skippedabeat | Round 1: Test Drive

Entry tags:

test drive

Round 1: Test Drive

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ "Alexi" has rarely been one to break curfew, generally sticking fairly close to the rules to ensure he doesn't jeopardize his position on the team. But Setsuna has considerably more wanderlust, especially now that he's constantly wracked with the knowledge that he's not where he's supposed to be, not by a long shot. It's that wanderlust, along with an oddly familiar need to fight, a feeling that's grown stronger since the first time he struck down that monster with his Persona, the rush of satisfaction that settled deep within in, that has him out tonight. He wanders the streets, with his hands in his pockets, eager to find another fight, even if he lacks the suggested party members.

He looks up when he sees the glaring headlights of the motorcycle, as it slows down to park next to a sketchy looking building. He probably looks more than a little out of place, sporting his favorite team jacket over a set of otherwise well-to-do clothes and high end tennis shoes. But he blinks when he realizes he recognizes the guy climbing off the bike. It can't be. Is that really his idol, the constantly top-scoring Eosson?

Wait, that isn't why he idolized this person at all!

He barely even realizes that he's racing over to the bike and slapping his hands onto the front wheel. ]

Sempai!

["Astin," at least, has been feeling somewhat vindicated. It makes so much more sense now: his desire to do bad things, the feeling that something has been missing, that there was something to find.... He's been feeling them his entire life, trying to fill a void he couldn't name. And now he knows.

Tonight, he's been driving all over--looking for familiar faces, and also simply mulling over the irony that even though "Astin's" life was a good life, even though he'd been given nearly everything he could have wanted, the only really important thing was missing. And now... now the question is, how does he get back to that?

It had never occurred to him, because he cannot sense him, that the thing--the person--he wants to get back to might already be here.

At least, not until he slaps the front wheel of his bike. Kira would probably less surprised if Setsuna had slapped him. He blinks, dazzed, not entirely dismounted from but no longer totally seated on his bike either as he takes in the face in front of him: at first that of a stranger, someone in a lower year of senior cycle based on his clothes, but... It definitely... he looks like... it sounded like...]

Setsuna? Is that really...?

[ "Alexi" had been much less pleased with the revelations of his former life, even if they did provide an explanation for his perpetual restlessness and short-fuse, something the school and doctors had always chalked up to ADHD. But the knowledge that some of that restlessness might come from sharing the soul of a bloodthirsty angel and being considered some sort of "messiah" is still a tough pill to swallow. Still, as much as part of him wants to go back to his days of being obsessed with sports and sports stars, all of that seems terribly lacking in the face of what he really wants. Something that's not here and that no number of shiny trophies or even the cherished love and acceptance from his family could ever replace.

It feels as though a tiny piece of that want falls into place as his own name echoes in his ears, carried by that all too familiar, and yet unfamiliar, voice. He pushes himself up from the wheel. ]

Shit, I can't believe this whole time you were right here and I didn't even realize...

[ He gives an incredulous huff of laughter. ]

Should've known nobody else could be that smart.

[Kira climbs off the bike. His movements are careful, deliberate, and precise--like a robot taught to dance, his body follows a set choreography. It doesn't at all betray the tumult of relief, gratitude, happiness, and deep, deep affection that lies underneath.]

Yeah, you should've.

[He reaches out and easily hooks his arm across Setsuna's shoulder, drawing him in for a noogie.]

But once a dummy, always a dummy, eh Setsuna?

[ Setsuna tries to duck his way out of it. ]

Hey, I work hard in school, you know!

[ It's not his fault he's no damn good at it, even with a fairly normal life this time. It's obvious that scholastic achievement was just never in the stars for him. ]

And I actually get to go now since I don't have anyone dragging off to cause mayhem.

[ Not that he recalls minding it much in his memories. It was usually a much needed distraction. It just feels weird to imagine himself acting out like that now, not when he has no reason to seek attention. His parents give him plenty. ]

[Kira snorts, but he lets Setsuna duck away, barely touched. It's enough, though. The feeling of his warm body: he's real.]

You liked it.

[He fishes out from his back jean pocket his carton of cigarettes and with the other hand gets his lighter from his leather jacket. He unpacks the sticks inside by tapping it against his outer thigh before artfully picking one from the box between his fingers. It's less that he wants a cigarette and more that he needs it, though his fingers don't shake as he brings it up to his lip and lights it.]

So, what, now that you've cleaned up a little and gotten yourself some money, you're too good for you ol' senpai?

[It's a joke. Well, it sounds like a joke anyway.]

[ Setsuna pushes back his hair to straighten it, as he gives a light smirk. ]

I just liked hanging out with you.

[ Seeing as Kira seemed like one of the very few people that actually wanted to spend time with him in that life. ]

It didn't matter what we did.

[ He watches Kira get out a cigarette, trying to ignore the reflexive urge to whine about age restrictions. Ugh, he such a brown-noser in this life. ]

And I always had money. I just didn't care about it.

[ He didn't care much about a lot of things. ]

Anyway, who says I think I'm too good for you? I found you, didn't I?

[ Okay that was mostly extreme coincidence but close enough. ]

I'm glad I recognized you this time.

Kira ducks his head rifles his hand through his hair, pushing his long bangs back out of his eyes only for them to fall back into place again. It's funny. How many times, in how many different bodies and names, has he journeyed to find his sovereign? This is the first time one of Alexiel's incarnations has found him before he can find them.

It would be you who'd do it.

[It was, after all, Setsuna who came to him in spirit as well. What a good boy.]

Well, lucky you!

[Yet again he's reaching out, grabbing hold, and using Setsuna like the solution to his chronic poor posture.]

You can hang out with me all time, and time. Might be for the best, if there's more of those goop monsters with razor teeth around.

[ Setsuna's about to ask what Kira just said when he's being yanked closer and practically draped on. At least this isn't as unfamiliar/familiar to him since "Alexi" has quite a few affectionate friends prone to tackling him or catching him in a huge after a great game or even just exchanging high-fives during daily encounters. That said, their jubilant embraces never felt as warm or reassuring as this one. It's comforting and kind of confusing at the same time. ]

Well, that's kinda why I came out here tonight. I wanted to see if I could find one.

[ And kicks its ass. ]

You spoiling for a fight already? Seems like a pretty dumb idea, looking for one all on your own.

[ Setsuna rubs hard at the back of his neck, looking for the familiar feel of chord that's no longer there. The necklace that's no longer there. ]

I was always restless even before I got my memories back. Getting 'em again just made that feeling harder to ignore. And what's the point of having something like a Persona if you're not going to use it.

[ Plus, fighting keeps his mind full of memories that are fucked-up but still better than the other shit he remembers on a daily basis now. ]

[Yeah, he remembers enough that he can figure out what it is that Setsuna's looking to take out on some monster bodies.]

...

[He holds out his hand.]

Give me your phone.

[ Setsuna gives him a confused look but holds out what appears to be the latest version of the new iPhone, in surprisingly bad condition. Its screen has a huge crack down the middle and the protective case is equally damaged. Somebody had a rough time coming down from his first shadow fight and decided to take it out on his only connection to the person behind that cursed app. He at least has the self-awareness to look a bit sheepish about the phone's condition, although that's probably more "Alexi" than Setsuna.

He also never questions Kira when he offers him the device. He doesn't need to. ]

[In a different situation, Kira would definitely be poking fun at Setsuna for being so childish, breaking his toys. Instead, he lets it pass with having only raised his eyebrows.

He takes his time with the phone before finally passing it back; Setsuna will see that it's still open to show a new entry to his address book, complete with a phone number, address, and email.]

Here. The next time you feel like going out to break some shit, call me.

[ Setsuna studies the new contact through his broken screen. Who'd have thought Kira only lived 15 minutes away from him? Well, that would make meeting up easier.

He looks up again, pinning Kira with an appraising look. ]

That mean you're up for breaking some shit right now?

Setsuna, I was born to break shit.

[in ways you may or may not yet comprehend.]

[ That looks turns to devilish excitement. Now, they were talking. No more scouring the app for random people to join him. Here's someone he's actually used to fighting alongside, even though fighting Shadows was a lot different than swinging a sword at asshole angels or demons. He doesn't have to constantly keep trying to figure out what he's partner's going to do next or make sure they're holding their own in the fight. He can fight like he used to. Well, more or less. ]

So what're we waiting for? Let's find us some Shadows.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Round 1: Test Drive

Re: Sakuya Kira | Angel Sanctuary

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