skippedabeat | Round 3: Test Drive

Entry tags:

test drive

Round 3: Test Drive

Welcome to the third 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!)

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 - The National Leviathan Habitat

Eddan's shimmering sapphire of an aquarium, the National Leviathan Habitat, is holding a series of special events at its location in Royal Mount. Students and family groups get half off, with certain events being completely free. This include a full night's stay at the aquarium sometime during the week for any person who checks in with their card. While spots are limited, it's such a large aquarium, and nights can be booked in advance, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. So come, everyone! Enjoy whale spotting, aquarium strolling, educational shows, and a night surrounded by water. However, unknown to you, something else might be starting to beat in the deepest, darkest depths of your heart.

Similar to the flower festival that was used in the prior TDM, Unawakened characters can get a flash of memory sometime during this prompt and Awakened characters will be able to occasionally pick them out. For more information on the National Leviathan Habitat, which is a player introduced location, please check here.

Additionally, if both test drive player and game players agree, the aquarium 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, even on summer vacation. (Or maybe because of summer vacation for the local schools.) 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1

In the center of the aquarium, a single small figure sets to pacing, twirling a strand of their pink hair anxiously.

Conner...was not good with crowds. They, um, they liked fish! Fish were cool!! They came to see the fish in the aquarium all the time when they had a day off from cram school. They'd just...forgotten it was a holiday...and now there were a ton of people here...that they didn't want to deal with...

Anyone walking around the aquarium might spot a small twelve year old trying to hide in corners, as far as possible from any of the bigger crowds.

2

Valac: asdfjglsjfgh
Valac: w-why is this appp here!!
Valac: i didn't download this....oh no is this a virus..ive never had a virus im not allowed to have apps on this phone im um. i dont
Valac: i um, how do i make it go away i dont wanna get in trouble im not ggood at dealing with being in trouble.

Now ain't that just the sorriest sight.

Katherine supposes she's always had a weakness for the high-strung children, or at least she's patient enough to deal with them well enough, and she can't help feel a little pity for the child she spots trying to keep out of the limelight. Still, she doesn't approach outright. Instead, she makes her way casually around this particular area of the aquarium, brilliant red hair pulled back and floral dress flowing along behind her. It seems like a natural path that leads her not too far away from the child, glancing over one of the non-living exhibits, before she turns her head and nods slightly to them.

"Mornin'." It's a thick southern accent that leaves her mouth, and she glances back down to the exhibit. "You on your own, honey?"

Conner doesn't notice the red haired lady approching until she's nearly next to them, the sound of her voice makes them jump and frantically look around for whose she's talking to before hesitantingly gesturing to themselves for confirmation.

"U-u-um" They stutter over their words, face heating up. This lady is very intimdating, she has a really nice dress to. Conner wants to ask about where she got it, but then maybe she'd think Conner was trying to steal her look or something, and they weren't really into that style of dress anyway and-

"Yes! No! Um wait!! N-not usually I mean." They fiddle with their hair more, practically cringing. God Conner, how about you never talk again ever. "My brother usually takes me....he's busy right now.....I didn't realize there was an event today...u-usually this is quiet? I like the quiet."

That's a lot of stuttering, but Katherine has a lot of patience, so she's more than fine waiting them out while they work out what they want to say. If they're this bad with only one person, it's easy to see why crowds would force them to the borders.

"The summertime tends to make quiet places a lot louder," she concedes, still looking over the case she's by. "Still, I reckon that there's somewhere quiet here. It's simply a matter of finding' it." Straightening up, she looks back over to the child. "I think I could use some of that peace and quiet myself. I'm Katherine Yazzie, but you're free to call me Miss Kitty if you please. How about yourself now?"

"Oh! U-um...yeah... I forgot. I have a hard time remembering things." They shift on their feet awkwardly, pointedly avoiding eye contact to the point of cringing. Grey eyes meet blue when Ms.Kitty offers to help though.

"Oh!! Um y-you don't have to! I'll be fine on my own I'd hate to trouble you because um..uh.." They cut themselves off quickly. They have to remember every offer to help is not a personal attack, Lohan told them about this. "I mean um...if your really want"

They extend a hesitate hand. "I'm Conner. I um. I really like your dress Ms.Kitty."

"Conner." She nods her head, finding the name acceptable apparently. Most folks say to have a firm handshake when introducing yourself, but she has a feeling this one is a bit too fragile for that. So she keeps her touch steady but not too strong, watching them carefully for any signs of distress.

"Thank ye. I made it myself." Letting Conner decide on holding her hand or not, Kitty starts to lead the way through the aquarium. "I sell things on occasion, for commission. Lots of summer dresses, these days."

Shaking Conners hand is only slightly better then trying to shake hands with a hibernating snake. They flash Kitty nervous smile that quickly becomes more genuine at the talk of dresses.

"Oh? You sew! That's really cool! I only know how to knit." They nod along as they follow Kitty, still holding her hand. "I like wearing dresses sometimes, but not poofy ones like yours. U-um! Not that I think they're bad I j-just like um...the thinner kind..."

Ah, common ground. It looks as if she's hit a stroke of luck, then.

"Knitting will be good once autumn comes along," she says amenably, helping Conner move through the crowd with little fuss. While she might run a farm, Eddan is a big city at its core, and she's spent enough time knowing how to navigate when a place is full of people. "Scarves and the like keep the chill away. Have you been knittin' for long?"

Conner looks a Kitty like she's hung the moon. Another knitter! Wow!!

"Only a year and a half." They mutter shyly. "A teacher recommended it. It's something nice to do with my hands. It makes a lot of things easier to deal with."

"A year and a half is better than no years at all." She pauses at the entranceway into another exhibit, checking to see how many people are in it, before moving on. It'll be a short while until they find anywhere not packed to the brim. "What do you knit?"

Just keep talking, and that should make the journey not as stressful.

"Um. I like scarves. Those are pretty easy to make. B-but I started doing some more complicated stuff lately; like these really cool dragon scale looking gloves!" The talking does seem to be helping. When not left to stew in their own anxiety, Conner perks up quite a bit.

"Do you knit other stuff?"

"Sounds like you're makin' good progress then," she says, nodding some approval. "As for myself, I do toys as well. They're good donations for the stores that take them, and I give them to some of the children I foster."

It's always felt more personal to her, after all, to give those kinds of toys to children instead of buying one at a store, since she can do it at all.

Although they may be attempting to squish themselves as tightly into a corner as possible to avoid the crowd, Conner stands out as someone whom Kit knows for having spent time tutoring them. It's a surprise to find them here at the aquarium on such a busy day, though. Kit recalls how nervous they can be, and to have come here alone...

Well, he finds himself taking pity.

Making his way through the crowd, he addresses Conner with a faint smile and a nod of his head in the direction of the stairs.

"You might feel better on the upper level. It's less crowded above when there aren't any shows taking place. I was on my way already if you wanted to come along."

It's a white lie, but still a lie.

Conner looks up eyes widening and practically throws themselves at Kit. They cling to the front of his shirt desperately.

"K-kit! I. u-um- I, yesthatwouldbereallynice!!" They thought they were gonna die Kit.

"I- um. Oh is there a show? I didn't know..."

He really should have expected this, but the way Conner clings to his shirt still comes as a surprise. If he could safely pry the child off, he would. But Kit suspects doing so now would result in more carrying on and...well, leaving things as they are isn't really hurting anything, he supposes.

"No, there won't be a show until a little bit later, that's why it'll be quieter above right now."

Without much to see, more people wander to the viewing areas below where they can see all the activity taking place beneath the surface of the water. Kit can't say that he blames them, but it's certainly not a place for Conner, not at the moment.

So he lets them cling as he leads the way above and back outside where, in fact, it is considerably more quiet but for small groups wandering around trying to get from one place to the next or, stopping sometimes near the railings, peering at whatever may lie in wait in the water below. The water here is fairly shallow, its white sand dotted with beautiful stones and underwater plant life. There are fish, too...almost as skittish as Conner and seemingly unsure about swimming out from their mossy shelters.

Leaning against the railing, Kit asks curiously, "Are you here for the overnight event?"

To late Kit, this is your child now. You'd have an easier time pulling a limpet off a rock.

"Oh...um...I didn't know..." They mumble as they follow after him, keeping their head down. They peek up at Kit from under their uneven bangs. "Sorry...."

They distangle a bit once Kit has lead them outside, detaching one hand to grab onto the railing and stare at the fish below. The way they swim, circularly trapped by giant mechanism beyond their understanding, seeking safety in artificial habitats, it almost reminds them of-

"Oh!" They jolt a little. "I um, no... I didn't know. I j-just come here when I'm not studying."

So then...that's a lot. Kit takes note of that and nods.

"It might be a nice place to do some studying when it isn't busy, too." Surrounded by the ocean, inhaling that breeze, being able to watch fish between equations or visit any number of other exhibits after each completed assignment? It sounded like a rewarding way to approach one's academics to him.

Of course, with Conner's disposition, it was possible that they would find the experience more distracting than beneficial.

"Huh? But what if I dropped my math sheets in the water?" They point at the fish swimming in the pools below. "These guys can't eat paper! It would be really really bad because I'd have no homework and the fish would have um, death."

"That would only be a problem if you sat too close to the railing or the water's edge." Kit peered down at the fish. "Or if they were let to go hungry, which I don't suspect is the case here at the aquarium."

Besides, he was pretty sure most fish wouldn't ordinarily choose to eat paper, and this close to the shore, any stray sheets would be cleaned up by the habitat's staff.

Conner was, yet again, worrying themselves over nothing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Round 3: Test Drive

Crona Gorgon

1

hey kitty welcome to corn, pink edition

her child now?? apparently

anxious snake children r the same

how does crona feel about feathers in their hair

they like to fiddle with their hair, feathers might be fun???

time to find out how to make that happen in game

do it do it do it

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