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

[neverbeentogeorgia]

The reason I'm out here is because I saw some idiot take the bait. I just didn't realize said idiot would be you until I saw you in the parking lot trying to sneak in. Are you really so desperate for some positive attention in your life that you'd come out here to--what, take on Eddan's serial killer armed with some pipe you probably stole from Home Depot? Do you want to die?

[autorejoin]

[ Yusuke huffs. ]

Of course I don't want to die. And I'd hardly call a serial killer "positive" attention. Also, who said I was looking for that...?

[ He shrugs loosely. ]

Mostly, I'm curious. Now let go of the damned pipe. You warned me, you did your duty. If I die, it's not on your conscience.

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[Funny how Akira definitely does not let go of that pipe. In fact, he yanks on it, hard, trying to take it away.]

You know, Yusuke, you can fool a lot of people, and maybe you think you can fool me too, but I'm not stupid.

[And also, Yusuke is painfully transparent. A transparency that he's more than happy to point out to him.]

Cut the crap, will you? Your parents don't show up for check ins and the only crap that ever gets buzzed to my phone from them is about how you're not performing well, like you're some kind of puppet or a greyhound at the races. There's no way you don't hear more of this than I do.

All this acting out of yours? It's just your way of trying to get back at them for being such shit heels to you. You'd love it if you could find a way to make people actually care about an accomplishment of yours as opposed to this... keeping up with the Joneses nonsense.

But you are right about one thing. It won't be on my conscience because like fuck am I going to just let you go off and get yourself killed.

[He yanks, hard, surprisingly so for a guy that's only supposed to be a huge fucking nerd.]

[autorejoin]

[ Yusuke manages to keep his grip on the pipe, but stumbles forward in surprise with the yank. When he gets his footing back, he levels a heated glare at Akira. ]

Nobody asked for your fucking opinion about my home life.

[ He tries to yank the pipe out of Akira's grip— probably to no effect, but it's not stopping him from trying. ]

I really doubt you're getting paid enough for this "mentor" bullshit to justify tagging along.

[neverbeentogeorgia]

Nobody's paying me jack shit for this. It's called volunteer work for a reason.

[Akira's grip is definitely not budging, but he's also not really doing anything to prevent Yusuke from continuing to fight him over it.]

And if you ask me, you should be asking for peoples' opinions about your home life. Maybe then you wouldn't feel so alone trying to deal with it.

[autorejoin]

Then coming along's even stupider. You don't have any incentive.

[ He tries tugging again. ]

And what makes you think I want some touchy-feely conversation like that? I'll figure my shit out on my own, or I won't. Either way, it's my problem.

[neverbeentogeorgia]

Don't be stupid. Everybody wants friends.

[Perhaps to Yusuke's surprise, though, this time Akira lets go mid tug--which may backfire on the (slightly) younger boy in the same way that a "won" game of tug-of-war can send the winners flying backward.]

Or are you just so hung up on this idea of being a lone wolf against the world that you're can't see a hand extended in front of you when it's right there?

[autorejoin]

[ It does, in fact, backfire— Yusuke lands firmly on his ass, though he at least manages to keep his grip on the pipe. Rather than getting up right away, he gives Akira a wide-eyed stare. ]

Are you trying to make friends with me?

[neverbeentogeorgia]

Geeze...

[Did he have to go and say it like that? Or look at him like that? Akira feels suddenly very uncomfortable, and it's an effort to not shift on his feet and show it.]

I can't believe this is something I have to say. Yeah, man.

[autorejoin]

You could've just said that.

[ He mumbles the words at the ground as he's getting up, though his tone is more embarrassed than anything else. ]

[neverbeentogeorgia]

Yeah, you really seem like the kind of guy who buys shmaltzy stuff like that.

[Also, why.... There's a really weird feeling about this. Like... something like this has happened before, but different. (So then can you really say that "something like this" has happened if it was different? Seems like a paradox) It must just be in his head; he's been feeling off for the past week.

That's all.]

... I've never had to actually tell someone I was trying to be friends with them, either.

[Most people just... get it.]

[autorejoin]

Most people probably need more than one hand to count their friends.

[ Though that was mostly Yusuke's fault, and he knew it. Even before he started acting out, he'd always been bad at making friends. The ones that he did have were more the kind of people who hung on to him hoping for handouts, and he knew it. ]

Anyway, the app said I shouldn't go alone, so if you really wanna go with me....

[neverbeentogeorgia]

Jesus, for real!? You still want to go and do that?!

[WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, YUSUKE!?]

[autorejoin]

Shit. Okay, it's like....

[ Yusuke runs a hand through his hair and sighs. ]

Do you ever get a feeling like.... "If I don't do this, I'll never move forward"? Like you're stuck, and if you don't keep going....

[ He lets his voice trail off, unable to think of the right way to end that sentence. ]

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[Oh. Oh.

That feeling?]


... Then things will never change?

[autorejoin]

[ He lets out a breath. ]

Yeah. It's exactly like that.

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[Akira.... should probably not entertain this insanity. Good friends stop their friends from doing stupid shit that might get them killed.

But better friends go with them to make sure they come back, right?

That week old headache is back, not quite throbbing, but a dull ache. But Akira's known Yusuke long enough to know that he's too stubborn to be talked out of something he's got his heart set on.]

Fine. Wait here.

[He turns to head back for the parking lot.]

[autorejoin]

[ He actually does stick around, waiting to see if Akira's going to come back. He starts tossing his pipe up and down while he's waiting, unable to keep from expelling the nervous energy within him one way or the other. ]

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[Eventually Akira does indeed come back carrying what would appear to be a large really long, black bag, too thin and just generally the wrong size and shape to be carrying golf clubs.]

All right. We can start looking for whatever it is you're trying to find. Don't blame me if there's nothing out here but rabbits, though.

[autorejoin]

If it's nothing but rabbits, you can feel free to laugh at me later.

[ The words pop out of his mouth comfortably, as though he were perfectly at ease being friends with Akira already. Their friendship was mere minutes old... so why did he feel so comfortable? ]

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[If he asked for an answer that, Akira would have no fucking clue how to explain it. But he can't say that he's not feeling it as well. Or that... he's not just plain feeling strange things, period.

Like the fact that he instantly takes the lead in this little expedition, even though he's not the one who wanted to do it in the first place. Somehow... that feels like it's how it should be. He tries to cover it up with casual conversation.]

So. Any idea what exactly we're out here looking for, then?

[autorejoin]

[ Akira being in the lead felt right, felt natural, felt....

Yusuke blinked away the train of thought before that headache could return. ]

"The truth" is what that app said. Whatever that means.

[ Like maybe why he'd felt compelled to put in a name that isn't his own into the app. ]

I'm hoping the truth isn't serial killers.

[neverbeentogeorgia]

"Truth" is pretty vague. Sure would have been nice if that clue was a little more forthcoming.

[The further they walk into the orchard, with more on-edge Akira starts to feel. The wind is blow, cool but strong, so at least he has something else to blame for the way his hair on the back of his neck is slowly standing, like people in bleachers who just want to fucking leave this game already.]

You let me know when you're satisfied with your tour of the apple trees. It's the wrong season for picking, anyway.

[autorejoin]

I wouldn't pick 'em from this field, anyway. Store-bought's got less chance of nasty surprises inside.

[ Like worms. Worms are gross, and he definitely doesn't want to accidentally bite into one. ]

Yeah, I'm just gonna give it ten minutes or so, and if there's nothing....

[neverbeentogeorgia]

[but the protein]

Right. So ten minutes out here wandering around...

[In an empty apple orchard, with nothing to do. Silence settles in, and if a tumbleweed were to pass through it would sound like a gun shot.]

We should talk about something.

[Because otherwise this is going to become even more awkward.]