Round 1: Test Drive

[cordibus]

Welcome to the first test drive!

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

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

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

Now then, let's begin...

Prompt 1 - From Dawn to Dusk

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

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

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

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


It opens revealing a single statement and blank box;

To begin, please write your name.

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

Prompt 2 - Awakening

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

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

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

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

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

Prompt 3 - A new, old life

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

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

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

Comments

[plainest]

I KNOW what dying means.

It should be okay. I ate it too, and I'm still alive.

[ probably. ]

Just calm down and try to not think about it, okay? Do you have someone else in the house with you that could help?

[eyeofcute]

in the library, some kid makes me matcha tea here

['Some kid'... for someone willing to make her a whole thermos of tea every time she stops over, she's really mean to him.]

if i die in the library i don't think anyone would notice
avenge me

[plainest]

[ oh my god. ]

of course they will notice!
I'm sure they do clean that place sometimes.

And you won't die, so don't think about that sort of stuff, okay?

[eyeofcute]

awww ur so nice
its ok im a genius ill find an antidote before i die

its too late to go home now anyway its dark out & im not breaking curfew with a serial killer so i hope the librarian lets me die on the beanbags or something

[plainest]

what did I say about not talking about dying??

You'll be fine. Just stay there till morning. School is pretty well secured.

[eyeofcute]

dw about me i'll be fine ✨✨✨ but ok mr yuuri no more dying

[Even if Yuuri isn't his real name in this AU (and perhaps if it is, she may be saying it teasingly because she's probably been to the school counsellor for skipping classes), she's going to use it anyway, since it's on the chatroom.

And-- hold on, pause, she needs to cough up a lung. BRB.]

OIHGIWRHENAWKVGAD
sorry keysmashed on accident
was dying

[plainest]

[ that's been bothering him too; yuuri wasn't his name. It did sound ... familiar, in a way that made his head hurt more, and he cringes a little and rubs the side of his head a little tiredly. ]

Don't joke around.

We're both going to be fine. I don't want to die of something that stupid as poisoned yogurt... And I'm sure you don't want to either, right?

[eyeofcute]

right right i wont die
ill catch the yogurt poisoner with my own two hands!

[As if this 4 feet tall monstrosity can catch anything other than a cold or a punch to the face.]

u should sleep soon too! we can sleep off the food poisoning

[plainest]

yeah, thanks. :)

I could call the school security, if you want, if you need anything. I don't feel comfortable with the idea of you being in the library by yourself.

[eyeofcute]

nah its ok
besides if i really get murdered at least everyone will know the serial killer is part of Green Valley

[Sorry. Death is always a joke.]

ill run to the dorms or something if anything weird happens
even if im a cute girl i know how to defend myself too

[plainest]

[ ... That doesn't make yuuri feel any better, to nobody's surprise. ]

well... the school has a pretty good security, so that's better than you going home at this hour.

in any case, try not to wander out until it's light, okay? would you like me to come check up on you?

[eyeofcute]

[Oh man, this guy.]

weeeeell if you live in the school ✨ itll be a date!

[You can have the dubious pleasure of waking up a four feet tall university senior wearing two different socks on each leg, sure. As in, there's two socks on each leg, and each of the four are different.

This woman is a disaster.]

[plainest]

[ well. Yuuri does live outside school, but it wasn't that far and this is kind of an emergency situation?? He doesn't know how old she is, but she shouldn't really be in the school on her own, if she isn't feeling well to begin with. Even though yuuri feels like he's going to die.

Anyway, he packs some aspirin, and other painkillers, and some water and snacks into a bag and shrugs into a jacket after he gets dressed. If he's stopped on the way, then... Well. Like he said, it was an emergency, and he was a staff member. He had certain kind of responsibility.

And since he's in a hurry, he's going to just do the most suspicious thing ever and climb over a wall to get in. It's no big deal, even though a part of his brain thinks that it should have been much easier than this. ]

Uh, hello?

[ he calls out, tentatively, as he carefully steps into the library. It's dark, and he regrets not bringing a torch with him. ]

[eyeofcute]

[Only silence greets him.

Yeah, it's kind of eerie, to say the least. The library is completely quiet, save for the sound of an adult woman's voice coming from the corner. Huh... it's a bit hard to catch, but when Yuuri approaches, it's clear she's saying:]

Die, die, die! Hahahah!!

[...]

[plainest]

[ ......

okay. maybe he should have just turned and walked straight back out and called the police, or something. but yuuri takes another step towards it after a few seconds of standing and staring. ]

Hi?

[eyeofcute]

Wha-- who's there?!

[Something falls on the floor. Books slam shut. In a minute or so, Cagliostro emerges from the darkness, a thick fluffy blanket serving as her cloak and a thick tome as her weapon. She has a sharpened pencil, too. Don't underestimate her.

...Then, she sees Yuuri, and pipes down.]

Oh, aren't you... the school counsellor? [Suddenly, she drops the tomes and smiles.] Eheheh, sorry, I'm just up studying late, that's all!

['Cagliostro' on the network is actually the student called 'Ryan' or something equally embarrassing for her. Please, just call her Cag...]

[plainest]

[ don't point that sharpened pencil at him! lead poisoning is a slow and torturous death... ]

A-Ah, um-

[ he's seen her around; he doesn't really remember her name, but yuuri does recognise her face - or what little he can see of her with the blanket wrapped around her and the half-lit gloom of the library, anyway.

yuuri instinctively backs away in surprise when she emerges, but takes a slow breath in as he drops his arms from in front of his face - what, did you think she was gonna throw the book at him? who knows. also i haven't decided on his AU name so i am sorry, let's just go with yuuri for now.... ]

Yeah, I am. I was... just, trying to check up on somebody.

Was that you? On that funny chatroom.

[eyeofcute]

[Loading...]

Oh! Mr. Yuuri?

[Cagliostro's voice suddenly becomes much more high-pitched and cute. Like a little girl's, instead of a grown woman's. After hearing her normal voice, it's incredibly obviously faked, but. Hey, when you're only 130cm, you have to play whatever cards you can get.]

You actually came all the way here to check on me? Waaah, I'm so touched!

[plainest]

[ that's...... so fake.

yuuri's expression immediately switches to one of his work faces - patient and calm and just a little bit on this side of awkward, but there's still something personable in the expression. it works well on people, and maybe that's why he keeps getting saddled with the known difficult students in the various year levels. ]

So you're, um, you're Cagliostro?

[ what a mouthful, seriously. ]

I was worried. After all, you shouldn't be here all alone. What if something happened?

[eyeofcute]

That's me! The cutest in the world, Cagliostro!

[Run away now, Yuuri, she's probably Hunger Arcana and whoever she latches onto is never going to be set free ever. But, for now, she seems pretty harmless, if a little on edge and fake.] You would come all the way here, just for a stranger...? How did you even get in here?

[by being suspicious as fuck, that's how

but it's the thought that counts, right]

I mean, I could've been lying and luring you into a trap, for all you know!

[plainest]

[ well, what she's saying does make sense.

yuuri, however, is still a relatively trusting sort of creature - he wouldn't be a counsellor otherwise now, would he? his job is basically to believe the best of other people. ]

Well, now that you say it... but then, if you were luring me into a trap, you wouldn't say that. You'd just keep pretending to be this cute little girl in distress.

[ he cracks a small smile with his words, and swings the backpack he's carrying over to his front, rummaging through it as he talks more. ]

Besides, I've seen you around campus, and you obviously know me... Though I don't believe we've talked before.

I got some painkillers and antacid and things, if you wanted. I don't know if that'd help, though...

[eyeofcute]

Hmm, you're an adult, but you act like the naive type. [Cagliostro, don't be rude.] But I guess people like that kind of person now!

[She walks a bit closer to look at the painkillers. God bless.] Wow! Thank you, heheh. My headache's a bit better now. I was playing this a moment ago.

[Cagliostro flashes her phone screen, and on it is an equivalent of Granblue Fantasy in this world. Even in RPland, we cannot escape the cold, chilling grasp of mobage and the gacha lord. In any case, at least that explains why she was yelling 'die die die' and wasn't actually killing someone.

Probably.]

Hmm... what helps you sleep? I only make tonics that help me stay up. [Wait, what? She makes tonics? Uh--] I don't like taking things unless I know exactly what they're made of, you see! I'm a Chemistry Major. [As in, just the pure, physical science in itself, though she also doubled at Pharmaceutical Sciences till she realized she was literally dying by taking double majors. That tends to happen, yeah.]

[plainest]

[ she is being a little rude, but that's also kind of... hitting the nail on the head, in a way. it's not like yuuri is actively trying to be naive or anything, it's just ... well, it makes life a whole lot easier to play dumb and ignorant about stuff. ]

You probably shouldn't play games on your phone, if you have a headache.

[ ... now doesn't he sound like his Eddan-mum. that's terrible. ]

Well, if you want to sleep, probably this one - [ he points to the blue tablets ] - that would probably help. I take those sometimes, and it's not a prescription or anything. It should be fine.

[ a chemistry major, huh? yuuri doesn't want to sound biased, but she doesn't exactly look like the typical chemistry major. not that he knows anyone who majored in chemistry, but. ]

I'm afraid I don't know what's in it exactly, but it's perfectly safe.

[ yuuri rummages through his bag some more, before bringing out a water bottle as well, handing it over to Cag. ]

And drink lots of water.

[eyeofcute]

[Compared to Ms "Everyone is Out To Get Me, Probably" Cagliostro, on that alone, he's very different. Still, she won't complain. He brought stuff to help her sleep, which is exactly what she needs, rather than 20 more rounds of Guild Wars so she can rank top #150 in the preliminaries on a stupid mobile game of all things.]

Weeeell, if you say so. [She grabs one (probably half of one is enough to knock her out) before popping it in her mouth, and drinking it down with the water he's helpfully handed over.] You won't kidnap me while I'm asleep, right?

[Because she's, you know, a little girl all alone in a lonely library...

Teru voice in the distance: "It's out of vogue to act like a chick from a 90s flick, you know."]

[plainest]

[ it occurs to Yuuri, as he watches her pop the pill into her mouth and drink it down, that he should probably have packed pills for children. it's not that he doesn't believe that Cag is a child - that cute act was actually pretty easy to see through, now that he wasn't just reading words on the phone screen - but she was so small, that it might actually knock her out altogether for hours. ]

No, I won't.

I'll sit here with you, if you want. I can't exactly go back home now, anyway...