Round 1: Test Drive

[cordibus]

Welcome to the first test drive!

Please don't worry too much about using your Personas correctly or following the prompts exactly. They're meant to give you starting ideas, but by all means, go wild and add more options!

The objective here is to try out characters and see who you could have the most fun with in the game's setting. However, feel free to follow this link to request a Persona be generated for you as if you were part of the game. (Please try to limit this to only one of your test drive characters if you can as to not overwhelm us! Never mind generating Personas is a pretty fast process! Request for as many characters away as you like!)

If you have questions about the test drive itself, you can ask them here! If you want to play an AU don't forget this entire post can be used for you to get AU scenarios set up and see who your character might have been related too or know before Awakening.

Now then, let's begin...

Prompt 1 - From Dawn to Dusk

The city has been abuzz for the past few weeks. A new string of murders is making front page news and serving as a grim reminder why the nightly curfew is so important. As families, perhaps even someone close to you, mourn, pressure continues to rise at the many police stations and at city hall. The people are afraid and they’re demanding answers.

There's not much time for you to dwell on this.. Like everyone else in the city, you have a lot to do, and a tight schedule to do it in. You don't even notice the application that has appeared on your phone's screen. The headache that follows, however, is strange and disorienting, and it brings with it an odd sensation that something is wrong today. You’re just not sure why.

The day passes by and soon, it's close to midnight. Your body, if you're not in bed by now, is completely exhausted. Despite your best efforts, you'll find yourself closing your eyes. Too bad it's quickly interrupted by a strange noise, and movement like something pulsating softly.

It's your phone, or at least you think it's your phone, but it's never glowed this orange before. There’s mist rising above it almost like fire...something's definitely bizarre about this. Despite your fears, you forces yourself to open it, and click on that strange snake-like icon.


It opens revealing a single statement and blank box;

To begin, please write your name.

Your fingers move on their own. Before you have time to really think about it, and as the pain inside your head becomes so terrible you start breathing rapidly and sweating, you've entered a series of letters and pressed enter. Now you're in a large chatroom with many others...but your 'name' you've never even heard of it...have you? It almost feels like you have...

Prompt 2 - Awakening

The last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon almost an hour ago, yet here you are, walking through the apple orchards located behind one of the campus wings. The strange app that's been sending you strange clues the past seven days now says you're ready to face the truth. It told you to come here tonight, but never to travel alone. Repeatedly, it warns you to make sure to have someone close by if you're to survive…but besides some friends, what else did you bring with you? Did you pack for this, or did you figure you'd make it up as you go? Are you in a position to be able to bring weapons with you that no one would suspect?

Something is out there, and it's getting closer.

Before you can think, you see it: a large, blackish mass, almost like slime, slithering along the ground resembling a vaguely humanoid shape with glowing yellow eyes. When it roars again, it reveals rows and rows of teeth. This was a mistake your brain warns. The strange name from the chatroom, the days leading up to this...you're fairly certain even if you are prepared that you're going to die.

And yet, something inside you stirs. Even as they move closer, you find yourself charging instead of running, as your heartbeat increases. A voice inside is guiding you, each movement bringing forth a surge of memories of a past that you had lost. You’re angry and confused, but your pain, your fears, your rage for all of this… all of that needs to be taken out on those creatures.

All you need to do now is to tear out your heart.

Prompt 3 - A new, old life

Now that you have your memories back, the strange veil of this world has been somewhat lifted. Things that seemed simple now seem strange. You have so many questions, but not enough answers. Then there's the new weapons you wield and the strange creature inside of you...your Heart Persona.

During the day, you are encouraged to continue to live as you did before, but with old and new memories together, sometimes it is difficult to keep acting like you did. Will it cause issues in your job or school life? Will it change your reactions to whatever life you had here? Do you notice others like you who have awakened?

Maybe it would be a good time to send a chatroom message, just to ask others what they are planning to do. Maybe you should set up a meeting to fight shadows at night. Maybe you’ll organize a plan of attack or set up a club to escape the strange looks others have been giving you. Maybe you just want someone's opinion on the best place to have pizza. Hey, no one said you had to use the AppleNET just for serious things, after all.

Comments

CAGLIOSTRO | GRANBLUE FANTASY

[eyeofcute]

A; SICK AS A DOG

[For people who know Cagliostro, it's not actually uncommon to see her like this. Panting, sweating, about to literally pass out-- yeah, that's normal for her. With an unfortunate habit of working herself to the bone, and an already weak body, this stupid app is literally bringing her to her knees--]

Ugh! Ghack, get out of the way...

[However, for people who don't know, Cagliostro looks like a twelve year old-- despite having the voice of an adult woman. Her sweaty palms are clasped around her phone, textbooks be damned, and even then, it almost seems to heavy for her. Most people tend to try helping someone in need--

Especially when Cagliostro literally collapses right in front of them. Her phone goes tumbling out of her hands, revealing that suspicious snake-app you've also gotten! How coincidental.]

Cough! Don't touch me! I can get up... [She can't.]

B; FIGHT SCENES AHOY

Ah... ahhh, no, wait--

[Cagliostro likes to act tough. She likes to pretend she doesn't need help, and whenever she acts meek, she's only using her cute charms to get what she wants.

So, of course she brought no one with her. Of course she's going to face this alone.

If you're, hopefully, nearby, you can hear her begin to plead, stepping backwards from the writhing mass of darkness-- that's fear. Real, genuine, terror.]

Wait... stop! STOP!

[She doesn't seem to have noticed you yet. Then again, who can blame her? Whatever this... shadowy thing is, it's utterly monstrous. It'll swallow her in one bite. There's nothing she can do-- she can't run away, it's coming too fast--

The only way to even have a chance to survive is to stand her ground.

So she does.

Even if tearing out your heart is an illusion, and it logically makes no sense in her mind that she's even able to tear her goddamn heart out in the first place, ribs and flesh in the way-- the first few seconds and filled with nothing but fear. A trembling, primal fear. The basic desire to stay alive.

And then, all at once--]

Ahahahahahah!

[She practically explodes back into action, a snake springing out from behind her.]

Yes! Finally! Die, die, die!

[Actually... if you were thinking of helping her, maybe you should just. Run away now. Or join her in her violent assault.]

C; NETWORK OPTION

The snake eating its own tail is Ouroboros.

[Of course. Ouroboros, the symbol of eternity, life and death, rebirth-- rebirth-- it makes complete sense. And being a genius of alchemy Chemistry, it's obvious that Ouroboros would be her Persona.

She probably thinks she's the chosen one or something, but her Persona Ouroboros is probably just a coincidence. Still!]

It's Ouroboros on the app icon. Anyone got any clue what the middle thing with an eye is?

D; ANYTHING ELSE

[punch me i'll punch back. also YES to all pre-determined CR! anything else (library shenanigans etc) can go here.]

A not sorry

[fearcival]

[ Good thing is, Percival is too much of a badass to actually help someone.

Best thing is, she asked nicely. So even though Percival happens to be around her at the time of her downfall, he's just... going to stare at her, crouching down to her level even because lmao ur so tiny rn Cag.

Pic related is his face right now. What's wrong, Cagliostro? Not strong enough to carry your dirt team? ]

neither am i

[eyeofcute]

[fuck you and your fear AND your gacha rolls, Percival, may you never get Shiva

Cagliostro manages to... reach an arm out, at least. And, without thinking, she grabs onto Percival's pantsleg to try to help herself up.

SHE DOESN'T CARE IF SHE RIPS HIS PANTS OFF. SHE'S USING IT.]

[fearcival]

[ [LAUGHS IN ACTUALLY USEFUL 5* UPGRADES]

Except he can't do that since he's going to get grossed out by Cagliostro's pathetic attempt to use his royal and expensive pants. KMR GET THIS PEASANT AWAY FROM MY PANTS. ]

If you need a hand, you could have just asked.

[ He still isn't going to help because lmao he's Percival. ]

C for now, sorry

[umbral_idol]

Elizabeth Bathory: ...We're going to have to fight an Ouroboros eventually, aren't we?

Elizabeth Bathory: I mean, if you're summoned to a place with monsters, you're supposed to fight them, she's got this. This is like "getting summoned" basics 101.

Elizabeth Bathory: Even if it's in a computer.

Elizabeth Bathory: Especially if it's in a computer.

[eyeofcute]

[Yeah, especially a computer.]

Cagliostro: hey, ouroboros is my friend. he popped up after i ripped my heart out. either that, or we're going to fight a bigger badder ouroboros than mine

[umbral_idol]

Elizabeth Bathory: Probably the second one, then. But you got a snake? That would've been nice. I just got a demonic older version of myself.

c

[makababe]

blood maybe

[eyeofcute]

too easy try again

[makababe]

idk, pee?

A

[debuffer]

[ Oh shit look at this useless Earth unit who are you joking Clarisse you got powercreep'd to oblivion. But no need to worry!! The actually bigger little sister is here.

To annoy her even further. ]

H-Hey, you okay there, stupid sis? [ Ah, right. ] Lookie, this is why you shouldn't have eaten my pudding!

[ She's such a good little sister that she's not even going to help her here... ]

[eyeofcute]

[At least Cagliostro's Seasonal is actually usable, fam

In any case-- Cagliostro punches Clarisse's leg. Weakly. Way too weakly. Normally, if she does end up throwing punches, they hit hard for someone who only stands four feet tall.] Ugh... cough, hack-- I swear, if I die from this...

[And then she goes silent.

...

is she actually dead]

a. )

[erune]

[ this is, undoubtedly, an awkward situation to find oneself in. he had all the intentions to stride along casually, only, he happens upon a certain thud. a particular noise of something falling to the ground. he sees the phone slide right beneath where he about to step next. fortunately, he doesn't manage to take that final step...

instead, his foot sort of hovers and acts as a stopper to the phone from escaping any further out of her grip. then there's a brief stare that takes place. it lasts seconds too long, before he releases a hefty exhale. ] Can you stand? [ at least it's an attempt at something. still, he seems to be analyzing the situation at present, not taking any extraneous movements to go that extra mile in in assisting her.

look, he has Priorities. ]

[eyeofcute]

[why is every granblue such a fucking dick

Cagliostro, while certainly struggling to breathe and much less stand, nods her head as violently as she can before pushing herself up. And up! And... nah, she just rolls over onto her back instead of face-first into the ground. Eh, it's an improvement.]

...Ugh... just-- one second.

[She may be protesting, but look, us dirts have got to stick together. Help her up, doggyboy.]

[erune]

[ haven't you heard of the quote: good things come to those who wait?

it's funny, because that actually has nothing to do with the scenario that's currently playing out. or rather, the wait seems to be horrifically long. extended past what was probably reasonable or fair. but, well, there's something about a ... (sort of) young girl laying flat on her face that moves one to action. he bends his knees carefully, before retrieving the phone first. he peers at it, and keeps it firmly within his grasp, before he finally reaches down.

instead of simply offering a hand, he picks her up by utilizing the fabric of her top. it's a gentle tug, enough for her to muster up any of her own strength, if she has it. if he detects her to be still lifeless, well. here's to stretching out your clothes. i'm sorry, cag. only, i'm... looks up. ] ...?

[ there's a brief pause, his head canting at the sight of her. ]

a

[lanslot]

[ Here comes Lancelot, the only sane, nice people in this GBF tag train. ]

Oh goodness. Are you okay? I can get you to your room!

[ She's small enough to carry. ]

[eyeofcute]

I'm fine! [Proceeds to cough a lung out.] Ugh, I don't need... your help...

[She's playing QWOP with her limbs, except also with a gigantic headache and the whispers of Satanapp drifting into her head. Christ, this is difficult.]

A because I gotta

[princessofsociallinks]

Lucia Knightley, of all people, is the one trying to haul Cagliostro up and get help.

"Overworking again? It's all well and good to diligently study, but there can be too much of a good thing. I can get you to the nurse's off-"

She notices the app, then. And frowns, handing her back her phone. "You've got that strange app too, huh?"

u know where to hit it where it hurts

[eyeofcute]

Cagliostro recognizes that voice immediately. She almost jumps back, except she can't, weak body and all. "Gah, I'm fine! Cough... I can handle more than this..." Thankfully, Cagliostro is in no state to protest, so Lucia can haul her up on her feet without much trouble.

When Lucia mentions the app, that's when Cagliostro's expression changes from annoyance to a grin of curiosity. "App? Yeah, that app with a snake-thing eating itself. Think someone hacked our phones?"

A true, true friend helps a friend in need

[princessofsociallinks]

"I'm certain someone did. We can worry about who and why later. Come on."

And with that, Twilight tries to remain silent until Cagliostro is properly resting in bed. Twilight scrolls down the new app's chatroom, frowning, before looking up. "Let me know if you need anything," she says.

c; u/n: iyo yamaguchi

[waycuter]

it's blood, of course.

[ duh. ]

[eyeofcute]

[cmon now]

ur the SECOND person to say that jeez choose a more interesting answer

[waycuter]

[ whoa there ]

you shouldn't ask for answers if you're not willing to accept them.

C

[tacticianing]

I'm not sure. It looks like liquid of some kind.

[eyeofcute]

[You don't say, fam.]

well i mean the circle looks like a snake eating its tail, but 'ouroboros' tend to clue us in a bit better.

i don't recognize this symbol. have you seen it anywhere before?