Round 2: Test Drive

[cordibus]

Welcome to the second 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 - Flower Festival

The Festival of Flowers is in full bloom in the city! As an inhabitant of Eddan, you're excited to go and attend some of the activities! But unknown to you, something else might be starting to beat in the deepest, darkest depths of your heart.

The festival log prompts can be found here. Please note that you can use these to post in the test drive, but not on the player log itself!

Additionally, if both test drive player and game players agree, the festival test drive threads can also become game canon! As long as the test drive character is played as being completely unaware of what has happened in the game up to this point. Keep in mind that they would NOT have had a message on their phones. Two Test drive players can also make these game canon if they get accepted (and they keep the same requirements as above).

Prompt 2 - 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 3 - 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 4 - 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

[pathfinding]

It works. The spiel cuts off in what can only be taken as a spoken keysmash before ducking down out of his reach. There's a kneejerk reaction again - sorry, thank you - but it comes out as swatting his hand off.

"Black is a shade, not a color. Is what I'm saying."

The important thing to take away from this. Even though the tense still rolls off with a sigh. It's only with Gabe, a loyalty he can't shake off easily, but it's easy to worry too much about him. It's not like the foster family is bad, but neither of them will listen to them any more than necessary. That leads to Gabe making dumb decisions and he's still bad at anger management and no one will be there to worry about the idiot once he's deDon't think about it.

"I'm proud of you. I know how hard it must be not smacking people's heads together every ten seconds," meant in the most loving way possible. "Give it a couple more years of good behavior and you can get it expunged. Then you can work on getting the rest of your paperwork together-"

Wait.

Motherfucker.

"Hey! I'm not a brat!"

[blackdogdown]

He pulls his hand back, blinking a little dumbly.

"What? Can't it be both?" More differences? Well, he's learning so many new things today.

Its such a joy to watch Kris's naggy expression go from worried to pissed. He has to stop to let out a snort at how sudden the change of mood occurs. He actually leans down a bit to laugh. What an asshole.

"That exactly what a brat would say, don't you think?" He accepts his brothers incoming beating with open arms.

Now he doesn't have to answer any pesky question about good behavior or any felonies he may have committed in the last 24 hours. There are bandages on his knuckles after all, even if Kris has been to distracted (or polite) to notice. Smashing windows comes with a price.

[pathfinding]

Oh merciful dead gods he's pretty sure he had a nightmare about this.

"I'm not reliving color theory lessons with you." It'll take the better part of two hours to get it into parts he can make sense of, and then Gabe will dump it out of his head by the next day because it's useless knowledge. Maybe two days, if he's lucky. There's better ways to spend that time.

The beating is almost imminent, but the shoulders lower in time with the anger fizzling out. Not even because it's him, but because it's always just. Tiring. It's just petty insults.

But the downcast expression notes the bandages and understands what Gabe wants. If anyone understands wanting to dodge subjects it's him. He's smashing things again. Something's gone sideways - but he doesn't want to think about it.

So Gabe gets elbowed again. Sharp bone between ribs this time. He wants an annoyed brat brother for a distraction, he can do that. "I'm sorry I couldn't hear you over all the shit you're talking. Try again?"

[blackdogdown]

"Theories on colors...." Gabe do you even go to school. "I don't get it. Its just color."

Theres plenty he doesn't get in life though, and he brushes it off quickly.

He actually gets a little huff from a well placed dig. The bandaged hand comes down to push his brothers face away a bit. It hurts sure, but he doesn't wince. A worryingly high pain tolerance is just a classic Gabe trait. How many times had he come home with new bandages and bruises and dodged every question about their cause. "You're like a little monkey, aiming for a mans weak spots like that. Not gonna fight me one on one?"

[pathfinding]

Nope, no, nada, nyet, he's not getting another bottomless pit of horror that's them arguing back and forth over pointless questions in an even more pointless discussion. He is not going to be successfully trolled again, dammit-

Actually, wait no, go ahead Gabe. Continue to terrorize him, egg him on with your ridiculous questions. He just got a reaction from that one. Kris doesn't share the same pain tolerance, but he gets the 'I'm immune to all reactions' part. That exhale is as damning as anyone else screaming.

Bending smoothly with the shoving is just reflex, still continuing normally despite the visibly awkward positioning, but the only glimpse Gabe gets of his face is a smile that's more fangs than teeth. On another person's face, it might even be something akin to madness.

But it's Kris, so no. It's not. It's just Jerk.

"Wow, trying to fight an invalid? That's a hate crime, Gabe! Please don't worsen your record over something like me." Thing- "Also the last time you tried teaching me to fight, I flipped out. Friends don't stab each other."

[blackdogdown]

"Fists are blind brother." He shoves a little more in what might be a tousle, might be a very cruel form of facial reorganization. "There isn't anyone on this planet who I wouldn't beat up. That includes you."

Anyone. He won't point it out, and his face barely shows his flash of anger (he always looks angry) and instead he lets his hand slide down and sighs.

"It's important for you to know how to defend yourself. There's nothing wrong with being scared, but you should know how to stab a guy like me."

[pathfinding]

While having unnerving amounts of balance helps sometimes, it's not to the level to survive being assaulted by a vindictive brother. Nothing is that level. So Gabe can watch as Kris nearly trips over in an attempt to avoid it. Point: Gabe. At least it's not a wipe out. "Still a hate crime! And you can't beat up the Pope."

There was probably something after that, the start of some vowel to resume the friendly bickering, but the change in subject freezes it. He's right, it's logical, changing the subject like means it gets farther away from the bandages on his hands, but still. What's the point of defending yourself if it just speeds up an inevitability?

More importantly, the underlying current of whispers a different tune. Not here, weaponless, but pens work fine if you hit the right place. He's too tall, range is wider, has to be quick and immediate, during the scuffle it would've been an easy shot, submandibular triangle, aim for the carotid, bleeds too fast- 'You should know how', he says.

He knows how.

Sorry for your subject dodging, Gabe, but the thought of continuing this conversation is shoved away so hard it probably got thrown straight out of reality. "You're going to turn me into a sociopath at this rate. I'll pass! Subject closed. Oh, what lovely weather we're having today."

[blackdogdown]

"Says who?" He'd beat up the Pope. He doesn't have any reason to, so he probably wouldn't but he could? Is he supposed to be worried for his soul or something? Sounds stupid.

He doesn't catch the freeze, the sudden stutter stop of thoughts. He's not subtle enough for that. Perhaps its a blessing that he doesn't know, assumes Kris to have needed any sort of instruction. Would he be proud, to know that his brother put in more thought about hurting him then he'd ever assumed? Would he be surprised?

Instead he just blinks at the sudden subject change and grins. "You aren't one already? Even after five years with me?"

[pathfinding]

"I said 'can't', not 'won't'. You'd have to go through an army of bodyguards and then one-v-one a giant Tupperware container."

Yes, better, focus on the mental image of Gabe trying to punch his way out of a plastic box. Way more theraputic. Much better than questioning what his fade would look like if he was any quicker on the uptake. Probably tries headbutting the box too. Yes.

"That's a dumb way of pronouncing 'it's lovely out very minimal rainfall perhaps we should eat outside'." Worst brother. But not really. Bluhhh- "Give it five more years."

[blackdogdown]

"Sounds fun." Gabe no that's not the correct response. "Think they'd have tasers?"

He's never been electrocuted before. So of course he's wondered.

"Pft. You say that like you could get me to eat inside on the flower festival. We're due for rainfall season eventually. I wanna make this count." Besides, his brother never gets enough sun. Keeping him cooped up anywhere wouldn't sit well.

He nods sagely. "Incredible. You can hold out that long. I need to step up my game."

[pathfinding]

Gabe immediately gets The Look shot at him. How is he alive? "Fun, he says. You know what. For your birthday, I'll get a cop to tase you."

Then he can have something to cross off his bucket list. In the meantime, he gets away with mere sniping, as thanks for not calling his brother a plant aloud. In-narrative is totally fine though. "Feels bad for anyone who's got allergies, though. The entire week must be like extended torture-"

Wait, that last part, no, no, god please no- "Don't strain yourself on my behalf. Please."

[blackdogdown]

"Really? Aw, I'm honored." Gabe asks himself that every day Kris. Conclusion: Pure dumb luck.

He grin only increase. "But you know I'd do anything for my dearest younger brother." His drawl only lengthens the emphasis on brother. "If your going to get me tased by my birthday, I'll need to do something first. I can't bully you in jail."

[pathfinding]

Oh god he got the batshit smile. Thank god he was hospitalized for his birthday so he can't get wrecked until December. ...On the downside, that gives Gabe seven months to come up with a punishment.

He's dead.

"Who says you'd be getting arrested? Maybe I could find some crooked cop to zap you for ten bucks. Or just buy one online and do it myself. That means you can keep being a terrorist in smaller bits instead of one large violence orgy."

[blackdogdown]

Seven months is a long time to plan...and save up....

"With this record? I bet I could get any cop to turn me in for his raise." The other idea has promise. He nods sagely.

"Tempting. I've heard what they say about delayed gratification."

He points a finger and smirks. "But what keeps me from taking that taser?"

[pathfinding]

Okay gabe spends way too much time running around and punching things and getting punched by things so maybe he'll get smacked too hard and forget - except that won't happen because he's way too spiteful of a person and his luck sucks. Shit.

"Thaaaat it makes you an asshole and you shouldn't do it?" And the finger just gets a look that could almost be defined as disdain. Almost - Kris is still a bit too far on the 'nice' side for that.

Either way, the hand gets swatted away. "Nothing, really. You get a free stun gun out of it. Just don't come after me with it. Go after your track mates, maybe it'll encourage 'em to run faster."

[blackdogdown]

"Hey." He shakes his hand out, even though it doesn't hurt. Boy's got callouses on his callouses. "Calling your brother an asshole after he buys you lunch? You're a cold one."

"The perfect birthday gift... Oh. You're totally right." Green Valley's track team will rue this day Kris. "I think a cattle prod would work better then...but those are a bit harder to carry around."

[pathfinding]

"My temperature actually does run colder than average." Doesn't count as an insult if it's true, take that bro. "And I'll apologize once you actually buy it, not imply you are."

See, on one hand? He feels bad. The track team probably doesn't deserve it, probably. On the other hand, he knows Gabe wouldn't go after him with it on account of it would kill him, so there's no real risk on his end.

Maybe in July. Waiting until Christmas means the track season's over. "It'll be a bit more expensive, but what about the gun-style tasers? They have those little projectile bits that embed in the skin before shocking. Range is like ten meters or something."

The one good thing of having a brother who's a walking wikipedia: yessss im getting a taser for my birthday.