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

[probablynoteren]

[Lenka's always been more of the type to go his own way and accommodate for other people after the fact if need be, but there's something quiet and strange and compelling pushing him now to step forward when others falter, to answer questions as firmly as he can even if he doesn't have all the answers, and to show the way as best he knows how. If he stopped to think about it, he could probably work out the why, or at least the how, but he's not stopping.

As established, they're on a schedule.

The shovel is rather too large to fit into a pack, but he has it strapped to his back so it isn't as conspicuous, and a ready excuse should he be questioned. He does regret it a little when it bangs against his shin once or twice, though.]

Sometimes it's better not to know. [it's a mutter, the last remnant of his reluctance, but he's setting a good pace at the same time] But something is better than nothing. We're not the only ones looking.

[It remains to be seen if that's a good thing, but judging by the app, there's going to be a few more heads bent to this particular problem.]

[sociallyarcward]

[Jaune does hear that muttering. He hesistates, slowing his pace. His dreams, then the pieces of memories, he'd just dove in and decided there was nothing to question. He just wanted to know more. But was that really wise? His dreams had started out nice, even kind of fun...but recently they'd started to get darker and he wasn't sure sometimes if he wanted all of them back.

But, Jaune was stubborn, and possibly to a fault.]

Are you sure about this? I know it might seem late to ask...but if I'm dragging you into something...

[He's serious too. Probably more so than he's ever been in his entire life. He just doesn't want to see a friend get hurt.]

[probablynoteren]

[Lenka slows with him, instinctively; he does hesitate too in response, uncharacteristically, is almost really tempted to call the whole thing off even now (the dreams, and sometimes daytime visions, started off bad and got worse; he doesn't remember a lot afterwards, which is just as well). But the thing is, they're both too stubborn for their own good.

And that's why they're here -- already nearing the gates to the school, with the moon rising and night deepening, and the familiar campus somehow doesn't look familiar at all. Lenka stops by the gates, which are too high to climb and shut too tight to jimmy.]

No. [his voice is calm, but he's just as perfectly serious; he's not hiding anything -- you can't hide what you don't understand yourself -- and he takes a deep breath to go on] You're not dragging me into anything. It's okay.

[No matter how things turn out, there's two of them. That's at least a little reassuring.]

There's an easier way in by the orchard.

[--how does he know this? Shhh.]

[sociallyarcward]

[Jaune listens and believes him and that makes him feel better about going on. He doesn't know what will happen next, but he feels better knowing he isn't dragging someone along who doesn't want to be here. He knows Lenka's been reserved about this whole afair and while Jaune can't blame him there's also just something Jaune can't turn away from in all of this.]

All right. Just wanted to make sure.

Lead the way.

[probablynoteren]

... Thanks.

[He is grateful for the consideration, all else aside; Lenka's not someone who's all that good at communicating his feelings outside of select situations. The expression of gratitude is a little mumbled, for example, because he gets moving as soon as he's able -- it's better to leave the entire topic physically behind for the moment.

It's not far to the edge of the orchard that butts up against the school's outer wall -- and over it, where one or two particularly adventurous apple trees have spread fruit-laden limbs almost halfway down the other side. It's still a sizeable wall, if a little overgrown on this side, but also less likely to stab them going over than the front gate.

Lenka pauses under it and considers the tree thoughtfully, before starting to put his stuff down.]

I'm glad they didn't trim it... Packs first?

[There's grass on the other side, so no worries about making too much noise, and it might be easier to get their stuff at least up on the wall before scaling it. They haven't brought a lot, but getting tangled in the tree might be an issue.]

[sociallyarcward]

[Jaune would never had thought to look for a spot like this along the wall. Another reason he's glad he reached out to Lenka. It really is the perfect spot for sneaking it.]

Wow. This is perfect.

[He lets his bag slip off his shoulder and nods.]

Yeah. It'll be easier to climb over that way with our hands free.

[probablynoteren]

Security doesn't patrol near the orchard often. Most staff don't come here.

[Would you believe him if he said he found it entirely by accident? Most people probably would, because Lenka is normally the good, unassuming sort of student -- most people are also probably not aware of how often he breaks curfew. He's maybe a little too sneaky.

Lenka nods back and then steps back a little, pack in hand, and sends it sailing up over the wall first -- it's not all that heavy and he has all the breakables on his person, so... as he waits for Jaune to do the same, he also props the shovel against the wall. It's almost as tall as he is, so throwing it over the wall might be a little tougher.]

[sociallyarcward]

Do I even want to know how you know that...

[Jaune wasn't going to judge, but before all this app nonsense he had lived a fairly sheltered, uneventful life. Well, aside from dealing with your typical high school drama and problems. He wasn't one to break rules because he just preferred to stay in sleeping and NOT trying to get himself in more trouble than his bad luck tended to send his way anyway.

But apparently that was the pre-app Jaune. Jaune followed suit, tossing his bag over without much effort since he hadn't packed much either. He noticed Lenka hadn't thrown over the shovel yet.]

Should I throw the bat over too?

[probablynoteren]

From working in the orchard, of course.

[There's no change whatsoever in expression, but there's the faintest lightness to his tone -- it's almost a joke. He does work in the orchard, certainly, but Lenka also enjoys traipsing about the city chasing abandoned locations and strange dusty corners a bit too much -- for various reasons. He never actually breaks anything other than curfew, luckily.

He does look over to appraise the baseball bat, before turning back to his own conundrum, looking between the shovel and the apple tree and the moon getting higher in the sky.]

It should be small enough to throw. [...] Help me with the shovel?

[Probably, the easiest way to do this is to go one at a time, and hand off the shovel in between. He's planned carefully, and there are other ways to get it done, but some things are way easier with more people.]

[sociallyarcward]

Uh-huh.

[Well, whatever works. Jaune tosses the bat over the wall and it makes a clunk as it hits the other side. Well, at least it wasn't too loud and hopefully it had landed near their stuff. He just hoped there wasn't anyone waiting on the other side of the wall for them.]

Sure. I can climb up first and you can hand it up to me.

[Jaune approaches the wall, eyeing the over hanging branches. He's pretty tall--so it shouldn't be too hard to grab some of the lower branches and hoist himself up onto the wall itself. Sure enough after a little trial and error, Jaune has made his way onto the wall and readies himself for the shovel.]

[probablynoteren]

[Even if someone heard them coming, they'd have the literal jump on whoever was on the other side of the wall as well as the cover of the trees (and projectile apples?) so Lenka's not too worried about the unknown. Nothing about this venture is particularly safe, which has the converse effect of making it less daunting now that they've come this far.

This part, at least -- this part they both can do. Nevertheless, Lenka pauses once Jaune is up and checks that the coast is clear on his end of the wall, then:]

Can you see into the orchard? Be careful.

[Regardless of advantage, they're vulnerable to all kinds of ambush right now and it's just best to check. He'll hoist the shovel up if and once Jaune gives the all-clear.]

[sociallyarcward]

[Jaune looks out into the orchard. It's dark so it's hard to see--but he catches no sign of movement or the glow of phone light or any sign of someone nearby. But he couldn't be sure others weren't being cautious like him.]

I think we're clear for now.

[He held out his hand for the shovel so they could move on with this.]

[probablynoteren]

Okay.

[Once that's settled, the shovel is handed up in short order and Lenka hoists himself up after it with quick, practiced motions. Soon enough they're both sitting on the wall, where a quick scan reveals an absolutely peaceful orchard and even more peaceful night. The first stars are starting to come out now.

Before he jumps down, though, Lenka plucks a couple of apples from the wayward tree and stuffs them into his pockets. Technically, if they're growing outside the wall, they don't count as school property, do they?]

We're here. [once he's touched ground again, he busies himself with checking his bag, then his phone] I don't think... it said where we were supposed to go next.

[Had the app specified a place in the orchard? Or were they just meant to wander until they spotted something out of place...?]

[sociallyarcward]

[Jaune doesn't say anything about thieving apples. What did he care? His bag had enough snacks though so he didn't bother. Instead he drops down on the other side, somehow managing NOT to look like a total idiot when he landed. Apparently he'd been working on his landing strategy.

He collects his things, also checking his phone and frowning at it.]

No. Nothing. I guess we can just wander for a bit. It's about the right time though so I guess we can wait for a little while and see what happens.

[In the meantime, Jaune slips the baseball bat back to rest on his shoulder -- out and ready would be best, right?]

Maybe we can walk the perimeter, that way we at least have a wall to one side so nothing can sneak up on us from that direction.