skippedabeat | Round 3: Test Drive

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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

[He had a point. Kit couldn't argue otherwise. But how could he broach the topic of those visions again when he knew what would happen the moment he tried?

The emptiness of the lobby would vanish and it would feel very suddenly like they were both surrounded by something that could devour them with a single swallow.

Indeed, fear wasn't the enemy. Something much, much worse was.]

You're right.

[But what more could he say than that? Still massaging the soreness from his chest, his gaze wandered in the direction of those brightly lit stairs. They ought to have looked safe to him, but instead they reminded him of an angler fish. A bright spot in an otherwise dark setting, with a mouth wide open and waiting like a steel trap for its prey to waltz right in.]

I suppose that means neither of us is going anywhere.

Maybe.

[you hit the ground no matter the distance from which you fell. wherever they went, that unseen specter would constantly be at their side. the only way to escape it was through perpetual silence.

the thought of being cowed by something like this galls at him suddenly, pricking his smoldering temper into a white hot rage. how could he talk about vanquishing demons when he couldn't even overcome a threat as solid as the cardboard backgrounds of a haunted house? why should he ever let a mere illusion dictate his choices?

Kit must harbor the same frustrations, but was too careful in his footing to make any true progress. in that case, he would scale this mountain for the both of them.]

Live.

[the word sparks onto the scene suddenly, long after Vincent's silence had given the impression of an amiable lull in conversation. his gaze is trained on some random tile in the lobby floor, the picture of nonchalance; it's only upon closer inspection that one would see his stare is sharp enough to slice right through the stone.

demons were bound by rules. this was the core tenet in every story, every myth, no matter its origin. whatever their malicious intent, even they couldn't err from the restrictions which bound them. he knows this, and it's in this immutable fact that he sees an opportunity.

their ethereal opponent only closed in when they attempted to address the elephant in the room directly. so, then, if he spoke but didn't speak about it, stole words that would only be significant to a few...he should survive.]

Live, and when you return here, please kill me first.

[that's what the woman had said before throwing 'him' into the abyss.

the pain strikes Vincent as soon as the words leave his mouth. he'd expected it, but the feeling of a searing poker being shoved through the middle of his forehead is no easier to bear for the preparation. his eyes clamp shut and his body slumps slightly, leaning heavily against the arm of the bench.

it's almost intolerable - but 'almost' in the key word. he could withstand this. and, more importantly, he'd said everything he'd intended to. even the devils of this aquarium must live by their rules.]

[Live?

Kit recalled when, some hours ago, Vincent had spoken the same word to him in the stairwell. Had that not been the start of some ultimatum after all?

He knew now just by listening to what followed that the message being shared had not originally been intended for his ears. Whatever the other boy was saying had the sound of something that had been conveyed to him a long time ago, by someone full of regret, and obviously not alone. Or perhaps...they hadn't been speaking to him, but to someone who shared his face?

The visions! Like the one he'd had about the man with the mask.

Hours after he'd set out to discover the truth his companion had finally confirmed his suspicions, but following his subtle confession, Vincent slumped against the arm of the bench. And Kit knew why that was, too. Attempting to speak about certain things seemed to invite a most savage pain or, worse, the invisible shadow that had made him feel like his spine might liquefy on the spot.

Was there nothing he could do?

He hesitated. Fear reminding him to be sure-footed. One careless mistake and it wouldn't be just him who suffered...but why should he care? He'd gotten what he came for. That was all that mattered, wasn't it? The otherworldly something wouldn't bother him if he walked away right now and never spoke of this again.

...but could he live with himself if again he turned away from someone in very obvious need?

Much as he was tempted to stand and leave, his hand found Vincent's shoulder instead, his grip strong but careful, the sort that steadied and reassured at the same time.]

Don't say anything more.

[Demons might have been made to obey specific sets of rules, but in the northeast corner of Eddan, in the northeast corner of the Leviathan Habitat, both Vincent and he were in their domain. Clever risks reaped rewards, but for the foolish, the only prize was death.]

Don't tell me what to do.

[pain makes the reply raspy, but no less harsh. he speaks practically on instinct, barely aware of the words slipping out of his mouth until he hears them for himself. it's more petulance than pride right now.

even so, he doesn't make any actual attempts to continue speaking, nor does he bat Kit's hand away. the agony he's currently suffering through is a ready excuse, albeit one he's not coherent enough to even contemplate at the moment. it felt as if someone were attempting to drill a hole straight through his skull, throbbing hurt radiating out from its central location. always the same spot, even now.

he'd won, though. he'd bested whatever stupidity they'd unwittingly found themselves ensnared in. the promise of being able to revel in that victory alone was enough to make Vincent certain that he could (and would) ride this out.

in the meantime...it was good to know someone was with him.]

[If Kit were perturbed by Vincent's petulant display, he offered no indication. Instead, his hand remained in place upon the other teen's shoulder while, chin tilting upwards, he surveyed the lobby for any sign, any indication of where the threat might be coming from.

How could it come from all sides at once? Like they'd wandered unwittingly into some territory that...

Kaito sat confidently before them in his chair, the broken piece of Hiei's sword lying at his feet, an open book in his lap.

"In this space, physical violence won't work...against anything." There was no more question as to whether or not this human boy was bluffing. Whatever strange power he'd come into, he planned to use it to subdue each of them. They needed to exercise caution, of that Kurama was certain. But if he'd been fed information about them, then Kaito would know precisely how to trigger the reaction he— "Hiei, you may be a master of the sword and magic...but in my territory, you're like an ant."

Dammit!

Predictably, the other demon rose to the challenge just as Kurama was afraid, and just as Kaito had known he would. "Hiei, watch out, he's provoking you!" Under no circumstances should they disobey the established rules of this territory and say the word 'hot'. After all, it wasn't just their lives on the line, but Yusuke's. However, despite his warning, Kurama could already tell that Hiei had no intention of listening. He had never liked being told what to do by anyone else. "Hiei!!"

...but it was already too late. Hiei's mouth opened, and what emerged was a rebellious diatribe during which the taboo word had been uttered twice.

He'd never been one to show restraint, but now it had cost him and all Botan, Kuwabara, and him could do was look on in disbelief as one of the strongest among them was rendered completely incapacitated.

"In my space, the one who says the forbidden word has his soul stolen..."

...Kit gave a shudder, breath catching as he sagged involuntarily against Vincent's shoulder, his temples pulsing like a star on the verge of collapse: hot and with such a blinding brightness it was a wonder he could still see anything at all.]

...must stay vigilant.

[how ironic that Kit's words before collapsing was a warning to stay vigilant. the sudden weight against his shoulder completely surprises him, eliciting a sharp turn of his head that he almost immediately regrets.]

...dammit.

[it doesn't take a genius to figure out the cause of his companion's sudden attack, but Vincent can't quite follow the reasoning. he had been the one prying open this secret world, not Kit. the other boy shouldn't be paying the price for another's imprudent challenge.

had something else happened..? was it possible that his own words had triggered some unknown effect in his listener's mind? it's the only conclusion that he can draw without pressing for details, and even then only barely. the fireworks in his own skull still hadn't subsided.]

And a great job you're doing, too.

[even if it still didn't contain overtures of strained hurt, Vincent's words would be completely lacking in teeth. he just needs to say something to make it clear that he was still here, that he was dutifully taking his place as a guard against whatever malevolence was lurking unseen around them. his companion didn't need to tax himself in that regard, at least.

it's all so contrary to his nature, but that too he imagines can be blamed on the headache. nothing else could possibly explain why he goes against every instinct he possesses and shifts so that Kit can rest more comfortable on his shoulder rather than shove him off.]

[Kit could scarcely recall having uttered anything after his vision, so real was the anger and concern he'd felt for the well-being of his imaginary friend. A boy named Hiei, like the mountain in Japan. It was strange that Kit couldn't seem to remember what that boy looked like now, but he couldn't forget the consequences of his bold posturing.

A soul sucked from his body as easily as liquid passes through a straw, there one moment and then...just like that it had come to rest in Kaito's hand. It was a little frightening the way one's entire essence and everything that made him who he was could fit so compactly into a human-sized palm. How fragile must such a thing be, pulled from the shell that protected it?

A few moments longer, that was all Kit allowed himself, and then he leaned away from Vincent, the hand upon his shoulder drawing back into his own lap. Were these visions a warning, perhaps? But this one was nothing at all like the first had been, and seemed to have nothing in common with what little he'd heard of Vincent's.

Still, the way he'd felt on the stairwell earlier wasn't too unlike how he'd felt in the 'territory' of that vision. The rules had been altered suddenly, and it was up to them to obey if they wished to survive. Their chances of survival would be at their greatest if they didn't speak carelessly. And they wouldn't be able to speak carelessly if they were not in each other's company...

Not for the first time, and probably not for the last, he considered standing up and walking away. He was good at that, after all. So very good at putting distance between himself and others. But he remained where he was, staring through bleary, black-and-white spotted eyes in the direction of the stairwell.

He was certain of two things. First, that they were alive still because, however it may have seemed, the thing that had stalked them did not truly want them dead. And second...]

...we must be more careful.

[It was said that one could not fight an enemy they couldn't see, but Kit didn't believe that at all. Caution and preparation were a warrior's greatest tools for survival. If he was ready, smart, and more importantly, if he was patient, he could learn all he needed to know about his enemy. He could isolate them and restrict their means of survival, force them into the open, and then dismantle them. But it wouldn't be easy.

And it shouldn't be exhilarating...but it was.]

Take your own advice first.

[he's glad that the additional weight on him only lasts for a brief time. even supporting someone else in such a meager way was taxing in the face of his headache, and its welcomed absence allows for the worst of it to finally begin subsiding.

despite the official end of his 'watch', Vincent's eyes remained trained on the lobby doors all the same, body tensed in preparation for an ugly brawl. it seemed that the more energy this entity drained from him, the more it incited his burning desire to fight the damn thing.]

We're going to need a better strategy.

[when had they started referring to themselves as a connected pair? the thought idly passes through Vincent's mind as he looks back on his own words, but not long enough for him to really dwell on it. it just didn't seem as important as the mystery confronting them now. in some ways it almost felt...natural.

even though it would severely hamper his disaffected facade, he brings a hand up to rub at that singular spot on his forehead. something about the specificity with which the headaches have struck him leaves him particularly irritated, like they're trying to challenge something that should exist but doesn't. the fact he has no way to explain any of this chafes more than it should.]

[His own advice? Kit chuckled at that.

It wasn't like he'd given up trying to devise a plan. Quite the opposite, really. But everything he knew about fighting opponents more powerful than him did not apply to this situation. To make matters worse, consulting his companion would no doubt result in more mind-splitting headaches.

So, what could they do?

Knowing what was off limits was a good start. They couldn't speak directly about the symptoms or the cause. They couldn't pinpoint its location, either. Without being able to see it, striking it would be difficult, and that was even assuming it had a corporeal form.

Any ordinary person might think their situation hopeless, but not Kit. He saw something more.

The first step was acknowledging that something else was there with them, and Vincent conceding that their current strategy wasn't enough proved they were on the same page. They couldn't fight what they didn't believe existed, but here they both knew whatever was threatening them was a very real problem. Next, if its form wasn't solid, they would need to assume that it was everywhere and nowhere at once, requiring they learn to strike back in less obvious ways. Revising the way that they communicated would be a good place to begin...although it was guaranteed to require a little trial and error on their part. And an ability to withstand pain was also necessary.

Of course, that was something they both seemed to possess in spades.]

We could go our separates ways and forget this happened.

[Kit's smile was tired...but completely unwilling to surrender.]

Or we can try protective rituals or talismans. I've read black tourmaline is effective, as well as iron and salt. [He then glanced sidelong at Vincent but, more specifically, at his piercings.] Perhaps a silver pentacle isn't a bad idea at all.

[Though neither of them had anything at the moment resembling such.]

They're stainless steel.

[almost as if reading the other boy's mind, Vincent's response comes tinged with faint amusement. he must have some earrings and ear cuffs that were precious metals, he thinks, but the majority of his jewelry trended towards steel. it was a little less expensive, and a hell of a lot more durable. that little incident with his eyebrow piercing earlier wasn't the first time he'd treated his hardware roughly.

as he allows his hand to drop back into his lap, he can't help but think about what else he may own in silver. the ring he'd received as one of the many gifts from his parents for starting high school comes to mind, albeit reluctantly. he hadn't pawned that away, had he? even if the answer was no, he isn't sure if warding off the supernatural was a strong enough reason to overpower his distaste for wearing it in public.

perhaps a shopping trip to further expand his wardrobe was in the near future...]

If we get a manifestation we can try striking a deal, but that's not reliable.

[not because he has no confidence in their ability to overcome a spirit that may be inclined to lie and cheat, but because said spirit doesn't seem to feel the need to makes its presence known in a more substantial way. that would only be a maybe.]

How's your handwriting? We could at least make some ofuda here.

[would someone like Kit even know the proper characters to write on such a talisman? it's hard to say, given his prior reference of ayakashi. if not they'd simply have to rely on Vincent's rusty memories.]

[Every last one of his piercings were stainless steel. Of course. Kit had hoped for something among all of the hardware Vincent wore to be at least a little more pure, but it seemed they wouldn't be so fortunate today. Not with that, and not with anything else.]

My handwriting is very good, but... [He offered an apologetic smile and shook his head.] ...what would we even write on?

Even if you feel inclined to sacrifice some of your notebook paper, we don't have everything else we need. The right ink, incense, candles, or fire.

[And what would they write upon the ofuda? Which kami's name would be inscribed? What Vincent proposed wasn't a simple procedure that could be done anywhere or with any materials, not if it was to be effective. A scrap of clothing made of natural fibers could be substituted in place of cheap paper, but it was doubtful the other boy was carrying a brush on his person, or the appropriate ink. A lighter, perhaps. But they had no candle or incense. At best, they were half prepared. And that was being generous.

It was almost as if the something that had stalked them earlier knew that. They could think of all the long-term and short-term means of protection they wanted, but what would truly help them this instant?]

...let's try it with what we have. I can't think of anything else that might work here except evil-eye rituals, anyway.

If shit really hits the fan we can always light up some cigarettes.

[tobacco was used to dispel evil and purify areas in some cultures, after all. Vincent's careful to offer this up as strictly the last of all resorts, however - mostly because he's absolutely certain that after this stupidity is over he's going to need to inhale whatever's left of the carton himself. never in his life has he regretted taking advantage of a free opportunity as much as now.

he's already digging through his pockets for the appropriate items, even as Kit systematically destroys the possibility of this gambit actually succeeding. the notebook, a pen, and his lighter, just in case they decided that a little fire might be necessary. they didn't have candle or incense, but they could substitute some more notebook paper or items from the trash for that.

it's been so long since he even thought about these rituals. so many of the details have just passed straight from his mind into the lost parts of his memory. the thought strikes him with a surprising pang of bitterness.]

We'll just have to infuse it with especially strong energy to make up for what we don't have.

[it's a sardonic sort of comment as he hands his contributions over, but there's some genuine merit in the idea. tools were only as effective as the ones wielding them. even with a broken means of defense, they could still pull out a victory.]

[Even as Kit accepted the items from Vincent, he found himself musing aloud.]

I wonder how effective contaminated tobacco would be in warding off evil?

[Or perhaps the other boy meant for them to smoke the cigarettes themselves. A sort of last hurrah in the face of whatever was haunting them. Kit couldn't say the idea lacked appeal, but it wasn't his style. Admitting defeat? He would rather win at all costs and take the enemy kicking and screaming down with him. If that's what it took.

After shifting off the bench so that he could kneel before it, the items were displayed before him where he'd previously been sitting. From his pocket he produced a small butterfly knife that was used to precisely cut an appropriate sized strip of paper from Vincent's notebook, and after the knife was put away again and the notebook set aside, he lifted up the pen.]

In any case, which kami's name should I write? Komokuten punishes evil, but Bishamonten is said to be chief of the Shitenno and a god of war.

[There were countless other deities whose names they could invoke, but required here was the one best suited to the task at hand: protection. Kit couldn't claim to know them all, even with how much he'd absorbed from all his reading, but those two were prominent and well-known figures in the culture for their representation of two of four cardinal directions: west and north, respectively.

Then there was the matter of writing the either name correctly. He hadn't lied when he said his handwriting was good, but that didn't mean he was well-versed in the regular use of kanji, and it didn't help that Bishamonten was called by many other names in just Japanese alone. If he made even one mistake, the entire message could read something completely different.]

[contaminated? Vincent lets out an amused snort as he finally decides to be somewhat thoughtful and shifts so that his tiny bulk isn't taking up the majority of the bench. might as well at least give him a chance to properly write all this out.]

Probably even more effective like that, considering what's in them.

[tar, nicotine, radioactive waste...in his opinion, all of that just made the 'weapon' even more frightening for any prospective demon.

but the matter of gods is a bit more tricky, and he lapses into thoughtful silence for several moments after the question is posed to him. this is his childhood, once again, but it's just as hazy as his own recollection of writing out ofuda properly. there's a great deal of nuance to be considered, and when he does answer the words still come slowly.]

Probably better to go with Hachiman. Bishamonten's only interested in people who follow the rules.

[Hachiman, on the other hand, was not only a god of war but the divine protector of Japan and its people, no matter how far from home they may have traveled. if there was any god morally obligated to stand at their side regardless of their own personal natures, it was him.]

[Glancing up from his work, Kit fixed the other boy with a wry expression.]

And we're more rule-breakers than followers, is that it?

[If the shoe fit and all that.

But, as he began carefully writing out the kanji for Hachiman (an altogether more complex name than the other two had been) he wondered, was he still someone who would rather break the rules than follow them? He'd been making great strides toward living honestly. Overlooking, of course, the frequent bids for "work" he sometimes received from people to "acquire" back something of theirs that had gone missing. He was helping people. Keeping up his grades. Staying out of trouble...

...making ofuda in the lobby of an aquarium wasn't trouble-making, was it? Ah, but starting a fight in the stairwell certainly was.

He sighed. Just thinking about this whole mess — his life, their situation, all of it — was inviting another headache. Nevertheless, as soon as he'd completed the name in as neat a fashion as Vincent's pen would allow, Kit turned the slip of paper around so that his companion could inspect it. He trusted his own work, but he was also tired and...not born in Japan as he was beginning to suspect the other teen might have been.]

If this is satisfactory, I'll need you to wield the lighter while I wave it through the fire. I think we'll need to burn some paper in place of incense, too.

[Lighting fires in the lobby... That was definitely breaking some rules, too.]

I'm not going to let other people box in my options.

[that's completely different from being a rulebreaker; people like that sought to disrupt established authority for no reason other than attention and a desperate need to see others upset. Vincent had no trouble crossing the law (delighted in it, many times) but there was always purpose behind it. he was ill-tempered, not mindless.

he leans forward slightly to pluck the paper out of Kit's hands, staring wordlessly at it for a moment with an expression that is altogether too judgemental for their current predicament. with a soft tilt of his head he hands it back with nothing more than a simple:]

It'll do.

[so encouraging, Vincent. I'm sure everyone you know remarks on how nice it is to receive praise from you.

but he's reaching for the lighter obediently all the same, as well as sliding the notebook over to tear out some pages to use for makeshift candles. the fact that they're dancing closer and closer to true delinquency with every new decision doesn't seem to bother him at all.]

How rebellious.

[There was another reason, one Kit knew all too well. Some people were inclined to break the rules simply because they could, because the established authorities weren't enough to stop them and the thrill of success was a far greater reward than the attention others sought, or the aggravation they wished to inspire.

How many times had Kit participated in various criminal operations only to feel that the excitement had gone? That was why he and those who followed him had branched out, their petty crimes becoming more serious felonies. He'd found his rush of pleasure again: nothing worthwhile was gained without taking risks.

Then again, the bigger the risk and its reward, the bigger the consequence if one failed. He'd learned the hard way...

Accepting the paper back from Vincent, he made no comment on the vague approval his handwriting had garnered, if one could even call it such. Kit wagered that, coming from Vincent, anything that didn't produce blatant criticism and verbal condemnation could be easily interpreted as a sign of his approval, however.

Capping the pen and setting it aside, he shifted around so that he could sit on the cement tiled floor and motioned for Vincent to join him. It wasn't very comfortable, but if they were going to burn anything, it was safest to go about burning it in a place that wouldn't also catch on fire, especially as they didn't exactly have anything to burn the paper in.

Half prepared was probably a gross overestimation, now that he really thought about it.]

Just waiting on you now.

[Vincent and his collection of makeshift paper-candles drop quietly to the floor, albeit a little slower than he would have liked. the energy of their situation has completely captured him, but with movements like this his body is swift to remind him that it's not even close to having completely recovered.

he takes a moment to settle himself as if he were sitting in an actual shrine, moving on instinct before he can really correct the mistake. well, whatever. might as well lend some semblance of reverence to this whole thing.

the lighter flicks on with a practiced motion, casting eerie shadows across both teens' faces. Vincent smiles, somewhere between ironic and challenging. time to take the last step in this bad idea.]

Whenever you're ready.

[Not only was Kit ready, but he didn't hesitate.

Even if their roles should have been reversed, Vincent the one between them who didn't appear to have mere textbook knowledge of the ritual they were performing, but real experience, Kit still proceeded with confidence. To do otherwise at this stage would be to subvert the entire ceremony and what steps they'd taken towards its completion. Moreover, it could even make the haunting worse.

Kit would have none of that, and so he concentrated instead...on Hachiman and their bid for protection, passing their makeshift ofuda through the flame and smoke three times as he did so. Infuse the talisman with his essence. Chase away the unseen evil entity that stalked them. Guard their minds, bodies, and spirits from harm. And ward off all other calamities that might befall them, regardless of what form they may take.

When he was finished, Kit laid the ofuda between the "candle" and "incense" where it would stay until they had both finished burning. In the meantime, those shadows continued to play across their faces, a fact Kit was clearly all too aware of when he finally spoke again.]

If all else fails, there's always human sacrifice.

[evil begone. dash my enemies at your feet. may only good fortune pass through this threshold from now on. Vincent had been half-joking when he'd suggested they lend their own spiritual energy to the ofuda to make up for its shortcomings, but as he watches the tag pass through the flame he finds himself attempting it in earnest.

it was simply nostalgia, or desperation. or maybe, just maybe...there was something exhilarating about this whole endeavor. it was like being suspended over an abyss and having the audacity to attempt a backflip.]

Mm, but where would we find one this late?

[the thoughtful question comes as he moves to carefully light up their other pieces of paper, allowing their unsettling glow to take the lighter's place in sprawling across their faces. his face is so innocent in this moment that it would be easy to forget the conversation he's currently participating in.]

[As the papers' edges charred and turned to ash, burning away little by little, Kit continued to focus on what it was they wanted and who they were asking to provide for them, but he didn't feel any differently. There was no indication that he and Vincent were any more or less protected than before, no way to confirm if attempting to cross the same lines would be permitted or if they would experience the same violent backlash.

He wasn't sure what he expected. For all that he believed in demons, ghosts, and other nonhuman entities, he was quite skeptical with regards to magic. It seemed that if bad things were going to happen, then they were going to happen regardless of the measures of protection someone tried to assemble around them. You could not reroute the storm, but you could weather it.]

A good question.

[Kit frowned at the ofuda. There was only one of it and two of them. Unless they stuck by one another, whatever "protection" it did offer would only benefit the one in possession of the talisman.

As the last of the paper finished burning, Kit's gaze settled on Vincent. He'd decided that, in the event they parted ways, he would leave the ofuda with his companion. But he would not tell him this lest the act be mistaken for pity.]

It's time to test it out. Unless you have any objections, I'll go first.

[while Kit's thoughts were full of the philosophical nature of misfortune and the supernatural, Vincent's were preoccupied with memories. inhaling the familiar smell of smoke and ash, he can't help but think of New Years past and the ceremonial burning of the darumas. he'd looked forward to it every year as a child, watching the dolls piled in gigantic red piles to return back to the heavens. they'd watched over them all those months, and now their shift was over.

would this little ofuda do the same diligent work as the talismans and charms of his past? as his eyes refocus back to the present and onto Kit, he can't be truly certain of the answer. but he's willing to believe, so long as it was a private faith.]

It's your turn anyway. There's no getting out of it.

[he'd taken the brunt of the last attempt, after all. it was only fair for Kit to take those precarious first steps this time around.]

[His turn, was it? Even after the episode that had reduced him to a figure folded against Vincent for support? Well, Kit wasn't about to argue. He'd intended to be the 'human sacrifice' all along.

With a nod and a smile that suggested he would be quite alright come what may, he sat up a little straighter and looked down into the wisps of smoke still trailing up in silvery tendrils from the ashes of the paper. Whether or not he believed it would work, he needed to feed this moment with positive energy. He took a breath and, emptying himself of partial opinions, he began to speak...]

I have reason to suspect—

[...and that was as far as he'd gotten before the pain returned, and with it the monstrous presence of an oblivion just waiting to seize them both. It was as if the very thing had taken hold of his heart this time, and he felt it jump painfully within his chest, such that the whites of his eyes bulged and his mouth worked silently for a moment.

Was this it? Was this how he'd die?

How miserable. He had so much more fight in him than this. Had survived much worse than some invisible ailment and...biting down sharply on the inside of his cheek, he snapped himself out of his shock so that he could continue.]

—this thing...! [Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.] It may be after our souls!

[In his vision it had been a human who had claimed one, but that was no memory of Kit's, no experience he'd ever lived through. That it felt so real could only mean that it was a warning of some kind. Being reckless would cost them the most valuable thing to anything living: its essence.]

[his eyes jump away from Kit to the empty room as he speaks, seeking out some sign of their stalker in the unchanged landscape. in the moment he couldn't say if it was trust or apathy that kept him from watching his companion's struggles more intently, although he knows which answer he'd choose if questioned on it.

had it really changed nothing? all that effort, the concentration of their spirits, had it really made as much of an impact as the tendrils of smoke still curling around them? Vincent had at least anticipated a more violent assault in anger at their attempts to thwart this thing, but even that seemed to have failed.]

Such that they are.

[his voice is distracted, irritation and anger high in his tone even as he continues to scour their surroundings. demons and apparitions would at least manifest in the stories, to gloat if nothing else. as he glances back at Kit briefly and catches sight of the blood running from his mouth, he feels his own blood begin to boil again.]

If that's what it wants, it's going to need more than a few measly headaches to take them!

[he's not even holding onto the ofuda as he raises his voice to challenge the void. their little talisman is temporarily forgotten in his rising urge to fight this goddamn thing once and for all. a hand braces against the floor in anticipation for the oncoming price of his words, but he has no intention of bowing or taking them back.

if it bothered this presence so much, let it come.]

[The fool, taunting their enemy like it would solve anything!]

Wait—!!

[There was a name on the tip of Kit's tongue, but try as he might to remember what it was, it would not come. He didn't know this boy, had never learned his name, but it felt like he knew what fate would befall him if he didn't intervene here and now.

As Vincent moved, so did Kit. One hand slammed down between them into the still hot pile of paper ashes, and the other shot out to cover Vincent's mouth. The pain had been much more severe this time, whether or not it had shown. If they kept going, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that one of these times the otherness would win. It might even kill them. They needed to step back and assess the situation again. They needed to learn from the mistakes they'd made!]

Sheer force won't work here. We can only win if we play by the rules.

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