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

[singlefaith]

"He can try~." She smirks, standing. "But even if he does, he won't be laughing."

She offers a hand.

[spoilsfun]

He reaches up to take her hand.

"What do we work on first?"

[singlefaith]

She leads him in among the flowers, through the path leading towards the back of the stall. Blossoms in nearly every color cluster around them, giving off a heady aroma of mingled scents. At the back is a worktable with a few vases clustered over the surface, scattered with piles of unusable blossoms and trimmed bits of stem. The latter have their own smell -- green and sharp and faintly bruised.

"One second!" Ran swoops beneath the table, rummaging in a box before she stands, producing the promised apron with a flourish. It's definitely too big for him, but she loops it over his head anyway, mindful of his glasses. Shifting behind him, she adjusts it so it fits him , folding the length of it upward so that there's a fold at his waist and the tie still ties where it should. The neck strap she tightens until it's at its smallest possible loop before she leans back to admire her work.

"Now you look professional~. Nothing for Heiji to laugh at at all."

Back to his question: "Let's start with the watering. There's not too much more to do, but the flowers can't wilt in the middle of the festival, right?"

Handing down a still half-full can from the counter where she'd put it down when she saw him: "If Conan can get the lilacs, I think that's where I left off?"

[spoilsfun]

After all the other times Conan had come to visit Ran, he was more than used to this step. He holds his arms out as Ran adjusts the apron around him.

"He's still going to laugh," he says grumpily. But as she hands down the watering can, he carefully takes it. The can was more than heavy enough for him, and he didn't want to drop it.

"Yeah, I can do the lilacs. I think I remember where they were."

[singlefaith]

The watering can seems almost half as big as he is . . . she's glad it's only half full. "Do you have it okay?"

[spoilsfun]

"Of course I have it! It isn't that heavy."

Of course, even if it had been to heavy for him he wouldn't have admitted it. Conan was often determined to do everything by himself.

[singlefaith]

She knows this about him -- that he tries to do everything himself and pretends he can manage.

It's best to let him try at this, she figures, but she keeps an eye on him as he heads for the lilacs. "Okay . . ."

While he's managing somehow to carry it, getting it up high enough to water may be another story. She trains enough with weights to know this -- what seems manageable carried lower can be a lot harder when raised higher.

[spoilsfun]

When he finally reaches the lilacs, he sets the watering can down and drags a chair over. He carefully lifts the heavy can and sets it up on top of the chair.

[singlefaith]

. . . This could go well, or really badly. While she has to admire his ingenuity, Ran decides it's best to get a smaller watering can of her own and hover in that direction.

The lilies in that area need to be watered anyway, right?

"Be careful."

[spoilsfun]

"I'm being careful already," he says irritably.

As he climbs up and carefully balances on the part of the chair not already occupied by the watering can.

[singlefaith]

Ran sighs mentally, continuing to keep an eye on him as she works.

It could be fine, but.

[spoilsfun]

Now that he's up on the chair he sets his feet and lifts up the watering can, tipping it unevenly as he struggles to raise it above the plants. As he leans over to reach the plants, the chair unbalances from the shift in weight, teeters on two legs for a second, and starts to fall.

[singlefaith]

Ran's own can clatters to the ground, water spilling everywhere as she twists, lunging to catch him. Snatching him from the air, her arms tighten around him before he can hit the ground.

"C-Conan!" The name is anxiety and relief and a touch of upset.

It should have been a moment that passed easily.

Instead the word pings like a ripple inside of her brain, sending off a scattering of echoes that ricochet through her mind. The anxiety, for a single instant, is louder, more insistent, ringing.

In that instant, her breath tightens and unthinkingly she pulls him closer, her heartbeat suddenly too loud in her ears.

[spoilsfun]

Conan doesn't even have time to panic before he is securely in Ran's arms, staring up at her in bemusement. He squirms a little as she pulls him closer.

"...You can put me down, you know."

[osakanpride]

It was a damn good thing that Ran and Conan was easy to find, else he would have been searching everywhere. When it doubt, check the flower shop.

"Just going to hold him like that all day?" Ran?!

Was he jealous? Maybe just a little. The teen closed in, and leaned over to pick up the pails that were dropped. Their surrounding area was a slipping hazard.

"Where's the towels?"

[singlefaith]

Conan's protest and Harley's sudden appearance cut through the moment. Ran blinks, jolted, and lets Conan down. "Sorry! I just--"

Something felt important, but it's sliding away as soon as it came, trickling like water sliding between her fingers. She lifts a hand to rub at her forehead, at the space between her eyebrows, but it's gone, leaving her dazed and uneasy in its wake. Her eyes flick up to Harley with the absent, "There are a couple under the work table."

And then, as reality snaps back into place around her: ". . . Where have you been?"

Also, what was that note in his voice a moment ago? His brother is seven. Who gets jealous of a seven-year-old?

[spoilsfun]

He jumps the rest of the way to the floor as Ran lowers him, and then goes running under the table to fetch the towels. A moment later he pops back out to level a scowl at his older brother.

"You're late Heiji. What happened to the promise to take me around the festival?"

[osakanpride]

It had barely been an hour and the both of them were already getting all over his case.

"What do you think I'm here for?" A pointed reply toward Conan. His expression softened, but only slightly when addressing Ran. "Here and there." Literally.

One of the school clubs was running an event, and he had to follow up with them.

[singlefaith]

The moment lingers in Ran's mind, but she pushes it aside for now in favor of the two boys in front of her.

"'Here and there?'" Her expression only sharpens in turn, eyeing her boyfriend. "And you couldn't take him with you?"

She reaches to take one of the towels that Conan has brought with a word of thanks, draping it over one of the puddles to begin soaking up the miniature flood.

[spoilsfun]

This small child is judging you, Heiji. He doesn't look convinced.

"That doesn't sound like much of an excuse."

[osakanpride]

"I'm not a babysit--" Doesn't sound like much of an exuse...

The older teen crouched beside Conan, clenching his fists. With an obviously mature reaction, he pressed his knuckles against Conan's temples and began to twist them against his younger brother's head.

"Is that so?"

[singlefaith]

"Harley!" And there's Ran's hand, smacking his away, and he has a sudden faceful of narrow-eyed, glaring Ran.

"Whether it's convenient for you or not, you're in charge of him! He was just wandering through the festival without anyone -- do you know what could happen? How can you just be so irresponsible?"

[spoilsfun]

"Oi!" Conan squirms as Heiji twists his knuckles on his head,then quickly distances himself once Ran interferes.

But his relief quickly turns to annoyance at her words. "I don't need a babysitter! I can take care of myself."

[osakanpride]

Just as quickly as his anger spiked, it simmered down when faced with Ran's scorn.

"Nothing happened." This time. "Take it easy." He could very well be dousing the flames with fuel at this point, but when it came to tact with Ran, there was none to be had.

[singlefaith]

Her voice is a little gentler when it comes to Conan, but her focus is still on Heiji. "It's not about that, Conan -- it's about other people."

Still glaring, her voice sharpening again. "How many times do you want to take that chance before something does? He's seven years old! Why don't you think? He's your brother, you know -- how do you think you're going to feel if something does??"