[gentlechild]

[She knows. He can't keep pretending she doesn't. And what's more, if she knows, then he has to assume Sasuke does as well.

What went wrong? By every plan he's laid, Sasuke should never find out -- he should come and kill Itachi still believing that the Uchiha were blameless. If the truth has been revealed... His throat tightens. Is it all going to fall apart in the future?

But for the moment, he needs to deal with her]

If you insist.

[usedswift]

[So many things go wrong in the future. So many. But even Tenten doesn't know a lot about that; she only knows what she's learned here, which is almost all second-hand information.

She shakes her head with another frown and crosses her arms more tightly.]

I do. It's up to you if we ever get to be friends or not, but I'm not your enemy.

[She tilts her chin and uncrosses one arm to flick it into the air again.]

And once you get strong enough, challenge me to a battle with your Pokémon.

[gentlechild]

[He's not used to being the bottom of the strength totem pole. But now it's about his Pokémon's strength, not his. How... uncomfortable.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[It's an uncanny echo of what he told Sasuke so recently -- once you get strong enough, come find me -- but at the same time it's so... well. Trivial, at least from what he's seen. Fighting via animal proxy?

Still, the most jarring thing is Tenten's insistence on being his comrade. If he can't dissuade her...]

[usedswift]

[She'll challenge him to a physical fight, in time; once he's had time to adjust to a lack of Chakra. As it is, she's pretty confident that she'd be able to beat him, but it wouldn't mean anything, not really. Not until he's more accustomed to this world.

The Pokémon thing, though... that's what Sasuke had done to her, to force her to adapt. She'd like to see that happen with this guy, too.]

Make sure that you do, 'cause I won't forget it. I'm not gonna help you, you've gotta figure it out for yourself. But you're not alone, either.

[gentlechild]

I wouldn't expect you to help me. That's not what you do to someone you've challenged.

[As he knows well. As she might know, if she knows Sasuke. He has experience with this sort of thing.

You're not alone, though. Of course he's alone. He's chosen a course that won't let him be anything but.]